34.20.1 One of the characteristics of Ponteland is the way in which buildings of domestic scale and character still predominate in the older part of the village centre. Not all of these remain in residential use but nevertheless there is a pattern of mixed land and building use. This characteristic does not apply to the shopping development at Merton Way and Castle Court, however this area is physically detached from the old village street area alongside the A696. The absence of continuous shopping frontages and the other characteristics of the modern shopping centre give rise to particular planning problems. The most pressing of these are the difficulties which arise when commercial uses spread into adjoining residential areas. If such trends were allowed to continue, it would be to the detriment of the amenity of residential areas and also destroy the compact character of the commercial centre itself. Therefore the Council considers it is necessary to define a boundary to the shopping and business centre, beyond which commercial and business uses will not be permitted.