Insight

Northamptonshire Local Plan Watch - Spring 2024

16.4.24 2 MINUTE READ

Image of northants spring

West Northamptonshire have taken a big step forward in the preparation of their strategic plan; the draft Plan for Regulation 18 consultation has been published.

The Draft Strategic Plan proposes a reduced housing number than originally envisaged due to the plan period being reduced to 2041. It directs the vast majority of the additional housing and employment growth towards Northampton, with just a small amount of residential land identified in Daventry.

The Draft Strategic Plan will be consulted on for 8 weeks from 8th April until early June 2024, giving landowners and promoters a final opportunity to help shape the strategy before it is finalised and subject to Regulation 19 consultation in early 2025.

Whilst not available at the time of writing, we are expecting the consultation to be supported by a range of evidence base documents and Topic Papers that explain why the strategy is preferred.

The Council have not issued a Call for Sites for any small-scale sites (with the last period only asking for sites over 700 homes to be submitted). With the change in approach (the Council are not looking to follow the Strategic Plan with Part 2 Local Plans) it is unclear how the role of small/medium sites has been considered and whether the Council will consider any new sites that are put to them through the upcoming consultation.

North Northamptonshire are behind West Northamptonshire in terms of their timescales and the recent slippage means it is uncertain when there will be a consultation on a Draft Strategic Plan. There currently isn’t any opportunity for new sites to be submitted to the Council for consideration – although the Council do say there will be opportunities in the future.

Five-Year Land supply

 

Both West Northamptonshire and North Northamptonshire continue to be able to currently demonstrate stable five-year housing land supply positions, with no clear and obvious route to the tilted balance under the presumption in favour of sustainable of development, at the present time.

Both Authorities, however, will not want to rest on their laurels, as there will likely be increasing short-term housing land supply pressures without timely progression of both committed allocations in adopted Plans and the identification of additional growth as part of the new Strategic Plans, which could possibly drive a continuation of speculative applications in some parts of the County.

At the current time, the Authorities monitor on the basis of the former Districts – this will end in April 2025, five years after creation of the Unitary Authorities, at which point they will need to report on a Unitary Authority basis.

For detail on emerging Local Plan position in Northamptonshire, please click on the map below.

Contributors:

Our Planning team

300305

Robert Love

Associate, Planning

With nearly a decade of experience, Robert consistently delivers insightful planning strategies for clients through the planning and development process.

Read more
602345

Mark Harris

Partner, Planning

A town planner with nearly two decades of experience.

Read more

Spring 2024

Local Plan Watch

Our Local Plan Watch provides an update on the progress of the Local Plans coming forward across our region to allocate new land for development and highlights the key opportunities for landowners, promoters and developers. 

Return to the hub
Image of Website banner - big map

Contributors:

Search Bidwells