Northampton LSGI Final Draft 10.03.09

NORTHAMPTONLANDSCAPESENSITIVITYANDGREENINFRASTRUCTURESTUDY

PreparedbyLivingLandscapesConsultancyLtdOnbehalfofthe

RiverNeneRegionalParkCIC

Final ReportFebruary2009

Disclaimer

Itshouldbenotedthatunlessotherwisestated,theassessmentsmadeassumethatsitesandfacilitieswillcontinuetobeusedfortheircurrentpurposewithoutsignificantchange.Theconclusionsandrecommendationscontainedinthisreportarebaseduponinformationprovidedbyothersandupontheassumptionthatallrelevantinformationhasbeenprovidedbythosepartiesfromwhomithasbeenrequested.InformationobtainedfromthirdpartieshasnotbeenindependentlyverifiedbyRNRPorLivingLandscapesConsultancyLtd.,unlessotherwisestatedinthereport.

ThecopyrightandallassociateddatawillberetainedbyRNRPCICandWNJPU.TheRNRPCICwilljointlylicensepartnersandotherstousethisinformationwherethisdoesnotconflictwithothercopyrightse.g.OrdnanceSurvey.Allmaterialcopiedfromothersourceswillbefullyacknowledgedandtherelevantcopyrightconditionsobserved.

CONTENTS

Sections

EXECUTIVESUMMARY

1.INTRODUCTION

1.1Background

1.2MethodologyandScopeofReport

1.3ReportFramework

PARTA:BASELINEREVIEW(LOCALCONTEXTANDRESOURCEREVIEW)

2.0APPROACHTOUNDERTAKINGTHEBASELINEREVIEW

2.1Introduction-GreenInfrastructureAssets

2.2Methodology

3.0THEMEONE:NATURALSYSTEMS

3.1Topology,GeologyandMinerals

3.2Hydrology

3.3NatureConservationandBiodiversityandGeologicalSites

4.0THEMETWOCULTURALHERITAGEANDLANDUSESYSTEMS

4.1CulturalHeritage

4.2StrategicandLocalGreenSpace

4.3Leisure,RecreationandTourism

4.4AccessandMovement

4.5TransportInfrastructure

4.6StrategicAgriculturalLandClassification

5.0THEMETHREE:TOWNSCAPEANDVISUALCHARACTER

5.1TownscapeCharacter

5.2VisualBaselineandAnalysis

6.0THEME FOUR: NORTHAMPTONSHIRE ENVIRONMENTAL CHARACTER ASSESSMENTSUITE

6.1IntroductionandBackgroundtotheSuite

6.2EnvironmentalCharacterAssessment

6.3CurrentLandscapeCharacterAssessment

6.4BiodiversityCharacterAssessment

6.5HistoricLandscapeCharacterAssessment

7.0THEMEFIVE:STRATEGICGREENINFRASTRUCTURE

7.1IntroductionandBackground

7.2TheWestNorthamptonshireBiodiversityNetwork

7.3TheSustainableMovementNetworkforWestNorthamptonshire

7.4StrategicGreenInfrastructureCorridors

7.5GreenInfrastructureNetworks

PARTB:SENSITIVITYREVIEW

8.0SENSITIVITYREVIEW

8.1IntroductionandMethodology

8.2SensitivityCategoriesandDefinitions

8.3BiodiversitySensitivity

8.4CulturalHeritageSensitivity

8.5LandscapeandVisualSensitivity

8.6FloodZonesandMineralsSensitivity

8.7SummaryofSensitivitybyQuadrant

8.8Conclusion:CombinedSensitivity

PARTC:GREENINFRASTRUCTURESTRATEGY

9.0GREENINFRASTRUCTURE

9.1Introduction

9.2WhatisGreenInfrastructure?

9.3PolicyFramework

9.4GreenInfrastructureProvision:BiodiversityNetwork

9.5GreenInfrastructureProvision:SustainableMovementNetwork

10.0POLICYFRAMEWORK

10.1Introduction

10.2RegionalSpatialStrategyfortheEastMidlands(RSS8)

10.3OpenSpace,SportsandRecreationNeedsAssessmentsandAudits

11.0DELIVERYOFGREENINFRASTRUCTURE

11.1Introduction

11.2Establishmentofkey“GIRoutes”

11.3PotentialImprovementstotheMovementNetwork

11.4PotentialImprovementstoOpenSpaceProvision

11.5AdditionalEnhancementofBiodiversity

11.6TheRoleofStructuralLandscapeAreas

11.7Principlesfordelivery

11.8Conclusion

PARTD:CONCLUSION

APPENDIX1:LISTOFDATASETS

APPENDIX2:GLOSSARYOFTECHNICALTERMSANDACRONYMS

APPENDIX3:REFERENCES

FIGURES(Listedonfollowingpage)

LISTOFFIGURES

Figure1:CoreStudyAreaandContextFigure2:AerialPhotograph

Figure3:Landform

Figure4:HydrologyandFloodZones,andMinerals

Figure5:NatureConservation,BiodiversityandGeologicalSitesFigure6:CulturalHeritage

Figure7:StrategicandLocalGreenSpace

Figure8:ExistingLeisure,RecreationandTourismSitesandDevelopmentsFigure9:AccessandMovement

Figure10:TransportandInfrastructure

Figure11:StrategicAgriculturalLandClassificationFigure12:IndicativeTownscapeCharacter

Figure13:SlopeAnalysisFigure14:VisualAnalysis

Figure15:EnvironmentalCharacterAssessmentFigure16:CurrentLandscapeCharacterAssessmentFigure17:BiodiversityCharacterAssessment

Figure18:HistoricLandscapeCharacterAssessmentFigure19:StrategicBiodiversityNetwork

Figure20:SustainableMovementNetworkFigure21:StrategicGreenInfrastructureNetworkFigure22:BiodiversitySensitivity

Figure23:CulturalHeritageSensitivityFigure24:LandscapeandVisualSensitivity

Figure25:FloodZonesandMinerals-SensitivityFigure26:CombinedSensitivity

Figure27:GreenInfrastructureNetworks

Figure28:GreenInfrastructureNetworkswithBiodiversitySensitivityFigure29:GreenInfrastructureNetworkswithCulturalHeritageSensitivity

Figure30:GreenInfrastructureNetworkswithLandscapeandVisualSensitivityFigure31:GreenInfrastructureNetworkswithFloodZonesandMineralsSensitivityFigure32:GreenInfrastructureStrategy

EXECUTIVESUMMARY

TheNorthamptonLandscapeSensitivityandGreenInfrastructureStudyhasbeenpreparedbyLivingLandscapesConsultancyLtd.onbehalfoftheRiverNeneRegionalParkCIC,whocommissionedthestudyonbehalfoftheJointPlanningUnit.

TheCoreStudyAreaincorporatesalllandwithinNorthamptonBorough,plusoneparishbeyondineachdirection. ThisisconsistentwiththeStudyAreausedfortheNorthamptonLongerTermGrowthOptionsStudy(EDAW,2007). TheCoreStudyAreaincludeslandwithinNorthamptonBorough,DaventryDistrict,theBoroughofWellingboroughandSouthNorthamptonshireDistrict. TheboundariesoftheseLocalPlanningAuthorityareasareshownonFig.1.

Thestudyhasbeenundertakeninfourstages,andissetoutaccordingly.

PartAisareviewofthebaselinedata. Itspurposeittogainanin-depthunderstandingofthenaturalandculturalresourcesofthearea,andhowtheycontributetothesettingandcharacterofNorthampton.Theresultsarepresentedasaseriesofdrawings,andalsothroughtext. Thesectionisdividedintofivetopics:NaturalSystems;CulturalHeritageandLandUseSystems;TownscapeandVisualCharacter;theNorthamptonshireEnvironmentalCharacterAssessmentSuite,andStrategicGreenInfrastructure.

PartBisasensitivityreview.LandscapesanddesignatedsiteswithintheStudyAreaidentifiedinPartAareascribedalevelofsensitivity(high,mediumorlow)tolargescaleresidential/mixedusedevelopment.Theresultsareillustratedgraphically,andalsodescribedthroughtext.Thesensitivityreviewincludesfourtopics:biodiversitysensitivity;culturalheritagesensitivity,landscapeandvisualsensitivityandfloodzonesmineralssensitivity.Inaddition,thereisacombinedsensitivitymap,whichbringsthealltheresultstogethershowingareasofhigh,mediumandlowcombinedsensitivity.

TheaimofthissectionistoguidetheRelevantLocalPlanningAuthoritiesanddeveloperstodecisionsthatreduceanyadverseimpactonbaselineresources,andtoprovidesomeindicationonthelocation,scaleandtypeofdevelopmentthatmaybeappropriateinaparticulararea.Italsoindicateshowdevelopmentshouldrespondpositivelytoboththeopportunitiesandconstraintsidentified.PlansshowingsensitivityandGreenInfrastructureNetworkshelptoidentify areas where GreenInfrastructureprovisionwouldbemostbeneficial,andwouldenablepositiveresponsesandenhancementoftheresource.

PartCisaGreenInfrastructure(GI)strategyforNorthampton.ThissectionconsiderstheopportunitiesforGIenhancementandconsequentialrecommendationsforanimprovedGInetworkaroundthetown.Itdrawsontherecently-completedOpenSpace,SportandRecreationStudy(pmp2006)toidentifyareasofNorthamptonwhichareoutsiderecommendedcatchmentareasforcertaintypesofOpenSpace,andalsoforwhichOpenSpacesitespooraccessibilityisanissue.

Key“GIroutes”areidentifiedwhichcontainPrimaryMovementNetworks,habitatcorridorsandOpenSpacesites.AseriesofGreenInfrastructureprojectsareproposedwhichaimtoaddressaccessibilityissues,andalsoenhanceNorthampton’sMovementNetwork,OpenSpacesitesandBiodiversityNetwork.

PartDcontainstheconclusionsoftheStudy.

INTRODUCTION

1.1Background

1.1.1LivingLandscapesConsultancyLtd.hasbeenappointedbytheRiverNeneRegionalParkCommunityInterestCompany(RNRP)topreparethisLandscapeSensitivityandGreenInfrastructure(LSGI)StudyforNorthampton.RNRPhavecommissionedthestudyonbehalfoftheWestNorthamptonshireJointPlanningUnit.OfficersfromtheWestNorthamptonshireJointPlanningUnit,DaventryDistrictCouncil,NorthamptonBoroughCouncilandSouthNorthamptonshireCouncilhavealsohadinputduringtheproductionoftheStudy.

1.1.2TheSustainableCommunitiesPlanidentifiestheMiltonKeynesSouthMidlands(MKSM)SubRegion asoneoffourmajorareasofgrowthwithinthewiderSouthEast.MuchofthedevelopmentplannedforthatgrowthareawilltakeplacewithinNorthamptonshire,focusedontheexistinglargertownswithintheCounty,includingNorthampton.ThetownofNorthamptonhasbeenidentifiedasakeyfocusinthisgrowtharea,withananticipated40,000newhomes(emergingRSS8)overthenext25years.ItisintendedthatthisStudywillhelptoinformdecisionsaboutthefutureexpansionofthetownandtheinfrastructurerequiredtosupportthatgrowth.

1.1.3PreparationoftheLSGIStudyhasbeenawide-rangingandmulti-disciplinarytask,withGreenInfrastructureconstitutingoneofthefiveinfrastructureelementsunderinvestigation.Inthecontextofthisstudy,GreenInfrastructureandlandscapeencompassesalloftheenvironmentalresourceatthestrategicsalecomprisinglandscapecharacterandvisualamenity,biodiversityandculturalheritage,andthewidernetworksandinterrelationshipsofstrategicgreenspace,biodiversityandsustainablemovement.

1.2MethodologyandScopeoftheReport

1.2.1ThemethodologyandpresentationofthisreportisconsistentwiththeGreenInfrastructureandLandscapeTechnicalReportrecentlypreparedforDaventry,aspartoftheDaventryInfrastructureStrategy.DuringthedevelopmentoftheDaventrystudy,themethodologywassubjecttoarigorousprocessoftesting.

1.2.2ThisreporthasbeenpreparedasatechnicalstudyandisbasedonadesktopreviewofvarioussourcesofinformationcompliedbyotheragenciesthatfocusongreeninfrastructureandlandscapeissuesinandaroundNorthampton.Inadditiontothedesktopreviewthathasbeenconducted,severalsitevisitswereundertakenbetweenAprilandJune2008tosupplementtheinformationavailable,andinparticulartogatherevidenceinsupportofthelandscapecharacterandvisualassessmentanalysesthatformpartofthisassessment.Thesitevisitswerelimitedtotheconsiderationofstrategicissues,ratherthandetailedissuespertainingtoindividualsites.Furtherworkwouldberequiredtoassessvisibilityandcharacterissuesatthelocalscaleaspartofmoredetailedsite-specificassessmentssuchasthoseconductedaspartofEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentsforproposednewdevelopment.

1.2.3Theoverallscopeofthisreportis:

Toprovideabroadoutlineofthebaselineresource;
Toprovideareviewofthesensitivityofthelandscapeandlandscapecharacter,biodiversity,culturalheritage,floodzonesandmineralsresourcessurroundingNorthampton;

To contribute to the identification of an optimal green infrastructure strategy forNorthamptonasitsgrowstoinclude40,000newhomes;
Toassistthepublicsectoragenciesinvolvedingrowthdecisionsintheirunderstandingoftherelativesensitivityoftheareassurroundingthetowntoproposalsforgrowth;
Toprogresstheunderstandingofsensitivityinrelationtogreeninfrastructure,andtousethistoguideanoptimalgreeninfrastructurenetworklinkedtoNorthampton’sgrowth;and
To identify a schedule for proposed green infrastructure investment associated withgrowthproposalsforthetown.

1.2.4Acleardefinitionoftheterm‘theparticulartypeofchangeordevelopment’isestablished,asthisprovidesthereferencefortheconsiderationofthesensitivityoflandscapesandenvironmentalfeaturestothespecificchange,anditstypeandscale.Inthecontextofthisstudy,‘changeordevelopment’isdefinedasmajormixed-useurbanextensiondevelopmentinexcessof5ha1.However,someassetscouldstillbesensitivetodevelopmentoflessthan5ha.

1.2.5ItisimportanttonotethatthefindingsofthisSensitivityAssessmentarenotapplicabletotheassessmentofthesensitivityofthelandscapeorenvironmentalfeaturestoothertypesofdevelopment,forexamplemajorinfrastructuresuchasroadorrailschemes,orrenewableenergyinitiativessuchaswindfarms. Assuch,thefollowingsectionpresentsanexaminationoftheenvironmentalresource withinandaround Northamptonunderaseries ofStrategicThemes.Referencetosupportingplansismadewhererelevant.

1.2.6Itwasnotconsideredappropriatetoestablishoptimaldevelopmentscenariosthroughanalysisandinterpretationofbaselinelandscape,visual,heritageandbiodiversityassets,andthesensitivityassessment.TherationaleforthiswasbasedonthepremisethatanyoptimalscenariosforGIandlandscapewouldbehighlydependentuponmoredetailedsitespecificsurveysandrequiredcomplexbalancingandweightingoftherespectiveGIinterests.Thisislargelyamatterforthedevelopmentplanprocess.Thestrategiclevelconclusionsexpressedfromthisstudystillriskbeinginterpretedasdeterminingpreferredpotentialsitesorareasfordevelopment.Notwithstandingthisrisk,theconclusionsfromtheexercisehaveidentifiedareasthatwouldbemore,orlesschallengingfornewdevelopmentatastrategicscale,andforwhichfurtherstudywouldberequiredbeforeanydefinitivejudgmentshouldbemade.

1.2.7AseriesofplanshavebeenpreparedthatillustratewherethesensitivityanalysishasidentifiedareaswheretherearesignificantconstraintstoexistingresourcesandalsowhereGIprovisionwouldbemostbeneficialandprovideopportunitiesforpositiveresponsesandenhancementoftheresource.TheseplanswillassisttheLocalPlanningAuthoritiesanddevelopersinguidingdecisionsthatreduceadverseimpactonbaselineresourcesandsensitivitytochangeaswellasthelocation,scaleandtypeofdevelopmentthatisappropriate.

1.2.8Figure31illustratestheoverallsensitivitytoindicatehowdevelopmentshouldrespondpositivelytoboththeopportunitiesandconstraintsidentified.

AdditionalConsiderationsinrespectofGreenInfrastructure(GI)andLandscape

1.2.9TheoverridingimperativeinrespectofGIandLandscapeisintrinsicallylinkedwithrecognisingNorthampton’scharacterarisingfromthetown’srelationshipwithitstopographicalsetting,andthewiderruralhinterlandthatsurroundsit. Inaddition,thereisabroadobjectivetopromote

1 This5hathresholdisderivedfromaninterpretationofEIARegulationsIndicativeThresholdsandCriteria–Appendix3Section10b.

anddeliveranintegratedsystemofGI,encompassingbiodiversityandsustainablemovementnetworks,andtheincorporationofstrategiclandscapeandopenspaces.

1.2.10Theprocesscommencedwithacomprehensivebaselineassessment,including anexaminationofcharacterandthevisualresource,followedbyasensitivityassessment.Thislatterprocessidentifiedahierarchyofsensitiveareasinrespectofthephysicalandvisuallandscape,biodiversityandculturalheritage.Italsoprovidedtheframeworkforananalysisofthekeyopportunitiesandconstraintstoprovidingforthetown’sfutureGIrequirements,andtheidentificationofareasofsensitivityinrelationtoopportunitiesassociatedwiththeidentifiedGInetworks.

1.3ReportFramework

Thisreportispresentedinthefollowingformat:

1.3.1SectionA:BaselineReview,discussesthegreeninfrastructureandlandscape,visual,biodiversityandculturalheritagebaselineassetsthatareimportantwhenconsideringnewmixedusedevelopmentwithintheperi-urbanlandscapearoundNorthampton.

1.3.2Followingthereviewofthebaselineresource,sectionB:SensitivityReview,providesdetailofthesensitivityanalysisthathasbeenundertakenwithinthecoreselectedthemesofculturalheritage,biodiversity,landscapeandvisualandmineralsandflood-risk.Thisanalysisseekstoidentifyandhighlightparticularlysensitiveassetstoenabledecisionmakerstoconsidertheappropriatenessofnewdevelopmentinandaroundthetown.

1.3.3Followingthesensitivityanalysis,sectionC:GreenInfrastructureStrategyexaminestheinfrastructurerequirementsforNorthamptonandsetsoutaGreenInfrastructureStrategy,providingopportunitiesto enhance theSustainableMovement Network, Open Spacesandbiodiversityofthearea.

1.3.4PartDcontainstheconclusionsoftheStudy

1.3.5Appendix1containsalistofdatasetsusedintheStudy.Appendix2containsaglossaryoftechnicaltermsandacronyms,andAppendix3containsareferencelist.

PARTA: BASELINEREVIEW(LOCALCONTEXTANDRESOURCEREVIEW)

2.1APPROACHTOUNDERSTANDINGTHEBASELINEREVIEW

2.2Introduction-GreenInfrastructureAssets

2.2.1TheassessmentconsidersfeaturesandassetswithinaCoreStudyArea,aspresentedonFig.

1.TheCoreStudyAreaincorporatesalllandwithinNorthamptonBorough,plusoneparishoutineachdirection.ThisisconsistentwiththeStudyAreausedfortheNorthamptonLongerTermGrowthOptionsStudy(EDAW,2007).TheCoreStudyAreaincludeslandwithinNorthamptonBorough,DaventryDistrict,theBoroughCouncilofWellingboroughandSouthNorthamptonshireDistrict.TheboundariesoftheseLocalPlanningAuthorityareasareshownonFig.1.

2.2.2ThestrategicnatureofthisassessmentandthenecessitytoidentifyacorestudyareathroughwhichanassessmentofNorthamptoncouldbeundertakenshouldnotlimitthegeographicalscopeoffuture,moredetailedlandscapeandvisualassessments,perhapsundertakenaspartofLandscapeandVisualImpactAssessmentsfornewdevelopmentsinandaroundthetown.Forexample,wherenewdevelopmentisassessedashavingavisualimpactbeyondtheCoreStudyAreaboundary,itmaybenecessaryorappropriatetodeveloplandscapeinterventionsinthewiderlandscapetomitigatetheiradverseimpact.Asaconsequenceofthenatureandscaleofthisstrategicassessmentithasnotbeenpossibletoidentifyallthedetailedissuesthatmayariseasaresultofdifferenttypesofdevelopmentinandaroundthetown.

2.2.3Toaidthepresentationofdata,theCoreStudyAreahasbeendividedintofiveStudyAreas,whichareuniquetothisproject.EachStudyAreaencompassesanareaofland,whichisbroadlyconsistentintermsoflandscapecharacterandthedesignationswithinit.Thereforethereisminimalrepetitionofinformation,andthekeyissuesrelatingtoeachoftheStudyAreascanbeeasilyseenandaddressed.TheStudyAreasareasfollows:

StudyArea1:NorthEastincludeslandtothenorthandeastofNorthamptonwithintheCentralNorthamptonshirePlateausandValleysEnvironmentalCharacterType,theLiassicSlopesBiodiversityCharacterTypeandtheRollingIronstoneValleySlopesLandscapeCharacterType.

StudyArea2:NeneValleyEastincludestheMiddleNeneEnvironmentalCharacterType,theMajorFloodplainBiodiversityCharacterTypeandtheBroadRiverValleyFloodplainLandscapeCharacterType.

StudyArea3:SouthincludestheWestNorthamptonshireUplandsEnvironmentalCharacterType(andsmallpartsoftheMiddleNeneEnvironmentalCharacterType)andtheLimestoneValleySlopes,UndulatingClaylandsandUndulatingHillsandValleysLandscapeCharacterTypes.WithinthisStudyAreathereareavarietyofBiodiversityCharacterTypes.

StudyArea4:NeneValleyWestincludestheUpperNeneCatchmentandWatfordGapEnvironmentalCharacterType,andtheBroadRiverValleyFloodplainLandscapeCharacterType.ThemajorityofthisStudyAreaiswithintheMajorandMinorFloodplains.TheBiodiversityCharacterTypesincludesomeLiassicSlopesandCroppedClaylands.

StudyArea5:NorthWestincludespartsoftheCentralNorthamptonshirePlateausandValleysandWestNorthamptonshireUplandsEnvironmentalCharacterTypes,andparts

oftheRollingIronstoneValleySlopesandUndulatingHillsandValleysLandscapeCharacterTypes.ThisStudyAreaalsocontains(amongstothers)theAcidSandsBiodiversityCharacterType.

2.2.4Keyassetshavealsobeenconsideredinthewiderlandscape(i.e.beyondtheCoreStudyAreaboundary),inordertofactorinthepotentialimplicationsofdevelopmentintheCoreStudyAreaonthewiderruralhinterlandofthetown.However,itisnotpracticaltolist/showalldesignatedsitesbeyondtheStudyAreaboundary.

2.3Methodology

2.3.1Thechapterbeginswithanoverviewofassets(theBaselineReview) and draws upon anumberofsourcesofinformation,includingbaselinedatasetssuppliedbythe RiverNeneRegionalParkCommunityInterestCompany(RNRPCIC)andthefindingsofprimaryresearchandfieldassessment.ConsultationswiththeprojectSteeringGrouphavealsocontributedtothesummaryofkeylandscapeandenvironmentalassetsthatexistwithintheCoreStudyAreaandinthewiderlandscapewhererelevant.IllustrationsofthebaselinedataareprovidedinFigs.2-18.

2.3.2AfulllistofthedatasetsusedduringthisassessmentispresentedinAppendix1.

2.3.3TheBaselineReviewdescribesassetsunderaseriesof“topics”.Thesetopicshavethenbeengroupedintothemestofacilitatetheirinterpretation. Asummarylistfollows:

NaturalSystems

Topography,geologyandminerals
Hydrology
NatureConservationandBiodiversity,andGeologicalSites

CulturalHeritageandLandUseSystems

CulturalHeritage
StrategicandLocalGreenSpace
Leisure,RecreationandTourism
AccessandMovement
TransportInfrastructure
StrategicAgriculturalLandClassification

TownscapeandVisualCharacter

TownscapeCharacter
VisualBaselineAnalysis

NorthamptonshireEnvironmentalCharacterAssessmentSuite

IntroductionandBackgroundtotheSuite
EnvironmentalCharacterAssessment
CurrentLandscapeCharacterAssessment
BiodiversityCharacterAssessment
HistoricLandscapeCharacterAssessment

StrategicGreenInfrastructure

IntroductionandBackground
TheWestNorthamptonshireBiodiversityNetwork
TheSustainableMovementNetworkforWestNorthamptonshire
StrategicGreenInfrastructureCorridors
GreenInfrastructureNetworks

2.3.4FollowingonfromtheBaselineReviewistheSensitivityReview(refertoPartB).ThistakestheinformationgatheredduringtheBaselineReviewandassessesthesensitivityof keyfeaturesatthestrategicscaleofassessment.

3.1THEMEONE:NATURALSYSTEMS

3.2Topography,GeologyandMinerals

3.2.1Refertofig.3:Landform;Fig.4:HydrologyandFloodZones,andMinerals

3.2.2Northamptonislocatedwithinashallow“bowl”adjacenttotheRiverNene,andissurroundedbyhigherland.ThehigherlandwhichringsthetownincludesGlassthorpeHill(141mabovesealevel(asl))tothewest;ConeyburyHill(approx.120masl)tothenorth-west;thePitsfordridge(approx.125masl)tothenorth;highlandadjacenttoSalceyForest(130masl)tothesouth-eastandahilltothesouthofGayton(141masl)tothesouth-west.

3.2.3Withinthetown,therearethreemainareasofhigherground.ThesearetothesouthoftheNeneValley(113maslatitshighestpointatHunsburyHill),theeasternedgeofthetown(110masl)andtheareaaroundtheUniversitytowardsthenorthernedgeofthetown(approx.120masl).Immediatelytotheeastofthetown,theEctonRidgeisnotparticularlyhigh(approx.100masl)butisvisuallyprominent.

3.2.4NorthamptonislocatedontheedgeofthebandofOoliticlimestone,whichrunsnorth-souththroughEngland.However,withinthisbandthereareseveraldifferenttypesoflimestone,representingdifferentphasesandconditionsofformation.Northamptonliesatthejunctionofseveraldifferenttypesoflimestoneandtheadjacentclay,whichcreatesacomplexgeologyinthearea.Themostwell-knownoftheOoliticlimestonesarethe“NorthamptonsandsandIronstones”,whichhaveadistinctivegolden-browncolourandareoftenseeninlocalbuildings.Theyarealsoassociatedwiththepresenceofradongas,whichhasresultedinNorthamptonshirebeingconsideredaRadonAffectedArea.

3.2.5OnsomehigherareasoflandaroundNorthampton,thelimestonehasbeenoverlainbyglacially-depositedclaywhichhidesthetopographyandcharacteristicsofthelimestone.

3.2.6ThevalleyoftheRiverNenehasaccumulateddeepsedimentarydepositsofsandandgravel,whichhavebeenquarriedinrecentyears.ThisisreflectedintheconcentrationofProtectedAreasforMineralsSites(PAMS)withintheNeneValley(seefig.4).

3.2.7InadditiontothesandandgravelresourcesoftheNeneValley,thelocalIronstoneishighlyvaluedasabuildingmaterialandtherearenumerousoldquarrysiteswithintheStudyArea.TheProtectedAreasforMineralSitesalsoincludebuildingstonequarries.

3.2.8ThereisaclusterofPAMS(includingalargesandpit)aroundRothersthorpe(tothesouth-westofNorthampton)andasmallersandpittothenorth-west,nearHarlestone.

3.2.9TothenorthofNorthampton,betweenMoultonandBoughtonthereisanextensiveProtectedAreaforMineralsSite.

3.3Hydrology

3.3.1RefertoFig.3:Landform;Fig.4:HydrologyandFloodZonesandMinerals

3.3.2NorthamptonislocatedattheconfluenceoftheRiverNeneanditstributarytheBramptonNene,whichflowssouthintotheNenefromPitsfordReservoir.TheNenerunseast-westthroughthetown.

3.3.3SmallerstreamswhichalsoinfluencethetopographyofthetownincludetheDallingtonBrook(atributaryoftheBramptonNene)andtheWoottonStream,whichflowsintotheNenefromthesouth.TheBillingBrook,EctonBrookandSywellBottomflowsouthintotheNeneontheeasternsideofthetown.TheNorthamptonArmoftheGrand Union Canal crosses thesouthernpartoftheCoreStudyArea(partlythroughtheBlisworthtunnel)andfollowstheNeneValleyeastwardsbeforejoiningtheRiverNeneNavigationinthecentreofthetown.

3.3.4TheNeneValleycontainsnumerousfloodedsandandgravelworkings,mostofwhichhavebeenrestoredforconservationorrecreationpurposes.OtherwaterbodieswithintheCoreStudyAreaincludeasmallreservoiratHarlestone,andornamentallakeswithinlandscapedparks,suchasOverstoneParkandAbingtonPark.

3.3.5MuchoftheNeneValleyanditstributariesarewithinFloodZones2and3.FloodZone2areashavealowtomediumriskofflooding,withanannualfloodprobabilityof0.1-1%.FloodZone3areashaveahighriskofflooding,withanannualprobabilityoffloodingof1%orgreater.

3.4NatureConservationandBiodiversity,andGeologicalSites

3.4.1RefertoFig.5:DesignatedNatureConservation,Biodiversity,andGeologicalSites.

3.4.2Figurefiveshowsstrategicandlocalassetsintermsofnatureconservationandgeologicalsites,andareaswithastatutoryornon-statutorydesignationsuchas:oneproposedSpecialProtectionAreas(pSPA)twoSitesofSpecialScientificInterest(SSSIs);sixLocalNatureReserves(LNRs);approx.50LocalWildlifeSites(LWS)andapprox.100PotentialWildlifeSites(PWS).PotentialWildlifeSites(PWS)coverthreeseparateconditions:Surveyedsitesconsideredtobeofimportancebutwhoseconditiondonotfullymeetthecriteria to beclassifiedasaLocalWildlifeSite;sitesnotsurveyedindetailbutwhoselocationorbroadassessmentindicateahighpotentialforclassificationasaLWS;andsitespreviouslyclassifiedasaLWSbutwhoseconditionhaschangedtowarrantexclusionasaLWS.

3.4.3TheBroadHabitatTypescorrelatewiththecategoriesclassifiedintheBiodiversityActionPlan(BAP)andcoverAncientWoodland,Broadleafwoodland,andPriorityTargetAreasforadditionalacidhabitatsurvey.

3.4.4TherearetwoSSSIswithintheCoreStudyArea:FormergravelworkingsintheNeneValleyandasmallquarrynearRectoryFarm,Blisworth.

3.4.5Thereare15RegionallyImportantGeological/GeomorphologicalSite(RIGS)siteswithintheCoreStudyArea.Themostwell-knownislocatedatBradlaughFieldsinthenorthernpartofNorthampton.ThissiteisdesignatedastheonlyaccessibleBlisworthLimestonehilltopinthecounty,andforitseducational,historicandaestheticvalue.

3.4.6TherearenoNationalNatureReservesintheCoreStudyArea,buttherearesixLocalNatureReserves(LNRs)plusWildlifeTrustReserves(WTRs),whichcoveravarietyofhabitatsincludingacidgrassland,calcareousgrassland,wetmeadow,woodlandandlakes.

3.4.7Thereisaconcentrationofdesignatedsites(includingSPAs)andPWSintheNeneValley,particularlyinareaswheregravelworkingshavefloodedtocreatelakeswithahighwildlifevalue.

3.4.8LowlandMixedDeciduousWoodlandisaPriorityHabitatwithintheUKBiodiversityActionPlanandhasanactionplanintheNorthamptonshireBAP. Broadleaved woodland is relativelylimitedwithintheCoreStudyArea.ImmediatelyoutsidetheCoreStudyAreatotheSouth-eastofNorthamptonisSalceyForest,anextensiveareaofancientbroadleavedwoodland,whichisdesignatedinpartasaLWSandpartasanSSSI.NobottleWood,SWofHarlestone(justoutsidetheCoreStudyArea)isdesignatedancientwoodland.

3.4.9Inaddition,LowlandCalcareousGreassland,LowlandDryAcidGresslandandLowlandMeadowsarePriorityHabitatswithintheUKBiodiversityActionPlanandactionplansforeacharecontainedwithintheNorthamptonshireBAP.

3.4.10AcidhabitattargetareaswereidentifiedbyDentonWoodAssociatesfortheWildlifeTrustusingthefollowingmethod(acidhabitatsarepredominantlyacidgrasslandandheathland):

3.4.11AcidichabitatsinNorthamptonshireoccur,almostexclusively,onfree-draining,fineandcoarseloamyferriticbrownearthsoils(oftheBanburyAssociation)associatedwithNorthamptonSand(geological)Formation.AstheoccurrenceofacidhabitatsisdeterminedbygeologyandsoilsaninitialtargetareawasdevelopedbycombiningtheareasofBanburyAssociationsoilsandNorthamptonSands.Theareaofeachdiscreteunitwasthencalculated.Finally,smallunitsoflessthan100hectareswereexcluded.Theresultingmapshowsareasinexcess of 100hectareswhereacidichabitatsarelikelytooccurorwhereitis/maybepossibletoeitherrestoreorcreateacidichabitats.

3.4.12Designationsandnotablehabitatswithinthestudyareaarelistedbelow:

3.4.13StudyArea1:North-East

RIGSsites:8no.,includingBradlaughFields(accessibleLimestonehilltopwitheducational,historicalandaestheticvalue);PitsfordQuarry,BoughtonGreenCorner,BramptonHaltCutting,BuntingRoadOutcrop,NorthamptonGeneralHospitalandCherryOrchardSchoolPlayingField (allNorthamptonSandformations)
LNR/WTR:BradlaughFields(unimprovedsemi-naturallimestonegrassland)
LNR/WTR:LingsWood(Woodland,scrub,ponds,acidgrassland,heath)
LNR:Moulton(RidgeandFurrow,grassland,wildflowermeadow)
LWS:Approx.8no.,themostextensiveofwhichareBradlaughFieldsandLingsWood.
PWS:Numerous
BroadleafWoodland:Severalsmallblocks.LargestatOverstone
PriorityTargetAreaforAdditionalAcidHabitatSurvey:ExtensiveareaswithinandtothenorthofNorthampton.

3.4.14StudyArea2:NeneValleyEast

ProposedSpecialProtectionArea:UpperNeneValleygravelpits(overwinteringbirds).ThepSPAcontinuesalongtheNeneValleybeyondtheCoreStudyArea.
SSSI:UpperNeneValleygravelpits(overwinteringbirds)

LNR/WTR:BarnesMeadow(wetmeadows,habitatforrarewildfowlspecies)
LWS:Numerousalongvalleyfloor,includingopenwaterandwetmeadowsites.
PWS:Several,includingextensiveareasofformermineralworkings.
BroadleafWoodland:ShelterbeltsateastedgeofStudyArea

3.4.15StudyArea3:South

SSSI:RectoryFarm,Blisworth(formerquarry)
RIGS:1no. HunsburyHillCutting(NorthamptonSandformation)
LWS:Approx.5no.,includingcanalandrailwayembankments/cuttings,HunsburyHill,andpartoftheWoottonStream.
PWS: Numerous, including dismantled railway lines, sand pits, estate land, deciduouswoodlandandwetmeadow.
Broadleaf Woodland: Small areas scattered throughout.More concentrated aroundCourteenhallParkandHardingstone.
PriorityTargetAreaforAdditionalAcidHabitatSurvey:withintheUrbanAreaofNorthampton(Wootton/HardingstoneandaroundHunsburyHill).AlsoaroundthevillagesofBlisworthandGayton.

3.4.16StudyArea4:NeneValleyWest

SSSI:None,althoughBugbrookeMeadowsisimmediatelyoutsidetheCoreStudyArea.
LNR:StortonPits(Floodedgravelpit-habitatforinsectsandoverwinteringbirds. Oldditchisimportanthabitatforrareinsects)
LWS:Severalsites,includingNeneValleygravelworkings(overwinteringbirdsandwetgrassland)
WTR:Storton’sPitsandDustonMillMeadow
PWS:Several,includingpartofGrandUnionCanal,parklandsiteatUpton,andextensiveareaofwetmeadowseastofKislingbury.

3.4.17Studyarea5:North-West

RIGSSites:6no.includingHarlestoneOldQuarry,UpperHarlestone,SlatepitPlantation,DustonQuarry,KingswellRoadoutcrop(allNorthamptonSandformations) andKingsthorpeHall(exampleofrarelocalbuildingstone-KingsthorpeWhiteFreestone).
LNR:KingsthorpeMeadow(Wetmeadow-habitatforinsectsandgreencorridor)
LWS:HarlestoneHeath(EricaceousHeathland)
LWS:BramptonNeneandTributaries(wetgrasslandandaquatichabitats)
PWS:Several,includingwoodland,acidgrasslandandwetmeadowsites.
BroadleafWoodland:HarlestoneFirs(thoughlargelyconiferplantation)
BroadleafWoodland:HarlestoneHall
BroadleafWoodland:HarpoleCovert(thoughpartiallyconiferplantation)
PriorityAreaforAdditionalAcidHabitatSurvey:ExtensiveareacoversmuchofthenorthernpartoftheStudyArea,plusanadditionalsmallerareanorth-westofHarpole.

4.1THEME2:CULTURALHERITAGEANDLANDUSESYSTEMS

4.2CulturalHeritage

4.2.1RefertoFig.6:CulturalHeritage,whichshowsnationallyandlocallydesignatedheritagesiteswithintheNorthamptonarea.

4.2.2Nationallydesignatedsiteswithstatutoryprotectioninclude17ScheduledMonuments(SMs),includingHunsburyHillfort.

4.2.3NationallydesignatedsiteswithoutstatutoryprotectionincludeHistoricParksandGardensandRegisteredBattlefields.TherearefourRegisteredHistoricParksandGardenswithintheCoreStudyArea,(namelyAlthorpPark,BoughtonHall,HortonHallandCourteenhall).YardleyChase(partoftheCastleAshbyestate)isjustoutsidetheCoreStudyAreaboundarytotheeast,andHoldenbyHouseisjustoutsideittothenorth-west.ThereisaRegisteredBattlefieldaroundDelapreAbbeywhereHenryVIwasdefeatedatNorthamptonduringthewaroftheRoses(1461).

4.2.4Thereare30ConservationAreaswithintheCoreStudyArea,includingthehistoriccoreofNorthampton,andAbingtonAbbeyanditsenvirons.Mostoftheoutlyingvillages,andoldvillagecentreswhichhavebeenincorporatedintotheurbanareaofNorthampton(e.g.WestonFavellandWootton)havesmallconservationareas,usuallycoveringclustersoftraditionalironstonebuildings.

4.2.5ListedBuildingsaregenerallyconcentratedinandaroundtheConservation Areas. Themajorityareexamplesofthelocalvernaculartraditionofbuildinginlocallyquarriedironstone.Othersarepropertiesinthehistoriccoreofthetown,orfarmhouses/agriculturalbuildingsinopencountryside.Themostunusuallistedbuilding,whichisakeylocallandmark,istheformertestingtoweroftheExpressLiftsfactory(opened1982),andis127mhigh(approx.42storeys). There arealso severallisted buildingsassociatedwiththeGrandUnionCanal,includingaflightoflocks.

4.2.6ThereareexamplesofridgeandfurrowthroughouttheCoreStudyArea,withaparticularconcentrationonthesouth-westsideofthetown.Inaddition,thereareseveralhistoricroutesillustratedonfig.6,includingpossibleRomanroads,turnpikeroads,historicrailwaylinesandcanals.

4.2.7Inadditiontothedesignatedsitesdescribedabove,therearenumerousotherKnownArchaeologicalAssets.ThemostextensiveareasarewithinthehistoriccoreofthetownandrepresenttheburiedremainsofSaxonandMedievalNorthampton.Other KnownArchaeologicalAssetsrepresentawidevarietyofarchaeologicalsitesandperiods.ThemostnoteworthyofthesearetherareNeolithicCausewayedEnclosuresonKingsHeath.

4.2.8Itisimportantthatthesettingofhistoricassetsisconsidered,aswellasthesiteitself.Forexample,historicparksandgardensfrequently“borrowviews”fromoutsidethedesignatedarea,suchaswhenanavenueisalignedonaviewofadistantchurchtower.Similarly,aScheduledMonumentdesignationforadesertedmedievalvillagemaynotincludethefieldsystems,whichsurroundedit.Definingthesettingforeachhistoricassetisbeyondtheremitofthisstudy.However,itwillneedtobeconsideredaspartofmoredetailedfutureassessmentsonacase-by-casebasis.

NotabledesignatedculturalheritageassetswithintheCoreStudyAreaarelistedbelow:

4.2.9StudyArea1:North-East

Listed Buildings: Many, including ecclesiastical industrial and residential buildings inNorthamptonandsurroundingvillages.
RegisteredPark/Garden:BoughtonHall(GradeII)
SM:Ecton(Romano-BritishSettlementandPotteryKilns)
SM:LongmansHillLongBarrow

SM:StJohn’sSpring
ConservationAreas:TownCentre;UniversityGrounds;AbingtonAbbey;BoughtonVillage;PitsfordVillage;MoultonVillage;SywellVillage;EctonVillage;WestonFavellvillagecore;BillingVillagecore
FormerdeerPark:MoultonPark(nowanindustrialestate)butwithsomesurvivingfeatures
RidgeandFurrow:Fragmentedtoeastandnorth.
RouteofHistoricRailwayLine:NorthamptontoMarketHarborough(part)
Known ArchaeologicalAssets:Numerous,includingburiedremains ofSaxon/MedievalNorthampton,extensiveRomano-BritishandIronAgeoccupationsites,andtheimportantearlyprehistoricfuneraryandsettlementlandscapealongtheEctonridgetotheeastofthetown
RouteofTurnpikeRoads:A508,A43,A4500
RouteofRomanRoad(possible):A4500
ParksandGardens:Numerous,includingEastfieldParkandOverstonePark

4.2.10StudyArea2:NeneValleyEast

ListedBuildings:SeveralinLittleHoughtonandCogenhoevillages
SM:CliffordHillMotteCastle;
SM:BowlBarrowEastofCogenhoe
ConservationAreas:LittleHoughtonandCogenhoevillages
RegisteredBattlefield:BattleofNorthampton1461(part).
RouteofHistoricRailwayLine
Known Archaeological Asset: Numerous, including buried remains of Saxon/ MedievalNorthamptonandintensivemulti-perioduseoftheNeneValley.
RouteofTurnpikeRoad:A428

4.2.11StudyArea3:South

ListedBuildings:Many.IncludesthoseassociatedwiththeNorthamptonArmoftheGrandUnionCanal,ironstonevillages,DelapreAbbeyandCourteenhallEstate.
RegisteredPark/Garden:Courteenhall(GradeII)
RegisteredPark/Garden:HortonHallGradeII-part)
ScheduledMonument(SM):HunsburyHill(MultivallateHillfort)
SM:Rothersthorpe-theBerry(ringwork)
SM:Whiston.Placehousemoatandfishpond.
SM:QueenEleanor’sCross
SM:HunsburyHillFort
SM:Blisworth-BaseofcrossinChurchyard.
ConservationAreas:GreatHoughtonvillage;LittleHoughtonvillage(part);BrafieldontheGreenvillage,Hardingstonevillage;Woottonvillage;Courteenhall;Collingtree village;MiltonMalsorvillage;Blisworthvillage;Gaytonvillage;Rothersthorpevillage;Bugbrookevillage
RegisteredBattlefield:BattleofNorthampton,1461
FormerDeerParks:eastofQuintonandwestofGayton
RidgeandFurrow:fragmentedbuthighdensityofsitesinSWofStudyArea
RouteofHistoricRailwayLine
Known ArchaeologicalAssets: Numerous, including buried remains of Saxon/ MedievalNorthampton,IronAgeandRomano-Britishoccupationsites
RouteofTurnpikeRoad:A428;B526;A508;OldNorthampton-TowcesterRoad
RouteofGrandUnionCanal
PossibleRouteofRomanRoad(A43)

ParksandGardens:SeveralwithinNorthamptonUrbanArea(somebuiltover);extensiveparkaroundPrestonDeanery.

4.2.12StudyArea4:NeneValleyWest

ListedBuildings:DustonMill;Uptonvillage;Kislingburyvillage
SM:Upton(x2)Desertedmedievalvillage
SMUptonMill
ConservationArea:Kislingburyvillage
Ridgeandfurrow:SeveralsitesaroundKislingbury
Known ArchaeologicalAssets: Numerous, including buried remains of Saxon/ MedievalNorthampton
ParksandGardens:Upton
RouteofTurnpikeroadA4500

4.2.13StudyArea5:North-West

Listedbuildings:Many,includingthosewithinthevillagesofHarpole,Harlestone,ChurchBramptonandChapelBrampton,andtheExpressLiftstower.
RegisteredPark/Garden:AlthorpePark(GradeII*)
SM:CentreofNorthampton(SaxonPalaceComplex)
SM:SiteofNorthamptonCastle
SM:Harlestone(Settlementsite)
SMNorthofHarpole(RomanVilla)
Conservation Areas: Harlestone Village; Dallington village core; Duston village core;Harpolevillage;southofBerrywoodRoad.
RidgeandFurrow:AroundHarpole;smallareasouthofHarlestone
Known ArchaeologicalAssets: Numerous, including buried remains of Saxon/ MedievalNorthampton;NeolithicCausewayedEnclosuresatKingsHeath.
RouteofTurnpikeRoads:A4500;A428;B5199
PossibleRouteofRomanRoad:RoadtoNobottle.
RouteofHistoricRailwayLinetoMarketHarborough(part)

4.3StrategicandLocalGreenspace

4.3.1RefertoFig.7:StrategicandLocalGreenspace

4.3.2TherearemanydifferenttypesofGreenspacewithinNorthamptonanditssurroundingarea.NorthamptonBoroughCouncil,SouthNorthantsCouncilandDaventryDistrictCouncilhaverecentlyproduced/arecurrentlyproducingOpenSpaceSportandRecreationaudits/PPG17Assessments(seeAppendix3forfullreferences).Theresultsoftheseassessmentshaveinformedfig.7.

4.3.3StrategicGreenspaceincludesCountryParks,WoodlandswithpublicaccessandRegionalParkland.TherearethreeCountryParkswithinthestudyarea,atHunsburyHill,WoottonBrookandFoxfield(GrangePark).ThereisalsoaproposedCountyParkatUpton.SywellCountryParkisjustoutsidetheCoreStudyArea.WithintheStudyAreathereare noWoodlandsover20hawithapublicaccessorrecreationrole.

4.3.4OtherStrategicGreenspaceincludesparksandgreenspacesover20Hectares,whichmayormaynotbepubliclyaccessible.Manyoftheopenspaceswithintheurbanarea(suchasUniversityRecreationGrounds,DelapreAbbeyGrounds,andAbingtonAbbeygrounds)areclassifiedasOtherStrategicGreenspace.TherearealsoseveralareasofOtherStrategicGreenspaceoutsidetheurbanarea,includingAlthorpePark,OverstoneHallandCourteenhall.

4.3.5LocalAccessibleGreenspacesincludesmallwoodlandswithpublicaccessandotheraccessibleGreenspacessuchascommonland,villagegreens,pocketparksandmillenniumgreens.TherearealsosixLocalNatureReserves,plusWildlifeTrustReserves.PocketParksareopenareasoflandwhichareownedandmanagedbylocalpeople,providingfree,openaccessforallatalltimes.Theyhelptoprotectandconservelocalwildlife,heritageandlandscape.Thereareover80PocketParksinNorthamptonshire,and14withintheCoreStudyArea.

4.3.6ThereareOtherLocalGreenspaceareaswithintheCoreStudyArea,includingnumerousparksandGreenspacesunder20ha(whichmaynotbepubliclyaccessible),allotmentsitesandfivecemeteries.

4.3.7OthernotabledesignatedStrategicandLocalGreenspacesarelistedbelow:

4.3.8StudyArea1:North-East

Local NatureReserve/Wildlife Trust Reserve: Bradlaugh Fields,Lings Wood, Moulton,(SywellCountryParkimmediatelyoutsideCoreStudyAreatoeast).
RegisteredParkandGarden:BoughtonHall
Park or Greenspace over 20 ha: (approx.11no. including Abington Abbey grounds;universityRecreationGround;OverstonePark;BoughtonParkandEctonHallPark)
Local Accessible Greenspace: numerous sites, including pocket parks at Blackthorn,BoughtonLane,GreatBilling,RectoryFarm,Boughton,ChapelBramptonandMoulton.
OtherLocalGreenspace:numerousurbanandsomeruralsites
Allotmentsites:5no.
Cemeteries:2no.

4.3.9StudyArea2:NeneValleyEast

LocalNatureReserve:BarnesMeadow
ParkorGreenspaceover20ha:NeneValley(E.ofA45)

LocalAccessibleGreenspace:CogenhoePocketPark.
OtherLocalGreenspace:NeneValley(MajorityisW.ofA45)

4.3.10StudyArea3:South

CountryPark/LNRs:HunsburyHill,WoottonBrook,Foxfield,BarnesMeadow(part)
RegisteredParkandGarden:Courteenhall
Park or Greenspace over 20 ha: approx. 7no. including Delapre Abbey grounds;Courteenhall;PrestonDeanery,CollingtreePark,Hardingstone)
LocalAccessibleGreenspace:PocketParksatHackleton,Wootton,GreatHoughtonandRingway.OtherLocalAccessibleGreenspaceatBrafieldontheGreenandGayton.
OtherLocalGreenspace:Numerousurbanandruralsites
Allotmentsites:2no.
Cemeteries:2no.

4.3.11StudyArea4:NeneValleyWest

CountryPark(proposed):Upton
WildlifeTrustReserves:Storton’sPitsandDustonMillMeadow
ParkorGreenspaceover20ha:3no.(eastandwestUpton,andUptonMill)
LocalAccessibleGreenspace:Kislingbury
OtherAccessibleGreenspace:4no.urbansites,includingstadium.

4.3.12StudyArea5:North-West

LocalNatureReserves/WildlifeTrustReserves:HarlestoneHeath;KingsthorpeMeadow
RegisteredParkandGarden:AlthorpPark(part)
ParkorGreenspaceover20ha:approx.5no.
LocalAccessibleGreenspace:PocketParksatKingsthorpeandSpringBoroughs
Other Local Greenspace: Numerous urban sites, and several rural sites includingHarlestoneHeathwoodland.
Allotmentsites:3no.
Cemeteries:2no.

4.4Leisure,RecreationandTourism

4.4.1RefertoFig.8:ExistingLeisure,RecreationandTourismDestinationsandDevelopments.

4.4.2Thereareavarietyofleisure,recreation,tourismOutdoorSportsandculturalsitesandfacilitieswithintheCoreStudyArea,whichattractvisitorsfromoutsidetheNorthamptonarea.Ofthese,themostwell-knownareAlthorpPark(seatoftheSpencerFamily)andtheGrandUnionCanal,withitsassociatedmoorings,locksandarchitecturalfeatures,suchastheBlisworthCanaltunnel.TheNorthamptonandLamportpreservedrailwayisrunasaheritagesteamanddieselservice.

4.4.3TherearealsoavarietyofvisitorattractionsassociatedwiththeRiverNene,includingitsnaturereservesandtheWhitewaterCentre.BillingAquadromeintheNeneValleyandOverstoneParkcontainstaticcaravanparks,whicharepopularholidaydestinations.

4.4.4Inaddition,therearealsoavarietyofleisureandrecreationfacilities,whichareprimarilyvisitedbylocalpeople,includingCountryParksandOutdoorSportsfacilities.FulldetailsoflocalOutdoorSportsprovisioncanbefoundintheWestNorthamptonshireSportsFacilitiesStrategyandtheOpenSpace,SportandRecreationAudits(SeeAppendix3forfullreferences).

4.4.5Thefollowingsectionsgiveexamplesoftheexistingandproposedleisure,recreationandtourismdevelopmentsanddestinationsforeachoftheStudyAreas.Someofthesesiteshavealreadybeenmentionedinprevioussections.

4.4.6StudyArea1:North-East

NorthamptonandLamportPreservedRailway
AbingtonMuseum
CentralMuseumandArtGallery
NorthamptonshireCountyCricketClub
TouristInformationCentre
NorthamptonRacecourse
OverstoneParkCaravanSite
LingsForumLeisureCentre
OverstoneParkGolfCourse

4.4.7StudyArea2:NeneValleyEast

RiverNene,withitsassociatedmooringsandlocks.
BarnesMeadowNatureReserve
BillingAquadrome(includingCaravanSite)
NeneWhitewaterCentre

4.4.8StudyArea3:South

Hunsbury,WoottonBrookandFoxfieldCountryParks
GrandUnionCanal(includingmoorings,locksandBlisworthCanaltunnel)
HunsburyIronstoneRailwayMuseum
DelapreAbbey
NorthamptonInternationalMotorRacingCircuit(Brafield)
DanesCampLeisureCentre
CollingtreeGolfCourse
HardingstoneGolfCourse
DelapreGolfCentre

4.4.9StudyArea4:NeneValleyWest

GrandUnionCanal/RiverNene,withassociatedmooringsandlocks.
SixfieldsFootballStadium
FranklinsGardensRugbyStadium

4.4.10StudyArea5:North-West

AlthorpHouseandGrounds
NorthamptonGolfCourse(Hardingstone)
NorthamptonshireCountyGolfClub(ChurchBrampton)
BramptonHeathGolfCentre(ChurchBrampton)

4.5AccessandMovement

4.5.1RefertoFig.9:AccessandMovement

4.5.2Northamptonanditssurroundingareaiswellservedbypublicrightsofway.

4.5.3Regional/SubRegionalSustainableRoutewayscompriseaSustransRegionalCycleRouteandLongDistanceWalkingRoutes/CountyWalks. TheSustransRegionalCycleroutepasses

north-souththroughNorthampton,viatheBramptonValley Way,throughthetowncentre,alongsidetheRiverNene,thensouthalongcountrylanesthroughGreatHoughton,PrestonDeaneryandQuinton.Inaddition,thereareproposedSustransConnect2routesandLinksbetweentheGrandUnionCanalandthecentreofNorthampton.

4.5.4TherearefiveLongDistanceWalkingRoutes/CountryWalkswithintheCoreStudyArea,includingtheNeneWay,theJurassicWay,theGrandUnionCanalWalk,theBramptonValleyWayandtheMidshiresWay.

4.5.5AtaCountylevel,thereareCountyLevelSustainableRouteways(CycleRoutes)radiatingoutfrom,andencirclingthetown.

4.5.6LocalAssets-LocalLevelSustainableRoutewaysincludeByways,Bridleways,Footpathsandothercycleroutes(e.g.cycle/buslanes,cyclewaysonroads,sharedusepaths).Themajorityoftheseothercycleroutesarewithintheurbanarea,butthereisahighconcentrationofbyways,bridlewaysandfootpathsthroughoutthestudyarea.Somefollowtheroutesofdismantledrailways(e.g.TheBramptonValleyroutebetweenNorthamptonandMarketHarborough).Othersfollowlanesandpaths,manyofwhichareverylong-established,followingparishboundariesandotherancientfeaturesinthelandscape.

4.5.7AsummaryofaccessroutesforeachStudyAreaisasfollows:

4.5.8StudyArea1:North-East

BramptonValleyroutelinkingNorthamptonandMarketHarboroughalongdisusedrailwayline.FormspartofSustransRegionalCycleRoute.
CountyLevelcyclerouteslinkingBoughton,MoultonandEcton
Networkoffootpaths,particularlyaroundthehistoricvillagesofBoughton,MoultonandEcton
Othercyclerouteswithinthebuilt-upareaofNorthampton

4.5.9StudyArea2:NeneValleyEast

NeneWayLongDistanceWalkingRoute.FormspartofSustransRegionalCycleRoute.
CycleRoutefollowingtheA45andcrossingtheNeneValleynorthofBrafield-on-the-Green
Footpathsandbridlewaysprovidingnorth-southconnectionsacrosstheNeneValley

4.5.10StudyArea3:South

MidshiresWayandGrandUnionCanalWalkcrossthesouth-westoftheStudyArea.
PartofSustransRegionalCycleRoutefollowscountrylanesbetweenGreatHoughtonandQuinton.
CountryLevelcyclerouteslinkRothersthorpe,Gaytonandthesouthernbuilt-up-areaofNorthampton.
Adensenetworkoflocalfootpathsandbridleways,whichisexceptionallydensearoundthevillagesofHackletonandPiddington.
Proposed Sustrans Connect 2 Route and Link between the Grand Union Canal andNorthamptontowncentre.

4.5.11StudyArea4:NeneValleyWest

NeneValleyWayandGrandUnionCanalWalkLongDistanceRoutes
CountyCycleRoutelinksKislingburywithRothersthorpeandHarpole
Network of local footpaths and bridleways, but no crossings of the Nene betweenKislingburyandUptonMill.
Proposed Sustrans Connect 2 Route and Link between the Grand Union Canal andNorthamptontowncentre.

4.5.12StudyArea5:North-West

MidshiresWayLongDistanceRouterunsbetweenHarlestone,HarlestoneHeath,ChurchBramptonandChapelBramptonbeforejoiningtheBramptonValleyWay.
GoodnetworkofCountyCycleRoutes,mostlyfollowingcountrylanes.
Somebridleways,particularlyinthenorthoftheStudyArea.
Footpathnetworkrelativelylimited;densestaroundHarpole,HarlestonevillageandwithinHarlestoneHeath.

4.6TransportInfrastructure

4.6.1RefertoFig.10:TransportInfrastructure

4.6.2“A”roadsradiateoutfromthetowninalldirections.TheA45andthetown’ssouthernbypassarerelativelynewadditionstothetown’sroadnetwork,asistheM1,whichrunsthroughtheCoreStudyAreaclosetothesouth-westedgeofNorthampton.Junctions15and15aoftheM1serveNorthampton.

4.6.3SmallervillagesareconnectedwitheachotherandwithNorthamptonbyadensenetworkof“B”roadsandminorroads.TheyincludeatleastoneRomanroad(onthewesternsideofthestudyarea)andmanyofthelanesarehistoricfeaturesofthelandscape.

4.6.4Northamptonhasarailwaystation,andisontheNorthamptonLoop(partoftheWestCoastMainLine).ThemainCherwellValleylinecutsthroughthesouth-westcorneroftheCoreStudyArea.Inadditiontotheseactivelines,thereareseveraldisusedrailwaylineswithintheCoreStudyArea.Asectionofoneofthese(tothenorthofthetown)isnowtherouteoftheNorthamptonandLamportlightrailway.Thetrackbedisalsoatraffic-freecyclerouteandusedfortheMidshiresWayandBramptonValleyWay.

4.6.5ThewaternetworkhashistoricallybeenveryimportanttothedevelopmentandprosperityofNorthampton,andcontinuestocontributetothecharacterofthetown.TheGrandUnionCanalflowsthroughthesouth-westcorneroftheCoreStudyArea,withtheNorthamptonArmflowingnorthwardstojoinwiththeRiverNeneinthecentreofNorthampton.

4.7StrategicAgriculturalLandClassification

4.7.1SeeFig.11StrategicAgriculturalLandClassification

4.7.2Atthestrategicscaleofassessment,themajorityofagriculturallandwithintheCoreStudyAreaisclassifiedasGrade3,withpocketsofGrade2Grade3AandGrade3Bagriculturalland.Tothenorth-eastofMoultonisasmallareaofGrade1(highestquality)agriculturalland.TherearelinearpocketsofGrade4agriculturalland(poorquality)alongtheNene andBramptonvalleys,andtothesouthofSywell.

5.1THEMETHREE:TOWNSCAPEANDVISUALCHARACTER

5.2TownscapeCharacter

5.2.1RefertoFig.12:IndicativeTownscapeCharacter

5.2.2Fig.12showsindicativetownscapecharactertypeswithintheNorthamptonurbanarea.Theyrepresentthevisiblebuilt-formandwerederivedfromacombinationoffieldworkandhistoric

map-basedresearch. Theydonotincludeanyreferencetoburiedarchaeologyortobuildingsorsites,whicharenolongervisibleinthetownscape.

5.2.3BecauseofthenatureofthedevelopmentofNorthamptonitismorehelpfultodescribethedevelopmentofthetownasawholeratherthanonaquadrantbyquadrantbasis.

5.2.4ThereisarchaeologicalevidenceforhumanpresenceintheNorthampton area forapproximately7500years.TheearliestknownarchaeologicalsitesareapairofNeolithicCausewayedEnclosures,oneonBriarHill(excavatedpriortodevelopmentonthesite)andoneunexcavatedonKingsHeath.

5.2.5ThesettlementnowknownasNorthamptondevelopedonhigherlandabovetheconfluenceoftheriversNeneandBrampton.Theriversprovidedcommunicationroutesandthesitewasalsoinagooddefensiveposition.Thesurroundingsoilsarerelativelyfertileandwelldrainedandtherewasalsoextensivewoodland.Theserichneutralresourcesmadeitanideallocationforasettlement.

TheHistoricCore

5.2.6ThehistoriccoreshowninFig.12representstheextentofNorthamptonin1835.Atthisstagethetownhadnotexpandedbeyonditsmedievalwalls.Thereforetheouteredgeofthistownscapecharactertypelargelyfollowsthelineofthemedievaltownwalls.Themedievalmarketplacewas(andremains)atthecentreofthetown.Fromthispointroadsradiatedouttosurroundingsettlements;theseroadsarestillpartofthestreetscape and transportinfrastructure.Beyondthetownwallswereanumberofmedievalsuburbs(e.g.StEdmund’sEndandStJames’End),whichdevelopedalongthemajorroadsoutofthetown.

5.2.7ThetownwallswereenhancedwithbastionsduringtheCivilWar,givingtoday’sstreetnamesof“UpperMounts”and“LowerMounts”.

5.2.8ThemedievaltownofNorthamptonwasanimportantparliamentarycentre.This,combinedwiththeexcellenthuntinginthesurroundingforestledtoaregularRoyalpresenceinthetown.

5.2.9Thetown’spoliticalimportanceledtoastrongecclesiasticalpresence,andNorthamptonwasoneofthefewsettlementsinthecountrytohouseallthemonasticgroups.ThesitesofsomeoftheseMonasteriesandAbbeysarestillvisible(e.g.AbingtonAbbeyandDelapreAbbey).Thepresenceofothers(suchasGreyfriars)ispreservedinstreetnames.

5.2.10AlsoshownassmallerhistoriccoresonFig.12aretheoutlyingvillagessuchasKingsthorpe,WestonFavellandGreatBilling,whichweresubsequentlysurroundedbylaterdevelopment.Severalofthesevillageshavemedievalchurches,andtraditionalironstonebuildings.

5.2.11Withinthesouth-westcornerofthehistoriccoreisthesiteoftheSaxonsettlement.TheSaxontownincludedatimbercastle(whichwaslaterrebuiltinstone),palaceandminsterchurch.ThewallsoftheSaxonBurgharefossilizedinthecontemporarystreetpatternalongScarletwellStreet,TowerStreet,SheepStreet,TheDrapery,BridgeStreetandFoundryStreet.Onthesouth-westandwestsidesofthetown,theNeneandBramptonValleysprovidedgooddefences.

VictorianandEarly20thCenturyDevelopment

5.2.12Northamptonsawconsiderableexpansioninthe19thCenturyandearly20thCentury,whichwaslargelyassociatedwiththeindustrialdevelopmentofthebootandshoeindustryinthetown.Thisphaseofthetown’sdevelopmentincludedfactories,extensiveareasofterracedhousing(oftenwithassociatedworkshops)andalsomunicipalandreligiousbuildingssuchasschools,aworkhouse,churchesandnon-conformistchapels.Muchofthis industrialdevelopmentwasconstructedinredbrick.

5.2.13Severalparkswerealsolaidoutduringthisperiod,bothpublic(TheRacecourse,forexample)andprivate(sometimesassociatedwiththelargemansionsbuiltoutsidethetownbywealthyindustrialistssuchasOverstoneHallandGreatBillingHall).These mansions and theirgroundshavebeensurrounded(andoccasionallybuiltover)bysubsequentdevelopment.

InterwarDevelopmentc.1921-1950

5.2.14TheinterwaryearssawfurtherexpansionofNorthamptonandthedevelopmentofthesuburbssuchasFarCotton,KingsthorpeandAbington.ThisperiodalsosawribbondevelopmentalongseveralroadsoutofNorthampton.Themajorityofresidentialdevelopmentfromthisperiodisdetachedorsemi-detached.

PostwarandOverspillDevelopmentc.1950-c.1989

5.2.15ThemostextensivephaseofdevelopmentaroundNorthamptontookplacebetweenc1950andc1989,andrepresentsthedevelopmentoverseenbytheCommissionforNewTowns,whichwasestablishedtoaccommodateoverspillpopulationsfromtheSouth-East.Thearchitectureassociatedwiththisphaseofdevelopmentvaries,butisusuallytypifiedbyaclearhierarchyofroads,andextensiveplanting,openspacesandlandscapingwhichhasnowmatured,creatingavery“green”impressionfrombothwithinandoutsidethetown.ThemajorityofresidentialdevelopmentinthiserawasbuiltnorthoftheNene(tothenorth,westandeastoftheexistingtown)withindustrialdevelopmentandlimitedresidentialdevelopmenttothesouthoftheriver.

ModernDevelopment(c.1990-present)

5.2.16Themostmodernphaseofdevelopment(from1990tothepresent)hasseentheexpansionofNorthamptonsouthwards,includingthesouthern-facingridgeoflandassociatedwithHunsburyHill.ThevillageofWoottonhasseenconsiderableexpansionandthenewmixed-usedevelopmentofGrangeParkhasbeenconstructedbetweenWoottonandtheM1.

5.2.17Large-scaleindustrialandwarehousedevelopmentatSwanValleyandHardingstonehaveastrongvisualimpact.

5.2.18NorthoftheNene,thereisrecentandongoingdevelopmentattheStCrispin’sHospitalsite/westernedgeofthetownandatUpton.Thelarge-scalepseudo-Georgiantownhouses,whichfronttheUptondevelopmentareextremelystrikingintermsoftheirscale,colouranddesign.

5.3VisualBaselineandAnalysis

5.3.1Refertofigs.13:SlopeAnalysisand14:VisualAnalysis

Landform

5.3.2TheslopeanalysisdrawingonFig.13highlightstheareasofsteepestslopes.Thesearegenerallyassociatedwithrivervalleysides,butthereisastronglinkbetweenthesteepnessofslopesandtheunderlyinggeology,withlimestoneoutcropsbeingassociatedwiththesteeperslopes,suchastheridgetothesouthoftheNenewhichincludesHunsburyHill.

5.3.3ThesteepestlandwithintheCoreStudyAreaislocatedaroundHarpoleandHarlestone(whichhaveadistinctiverollinglandform),andwithinthebuilt-upareaofeastNorthampton,aroundLingsWoodandBillingArbours.Inthesouth-westoftheCoreStudyAreathereisrelativelysteeplandaroundBlisworthandGayton,whichformspartoftheslopesofthehilltothesouth,outsidetheCoreStudyArea.

LandscapeSettingandLandmarks

5.3.4Northamptonsitsina“bowl”,encircledbyhigherland.TheseridgesofhigherlandalsoformthesettingandlandscapecontextofNorthamptonanditssurroundingvillages.

5.3.5Thelifttowerisaprominentlandmark,visiblefrommuchoftheCoreStudyAreaandprovidingaclearorientationpointand“senseofplace”.Otherbuiltlandmarkswithinthetownaremorelocalisedintheirvisualimpact,andarethereforevisiblefromasmallerproportionoftheCoreStudyArea.ThroughouttheCoreStudyArea,thetowersofvillagechurches(oftenbuiltintraditionalironstone)addlocaldistinctivenessandaidorientation.WithintheCoreStudyAreathereareapproximately20villageswithanhistoriccorebuiltofironstone.Theyareshownonfig.14,eachwithanotional1kmsetting.

5.3.6FrommuchoftheCoreStudyArea,Northamptonappearsremarkablywoodedduringthesummermonths,duetothematurevegetationinopenspaces,gardensandroadsideplanting.

5.3.7ThewayinwhichNorthamptoninteractswithitssurroundinglandscapeintermsofvisibilityandfunctionisdescribedonaStudyAreasbasisbelow.

StudyArea1:North-East

5.3.8ThenorthernpartoftheStudyAreaisrelativelygentleinitstopography.PartsoftheStudyAreacontributetothesettingofNorthampton(althoughtheyarenotparticularlydistinctive),whilstthetopographyofotherpartsoftheStudyArea(includingtheareanorthofBoughton,andtheeasternsideoftheEctonRidge)meanthattheyareorientatedawayfromNorthamptonandnotinter-visiblewiththetown.

5.3.9FromthemajorityofthisStudyArea,thelargeindustrialbuildingsonMoultonParkindustrialestateareveryprominentonthehorizon.Thehardedgesofsomeoftheresidentialdevelopmentonthenorthernedgeofthetownarealsoclearlyvisible.However,theeasternedgeofNorthamptonisexceptionallygreen,andthevegetationalongsidetheEctonBrookprovidesarelativelysoftedgetothetown.

5.3.10Ingeneral,thevillagesinthisStudyAreaareslightlylargerthanthoseinotherStudyAreas,andhavemoreextensiveandprominentmoderndevelopmentsurroundingtheirhistoriccores.

5.3.11ThereisrelativelylittlegapbetweenthenorthernedgeofNorthamptonandthevillagesofBoughton,MoultonandOverstone. Therehasalreadybeensomecoalescencealongroads,sotheopenfieldsaroundthevillagesperformanimportantfunctioninprovidingaphysicaland/orvisualseparationbetweenNorthamptonanditssurroundingvillages.

5.3.12TheeasternpartofthisstudyareacomprisestheEctonRidge,araisedridgeoflandwhichseparatesNorthamptonfromEarlsBarton,andwhichcontainstheattractiveironstonevillageofEcton.TheEctonRidgeisvisuallyprominentin thelandscape,andformsthesettingofNorthamptoninviewseastfromthetown,andwhenlookingtowardsNorthamptonfromthesouth-east.TheEctonRidgealsofunctionsasastrategicGapbetweenNorthamptonandEarlsBarton,andpreventsthevisualandphysicalcoalescenceofthesettlements.

StudyArea2:NeneValleyEast

5.3.13ThisStudyAreacontainsthegreenwedgeoflandalongsidetheRiverNene,whichrunsrightintothecentreofNorthampton.Thesteepridgetothesouthplaysanimportantpartinthesettingofthisarea,althoughthecombinationofvegetation,topographyandtheembankmentoftheA45meanthattheeasternpartoftheStudyAreaisrelativelywell-containedvisually,withlimitedintervisibilitywiththebuilt-upareaofNorthampton.

5.3.14BuildingsinthecentreofNorthampton,andlarge-scalecommercialdevelopmentatHardingstonearemorenoticeablefromthewesternendoftheStudyArea.

StudyArea3:South

5.3.15ThisStudyAreacontainstwodistinctpatternsoflandscapesetting,whicharestronglyinfluencedbytheunderlyinggeology.

5.3.16Theeasternhalfof theStudyAreacontainstherelativelysteepridgeoflimestonewhichincludesthevillagesofCogenhoe,LittleHoughton,GreatHoughtonandBrafieldonTheGreen,andcontinuestoHunsburyHill.ThisridgeformsthesouthernbackdroptotheeastsideofNorthamptonandisanimportantpartofitssetting.ItalsoincludestheattractivelandscapearoundPrestonDeanery.TherearepanoramicviewsfromtheridgelookingbacktowardsNorthampton.IntheseviewsthelifttowerandthetowerofStMatthewschurchareparticularlyprominentontheskyline.Otherwise,thehorizoniswoodedandthetownisvery“green”inappearanceinthesummermonths.

5.3.17BeyondthislimestoneridgetothesoutheastthereismuchlessvisualconnectionwithNorthampton.Instead,theviewsareoutintothedistantlandscapeincludingthedistinctiveandextensivedeciduouswoodlandsofYardleyChaseandSalceyForest.

5.3.18InthewesternhalfofthisStudyAreathelandformismoresubtleandtheslopeoflandwhichrunsuptotheridgealongtheedgeoftheStudyAreaisatseveralkmdistancefromtheedgeofthetown.Consequently,thesettingofthispartofNorthamptonislessdistinctivebutitneverthelesscontributestothecharacterandsettingofthehigherpartsofsouth-westNorthampton.

5.3.19TheundulatingtopographymeansthatviewstowardsNorthamptonaremore intermittent.Whereviewsoccur,themostprominentlandmarksinthetownarethelifttowerandthelargewhitedistributionwarehousesatSwanValley.

5.3.20BeyondtheridgecontainingthevillagesofBlisworthandGayton,thelandscapefeelsverydistantfromNorthamptonandthereislittlevisualconnectionwiththetown.

StudyArea4:NeneValleyWest

5.3.21ThenewdevelopmentatUptonhasastrongvisualinfluenceovermuchofthisStudyArea.FromtheUptonareathereisastrongsenseofthe“horseshoe”ofhigherland,whichformsthe

southern setting of the Northampton.Buildings in the centre of Northampton are visuallyprominentinviewseastwards.

5.3.22FurtherwesttowardsKislingbury,thelandscapeisveryflatwithfewclearviewsofeitherNorthamptonorthesurroundinglandform.

StudyArea5:NorthWest

5.3.23ThesouthernpartofthisStudyArea(aroundHarpole)isdominatedbytherelativelysteeply-rollingironstonehillswhichcreatedistinctivefeaturesinthesettingofNorthampton.

5.3.24Lookingback,fromheretowardsNorthampton,themostprominentbuildingsarethelifttower,thetoweratStCrispin’sHospitalandthelargewhiteshedsatSwanValley.

5.3.25BeyondtheridgetothewestthelandformisorientatedawayfromNorthamptontowardsthewiderlandscapetothewest.ThisareaincludesthelandaroundHarlestone,whichisveryself-containedvisually.Similarly,landnorthwestofChurchBramptonisalsonotvisuallyassociatedwithNorthampton(apartfromthelifttower)duetothetopographyanddensewoodlandvegetationatHarlestoneFirs. ThevillagesofHarlestoneandChurchBramptonhaveaparticularlystrongphysicalandvisualrelationshipwiththeirlandscapesetting.

5.3.26LandtotheeastofHarlestoneFirsandChapelBramptonhasadistinctiverollingformandisimportanttothesettingofNorthamptonbothinviewstowardsthetownfromthenorthandinviewsnorthwardsoutofthetownfromtheBramptonValleyarea.

6.1THEMEFOUR:NORTHAMPTONSHIREENVIRONMENTALCHARACTERASSESSMENTSUITE

6.2IntroductionandBackgroundtotheSuite

6.2.1RefertoFigure15:EnvironmentalCharacterAssessment;figure16:CurrentLandscapeCharacterAssessment;Figure17:BiodiversityCharacterAssessmentandFigure18:HistoricLandscapeCharacterAssessment.

6.2.2Manyplanningauthoritieshaveundertakenassessmentsoftheiradministrativeareainordertocontributeagreaterlevelofdetailandlocalrelevanttonationalscalelandscapecharacterassessments.

6.2.3In2006theRiverNeneRegionalPark-CommunityInterestCompany(RNRPCIC)andNorthamptonshireCountyCouncillaunchedaseriesofcharacterassessmentsthattogetherdeliveranintegratedcharacterisationofthecounty.

6.2.4Atthesub-regionalscale,theEnvironmentalCharacterAssessment(ECA)describesthebroadcharacterofthecounty.Thisassessmentseekstorefinethenationalscalecharacterassessmentbyintegratingmoredetailedassessments:namelytheCurrentLandscapeCharacterAssessment(CLCA),BiodiversityCharacterAssessment(BCA)andHistoricLandscapeCharacterAssessment(HLCA)toinformthedescriptionofEnvironmentalCharacterAreas.

6.2.5ThethreemoredetailedstudieswereundertakentoagreaterdegreeofdetailthantheECAandrepresentacounty/districtscaleofassessmentintheassessmenthierarchydescribedintheCountrysideAgency(nowNaturalEngland)“LandscapeCharacterAssessmentGuidance”.

Thesestudiesidentifygenericlandscapecharactertypesandgeographicallyuniquelandscapecharacterareas.

6.2.6Thestudiesprovideadescriptionoflocallandscapecharacterandaseriesofstrategiesandguidelinesthataredesignedtoensurechangeanddevelopmentprotectsandenhancesenvironmentalcharacter.

6.3EnvironmentalCharacterAssessment

6.3.1RefertoFig.15:EnvironmentalCharacterAssessment

6.3.2NorthamptonliesattheboundarybetweentwolargeEnvironmentalCharacterAreas(ECAs)Tothenorthofthetown(coveringStudyArea1:north-eastandpartofStudyArea5:north-west)isECA8-CentralNorthamptonshirePlateausandvalleys,avariedandcomplexareaofhighplateaufarmlandsseparatedbyundulatingvalleys.

6.3.3TothesouthandwestofthetownisECA13-WestNorthamptonshireUplands(whichcoversStudyAreas3:southandpartofStudyArea5:north-west.The West NorthamptonshireUplandsisanexpansiveandelevatedlandscapeofhillsandvalleysthatactsasthemajorwatershedbetweensomeoftheregion’sprincipalriversystems.ThevariedlocallandscapecharacteracrosstheUplandsisanintegralpartofitsdistinctiveness.

6.3.4BetweentheseECAsaretwoECAsassociatedwiththeRiverNene.Ontheeasternsideofthetown,StudyArea2:NeneValleyEastisbroadlyconsistentwithECA6-MiddleNene,NorthamptontoAldwincle.Onthewesternsideofthetown,StudyArea4:NeneValleyWestisconsistentwithECA7-UpperNeneCatchmentandWatfordGap.

6.3.5AtthesouthernedgeoftheCoreStudyAreathereareverysmallpartsofECA9-YardleyChaseandSalceyForestandECA11-ToveandOuseCatchment.

6.4CurrentLandscapeCharacterAssessment

6.4.1RefertoFig.16:CurrentLandscapeCharacterAssessment

6.4.2ThecomplexityofthegeologyaroundNorthamptonisreflectedinthecomplexityandvariationinlandscapecharactersurroundingthetown.

6.4.3StudyArea1:North-eastisdominatedbyRollingIronstoneValleySlopes.AtthenorthernedgeofthestudyareaisasmallareaofClayPlateaulandscapecharactertype,andtheRiverValleyFloodplainoftheBramptonValleycutsthroughthewesternedgeoftheStudyArea.

6.4.4StudyArea2:NeneValleyEastcontainstheBroadRiverValleyFloodplainlandscapecharactertype.ThesouthernpartofthisstudyareaalsocontainsasmallsectionoftheLimestoneValleySlopeslandscapecharactertype.

6.4.5StudyArea3:Southisthemostdiverseintermsoflandscapecharacter.TheeasternpartofthestudyareisdominatedbyLimestoneValleySlopesadjacenttotheNeneValley,andUndulatingClaylandsfurthersouth,witha smallarea ofLow Wooded ClayRidge aroundHortonandHartwell,althoughthelatterlandscapecharactertypeismoreassociatedwithSalceyForestandYardleyChasebeyondtheCoreStudyAreaboundary.ThewesternpartofStudyArea3:SouthisstronglyinfluencedbytheUndulatingHillsand Valleyslandscapecharactertype.

6.4.6StudyArea4:NeneValleyWestisdominatedbytheBroadRiverValleyFloodplainlandscapecharactertype,withsmallareasofUndulatingHillsandValleysatthenorthernandsouthernedges.

6.4.7StudyArea5:North-WestisinfluencedbytheUndulatingHillsandValleysinitssouthernandwesternparts,andtheRollingIronstoneValleySlopesinthenorth.TheRiverValleyFloodplainoftheBramptonValleydominatestheeasternsideofthisstudyarea.

6.5BiodiversityCharacterAssessment

6.5.1RefertoFig.17:BiodiversityCharacterAssessment

6.5.2VariationsingeologyandagriculturalpractisesaroundtheNorthamptonhaveresultedinadiversityofBiodiversityCharacterTypeswithintheCoreStudyArea.

6.5.3StudyArea1:North-EastisdominatedbyLiassicSlopes,anareaofslightlyacidicsoilswithalowretentionofnaturalhabitats.However,withinthisbroadbeltoflandscapethereareMinorFloodplainsassociatedwiththeRiverBramptonanditstributaries,andSywellBottom,bothofwhicharetributariesoftheNene.TheseMinorFloodplainsaresubjecttoperiodicwinterflooding,andareassociatedwithagreaterretentionofsemi-naturalhabitats,particularlywetgrasslandandtreebeltscreatingwildlifecorridors.

6.5.4StudyArea2:NeneValleyEastischaracterisedbytheMajorFloodplainbiodiversitycharactertype.Itsdominantfeatureisfloodedsandandgravelworkings,whichprovideaninternationallyimportanthabitatforoverwinteringbirds.ThesouthernedgeofthisStudyAreaincludespart of theLimestoneSlopesbiodiversitycharactertype,which comprises easily-worked,well-drainedcalcareousclayloamsoil.Arablecroppingistheprincipallandusewithinthisbiodiversitycharactertype,withcalcareousgrasslandareasonlysurvivinginman-madefeaturessuchasformerquarriesandthebanksandcuttingsofdisusedrailwaylines.

6.5.5ThisbiodiversitycharactertypecontinuesintoStudyArea3:South,whichcomprisesamosaicofbiodiversitycharactertypes.Themostextensiveofthese are Cropped Claylands andBoulderClayWoodlands,whichhavedevelopedontheheavy,slowlypermeableclaysoilswhichoverlyglacialdepositsofboulderclay. Asthenamesuggests,theCroppedClaylandsaredominatedbyarablecropping.Therearefewareasofretainedsemi-naturalhabitatorwoodland.TheBoulderClayWoodlandsarecharacterisedbyagreaterprevalenceofwoodland,suchasYardleyChaseandSalceyForest,althoughtheselargewoodlandsarejustoutsidetheCoreStudyArea.Atthesouth-westedgeoftheStudyArea,thereisanotherbandofLimestoneSlopesandassociatedcalcareoussoils.TheWoottonStreamanditstributariescutthroughtheStudyArea,creatinglinearbandsofMinorFloodplainscharacter,withassociatedwetgrasslandandwinterflooding.

6.5.6StudyArea4:NeneValleyWestisdominatedbytheMajorFloodplainoftheMiddleNeneandtheMinorFloodplainoftheUpperNene.BothareassociatedwiththerelativelybroadRiverNeneflowingthroughawidefloodplainwhichfloodsperiodically.Semi-naturalgrasslandhasbeenretainedinthefloodplain,withparticularlyfineexamplesatBugbrookeMeadowsSSSI.OneithersideoftheNeneFloodplainareareasofLiassicSlopesandCroppedClaylands,whichhavebeenusedmoreintensivelyforagriculturewitharesultantlossofbiodiversity.

6.5.7StudyArea5:North-WestalsocontainsareasofLiassicSlopesandCroppedClaylands,butisdominatedbyanextensiveareaofAcidSandsaroundHarlestoneandDallingtonHeath.ThisareacontainsthemostextensiveEricaceousheathinthecounty,andalsoanextensiveareaofacidgrasslandatBramptonGolfCourse. TheMinorFloodplainoftheBramptonNene

cutsthoughtheStudyArea,andcontainsanumberofvaluablewetgrasslandhabitatsandpermanentstandingwater,whichsupportsagoodvarietyofaquaticandemergentspecies.

6.6HistoricLandscapeCharacterAssessment

6.6.1RefertoFig.18:HistoricLandscapeCharacterAssessment

6.6.2ThevarietyandintactnessofthehistoriclandscapeisquitediversearoundNorthampton,whichmeansseveraldifferenthistoricandmodernlandscapesarevisibleinthelandscapessurroundingthetown.

6.6.3StudyArea1:North-Eastcontainsseveralhistoriclandscapecharactertypes,namelyEarlyParliamentaryEnclosuresaroundBoughtonandMoulton,FragmentedNon-ParliamentaryEnclosuresaroundOverstoneandC.19thParliamentaryenclosuresaroundEcton.

6.6.4StudyArea2:NeneValleyEastisdominatedbyFragmentedParliamentaryEnclosures,withasmallareaofC.19thParliamentaryEnclosuresnorthofCogenhoe.

6.5.6StudyArea3:SouthmostlycontainsFragmentedParliamentaryEnclosures,withanareaofLargeModernFieldsinthesouth-west,roughsimilarinextenttotheBoulderClayWoodlandsbiodiversitycharactertype.

6.5.7StudyArea4:NeneValleyWestcontainsamixtureofFragmentedParliamentaryEnclosuresandC.19th ParliamentaryEnclosures.

6.5.8StudyArea5:North-WestContainsPreC.19thEnclosuresandC.19thParliamentaryEnclosuresonthehigherland,withModernFieldsdominatingthevalleyoftheBramptonNene.

7.1THEMEFIVE:STRATEGICGREENINFRASTRUCTURE

7.2IntroductionandBackground

7.2.1Refertofigure19:StrategicBiodiversityNetwork;Fig.20:SustainableMovementNetworkandFigure21:StrategicGreenInfrastructureFramework.

7.2.2ThefollowingsectionprovidesabaselinereviewoftheGreenInfrastructureresourceforNorthampton,anddrawsfromthefindingsoftheNorthamptonshireStrategic GreenInfrastructureAssessment:“GreenInfrastructure-MakingtheConnection”.

7.2.3ThefollowingparagraphsprovideanoverviewoftheNorthamptonshireStrategicGreenInfrastructureAssessment.TheNorthamptonshireStrategicGreenInfrastructure(GI)AssessmentidentifiesaseriesofstrategicandlocalGIcorridors,aswellastwoconnectivenetworks;theBiodiversityNetworkandtheSustainableMovementNetwork.Thesearedescribedbelow.

7.3TheWestNorthamptonshireBiodiversityNetwork

7.3.1RefertoFig.19:StrategicBiodiversityNetwork

7.3.2The StrategicBiodiversityNetworkseekstoconnect fragmentedhabitats displayed acrossmuchofthecountyinordertoassistspeciespersistenceandhabitatfunction.ThenetworkpresentedintheNorthamptonshireGreenInfrastructureStrategyidentifiesarangeofhabitat

reservoirsandhabitatlinksaroundandwithinNorthamptonthatbuildsonthedistributionofextanthabitatinordertoachieveaspatialmapthatcanhelptargethabitatprotectionandenhancement.ThisstrategicplanhasbeenreviewedandrefinedinconsultationwiththeWildlifeTrust.

7.3.3HabitatcorridorshavebeenidentifiedwhereexistinghabitatreservoirsofthesameorsimilarBiodiversityActionPlan(BAP)habitatsformadistinctnetworkthroughthelandscape.However,habitatcreationshouldnotbepurelyrestrictedtowithinthese–identifyinghabitatnetworksisnotanexactscience.

7.3.4InthecaseoftheAcidGrasslandhabitatsthishasbeenrestrictedtowherethecorrectgeologyandsoiltypesexisttosupportthishabitat.Heathlandmayalsooccuronthesamegeologyandsoiltypesasacidgrasslandandisanimportanthabitatwithintheacidgrasslandcorridor,especiallyaroundHarlestoneHeathandHarlestoneFirs;theonlyremainingericaceousheathlandsitesinNorthamptonshire.

7.3.5TheNeneValleyanditstributariesformanimportantLowlandMeadowhabitatcorridor,encompassingriversandareasofopenwater.BothLowlandMeadow and Open WaterhabitatscontinuebeyondtheCoreStudyArea.TheOpenWaterisparticularlysignificanttotheeastoftheCoreStudyArea,intheproposedSpecialProtectionArea.

7.3.6TherearetwowoodlandhabitatcorridorswithintheCoreStudyArea(andcontinuingbeyondit).TothewestofNorthamptonisacorridorincludingNobottleAncientWoodland,andtotheeastandsouth-eastisawoodlandcorridorlinkingparklandatOverstonewithYardleyChaseandSalceyForest.AnarrowerwoodlandcorridorrunstothesouthoftheNeneValley,andincludesHunsburyHill.

7.3.7HabitatreservoirshavebeencategorisedbyBAPhabitat,onthebasisofthehabitatinwhichtheirbiodiversityvaluelies.Forexample,areasofplantationwoodlandonacidsoils,whichshowrelictsofacidgrasslandorheathlandhabitats(suchasHarlestoneFirsandLingsLNR)havebeencategorisedasAcidGrassland.Thesesitesshouldbeseenastargetareasforacidgrasslandandheathlandrestoration.TheyaregenerallylocatedinthenorthoftheCoreStudyArea.OtherhabitatreservoirsshownonFig.19areCalcareousGrassland;FloodplainGrazingMarsh;LowlandFen;LowlandMeadow;OpenMosaic;OpenWater;ParklandandWoodland.Ofthese,AcidGrassland,LowlandMeadowandWoodlandarelinkedbyidentifiedhabitatcorridors.

7.3.8Whilsttheplanpresentedinfig.19representsarefinementofthestrategicplanpresentedintheGreenInfrastructureStrategy,itremainsindicativeofhowhabitatreservoirsandlinksmightbeachieved.Amorerefinedviewatmasterplanninganddetaileddesignstageswillhelprefinethestrategicplanaswellasreactappropriatelytolocalconditionsandexploitopportunitiesasandwhentheyarise.Forexample,anewdevelopmentonthefringesofthetownshouldhelpdeliverinpartortotalahabitatlinkbetweentwoormoreofthereservoirsidentified.Theroutethatthisfollowsandthenatureofthelinkwillvarydependingonlocalconditions.

7.4TheSustainableMovementNetworkforWestNorthamptonshire

7.4.1RefertoFig.20:SustainableMovementNetwork

7.4.2TheSustainableMovementNetworkidentifiestheprincipalnetworksandopportunitiesforsustainablepeoplemovementfromcentresofsettlementtothecountryside. Bybuildingupon

thenetworkofexistingrightsofway,itseekstolinkassetsanddestinationstovillagesandtownswithahierarchyofroutes,thatwherepossible,takesadvantageofareasofgreenspace.

7.4.3Thenetworkisdescribedasoperatingfromdoorsteptocountryside,withinastructuredhierarchy,witheachlevelperformingaseparatefunction.

7.4.4Thetoptier,comprisingPrimaryandSecondaryroutes,areidentifiedfortheentirecounty.AnetworkofInterNeighbourhoodConnectorshasalsobeenproposedforNorthampton.

7.4.5Thetiersinthemovementhierarchyaredescribedbelow:

PrimaryNetwork–GreenWay

Strategic links between major settlements through open countryside, composed of thePublicRightsofWay(PROW)networkandcycleroutes.

PrimaryNetwork-BlueWay

Similar in operation and function to Green Ways, but their routes are dictated bywatercourses,includingrivers,navigationsandcanals.

SecondaryNetwork-CountrysideConnectors

Linktowns,villagesandhamletstogetherandtoassetsinthewidercountryside,composedofthePROWnetworkandcycleroutes.

7.4.6ThePrimaryNetworkofBlueWaysaroundNorthamptoncomprisetheNeneValleyBlueWay,whichlinkswiththeGrandUnionCanalBlueWaybetweenBlisworthandGayton.

7.4.7PrimaryGreenWaysrunintoNorthamptonfromthenorth(theBramptonValleyGreenWay),thesouth(theWootton-SalceyGreenWay)andthewest(theNeneValleyGreenWayandtheAlthorpGreenWay).The ForestGreenWaycirclesthe towntothesouth-east,and theWellingborough,KetteringandBrixworthGreenWayrunstothenorth-eastofthetown.

7.4.8BetweenthesePrimaryWaysisamoredenseSecondarynetworkofCountrysideConnectors,whichlinkNorthamptonwiththesurroundingcountryside. Different urban areas ofNorthamptonareconnectedbyanetworkofInter-UrbanNeighbourhoodconnectors.

7.5StrategicGreenInfrastructureCorridors

7.5.1RefertoFig.21:StrategicGreenInfrastructureFramework

7.5.2TheGIStudydefinestheStrategicInfrastructureFrameworkasaninterconnectednetworkofSub RegionalandLocal GICorridors.TheStrategicGreen InfrastructurePlan forNorthamptonshireillustratestheinterconnectednetworkofSubRegionalandLocalGICorridorsacrossthecounty.TheyarenotintendedtoindicaterigidcorridorsforGreenInfrastructureprovision,butinsteadidentifybroadlandscapezoneswithinwhichGreenInfrastructurerelatedproposalsandprioritiesforactionanddeliveryofGIshouldbefocused.Thesemulti-functionalzoneswillencompassarangeofobjectives.Itshouldberegardedasaconceptualframeworktoaidthedecision-makingprocesswithregardstoGIdeliveryontheground.Itisnotintendedtobeprescriptiveorinflexible,andasaconsequencethenetworkdeliveredinthelongertermmayvarydependingonamultitudeofstrategicandlocalissues,notleastthoserelatingtotheaspirationsoflocalcommunities,landownershipandachangingdevelopmentcontext.

7.5.3NorthamptonislocatedatthejunctionoffourSub-RegionalInfrastructurecorridors,whichformacrossshapeandmeetinthecentreofthetown.TheNene(Newnham–Northampton)istothewestofthetownandTheNene(Northampton-Wansford)istotheeast.TheBramptonArm(Northampton-MarketHarborough)istothenorthofNorthamptonandNorthampton-Salcey(MiltonKeynesLink)runstothesouth.

7.5.4LocalGreenInfrastructureCorridorswithintheCoreStudyAreaincludetheNetherHeyford-MiltonKeynesandNorthamptonGrandUnionCanalSpur,whichrunstothesouth-westofNorthamptonandconnectswithTheNeneSub-RegionalcorridornearUptonMill.Thereisalsoaneast-westrouteofLocalGreenInfrastructure,whichincludestheNorthampton-DaventryandWellingborough-Northamptoncorridors.TheseruntothenorthofTheNene,andconnectwithTheBramptonArmSub-Regionalcorridor.

7.6GreenInfrastructureNetworks

7.6.1Fig.27showsthetwoGreenInfrastructureNetworksforNorthamptononthesamedrawing.WhentheBiodiversityNetwork(fig.19andsection7.2)andtheMovementNetwork(fig.20andsection7.3)aresuperimposed,corridors,whichcontributetobothnetworks,canbeidentified.

7.6.2TheNeneandBramptonvalleysmakeasignificantcontributiontoboththeBiodiversityandMovementNetworks.Theacidgrasslandcorridor,whichrunswestfromtheBramptonvalleythroughHarlestoneFirs,andthewoodlandcorridortothewestofthis,alsocontainsaPrimaryMovementNetwork.ThelowlandmeadowBiodiversitycorridoralongtheGrandUnionCanalalsocontainsaprimaryroute.

7.6.3WithinNorthamptonurbanarea,thereareseverallocationswheretheSecondaryMovementNetworkrunsthroughOpenSpacesites,whicharealsoHabitatLinks.Theseincludewoodland,grasslandandlowlandmeadow.

PARTB: SENSITIVITYREVIEW

8.1SENSITIVITYREVIEW

8.2IntroductionandMethodology

8.2.1Thefollowingsectionassessesthesensitivityoflandscapes,andlandscape,biodiversityandculturalheritagefeaturesunderaseriesofkeythemesderivedfromthebaselineinformationpresentedintheprecedingsection.However,considerationisgiventootherbaselinedatasetsandinformationsourcestoprovideacomprehensiveoverviewandcontext.

8.2.2Atthenationallevel,theareaaroundNorthamptoncanbeidentifiedasbeingofmoderatetolow landscapesensitivity,becauseoftheabsence ofany nationallandscape designations(AreaofOutstandingNaturalBeauty;NationalPark).However,forthepurposesofthisassessment,amorelocalisedreviewofsensitivityhasbeenundertaken,observinglocal,townwideassetsandtheirsensitivity.

8.2.3Theassessmentoflandscapesensitivityhasthereforebeenundertakenatthestrategicscaleusinginformationanddatathathavebeenavailableatthetown-widescaleofthestudy.Assuch,judgementsontheinherentsensitivityoflandscapes,views,settingsandfeaturesareconsideredatthisbroadscale.Moredetailedresearchandfurthersite-specificassessmentwouldbenecessarytoconfirmthelevelsofsensitivityattributedtoindividualfeatures.

8.2.4SensitivityisdefinedinLandscapeCharacterAssessmentTopicPaper6,publishedjointlybytheCountrysideAgencyandScottishNaturalHeritage(2002).Adistinctionismadebetweenoveralllandscapesensitivity,whichreferstotheinherentsensitivityofthelandscapeitself,irrespectiveofthetypeofchangethatmaybeunderconsiderationandlandscapesensitivitytoaparticulartypeofchange.Theformerdefinitionismostrelevanttostrategicworkoveralargearea,suchasinthepreparationofregionalandsub-regionalstrategies.Theseconddefinitionisappropriateforstudiessuchasthis,whichrelatetoarelativelysmallareaandtoaparticulartypeofchange.

8.2.5Thisassessmentadoptstheseconddefinitionoflandscapesensitivityandispresentedbelow:

‘Landscapesensitivitytoaspecifictypeofchange:Thistermshouldbeusedwhereitisnecessarytoassessthesensitivityofthelandscapetoaparticulartypeofchangeordevelopment.Itshouldbedefinedintermsoftheinteractionsbetweenthelandscapeitself,thewaythatitisperceivedandtheparticularnatureofthetypeofchangeordevelopment inquestion.2

2 Countryside Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage, Landscape Character Assessment Topic Paper 6: Techniques andCriteriaforJudgingCapacityandSensitivity

8.2.6Thisassessmentconsidersandassessesheritageandbiodiversityfeaturesasacomponentofthelandscaperesource.Sensitivityscoreshavebeenattributedtofeaturesidentifiedinthebaselinedata.Theaimofthisexercisehasbeentoproduceasensitivityanalysisofheritageandbiodiversityfeatureswhichusesthe designationlevel ofasiteasastartingpointofdeterminingsensitivity,butwhichthenappliesprofessionalknowledgeandjudgementtoupgradethesensitivitylevelsoflower-designationandnon-designatedsiteswhereappropriate.

8.2.7Itshouldbenotedthattheprocesswasadesk-basedreview,undertakenbylocalexpertsinthesefields.Nositeinvestigationorverificationofthefeaturesidentifiedhasbeenundertakenspecificallyforthisstudy.Confirmationofthesurvivaloffeaturesassessedunderthesethemesandtheirinherentsensitivitywouldberequiredatthemorerefinedlevelofanalysisandinvestigation,suchasthatconductedaspartofanEnvironmentalStatement.Anyproposeddevelopmentsorprojects,whichmayhaveanimpactonthepSPA,wouldbesubjecttoaHabitatRegulationsAssessment.

8.2.8Followingonfromthedefinitionof‘sensitivity’,itisessentialthatacleardefinitionoftheterm‘theparticulartypeofchangeordevelopment’isestablished,asthisprovidesthereferencefortheconsiderationofthesensitivityoflandscapesandenvironmentalfeaturestothespecificchange,anditstypeandscale.Inthecontextofthisstudy,‘changeordevelopment’isdefinedasmajormixed-useurbanextensiondevelopmentinexcessof5ha3.However,someassetscouldstillbesensitivetodevelopmentoflessthan5ha.

8.2.9ItisimportanttonotethatthefindingsofthisSensitivityAssessmentarenotapplicabletotheassessmentofthesensitivityofthelandscapeorenvironmentalfeaturestoothertypesofdevelopment,forexamplemajorinfrastructuresuchasroadorrailschemes,orrenewableenergyinitiativessuchaswindfarms. Assuch,thefollowingsectionpresentsanexaminationoftheenvironmentalresource withinandaround Northamptonunderaseries ofStrategicThemes.Referencetosupportingplansismadewhererelevant.

8.2.10Itshouldbenotedthatanominal1kmpotentialzoneofinfluencehasbeendefinedforthepurposesofmarkingasettingforthevillagesaroundNorthampton.Atthisstrategicscaleofassessment,a1kmpotentialzoneofinfluencewasregardedassufficienttodemarcatethesettingofeachvillageandtodefineanareaofland,withinwhichdevelopmentassociatedwiththeexpansionofNorthamptonismorelikelytoleadtodirectadverseimpactonthesettlement’s‘separateness’andvillageidentity.Whereseparationbetweensettlementsordevelopmentislessthan1km,amorelocalisedscaleofassessmentwillberequiredtobeabletodefinesettingandimpactsmoreprecisely,basedonanalysisofviews,vistasandfactorsoflandform,vegetationandlocalperceptions.

8.3SensitivityCategoriesandDefinitions

8.2.1.Thesensitivityanalysishasbeenexaminedunderthefollowingfourmainthemes:Biodiversity;CulturalHeritage;LandscapeandVisual;andFloodZonesandMinerals.

8.2.2.Sensitivity,andthepotentialfordevelopment,isassessedunderfivecategories:High,High-Medium(forLandscapeVisualandbiodiversity),Medium,LowandNoKnownAssetsorIssues.Asummaryofthedefinitionofeachsensitivitycategoryispresentedbelow.

3 This5hathresholdisderivedfromaninterpretationofEIARegulationsIndicativeThresholdsandCriteria–Appendix3Section10b.

8.2.3.Anassumptionconcerningthescaleofdevelopmentagainstsensitivityhasbeenmade(refertoSection8.1.5).Theassessmentconsiderssensitivitytodirectimpactsthroughlossordamageofsitesandfeatures.Mitigationsuchasbufferplantinghasnotbeenconsidered.Inaddition,duetothescaleofassessmenteachtypeofdesignatedsitehasbeencategorisedashavingequalweight,forthepurposesofhighlightingsensitivityatthestrategiclevel.Inthecaseofnon-designatedsites(forexamplePotentialWildlifeSitesandKnownArchaeologicalAssets)localknowledgeandprofessionaljudgementhavebeenappliedindeterminingthecategoryofsensitivityaseitherlowormedium.

8.2.4.HighSensitivity

Definition:Significantconstraintssuchthatdevelopmentisinappropriate

Featuresandareasidentifiedashavinginternationalornationalstatutorydesignationstatusareconsideredtobeofhighsensitivity.High-sensitivitysitesareregardedaspresentingasignificantconstrainttodevelopment,suchthatlarge-scaledevelopmentwouldresultinsignificantharm.Developmentisregardedasinappropriateorwouldpresentwide-rangingchallengestoaccommodateintheseareas.

8.2.5.High-MediumSensitivity(forBiodiversityandLandscapeandVisualonly)

Definition:Significantconstraintsidentified,althoughsmallerscaledevelopmentmaybepossiblesubjecttofurtherdetailedinvestigationandappropriatemitigation.

Thiscategoryincludeslocally-designatedbiodiversitysitesandareasidentifiedassensitivetosmallerscaledevelopmentinurbanfringeandruralareaswithintheCoreStudyArea.

8.2.6.MediumSensitivity

Definition:Significantconstraintsidentified,althoughsomedevelopmentmaybepossiblesubjecttofurtherdetailedassessmentandappropriatemitigation.

Featuresandareasareidentifiedasbeingofmediumsensitivityonaccountoftheirlocalsignificanceortheirinclusionwithinorassociationwithawidercomplexofsitesandfeaturesofinterest.Somenon-designatedsiteshavebeenincludedinthiscategorywhereappropriate.Insomeinstancestheexactnatureoftheresourcemaynotbefullyunderstoodordocumented,butisneverthelessidentifiedasasignificantconstrainttodevelopment.Somedevelopmentwithinareasidentifiedasmediumsensitivitymaybepossiblealthoughfurtherinvestigationwillberequiredtofullyevaluatethesignificanceofthefeaturesandareasoflandscape.Wherefeaturesarenotidentifiedasbeingofhighsensitivity,appropriatemitigationmayberequiredtolimitadverseimpact.

8.2.7.LowSensitivity

Definition:Someconstraintsidentified,althoughdevelopmentmaybepossible subject tofurtherdetailedinvestigationandappropriatemitigation.

Featuresandareasidentified asbeing of lowsensitivity aregenerallynot designatedbutregardedasalocallyimportantasset,whichsubjecttofurtherinvestigationmayqualifyfordesignationinthefuture.Developmentwithinareasidentifiedaslowsensitivitymaybepossiblealthoughfurtherinvestigationwillberequiredtofullyappreciatethesignificanceoffeaturesandareas of landscape. Wherefeaturesarenotthenidentifiedasbeingofmoderateorhighsensitivityappropriatemitigationwillberequiredtolimitadverseimpact.

LowestSensitivity

8.2.8.WhereitisconsideredthatNoKnownAssetsorIssuesexist,developmentmaybepossiblesubjecttofurtherinvestigationandappropriatemitigation.Whilethelikelihoodofdiscoveringhigh,mediumorlowsensitivityassetsislesslikely,thiscannotbediscounted.

8.2.9.Inthecaseoflandscapeandvisualsensitivity,thealternativetermofNegligibleisintroduced,torepresentthelowestthresholdofsensitivity.Asallareasarevisible,andthereforehavesomedegreeofvisualimpact,itisinappropriatetousetheterm‘NoKnownAssetsorIssues’.Theterm‘Negligible’thereforeappliestothoseareaswhereitisconsideredthatdevelopmentwouldeitherbeappropriatetolocalcharacterorhaveanegligibleadversevisualimpact.

8.2.10.Whilstsensitivityanalysisacrossthefourmainthemesidentifiesareasthatmayberegardedasbeingofhigh,high-medium,mediumandlowsensitivitytonewdevelopment,itdoesnotnecessarilyprecludedevelopment,whichmay,throughappropriatedesignandplanning,beabletooffergreatercertaintyinthelongtermprotectionandpotentialenhancementoffeatures,orindeedmakeapositivecontributiontothetownanditsvisualsetting.

8.3BiodiversitySensitivity

8.3.1RefertoFigure22:BiodiversitySensitivity

8.3.2Alldesignatedbiodiversityandnatureconservationsitesweregradedaccordingtotheirsensitivity.Inaddition,PotentialWildlifeSites(PWS)werealsograded.PWSaresiteswherethecorrectconditionsmaystillexisttoformthestartingpointforcreationofhabitatsandgreencorridors,andwithoutthoroughsurveyswecannotruleoutthepossibilitythatasitecontainsahighlevelofbiodiversity.PWSforNorthamptonwereseparatedintomediumandlowsensitivitycategoriesbasedonthelevelofinformationtheWildlifeTrusthadaboutthem;theirclosenesstomeetingthewildlifesitecriteria,andtheirpositioninanecologicalunitorhabitatcorridor.Thisresultedin153asmediumand20aslow.

8.3.3HighSensitivity

InaccordancewithPPS9,Internationallyandnationally-designatedsites(i.e.potentialSpecialProtectionArea(pSPA)andSitesofSpecialScientificInterest(SSSIs)havebeengradedashighsensitivityinordertoensureamaximumlevelofprotection.

8.3.4High-MediumSensitivity

PPS9recognisesthatLocalWildlifeSiteshaveafundamentalroletoplayin:helpingtomeetoverallnationalbiodiversitytargets;contributingtothequalityoflifeandthewell-beingofthecommunity,andinsupportingresearchandeducation.ThisisparticularlythecaseinNorthamptonshire,whichhasamuchlowerproportionofitsareadesignatedSSSI(2%insteadofthenationalaverageof7.5%).SSSIdesignationsinNorthamptonshiredonotcurrentlytakeintoconsiderationthekeyprinciplesofhabitatconnectivityoradaptationtoclimatechange.LocalWildlifeSitesarethereforethebestexamplesofparticularhabitatsorspeciesassemblagesinNorthamptonshire,andplayamajorroleinconnectingareasoflandwithimportantbiodiversity.ThevastmajorityofLocalWildlifeSitesarecomprisedofaBiodiversityActionPlanhabitatandsupportBAPspecies.ThemainhabitatsrepresentedbyLocalWildlifeSitesintheNorthamptonAreaarelowlanddryacidgrassland;lowlandmeadow;lowlandmixeddeciduouswoodlandandrivers,allofwhicharepriorityhabitatsintheBAP.LocalWildlifeSitesarethereforedesignatedashigh-mediumsensitivity.