Northamptonshire Local Plan Watch - Spring 2021
Northamptonshire’s unitary merger has come into force where the eight councils have formed two. North Northamptonshire is formed of East Northants, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough while West Northamptonshire is made up of Daventry District, South Northamptonshire and Northampton Borough.
Key highlights
Unitary merger comes into force forming North Northamptonshire (East Northants, Corby Kettering and Wellingborough) and West Northamptonshire (Daventry District, South Northamptonshire and Northampton Borough) from April 2021.
East Northamptonshire and Northamptonshire Borough Councils submitted their plans for examination in early 2021.
The next key consultation in the area should be on the spatial options for West Northants in summer 2021.
Corby
Corby adopted the Local Plan Part 1 in July 2016 (North Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy). A review of the North Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy Review (Part 1) is anticipated. A Regulation 18 consultation is expected during summer 2021. This review is expected to coincide with the Unitary merger with Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough from April 2021.
Corby Borough Council submitted the Part 2 Local Plan for Examination on 19 December 2019. Examination Hearing Sessions took place from 29 September to 1 October 2020. A note from the inspector was published in November 2020 on the key issues and views on further Main Modifications and the council responded in a letter published in December 2020. A consultation on the further modifications is running until 22 April 2021.
Daventry
Northampton Borough Council adopted the Local Plan Part 1 in December 2014 (West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy). A review of the West Northants Joint Core Strategy Review (Part 1) has commenced, with an issues and call for strategic sites consultation which closed in October 2019. It is anticipated that the Options Consultation (Regulation 18) will commence in summer 2021.
Daventry District is to become part of a West Northamptonshire unitary authority following a merger with Northampton Borough and South Northamptonshire from April 2021.
The Daventry Local Plan Part 2 was adopted on 20 February 2020.
East Northants
East Northamptonshire adopted the Local Plan Part 1 in July 2016 (North Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy). A review of the North Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy Review (Part 1) is anticipated. A Regulation 18 consultation is expected during summer 2021. This review is expected to coincide with the unitary merger with Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough from April 2021.
On 27 January 2021, the Pre-Submission Draft Local Plan Part 2 was approved for consultation and submission to the Secretary of State. The Regulation 19 consultation on the emerging pre-submission Local Plan Part 2 ran until 19 March 2021.
Kettering Borough
Kettering Borough adopted the Local Plan Part 1 in July 2016 (North Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy). A review of the North Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy Review (Part 1) is anticipated. A Regulation 18 consultation is expected Summer 2021. This review is expected to coincide with the Unitary merger with Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough from April 2021.
The emerging Local Plan Part 2 was submitted for Examination on 28 May 2020. Hearing Sessions took place between 8 and 16 October 2020. The inspector wrote to the council in January 2021 on their post hearing findings in which the council responded in February 2021 proposing a timetable for progressing the Main Modifications. The inspector clarified a number of queries on the modifications in a letter dated 8 February 2021.
Northampton Borough
Northampton Borough Council adopted the Local Plan Part 1 in December 2014 (West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy). A review of the West Northants Joint Core Strategy Review (Part 1) has commenced, with an issues and call for strategic sites consultation which closed in October 2019. It is anticipated that the Options Consultation (Regulation 18) will commence in summer 2021.
Northampton Borough is to become part of a West Northamptonshire unitary authority following a merger with Daventry District and South Northamptonshire from April 2021.
The emerging Northampton Borough Local Plan Part 2 was approved at a Full Council meeting for submission for examination on 18 January 2021. The Local Plan Part 2 was submitted on 4 February 2021 for examination.
South Northamptonshire
Northampton Borough Council adopted the Local Plan Part 1 in December 2014 (West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy). A review of the West Northants Joint Core Strategy Review (Part 1) has commenced, with an issues and call for strategic sites consultation which closed in October 2019. It is anticipated that the Options Consultation (Regulation 18) will commence in summer 2021.
South Northamptonshire District is to become part of a West Northamptonshire unitary authority following a merger with Daventry District and Northampton Borough from April 2021.
The South Northamptonshire Local Plan Part 2 was adopted on 22 July 2020.
Wellingborough
Wellingborough adopted the Local Plan Part 1 in July 2016 (North Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy). A review of the North Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy Review (Part 1) is anticipated. A Regulation 18 consultation is expected during summer 2021. This review is expected to coincide with the unitary merger with Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough from April 2021.
The Plan for the Borough of Wellingborough (Local Plan Part 2) was adopted on 26 February 2019.
