Northumberland Coast National Landscape Partnership statutory duty Northumberland County Council

Local people coming together to conserve and enhance this National Landscape

Northumberland County Council has a statutory duty to ensure that the natural beauty of the Northumberland Coast is conserved and enhanced and to prepare a management plan setting out the council’s policies for managing the National Landscape. To assist the council, the Northumberland Coast National Landscape Partnership was formed in 2003. Comprising of local people, representatives of statutory agencies and interest groups, Partnership members have an advisory role to ensure that the natural beauty of the Northumberland Coast National Landscape is conserved and enhanced.

The role of the Partnership

The role of the Partnership is to pursue and champion the purposes of designation of the Northumberland Coast National Landscape and to assist in the delivery of statutory duties and other management aspirations. These are the key objectives of the Northumberland Coast National Landscape Partnership:

To prepare and keep under review on a five-yearly basis, a statutory Management Plan on behalf of the Northumberland County Council.
To implement and encourage others to implement the agreed Management Plan.
To coordinate and demonstrate the protection and management of the National Landscape according to the purposes of the designation.
To promote the purpose, importance, characteristics and significance of the National Landscape.
To advise partners on the level of funding needed for National Landscape management and act to secure funding from several other sources.
To establish a management structure that is relevant to the objectives of the National Landscape.
To establish and provide guidance to a staff unit to undertake National Landscape core functions.
To advise relevant authorities on appropriate planning policies, and to offer advice on appropriate design and on development proposals which may affect the character and quality of the National Landscape.
To advise public bodies, agencies and statutory undertakers about the impact of their activities on the National Landscape and engage them in positive management initiatives.
To commission research, special studies and monitoring.
To establish links, exchange best practice and seek opportunities for joint initiatives, with other National Landscapes, National Parks and protected areas, both nationally and internationally.

The Partnership achieves these objectives principally through its role in steering the work of the Partnership staff. From time to time the Partnership may establish and agree terms of reference for any other panels or working groups it feels are necessary to assist in the delivery of its objectives.

What's special about the Northumberland Coast?

Where we are

Current membership

James Barber

Farming and landowning

Colin Barnes

Local business and tourism

Hugh Clear-Hill

Nature

Heather Harrison

Environment Agency

Cllr Adrian Hinchcliffe

Representing parish councils in the south

Jude Leitch

Local business and tourism

Patrick Norris (Chair)

Recreation

Andrew Poad

Heritage

Cllr Guy Renner-Thompson

Northumberland County Council member

James Robertson

Farming and landowning

Cllr Jane Scott

Representing parish councils in the north

Cara Courage

Natural England

Cllr David Swinhoe

Northumberland County Council member

Kristof Fatsar

Historic England

Currently vacant

Access for All

Currently vacant

Climate change

Currently vacant

Local community

The Northumberland Coast National Landscape Partnership is now recruiting three new members.

The Partnership is seeking people who are passionate and knowledgeable about the Northumberland Coast, its nature or farming and land management, and who want to ensure the designated area remains a special place.

The three vacancies for open seats on the Partnership are:

Community – Advising the Partnership on community issues and priorities. Please note, it is only open to those who are not already parish councillors.
Climate - Advising the Partnership about the impacts of climate change and adaptation and resilience and moving towards net-zero
Access for all - Advising the Partnership on access for everybody, from all abilities, backgrounds, communities and faiths to the National Landscape.

You can download the full role profiles below.

To apply, please send a covering letter, telling us why you are passionate about the Northumberland Coast and the experience and knowledge that you will bring to the Partnership to ensure that it remains a beautiful and vibrant place.

You may also send a CV, but this isn’t a requirement.

Please apply, by email, to info@northumberlandcoast-nl.org.uk by 02/10/2025.

An informal chat with the Chair and/or Vice-Chair and the National Landscape Manager will be arranged for shortlisted applicants.