New Local Plan for North Northamptonshire
Contents
Evidence base
The preparation and review of Local Plans should be underpinned by up-to-date and relevant evidence to ensure that the policies and proposals are justified. A series of evidence base reports and studies are being prepared to support the preparation of the North Northamptonshire Local Plan. These will be published here when they are completed.
Housing and Economic Needs Assessment
Iceni Projects and Justin Gardner Consulting (JGC) were jointly appointed by North Northamptonshire Council to undertake an update (April 2026) to the Housing and Economic Needs Assessment (HENA).
As an update report this does not cover all the same areas as the 2023 study, therefore some elements of that work remain valid for example the review of the functional geographies.
The overall aim of the study is to provide robust and proportionate evidence to inform the development of the North Northamptonshire Local Plan with regard to housing and employment land needs and requirements, and related policies over the period 2024 to 2045.
The North Northamptonshire Housing and Economic Needs Assessment published in July 2023 is also available on request from [email protected].
Garden Communities
Hyas Associates, supported by Aspinall Verdi, were commissioned by North Northamptonshire Council to undertake a review of strategic housing-led sites, also known as Garden Communities, to help inform the review of the North Northamptonshire Local Plan. Central to this review is the future role of the six Garden Communities in delivering housing: Corby Northeast (Priors Hall and Weldon Park), Corby West, Kettering East (Hanwood Park), Rushden East, Wellingborough North (Glenvale Park), and Wellingborough East (Stanton Cross).
As part of this commission, Aspinall Verdi undertook a detailed review of market and delivery conditions across the six Garden Communities. The findings have been incorporated into this report, with the full report set out in Appendix 1.
Leisure and sports
Leisure Facilities Strategy
Our Leisure Facilities Strategy helps provide a strategic framework for how sport, physical activity and leisure meets the needs of local communities and to improve the health and wellbeing of residents by planning for the appropriate facilities to meet the needs of an increasing population.
Playing Pitch Strategy
A summary of the key findings for each sport from the Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS) Assessment Report as well as an action plan that looks at recommendations on a site-by-site basis.
Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment
Opinion Research Services were commissioned by North Northamptonshire Council to prepare a Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment (GTAA) to inform the need requirements for current and future gypsy and traveller provision across North Northamptonshire. The study sets out options for how the need might be met.
As an addition to this study a pitch delivery assessment is currently being undertaken to evaluate the availability, suitability, and capacity of land for gypsies and travellers identified as part of the overall need, which will be available in the summer.
Retail Capacity
North Northamptonshire Retail Capacity Study
This study looks at the need for additional retail and leisure facilities in North Northamptonshire, and considers the vitality and viability of our principal defined centres.
It informs work on the new North Northamptonshire Local Plan, and helps when determining future planning applications for retail and other main town centre uses.
The study uses evidence including a new household shopper survey, stakeholder consultation and site visits to survey and assess the health of the principal centres.
Appendices available on request by contacting [email protected].
Rushden Lakes Shopping Centre Impact Assessment
A Retail Impact Assessment (RIA) was also undertaken of the comparison goods trading performance of the Rushden Lakes Shopping Centre, as it was trading at November 2022, to consider the comparison goods trade diversion impacts arising at nearby centres as a consequence of its development.
Appendices available on request by contacting [email protected].
Town Centre Strategy
A separate market report has also been produced which considers the national and regional property markets before focusing on individual town centres. The assessment considers the market for retail space and other town centre uses such as office and leisure within each town centre. It also considers the market for town-centre living.
Strategic Logistics Study
The study provides advice on potential locations for future strategic logistics development (warehousing space for units 9,000 sqm+) in North Northamptonshire using a multi-criteria analysis of potential development areas and the use of GIS data.
It follows the findings of other evidence-based work, mostly notably the SEMLEP Logistics Study and North Northamptonshire Housing and Economic Needs Assessment (HENA), which together provide broad indications of the level of need and estimated supply of strategic logistics.
Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits Special Protection Area
North Northamptonshire jointly with West Northamptonshire Council and Bedford Borough Council commissioned consultants Wild Frontier Ecology and Footprint Ecology to provide studies to inform evidence to support the Habitats Regulation Assessments (HRA) of the Local Plans for North Northamptonshire, West Northamptonshire and Bedford Borough Council
The project consisted of 2 surveys:
- Visitor Access Survey - undertaken by Footprint Ecology
- Bird Disturbance Survey (Wild Frontier Ecology) for the Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits Special Protection Area (UNVGP SPA) in Northamptonshire between Northampton and Thrapston
Copies of the surveys are available on the West Northamptonshire council website under the evidence base heading.
Landscape
North Northamptonshire Landscape Character Assessment (2025)
Place Services have reviewed and updated the Current Landscape Character Assessment of Northamptonshire that was undertaken in 2005. The review relates only to the North Northamptonshire area. The boundaries of the 15 landscape character types relevant to the North Northamptonshire area have been reviewed and revised where necessary.
North Northamptonshire Landscape Sensitivity Assessment (2026)
North Northamptonshire Council commissioned Place Services to prepare a Landscape Sensitivity Assessment (LSA) to inform the selection of development sites. The conclusions of the study will inform the selection of suitable sites for allocation in the Local Plan Review and provide a sound basis for decision making in the determination of planning applications.
This study does not address potential capacity in terms of the quantity of built development in these landscapes, as this would be dependent on a much wider range of considerations, other than landscape and visual effects - such as highways impact, ecological effects, archaeological constraints and other environmental and sustainability factors
Last updated 01 June 2026