The map of every site put forward for housing goes live on Monday 12 October. Also: a Bedlington children's home decision, and two consultations closing on 14 and 16 October.

A quiet week for committee rooms at County Hall, and a busy one for residents with something to say. Only one meeting with published papers goes ahead between Monday 12 and Friday 16 October. Two others are cancelled. But Monday also brings the first public map of every site landowners want considered for building in the new Local Plan, and two consultations close in the same week.

Meetings are listed on the council’s October calendar, with agendas and reports linked.

Monday 12 October: the Local Plan site map

The council’s Housing and Economic Land Availability Assessment, the HELAA, “is set to go live on Monday, October 12th”, according to the council’s release of 5 October. It is a map of every site “that the development industry and landowners have put forward for consideration” for the county’s next Local Plan.

The council’s own caveat is worth repeating before anyone panics about a field at the end of the road. Inclusion “does not mean that a site has planning permission, is allocated in the Local Plan, or will be developed in the future”. The leader, Councillor Glen Sanderson, said the assessment “identifies significantly more land than will be required” and that “some sites may never come forward for development, while others may prove unsuitable”.

The timetable the release gives:

  • consultation on proposed plan content and evidence: April to July 2027
  • a further round of consultation: early 2028
  • adoption forecast: early 2029

Sign-up for updates is at the council’s Local Plan page, nland.uk/NlandLocalPlan. We will report what the map shows for each town once it is live; our running coverage is on the planning news page.

Monday 12 October, 4pm: South East Planning Committee

Council Chamber, County Hall, Morpeth. Agenda

One application is up for decision. 26/02501/COU would change the use of 35 Glebe Mews, The Chesters, Bedlington, from a family house to a children’s residential home for up to three children, with three staff on site at any one time and at least two at all times. The officer’s report (PDF) recommends it is granted.

The committee deferred the application on 14 September so members could visit the cul-de-sac and look at the parking. Fourteen neighbours were notified and 20 objections were received, raising the fit of the use with the street, parking and traffic. Public Protection, the police and the fire service raised no objection in principle. The applicant is Nutrix Homes. The officer’s view is that “with no material objection raised, no refusal reason can be” substantiated.

Also on the agenda is the monthly section 106 update (PDF), listing the planning agreements completed in August. They include nine affordable homes and a principal-residence restriction on land south-west of St Cuthbert Close in North Sunderland, near Seahouses, and a 30-year habitat bank at Cocklaw Walls, Capheaton, with £17,553 for its monitoring.

Cancelled this week

  • West Planning Committee, Tuesday 13 October, 4pm: cancelled.
  • Staff and Appointments Committee, Wednesday 14 October, 2pm: cancelled.

Deadlines this week

  • Wednesday 14 October: social care charges consultation closes. Three proposals worth £450,000 a year, including changes to disability-related expenses allowances and a deduction for alarm costs. Our story explains who pays more and links to the survey.
  • Friday 16 October: gambling licensing policy consultation closes. The draft statement of licensing policy under the Gambling Act 2005 is on the council’s licensing committee papers (PDF). Separately, the Health and Wellbeing Board agreed on 8 October to recommend a new gambling harms strategy to Cabinet in November, according to the council’s release of 9 October.
  • Friday 16 October: objections close on the Hencotes car park, Hexham, where the council proposes a two-hour limit. The notice is on our roadworks and travel page.

The county-wide alcohol order consultation closed at noon on Friday 9 October. The current order lapses on 20 October and the draft replacement was written to start on 21 October. We have not yet seen a notice that the new order has been made; our story has the detail and will be updated.

Looking ahead

  • Monday 19 October: Standards Hearing Sub-Committee, 10am.
  • Wednesday 21 October: Rights of Way Committee, 10am; Licensing and Regulatory Committee, 1.30pm; Licensing Committee, 2pm.
  • Thursday 22 October: Petitions Committee, 2pm; North Planning Committee, 2pm.
  • Tuesday 27 October: an extraordinary Cabinet meeting, 10am. No agenda was published when we checked on Saturday. The Blyth Relief Road funding decision is the obvious candidate.
  • Wednesday 4 November: Full Council, which is due to vote on the extra borrowing for the Maltings in Berwick.

Agendas are normally published five working days before each meeting on the council’s calendar. Anyone can watch meetings in the Council Chamber from the public gallery or on the council’s Northumberland TV livestream.