Work progresses on North Northamptonshire wide Greenway

08 August 2024

North Northamptonshire Council’s Executive will receive an update on the proposed strategy for the Greenway. The North Northamptonshire Greenway will be a strategic rural network of safer, largely traffic-free routes suitable for walkers, wheelers, cyclists and equestrian users where appropriate, connecting settlements, employment, leisure and tourism destinations across North Northamptonshire and beyond.

In September 2023, the council consulted on the strategy for the Greenway, covering the whole of North Northamptonshire and following responses and suggestions from that consultation some changes have been made.

Executive members will be asked to approve the North Northamptonshire Greenway strategy which looks at 33 possible routes and grows on the work started in a former council area. It complements the works being completed in the more urban areas of North Northants to improved and expand the Greenway.

The strategy will provide:

• A clear vision and definition for the Greenway.
• A masterplan to help investment and development over the next 10 - 20 years.
• Further guidance on rights of way and how they can help develop greenways.
• A clear link to the LCWIP process to bring these to rural areas.
• A masterplan which will link to policies such as the Local Transport Plan and will also help future decision making.

The strategy explains how the Greenway will be delivered across North Northamptonshire and the design recommendation booklets will provide clear summaries of each route; length, surface, land ownership, costs, key stakeholders and route constraints.

The Greenway is already a great asset which is used by residents and visitors alike. Naturally it makes sense to think bigger and how we can expand it out across the whole of North Northants. With this in mind, the proposed strategy for the North Northants Greenway sets us on the right path for the next 10 - 20 years and looks at over 350km of routes connecting communities across the local area and into neighbouring authorities.

The strategy covers 33 possible routes, all of which would help connect our larger towns with the more rural areas, providing routes for leisure as well as commuters - something which is becoming more and more important as we look to a greener future.

The primary focus of the Strategy is to deliver the Greenway within North Northamptonshire however opportunities to connect our residents to communities and services in neighbouring local authority areas will be pursued as appropriate when they rise and funding becomes available.

The strategy will inform future capital investment in the Greenway through developer contributions, external funding bids and any capital investment the Council may or may not choose to consider.Cllr Helen Howell, the council’s Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Sport, Leisure, Culture and Tourism

Sustainable travel routes are vital as we future proof North Northants and projects like the Greenway are part of this. As well as looking long term, we’re working with landowners and partners now on various routes which will make a massive difference to communities and have also prioritised four routes as part of our strategy work to move forward with initially.

I look forward to discussing this exciting project with Executive members and considering the next steps.Jason Smithers, Leader of the Council

As well as seeking approval for the strategy, work is also ongoing, on the ground, on various routes across the local area with NNC currently working with partners and landowners for routes between Great and Little Addington, Wellingborough to Wollaston via Irchester, Oundle to Warmington and Corby to Gretton.

Braybrooke Parish Council and Braybrooke Beer Co. have been successful in securing grants for a section of Greenway between Market Harborough to Desborough. Once complete, it will connect the village to the Brampton Valley Way and allow the community to access Market Harborough and the new Taproom at Braybrooke Beer Co.

Also, following a consultation on the Rushden to Wellingborough route, funds have been secured for a Habitat Regulation Assessment which is two years’ worth of winter and summer surveys to show that the proposed route will have limited or no negative impact on the bird population, as well as other necessary surveys and assessments. This funding has meant that planning permission for the route will be sought late 2026/early 2027, once all requirements have been met.

North Northamptonshire Council’s Executive will meet on Thursday 15 August at 10am at the Cube in Corby and the papers are now available online. The meeting will be livestreamed on YouTube.