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

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.

A consultation on those modifications will start next month if Planning Policy Committee (28 June 2022) approves this next step.

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

The Local Plan Part 2 is a major piece of work which started in May 2016 and is now nearing its final stages.

For more information on the examination process, visit - https://www.northampton.gov.uk/info/200205/planning-for-the-future/2553/northampton-local-plan-part-2-submission.