NEW POLICIES designed to benefit rural housing developments in villages throughout the North Tyne have been approved.

During an authority meeting last week, Northumberland National Park Authority's board was presented with its revised Local Plan - a key document in helping shape the future of Northumberland National Park for its residents and businesses while protecting and enhancing the heritage, culture and landscape of the park.

The new policies mean there will be notably increased flexibility towards the building of new housing, as well as a focus on the conversion of existing properties.

The plan makes proposals for new development over the next 20 years, with the improvement of principal residences focused in 13 locations including Elsdon, Falstone, Greenhaugh, Rochester, Stannersburn and Stonehaugh.

Developments will also be permitted in open countryside as long as it is an appropriate scale without harming the park’s special qualities.

Susannah Buylla, the authority's interim head of planning, said: “We’ve been working with communities, businesses, organisations and stakeholders to develop this Local Plan over the last four years and it’s incredibly rewarding to see this Local Plan adopted now as the framework for guiding development for the future of Northumberland National Park.”

Glen Sanderson, chairman of the National Park Authority added: “These new policies aim to secure the future of the national park as a living, working landscape.

“The authority wishes to support new housing development in the park and we are keen to see more people of working age living in this special place.”