North Northamptonshire Local Plan

Evidence base

Housing and Economic Needs Assessment for North Northamptonshire

To support the preparation of the North Northamptonshire Strategic Plan we commissioned consultants Iceni to prepare a Housing and Economic Needs Assessment (HENA) for North Northamptonshire. The HENA 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 which will be used to inform the policies which will be set out in the North Northamptonshire Strategic Plan. It is not a policy document in itself. Copies of the HENA are available on request by contacting [email protected].

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.

North Northamptonshire Retail Capacity Update

North Northamptonshire Retail Capacity Study

The primary focus of this Study is to establish the current position in respect of the need for additional retail and leisure facilities in North Northamptonshire, and to consider the vitality and viability of the authority’s principal defined centres.

Its principal purpose is to inform work on the new North Northamptonshire Local Plan, and to assist in the determination of future planning applications for retail and other main Town Centre uses.

The Study is underpinned by new empirical evidence in the form of a new household shopper survey, stakeholder consultation, and site visits to survey and assess the health of the principal centres.

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.

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.

Appendices and reports

Available on request by contacting [email protected].

Last updated 15 May 2024