Scoping Report for the North Northamptonshire Core Spatial Strategy

SUSTAINABILITY APPRAISAL OF THE CORE SPATIAL STRATEGY FOR NORTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

SCOPING REPORT

APRIL 2005

Contents

1. INTRODUCTION / 1
Purpose of the Scoping Report / 2
CORE SPATIAL STRATEGY / 2
Background / 2
2. PLANS AND PROGRAMMES INFLUENCING THE PLAN AND SUSTAINABILITY APPRAISAL / 4
3. BASELINE INFORMATION / 4
Settlement Pattern and Transport Links / 5
The Economy / 6
Retail and Leisure Provision / 8
Population / 9
Deprivation / 10
Housing / 10
Health / 11
Crime / 11
Education / 12
Biodiversity / 13
Landscape / 15
Cultural Heritage / 16
Air / 17
Water / 17
Soil and Land / 18
Minerals and Waste / 19
Energy / 19
Climate Change / 20
4. SUSTAINABILITY FRAMEWORK / 20
Sustainability Objectives / 21
5. TESTING PLAN OBJECTIVES AGAINST THE SA FRAMEWORK / 23
6. WHERE NEXT: METHODOLOGY FOR TESTING DEVELOPMENT OPTIONS AND FORMAT OF THE FINAL REPORT / 26
APPENDICIES
1. Plans and programmes influencing the Plan and SA
2. Baseline Data
3. Retail Rank
4. Housing Data
5. Designated Nature Conservation Sites*
6. Countryside Character Areas and Northants Environmental Character Areas*
7. Current Landscape Character Assessment*
8. Heritage and Culture*
9. Historic Landscape Character*
10. Flood plain*
11. Geology*
12. Agricultural Land Classification
13. Minerals and Waste*
14. Evolution of the Sustainability Objectives
15. Appraisal Questions
16. Testing Emerging Plan Objectives
17. Sustainability Appraisal Panel
18. Example structure and content of the SA report
19. Consultation – Feedback Form

*Source: Northamptonshire Green Infrastructure Project

Scoping Report for the North Northamptonshire Core Spatial Strategy

1.0INTRODUCTION

1.1Under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, Sustainability Appraisal (SA) is mandatory for Development Plan Documents (DPDs) and Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs). Sustainability Appraisal helps planning authorities to fulfil the objective of contributing to the achievement of sustainable development in preparing plans.

1.2When preparing DPDs and SPDs planning authorities must also conduct an environmental assessment in accordance with the requirements of European Directive 2001/42/EC on the ‘assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment’ (the ‘strategic environmental assessment’ or SEA Directive).

1.3The requirement to carry out a SA and SEA are distinct, however both can be satisfied through a single appraisal process. SA is an integral part of good plan-making and should not be seen as a separate activity. It is an iterative process that identifies and reports on the likely significant effects of the plan and the extent to which implementation of the plan will achieve the social environmental and economic objectives by which sustainable development can be defined.

1.4SA involves five stages and the preparation of three key reports. It is important to remember however that these are not necessarily distinct stages. Below is a simplified diagram of the process based upon current government guidance.

Figure 1. The approach to SA and the key reports prepared

PURPOSE OF THE SCOPING REPORT

1.5This report has been prepared by the North Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit, which provides strategic planning for the Boroughs and Districts of Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough and East Northamptonshire. It has been produced in accordance with the guidance contained in Sustainability Appraisal of Regional Spatial Strategies and Local Development Frameworks, Consultation Paper, ODPM, September 2004. It therefore aims to meet the requirements of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and the requirements of the SEA directive. The advice of consultation bodies and other representatives and key stakeholders has been sought during its production. The publication of this report will increase the opportunity for further and wider input into the process. A feedback sheet is included as Appendix 19. Responses should be received by 10th June 2005.Copies of this report will be forward to the ‘consultation bodies’ as required by the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004, and also to other key stakeholders. The report will also be made available to anyone else on request.

1.6This report represents one of the first stages in the production of the joint Core Spatial Strategy for North Northamptonshire. It aims to:

  • Develop and agree an appraisal methodology and programme
  • Ensure stakeholder involvement in the appraisal process and provide a means of checking the appropriateness of the process
  • Identify and review relevant policies, plans and programmes and sustainable development objectives that will affect or influence the Core Spatial Strategy and the SA
  • Present a characterisation of the plan area based upon the relevant social, environmental and economic baseline information
  • Provide the basis for an environmental report to cover the requirements of the SEA directive
  • Identify the key sustainability issues for the SA to address
  • Agree a SA Framework, consisting of the sustainability objectives and indicators
  • Test the emerging plan objectives against the SA Framework

CORE SPATIAL STRATEGY

Background

1.7The Government has identified Northamptonshire as an area for major new development over the next 20 to 30 years. This is as part of the Milton Keynes and South Midlands Growth Area identified in the Sustainable Communities Plan published in February 2003 ( The broad proposals are set out in the Milton Keynes and South Midlands Sub-Regional Spatial Strategy (MKSM Strategy). This, published by the Secretary of State in March 2005, proposes that North Northamptonshire should accommodate around 52,000 new homes and 44,000 jobs between 2001 and 2021.

1.8The growth proposals have coincided with the introduction of a new planning system that replaces County Structure Plans with Regional and Sub-Regional Spatial Strategies and Local Plans with a range of documents that will collectively make up a Local Development Framework (LDF). Details of the documents that will make up the LDF, and the timetable for their production, are set out in the Local Development Schemes (LDS) for North Northamptonshire.

1.9In view of the scale of growth proposed, the councils have agreed that there should be a comprehensive set of planning documents for North Northamptonshire. This will be called the North Northamptonshire Local Development Framework.

1.10The Local Development Framework will include a single strategic plan (the 'Core Spatial Strategy') for the whole of North Northamptonshire. This will include:

  • Statement of Vision and objectives
  • Future role and function of the main settlements
  • Development requirement to be associated with the main settlements (including housing and employment)
  • Location and intended broad scale and form of major urban extensions
  • Sequence in which development should take place including phasing and scale of the development in the major growth locations
  • Infrastructure and service requirements
  • Environmental issues and prevention of coalescence between towns;
  • Provision of green infrastructure of a strategic scale
  • Social infrastructure provision and other development serving more than one town in the area;
  • Transport linkages throughout the area
  • Necessary implementation policies where a consistent view is needed across the area, including strategic policies on design and developer contributions.
  • Monitoring and implementation framework

(sources: Draft Terms of Reference for Joint Planning Committee; MKSM Sub-Regional Strategy March 2005)

2.0PLANS AND PROGRAMMES INFLUENCING THE PLAN AND SA

2.1A review has been undertaken of all the plans and programmes influencing the plan and SA. The results are summarised in a table included as Appendix 1. This review considered guidance at international, European Union (EU), regional and local level. Note has been made of any targets or specific requirements included within them. The identification of international, EU and national level documents is considered to comply with the requirements of the SEA Directive.

3.0BASELINE INFORMATION

3.1Baseline information provides the basis for predicting and monitoring effects and helps to identify key sustainability issues. The collection of this data has been undertaken as part of the evidence gathering required by the plan making process. The task has been linked to the development of the SA Framework and to developing proposals for monitoring. Existing studies underway across the whole county in respect of Landscape Characterisation and Green Infrastructure have been heavily relied upon for sourcing this data. The County Council, the district and borough Councils and other partners including the Environment Agency, Countryside Agency and English Nature have jointly undertaken this work. Far greater detail is available from these projects than could be included in this report. Further reports and studies are also underway on a number of other topics, these will provide further baseline data for future stages.

3.2The collection, presentation and monitoring of baseline data is a relatively new requirement. A source of some useful and relevant information in some areas has been difficult to obtain. It is anticipated that this will improve over time, particularly as Local Authorities begin to prepare annual monitoring reports as required under the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. Indicators will therefore evolve as new data becomes available. Appendix 2 provides a table of baseline data highlighting trends, comparators, targets and key issues. It should be read in conjunction with this following section. Together they provide an overview of the area and identify key issues. They represent the information on the current state of the environment and the environmental characteristics of the area required by the SEA Directive.

3.3Consultation on this document is seen as a key stage in identifying further sources of baseline data and of identifying the key issues arising from it. It will become increasingly important for the Local Authorities in the area to coordinate consistent and comparable data and indicators. A joint approach to the collection and monitoring of baseline data will be essential.

Settlement Pattern and Transport Links

3.4North Northamptonshire incorporates the boroughs and districts of East Northamptonshire (Population 79,700), Corby (Population 53,100), Kettering (Population 84,300) and Wellingborough (Population 73,000). Cumulatively the area encompasses 986 square kilometres and has a population of over 290,000 from mid 2003 estimates. East Northamptonshire (510 square kilometres) is the largest district in the area. North Northamptonshire is located on the southernmost tip of the East Midlands Region and has connections with three others (the South East, the East and the West Midlands). As well as being a key component of the Milton Keynes and South Midlands Growth Area, along with West Northamptonshire it is also located adjacent to the London-Stansted-Cambridge-Peterborough Growth Area.

3.5The area iswell placed in terms of strategic transport infrastructure. The Midland Mainline Railway, with stations at Kettering and Wellingborough provides good north-south connections (London to Leicester, Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield), although east-west rail connections are relatively poor. Corby is without a direct passenger rail service, but a half hourly bus service runs from Kettering Station. North Northamptonshire is well connected for rail freight distribution, particularly for accessibility to other parts of Europe, with rail facilities located at Corby (Eurohub). The east-west A14 forms part of the Trans-European Network of Roads (E30) and gives acess to the M1/M6, A1/M11 and the A43/A45. As a consequence the area is highly accessible by road to the rest of the UK and to parts of Europe.

3.6.The main settlement pattern in North Northamptonshire is closely inter-linked, forming an urban spine related to the north-south corridor of the A6 and the Midland Main Line railway. This incorporates the larger urban areas of Kettering, Wellingborough and Rushden and Higham Ferrers, as well as a chain of smaller towns with an industrial heritage such as Desborough, Rothwell and Irthlingborough. Corby is closely related to this corridor but has a distinctive character due to its former New Town status and steel heritage. Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough, the three largest towns in North Northamptonshire interact in various ways and have been defined in the MKSM Strategy as ‘neighbouring growth towns’. Raunds and Thrapston are located further to the east on the A45. Raunds has similarities to the towns in the main corridor whereas Thrapston has similarities to Oundle in the north-east, which is a more traditional market town serving a large rural hinterland and with close socio-economic links with the Peterborough area.

3.7Outside these towns, North Northamptonshire is predominantly a rural area with 109 villages dispersed into attractive countryside, some of which are designated for their special environmental qualities. There is a sharp transition between the countryside and the neighbouring growth towns of Kettering and Corby. Most settlements in the northern part of North Northamptonshire have a high quality of landscape and historic character.

Key Issues:

  • Strategic location and transport links
  • Lack of a passenger rail service/ station at Corby
  • A number of small towns each with a separate identity
  • No one dominant centre
  • Role of large rural hinterland and its villages

The Economy

3.8The traditional economic base has been located along the north-south corridor and has primarily focused on manufacturing, with strong links to the footwear industry. The neighbouring growth towns of Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough form the focal point for the economy of their districts and for North Northamptonshire and its rural hinterland as a whole. Within East Northamptonshire, there is a more dispersed settlement pattern, with the population concentrated into 6 towns and reliance towards the neighbouring growth towns and other centres for employment.

3.9Although restructuring of the economy has seen a decline in these industries and the service base associated with them, manufacturing still plays an important role across North Northamptonshire. Within Corby, for example over 40% of employees work in this sector. Within North Northamptonshire there has been a growth in jobs in the Distribution sector incorporating transport; storage and communication, taking advantage of excellent transport infrastructure and the availability of B2 (General Industrial) and B8 (Storage and Distribution) space, of which Corby has the largest provision. This has led to the development of a range of distribution parks across North Northamptonshire. There has also been an increase in jobs in the public sector (including health and education).

3.10The economy is relatively self-contained both within the component districts and North Northamptonshire as a whole. Localised self-containment is particularly high in Corby, with over 70% of its residents working in Corby. There are strong relationships between the neighbouring growth towns, particularly between Kettering and Corby. 9.6% of Corby residents work in Kettering, 11.1% of Kettering residents work in Corby. There are however, several centres adjacent to North Northamptonshire that ‘pull’ workers to them. Wellingborough has strong employment links with Northampton, with 12.3% of residents working there. Milton Keynes also attracts labour, Market Harborough has linkages with Kettering and Huntingdon and Bedford with East-Northamptonshire, which has the highest levels of out-commuting in North Northamptonshire. Peterborough also has strong socio-economic linkages with the north of North Northamptonshire. The Midland Main Line Rail links at Wellingborough and Kettering increase the accessibility to London for commuters.

3.11The knowledge economy accounts for approximately 10% of employment across North Northamptonshire. Parts of the area are within the Oxford to Cambridge Arc (O2C Arc), a region of high tech, fast growth knowledge based sectors. The region is set to rival similar growth poles, such as Silicon Valley, around the world. SATRA in Kettering and the establishment of the Wellingborough Innovation Centre illustrate that these sectors are developing in North Northamptonshire and provide a focus for the crucial innovation networks that help to stimulate this sector of the economy. Wellingborough faces the challenge of “clawing back” commuters from London and has a particular opportunity in the long-term to take advantage of the overheating effect in Oxford and Cambridge and the consequential requirement for good quality, competitively priced employment space. There has recently been growth in the knowledge-based sectors in Wellingborough and East Northamptonshire, but a decline in Corby and Kettering. It is part of the “Motorsport Valley” and Rockingham Motor Speedway located in both East Northamptonshire and Corby has extended this into Corby.

3.12Office space is limited, primarily located in town centres serving local needs and take up has been slow in recent years with little large- scale inward investment. Wellingborough has the largest provision of office floorspace in North Northamptonshire 79,000 m2 which is the second largest in the County. Kettering 77,000 m2 has similar provision to Wellingborough and has more office units, with Corby 50,000 m2 of floorspace the lowest. Northampton, a competing centre has more office space 445,000 m2 than North Northamptonshire’s cumulative office floorspace.

3.13Desborough and Rothwell offer limited employment opportunities and most people leave the towns to find work elsewhere with particularly strong links to Kettering. In contrast, Burton Latimer has substantial employment provision with Weetabix a major employer. Rushden/Higham Ferrers. Irthlingborough has a number of local employment opportunities but is still dependent on manufacturing. Raunds requires new employment to stimulate regeneration and investment in the town.

3.14Thrapston and Oundle identified as rural service centres serve their rural hinterlands with retail and community services although both have different strengths and opportunities for change. Thrapston town centre is in a better position to benefit from a growing catchment area as housing growth comes forward. It has a weekly street market and a thriving cattle market. Oundle has a strong heritage offer in terms of the built environment; exploiting the niche visitor/public school role as well as continuing to serve the town centre needs of its rural hinterland. The town has a weekly market and a monthly farmers market. Some of the villages in North Northamptonshire act as local service centres and provide limited employment.

Key Issues:

  • Importance of manufacturing and storage and distribution
  • Opportunities for growth in knowledge based industries
  • Opportunities as part of Motorsport Valley
  • Limited office space with slow take up
  • Competition from and dominance of Northampton for office space
  • Limited employment in some rural areas
  • Increase in the number of jobs in the public sector
  • Diversification of the economy
Retail and Leisure provision

3.15North Northamptonshire’s unique location and regional and sub-regional linkages make it vulnerable to competing retail centres, where investment and expansion are being aggressively targeted. Competitors include Northampton to the west, Bedford and Milton Keynes to the south, Peterborough to the east and Leicester to the north, whose size of retail offer greatly exceeds the offer in individual North Northamptonshire centres. These centres also compete for leisure and entertainment sectors. Kettering provides the main retail offer with over 800,000 square metres of retail floorspace, nearly twice the provision of Corby, with a range of stores in the town centre and on the edge of town such as the Kettering Venture Park and serves as a focus for services and facilities for the town as a whole and its wider rural hinterland. Wellingborough and particularly Corby have a relatively weak retail offer in comparison, with high levels of retail vacancies. Corby has experienced a gradual decline in the town centre with poor retail and leisure provision. Although the villages close to Corby have strong employment links to the town, the perception and image of Corby means that residents often travel to alternative destinations such as Stamford for shopping or entertainment. There are major redevelopment proposals in Corby to address these issues. Given the size and relationships between the town centres it is likely that a degree of competition exists between the town centres at present. Further information in relation to retail ranking is provided in Appendix 3.