Beadnell becomes Northumberland's 70th conservation area

Councillors have agreed to designate a conservation area in Beadnell, joining those in seven other villages on the north Northumberland coast.
Beadnell bay/beach
 Picture by Jane ColtmanBeadnell bay/beach
 Picture by Jane Coltman
Beadnell bay/beach Picture by Jane Coltman

This decision, which will see the historic core and the harbour area afforded a higher level of protection, was made by the county council’s cabinet at its meeting on Tuesday February 11.

Coun Guy Renner-Thompson, the area’s ward member, said: “It’s another level of protection for Beadnell, which has been over-developed for years and years. We can’t undo what’s already happened, but this will help going forward.

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“It’s also the 70th conservation area (in Northumberland), so probably cause for celebration!”

The report to councillors explained that conservation areas ‘aim to preserve and enhance a place with special architectural or historic interest to ensure its character and appearance is not degraded but protected and actively managed in a positive and sustainable way’.

In Beadnell, the ‘key elements that define its special architectural and historic interest include the medieval layout of the village core; evidence for farming, fishing and industry; its Georgian buildings; its development into a seaside holiday resort; and its setting within the landscape and against the coastline’.

Under the previous district councils, the Berwick Local Plan (1999) proposed a conservation area for the village, but it was never taken forward.

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The need to address this was therefore identified when Beadnell, together with the parishes of Bamburgh and North Sunderland – which both have conservation areas, developed the North Northumberland Coast Neighbourhood Plan.

Beadnell Parish Council and the Northumberland Coast AONB Partnership have been responsible for developing this proposal and an appraisal was completed in 2018, which demonstrates there is sufficient special interest to justify the designation.

Four possible areas were identified and the preferred option includes the historic core around the church and the village green then stretches out to the harbour. It has been modified to exclude the public car park and Bernicia Way, and to take into account the approved Kennedy Green development.

The report states that the parish council kept the community informed and was convinced of wide support for the conservation area from the community living and working in Beadnell.

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