Have your say on the future of Northumberland — consultation open now
Northumberland County Council is asking residents what they want their county to look like in the decades ahead. Ashington Town Council is encouraging local people to get involved.
What is this about?
Northumberland County Council (NCC) is drawing up a new Local Plan — the document that shapes where homes, businesses, roads, green spaces, and community facilities are built across the county for the next 15 to 20 years. This is the early stage, when NCC is simply asking: what matters most to you?
This is one of the most important planning exercises in a generation. What residents say now will directly influence the decisions that shape our town and surrounding area for decades to come.
Alongside the main plan, NCC is also developing new Housing Design Standards — guidance on what new homes should actually look and feel like, to raise the quality of what gets built.
Local Plan Consultation Website
What questions might you ask yourself?
- Do we have enough affordable homes for young people and families in Ashington?
- Where should new housing go — and where should it definitely not go?
- What jobs and businesses do you want to see come to our area?
- Are our roads, schools, and health services keeping pace with growth?
- What green spaces, parks, and countryside should be protected?
- What should new homes in Northumberland actually look like?
- How should NCC keep communities like ours informed as the plan develops?
How do you respond?
- Visit NCC's consultation page
- Share your views using NCC's online portal
- Look out for consultation posters on noticeboards around Ashington.
- If you have questions before responding, contact NCC's Planning Policy Team: planningstrategy@northumberland.gov.uk or call 0345 600 6400.
Deadline: Wednesday 1 July 2026. Don't miss your chance — this is the stage when views carry the most weight. Once the plan moves forward, the scope narrows and it becomes harder to influence the big decisions.
A note for local organisations
Community groups, businesses, sports clubs, schools, and other local organisations are especially encouraged to respond. The more voices NCC hears, the stronger the evidence base for decisions that affect all of us.
What happens next?
Ashington Town Council will also have a formal opportunity to submit its own representation and will be taking part in a dedicated engagement exercise for town and parish councils later in autumn 2026. We will keep residents updated as the process develops.
