4.18.1 Pressures for large housing and other developments in the Plan area can only be effectively resisted if the extent of future development is clearly defined in a formally adopted plan (See Policies H1 and H2). The proposals map insets define the built up areas of Morpeth and Ponteland including the new development sites. Elsewhere sites have been identified for housing development in some of the villages. Each village has been given a separate boundary to define its limits in a similar way to that for Morpeth and Ponteland. The Council will seek to protect and enhance the character and natural heritage of the open countryside outside these boundaries.

4.18.2 Advice from Central Government regarding the policies for the open countryside is explicit (PPG7, 1997 - The Countryside - Environmental Quality and Economic and Social Development) and states:-

"The countryside can accommodate many forms of development without detriment, if the location and design of development is handled with sensitivity. New development in rural areas should be sensitively related to existing settlement patterns and to the historic, wildlife and landscape resources of the area," and

"New house building and other new development in the open countryside, away from established settlements, should be strictly controlled. The fact that a single house on a particular site would be unobtrusive is not by itself a good argument; it could be repeated too often. Isolated new houses in the countryside require special justification - for example, where they are essential to enable farm or forestry workers to live at or near their place of work."

4.18.3 In the Local Plan, open countryside is defined as:-

"Open landscape and fields together with farms, hamlets and other small settlements and scattered groups of buildings contained within it and abutting settlement boundaries."

Open countryside is diverse in landscape character, contains historic and cultural features and provides opportunities for open-air recreation and enjoyment. It starts where the built area of towns and villages, as defined in the Local Plan, ends and includes the Green Belt (Policy C16). Certain developments in the open countryside were established before planning controls were introduced and would be unlikely to be accepted under modern planning principles. Nevertheless, these developments are still considered to form part of the open countryside and will be assessed accordingly. The general policy will be to maintain the rural character of the open countryside in accordance with the Council's objectives. Nonetheless, certain forms of development are acceptable in principle in the open countryside, in support of the rural economy or providing opportunities for tourism, sport and recreation.