Public asked to have their say on modifications to Northampton’s Local Plan

Examination of the Northampton Local Plan Part 2 continues as West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) prepares for a six-week public consultation on proposed modifications.

The Local Plan Part 2 is a major planning policy document that will help guide planning decisions throughout Northampton up to 2029.

Following public hearings in November 2021, the Government-appointed Planning Inspectors have recommended some modifications, before the Plan can be adopted by WNC.

On 28 June, Planning Policy Committee decided that those modifications should be put out to public consultation on.  Consultation opened on Thursday, 7 July, and ends at 23:59 on Thursday, 18 August.

Only comments on the modifications to the Local Plan Part 2 and the associated Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulations Assessments can be considered.

The modifications comprise:

• Main modifications – These are required to make the plan ‘sound’. They involve changes or insertions to policies and text that are essential to enable the plan to be adopted. Any comments on these will be considered by the Planning Inspectors.
• Additional Modifications – these are spelling, grammar, presentational changes and comments which will be considered by WNC. These do not affect the soundness of the plan.
• Changes to the maps – alterations including boundary changes and deallocations which will also be considered by WNC. These do not affect the soundness of the plan

For more information, visit Modifications Consultation page.

Cllr Rebecca Breese, WNC’s Cabinet Member for strategic planning, built environment & rural affairs, said: "The Local Plan Part 2 is a major piece of work which started in May 2016 and is now nearing its final stages.

"I would like to thank all those involved to date who have contributed to the contents of this document and to encourage residents to ensure that the modifications are reflective of feedback.

"I look forward to the next stage of the plan which will be to help guide planning decisions throughout Northampton up to the year 2029.”