A new political map for Northumberland County Council

Northumberland County Council is set to have new boundaries for its council divisions.  

Proposed divisions for Northumberland 
Credit: contains Ordnance Survey data (c) Crown copyright and database rights 2023 
High resolution map available at www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/northumberland 

The Local Government Boundary Commission is the independent body that draws these boundaries. It has reviewed Northumberland to make sure councillors will represent about the same number of electors, and that division arrangements will help the council work effectively.  

The Commission has published final recommendations for changes in Northumberland. It says residents should be represented by 69 councillors. This is two more than under current arrangements.  

There will be 69 single councillor divisions. 

 Publishing the recommendations Professor Colin Mellors, Chair of the Commission, said: 

“We are very grateful to people in Northumberland. We looked at all the views they gave us. They helped us improve our earlier proposals.  
We believe the new arrangements will deliver electoral fairness while maintaining local ties.”  

262 people and organisations made comments to help decide the new divisions. Changes in response to what local people said include:   

• We propose two single-councillor divisions for Alnwick after we received evidence that demonstrated that this rather than a two-councillor division best reflected the community identity of electors in Alnwick and provided for convenient and effective local government 

• We propose a division of Cramlington East & Double Row which contains parts of Cramlington parish and Seaton Valley parish. By proposing this division we are able to propose a division that contains the village of New Hartley solely in Hartley division and not divided between divisions as it was at our previous stage. 

The Commission has made further changes to its earlier proposals. Details can be found on its website at www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/northumberland   

The changes become law once Parliament has approved them. Staff at the council will ensure that the arrangements are in place for the 2025 elections.  

Ends/ 

Notes to editors:  

This consultation relates to arrangements for local government elections. It is separate from the review of parliamentary constituencies that has recently concluded.  

For further information contact the Commission’s press office on 0330 500 1525 / 1250 or email press@lgbce.org.uk   

An interactive map is available at www.lgbce.org.uk/all-reviews/northumberland  

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is an independent body accountable to Parliament. It recommends fair electoral and boundary arrangements for local authorities in England. In doing so, it aims to:  

• Make sure that, within an authority, each councillor represents a similar number of electors 

• Create boundaries that are appropriate, and reflect community ties and identities 

• Deliver reviews informed by local needs, views and circumstances