Consultation on the Scope and Options for the North Northamptonshire Gypsy and Traveller Local Plan

11 April 2023

North Northamptonshire Council has launched a consultation on the scope and options for a plan to address the accommodation needs of gypsy and travellers in the area.

The Gypsy and Traveller Local Plan will provide policies and site allocations and run until 2041. When finalised, the Plan will form part of the Development Plan for North Northamptonshire.

The current consultation is the first stage in preparing the Gypsy and Traveller Local Plan and focusses on providing information on key issues for the Plan, including:

• the vision and outcomes for the plan 
• options for meeting future requirements
• size of sites 
• geographical distribution 
• allocation of reserve sites
• assessment criteria for site allocation and determination of planning applications
• provision of transit sites and temporary stopping places
• site design
• retention of sites

The purpose of the consultation is to gather the views of the public and stakeholders on the key issues to be addressed by the final Plan and on the scope and content of the Plan.

Once completed, the Gypsy and Traveller Local Plan will cover the period until 2041, so we want to make sure everything is right and takes into account the views of all those affected by the issues raised in this Plan. 

It is worth mentioning that at this stage, no decisions have been made on the content of the planning policies and we are very much still in the initial phase of putting together this important Plan.Cllr David Brackenbury, the council’s Executive Member for Growth and Regeneration

Once completed, this will be a very important document and I would encourage everyone to get involved and give their feedback to help us shape the Plan - we want to work with stakeholders throughout this process.Cllr Jason Smithers, Leader of the Council

Comments are also invited on a Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report. The purpose of the Sustainability Appraisal is to appraisal the social, environmental and economic effects of the plan from the outset of plan preparation.

The consultation will run from 5 April 2023 until midnight on 31 May 2023. Further information is available on the Council’s Consultation and Engagement hub. Copies of the documents are also available for inspection at the main Council Offices and libraries during normal opening hours.