Your Voice Matters… consultation launched on draft North Northants wide car parking strategy

12 October 2026

Following a meeting of the Executive last month, North Northamptonshire Council has today launched a consultation on a draft car parking strategy.

The draft strategy aims to provide a consistent, fair and transparent approach to parking, whilst ensuring that all council-owned car parks cover their own costs.

To reach this point, the draft strategy has been developed using a range of evidence including engagement with residents and stakeholders, car park occupancy surveys and benchmarking against neighbouring authorities.

The draft strategy, which covers 49 car parks across North Northamptonshire, includes proposals to: 

• Increase electric vehicle charging infrastructure
• Improve accessibility and customer experience 
• Reinvest parking income into parking and transport related infrastructure where legislation permits 
• Introduce a more consistent approach to parking management across North Northamptonshire
• Introduce a banded approach to parking tariffs based on demand and location
• Introduce charges or restrictions at some car parks that are currently unrestricted or free
• Increase the use of contactless, cashless and app-based payment options
• Review permit arrangements

This is a hugely important consultation, and I would urge everyone to have their say.

The questionnaire focuses on the main points raised within the draft strategy, but there is also an opportunity to have your say on any part of the draft towards the end of the questionnaire. We need your input, your voice really does matter.

The draft strategy sets out how we think parking should work over the next ten years in North Northamptonshire Council-owned car parks and looks to make the car parking experience consistent regardless of where you are in the area. It also looks to encourage more efficient use of car parks and healthier and more sustainable travel choices.

I want to take this opportunity to reiterate that no final decisions have been made on parking arrangements in the local area, this is one stage in a process.Cllr Chris McGiffen, the council’s Executive Member for Highways and Travel

This draft strategy is about fairer public services for the whole area - ensuring that there is a consistent approach across the whole of North Northamptonshire, something that was committed to broadly when our corporate plan was unanimously approved.

I have always said we will be a listening Council, taking on board the feedback of all residents - regardless of where they are in North Northamptonshire.Cllr Martin Griffiths, Leader of the Council

The consultation is now live and will run until 20 December 2026 and can be accessed via the council’s consultation hub.

Alternatively, you can respond by emailing [email protected] or post to Draft Car Parking Strategy Consultation Response, North Northamptonshire Council, Traffic Enforcement Team, c/o Bowling Green Road, Kettering, Northants NN15 7QX.

Once the consultation closes, all feedback will be considered and, if necessary, any amendments made to the draft strategy. The findings of the consultation and draft strategy will then be reported to the council’s Scrutiny committee before a final strategy is presented back to the Executive for approval in early 2027. 

The council would also be required to amend existing Traffic Regulations Orders through a formal process including further consultation, as required, before any proposed changes could be implemented.