Neighbourhood planning

North Northamptonshire Council has designated the following neighbourhood areas for the purpose of producing neighbourhood plans. The respective Qualifying Bodies have not yet prepared their plans to the Pre-submission (Regulation 14) stage.

Ashley designated 27 March 2024

Barton Seagrave designated 11 December 2023

Kettering Central designated 24 October 2024

Little Addington designated 12 April 2024

The following documents are available on request from [email protected]:

• Desborough designated 16 October 2013
• Mawsley designated 15 April 2015
• Oundle designated 17 June 2013
• Pytchley designated 7 December 2015
• Rothwell designated 10 April 2013
• Rushton designated 22 May 2022
• Stanion designated 27 September 2018
• Thrapston designated 25 May 2022
• Twywell designated 9 May 2019

Details of progress on these plans can be obtained by visiting the websites of the relevant town and parish councils.

Copies of designation documents can be requested from the Planning Policy team by sending an email to [email protected]

SEA/HRA reports can be viewed on parish or town council websites as follows:

• Neighbourhood Plan - Rothwell Town Council
• Neighbourhood Plan - Isham Parish Council
• Neighbourhood Plan - Submission - Grafton Underwood Parish Council
• Neighbourhood Plan - Great Addington Parish Council
• Neighbourhood Plan - Kettering Central
  - Screening decision notice for Kettering Central
• Neighbourhood Planning - Irthlingborough Town Council
  - Screening decision notice for Irthlingborough Town Council

Details of progress:

• Wilbarston Neighbourhood Plan Pre-Submission Draft 2024-2045 - Consultation on the proposed Neighbourhood Plan for Wilbarston will run from Monday 19 January 2026 to Monday 2 March 2026 for a period of 6 weeks. Please visit the Key Working Documents - Wilbarston Parish council website for further updates.
• Grafton Underwood Neighbourhood Plan Pre-Submission Draft 2022 to 2041 - Consultation on the proposed Neighbourhood Plan for Grafton Underwood Parish took place for a period of six weeks from Monday 22 July 2024 to Monday 2 September 2024. Please visit the Grafton Underwood Parish Council's website for further updates.
• Great Cransley Neighbourhood Plan to 2031 - Consultation on the proposed Neighbourhood Development Plan for Great Cransley Parish is taking place for a period of six weeks from Friday 27 September to Friday 8 November 2024. Please visit the Great Cransley Parish Council’s website for further updates.
• Isham Neighbourhood Development Plan 2016-2031
• Nassington Neighbourhood Development Plan 2021 to 2031 - Consultation on the proposed Neighbourhood Plan for Nassington Parish is taking place for a period of two months from Tuesday 1 October to Saturday 30 November 2024. Please visit the Nassington Parish Council’s website for further updates.
• Weldon Neighbourhood Development Plan 2024 to 2031 - Consultation on the proposed Neighbourhood Plan for Weldon Parish took place for a period of six weeks, closing on Friday 13 September 2024. Please visit the Weldon Parish Council’s website for further updates.

Plans listed here are at Regulation 16 consultation stage.

Details of the consultation including:

• relevant documents
• where you can view hard copies
• how to comment

Isham Neighbourhood Plan - Regulation 16 consultation

North Northamptonshire Council has formally received the Isham Parish Neighbourhood Plan, which has been submitted for consultation in accordance with Regulation 15 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended), it includes the following documents:

• Isham Neighbourhood Plan
• Consultation Statement
• Basic Conditions Statement
• Strategic Environmental Assessment Screening
• Habitats Regulations Assessment Screening
• Landscape and Visual Assessment Isham Parish

In accordance with Regulation 16 of The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) the council is now publicising the Plan proposal for a period of six weeks. Representations are invited from 1 September 2025 to 13 October 2025 (midnight).

Representations should address whether, or not, the Plan proposal meets the basic conditions and other matters that the independent examiner is required to consider under paragraph 8 of Schedule 4B to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended).

Representations may also address whether the referendum area should be extended beyond the neighbourhood area.

You can view the relevant documents and make any representations through the Planning Policy consultation portal.

Our preference is for you to use the consultation portal however, alternatively, comments can be made through emailing [email protected] or be submitted by writing direct to North Northamptonshire Council:

Isham NP consultation
Council Offices
Thrapston area
Cedar Drive
Thrapston
Northamptonshire
NN14 4LZ

Hard copies of the Plan proposal and supporting documents are also available for public inspection at the North Northamptonshire Council office (Municipal Offices, Bowling Green Road, Kettering, NN15 7QX).

If you make a representation and would like to be notified of the council’s decision following the examiner’s recommendations, please make a formal request for this in your representation.

For information about how consultation and engagement responses are managed, please email [email protected].

Grafton Underwood Neighbourhood Plan - Regulation 16 consultation

North Northamptonshire Council has formally received the Grafton Underwood Parish Neighbourhood Plan, which has been submitted for consultation in accordance with Regulation 15 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended), it includes the following documents:

• Grafton Underwood Neighbourhood Plan
• Consultation Statement
• Basic Conditions Statement
• Strategic Environmental Assessment Screening
• Habitats Regulations Assessment Screening
• the Neighbourhood Plan Design Guide

In accordance with Regulation 16 of The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) the council is now publicising the Plan proposal for a period of six weeks. Representations are invited from 1 September 2025 to 13 October 2025 (midnight).

Representations should address whether, or not, the Plan proposal meets the basic conditions and other matters that the independent examiner is required to consider under paragraph 8 of Schedule 4B to the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended).

Representations may also address whether the referendum area should be extended beyond the neighbourhood area.

You can view the relevant documents and make any representations through the Planning Policy consultation portal.

Our preference if for you to use the consultation portal however, alternatively, comments can be made through emailing [email protected] or be submitted by writing direct to North Northamptonshire Council:

Grafton Underwood NP consultation
Council Offices
Thrapston area
Cedar Drive
Thrapston
Northamptonshire
NN14 4LZ

Hard copies of the Plan proposal and supporting documents are also available for public inspection at the North Northamptonshire Council Office (Municipal Offices, Bowling Green Road, Kettering, NN15 7QX).

If you make a representation and would like to be notified of the council’s decision following the examiner’s recommendations, please make a formal request for this in your representation.

For information about how consultation and engagement responses are managed, please email [email protected].

• Great Addington NDP

The note of the examiner’s sets out the examination arrangements

Examiner’s clarification note

Parish Council response to clarification note

• Grafton Underwood NDP

Grafton Underwood Neighbourhood Development Plan

Examination arrangements

Purpose of this note

This note sets out the basis on which the examination of the neighbourhood plan will be undertaken. Its ambitions are two-fold:

• to comply with the NPIERS guidance for service users and examiners (April 2018)
• to provide guidance for the Parish Council on the key stages of the examination

The examination route map

Different examinations raise their own issues. Nevertheless, the examination of the submitted Neighbourhood Plan will have the following the key stages:

Stage 1: Background reading

This involves reading the submitted Plan, its supporting documents, and the various representations. I will take all this information into account when preparing my report.

This stage of the examination has now started.

Stage 2: Visit to the neighbourhood area

The visit will provide me with an opportunity to look at specific issues and locations in the neighbourhood area.

Plainly not every component of the Plan needs to be viewed on the visit. Nevertheless, it will be focused on the issues that have arisen either from the background reading and which are fundamental to the Plan.

The visit will be unaccompanied. I will not meet with representatives of the Parish Council, North Northamptonshire Council or any of the parties who have commented on the Plan.

I will visit the neighbourhood area next week.

Stage 3: Clarification note

I will send a clarification note shortly after the visit. It will raise a series of questions for the Parish Council on the submitted Plan. The answers to the questions will help me to understand the Plan better and, where necessary, to recommend modifications to ensure it meets the basic conditions. The note will also provide an opportunity for the Parish Council to respond to the representations received on the Plan.

The clarification note will suggest a timescale for responses. However, this is a matter which I am happy should proceed at whatever pace is determined locally. This acknowledges that work on neighbourhood plans is carried out by local councils and individuals on a voluntary basis.

Stage 4: Decision about the need for a hearing

The combination of the background reading, the unaccompanied visit and the responses to the clarification note will allow me to come to a view about the need or otherwise for a hearing as part of the examination process. The legislation anticipates that most examinations can proceed by way of written representations and without a hearing.

If a hearing is required, North Northamptonshire Council will make the necessary arrangements.

Stage 5: The examination report

The report will be prepared throughout the examination period. Its general parts can be written early in the process. The elements of the report that overlap with the clarification note will not be prepared until the responses to the note are received. These arrangements would also apply if a hearing was required.

I will prepare a fact check report before the final report. This will give an opportunity for the Parish Council and North Northamptonshire Council to comment on any factual inaccuracies and omissions within the report. It will not present an opportunity for the examination to enter another phase.

Other related matters

The timing of the examination

Plainly different plans cover different issues. Neighbourhood plan examinations are inevitably linear and are directly affected by the number of policies and the number and complexity of the representations received.

In the case of the Grafton Underwood Plan, I anticipate being able to send the fact check report in mid-February 2026.

The exact timing will be influenced by the responses to the clarification note and/or the organisation of any required hearing.

Documents

I have asked North Northamptonshire Council to display all examination-related documents on its website.

Contact arrangements

My principal contact for the examination will be Umrah Mahadik at North Northamptonshire Council.

In most cases, I will ask Umrah to send documents to the Parish Council on my behalf.

Andrew Ashcroft
Independent Examiner
Grafton Underwood Neighbourhood Development Plan
6 January 2026

Independent Examination of the Grafton Underwood Neighbourhood Development Plan

Andrew Ashcroft was appointed as the independent examiner for the Grafton Underwood Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP). The independent examination is a key part of the neighbourhood planning process and is intended to ensure that the submission plan meets the required legal standards.

The examiner’s role is to assess whether the plan meets the basic conditions set out in Paragraph 8(2) of Schedule 4B of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. These conditions include, among other things, conformity with national policy, general compliance with strategic local planning policies, and compatibility with European obligations.

Further updates on the examination will be published on this webpage in due course.

Grafton Underwood Neighbourhood Development Plan

Examiner’s clarification note

This Note sets out my initial comments on the submitted Plan. It also sets out areas where it would be helpful to have some further clarification. For the avoidance of doubt, matters of clarification are entirely normal at this early stage of the examination process.

Initial comments

The Plan has been prepared and presented in a very professional and effective manner. The photographs and the maps are excellent.

In addition, the Plan is supported by a good package of supporting documents. In several cases they directly underpin the relevant policies.

The Vision Statement is very clear.

Points for clarification

I have read the submitted documents and the representations made to the Plan. I have also visited the neighbourhood area. I am now able to raise issues for clarification with the Parish Council. The comments made on the points in this Note will assist in the preparation of my report and in recommending any modifications that may be necessary to ensure that the Plan meets the basic conditions.

Policy GU1

This is a very good policy which sets the scene for the wider Plan. The identified views were clear during the visit.

Policy GU5

I looked carefully at the proposed local green spaces (LGSs) during the visit. Their significance to the local community was self-evident.

The policy is underpinned by the details in Appendix 1 and takes the matter-of-fact approach applied in paragraph 107 of the NPPF.

Please can the Parish Council advise about the size of proposed LGS 4 and LGS6.

Policy GU6

The reference to the Local Wildlife Sites (a) sits uncomfortably in the overall structure of the policy. Could it be weaved into the policy without affecting its overall effect and purpose?

Policy GU8

The intention of the first part of the policy is clear. Nevertheless, to ensure that it has a positive focus I am minded to recommend that its order is reversed so that the submitted first sentence comes at the end.

Does the Parish Council have any comments on this proposition?

Policy GU9

The policy has been carefully developed and is underpinned by the details in Appendix 2.

I am minded to recommend that the policy element sits at the end and that the earlier part of the policy identifies the various assets.

Does the Parish Council have any comments on this proposition?

Policy GU10

The policy is carefully underpinned by the Design Guide.

In the round, the policy and the Design Guide represent an excellent local response to Section 12 of the NPPF.

Policy GU11

I saw the importance of the identified facilities during the visit.

The policy makes good use of the relevant policy in the adopted Local Plan.

Policy GU15

This is a good criteria-based policy which complements national and local planning policies.

Policy GU17

This is another good positive local policy.

Policy GU18

On first reading, there is a slight disjoint between the first part of the policy and the opening element of the second part of the policy.

I am minded to recommend that opening element of the second part of the policy is replaced with ‘Development proposals for these uses should meet the following criteria:’

Does the Parish Council have any comments on this proposition?

Policy GU19

The thrust of the policy is entirely appropriate. However, does it have a specific purpose given that the broader issue is addressed in the Northamptonshire Parking Standards?

Representations

Does the Parish Council have any comments on the representations received?

Protocol for responses

I would be grateful for responses by 5 February 2026. Please let me know if this timetable will be challenging to achieve. It is intended to maintain the momentum of the examination.

If certain responses are available before others, I would happy to receive the information on a piecemeal basis.

Irrespective of how the information is assembled, please could it come to me directly from North Northamptonshire Council and make direct reference to the policy or the matter concerned.

Andrew Ashcroft
Independent Examiner 
Grafton Underwood Neighbourhood Development Plan. 
15 January 2026

• Isham NDP

Isham Neighbourhood Development Plan

Independent Examiner:
Christopher Collison BA(Hons) MBA MRTPI MIED IHBC

To North Northamptonshire Council and Isham Parish Council

By email to Umrah Mahadik, Senior Policy Consultant, Neighbourhood Planning, North Northamptonshire Council, and Rachael Bell, Clerk, Isham Parish Council.

cc. Richard Palmer NNC, Cllr Andrew Tidbury IPC, and Cllr Graham Kinnear IPC.

Dated 29 December 2025
Dear Rachael and Umrah

Isham Neighbourhood Development Plan Independent Examination - Examiner Initial Letter

Further to my appointment to undertake the Independent Examination of the Isham Neighbourhood Development Plan I am writing to clarify how I will conduct the examination which will formally commence today.

1.0 Communications

It is essential that the examination process is open and transparent to all interested parties. I would be grateful if North Northamptonshire Council could publish this letter on its website. I will address all future communication to North Northamptonshire Council, and to the Parish Council. It would be helpful if, when writing to me, North Northamptonshire Council and the Parish Council could send a copy to each other. Any advisors to the Parish Council or North Northamptonshire Council should channel any communication through the relevant organisation.  

2.0 National Planning Policy Framework and Planning Practice Guidance

As the Neighbourhood Plan was submitted to North Northamptonshire Council after 12 March 2025, I must undertake this Independent Examination in the context of the National Planning Policy Framework published on 12 December 2024. I will consider the Planning Practice Guidance in that context.

3.0 Examination documents

North Northamptonshire Council has provided me either with a copy of, or access to, the main submission Neighbourhood Plan documents and each of the Regulation 16 representations received during the publicity period. I have noted additional information is available on the North Northamptonshire Council website and on the Parish Council website. All documents sent to me throughout the Independent Examination, should be made available for inspection by interested parties. This is best achieved through publication on the North Northamptonshire Council website.

I have looked at the main submission Neighbourhood Plan documents. Subject to my later detailed assessment I have not identified any obvious fundamental flaws in the submission documents that would lead me to advise the examination should not proceed. If I find that there are significant issues which may prevent the Neighbourhood Plan meeting the Basic Conditions and other requirements, that cannot be addressed through modifications, I will notify you during the examination.

North Northamptonshire Council has advised me what comprises the Development Plan and what are regarded as the strategic policies of the Development Plan applying in the Neighbourhood Area.

I am providing the Parish Council with an opportunity to comment on the Regulation 16 representations of all other parties, including those of North Northamptonshire Council. There is no obligation on the Parish Council to offer any comments but this opportunity can prove particularly helpful where representations of other parties include matters that have not been raised earlier in the plan preparation process.

I request the Parish Council should submit any comments on the representations to North Northamptonshire Council, no later than noon on Friday 16 January 2026. The Parish Council may, at an earlier date, submit its comments, or confirm it does not intend to submit any comments on the representations. North Northamptonshire Council should forward any Parish Council comments to me, and any comments should be published on the North Northamptonshire Council website. Any Parish Council comments must not include new evidence.

4.0 Independence

From my initial review of the main Neighbourhood Plan documents, there are no conflicts of interest that would call into question my independent status. I will keep that matter under review throughout the examination.

5.0 Site visits in the Neighbourhood Plan area

All necessary visits to view parts of the plan area will be undertaken by me on an unaccompanied basis as it is important that there should be no perception that I have heard additional representations.

6.0 Clarification procedure

I may at any time during the Independent Examination seek written clarification of any matters that I consider necessary. I will direct any request for clarification to North Northamptonshire Council and to the Parish Council. I will request, if possible, any response is agreed as a joint response of North Northamptonshire Council and the Parish Council. Any request for clarification and any response should be published on the North Northamptonshire Council website.

I am proceeding on the basis that the examination can be concluded without the need for a hearing. At any time before I issue my final report, I may call a hearing if I consider this is necessary to ensure adequate examination of any issue, or to allow a person a fair chance to put a case.

7.0 Examination timetable

The main determinants of how long an examination will take are: the number and complexity of the Neighbourhood Plan policies; the clarity of supporting evidence; and the number and nature of representations. Assuming a hearing will not be necessary, and that the need for me to request clarification of any matters will not cause undue delay, I anticipate that before the end of February 2026 I will be able to send a confidential draft of my report to North Northamptonshire Council and the Parish Council to allow an opportunity to check whether there are any factual errors. That will not be an opportunity for any further representations to be made. This intended timetable should be regarded as indicative only.  

I should be grateful if both North Northamptonshire Council and the Parish Council could confirm in writing that they are willing to participate in the fact check of my emerging draft report on the terms indicated.

8.0 Procedural questions

A guide to Independent Examinations can be found here. I would be pleased to address any questions relating to the examination process that North Northamptonshire Council or the Parish Council may have.

I should be grateful if North Northamptonshire Council and the Parish Council could acknowledge receipt of this letter.

Best regards

Chris Collison 
Independent Examiner 
Planning and Management Ltd 

Independent Examination of the Isham Neighbourhood Development Plan

Christopher Collison was appointed as the independent examiner for the Isham Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP). The independent examination is a key part of the neighbourhood planning process and is intended to ensure that the submission plan meets the required legal standards.

The examiner’s role is to assess whether the plan meets the basic conditions set out in Paragraph 8(2) of Schedule 4B of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. These conditions include, among other things, conformity with national policy, general compliance with strategic local planning policies, and compatibility with European obligations.

Further updates on the examination will be published on this webpage in due course.

Neighbourhood Development Plans (NDPs) at Referendum

The NDPs listed here have reached the Referendum stage. We have considered the independent examiner’s report and decided that they should proceed to Referendum.

The council is responsible for organising and running the Referendum, which will be open to all eligible voters in the referendum area (usually the same as the Neighbourhood Area).

We will include on this page:

• Details of the Referendum
• The relevant documents
• Where and when the Referendum will take place
• Results of the Referendum, updated after it has taken place

Current Referendum

Results from the Great Addington NDP Referendum

Great Addington NDP Referendum Information Statement

Notice of referendum - Neighbourhood planning referendum for the Great Addington neighbourhood area

Neighbourhood development plans (NDPs) listed here have been 'made' (or adopted) by the council:

• The list includes NDPs that have been reviewed
• Made plans can be downloaded below and accessed via the parish or town council webpages - the council is not responsible for the contents of external websites
• Plans dated before September 2018 may not be accessible
• Mapping information is available for a number of Neighbourhood Plans in North Northamptonshire
• Individual decision notices can be requested from the Planning Policy Team by emailing [email protected]
• The date shown indicates when the NDP was made or reviewed.

To correct a factual error, Braybrooke Parish Council requested that a Minor Modification be made to the Braybrooke Neighbourhood Plan. North Northamptonshire Council confirmed that this can be treated as a Minor Modification as it does not materially affect the policies of the made plan. Braybrooke Parish Council agreed at their meeting on Tuesday 19 September 2023 to give consent to North Northamptonshire Council to make this change.

A further Minor Modification has also been agreed to the settlement boundary (Figure 3). 

The following documents are available on request from [email protected] or direct from the Parish or Town Council websites:

• Barnwell Neighbourhood Plan Design Code - July 2020
• Barnwell Neighbourhood Plan - Made 9 February 2023
• Barrowden and Wakerley Neighbourhood Plan - Made 9 December 2019
• Brigstock Neighbourhood Plan - Made 21 January 2019
• Broughton Neighbourhood Plan - Made 17 October 2018 and Broughton Neighbourhood Development Order - Made 17 October 2018
• Cottingham Neighbourhood Plan - Made 14 April 2022
• Ecton Neighbourhood Plan - Made 22 June 2021
• Great Addington Neighbourhood Plan - Made 11 November 2025
• Gretton Neighbourhood Plan - Made 22 June 2021
• Hargrave Neighbourhood Plan - Made 25 August 2022
• Irchester, Knuston & Little Irchester - Made 16 October 2018
• Kings Cliffe Neighbourhood Plan - Made 14 October 2019
• Ringstead Neighbourhood Plan - Made 25 August 2022
• Warmington Neighbourhood Plan - Made 17 December 2019

Contact details

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 0300 126 3000​