In addition to the range of topics already covered by the Local Plan, there are many other land uses in the District which influence development patterns. This section on community development identifies those fields which are considered to make an important contribution to the overall development of the District and its economic well being.

The District is well served by a multiplicity of facilities and services which make a contribution to the immediate community and to the general quality of life experienced within the Local Plan area. The quality and extent of these facilities varies and in most instances are capable of improvement to meet the needs and expectations of residents and visitors to the District throughout the Local Plan period.

AIM CD1

Secure and improve the range of facilities and services necessary for the well being and betterment of the community.

AIM CD2

Retain the vitality of the traditional primary shopping areas in Alnwick and Amble.

AIM CD3

Retain the vitality of the existing shopping provision in High Street, Townfoot and Bridge Street in Rothbury.

The Structure Plan 1988, the Amble Local Plan and the Alnwick Town Centre District Plan have in the main provided guidance in the form of policies specific to community development.

The distribution and retailing of consumer goods is constantly adapting to changing economic and social conditions. These, along with altering shopping habits, are bringing changes to shops and the function of established and new shopping areas.

Alnwick and Amble, and to a lesser extent Rothbury, serve as the service centres meeting the day to day retailing needs of the majority of the District's population. Some parts of the District, particularly in the south and west, look towards service centres outside the District.

Within these service centres it is possible to distinguish between primary and secondary shopping areas. In Alnwick, the streets of Bondgate Within, Market Street, Narrowgate, the Market Place, Fenkle Street and Paikes Lane represent the primary shopping area. In Amble, the primary shopping area is restricted to Queen Street. Rothbury is a local service centre and has no discernible primary shopping location.

In common with other areas, the District has seen a change in the type of shop located in established retail areas. Shops are in general becoming larger, permitting a greater range of goods to be stocked, more efficient handling and economies of scale. These larger units are more reliant upon ready access for trade and customer vehicles. In addition, shopping habits and customer mobility have altered over recent years resulting in changed shopping patterns. The shopping base of all three shopping areas has changed. People are travelling further afield for 'consumer' and 'comparison' goods. Established retail centres have as a result seen a drop in the number of units selling these goods but have retained a modest provision to meet the day to day requirements of the 'basket' shopper. There has, however, been a marked increase in the range of specialist shops, offices and catering establishments in the traditional shopping areas.

The layout of established shopping areas has not lent itself to modern expectations and demands of trade and customer vehicles. As a result there has been, albeit on a modest scale, a movement towards the use of industrial premises for retailing of bulky goods and goods associated with manufacturing processes or food preparation. To date, this movement has been accommodated without difficulty. This transfer of retailing from the traditional shopping areas to more vehicle friendly industrial and commercial environments is likely to continue. Not all shoppers are car borne, and those sectors of the community reliant upon public transport or foot, require that the traditional shopping areas remain and that their vitality is retained. It is, therefore, essential to achieve a balance between improving retailing provision, in line with current trends, and retaining the vitality of the traditional shopping areas. The Local Plan can only influence local shopping patterns and cannot realistically change regional shopping patterns dominated by Newcastle, the Metro Centre and concentrations of 'retail warehouses'.

The character of the retail area is paramount in establishing a vibrant shopping environment. Pedestrian shoppers are never going to be comfortable in an environment dominated by vehicles, either cars or service lorries. Modern shopping habits require a pedestrian priority retailing environment. Provision is made in the traffic and transport policies to secure pedestrian priority and environmental enhancement, where practical, in the shopping areas of Alnwick and Amble.

The vitality of the shopping areas requires more than a healthy shopping environment. The older shopping areas were designed to provide residential accommodation on the upper floors. Over time many of these upper floor residential properties have been used for storage, office use or have fallen vacant. As a result the shopping areas can be relatively devoid of life outside normal retailing hours. It is important to secure the proper use of residential properties above shop premises to maintain the life and security of these areas. The built environment policies make reference to promoting residential uses on upper floors in shopping areas.

Although sporadic shopping development in the countryside would be likely to be damaging to the rural environment, it is recognised that farm shops can bring farmers closer to their customers, provide an additional source of income for the farmer and a source of fresh produce for local people and visitors, and enrich visits to the countryside. Farm shops should not cause unacceptable road safety or environmental problems.

Garden centres can also add variety and interest to a visit to the countryside. However, it is essential that access arrangements, local roads and car parking facilities are satisfactory, and that the development lead neither to material harm to the landscape nor unacceptable disturbance to neighbouring occupiers.

Throughout the District there remains a network of village and neighbourhood shops. These facilities are vital to the well being of the community that they serve. It is important that such facilities be retained.

Amusement centres are often considered to be inappropriate to locations in shopping areas. They are conceived by a section of the public to result in problems associated with noise, disturbance and pedestrian congestion. These are often difficult to substantiate and are often a thinly veiled objection to the moral issues associated with this type of development. The primary controls for this type of development often rest with the local authorities licensing powers. 

There is, however, little argument that amusement centres can result in a loss of shopping floorspace and by their nature create a deadening effect on shopping frontages. They are, therefore, inappropriate uses in primary shopping locations. 

Most of the shopping areas in the District are of a historic character, some are Conservation Areas, with shops on the ground floor and office and/or residential accommodation above. There is a risk that amusement centres or their users can create noise and disturbance to adjoining or nearby residential properties to the detriment of the amenities of residents and visitors. Care should be taken to ensure that proposed amusement centres are located sufficiently distant from residential properties and, particularly in Conservation Areas, at locations where they will not be detrimental to the character of the area. The Northumberland Coast AONB comprises one of the finest stretches of coastline in the country; development of amusement centres on the undeveloped coastline or within settlements in the AONB would be likely to be incongruous to the objectives of the AONB designation, to conserve the natural beauty of the landscape.

Alnwick District covers a large geographic area with numerous small settlements. Generally, the area is well served for educational requirements. Table CD/1 indicates the educational establishments provided within the District:

TABLE CD/1 EDUCATIONAL PROVISION WITHIN THE PLAN AREA

*National Park
Source: Northumberland County Council

Northumberland County Council is the Education Authority. They have indicated that in the Local Plan period there may be a requirement to make provision for an additional first school site at Alnwick. This should be located in the south eastern part of the town in the area of recent and future housing development. A site of approximately 1.2 hectares is required.

The Education Authority has indicated that during the local plan period it may be necessary to replace the existing first school in Edwin Street, Amble. They have suggested that this might best be accommodated within the existing campus of the Coquet High School. 

Northumberland County Council own land identified for a first school in Longframlington. At present the village is served by the first school at Swarland. It is the Education Authority's current opinion that neither village could justify the provision of a first school independent of the other, but they do recognise that the present situation is unsatisfactory. They have suggested that whilst there is no immediate prospect of providing a first school in Longframlington they would still wish to see provision made for the long term.

The County Council have indicated that there is an over provision of 0.7 hectares of land currently used for playing fields at Shilbottle First School. This land is surplus to requirements and if released could allow the development of adjoining land.

The County Council have indicated that there is an over provision of land used for playing fields at Barndale School in Alnwick. This land is surplus to requirements and affords the opportunity to provide land for car parking on the north side of the town. 

Netherton First School has now been closed for some time as the building is in poor structural condition. It is unlikely that the County Council will replace the building but will utilise and extend the existing outdoor centre (formerly the school) nearby. This being the case additional land amounting to 0.45 hectares will be required to provide playing fields. The 0.7 hectares occupied by the existing school will be surplus to requirements and could be developed for housing.

The District is primarily rural in character with the main population centres at Alnwick, Amble and Rothbury. The majority of sports and recreational facilities, like most other services, are associated with these centres. These settlements in themselves are only of limited size and in consequence the sports and recreational provision is not always of the scale and standard that can be expected in larger urban areas. The town populations are generally well catered for in terms of certain types of sports and recreational provision. There also remain a number of areas which are noticeably deficient, for example, there is no public playing field in Alnwick and there is a recognised demand for a swimming pool in Amble.

Alnwick District Council approved recommendations that consultants be commissioned to assess the present state and potential of existing Council owned/managed and associated sports and recreation facilities and to research and develop a Sport and Recreation Facilities Strategy for the District. The results of the strategy may recommend development and/or extension of existing sport and recreation facilities or the development of new facilities/provision on new sites. These may be considered at the next local plan review.

The provision of public open space varies greatly within the three principal settlements within the District. Public Open Space has been assessed on these areas of land of sufficient size to be used for leisure and recreational purposes rather than small areas of amenity land. Table CD/2 below sets out the levels of open space provision in the main settlements of Alnwick, Amble and Rothbury:

TABLE CD/2 OPEN SPACE PROVISION

*National Playing Field Association Standards

As the above table indicates both Alnwick and Rothbury experience an under provision of open space per 1000 of the population. The topography and historical development of both settlements has contributed to the lack of open space available.

As could be expected the more rural areas are generally deficient in sports and recreation provision; the provision of facilities will always be problematic in areas with a small population catchment. There are only a limited number of sports facilities in the villages with some much better provided for than others. Most villages have a village hall which serves the community for a variety of uses. It will not always be possible to provide all the facilities that may be desired. Like other services, sports and recreational facilities will be required to be located at the main service centres where they are most accessible to the largest population.

Although the Local Plan envisages a slow and limited growth in its resident population, it is likely that as a result of increases in leisure time, wealth and personal mobility both the resident population, and increasingly visitors, will put more pressure on the District in terms of its sport and recreational role over the Plan period. It is unlikely that large financial investment will be available to provide major facilities for the dispersed resident population. The funds that are available should be concentrated to maximise and improve upon the existing provision for the benefit of the major concentrations of population at the centres of Alnwick, Amble and Rothbury. Any other opportunities for sport and recreation provision are likely to be visitor orientated. Such developments should be located to best serve the visitor and resident alike. Increasingly more resources will have to be devoted to management to protect the scarce resource that the countryside represents.

In addition to the range of facilities which exist, the District by its geography offers a variety of sport and recreational opportunities. A typical example being the extensive coastline which with its large sandy beaches affords opportunities for a wide range of active and passive pursuits, despite the cold waters of the North Sea. 

The District with its wealth of natural features and its range of sports and recreation facilities serves two distinct user groups: resident and visitor. The interest of the two user groups may not always coincide. Different user groups see resources in different ways. A woodland habitat will present a different opportunity to the bird watcher and the war games enthusiast. It is by way of good management and proper planning that the maximum benefits can be accrued for the various interest groups whilst respecting the rights and aspirations of others. 

The open countryside of the District should be recognised as having the potential to accommodate sporting and recreation activities. As a limited resource the countryside needs to be managed to develop this potential without detriment to its character and to safeguard the interests of established land users and the local rural community.

There is an extensive network of public rights of way throughout the District. These rights of way afford important access routes to the countryside for pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists alike. These rights of way have been established over a long time and as such are important arteries for leisure and recreational enjoyment of the countryside and should be protected.

It is recognised that there is a national shortage of golf courses and that the sport is becoming more and more popular. By their very size and nature golf courses have a significant impact on the countryside. They require to be located and designed to harmonise with the countryside. The design and management of golf courses can adversely affect sensitive sites.

Land at Amble Braid has previously been identified for development as a holiday village and associated leisure development including a hotel site. It is considered that any facilities should expand upon the success of the marina and compliment the use of the remainder of the Braid as public open space. Any development of the Braid will be required to be considered in light of the proposed designation of the adjacent Coquet estuary as a Special Protection Area.

Most settlements have some form of building available for community use. There is no pattern to this provision, its ownership or availability. The existing range of village and other halls are generally in good condition and well used even though, in many cases, the facilities are often basic. There will remain a need for a local meeting place to serve as the base for a multiplicity of local activities throughout the Plan period. It is not perceived that there will be a requirement for new facilities but that from time to time existing provision may require to be upgraded. 

Amble Town Council have indicated that there may be a requirement within the Local Plan period for an extension to the existing Amble Cemetery.

The District Council has a statutory duty to ensure that provision is made in new developments involving public access to facilitate access for the disabled. Care should therefore be taken in the design and construction of all developments to make provision for access for the disabled. There are many forms of disability and practitioners in the design of developments need to be mindful of those members of the community who have a visual or hearing impairment as well as physical disability. 

The natural environment and past built environment have made little or no allowance for access for the disabled and it is only by the efforts of designers and developers that provision can be made. It will on occasions be difficult to achieve a balance between the retention of the good elements of the natural environment and historic built environment and provision for all types of disability. In all instances the District Council will expect developers to assess the need for making provision for access for the disabled and make provision accordingly. In all but a few instances some level of provision should be attainable without detriment to the general amenity of either the natural or built environment. The provision of facilities for the disabled within new buildings is catered for by Approved Document M of the Building Regulations 1991. There are many areas of principle and designs beyond the remit of that legislation which require to be addressed in terms of suitability of land use and design.

The appearance of both the rural and the built environment is complimented by the quality of various man made contributions to the landscape and streetscape. The quality of design of the contributory elements has always varied and this diversity in itself has helped form our cherished environment. It does not, however, warrant an acceptance of poor standards of design and inappropriate materials at the numerous sensitive locations throughout the District. The District Council has to be vigilant to ensure, in the execution of its own functions and those of developers and other agencies within the environment, that a sensitive approach is adopted in design and materials used within both the rural environment and the built environment. 

The use of good quality individually designed works in traditional and crafted materials will normally make a significant contribution to the quality of the environment. Developers and agencies should be encouraged to become increasingly aware of the contribution that good quality individually designed and crafted developments and associated furniture and works of art make to a specific development and to the environment in general. The areas that can be considered in this light are countless ranging from the structure of buildings, the floorscape, landscaping, street furniture and works of art.

The planning system exists to facilitate development and to protect the amenities of existing land uses from development. The District is generally rural in character and has very limited representations of 'bad neighbour' industries. The Local Plan recognises the need to preserve the quality of the environment for the enjoyment of residents and visitors. Development which would either affect the amenities of existing land uses should normally be resisted.

Planning and land use have implications on energy conservation and global warming. The location of new developments and associated travel patterns can have an effect on carbon dioxide emissions. It is worth considering developments which reduce the need for car journeys or can better use more fuel efficient public transport. It is difficult to consider these matters in relation to such a large rural area. However, the principal sections dealing with the allocation of housing land, industrial land and service centres, all continue to concentrate developments on the established centres of Alnwick, Amble and Rothbury and their satellite settlements served by the principal traffic corridors.

There are concerns over climatic change and global warming which could have implications on coastal defences, the siting of development in low lying areas and freshwater and drainage systems. The Environment Agency anticipate sea levels rising at up to 0.004 metres per annum till 2030. In the main the coast and the river corridors are likely to be the most affected. Again land use allocations have taken this into account.

The area of low lying land at Low Hauxley has already proved to be vulnerable to coastal erosion. There are several other areas where the action of the sea is leading to coastal erosion but does not threaten residential properties.

Technological advances are constantly being made in the field of alternative energy as the world's fossil fuel resources are diminishing. It is likely that there will be an increased demand for alternative energy sources during the Local Plan period.

There is a greater recognition that scarce resources are being wasted by modern day society. Any proposal that involves the recycling of otherwise expendable materials is to be welcomed. The Secretary of State for the Environment has set targets for the recycling of 25% of household waste by 1997.

Providing clean water and dealing with sewage are important requirements in the District. The statutory obligations and compliance with the relevant standards and EU legislation may require the water and sewerage undertakers to extend existing, and develop new sites for such treatments.