Residents invited to help shape plans protecting the Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits
Planning strategies and plans17 March 2026
Residents, community groups and local organisations are being invited to share their views on new guidance designed to help protect one of Northamptonshire’s most important wildlife habitats.
Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits is internationally recognised for its importance to wildlife and is designated as a Special Protection Area (SPA) because of the rare and migratory birds it supports.
West Northamptonshire Council and North Northamptonshire Council are now jointly consulting on a draft Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits SPA Guidance and Mitigation Strategy, which will replace earlier planning guidance used by both authorities.
The full draft guidance and details on how to submit comments are available on the West Northamptonshire Council and North Northamptonshire Council websites and can also be inspected during normal opening hours at a number of council offices and libraries across Northamptonshire. Responses must be submitted by 11.59pm on 21 April 2026.
Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits is one of the county’s most important natural assets. It supports internationally significant wildlife and is a place that many local people value for its natural beauty and biodiversity.Cllr Thomas Manning, Cabinet Member for Portfolio Holder for Planning & Communities at West Northamptonshire Council
As our area continues to grow, it is vital that we plan carefully so that development and nature can exist side by side. This guidance will help ensure that happens by setting out clear expectations for how new development should protect this special environment.
We want residents, local groups and anyone with an interest in our natural spaces to take a look at the draft document and share their views. Your feedback will help shape how we protect this important site for future generations.
Protecting the Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits is essential not only for the rare species that rely on this unique habitat, but also for the future wellbeing of our communities. This updated guidance gives us a stronger, clearer framework to ensure that new development enhances rather than harms this internationally important site.Cllr Jan O’Hara, North Northamptonshire Council’s Executive Member for Planning and Economic Growth
We are keen to hear from residents, partners and local organisations so that together we can shape a strategy that safeguards the valley’s natural environment while supporting sustainable growth across North Northamptonshire.
The updated draft guidance has been developed using the latest available evidence and aims to ensure that future development in the surrounding area does not harm the protected habitats and bird species that rely on the site. It will help local planning authorities, developers and other stakeholders understand how development proposals should be assessed and what mitigation may be required to protect the area’s environmental integrity.
The guidance sets out a consistent approach to identifying potential impacts on the SPA and outlines how planning policies should be applied to ensure development complies with the legal requirements of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017.