Wellingborough Local Plan Consultation

Wellingborough’s Local Plan (part2) is set for its final stage of consultation prior to it being submitted to the Secretary of State for a public inquiry and then adoption. This is likely to happen during July and August if no more elections get in the way to delay it.

People will be asking so what?! We already have the Joint Core Strategy for North Northamptonshire in place, which forms part 1 of the Development Plan, which was adopted in 2016. This sets the strategic vision for the sub-region, identifies the housing growth targets for Corby, East Northamptonshire, Kettering and Wellingborough and allocates strategic housing-led urban extensions and major employment sites.

The Plan for the Borough of Wellingborough, to give it its correct title, will add further detail and planning policy specifically for Wellingborough. It is important because it will set the approach, within the broad framework established by the Joint Core Strategy, for how land can be developed in the Borough over the plan period to 2031. It will guide the ambition of any town centre regeneration or redevelopment in response to the development of Stanton Cross, Glenvale Park (Wellingborough North) and Rushden Lakes; set the detail in respect of housing allocations and how a 5-year housing land supply can be achieved and identify the boundaries for the rural villages establishing where development will and won’t be acceptable – amongst many other things.

As with all plans this will become out of date in due course as events occur, investment decisions are made and national consumption or retailing trends change. It is important that a degree of flexibility is built into the plan so that opportunities when they arise can be taken advantage of.

Landowners or developers who own and control sites with development potential may wish to respond to the consultation in order to ensure that the best case has been made for their inclusion in the plan or to help resist policy which may prove to be damaging for future proposals.

James Wilson Associates can assist with these written representations – please contact James on 07832 753197 or james@jameswilsonassociates.co.uk

or visit www.jameswilsonassociates.co.uk for further information