Urban Design

In 2001, Northampton Borough Council, English Partnerships as landowner and The Prince's Foundation embarked on a project to create an urban extension that would promote best practice in sustainable urban growth. The area identified for the extension was a site allocated in the Local Plan at Upton on the south-west edge of the town.

The partners appointed a consultant team led by EDAW to support them in taking forward aspirations for the new community. The mechanism for delivering the sustainable urban extension is Design Codes linked to an Urban Framework plan.

A design code is a set of specific rules or requirements to guide the physical development of a site or place. The aim of design coding is to provide clarity as to what constitutes acceptable design quality and thereby a level of certainty for developers and the local community alike that can help to facilitate the delivery of good quality new development.

Key features of the design codes for Upton include: a wide range of dwelling types; affordable housing pepperpotted throughout the site, the external design of which will be indistinguishable from market housing; every building will be assessed at design and post construction review stages to ensure BREEAM Excellent rating is achieved; Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS) to manage rainwater run-off and promote local biodiversity by allowing new wildlife habitats to establish; rainwater harvesting technologies incorporated into block and building design to allow for rainwater use within the homes; a management company to manage the SUDS and the maintain communal courtyards; and the design of Upton draws inspirations from the Northamptonshire vernacular.

The first phases of the development are on site, with the first houses now occupied. When it is complete the development will comprise a minimum of 1020 homes, together with a mix of uses which includes a primary school, local shops and live-work units. Other commercial office use, retail and community uses will form a local centre along Weedon Road (A45) on the northern edge of Upton.

Date last reviewed: 28/01/2009