North Northamptonshire Council publishes its first Local Area Energy Plan
Climate15 April 2026
North Northamptonshire Council has published its first Local Area Energy Plan (LAEP), an evidence-based plan that looks at the area’s entire energy system and sets out the most cost effective and locally appropriate pathway for transitioning the area’s energy system to net zero, while supporting growth.
The LAEP provides a coordinated, place-specific approach that considers national energy policies, local data, network constraints and opportunities, and wider social and economic factors.
Producing a LAEP is important for North Northamptonshire as it enables the council to proactively plan for decarbonisation alongside supporting future housing and commercial development. It helps ensure residents and businesses have access to a more reliable, resilient, and efficient energy system which should also help to reduce energy bills.
The plan also strengthens the council’s ability to influence future investment by electricity and gas network operators, who increasingly rely on LAEPs to inform long-term infrastructure planning and to invest ahead of need.
North Northamptonshire Council is leading the way as the first local authority in the South Midlands to complete a LAEP, setting a clear example of its commitment to improved sustainability.
In May 2025, the council appointed Urban Foresight to lead the development of the plan and collaborated with key partners, including electricity and gas network operators, through a dedicated Advisory Group. Their involvement has ensured the plan is informed by robust data and aligned with future infrastructure needs.
The LAEP includes an action plan setting out practical measures that will be delivered by a range of partners and stakeholders. These actions can help to:
- support cleaner and more efficient local energy
- reduce energy costs
- improve the resilience of the local energy system
- attract and guide investment in energy infrastructure
- enable better planned development across the area
- support decarbonisation opportunities in the area
The LAEP also helps ensure North Northamptonshire’s priorities are reflected in wider national and regional energy planning, including a new Regional Energy Strategic Plan being developed for Central England.
This Local Area Energy Plan will be a vital tool in helping us understand the most cost-effective and achievable ways to decarbonise our energy system whilst supporting economic growth and attracting jobs and investment to the area. It gives us a clear pathway that reflects the needs and characteristics of our communities and ensures we can work proactively with partners to support development, improve resilience, and contribute to our long-term environmental goals.Cllr Ken Harrington, North Northamptonshire Council’s Executive Member for Assets, Waste & Environmental Services
Importantly, the plan also highlights opportunities that can directly benefit our residents and businesses, from creating a more reliable and efficient energy system, to supporting future investment, growth, and improved local infrastructure. This is about ensuring North Northamptonshire has the energy system it needs for the future.
The LAEP has now been published and is available to view on the council’s website.
The plan will be reviewed and updated every five years to ensure it remains aligned with national policy, technological developments and local priorities.