North Northamptonshire Local Plan

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 Strategic Plan. These will be published here when they are completed.

Housing and Economic Needs Assessment

To support the preparation of the North Northamptonshire Strategic Plan we commissioned consultants Iceni to prepare a Housing and Economic Needs Assessment (HENA).

It assesses future development needs for housing (both market and affordable) and employment across North Northamptonshire over the period 2021 to 2041.

The HENA is a technical evidence base document used to inform policies that will be set out in the North Northamptonshire Strategic Plan. It is not a policy document in itself. 

A copy of the full report is available by emailing [email protected].

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.

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:

1. Visitor Access Survey - undertaken by Footprint Ecology
2. 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.

Last updated 21 February 2025