The local plan defines settlement boundaries for all Main Towns, Service Centres and Service Villages (except in the Green Belt where inset boundaries are defined) unless local communities, through the neighbourhood planning process:
- are defining boundaries; or
- have specifically chosen not to define a boundary; or
- have indicated that they do not wish to retain a previously defined boundary.
Main Towns offer the greatest range of services including schools, healthcare facilities, leisure facilities, shops and employment opportunities. Service Centres also have a number of key services for their communities and surrounding areas, but the range and number is generally more limited than the Main Towns. Service Villages generally have a school or a shop, and population of a size considered likely to maintain the viability of such services into the future. They have a reasonable level of public transport to enable residents to access some higher level services without the reliance upon private transport.
For more information, please visit https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/NorthumberlandCountyCouncil/media/Planning-and-Building/planning%20policy/Local%20Plan/Northumberland-Local-Plan-Adopted-March-2022.pdf#page=58.
Please note that this layer should be viewed in conjuction with the Northumberland Green Belt layer.
