Workshop Record from the · Social cohesion 5. Options Workshop The options discussion session...

“This Time It’s Different” Workshop Report

Workshop Record

from the

“This Time it’s Different”

West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy Issues and Options Conference

Tuesday 24 April 2007

Northampton Saints Conference Centre


Please note that this is a record of the Technical Stakeholder Workshop event held on 24 April 2007. It does not aim to draw any conclusions or analysis from the feedback. The feedback has being collated into common headings and themes so the range of views can be seen.


1. Introduction This is the record from a Technical Stakeholder Conference held on 24 April 2007 called “This Time it’s Different” at the Saints Conference Centre. The conference was designed to contribute to developing an Issues and Options Paper for the West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy. The Issues and Options paper will set out the process of developing a Joint Core Strategy, provide a basis for discussing the various issues that exist, and will suggest some options for managing the issues. The Stakeholder Conference looked to gather initial feedback on the issues around West Northamptonshire and to start discussion around the possible options to manage the issues. 2. Background Northampton Borough Council, Daventry District Council and South Northamptonshire Council are working together to plan development and growth for the area. The document that will be produced is a Joint Core Strategy for the combined councils’ areas known as West Northamptonshire. This report outlines the first phase of stakeholder involvement, a workshop to identify the key issues facing West Northamptonshire and possible options to manage them. The three Councils are working together at all levels. The West Northamptonshire Joint Steering Group has been established between Northampton Borough, Daventry District and South Northamptonshire Councils to oversee the preparation of joint Local Development Documents and associated studies. The group also discusses common planning issues between the three Districts. It comprises of two members from each Council with the active involvement of the County Council and the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation. A Joint Planning Unit (JPU) has been established, made up of Officers from the three Councils. The JPU reports to the West Northamptonshire Programme Board. This Board comprises heads of planning from the three districts and County Council as well as representatives from Government Office for the East Midlands and WNDC.

2.1. The Joint Core Strategy The Joint Core Strategy is a key document in the Local Development Framework. It will replace strategic policies in the adopted Local Plans and will set policies to help deliver other strategic plans, in particular the Community Strategies. The Joint Core Strategy will be at the heart of all the other new planning policies that the three Councils will produce. When it is finished it will set out the vision, objectives and strategy for the spatial development of West Northamptonshire. It will provide the strategic framework that ensures future development in West Northamptonshire is sustainable and makes a positive enhancement to the area. The timetable for developing the Joint Core Strategy (JCS) is set out in the Local Development Scheme. This sets out the key stages in developing the document and where consultation will take place (see table 1 - The Local Development Scheme timetable).

Joint Planning Unit 3 03/08/2007

“This Time It’s Different” Workshop Report Table 1: The Local Development Scheme timetable

Consultation on Issues and Options September – October 2007 Consultation on Preferred Options February – March 2008 Consultation on Submission Draft to Secretary of State

August 2008

Pre-examination meeting December 2008 Examination February – March 2009 Estimated adoption December 2009

3. The Conference Event Over 100 technical stakeholder delegates attended a half-day conference to start shaping the issues for West Northamptonshire and possible options to mange the issues. Delegates represented a range of sectors, including developers, planners, service providers, environment groups, transport groups and local authority representatives In advance of the workshop day delegates received a pack of information, which included details about the day and a background briefing paper. This background paper outlined the framework within which the JCS will be delivered, including the strategic direction for West Northamptonshire, national and regional policy and the current evidence base.

3.1. Workshop Process Jean Morgan, Chief Executive of South Northamptonshire Council, opened the workshop. Delegates heard an opening presentation that provided background for the day and outlined joint working, the Local Development Scheme and the key documents that will be produced. This was followed by Claire Berry, Joint Core Strategy Lead Officer, who provided details of the Issues and Options process, key milestones and the sustainability appraisal before outlining the agenda for the day. A copy of both presentations can be found in Appendix One – Opening Presentations. Delegates were asked to break into 10 smaller discussion groups, along with a facilitator. The facilitators were not planning officers but were drawn from other sections of the organisations. This enabled the groups to have a more free discussion around the issues and options. The first part of the small workshop sessions centred on the key issues facing West Northamptonshire up to 2026. This concluded with the discussion groups identifying their ‘top 5 issues’ to look at discussing options for. Groups were each provided with a large map of West Northamptonshire to be used as a discussion tool and feedback mechanism. If they wished groups could annotate the map with their feedback. Following a short break, delegates reformed in the same discussion groups to use the top 5 issues identified in their earlier session to focus a discussion on possible options to manage the issues. At the end of the discussion sessions delegates gathered altogether to hear about the next steps in developing the Issues and Options paper. This was followed by lunch and viewing of the map work from the other groups. Joint Planning Unit 4 03/08/2007


4. Feedback Delegates reflected different stakeholder sectors, which can be seen in the discussion feedback. Discussions were varied depending upon the make up of the group, for example, where specific interest sectors were included in the group; these views were drawn into the discussion. The feedback gathered reflects the diverse views and opinions that exist to feed into the issues and options paper. No conclusions or summaries have been drawn as this paper is designed to be a meeting record. The feedback from all group’s discussions has been collated in the Appendices of this document.

4.1. Priority Issues

Following the discussions around the issues facing West Northamptonshire, delegates selected their ‘top 5 issues’. Their findings are found in table two – Priority Issues. It must be noted that not all groups came up with 5 issues, some had more and others had less. That said, the feedback does reflect the key areas of concern for delegates. Table Two – Priority Issues

Issue Frequency Infrastructure 8 Employment 7

Sustainable Growth 5 Economy 5

Sustainable Transport 4 Affordable Housing 3

Leadership 3 Vision 2

Deliverability 2 Sustainable Rural Communities 2

Retail 1 Aspirations 1

Evidence Base 1 Recreation and Leisure 1

Education 1 Defining NIA 1

Environment / Climate Change 1 Flooding 1

4.2. Issues Summaries

Extensive feedback was gathered at the workshop on the issues facing West Northamptonshire. This has all been collated under key headings and then grouped by area to reflect how the feedback affects different parts of West Northamptonshire. The key categories identified are found below in table. The feedback has been grouped into common areas and themes and is contained within Appendix Two. Groups were provided with a blank map of West Northamptonshire, which could be annotated as part of their discussions. Groups used the maps in different ways and these have been collated in Appendix Four – Annotated Maps from the Workshop Day. Joint Planning Unit 5 03/08/2007

“This Time It’s Different” Workshop Report The feedback on the issues can be grouped into the following headings:

Generic Issues

Environment and climate change Infrastructure

Area specific

issues Roles and relationships

Transport Economic prosperity

Social cohesion

5. Options Workshop The options discussion session utilised the ‘top 5’ issues the groups prioritised as a basis to discuss the options to manage the issues. A wealth of feedback was gathered which is very difficult to summarise, whilst maintaining the breadth of the discussion. Therefore, the feedback has been grouped under category headings and sub groups to reflect the diversity of the discussion. The key group headings are as follows: • Delivery of Affordable Market

Housing • Sustainable Transport / Movement • Employment • Recreation / Leisure • Create more sustainable rural

communities • Delivery • Sustainable Development /

Location (climate change) (villages) • Social Infrastructure (not too late in

the day) • Infrastructure • Economy • Northampton Town Centre

• South Northants • Education • Communities • Environment and Green

Infrastructure • Competition from other towns/

Inward looking • Evidence Base • Deliverability • Politics (rural / urban, JPU / WNDC)

/ Leadership (Buy in) • What is vision? • Defining NIA • Settlement Hierarchy • Quality Aspirations • Regeneration • Other

Feedback on the options discussion can be found in Appendix Three – Options Feedback. 6. Close Participants in the workshops came back together, just before lunch, to hear how the Issues and Options process would unfold. The annotated maps from the workshop sessions were displayed around the room.


DRAFT

Appendix One

Opening Presentations

from the




Issues and Options Conference

24th April 2007

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION

Jean MorganChief Executive

South Northamptonshire Council

“THIS TIME IT’S DIFFERENT”

A Change of Perspective…

• West Northamptonshire

• 2026

THE CONTEXT

• Milton Keynes and South Midlands Growth Area

• Daventry District Council, Northampton Borough Council andSouth Northamptonshire Councils are committed to working together to implement growth in an effective, cohesive and sustainable manner

• The 3 Councils are committed to working with West Northamptonshire Development Corporation, Northamptonshire County Council and other key partners

JOINT WORKING

West Northamptonshire Joint Steering Group

West Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit

JOINT LOCAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEME

On 31 March 2007 all 3 Councils jointly brought into effect a Joint Local Development Scheme covering the entirety of West Northamptonshire.

The LDS is a public timetable for the production of local development documents over the next 3 – 4 years.

The LDS sets out those documents that will be prepared jointly by the 3 Councils and individually.

• West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy

• Northampton Implementation Area DPD

• West Northamptonshire Rural Areas DPD

• West Northamptonshire DC Policies DPD

• West Northamptonshire Affordable Housing SPD

West Northamptonshire Joint LDDs & SPDs

PURPOSE OF THE DAY

• We need your help identifying the issues affecting West Northamptonshire…

• … and the options available to address these issues

Why we are here:

JOINT CORE STRATEGY

Claire BerryLead Officer

West Northamptonshire

Joint Core Strategy

WHAT IS A CORE STRATEGY?

It will set out:

• the long-term spatial vision for West Northamptonshire

• the spatial objectives and spatial strategy

• the core policies

• broad locations for development and services

• a monitoring & implementation framework for delivery

WHAT IS A CORE STRATEGY?

It should:

• Implement the Regional Spatial Strategy

• Draw on any strategies of the Councils and other organisations that have implications for the development/ use of land

Examples - Community Strategies

- Local Transport Plan

- Housing Strategies

PREPARING THE JOINT CORE STRATEGY

Front Loading– facilitating early involvement

– identifying issues at the start

– continuous involvement

– feedback


Commencement of Core Strategy Sept 2006

Prepare Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report Oct 2006 – Jan 07

Strategic Issues & Options March - Sept 2007

Preferred Options & initial SA report Feb - March 2008

Submission of DPD & SA report August 2008

Pre-Examination Meeting December 2008

Independent Examination Feb - March 2009

Adoption December 2009

Key Milestones


Sustainability Appraisal – 5 StagesStage A – Setting the context and objectives, establishing the baseline and deciding the scope

Stage B – Developing and refining options and assessing effects

Stage C – Preparing the SA report

Stage D – Consulting on the preferred options and the SA report

Stage E – Monitoring the significant effects of implementing the Joint Core Strategy

Strategic Issues & Options• Identify all the issues

• Consider all the alternative options from:

- the evidence base

- existing knowledge of local issues

- stakeholders views

- community involvement


Evidence Gathering• Extensive & developing evidence base

• Evidence takes many forms including studies, e.g.

- Development Options Studies

- Northampton Multi-Modal Study

- West Northants Housing Market Assessment


PROGRAMME FOR THE DAY

9:30 – 9:45 Welcome and Introduction

9:45 – 10.00 Joint Core Strategy

10:05 – 11:00 Issues Workshops

11:00 – 11:25 Refreshment Break

11:30 – 12:30 Options Workshops

12:35 – 12:50 What happens next…

12:50 Lunch and Close

DRAFT

Appendix Two

Issues Feedback

from the




Draft “This Time It’s Different” Workshop Report Appendix Two – Issues Feedback

Area Roles and Relationships

Northampton

• Central location should be an advantage • Culturally strong and diverse • Location between Oxford and Cambridge should be a benefit • Perceived as a place that people travel through – not to. • Lack of vision and identity • Struggling to maintain status as the County Town • Struggling to compete with Milton Keynes, Leicester and Peterborough • Lack of definition for the Northampton Implementation Area • Existing urban areas in need of significant regeneration • Focus seems always to be on housing growth

Daventry

• Lack of identity or defined role • Centrally located with good road links • New town • Excellent road infrastructure • Location between East and West Midlands should be further considered • Socially diverse population

Brackley and Towcester

• Historic town of Towcester should be preserved and promoted • Centrally located with good road links • Both towns play an important role in serving large rural population • Close relationship with Milton Keynes

The Villages

• RSS focus means villages are overlooked. • National policy is affecting character of villages through infill • Village services are gradually dying out

Area Transport

Northampton

• Key M1 junctions nearing capacity at peak times • Existing public transport doesn’t provide genuine choice to car ownership • Inadequate parking • Car dominated • Rail link needs to be faster and more frequent • Station poorly located in the town



• Congestion is a big issue on A45 and town centre • North West ring road required • To many residents commute elsewhere • Poor access to airports

Daventry

• Good access to rural areas for leisure and recreation • DIRFT seen as a positive development • Long Buckby rail link is inadequate • Bus service is not a genuine choice • Dominated by commuters car ownership

Towcester

• Congestion and capacity of A43 and A5 seen as big issues • Bypass needed to preserve historic centre but could threaten the vitality of the centre • No rail ink • Bus service is not a genuine choice • High proportion of residents commute to Milton Keynes

Brackley

• Bus service is not a genuine choice • No rail link • Close links to Banbury, Milton Keynes and Buckingham

Rural Areas

• Poor public transport • Absolute reliance on car ownership for access jobs and services

Area Economic Prosperity

West Northants

• Housing growth across West Northants is not seen as an issue – employment seems like a poor relation • Employment development should be coordinated with strong public transport links • New housing developments seem to get the most attractive sites. Employment sites are always second

priority • There should be a specific strategy for how the area will become more prosperous and what areas

should be specialised in order to contribute to UK prosperity • There should be a focus on high quality jobs and a recognition that unemployment leads to crime. • Work should be done with existing employers to ensure we understand their needs and that they will be

retained • West Northants should be marketed as an excellent location for businesses. This should be a clear

message that makes the advantages of the area obvious to potential investors



Northampton

• Concern that the existing employment base isn’t sufficiently diverse and that business investment should be targeted to specific sectors

• There should be recognition that Northampton is in direct competition with other centres (Milton Keynes, Leicester). These centres are perceived as more attractive for retail and business investment

• New urban extensions should be an equal mix of housing and employment • There is a perception business growth should focus on industries with high job densities • It is considered that the employment base should be diversified to prevent over-reliance on any single

area of the economy. In particular there is a desire for more knowledge based industry • There should be a focus on regenerating existing employment sites for employment rather than housing • Northampton Town centre should be more competitive and attractive as a principle retail centre. This will

encourage business investment • There needs to be a wide range of employment land allocated to be flexible to the needs of investors in

terms of amount / type / location

Daventry

• Concern that the existing employment base isn’t sufficiently diverse and that business investment should be targeted to specific sectors

• the improvement of retail centres in the other towns should be set in the context of improving Northampton town

• New urban extensions should be an equal mix of housing and employment • There is a perception business growth should focus on industries with high job densities • However the logistics industry should also be allowed to grow because it is becoming more highly skilled

and there is obvious demand. DIRFT seen as a positive development that should potentially be allowed to expand further.

Towcester

Brackley

• Housing and Employment mix is not balanced. There is a perception that current levels of out-commuting are unsustainable

• the improvement of retail centres in the other towns should be set in the context of improving Northampton town

• We should build on local areas of expertise such as engineering expertise (motor racing etc)

Rural Areas

• The focus on urban economies ignores the rural areas. Rural employment should be protected and enhanced in order to maintain some investment into villages or services will be lost and villages will become more unsustainable.



Area Social Cohesion

Northampton

• Concerns regarding the ability to integrate new development with the existing town • The delivery of affordable housing is a problem in terms of quantity, quality, type and tenure • The overall affordability of the housing market needs addressing • Growth should be seen as an opportunity to improve existing areas rather than focus entirely on

extensions • Growth must not be just housing • Social infrastructure (in particular youth facilities) should be delivered before housing development • Provision must be made to retain educated population • Improve Northampton as a cultural centre (specifically arts, libraries and theatre) • Lack of community identity

Daventry

• Growth should seek to promote health lifestyles including access to the countryside, recreation and leisure.

• Concerns regarding low levels of skills in the local workforce • Currently a mismatch between local jobs and skills. • Lack of community facilities / lack of communities • Lack of health services (hospital)

Towcester

Brackley

• Concerns that Towcester and Brackley are seen as dormitory settlements for commuters • Concerns regarding lack of school places in Brackley • Social infrastructure must be provided prior to further housing development • Provision of further/higher education is poor • Links should be encouraged with Northampton and Buckingham universities

Rural Areas

• Delivery of affordable housing is seen as a big issue in villages in West Northamptonshire • The increasing cost of houses is seen to be creating more exclusive communities • Fears that growth focused on the urban areas could lead to further loss of services in villages • Access to the countryside for the purposes of recreation and leisure is seen as the main advantage of

village life



Environment and Climate Change • Address the continued decline in the majority of semi-natural habitats due to changes in management practices • Address the continued and significant decline in biodiversity and scarce plant species • Address the continued increase in the amount of habitat fragmentation • Consider the effects of development on biodiversity • Consider and meet realistic Biodiversity targets • Consider the future role of locally designated landscape designations • Need to protect the most attractive countryside and villages from coalescence from new development • Prioritise development on previously developed land in preference to Greenfield developments • Upgrade and expand green infrastructure in line with growth • The need to balance the provision of aggregates through extraction and the need to safeguard the environment • The need to provide high Quality green space within urban areas • The need to consider flooding issues in the location of new developments • The need to consider climate change issues in the assessment of sites for development • The need to apply energy efficiency targets and standards to new developments and meet RSS targets on renewable energy • The need to plan for carbon neutral (zero carbon) dwellings • The need to apply recycling targets and standards to new developments

Infrastructure • Funding mechanism(s) for infrastructure provision • Development coming forward without adequate infrastructure • Environmental impact of infrastructure development • Renewable energy infrastructure • Funding mechanism(s) that deliver social / community infrastructure • Inadequate sewerage / capacity to accommodate growth? • Sustainable water and electricity supply to support growth • Delivery of infrastructure before /alongside housing • Timing of funding commitments • Provision of education and health facilities for a growing sub region • New infrastructure benefits existing and new communities • Enhancement / Utilisation of existing infrastructure • Growth directions and infrastructure provision – which comes first?


DRAFT

Appendix Three

Options Feedback

from the




Draft “This Time It’s Different” Workshop Report Appendix Three – Options Feedback

Grouping Sub Grouping (if any)

Feedback

Delivery of Affordable

Market Housing

• Increase Supply • Mixture of sites (large and small) • Have a more flexible approach to phasing • Look at other locations other than main urban centres for ease of delivery – release small

sites • Need for pump-priming capital • Greater incentives to release exceptions sites (cross subsidy)

Recreation / Leisure

• Promote waterside development • Plan development around Bio-Diversity – front load Green Infrastructure

Character • Preserve character of villages but allow Northampton to grow. Balance.

• Good communication will villagers – “take them with you” • Growth respectful of constraints • Balance of rural v. development

Marketing • University Arc • Tourism – developing Northants

- Northampton Town Centre – improvement - Is Northampton a tourist centre? - Develop potential – start with Northampton and extend

• Cultural Centre • Develop as overall package

Sustainable

Development /

Location (climate change)

(villages)

Environment • Climate Change • Govt. agenda – consider national Priorities • Region variations – i.e. Planning • Flood risk / need for green space combined • Farming economy – state – is this a priority?



Other • Behaviour changes through design and offering alternatives • Develop a plan to provide service and infrastructure (Policies Structure) • A strategy for the whole area • Core strategy needs to state what relationship is between rural / urban • Cross Boundary Sustainability!!!!! • Infrastructure – sewage etc. • Shopping - create a place, rather than a dormant town



Infrastructure

Funding

• Bigger slice of profits to go into infrastructure • Adopt same strategy as MK growth areas • Confidence that money will be spent wisely e.g. address skills base • Roof Tax – Lawful? • Need central driver • LA / developers / other stakeholders meet and talk regularly (Govt Office)

- Allow house builders buy in - LA get what is required

• Roof tax - Community infrastructure costs put in one pot and done per house - LA knows what they will get from developers – moves process along - Might not work here because of land values across area - Maybe tiered roof tax depending where it is - Don’t have time / luxury to do this? - Core infrastructure roof tax and the local one to reflect local areas - Would deliver money to then implement things with

• Roof tax and affordable homes will not work (Brownfield sites) - E.g. Three Dragons in London – model for financial terms - Affordable homes difficult to put figure on in blanket way – rural / urban figures

• Standard charge regime – charge per dwelling – S106 (WNDC) • Create a large bank account (WNDC) • Road map to deliver a large amount of money, not clear how this is to be applied • Government funding required • Land value increase • Match resources to requirements (showstoppers?) • Invest and retrieve from S106 • Need for banker/ringmaster role • Funding (Need to Explore these): Developer, Government, EU • Utilities • Base Studies • Options for Funding



Delivery & Timing

• Timing – get it right to decrease pressure on existing • Have a more flexible approach to phasing • Delivering infrastructure as phased funding might mean infrastructure can’t be put in until

next phase but development is going ahead • Developers can’t move forward until infrastructure is there • Grants from central government to develop, but land may be in different ownership – CPO

– is this really an option? • Milton Keynes route incredibly complex • WNDC can find most of what’s needed (excludes water) • Need to get around phasing and programming • Mad rush to get planning permissions (take account of PPS25) • What is needed, how much, who to pay, when to deliver? • Need to balance housing • Housing shouldn’t be the initial driver – needs to follow investment and business

development Transportation • Public services need to be in place

• Roads: Use more rail e.g. Parkway Station • Park and ride • Railways- requires Network Rail’s commitment- e.g. Links to Wellingborough • Completion of ring road to the North • Hospital, rail station, rail links: Corby – Kettering, Northampton – Towcester, Daventry -

Northampton • University • Infrastructure for Town Centres to make individual settlements more sustainable • Sywell airport expansion (or another location) • Transport = business = commuters

Infrastructure

Environment • Green infrastructure networks • Water cycle / Flooding • Strategic and locally required infrastructure • Combined Heat Power • Urban extensions – sustainability



Communities

• Need for community facilities • Facilities can be developed independently in each urban area • Adjustable working hours (transport issue) • Getting children to school on buses to ease congestion • Need to address from start not an after thought. • Integrated into any new or existing communities • Selling the development with infrastructure including community facilities to local people • Community • Market developments – how you package it – transform quality of social interaction • Socially rented housing – cause problems/management • Community based business through RSL • Roles, responsibility and joined up thinking • Home working

Social

Infrastructure (not too late in

the day)

• Education & Healthcare/Hospitals & Schools • Leisure / Recreation • Open Spaces • Engagement of planning authorities with stakeholders • Funding - how does it roll out? • *Consider bigger picture for discussion

Create more sustainable

rural communities

• Cross Subsidy to make Exception Sites work • Starter employment units • Improved Bus Services • Some rural housing development

Communities

Participation and

engagement

• Involve stakeholders in this development corporation – does this • Community Infrastructure

- Enhance existing • New Provision



Settlement Hierarchy

• Towcester – agree with development - Implications – must be key infrastructure provision with growth

• Brackley – consider suitable site for housing and employment growth • Larger villages –Small amount of private development + Affordable Housing +

Infrastructure • Retail Options • Differentiation of settlements?

- One a retail destination, focus on Northampton and Daventry - Niche markets for small towns

• Exploring potential for towns/larger villages as leisure destinations

Defining Northampton

Implementation Area

• Draw NIA quite broadly to enable growth and not constrain • As well as new sites need to consider more difficult sites within the town (Northampton) • Daventry – Implications…..Long Buckby – more general point – no development in larger

villages to help sustain communities. On Map • *Northampton deliverable/developable sites: grey = short term, red = medium term, blue =

long term • *Daventry development areas marked as green

Transport General

• Deliverability – time • Negative effects of transport on Northampton • Costs – Government money or developers • Majority of employment in Northampton/Linking • Tied to Town Centre visions • Need information on choices of transport modes • 1st priority is to manage better the existing strain i.e. public transport • Comprehensive transport policy • Gradual implementation of policies to manage transport issues • Worst Public Transport • More rail and bus links • Quality of public transport



Transport and Growth

• Mixed use developments to reduce need to travel • Timing of provision – before/during/after developments? • Need to continue revenue payments for transport systems • Needs a vision and leadership • Issue – Overloading of transport systems with Growth • Self contained towns – employment, transport, education (all linked) • Accommodation of Northants growth retention of people in the area

Resources

• Response – Making government invest • Not enough resources dealing with problems • Proper coordination of Government agency • Phasing development needed and scheduled

Buses

• Mini Bus System • Expand GPS system on existing bus routes – need reliable timetable

Trains

• Suite of integrated measures • Rail links – improvement – access to fast train line • New Rail Station – Westside Or Public transport improvement generally • Good Links

Alternative Solutions

• Monorail (Alton Towers figure eight system?) • Tram System

Park and Ride

• Park and Ride – in place? – Ease Town Centre parking • Park and Ride

Sustainable Transport

/ Movement

Sustainable Transport

/ Movement

Roads & Cars

• Need alternatives especially at peak times • Road pricing / Congestion charge • Interim improvements to existing roads • Northampton part of M1 isn’t being widened • Need a proper radial route for park and ride and public transport issues • Short term – (capacity of junctions)



Delivery / Deliverability

• Timescales / against government thinking • Correct mechanism • No blame (planning)Not stopping delivery of housing – looking how it fits in strategically • More “deliverable” areas • Role of developers • Multiple landowners • Greensites – is this strategically planned • Role of sub regional strategy • Sustainability of issues/level of growth • DELIVERABILITY? And Delivery throughout whole process • How prescriptive? May suppress growth • Mismatch between developers using information now which might be different to what is

place through Core Strategy • More resources (WNDC / staff) into doing core strategy - speed it up, information /

publicity • Maybe assume permissions in place then let development guide future • Retrospective policies • Speed of process needs to be quick - Strategic / Guidance – development, could be

adhoc • Have to show where strategic locations are • Ownership / driver of key stakeholders • Floodplain – start at design and put in place tests

- Climate change – risk, If there’s other options take them • Chairman / Champion of growth for West Northants • Nothing has happened, Core Strategy needs to develop = 10 years 40,000 houses • Issue – WNDC is one of the issues for the delivery • Comprehensive with housing delivery • Roof Tax preferential rates • Short term edge of town is deliverable • Sustainable Urban Extensions • Delivery – Issues (separate debate?)



Employment

Location

• Needs to be self contained within Northants area • Northampton’s Town Centre: needs vs. sites on edge town v mixture • Location is important / sustainability, cycling/walking • Northampton ‘move up a gear’ – choices re Greenfield area • Open Policy • Identify land available for employment • Good selection of good quality employment sites • Promote Northampton’s location • Create greater vibrancy in Northampton e.g. town centre environments • Public realm scheme, regeneration of Brownfield sites…start to change the place • Town centre developments to attract • Need sufficient land available – amount/type/location • Where do we work?



Delivery

• Market demands • Balance type of employment (high/low tech) v. land available for each type • Evidence? Copela – old trends • Marketing West Northants • Leadership and vision

Infrastructure

• I.T. Infrastructure – i.e. working from home – needs to be in place. • Selling West Northamptonshire vision – rail link to Birmingham airport and other airports

Quality and Type

• Assess Market • Type and Form - not ruling out any of the following:

- Warehouse - Office - Mixture

• Quality of employment, GDP, • Technology and not high tech – leave to Silverstone, • Working with other consultants/businesses/get business groups together – facilitate

growth – identify where they wish to grow, why, where • Build on engineering expertise (motor racing etc) • High tech, head offices, and or sheds? • Keep existing employers – understand needs • Prioritise unique selling points- e.g. Silverstone • Maximise tourism • Education- retain graduates in area

Plan needs to create offer. Our relationship with East Midlands, MKSM • Problems of ageing population taking up housing but not adding to employment



Skills • Examine Skills Base (Silverstone / Motor racing) • Examine Existing Strengths in a Particular Area • Skills – stop leaks out of area • New Evidence • Build on profile • Increased skilled workforce • Retain quality people • Link to education and skills training

Education

• Maintain and develop University - have satellites at DDC, SNDC (medium term) • Have links with employment at higher levels, links with employers • Should it be central or separate

Economy

Location and Sites

• Well planned location to develop business • Mixed use of land and facilities • Town Centre – needs urgent focus to upgrade • Daventry: about 10,000 homes. How many jobs? (E.g.)

- Imbalance • Towcester – housing and employment • How do you deploy employment land? • What’s the area for? • Location • Why can’t Towcester go into the high knowledge economy – fantastic location • Daventry: lots of land, intensification of town centre, build on recycling. • Northampton: mixed economy, build on the fact that its got a university • Linking Towcester with economic / employment development at Silverstone – racing and

conferencing DIRFT – opportunity for further development

• Towcester site being linked to motor sport industry (Silverstone)



Investment

• Local investment agencies needed to be seen to be integrated into future plans to attract business and investment

• Need sites to attract European business and investment • Direct rail link to Birmingham Airport • Get a developer contributions strategy in place (in conjunction with WNDC) – 2 weeks

from now (WNDC consultation) • Single pot approach • More joined up

LPA’s to produce infrastructure delivery plans

Skills and Education

• Good stable / educated labour force • Learning and Skills Council needs to be integrated into every plan • Linking Skills to employment to retain our graduates

People need to buy into the West Northamptonshire vision • Expansion of knowledge base towards Silverstone and Motor sport industry

Economy

Quantity and Quality of Jobs

• MKSM – there are targets • Only job numbers available • What are we going to deliver?

Competing with Oxford and Cambridge • Work patterns are changing (3 days in office – 2 days at home)

Northampton Town Centre

• Develop / Improve to cause a ripple effect • Need a wider vision – expand? • Make the most of our assets – river, cultural mile? • Suggestions • Leadership, clear vision, sort out Greyfriars • (Design and Movement framework (consultant did this)) • Needs one big hard hit • How has Cambridge achieved this? • Town Centre • Employment in the town centre • Free parking • Quality Retail



South Northants

• Redundant buildings etc – taken up, not putting in industry on edge of estates • Development of Paulerspury • Moulton: increase of college/schools, transport • Integrating employment with housing • Concentration in one place or dispersal throughout towns • DIRFT – impact not WNDC!!! • URBAN RURAL – THE BALANCE!!

Environment and Green

Infrastructure

• Water-cycle (Environment Agency) • Identify flood risk areas • Build within character of local area • Use core strategy to prevent bad design • Utilise green corridors, e.g. canal, for amenity as well. • Towcester By-pass to reduce air pollution • Build with character of built environment in mind

Relationships

Northampton and rural areas are not integrated. If West Northampton sees Northampton as their centre, the relationship would be much better • Recognise links with Wellingborough/ Milton Keynes/ Banbury Corby etc • Recognise cross-region links (e.g. outside the RSS) • Corby looked to Peterborough etc……… • Northampton has never had major unemployment or economic catastrophe (unlike Corby)

Economy

• Know what you’re selling and where you’re going • Corby/Towcester ahead of Northampton • Reinventing Northampton • The harder Northampton slips, the more difficult it is to promote it as a city region

Competition from other

towns/ inward looking

Other

• New Technology • Eco-homes

Evidence Base

• Look at current evidence – anomalies between studies • Use parishes in planning • Create town centre design statements



• Define NIA area

Geography

• Increase WNDC boundaries to cover three authorities’ areas • All planning powers

Ownership

• Politics of 3 areas different • Too many organisations, overly complex - people can’t buy into it • Needing information on how WNDC work – what they consider • Buy-in from stakeholders and partnership working (long-term) • Maintaining partnership arrangements • Need commitment and determination to make vision happen and drive it forward. Need to

be proactive – or will be reactive to planning applications • Do three sets of politicians agree the vision? • Closer relationship between WNDC and LA’s (Swindon Model?) • Joint working: improve it • Joined up thinking • Working together – reduce objections/political agenda • WNDC and the Government – articulate on the issue

Resources

• WNDC - Process applications, slow • Need to get resources from Government in competition from other Growth areas (short

term / Medium term / Long term) • Need to have single message about the need for resources and the aims Northants wants

to achieve • Opportunities for other funding streams i.e. Lottery • If there isn’t Government funding, could there be initiatives to encourage employment etc

into area (investment) • JPU to have more independence / resources

Timing

• Need Core Strategy NOW to guide 20,000 houses in process now • Focus of development to allow for infrastructure catch-up • Phasing of infrastructure / development relevant to existing capacity

Politics (rural / urban JPU / WNDC)

&

Leadership (Buy in)

Other Issues • North Northants approach vs WNDC approach (in debate)



What is vision?

• Safe, sustainable, cohesive communities - Green - Socio economic - Business - Social

• Meeting needs of … • Housing and employment growth is set • What do we safeguard? • Respecting people and environment • Good quality design • Where do people want to live? • Turn national policy key messages into something for all stakeholders • Joint LSP vision with separate parts for Daventry, South Northants and Borough • Use of LSPs in parallel with LDF – LSP lead vision? • What sort of West Northants do we want it be in 2026?

- How can this be delivered, costed, where from? - Need to project manage the vision - Vision has to be pragmatic

• Needs to be bold and graphically presented (like Daventry’s?) • Need an agreed shared vision

What are we aiming for?

Quality

Aspirations

• Branding • Too many boxes to tick • Let the market rip

Other

• Water cycle strategy: evidence base essential • Logo to change • Planning applications – how do you deal with this before JCS is adopted • Northampton has a 5-year land supply, prematurity is not an issue • Schemes in pipeline


DRAFT

Appendix Four Annotated maps

from the


West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy Issues and Options

Conference


Workshop Record from the · Social cohesion 5. Options Workshop The options discussion session...

Documents

Transcript of Workshop Record from the · Social cohesion 5. Options Workshop The options discussion session...