Northamptonshire Local Plan Watch - Spring 2024

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.