Demolition of existing tea room building and replacement with new two-storey tea room building set back slightly further into site to allow for additional visitor car parking provision at Frontage. Conversion of vacant range of former commercial garage buildings into 5no. residential dwelling units including incorporation of existing residential property in North-Western corner of site (net increase of 4no. dwellings).

Planning Application

Ye Old Forge Tearooms Greenhead Garage Greenhead Brampton Northumberland CA8 7HE

Ref. No: 26/00842/FUL · Received: Mon 09 Mar 2026 · Validated: Tue 09 Jun 2026 · Status: Pending Consideration

The Council submitted the following comment:

Greenhead Parish Council objects to this application on the grounds of highway safety.

The application proposes the creation of four additional parking spaces to serve the tearooms, which are to be expanded into a two-storey building with seating for approximately 80 covers. Members consider that the proposed parking provision is inadequate to meet the anticipated demand generated by the enlarged premises. Consequently, there is a significant risk of overspill parking onto surrounding roads, which would exacerbate existing highway safety issues within the village.

There are already well-established difficulties for vehicles exiting Station Road onto the Military Road, and the increased traffic associated with the proposed development is likely to intensify these problems. Although Station Road is privately owned, there is concern that visitors unable to park within the site will seek to park along the road, potentially obstructing access for residents, delivery vehicles and emergency services.

The Military Road is a heavily trafficked route, regularly used by large commercial vehicles, including timber lorries travelling west through the village. The Parish Council is concerned that an increase in on-street parking in this location would reduce visibility for motorists, create additional hazards for pedestrians and cyclists, and increase the likelihood of collisions.

Notwithstanding these concerns, the Parish Council welcomes the proposed conversion of the existing commercial garage buildings, recognising that this aspect of the development would enhance the appearance of the village centre and represent a visual improvement to the site.

The Parish Council also wishes to draw Northumberland County Council's attention to a number of apparent inaccuracies and inconsistencies within the submitted application documents:

• The red line boundary does not include the part of Station Road within the application site which is between the application and the public highway. The application site should be edged clearly with a red line on the location plan. It should include all land necessary to carry out the proposed development (eg land required for access to the site from a public highway, visibility splays, landscaping, car parking and open areas around buildings). It must include the strip of land connecting the site to the adopted public road. If this access road is owned by someone else, relevant legal notices should be served.  

• The application documents are unclear as to whether the existing vehicular access arrangements are to remain unchanged or be altered. This inconsistency should be clarified, particularly given the highway safety implications of the proposal.

In light of the above concerns, Greenhead Parish Council requests that Northumberland County Council gives careful consideration to the highway and parking implications of the proposed development and seeks clarification of the identified discrepancies before determining the application.