6.20.1 In November 1989 the former Northern Development Company produced "An assessment of the potential for office development in Morpeth", followed by a similar report for Ponteland in June 1990. The studies established a demand for office floorspace in Morpeth and to a lesser extent in Ponteland, generally ranging between 1,000 - 5,000 square feet. At the time of the survey there were no appropriate sites allocated to meet this demand. The study also recognised that Morpeth has the potential to attract larger inward investment office projects such as Government relocations.

6.20.2 The main thrust of Northumberland County Council office location policy is to encourage the establishment of offices in the principal towns in the County (Structure Plan Policy S8). Office development in other locations throughout the Borough may be acceptable subject to the merits of individual circumstances.

6.20.3 Sites with development potential particularly in the town centre are a scarce resource and, unless positively allocated for office or other employment purposes, tend to be taken up and developed for housing. While the Council recognises that residential development may be acceptable it will only entertain applications for housing when it has been clearly established that there is no demand for office use of these sites. A detailed assessment of individual sites is given in the settlement chapters.