Northamptonshire Local Plan Watch - Autumn 2023

Both West Northamptonshire and North Northamptonshire continue to map out the intended timescales for the preparation of new Strategic Local Plans that will eventually replace the adopted two Joint Core Strategies that cover Northamptonshire as a whole.

West Northamptonshire undertook its Spatial Strategy Options and Call for Sites consultation at the end of 2021. North Northamptonshire were not far behind with its Call for Sites in early 2022 followed by a Scope and Issues consultation in Spring 2022.

West Northamptonshire published a new updated timetable for preparation of a new Local Plan, with publication of a Draft Plan (Regulation 18) for consultation due in October 2023, followed by Publication Version of the Draft Plan (Regulation 19) in June 2024 – the Council have since advised that there may be some slippage to this timescale possible towards the end of the year. A new Local Development Scheme (LDS) 2023-2026 was approved on 31st October 2023 (outcome pending) at a Place & Environment Scrutiny Committee which sets out a new timetable for the new plan. A Draft Plan (Reg 18) consultation is proposed for June/July 2024, with Publication Plan (Reg 19) consultation in January/February 2025, before submission in April 2025, Examination in October 2025 and adoption by September 2026. 

As time goes on, both West Northamptonshire and North Northamptonshire’s timetable for their new Local Plans appear likely to become more aligned, which makes sense from a strategic plan-making point of view, as issues relating to housing, employment and infrastructure are County-wide. A degree of joint working between the Authorities would help facilitate positive and pro-active plan-making.

The East Northamptonshire Local Plan Part 2 element of North Northamptonshire moves forward to a conclusion, with adoption of the Plan expected at Full Council on 7^th December 2023.

Th key challenges facing both Authorities across the County will be unlocking the delivery of housing and employment development, whilst managing potential issues relating to infrastructure, market absorption and saturation of growth, particularly where it might impact on the rate of housing delivery in areas of high concentration of growth.


Five Year Land Supply

Both West Northamptonshire and North Northamptonshire appear 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.

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