Greenway Project earns Special Recognition at Chamber of Commerce Business Awards

12 December 2025

North Northamptonshire Council is proud to receive a Special Recognition Award at the Wellingborough & North Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce Business Awards, highlighting the benefits of the Greenway project for residents and businesses.

The annual awards held last Friday (5 December) at Wellingborough Golf Club, celebrate the innovation, resilience and community spirit that make our region’s businesses thrive. This year’s event raised the bar, recognising organisations that deliver meaningful benefits for local people and communities.

North Northamptonshire Council was presented with a Special Recognition Award for its work on the North Northamptonshire Greenway, a long-term project creating safer, greener and more enjoyable ways for people to travel, connect and explore. By linking towns, villages, schools, workplaces and green spaces, the Greenway is helping residents walk, wheel and cycle more easily, supporting healthier lifestyles and reducing reliance on cars.

One of the Greenway’s biggest achievements has been the completion of its Masterplan, setting out an ambitious vision for a fully connected network across North Northamptonshire. This strategic roadmap has already helped secure support, prioritise routes and bring partners together, creating real momentum for future development, ensuring the project continues to grow and benefit future generations. 

Recent improvements, such as the new access ramp at Washbrook Road in Rushden and the Griffin Trail, an active travel route connecting Braybrooke to Market Harborough, are already making everyday journeys safer and more inclusive. These changes have opened up better access to town centres and countryside, strengthened local connections and encouraged more people to choose active travel.

The award also recognises the collaborative approach behind the Greenway. Parish councils, landowners, volunteers and local communities have all played a part in shaping the project. The Braybrooke route is a great example, by working with the parish and supporting the creation of the Griffin Trail, the Council has delivered new infrastructure while helping strengthen local identity and community pride.

This Special Recognition Award is a fantastic acknowledgement of the Greenway’s impact on our communities. It’s about more than paths, it’s about creating safer, greener and healthier ways for people to travel and connect. What makes this project special is the way it has been shaped by local voices and delivered through strong partnerships with parish councils, landowners and volunteers.

Together, we’re building something that will benefit residents for generations to come, improving accessibility, reducing isolation and supporting sustainability across North Northamptonshire. Well done to everyone who has worked so hard to make this happen, it shows what we can achieve together for our communities.Cllr Greg Wilcox, Executive Member for Communities.

The Council will continue to expand the Greenway network, improve accessibility and safety along existing routes, and work with schools, businesses and community groups to promote active travel. Smaller upgrades, better signage and improved surfaces will make the Greenway even more inclusive, while new sections will link communities with limited safe walking or cycling options.

More information on the Masterplan, walking and wheeling routes and other projects is available on the Greenway page.