Emergent strategy reveals growth areas set to enhance prosperity in West Northamptonshire (30/06/09)

People across West Northamptonshire are being asked for their views on proposals which will help shape the future economic and population growth around the towns of Northampton, Daventry, Brackley and Towcester.

West Northamptonshire Joint Strategic Planning Committee will meet on July 6 to debate and vote on whether a strategy for the direction of future growth in West Northamptonshire should go out to public consultation.

Known as the Emergent Joint Core Strategy, this document outlines current thinking on how growth will take place over the next 15 to 20 years and which areas and infrastructure have been earmarked as pivotal to the process.

The successful regeneration of Daventry town centre is in itself, an essential piece of infrastructure that will be delivered through this strategy.

The document, which has been drawn up by the West Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit on behalf of the Joint Committee, in close co-operation with the partner authorities and WNDC, explains how important choices for the area are being informed by technical evidence and previous public consultations.

West Northamptonshire has been selected by the Government as part of the Milton Keynes South Midlands Sub Region as one of four key zones in England which will deliver growth in homes and jobs from now to 2026 and beyond.

Councillor Chris Millar, Leader of Daventry District Council, said: "We want to make life better for all our existing and future residents and with any future housing growth we want to attract new and varied employment opportunities into Daventry District to support and improve the local economy.

“To accommodate the level of growth as set out in the government's plans then we will need to see the required levels of community infrastructure to fully support that growth.

“We have to give people confidence for the future and i'm looking forward to seeing what feedback results from the consultation process which will hopefully help determine the way forward."

The strategy aims to provide around 62,000 new homes both private and affordable in towns and rural areas in West Northamptonshire and generate between 37,000 and 68,000 new jobs from a range of economic sectors along with creating new schools, leisure centres, shops and green areas.

Central to this new growth is the enhancement of existing public transport links and networks and the provision of new ones. There is also a strong emphasis on reducing the number of car journeys on our county’s roads with the aim of reducing the amount of single occupancy car trips by 2026.

Northampton is the principle area for absorbing growth and to relieve the existing through-traffic travelling on the A45 and to reduce congestion and delays, a new road link will be developed at Northampton from the A45 to the M1. Flore/Weedon bypass is a major infrastructure requirement in Daventry district.

As well as development on green-field sites the strategy also factors in the necessity for increased town centre regeneration in Northampton, Daventry and Towcester while maintaining the area’s cultural heritage.