Northampton Local Plan Part 2 Submission & Examination

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Hearing Sessions took place between Tuesday 16th November 2021 and Tuesday30 November 2021.

The Inspectors have submitted a Post Hearing Note to the Council. The Council will continue to progress outstanding work and begin to draft a schedule of main modifications to the Plan which will be consulted upon in due course.

Further updates will be available here in due course.

Latest Documents

The Inspectors

Planning Inspectors Philip Lewis BA(Hons) MA MRTPI and Mark Sturgess BSc(Hons) MBA MRTPI have been appointed to undertake an independent examination into the soundness of the Northampton Local Plan Part 2 (the Plan).

The Inspectors’ task is to consider the soundness of the submitted Plan, based on the criteria set out in paragraph 35 of the National Planning Policy Framework 2019 (the Framework). The relevant soundness criteria are whether the Plan is:

positively prepared (providing a strategy which, as a minimum, seeks to meet the area’s objectively assessed needs; and is informed by agreements with other authorities, so that unmet need from neighbouring areas is accommodated where it is practical to do so and is consistent with achieving sustainable development);
justified (an appropriate strategy, taking into account the reasonable alternatives, and based on proportionate evidence);
effective (deliverable over the plan period and based on effective joint working on cross-boundary strategic matters that have been dealt with rather than deferred, as evidenced by the statement of common ground); and
consistent with national policy (enabling the delivery of sustainable development in accordance with the policies in the Framework).

The Inspectors will take into account the representations submitted upon the Submission Plan as far as they relate to soundness considerations. A number of informal debates will take place on the principal matters identified by the Inspectors: these are termed Hearing Sessions.

At the end of the Examination, the Inspectors will prepare a report to the Council with precise recommendations, these recommendations may include modifications to the Plan, if such a request is made by the Council.

Guidance Notes have been prepared by the Inspectors to help people understand the process. Any queries people may have regarding the Examination process should be directed to the Programme Officer who will be happy to assist.

Procedure Guidance for Local Plans is available via www.gov.uk

Procedure Guide for Local Plan Examinations (external link)

The Programme Officer

The Programme Officer, Ian Kemp, will act as the contact for any person who has an interest in the Examination and as a liaison between the Inspectors, Council and Representors.

He is an independent Officer of the Examination and works on behalf of the Inspectors to organise and manage the administrative and procedural elements of the Examination process.

Any matters that anyone wishes to raise with the Inspectors should be submitted via the Programme Officer.

Contact details:
Ian Kemp
Programme Officer
PO Box 241
Droitwich
WR9 1DW

Mobile: 0772 300 9166
Email: idkemp@icloud.com

Hearing Sessions Venue and Timetable

Hearing Sessions commenced at 09.30am on Tuesday 16th November 2021 within the Jeffery Room of Northampton Guildhall, St Giles’ Square, Northampton, NN1 1DE.

Version 5 of the Programme identifies the participants for each session.

The Council produced an advice note for those attending the Hearing Sessions.

The Inspectors’ Matters, Issues and Questions (MIQs) form the basis of discussions during the hearing sessions and provide the framework for any further written responses representors submitted.

Agendas were produced for the hearing sessions as follows:

Examination Library

In preparing the Plan the Council both refer to and were informed by a number of documents that together form the Document Library for the Examination. These documents can be accessed below:

D. Evidence Base Documents

In preparing the Northampton Local Plan Part 2, the Council both referred to and were informed by a number of documents that together form the 'Evidence Base'.

Download evidence base documents

E. Written Statements

Written Statements received in response to the Inspectors’ Matters, Issues and Questions can be accessed through the following link:

Link to Written Statements

Submission to the Secretary of State

Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and Regulation 22 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations

Following the decision at Full Council on 18 January 2021, Northampton Borough Council submitted the Northampton Local Plan Part 2 (2011 – 2029) and supporting documents to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government on 4 February 2021 for examination. This is in accordance with Regulation 22 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended).

The Local Plan Part 2 will cover the Borough of Northampton and provide the statutory planning framework to 2029. It includes development management policies which will provide policy direction for sustainable development, housing delivery, retention and expansion of employment opportunities, supporting the growth and changing roles of the town centre, providing commercial and leisure enterprises as well as protecting and enhancing the built and natural environment. It will also include site specific allocations for various types of developments and/or uses that are considered suitable for these sites.

View the Notice of Submission of the Local Plan Part 2 for Examination

Local Plan Part 2 Submission documents

Northampton Local Plan Part 2 Submission & Examination