VILLAGERS’ views will be sought as Whittington applies for a neighbourhood plan.

The first steps have been taken to designate a neighbourhood planning area which will cover the parish of Whittington.

Whittington Parish Council has applied for the area to be designated, as it is the qualifying body for neighbourhood planning purposes.

A period of consultation is now under way, running until Monday, February 29.

Neighbourhood planning was introduced by the Localism Act in 2011 and gives communities the chance to define and shape their area’s future growth.

In Northumberland, neighbourhood planning must be led by parish and town councils, and through the plan they can use powers to shape where new homes, shops, offices and other businesses should be built, and what those new buildings should look like.

Plans must also take into account national planning policy and the policies set out in the Northumberland Local Plan.

Whittington Parish Council is keen to prepare local planning policies which can address the needs and wishes of its local community.

Details of the application by Whittington Parish Council can be found on Northumberland County Council’s website at northumberland.gov.uk/ourplan

To comment, email neighbourhoodplanning@northumberland.gov.uk or write to the Communities and Infrastructure Team, Northumberland County Council, County Hall, Morpeth, NE61 2EF.