Central Area Action Plan

Northampton Central Area Action Plan

Adoption January 2013 Accessibility Information

0300 330 7000

All images in this document have been provided by Northampton Borough Council or the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Foreword

As the Cabinet Member with responsibilities for Regeneration, Enterprise and Planning for Northampton Borough Council I am pleased to announce the adoption of the Council’s Central Area Action Plan which will provide guidance and direction for future development in Northampton’s town centre.

The adoption of this Plan is the result of more than 5 years of work which began with workshops and community consultation with the aim of establishing a vision for the future development of the town centre.

Northampton’s town centre is set to grow. Exciting projects are already taking shape across the town through ambitious regeneration schemes as part of Northampton Alive. It will impact on the physical environment in which we shop, live and work. It will impact on how investors view the town centre and make their decisions on future investment. It will impact on our heritage assets.

The challenge for the Council is to ensure that growth takes place in the right place and at the right time to bring vibrancy to the town centre, whilst protecting and enhancing the aspects that mean a lot to our citizens like our jobs, the choices we have in terms of shopping and leisure, and our history and heritage.

This Plan will provide the Council with an up to date planning policy framework upon which to assess the merits of future planning applications. It also provides more certainty in helping the Council to meet its future development requirements up to 2026.

I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in this process. The adoption of this Plan will ensure that Northampton’s town centre will continue to prosper, making sure that it remains an attractive place for people to live, work, shop and invest in for many years.

Councillor Tim Hadland

Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Enterprise and Planning

3 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Contents Page No Chapter 1: Introduction 6

Chapter 2: Northampton Central Area: Spatial Portrait 13

Chapter 3: Policy Context, Northampton Central Area Vision & Strategic Objectives 21

Chapter 4: Sustainable Spatial Strategy 26

Chapter 5: Accessibility and Movement 37

Chapter 6: Spatial Development Strategy 46

Chapter 7: Infrastructure, Implementation and Monitoring 99

Glossary 130

Appendix: A. Character Areas Related to Policy 1: 135

Appendix: B. Gateways: Role and Function 140

Appendix: C. Street / Movement Corridor Typologies 143

Appendix: D. Open Spaces within the Central Area: 149

Appendix: E. Parking Standards: Central Area Zones 152

Appendix: F. The Character of Shopping Frontages 157

Appendix: G. Development Sites: Indicative Outputs 163

Appendix: H. Potential Housing Sites 167

Appendix: I. Policies Replaced by Central Action Plan Policies 169

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Policy List Page No Presumption in Favour of Sustainable Development Policy 23 Policy 1: Promoting Design Excellence 29 Policy 2: Tall Buildings 30 Policy 3: Public Realm 31 Policy 4: Green Infrastructure 33 Policy 5: Flood Risk and Drainage 36 Policy 6: Inner Ring Road 39 Policy 7: Bus Interchange: Fishmarket 40 Policy 8: Safeguarded Public Transport Route 42 Policy 9: Pedestrian and Cycle Movement Framework 43 Policy 10: Parking 45 Policy 11: Town Centre Boundary 47 Policy 12: Definition of Primary Shopping Area 48 Policy 13: Improving the Retail Offer 49 Policy 14: Meeting Retail Capacity 50 Policy 15: Office and Business Use 52 Policy 16: Central Area Living 54 Policy 17: Grosvenor Centre Redevelopment 57 Policy 18: Abington Street East 60 Policy 19: Castle Station 62 Policy 20: St John’s 64 Policy 21: Angel Street 66 Policy 22: Bridge Street 68 Policy 23: Upper Mounts / Great Russell Street 70 Policy 24: Spring Boroughs 73 Policy 25: The Waterside 76 Policy 26: The Waterside: Brampton Branch St Peter’s Way 78 Policy 27: The Waterside: Southbridge West 80 Policy 28: The Waterside: Avon / Nunn Mills / Ransome Road 83 Policy 29: The Waterside: Becket’s Park 87 Policy 30: The Waterside: Nene Meadows 89 Policy 31: Market Square 91 Policy 32: Drapery 93 Policy 33: Freeschool Street 95 Policy 34: Former Royal Mail Sorting Office 97 Policy 35: Telephone Exchange, Spring Gardens 98 Policy 36: Infrastructure Delivery 103

5 Chapter 1: Introduction

6 All Saints Church Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Chapter 1: Introduction Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy that will form part of the Development Plan. 1.1 In 2002, the Government selected These local plans should also be considered Northampton as an area which offered great in association with policies in the CAAP. opportunity for further growth. The area’s role as a growth area was further amplified Purpose of the Central Area within the East Midlands Regional Plan1, Action Plan March 2009. However, in the Localism Act 2012, the Government has signalled its 1.3 The CAAP provides an exciting intention to revoke this Plan. Changes to opportunity to deliver a bold vision for a housing delivery and economic growth rates centre that meets the needs of communities as a result of the recession mean it is likely in the Northampton area and beyond. that the planned growth of Northampton will Northampton has a clear role as the principal not be as large in the period to 2026, as urban area in Northamptonshire, but also set out in the East Midlands Regional Plan. a regional centre for economic growth, However, Northampton and its surrounding commerce, retail and leisure. The Action areas will still grow substantially to meet the Plan will safeguard existing retail and housing, employment and service needs of employment in and around the town centre. the existing population and its surrounding Northampton’s town centre lies at the heart areas. Northampton’s Central Area must of this vision. In particular, the redevelopment change so that it functions effectively within of major sites presents an opportunity for this context of growth. The Central Area developing and improving the provision for Action Plan (CAAP) will provide the basis for employment, retail and other town centre positively addressing the impact of growth in uses. a planned and sustainable manner. 1.4 The overall aim of the Action Plan is to The Development Plan provide a consistent strategic framework for the improvement and extension of the town 1.2 Planning authorities must determine centre whilst seeking to protect and enhance planning applications in accordance its intrinsic historic built character and green with the statutory Development Plan, spaces. unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Government has recently changed the terminology it uses in relation to Development Plans. The CAAP is a local plan that forms part of the Development Plan. Policies within the CAAP replace some of the ‘saved’ policies in the adopted Northampton Local Plan2 . Other local plans will be produced such as the West

1 Government Office for the East Midlands, East Midlands Regional Plan (March, 2009) 2 Northampton Borough Council, Northampton Adopted Local Plan (1997) 7 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

1.5 This CAAP forms one element of The CAAP provides more locally specific the Development Plan. It has the status interpretation of those policies. The CAAP of a local plan and has been produced should be read and interpreted within this in accordance with the Statement of context and in association with those other Community Involvement (2006)3 and national and locally relevant policies. the relevant Town and Country Planning Regulations. As well as having regard to 1.8 Figure 1.1 Relationship of the national policy, it takes into account other Central Area Action Plan to Other Plans and plans and strategies that are still current Strategies shows the linkages between the and/or up-to-date including the Northampton CAAP and other plans. Sustainable Community Strategy 2008-20114 and the Submission West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy5. The CAAP sets out the policies and proposals for action to enhance and preserve Northampton’s Central Area.

Relationship to other Plans

1.6 The CAAP is being prepared within the broad context of the vision for Northampton and its centre as set out in the Northampton Sustainable Community Strategy 2008-2011. The West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy was submitted to the Secretary of State in January 2013.

1.7 It also takes account of, and where necessary provides, a locally specific spatial interpretation of national planning policy. The CAAP does not seek to reproduce the policies that are within other local plans that cover the Central Area. For example, strategic policy within the West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy will cover such issues as; sustainability, infrastructure and Planning Obligations.

8 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Figure 1.1 Relationship of the Central Area Action Plan to Other Plans and Strategies

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Monitoring Northampton’s Central Area. To the west is the predominantly residential area of 1.9 All the policies contained within Spring Boroughs, Castle Station and the CAAP will be monitored and reported associated sidings, and the out-of-centre annually, through the Annual Monitoring St James and Nene Valley retail parks. To Report (AMR), see Chapter 7 for further the south, the boundary follows the line details on monitoring arrangements. of the old Northampton to Bedford railway line, together with the areas of Ransome The Area Action Plan Boundary Road, the River Nene, and the Grand Union Canal. Midsummer Meadow and Barnes 1.10 The Central Area boundary is shown Meadow Local Nature Reserve are situated in Figure 1.2 ‘Central Area Action Plan in the south east corner. To the east is Boundary’. It has been drawn to include Northampton General Hospital along with those parts referred to in the National some large scale commercial premises and Planning Policy Framework such as the Becket’s Park. The north boundary is mainly primary shopping area and areas occupied defined by the areas to the adjacent inner by main town centre uses within or adjacent ring road. to the primary shopping area. It also includes adjacent areas where the regeneration of housing, mixed use development and open spaces will all contribute to achieving the vision for

Figure 1.2 Central Area Action Plan Boundary

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Consultation has helped shape the contents of the CAAP submitted to the Secretary of State for 1.11 The preparation of the Northampton examination in May 2012. The Submission Central Area Action Plan has been informed CAAP was subject to independent by consultation. The policies and proposals examination with the Planning Inspector contained in this Plan have been developed undertaking hearings in September 2012. following extensive consultation and Further Main Modifications10 were issued for discussion with key partners, including representations in September 2012 the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation, Northamptonshire County 1.14 In November 2012 the Planning Council and Northamptonshire Enterprise Inspector issued his Final Report and found Partnership and Northampton Borough the Northampton Central Area Action Plan Councillors. “sound” subject to inclusion of the main modifications. 1.12 It has been widely publicised and extensively discussed with the local Evidence Base community and stakeholders. This engagement has been consistent with the 1.15 In order to demonstrate the requirements in The Town and Country soundness of the Plan, the policies and Planning (Local Planning) (England) proposals within the Plan were founded on Regulations 2012 necessary for its adoption. a robust evidence base. The Council and its partners commissioned technical studies Plan Preparation Process carried out by independent consultants.

1.13 The Council undertook four main 1.16 These were supplemented by local stages of the plan preparation process. The knowledge and available data on the main first stage, involving consultation on Issues issues affecting the Central Area and and Options6, was undertaken in September information gathered during the consultation 2007, with subsequent consultation on stages as part of the plan preparation an Emerging Strategy7 in August 2009. process. A Pre-Submission Draft8 was issued for representations in November 2010, with subsequent Focused Changes9 issued for representations in November 2011. The outcome of these consultation exercises

6 Northampton Borough Council, Central Area Action Plan: Issues and Options (2007) 7 Northampton Borough Council, Central Area Action Plan: Emerging Strategy (2009) 8 Northampton Borough Council, Central Area Action Plan: Pre Submission draft (2010) 9 Northampton Borough Council, Central Area Action Plan: Focused Changes (2011) 10 Northampton Borough Council, Central Area Action Plan: Main and Minor Modifications (2012) 11 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Sustainability Appraisal

1.17 All local plans produced by local planning authorities must be accompanied by a Sustainability Appraisal (SA). The Sustainability Appraisal (incorporating a Strategic Environmental Assessment) has been fully integrated into the CAAP adoption process at each stage. A final SA accompanies the CAAP.

Conformity

1.18 The CAAP is in general conformity with the National Planning Policy Framework, The East Midlands Plan and it accords with One of the many consultation events that took place the Council’s and other partners’ corporate during the preparation of the CAAP priorities. The Vision and Objectives set out in Chapter 3 ‘Policy Context, Northampton Central Area Vision and Objectives’ of this document reflect the aspiration and broad objectives of the Sustainable Community Strategy and the West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy.

Looking west over the Central Area

12 The Market Square fountain

Chapter 2: Spatial Portrait

13 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Chapter 2: Northampton Central Area - Spatial Portrait

Population 2.4 Some of the rich historic features were damaged in the 1960s and 1970s through 2.1 Northampton is the County Town of redevelopment and highway widening Northamptonshire and is the area’s main schemes. In some areas, this has resulted employment, retail and cultural centre. in the creation of a disjointed environment Historically recognised for its shoe and in which the car dominates to the detriment leather industry, its population has grown of pedestrians and cyclists. A prominent substantially since it became a New Town example of this is the area occupied by the in 1968, from 133,673 in 1971, to 212,500 Grosvenor Centre, Greyfriars Bus Station people in 2011. It is anticipated that the and adjacent land. population of the town will continue to grow to approximately 240,000 by 2026. 2.5 Some areas, particularly along Black Lion Hill and Gold Street and around the 2.2 Northampton developed as a market Market Square, have recently benefited from town on the valley slopes to the north of substantial investment in the public realm the River Nene. As the town grew, the (surfacing materials, lighting, street furniture, Market Square became the focus of trade trees, planting, signage, public art and water and commerce. Much of the historic centre features). However, the Town Centre Health remains within the ring road, which roughly Check11 identified that the appearance of follows the old town walls. much of the public realm is tired and has not had sustained investment over a substantial Character and Appearance period. The opportunity exists to address some of these poorer areas, particularly the 2.3 The Central Area retains a main shopping street - Abington Street - considerable amount of its historical through redevelopment, together with related character, including much of its medieval improvements and investments in transport street pattern and important listed buildings. and general improvements, through the The six designated Conservation Areas (St policies and regeneration sites identified Giles, Holy Sepulchre, All Saints, Derngate, within the Plan. Billing Road and Boot & Shoe Quarter) enable the Council to protect and enhance the architectural heritage and character of the area. There are 210 Grade I, II* and II listed buildings and 3 Scheduled Monuments. Some other buildings have been identified as providing historic value and are classified as Locally Listed Buildings. In addition, there is the consecrated burial ground of the Sisters of Notre Dame off Abington Street. The Market Square

11 Roger Tym & Partners, Northampton Town Centre Healthcheck (2009)

14 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Transport and Movement times for short periods on the highway network. However, in comparison with other 2.6 The Central Area is served by two key settlements, it can be regarded as a minor public transport facilities in the form of bus inconvenience rather than a substantial and rail. Greyfriars Bus Station, owned and problem. As with many places, there is a managed by Northampton Borough Council challenge in balancing the need to cater for (NBC), is situated between Greyfriars (street) increasing and competing movement within and Lady’s Lane. It is served by a number of the context of an historic setting, which was commercial operators, including Stagecoach, not originally designed around modern day First Bus and National Express. Although transport requirements. its functionality as a facility is valued by its users, the bus station has significant Retail maintenance problems that do not make it a viable proposition in the long term. Bus 2.9 In terms of retail offer (size of centre services within the Borough are centred on and mix of outlets), Northampton town Northampton town itself. Within the compact centre is ranked 43 of all town centres in urban area there is a good network of bus the United Kingdom. However, over the last services especially in the peak period, 25 years it has not seen the level of retail however, services outside of this are limited, investment that would be expected for a particularly at off-peak times. centre of this size. Although there has been some small-scale retail investment, this has 2.7 Northampton’s Castle Station is not addressed the needs of modern town located on the periphery of the Central centre retailers. The primary retail centre, Area to the west. It is on a loop from the the Grosvenor Centre, is dated both in terms West Coast Main Line and provides direct of floor plates and external appearance. and relatively fast links to London and Whilst Northampton’s catchment population Birmingham. The station lacks platform has a high level of spending per person, capacity. As a gateway it offers a poor initial the Central Area is currently regarded by impression of the town by people travelling retail operators as catering for lower income by rail. groups.

2.8 Much of the historic centre is enclosed 2.10 Over the last 20 years, there has within an inner ring road of varying lane been significant investment in ‘out-of- size. Whilst providing access to the town centre’ retail and leisure development centre, this also acts as a route for through within the Northampton. Available evidence traffic, which, together with its design, is suggests that about 23% of comparison a significant barrier to movement across goods (non-food) retail spending by West it, particularly by cyclists and pedestrians. Northamptonshire residents takes place in There are a number of one-way systems in the town centre. The Town Centre Health operation around the Central Area which help Check identified that this is a lower level to reduce through traffic within the historic than would be anticipated in similar sized core; this creates a relatively good pedestrian settlements. Competition from neighbouring environment. Congestion occurs at peak towns such as Milton Keynes attracts 12%

15 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 of comparison goods retail expenditure. the creation of large, out-of-town employment Elsewhere in the Borough, the biggest areas has left the town centre with fewer attractors of comparison goods expenditure employment opportunities, especially offices. are Riverside Retail Park (9%) and St James Retail Park (8%)12 . 2.14 Whilst Northampton is attracting significant employment generating activities 2.11 The current under provision of and is considered to be a top rated office convenience shopping within the town centre location nationally, the Central Area has is partly responsible for the unsustainable very limited modern office stock. Although level of leaked expenditure. At present the office vacancy level remains at about 11% convenience retail offer within the Central in Northampton, there is a shortage of high Area is limited. The only stores that have quality office accommodation in the Central large-scale, dedicated convenience floor Area. The majority of existing stock tends to space are Sainsbury’s supermarket within be older buildings in poor condition. There the Grosvenor Centre and Morrison’s south has been substantial investment in new of Victoria Promenade. employment / office development since the 1990s with comparatively low rents in 2.12 Similar to all successful town and city locations outside the Central Area such as centres, retail is one of the primary functions Swan Valley, Pineham and Bedford Road. of the Central Area and is a cornerstone of This level of investment has not been the local economy by providing employment replicated within the Central Area, although a opportunities and attracting inward recent notable exception in 2009 was Avon, investment into the town. Therefore in the which has located its European headquarters future, it is vital that Northampton’s Central within the Central Area adjacent to the River Area is strengthened to turn around the Nene. comparative imbalance of investment and in particular retail spend that exists in favour of 2.15 A significant proportion of the other centres and out-of-centre competition available Central Area office stock is whilst meeting the requirements of a growing unsuitable for the requirements of modern population. day occupants. There remains a shortage of good quality floorspace of all sizes, and Economy and Employment in particular that of between 500 -1,000 square metres to cater for small to medium 2.13 The decline of the boot and shoe sized businesses. The lack of new office trade meant that Northampton went through development has been compounded by the a difficult period of industrial restructuring systematic loss of older stocks of offices before and after the Second World War. through conversion to residential use. This However, its central location within England, has had a significant adverse impact on the accessibility to major road networks and town centre in terms of its vitality and its good supply of employment land meant that vibrancy; there is a noticeable absence of the town as a whole was able to develop a office workers within the town centre during diverse economy. However, more recently the day and in particular at lunchtimes and

12 CACI, Retail Strategy for Northampton Town Centre (2008)

16 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 in the mornings and evenings. With the lack Open Environment of office workers comes a lack of spending which would otherwise support a wider 2.18 The River Nene, its Brampton Arm complementary range of town centre uses. and the Grand Union Canal run through the south and west of the Central Area. 2.16 The Central Area has large sites The town has not capitalised fully on this that have the potential to be used for a resource, and at numerous points, the substantial amount of office space. There waterside is not accessible to the public. are some extensive areas adjacent to Historically the town has turned its back the town centre, either used for major on the river locating heavy industrial uses employment, uses not considered there with backs of buildings facing the river. appropriate within the Central Area or gas However in recent times this has started utilities that have or will become redundant to change with residential development soon. These will need regeneration and fronting the riverside, and the river is now offer the opportunity for a variety of uses to perceived to be one of Northampton’s complement and enhance the offer of the strongest and most distinctive assets. There Central Area. These sites also offer the are two key projects, which will maximise opportunity to maximise the use of existing the opportunities offered by the river and infrastructure including public transport canal. The first is the development of an and increase the accessibility to other main 80-berth marina at Becket’s Park, which town centre uses such as retail and leisure. was completed in spring 2011. This will Bringing offices back into the Central Area be followed by other leisure and recreation will maximise its potential for economic development capitalising on the river and its growth. immediate environment.

2.17 In addition, Northampton was 2.19 The Central Area also encompasses granted an Enterprise Zone status in a significant area of green space primarily August 2011. Much of the Northampton based along or adjacent to the river. This Waterside Enterprise Zone is included within includes Becket’s Park, Midsummer Meadow, the boundary of the CAAP. The Waterside the Barnes Meadow Local Nature Reserve Enterprise Zone designation commenced on and sites within the Nene Valley Nature the 1st April 2012. The Zone is a significant Improvement Area. This, together with other national designation that should assist in the open spaces in the Central Area, offers an delivery of the vision, strategic objectives opportunity to create an effective green and site-specific policies within the CAAP. infrastructure network to benefit residents The Enterprise Zone status will strengthen and visitors to the centre. the relevant policies in this plan, as the bid was made fundamentally on the basis of the 2.20 Although the river is an attractive amount and type of development within its feature, it also brings with it a potential threat site-specific policies. in the form of flooding to substantial areas. There is a challenge in taking forward the Central Area in seeking to address the need for development to enhance the environment

17 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 and offer of the town centre, whilst not town centre, Park Inn (fronting Horsemarket) creating additional unacceptable risks of and Ibis (fronting Marefair) - both are 3 star flooding. hotels. The Park Inn has 140 bedrooms with leisure and conference facilities. The Leisure and the Evening Economy Ibis Hotel has 150 bedrooms. There are two smaller hotels in the centre, the 60 room 2.21 The Central Area has experienced Grand Hotel Travelodge on Gold Street and a rise in the number of pubs and restaurant the 38 room Plough Hotel on Bridge Street. operators, particularly along Bridge Street, As part of regeneration proposals there is in the last 20 years. Apart from the bars of potential to accommodate additional demand Bridge Street, most of the eating places are for a variety of type and size of hotels within concentrated along the Wellingborough Road the Central Area. to the north-east of the Central Area. There is a relatively limited choice for consumers Housing within the town centre. 2.25 The Central Area is home to around 2.22 Northampton Central Area also has 9% of Northampton’s housing stock. The the following key attractions: majority of homes are in the form of high density apartments. Spring Boroughs • Northampton Museum and Art Gallery is currently the largest single residential • Royal and Derngate Theatre community in the Central Area. It has a very • Several health clubs and nightclubs high proportion of socially rented properties • 3 casinos and is an area which is in the top 5% of the • Leisure centre and swimming pool index of deprivation in England. Most of • Multi-screen cinema the housing stock within the Central Area is • 78 Derngate pre-war (1939). There has however been a • Market Square events space substantial amount of housing development over the last decade within the Central Area 2.23 There has been substantial with over 1000 homes being built. Although investment in the Derngate Theatre complex. this has been very beneficial, particularly The improvements to the leisure and cultural in terms of regenerating areas and notable offer have been particularly successful at buildings, it has been dominated by the bringing people into the town in the evenings provision of apartments, predominantly for and at the weekends. However, there is the private rent. This has brought its own issues opportunity to add to this to draw a more associated with transient and unbalanced diverse mixture of people into the centre communities. and in particular make them remain for a longer period to consolidate the success of 2.26 There is a need to work very closely this area. There is the need to create one with the existing community to address the or more restaurant/ café/ bar clusters near long standing deprivation issues in Spring the theatre complex and within the Market Boroughs and make more of its locational Square. advantages. Residential development will be integral to the viable regeneration of 2.24 There are two large hotels in the substantial areas of the Central Area and in increasing its attractiveness. A range of 18 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 housing types will be provided; apartments • Improving the shopping experience for to attract smaller professional households Northampton, including the retail offer for and older people in the very centre, together both comparison and convenience with a with a greater emphasis on more mixed view to significantly increasing both their communities and larger family housing on quantity and quality the edge of the Central Area. • The strengthening and diversification of Education the economic base through the provision of high quality employment space to 2.27 The Central Area accommodates increase the quantity and quality of job Northampton College. With approximately opportunities 13,000 students, it is one of the larger Further Education establishments in the • Opportunities for development that region. There are also two primary schools enhances the diversity of cultural, leisure (Spring Lane and Castle). These schools and recreation needs are performing well but are at capacity and will suffer from further pressure for places • Increasing the presence of the University due to a more recent influx of families into of Northampton and other improvements the area. One notable educational facility to increase educational provision within that does not have a town centre presence the Central Area is the University of Northampton. Its expansion plans include meeting the need • Regenerating large parts of the Central for student accommodation and providing Area including redundant former the opportunity to add another important civic employment and deprived residential function of a major educational facility within areas the Central Area. • Reducing the severance effect of the ring Summary of Key Issues road on pedestrian access to different parts of the Central Area 2.28 There are a number of key issues to address within the Central Area Action • Promoting sustainable modes of Plan which have been identified within this movement as an alternative to the private portrait, as well as others identified through car, including cycle routes. Encouraging discussion with stakeholders. These are the provision of improved transport included below. facilities, in particular the railway and bus stations, whilst consolidating the parking • Consolidating the role of Northampton provision within the town Central Area as the principal centre for Northamptonshire and in its wider regional • Managing existing and providing new role infrastructure and strategic services to meet the needs of the future of Northampton

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• The provision of high quality green infrastructure including parks, green spaces and connections between them Unlocking the Waterside

• The enhancement of existing, and delivery of new public realm, resulting in high quality street scenes and related public spaces

• The protection and enhancement of the natural and built environment, including existing historical, architectural and archaeological heritage

• Promotion of sustainable development that encourages prudent use of resources, energy efficiency, mitigating the effect of climate change and avoiding the risk of increasing flooding

• Maximise the opportunities of the Waterside

20 Chapter 3: Policy Context

21 The Guildhall Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Chapter 3: Policy Context, Northampton Central Area Vision and Objectives

The Policy Context social and environmental conditions in the area. Planning applications that accord with 3.1 Northampton’s Central Area needs the policies in this Local Plan (and, where to respond to the challenges of additional relevant, with policies in other local plans growth in Northamptonshire in the period and neighbourhood plans) will be approved to 2026. In order to do this the CAAP without delay, unless material considerations sets out a shared vision to meet these indicate otherwise. Where there are no requirements in a sustainable manner. The policies relevant to the application or relevant vision is underpinned by a series of strategic policies are out of date at the time of making objectives, which are set out in this section. the decision then the Council will grant The individual policies, contained within permission unless material considerations subsequent chapters, set out how the vision indicate otherwise - taking into account and strategic objectives will be translated into whether: a clear framework direction for implementing development proposals. • Any adverse impacts of granting permission would significantly and National Policy demonstrably outweigh the benefits, when assessed against the policies in the 3.2 The National Planning Policy National Planning Policy Framework taken Framework13 (NPFF) makes clear the as a whole; or presumption in favour of sustainable development; these principles are carried • Specific policies in that Framework forward at the local level through this Area indicate that development should be Action Plan. The policies contained in this restricted. Plan follow the approach of the presumption in favour of sustainable development.

3.3 When considering development proposals the Council will take a positive approach that reflects the presumption in favour of sustainable development contained in the National Planning Policy Framework. It will always work proactively with applicants jointly to find solutions which mean that proposals for sustainable development will be approved and to secure development that improves the economic,

13 Department for Communities and Local Government, National Planning Policy Framework (2012)

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West Northamptonshire Joint Core PRESUMPTION IN FAVOUR OF Strategy SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT POLICY

When considering development 3.6 The West Northamptonshire Joint proposals within the Central Area, the Core Strategy was submitted to the Council will take a positive approach Secretary of State for Examination in that reflects presumption in favour of January 2013. It sets out the critical role sustainable development. that Northampton town centre will have in being an integral part of ensuring that The Council will always work Northampton and West Northamptonshire positively with applicants jointly are regarded as a place that people want to find solutions which mean that to be to live, work and for leisure. Its Vision development proposals can be states: “Northampton as the principal urban approved wherever possible, and to area will be a beacon of high quality urban secure development that improves the design with outstanding public realm. It economic, social and environmental will successfully blend its distinctive historic conditions of Northampton Central character with innovative new development Area and the wider Borough. both of which will enhance its riverside setting. It will enhance its role as the leading retail, entertainment, employment, health and learning centre, based upon a thriving 3.4 The East Midlands Regional Plan economy and the services it offers, with (March 2009) sets out a clear policy continuing pride in its theatres, museums direction for Northampton Central Area for and professional sports teams”. development and investment up to 2026. The CAAP was prepared to be in general 3.7 It also states that “….Northampton conformity with the policy direction and Town Centre has suffered from the requirements outlined in the Regional Plan, decentralisation of retailing activities. The in particular recognising the need for urban strength of the town’s outer retail parks and concentration with a focus on regeneration Weston Favell District Centre provide strong for existing urban areas. competition for spending on comparison goods displacing spending from the town 3.5 Through provisions in the Localism centre. Similarly for convenience spending Act 2011 Government has outlined its research identifies that four large out-of- intention to revoke the Regional Plan. town centre superstores dominate this area of retailing with convenience retailing within the town centre under-represented. Northampton needs to deliver a step change in its retailing performance and attractiveness as a higher order comparison shopping destination.”

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3.8 It identifies that: “Northampton Northamptonshire Community Strategy town centre has suffered greatly from 2008 a decentralisation of retail, leisure and employment uses; and the improvement of 3.9 Consistent with Government policy, retail offer in neighbouring centres such as the Action Plan will be a key part in meeting Milton Keynes. There is a need to address the aims of Northamptonshire Sustainable this as a critical strategic issue for the Joint Community Strategy: Core Strategy to ensure that the vision for Northampton is not jeopardised. Policy S2 • Being successful through sustainable seeks to focus new town centre development growth and regeneration firmly back to Northampton town centre and • Developing a growing economy the Central Area and Policy S9 seeks to • To have safe and strong communities focus retail development of the town centre.” • To have healthy people with a good quality (para 5.17) of life

Central Area Action Plan Vision for the Centre of Northampton By 2026, Northampton Town Centre will the town, supporting the regeneration be firmly established as the economic of neighbouring sites including Spring and cultural centre for Northamptonshire. Boroughs It will be the destination of choice for • A lively St John’s Quarter providing a people within the County and beyond to centre for arts and culture alongside a live, work and relax. The Town Centre base for public services and employment will be using its strengths, in particular • A new focus on the Waterside enhancing its architectural heritage, its riverside, a a long neglected asset as a new distinctive retail offer and its cultural offer destination for employment, living and as a key to its success. leisure with a new marina at its heart • Facilities equal to or better than the best The Town Centre will have developed: European towns of a similar size

• A distinctive retail offer that combines the best in major high street names in an extended Grosvenor Centre with niche and specialist retail and leisure in Northampton’s traditional streets and Market Square • A new rail facility at Castle Station with a key employment area providing a high quality gateway to

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Strategic Objectives

To meet the Vision for Northampton Town Centre the Council will seek to ensure that development proposals are consistent with ensuring that the following Strategic Objectives are delivered:

• SO1 - Regeneration: Expanding retail, • SO5 - Public transport and cycling: town centre facilities and the scale of Ensuring good public transport and cycle employment opportunities in the centre accessibility to match Northampton’s future role as a Principal Urban Area at the heart of • SO6 - A Safer Environment: Providing an its sub-region, maximising the use of appealing and safe environment within previously developed land the urban framework and along the Waterside • SO2 - A well designed Town Centre: Ensuring development of the highest • SO7 - Repopulate the Central Area: standard that reflects the rich Substantially increasing the resident architectural heritage assets, while population through the redevelopment contributing to the rich architectural of redundant industrial areas and the heritage and adding to the sense of place regeneration of Spring Boroughs

• SO3 - A destination of choice: • SO8 - Sustainability: Ensuring the Central Revitalising the Market Square at the Area develops in a sustainable manner heart of the Town Centre and create and and helps create a positive framework for develop cultural initiatives based around action on climate change St John’s and the Derngate Theatre area

• SO4 - A walkable centre: Making the Central Area pedestrian friendly and ‘walkable’, with an improved public realm and linkages between key destinations

3.10 Translating the vision and the strategic objectives into action through the CAAP will reposition Northampton as the cultural heart and key economic driver of Northamptonshire. Its role as the leading retail, employment, entertainment, health and learning centre based upon a thriving mixed economy including services will be enhanced. It would ensure that all communities have equal opportunities and access to the town centre.

25 Chapter 4: Sustainable Spatial Strategy

3 Northampton Borough Council, Statement of Community Involvement (2006) 4 Northampton Borough Council, Northampton Sustainable Community Strategy 2008-2011 (2008) 5 West Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit, West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy local plan submission (January 2013) Becket’s Park Marina Northampton Central Area Action Plan - For Adoption page 1 26 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Chapter 4: Sustainable Spatial Strategy

4.1 The concept of sustainable of the accompanying Strategic Environmental development is about meeting the needs Assessment / Sustainability Appraisal work of the present without compromising the and the 23 sustainable appraisal objectives ability of future generations to meet their contained within it. A fuller analysis of the own needs. It relates to a balance between extent to which the CAAP does address the environmental, economic and social issues. issue of sustainable development can be Sustainability for Northampton is seen in its found in the accompanying Sustainability widest sense and the CAAP in conjunction Appraisal. with the West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy has sought to resolve potentially Promoting Design Excellence competing outcomes including: air quality and noise; archaeology and cultural heritage; 4.3 Developments with high quality biodiversity, fauna and flora; crime and design will help to realise the vision and community safety; energy and climatic positively address Northampton Central factors; health and well-being; labour market Area’s sense of identity. Northampton and economy; landscape and townscape; possesses a rich architectural heritage and material assets; population; social equality; numerous heritage assets, key elements of soil, geology and land use; waste; water; which have been set out in the preceding education and training. Chapter 2. ‘Northampton Central Area: Spatial Portrait’. 4.2 As highlighted in the introduction, the CAAP is part of a suite of local plan 4.4 In line with national planning policy, Documents that sit together to make the local planning authority has a duty to the Development Plan. More strategic preserve and enhance the appearance and policies are contained within the West setting of the Central Area’s heritage assets. Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy The built heritage of the Central Area is a and cover a wide range of sustainable positive attribute that requires enhancement development objectives, including that and conservation, and will help to preserve development reduces the potential and Northampton’s characteristics that contribute impact for climate change. These policies towards its sense of place. apply equally in the Central Area, as they do in the rest of Northampton. The CAAP 4.5 Ensuring that new development is of does not seek to duplicate these strategic a high standard of design is vital to creating policies but, where appropriate, it will more sustainable development. Improving add more relevant Central Area specific the design of new buildings will help to policies. In seeking to meet its Strategic ensure that they are more likely to last for Objectives: Objective 8: Sustainability this longer periods and require less resource to Action Plan has sought to weave sustainable run day to day. This will save resources in development principles throughout all of the the longer term, contributing to a sense of Central Area policies that it contains. This place and making Northampton’s Central has been assisted by the on-going process Area a vibrant and prosperous centre.

27 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

4.6 The Character Assessment and 4.8 A number of ‘Gateways’ are identified Tall Buildings Strategy for Northampton’s in Figures 6.1 – 6.16 ‘Development Central Area14 gives a more detailed Principles.’ The Gateways are important description of the character of the Central arrival points into the Central Area. Their Area. It identified ten distinct character areas anticipated role is set out more fully in Appendix A ‘The 10 Central Area Character Appendix: B. ‘Gateways: The Role and Areas’. It also identified some overarching Function and Appropriate Design Solutions’. design objectives that development should It is intended that there will be visual cues in seek to address, which takes account of the these areas of their gateway function. This character areas. These objectives aim to will relate to the need for buildings to suitably improve the quality of future developments address the function of these areas in terms in relation to how they look, function, sit of design and also in the character and within and relate to their surroundings. The appearance of the public realm. objectives are contained within Policy 1 ‘Promoting Design Excellence’ and they will apply to all future development within the Central Area.

4.7 To achieve good design it is vital to consider the context in which development will sit. The design of new development should take into account the character, appearance and architectural merit of existing buildings and spaces. The Central Area should be home to contemporary architecture that will provide the listed buildings of future generations. Old and new development should successfully sit side-by-side exhibiting a harmonious relationship to collectively reinforce the identity of the area. A brief description of the ten Character Areas, including their existing The Character Assessment and Tall Buildings character and future design aspirations is Strategy for Northampton’s Central Area set out in Appendix: A. The assessment of future development against the content of the Character Assessment and Tall Buildings Strategy will provide a more robust framework to ensure that development can be designed to complement and enhance the character and setting of the existing built and natural environment.

14 Space Group, The Character Assessment and Tall Buildings Strategy for Northampton’s Central Area (2010)

28 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

POLICY 1: PROMOTING DESIGN EXCELLENCE

All new development within the Central Area must demonstrate a high design standard and successfully address the following design objectives:

• Positively contribute to the • Make efficient use of land by character of an area with regard promoting an appropriate mix of land to the existing urban grain, scale, uses in order to increase the vitality massing, materials and architectural and vibrancy of an area and a wider style of surrounding buildings, and range of choice for users be consistent with Central Area Character Areas (Appendix A) and • Preserve and enhance the character, Gateways (Appendix B). appearance and setting of the central area’s heritage assets, and in the • Ensure that there is clarity in Conservation Areas pay suitable terms of the relationship between regard to the adopted Conservation buildings and public spaces in order Area Appraisals and Management to create successful development Plans which creates a continuity of frontage and provides definition and • Promote high quality inclusive design enclosure to the public realm in the layout of new developments and individual buildings in terms of • Ensure new development function and impact on the character contributes to the provision of and quality of an area logical and coherent links to and from destinations in order to improve accessibility and permeability in and around Northampton’s Central Area

• Create uncluttered streets lined by active building frontage or public open space, in order to provide a vibrant and safe street scene for everyone in society, including vulnerable groups

• Design for energy and resource efficiency in new development proposals and where appropriate recognise the inherent sustainability in the reuse and refurbishment of existing buildings

29 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

4.9 If designed and positioned well, tall buildings have the ability to use land POLICY 2: TALL BUILDINGS in a very efficient manner, add positively to the skyline and provide key landmarks Development proposals for a tall that enhance local and wider views. Within building, defined as any building or Northampton’s Central Area, a tall building is structure that break the skyline and/ defined as: or which is significantly taller than its surrounding built fabric, will: “Any building or structure that breaks the • Provide a rationale for and evidence skyline and/ or which is significantly taller of exceptional design standards than its surrounding built fabric” employed throughout

4.10 The Plan does not seek to promote • Demonstrate and explain how the a particular emphasis on tall buildings as proposed building responds to and a development solution within the Central positively addresses the built and Area. However, such opportunities are likely natural environment in a local and to exist and suitable guidance and a policy wider context framework to address future tall buildings development proposals is provided. • Demonstrate the visual impact on views within the Central Area and 4.11 An understanding of local context wider skyline of Northampton is vital in order to develop successful tall • Provide an impact assessment on buildings as there are many considerations the local micro climate in relation to to take into account such as the impacts issues such as wind diversion and on: views, topography, heritage assets, the over-shadowing of neighbouring public realm, transport network and the development environment. The Character Assessment and Tall Buildings Strategy for Northampton’s Central Area provides a more detailed Improving the Public Realm understanding of this context and in particular the criteria that will be used 4.13 In addition to buildings and the to assess any proposed tall building activities within them, people’s perception developments in the Central Area. of a place is likely to be affected by their experience of the public spaces in between 4.12 The Major Development Sites the buildings. This can include the street policies in Chapter 6 set out a broad environment or other areas, such as squares, indication on some sites of the scale, or open space. High quality, well maintained height and massing of buildings which are public realm can add positively to the sense expected. Notwithstanding this, if it can be of place through complementing the built demonstrated, within the parameters of this heritage, emphasising important places, policy, that taller buildings are acceptable assisting with way finding and improve the on these sites, then each scheme will be feeling of safety. considered on its merits.

30 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

4.14 The aim is to create a townscape corridor; and also a palette of appropriate that will harmonise Northampton’s Central materials, with the highest quality being in Area, linking it both internally and to the the most important streets. A summary of wider area. The expectation is to create the public realm typologies and the palette more space for pedestrians and provide a is set out in Appendix: C. ‘Street / Movement network of attractive public spaces in which Corridor Typologies within the Public Realm people feel safe and wish to occupy. In order Implementation Framework (2007)15. to achieve this, it is important to improve the appearance and functional quality of the 4.17 The Council is planning to review and existing public realm to the high standards update the Public Realm Implementation expected within new developments. It Framework and adopt it as a Supplementary should also be of high quality, to complement Planning Document. The review will take Northampton’s local distinctiveness and add into account its effectiveness so far, the a new layer of history. This means making need to extend its area of coverage to be new spaces and enhancing existing ones. contiguous (adjoining) with the Central Areas where new public spaces will be Area as defined in this plan and its potential required as part of development proposals to assist with the greening of the Central are contained in Policy 3 ‘Public Realm’. Area. Until the review has been completed the approach to the public realm should be 4.15 In recognition of the importance consistent with that in the existing Public of the public realm within the Central Realm Implementation Framework. Area, Northampton Borough Council, Northamptonshire County Council and West Northamptonshire Development Corporation POLICY 3: PUBLIC REALM have worked together to produce a Public Realm Implementation Framework. This Within the Central Area changes to covers part of the Central Area and provides the public realm should be consistent a clear and consistent approach to dealing with the Public Realm Implementation with the public realm which relates to the Framework. function of an area with regards to: The following areas will be • surfacing materials prioritised as areas requiring major • lighting improvements to the existing public • signs realm: • street furniture • trees and planting • Abington Street • public art • The Drapery • Market Square 4.16 It has a two layer approach to public • Grosvenor Centre development site realm, based on: characterisation typology, for example, primary retail street, or green

15 BDP & Atkins, Public Realm Implementation Framework (2007) 31 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Provision of Green Infrastructure Green Corridors

4.18 Green infrastructure covers all types 4.21 The Northampton Landscape of green spaces and the linkages between Sensitivity and Green Infrastructure them, as well as the various activities they Study16 identifies key sub-regional green support and the functions they provide. infrastructure corridors. Within the Central Green infrastructure assets within the Central Area this is primarily associated with the Area can be generally categorised under the River Nene, its Brampton Arm and the following headings: Grand Union Canal. The river and canal has the potential to reconnect the Central • Green Corridors (rivers, canals, cycle Area with the wider countryside as part of routes, public rights of way and pathways) this green corridor. It has various important • Open Spaces (parks, playing pitches, functions containing a large proportion of allotments, local areas of play, the Central Area’s parks and semi-natural neighbourhood areas of play, informal space. The river and canal are generally open spaces, nature reserves, and of low environmental quality, significantly churchyards) underutilised and much of the adjoining • Urban Green Space (street trees, verges, development does not provide clear and gardens and green roofs) defined frontages.

4.19 The open and green spaces within the 4.22 The opportunity for the development Central Area are identified on the Proposals of high quality buildings and green space Map and also in Appendix: D ‘Open Spaces that enhances the recreational, movement within the Central Area: Type and Function’. and biodiversity opportunities is addressed in Policies 25-30 which relate to The Waterside. 4.20 Green infrastructure is particularly In addition, the Avon/ Nunn Mills/ Ransome important in an urban area. The Central Area Road development offers the opportunity for Action Plan will seek to create and enhance a substantial green corridor to link Becket’s a multi-functional network of connected open Park and the River Nene to Delapre Park. spaces, which will: Open Spaces • Help mitigate and adapt to climate change • Enhance and enrich biodiversity habitats 4.23 There are some publicly accessible • Integrate sustainable urban drainage open spaces in Northampton Central • Provide recreation opportunities and a Area that offer important opportunities movement network for pedestrians, cyclists for recreation, sport and play; as well as and wildlife delivering benefits for biodiversity. These • Create a sense of place contribute to the attractiveness of the area • Improve air quality as well as enriching the quality of lives of • Enhance river and canal corridor residents and visitors. Currently there is management

16 Living Landscapes Consultancy Limited, Northampton Landscape Sensitivity and Green Infrastructure (2009)

32 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 a deficit in the provision of open space for children and young people within the Central POLICY 4: GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE Area. The Open Space Audit17 assessed how accessible open space is to residents. It Development within the Central Area identified that all Central Area residents had must deliver and/or contribute to the acceptable access to open space; however provision of green infrastructure by: the quality of that space might not be high. There were also significant areas with • Enhancing the setting and function deficient access to allotments and children’s of the green infrastructure identified play. on the ‘Proposals Map’ and in Appendix: D. ‘Open Spaces within 4.24 Given the dense urban characteristic the Central Area: Type and Function’. of the Central Area, the opportunity to create new open spaces will be limited. In terms • Incorporating opportunities to of open space, with the exception of the enhance and extend the green Waterside, it is likely that only small areas of corridor within and outside the amenity green spaces and semi-natural open waterside and linkages between spaces can be created in association with green infrastructure elsewhere. development. Due to the contaminated land and viability issues, many of the development • Introducing features such as sites identified in the Action Plan will not be green roofs, green walls, trees, able to provide ‘on-site open spaces. In soft landscaping, planting, water recognition of this, it will be expected that attenuation measures and other these developments will make contributions features to mitigate the effects to enhance existing open spaces identified of climate change and enhance on the Proposals Map. biodiversity.

Urban Green Space • Providing or enhancing green infrastructure off-site, but within the 4.25 Opportunities to provide urban Central Area when the appropriate green space will primarily be delivered standard of on site open space through the requirements of the Pubic provision cannot be made. Realm Implementation Framework, the provision of private open space and the use of sustainable urban drainage. This has the potential for a significant greening of the Central Area, allowing the green corridors to permeate to a wider area outside the primary focus on the associated Waterside green corridor.

17 PMP, Open Space, Sport and Recreation Needs and Assessment Audit (2009)

33 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Flood Risk and Water Management 4.29 The West Northamptonshire Joint 4.26 Parts of the Central Area are within Core Strategy sets out strategic policy on the historic flood plain. As a consequence development not increasing the risk of of extensive flooding in Easter 1998, most flooding; this builds on national policy and developed areas now benefit from flood will apply to all sites within the Central Area. defences that protect to one of the highest It is considered that there are no specific standards in the country a 1:200 year circumstances within the Central Area that level (0.5% annual probability of flooding). will justify an additional policy within this Therefore the risk of river flooding behind the Action Plan. Major development site policies defences is small, but nevertheless there is a for exception sites contain reference to the residual risk. need to address the risk of flooding.

4.27 In line with national policy, the Council Water Cycle Study has sought to ensure that wherever possible new development is not located within flood 4.30 The Water Cycle Study19 identified risk areas. Nevertheless, there are exception that the provision of water to properties within sites within the defended flood plain that the the Central Area is unlikely to be a problem. Council has decided are necessary. These However, there are deficiencies in existing sites are previously developed sites where infrastructure to deal with surface water run- there are substantial regeneration benefits, off and sewage that will cause problems if which are critical to meeting the Central Area not addressed. Most of the Central Area has Vision. Within these sites the risk associated combined sewers, which in heavy periods with a breach of the flood defences has of rainfall can overflow into the river. This been modelled. This has helped inform currently has some adverse environmental the desirability of developing particular impact on water quality. Transporting and uses behind defences and will ensure that treating relatively clean surface water is not developments provide solutions that do not sustainable; it is an energy intensive process unduly put people or property at risk. and will require earlier expansion of the water treatment works. The current infrastructure 4.28 In addition to river flooding, there is deficit, if not addressed, could result in a potential risk from surface water flooding. potential backing up of the sewerage system This might occur in periods of heavy rainfall and increased pollution of watercourses. if there are: no drains, drains are blocked, or drains cannot cope with the amount of Drainage Plan water being produced. The Northampton Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Level 218 4.31 In order to support the evidence identified seven Critical Drainage Areas. base for the Central Area Action Plan, The Environment Agency has additional Northampton Borough Council working information on areas where there are other closely with the Environment Agency and drainage problems. Anglian Water commissioned a Drainage

18 Scott Wilson, Northampton Strategic Flood Risk Assessment Level 2 (2010) 19 Halcrow, Water Cycle Study (2010)

34 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Plan to look at more sustainable solutions for managing surface water in the Central Area to maximise capacity of the current drainage network. The study indicates that a number of solutions will be required which reflect the National Sustainable Drainage Standards, or the “train” for managing water. This includes:

• managing the demand for water in new development; • managing surface water on site, through techniques such as green roofs; • managing surface water as close to the site as possible; and • off-site sustainable drainage measures

4.32 Under new National Standards, the criteria above will need to be satisfied before connections can be made to the Surface Water or Combined Sewers. Furthermore, under the Floods and Water Management Act (2008), new development may also need to seek approval from the Sustainable Drainage Approval Body (SAB). Prior to the establishment of the SAB, advice should continue to be sought from the Local Planning Authority, the Environment Agency on matters related to surface water and Anglian Water Services for connections to surface water sewers. This also includes matters relating to the long term management and maintenance of potential SUDs schemes within the Central Area.

4.33 There may also be opportunities to increase biodiversity and improve the environment through opening up watercourses within culverts.

35 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

POLICY 5: FLOOD RISK AND DRAINAGE

Considering the likely impact of new Within the Central Area, developments development and of climate change will be expected to implement the following central area sites measures that will ensure that there in areas at risk of fluvial flooding is no increase in the flow of surface are considered appropriate for water or foul sewage to the combined development subject to detailed flood or foul sewer network through the risk assessments commensurate with implementation of: the level of risk posed to the site: • Source control technologies such • Castle Station as green roofs or other forms of • Bridge Street sustainable drainage systems • The Waterside: Brampton Branch St (SUDs); Peters Way • Site control; and • The Waterside: Southbridge West • Water efficiency and demand • The Waterside: Avon/Nunn Mills/ management measures. Ransome Road Development in the Central Area A Flood Risk Assessment must also will be in accordance with the accompany proposals within the Northampton Drainage Plan Part I. In Central Area that may be subject to order to retain the effectiveness of other sources and forms of flooding the combined and foul sewer system, or where other bodies have indicated connection will only be permitted if that there may be drainage problems. there are no practicable options for Flood risk assessments will be in discharge of surface water run off. accordance with the requirements Appropriate mitigation, compensation of the Level 2 Strategic Flood Risk and drainage will be agreed with the 18 Assessment for Northampton relevant agency. (specifically Table 12-1) and demonstrate that betterment has been Subject to satisfactory resolution of sought to reduce the risk of off-site flood risk, watercourses that exist in flooding. a culvert on development sites should be returned to a more natural form.

36 A 3D visual of the new Northampton Bus Interchange

Chapter 5: Accessibility and

MovementNorthampton Central Area Action Plan - For Adoption page 1 37 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Chapter 5: Accessibility and Movement

5.1 National and local transport policies 5.4 This Chapter sets out specific policies promote the need to reduce travel and to to improve accessibility within the Central use sustainable modes of transport where Area particularly for pedestrians, cyclists travelling is necessary. For some people and and public transport, whilst continuing to in relation to some trips, the car will remain recognise the important role of the private an important mode of transport. Consistent car. with the Action Plan’s strategic objectives the Council wants to promote the Central Area Inner Ring Road as accessible to ensure its attractiveness to employers, commuters, shoppers, visitors 5.5 At present the inner ring road around and residents. the town centre, whilst being effective at moving traffic around, is a significant barrier 5.2 At its heart the Central Area will be to pedestrian movement in and out of the a walkable place through its high quality Central Area. The severance of pedestrian pedestrian environment. Good air quality routes between the Upper Mounts, the is vital to supporting this ambition; road Waterside and Spring Boroughs from the transport is a principal contributor to pollution town centre is a major problem. In addition, within three Air Quality Management Areas some parts of the road network currently located within the Central Area. Managing have a harsh character. In parts, it is heavily traffic capacity and flow will be important if air engineered with a design consistent with quality is to improve over time. In addition, major distributor roads. This is poor in terms the existing historical features within the of environmental quality and encourages Central Area, which people value as part of vehicle speeds that are not appropriate in a its distinctive character and sense of place, built up location. are in themselves significant constraints on providing for substantial increases in 5.6 Travel by car will have to be planned highway capacity. for, particularly in opening up some of the development opportunities that have been 5.3 The challenge for the Council and its identified in the Action Plan. New junctions partners is to efficiently manage the capacity will be required at Bedford Road/ Nunn Mills of the current transport network against a Road and in association with St Johns/ Angel backdrop of growth, both within the Central Street/ Bridge Street and the Grosvenor Area and wider Northampton, and address Centre development. These junctions will the future demand to use the network in the positively accommodate the plan’s aim Central Area. This challenge can be met to prioritise walking, cycling and public through: transport.

• Reducing the overall need to travel 5.7 In dealing with the issues identified • Improving the management of existing above, the Council’s intention is to change transport infrastructure the character of the inner ring road through • Investing in key transport infrastructure major landscape and environmental

38 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 improvement schemes. These will lessen Subways the impact of vehicular traffic with the focus on reducing speed, maintaining a smooth 5.8 Subways link Spring Boroughs to traffic flow and making the roads more the Town Centre and within the Grosvenor pedestrian/ cyclist friendly, whilst supporting Centre development site at Greyfriars, improved public transport provision. A Lady’s Lane and Wellington Street. They Supplementary Planning Document have poor natural surveillance and produced by Northampton Borough Council, therefore feel unsafe, lengthen journeys in association with Northamptonshire County and provide an unattractive environment for Council will provide more detailed schemes pedestrians. Their removal will result in an for delivery. Many of the design principles improved streetscape and an environment for the Supplementary Planning Document where connectivity and pedestrian/ cycle are currently set out in the Public Realm accessibility is radically improved. Implementation Framework.

POLICY 6: INNER RING ROAD

In seeking to address the need for A Supplementary Planning Document improvements to townscape and will provide detailed designs for these prioritisation of pedestrian / cyclist changes for implementation. / public transport movement the The subways in the following locations character of the following sections of will be removed and replaced with at the inner ring road will change: grade crossings • St Peters Way • Horsemarket, • Victoria Promenade • Greyfriars, • Horsemarket/ Gas Street/ • Lady’s Lane and Horseshoe Street/ Mayorhold/ • Wellington Street Broad Street • Upper and Lower Mounts • Plough Gyratory (Victoria Gardens/ Bridge Street/St John’s Street)

Changes will include landscape and environmental improvement consistent with the internal and external boulevards typology as identified in the Public Realm Implementation Framework, reconfiguration of the road network, demand management measures, junction improvements and signal optimisation.

39 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Public Transport POLICY 7: BUS INTERCHANGE: 5.9 Facilitating the delivery of high quality, FISHMARKET reliable and high frequency bus services The existing Greyfriars Bus Station together with improving associated facilities will be replaced with a new high will provide the opportunity to increase public quality Bus Interchange which as a transport patronage. Attractive alternatives destination improves the experience of to the private car are essential to reduce visitors, shoppers and workers coming pressure on the highway network within the into the Central Area. Central Area. The Bus Interchange development 5.10 Recent transport modelling will be in a manner consistent with indicates that the growth agenda will the Development Principles set result in an increase of patronage to out in Figure 5.1 ‘Bus Interchange: 40% by 2026. The Council will work Fishmarket Development Principles’. in partnership with Northamptonshire County Council, employers and the bus The Bus Interchange will have: operators to improve local bus services and associated infrastructure in line with the Bus • Sufficient capacity to cater for bus Development Plan. demand up to 2026. Bus Interchange • A flexible future-proofed design to allow for any future expansion of the 5.11 Greyfriars Bus Station is scheduled Bus Interchange. for demolition as part of the wider Grosvenor Centre redevelopment. The Council and its • Strong connections with the rest of partners will provide a new bus interchange the town that promotes movement facility in the Central Area. The Bus to the Grosvenor Centre (Policy 17), Interchange will be expected to provide the Drapery (Policy 32) and the Market ancillary facilities referred to in Policy 7, Square (Policy 31). including public toilets and a cafeteria.

• Building frontages which positively 5.12 In June 2011, MGWSP undertook address the character, setting and an appraisal of 5 potential bus interchange scale of adjoining buildings, sheep locations, The Bus Interchange Site street and the wider townscape. Selection Study20 . The outcome of this appraisal evidenced that the Fishmarket • A public transport information and site (junction of Sheep Street and Bradshaw ticketing centre. Street) would provide the most appropriate location for a new Bus Interchange. The • An undercover waiting area, and findings of the study were subsequently floorspace for ancillary retail uses. approved by Northampton Borough Council, West Northamptonshire Development • Real Time Information System for Corporation and Northamptonshire County bus services and CCTV. Council.

40 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Figure 5.1 - Bus Interchange: Fishmarket Development Principles

3D visual of the inside of the new Interchange

20 MGWSP, Bus Interchange Site Selection Study (June 2011) 41 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Castle Station POLICY 8: SAFEGUARDED PUBLIC TRANSPORT ROUTE 5.13 In order to meet projected demand for rail services there is a need to improve Within the existing railway corridor the Castle Station in terms of on-site facilities identified on the ‘Proposals Map’ and its accessibility and linkages to the sufficient land will be safeguarded to town centre. The policy framework for this provide for its use as a continuous improvement is set out in Policy 19 ‘Castle public transport / cycle / walking route Station’ of this Action Plan. between Brackmills and Castle Station.

Safeguarded Public Transport Route Taxis 5.14 Within the Central Area, a rail 5.15 Taxis are an important means of corridor exists between Castle Station and public transport. As well as providing Brackmills. A large part of this corridor, from a service for people who wish to travel Cotton End through to Brackmills has not privately they offer an alternative sustainable been used for many years. The Council choice. They serve an important role in believes that there is no reasonable prospect the development of a vibrant and diverse of trains ever using this part of the rail evening economy. There are two ranks corridor. Continued operational status would supporting 122 Hackney Cabs. Investigation have substantial negative implications for of appropriate additional locations will be regeneration of the Central Area, particularly undertaken should need for additional ranks at the Avon/ Nunn Mills/ Ransome Road be evident. site. In mid-2012 Network Rail gave notice of its intention to remove operational status Pedestrian and Cycle Movement from the line between Cotton End and Brackmills. The Office of Rail Regulation in 5.16 National policy recognises the November 2012 gave notice of its consent potential for many car trips of less than 2 km for disposal of this part of the line. The to be walked, and if less than 5 km, cycled. Council does recognise that the line could, Existing facilities, particularly for cyclists, are in the longer term, provide an opportunity inadequate and opportunities to cross the for an alternative public transport/ cycling/ River Nene are limited. walking route between the Central Area and Brackmills and will seek to ensure that it is 5.17 The Council will seek the provision of safeguarded for these purposes. an attractive, legible, safe and continuous pedestrian and cycle network within the Central Area in line with the ‘Pedestrian and Cycling Movement Framework’. (Figure 5.2) The Framework has been produced following a detailed assessment of townscape features such as green infrastructure corridors and open spaces, and by analysing existing pedestrian and cycle routes between major destinations in the Central Area. 42 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

POLICY 9: PEDESTRIAN AND CYCLING MOVEMENT FRAMEWORK

Residential or commercial Appropriate contributions will be sought developments required to undertake from new development to secure the a transport assessment and / or provision of new routes identified by the statement within the Central Area audit or improvements to off-site routes boundary will undertake a full audit of shown in Figure 5.2. walking & cycling in the vicinity of the proposed site.

The audit will consider general non- motorised movement, missing links and links to other major attractors.

Figure 5.2 Pedestrian and Cycle Movement Framework

43 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Car Parking 5.20 Given the existing parking excess, there is little justification in allowing any 5.18 The provision of car parking is critical further provision of private business parking to the vitality and viability of the Central Area within the town centre boundary other than for employers, commuters, shoppers and in exceptional circumstances. For clarity’s visitors to the town. The Central Area does sake, private business parking is considered suffer a competitive disadvantage against to be parking that is not open to any member out-of-centre areas and developments of the general public to use without paying a that do not have comparable parking fee, the level of which has been agreed with constraints. However, there is a need to the planning authority and / or the highway balance the requirements for car parking authority. In the medium to long-term, against protecting the Central Area’s overall following the delivery of a much improved environment, encouraging modal shift public transport system and subsequent and the avoidance of congestion. This modal shift, there will be merit in seeking to means providing the right type of parking in reorganise and reduce the amount of car appropriate locations at the right time and parking throughout the Central Area. balancing the availability of short and long term parking options at an appropriate cost. 5.21 Where car parking is provided in association with business developments 5.19 The Northampton Parking Strategy within the Central Area - particularly within has established that whilst there might be the town centre and edge-of-town centre pressure points within the town centre when boundaries - multiple use will be encouraged, sometimes car parks might reach overall for example, office parking by day, leisure, capacity, generally there is an oversupply of recreation and residential parking by parking within the town centre. This means night. This will reduce land take and make that there is no need to increase the overall developments more cost effective. There is number of spaces within the town centre. also merit in seeking to ensure that parking However, there might be opportunities to within commercial developments is managed increase public parking provision in some through controls on its availability and areas and reduce it in others. Spaces could pricing to allow more sustainable patterns of be used more efficiently through improving transport to be delivered in the long term, for signage to guide people to spaces; reviewing example, park and ride. parking charges and payment methods; reviewing opening hours for certain car parks to support weekend and evening users, and using the guidelines set out in the Park Mark scheme, developing a programme of improvements to parking stock to deter criminal activity and create a safer cleaner environment.

21 MGWSP, Northampton Parking Strategy (2010)

44 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

POLICY 10: PARKING

Within the Central Area, unless it can In addition, signage will be improved to be shown that there are exceptional direct: reasons that justify additional private off-street car parking the following will • Traffic from the principal approach apply: roads to car parks pedestrians to and from car parks to key • Within the Town Centre Boundary destinations. as defined on the ‘Proposals Map’, no additional private car parking for • Parking demand management non-residential development will be measures within the Central Area will permitted. be phased in over the Plan period. In the interim, private non-residential • Within the edge of Town Centre development providing parking Boundary as defined on the spaces within the town centre and ‘Proposals Map’, private parking edge of town centre boundary provision will be at a maximum sites (as shown on the ‘Proposals of 50% of the standards set out in Map’) will enter into contractual Appendix: E: ‘Parking Standards: arrangements that will ensure future Central Area Zones’. management measures are not compromised. • Elsewhere within the central area maximum standards are set out in Appendix: E. ‘Parking Standards: Central Area Zones’.

45 Chapter 6: Spatial Development Strategy

3D visual46 of St John’s student accommodation Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Chapter 6: Spatial Development Strategy

Creating a Prosperous Central Area and other large district centres, the Plan seeks to ensure that an impact assessment Main Town Centre Uses is undertaken for developments proposing 1,000 square metres gross or more of 6.1 To evolve from a market town to a main town centre uses. This will assist in prosperous town centre, Northampton controlling the extent to which additional needs to offer a much wider range of key developments outside the Central Area will town centre uses including retail, offices, continue to grow and compete with the town leisure and public administrative services. centre with regard to the variety of main town These will not only increase their provision centre uses. in terms of floor space, but also job opportunities across the various employment sectors as required by the National Planning POLICY 11: Policy Framework. TOWN CENTRE BOUNDARY

6.2 Northampton’s Central Area also The Town Centre Boundary as needs to be strengthened to address the defined on the ‘Proposals Map’ comparative imbalance of investment, in will, for the purposes of sequential particular retail spend that exists in favour testing, be the preferred location of out-of-centre competition, whilst meeting for main town centre uses, with the the requirements of a growing population. It exception of retailing where the faces competition from out-of-town provision Primary Shopping Area will prevail, in district centres, retail parks and strategic followed by edge of town centre employment areas. These are some of the sites. reasons why Northampton’s Central Area Developments of main town centre under performs. Reversing this trend is key uses of more than 1,000 square to achieving the vision and regenerating metres gross proposed outside large areas of the Central Area. the town centre boundary will be subject to an impact assessment. Definition of the ‘Town Centre’

6.3 To be consistent with national policy, the ‘Proposals Map’ identifies the extent of the town centre and Primary Shopping Area. In sequential planning terms, the Primary Shopping Area is the preferred location for retail development, with the town centre being the preferred location for other ‘main town centre uses’. Given the current imbalance and harm that is being caused by competition from out-of-centre developments,

47 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Delivering a Vibrant Retail Centre be central to developing an effective retail circuit and increasing vitality, together with 6.4 Defining and strengthening the increased perception of quality. Northampton’s Primary Shopping Area (as shown on the ‘Proposals Map’) is vital if the 6.6 A substantial increase in high quality Central Area is to fulfil its role as a town floor space that meets the needs of modern centre (as defined by National Planning town centre retailers will be required to meet Policy Framework) and the principal the Central Area’s role as a town centre. shopping centre for Northamptonshire. To Therefore, the Council has identified future show the distinction between the types of extensions to the Primary Shopping Area. use classes within Northampton Central These extensions include the planned Area, the Primary Shopping Area has been extension to the Grosvenor Centre (Policy 17 broken down into Primary and Secondary ‘Grosvenor Centre Redevelopment’) and the Frontages (as shown on the Proposals Map’ redevelopment of the Abington Street East and listed in Appendix F. ‘The Character of site (Policy 18 ‘Abington Street East’). Shopping Frontages’). POLICY 12: DEFINITION OF THE • Primary Frontages are the focus for retail PRIMARY SHOPPING AREA uses • Secondary Frontages will have a retail Northampton Primary Shopping focus but provide opportunities for a Area will become the main focus for greater diversity of uses away from shopping activity within the Borough. retailing, such as financial services, Retail development will take place in restaurants and drinking establishments the Primary Shopping Area as defined on the ‘Proposals Map’. 6.5 The Council aims to develop a compact and quality retail centre by The Primary Shopping Area will be classifying the frontages and defining a extended as shown on the ‘Proposals Primary Shopping Area. The Council will Map’ by the proposed Grosvenor also develop a robust retail circuit, which Centre redevelopment (as defined will create a more legible retail centre and in Policy 17 ‘Grosvenor Centre strengthen the role of key retailing streets Redevelopment’), the redevelopment of Abington Street, Fish Street and St of the former Fishmarket and adjacent Giles Street. The retail circuit will seek to area (as defined in Policy 18 ‘Former increase the vitality and viability of the town Fishmarket and Adjoining Buildings’) by promoting a range of quality retailing and the Drapery (as defined in Policy experiences for visitors. This range will 32 ‘Drapery’). include large-scale national stores that will locate in the Grosvenor Centre and its extension, through to smaller-scale individual specialist retailers in St Giles Street. Providing active building frontage on to streets throughout the Central Area and improving the design of shop frontages will

48 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

POLICY 13: IMPROVING THE RETAIL OFFER

Within the Primary Frontages (as In addition, development at ground shown on the ‘Proposals Map’ and floor level within the Central Area will listed in Appendix F: ‘The Character be expected to: of Shopping Frontages’), the change of use from retail (Class A1) will be • Positively contribute to the character allowed where it will not result in: and function of a frontage (for primary and secondary frontages a • A significant decline in the total brief assessment of the current and length of the identified retail desired future character and function frontage below 80%, or, where this are set out in Appendix F: ‘The is already below 80% reduce further Character of Shopping Frontages’) retail frontage. and be compatible with adjoining uses. • Two or more adjoining premises being used other than for retail. • Provide high quality shop fronts which will be consistent with the Within the Secondary Frontages (as Shopfront Design Guide. shown on the ‘Proposals Map’ and listed in Appendix: F. ‘The Character • In the case of non-retail uses, to of Shopping Frontages’), the change provide an active frontage with of use from retail (Class A1) will be views into the unit or, if this cannot allowed where it will not result in a be achieved a high quality window significant decline in the total length display. of identified retail frontage below 60%, or, where this is already below 60% reduce further retail frontage.

The Council’s Shopfront Design Guide

49 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Meeting Retail Capacity POLICY 14 6.7 The Council is confident that a MEETING RETAIL CAPACITY substantial extension to the Grosvenor Centre will be delivered, following the The Council will accommodate 61,000 signing of a Development Agreement with square metres gross / 40,700 square Legal and General. As a logical extension metres net of comparison retail to the Primary Shopping Area and the floor space and 4,500 square metres town’s premier shopping destination, the gross / 3,000 square metres net of Grosvenor Centre redevelopment proposal convenience floorspace in the Town is the key to increasing and enhancing both Centre in the period to 2026. The the supply and quality of retail development majority of this will be delivered at: for Northampton. It is anticipated that it will fulfil a substantial part of the identified retail 2016-2021 capacity in the period to 2021. • Grosvenor Centre Redevelopment 6.8 It is anticipated that the Grosvenor Site - up to 37,000 square metres Centre redevelopment will accommodate gross / 24,700 square metres net between 32,000–37,000 square metres (gross) of comparison floorspace. The actual 2021-2026 retail capacity within the Grosvenor Centre development will be determined through the • Abington Street East – up to 9,000 detailed design of the scheme. square metres gross / 6,000 square metres net 6.9 The Council has identified two further sites for retail development that have good • Buildings and land on Drapery and prospects for delivery. These will help to College Street – up to 17,000 square meet identified retail capacity in the period to metres gross / 11,300 square metres 2026. The sites are: net

• Abington Street East • Drapery and land on College Street

50 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Office and Business Uses 6.11 With regard to other business uses, given the availability of sites within the 6.10 The provision of office stock within rest of Northampton, (as evidenced by the the Central Area is weak. This long-standing West Northamptonshire Employment Land trend needs to be reversed, with the Central Study22), the Central Area should not provide Area being the office location of choice, for general industrial and warehousing uses. in order to meet the Vision. The Council However, some existing employment sites has sought to allocate sufficient sites to which accommodate mainly operational achieve this within this Action Plan; taking and general industrial uses have been into account the West Northamptonshire retained as business allocations. For sites Employment Land Study. These office that have been identified for safeguarding, developments will be primarily focused in the alternative uses will only be considered if western and southern areas of the Central the amount of existing office floorspace Area and within the Town Centre Boundary can be re-accommodated as part of a as defined on the Proposals Map. Jobs mixed use development, or if the loss of growth will be promoted through these office business premises would be outweighed developments. More specific development by the proposal meeting the strategic sites are set out later in the Plan through objectives. This will ensure that there is an Policy 19 ‘Castle Station’, Policy 20 ‘St adequate supply of office floorspace over John’s’, Policy 21 ‘Angel Street’, Policy 22 the Plan period. A sequential approach ‘Bridge Street’, Policy 24 ‘Spring Boroughs’, to site selection has been undertaken to Policy 25 ‘The Waterside’ and Policy 28 identify new sites for offices. Although some ‘The Waterside: Avon/ Nunn Mills/ Ransome sites are within the town centre boundary, Road’. the majority are edge-of-centre, or other locations within the Central Area. Office development in these locations will do more to improve the vitality and viability of the town centre than other locations within Northampton outside the Central Area.

Major employment in the Central Area

22 Roger Tym and Partners, West Northamptonshire Employment Land Study (2010) 51 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

POLICY 15: OFFICE AND BUSINESS USES

The Council will promote the Central 2016 – 2026 Area as an office and business centre, by increasing the provision of quality • Castle Station (up to 26,000 square and range of office space and business metres) accommodation and safeguarding • Bridge Street (up to 8,000 square existing stock. Sites identified in the metres) central area action plan will provide up • Spring Boroughs (amount to be to 132,500 square metres gross of new determined through future master office development and the creation of planning process) around 7,500 jobs. • The Waterside: St Peter’s Way (balance of remaining 43,000 square Development proposals within key metres) priority areas Development proposals that include Safeguarding existing premises / sites B1 office space, in a range of unit Existing employment sites will be sizes, will be acceptable in key priority retained for employment use (within the areas for regeneration. The following B uses of the Use Classes Order). Their key office locations and their potential redevelopment for office use, and/ or quantum of developable floorspace are intensification of existing office stock promoted within these specified time will be supported. frames: Applications for change of use or Up to 2016 redevelopment for uses outside the B • St John’s and Angel Street (up to use class will only be permitted where 37,000 square metres) it can be demonstrated that the loss • Avon/ Nunn Mills / Ransome Road of employment floor space will be (approximately 16,000 square outweighed by meeting the strategic metres) objectives or that any office floorspace • Freeschool Street (approximately is replaced as part of a mixed use 2,500 square metres) proposal. • The Waterside: St Peter’s Way (up to 43,000 square metres) (start on site – unlikely to be completed)

52 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Leisure and Tourism • The Waterside (Policy 25 ‘The Waterside’) a range of sites to provide commercial 6.12 As with other main town centre uses, leisure uses appropriate to a waterside the Town Centre Health Check identified edge to complement the range of the offer that the Central Area currently faces out- of the town centre. of-centre competition in attracting inward investment in leisure and entertainment 6.13 Hotels are a main town centre use. uses. Higher quality outlets are at present Research shows that there is expression under represented in the Central Area. of interest from hotel operators in locating Consequently, it is failing to fulfil its potential in Northampton; however the type of to attract visitors as well as those with hotelier interest appears to vary with the high spending power within the catchment economic cycle. A number of sites that can area. Opportunities for the Central Area to accommodate hotels have been identified develop a stronger complementary day / in 6.1 ‘Major Development Sites Policies’. evening offer which appeals to all have been Although regarded as appropriate for hotels identified in the Plan. For other leisure or in terms of delivery on these sites, the cultural uses there is no evidence of any sequential approach will still apply in terms of short-term need for large facilities, such prioritising delivery: as multi-screen cinemas or bowling alleys. However, the Central Museum houses • Town centre (identified development sites the nationally recognised Boot and Shoe include St John’s and Angel Street) Collection and requires additional space • Edge of centre (Waterside (St Peter’s), to create an acceptable showcase facility for Castle Station) this. In terms of meeting leisure • Out of centre (Avon/ Nunn Mills/ Ransome and cultural needs the following areas have Road) been identified: Central Area Living • Market Square (Policy 31 ‘Market Square’), supporting the creation of a 6.14 Providing appropriate residential family restaurant/ bar cluster within the accommodation within the Central Area is Market Square, to make it more akin to important to create a sustainable place. notable European squares higher quality Encouraging a greater residential population outlets are at present under-represented in will add to the vitality and viability of the the Central Area. Central Area through increased use of • St John’s (Policy 20 ‘St John’s’) and restaurants, shops, leisure and other Angel Street (Policy 21 ‘Angel Street’) facilities. Provision of new dwellings will, to complement the cultural offer, by for the most part, be achieved by the potentially accommodating an extension redevelopment of redundant industrial to the theatre activities to spill-over sites and the regeneration of the existing, into the proposed public square predominantly residential area of Spring and complementary leisure through Boroughs. It is anticipated that there restaurants and bars will be up to 3,400 additional dwellings by 2026. (More detail is contained in Appendix: H. ‘Potential Housing Sites

53 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

(West Northamptonshire Strategic Housing student accommodation. The inclusion Land Availability Assessment) Outside of this within the Central Area would be Major Development Sites’ and Appendix: I. beneficial in assisting to meet the Central ‘Indicative Outputs by Land Use and Phases Area vision and also for the students. The 2011-2026’). potential development is 100-150 beds for immediate need, and 300-700 in 5 years' time 6.15 Evidence in the Strategic Housing which are more likely to be located within the Market Assessment (SHMA)23 and People Central Area. and Places Strategy24 indicates that there is a need to provide 1 and 2 bedroom properties to meet existing need, but also to POLICY 16: CENTRAL AREA LIVING attract younger professionals to Northampton who are more interested in living in a town The Central Area will in the period centre environment. However, there is up to 2026 accommodate up to 3,400 a need to create a more balanced mix of homes. The following development communities within the Central Area. The sites will contribute to the majority of opportunities for provision of family housing these new homes: are likely to be limited inside or adjacent to the town centre boundary (as defined on • Waterside (St Peters Way) the ‘Proposals Map’). This is due to the • Waterside (Avon / Nunn Mills / density of development and the existing Ransome Road) environment. However, within the rest of the • Bridge Street Central Area opportunities for family housing • Castle Station are greater. Levels of affordable housing • Upper Mounts / Great Russell Street will be consistent with amounts and tenure • Spring Boroughs mix set out in the West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy which has a requirement Residential development proposals for the Northampton related development within the central area will compromise area of 35% affordable housing on all sites a mix of dwelling types, sizes and of 15 dwellings or more. Design quality in tenures, including levels of affordable terms of standards such as Lifetime Homes, housing consistent with the amounts Code for Sustainable Homes and Building and tenure mix set out in the West for Life for homes in the Central Area will Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy. be consistent with those set out in the West However within and adjacent to the Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy. Town Centre Boundary (as shown on the ‘Proposals Map’) developments Student Accommodation which predominantly comprise one or two bedroom apartments or student 6.16 The University of Northampton accommodation will be acceptable. is seeking development of purpose built

23 Open Research Service, West Northamptonshire Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) (2010) 24 CACI & Scott Wilson, People and Places Strategy (2008)

54 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Community Facilities contains a number of single storey buildings and all its car parking is surface level. The 6.17 The provision of community uncertainties associated with healthcare facilities and services is important for the around funding and preferred service models development of a viable and prosperous make it difficult to plan with any certainty over Central Area. These facilities are likely to the longer period. Nevertheless, in the drive be reflective of its role as a town centre to improve hospital services it is likely that for the wider population not just related some of the older hospital accommodation to the communities within the Central will either have to be redeveloped, or Area. Where community facilities exist it in the case of the listed buildings could might be necessary to protect them from become available for non-hospital use. The displacement by more financially attractive rationalisation of existing car parking space development. In addition development could provide additional land on which to proposals within the Central Area will, where build additional hospital facilities. There is an necessary, make appropriate provision for opportunity for the hospital to work with other community services either on-site or through large employers and the County Council an appropriate financial contribution to off- in pursuing an integrated transportation site facilities. Within this Action Plan the strategy that will reduce demand for access issue of an appropriate level of contributions to and from the site by car. towards infrastructure is set out in Chapter 7. ‘Infrastructure, Delivery and Monitoring’. The 6.20 Northampton General Hospital started Site Development Policies in this chapter the process of planning for the future use deal with acknowledged large-scale facilities of its site, through developing a Strategic that will need to be provided on site. Masterplan25 The Council is keen to work Northampton General Hospital with the General Hospital to take forward the masterplanning work that has been 6.18 Northampton General Hospital done and agree some parameters for future performs as the major acute healthcare development to ensure that a planned hospital for the population of 370,000 approach to change is undertaken. including Northampton, Daventry and South Northamptonshire. Specialist services are also provided to the whole of Northamptonshire and patients from North Buckinghamshire and North Bedfordshire. This includes being the designated cancer centre for Northamptonshire, the provider of more specialised cardiology services and also dialysis.

6.19 The Hospital has developed incrementally over the years and does not make best use of its existing site which has impacts on efficiency of service. It

25 Sheppard Robson, Northampton General Hospital Phase 2 Report: Strategic Masterplan (2008) 55 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Major Development SIte Policies most important development sites within and adjacent to the Primary Shopping Area of the 6.21 There are a number of major Central Area. development sites which will contribute significantly towards achieving the vision 6.24 The present development, which and objectives of the CAAP. The scale of took place in the 1970s and 80s, whilst change is considerable with over 25% of still functional and to a certain extent the Central Area identified as development commercially successful, overall does not sites, or subject to associated changes, constitute an attractive environment. It also for example, junction improvements. has a poor relationship with the rest of the Some substantial sites are owned by historic environment that surrounds it. The Northampton Borough Council, West buildings are bulky, monolithic and devoid of Northamptonshire Development Corporation, architectural interest and visual stimulation. the Homes and Communities Agency and Overall it does not form an attractive Northamptonshire County Council. These pedestrian environment as it is heavily will be brought forward in association with trafficked and there is extremely limited private developers. There is still likely to pedestrian movement between the north and be a prominent role for the public sector south in the daytime. The situation becomes in an enabling role, for example, through worse in the evenings as it is very isolated the provision of associated necessary when the buildings are closed. infrastructure or compulsory purchase processes on many of the sites owned and to 6.25 Despite some recent investment it is be developed by the private sector. now beginning to show its age. Its design and layout cannot be easily adapted to 6.22 This section provides more detail accommodate the needs of modern retailers on the development sites and the site and the demand for new retail premises in specific planning policies that will apply, in the town centre. addition to the policies within the rest of this Development Plan Document. 6.26 The Bus Station is an important building in terms of its function as a bus Grosvenor Centre Redevelopment interchange and hub for bus services within Northampton as set out in Chapter 5. 6.23 The Grosvenor Centre constitutes ‘Accessibility and Movement’. The building a significant part of the retail frontage itself is of its time and whilst warm and within the Central Area. The site includes a dry, is dark and can at times, particularly purpose built shopping centre, the Greyfriars in the evenings, feel like an intimidating vacant bus station with offices above, environment. It has a substantial amount the vacant land to the west and east, the (approximately 14,000 square metres) of Mayorhold multi-storey car park together obsolete vacant office floorspace and car with associated land including subways and parking above. the Upper Mounts surface level car park on Victoria Street. It is one of the biggest and

56 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

6.27 The Grosvenor Centre site Northampton centre’s competitiveness as redevelopment provides an opportunity for a retail destination and in delivering the a logical extension and remodelling of the Central Area vision. It should also provide principal purpose built shopping centre within the opportunity to accommodate a range of Northampton’s centre. This will reinforce other town centre uses to reinforce the role the existing primary shopping frontages of the Central Area and provide potential for and cater for longer-term retailer demand. significant improvements to the townscape. This redevelopment is critical to sustaining

POLICY 17: GROSVENOR CENTRE REDEVELOPMENT

The Grosvenor Centre redevelopment will be in a manner consistent with the development principles set out in Figure 6.1 ‘Policy 17:Grosvenor Centre Redevelopment Development Principles’. It will:

• Provide up to an additional 37,000 • Retain the existing amount of square metres gross / 24,300 square convenience floor space within metres net internal retail floor the Grosvenor Centre and explore space plus ancillary uses including all possibilities of accommodating restaurant / leisure floor space as additional convenience floorspace to an extension to the existing primary meet identified available capacity. shopping area. • Provide sympathetic design of an • Provide a suitable long term, and if appropriate scale taking into account necessary interim, replacement for the historic character of Sheep Street the Bus Station consistent with the together with improved pedestrian criteria set out in Bus Interchange(Policy 8). and cycle connectivity north/ south and reinstate a building line in the • Make the most effective use of the missing gap to the north of Lady’s site reflective of its central location Lane and to the south of Greyfriars. to accommodate a mixture of other main town centre uses, such as • Be outward looking maximising offices, leisure and entertainment, external active frontages particularly hotel and also residential at ground floor level. development. • Ensure that new development is • Provide a new pedestrian route, well related and sympathetic to the which should be open and feel safe characterisation of the surrounding 24-hours a day, between the Market areas and in particular improves the Square and Lady’s Lane through appearance of all the façade on the to Newlands; and also a pedestrian Market Square and the setting of route between Abington Street and Welsh House. Lady’s Lane through to Victoria Street.

57 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

• Provide appropriate public realm • Include provision of secure cycle that is consistent with the ambitions storage facilities: long stay cycle of the Public Realm Implementation parking for employees and for short Framework and changes in the stay shoppers, in accordance with character of the highway particularly the standards set out in Appendix: along Lady’s Lane, Sheep Street, E. ‘Parking Standards: Central Area Greyfriars, Mayorhold, Victoria Zones’. Street, Wellington Street, Abington Street and Market Square. • Have appropriate parking management measures consistent • In recognition of its identified with Policy 10 ‘Parking’. designation as a proposed extension to the Primary Shopping Area • Remove the Greyfriars, Lady’s Lane (Policy 12 ‘Definition of the Primary and Wellington Street subways whilst Shopping Area’) ensure that the ensuring that pedestrian connectivity development positively addresses is not comprised. the other sites proposed as extensions to the Primary Shopping Area, Abington Street East (Policy 18) and also Drapery (Policy 32) to enhance their prospects of delivery.

The Grosvenor Centre

58 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Figure 6.1 Grosvenor Centre Redevelopment Development Principles

59 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Abington Street East POLICY 18: ABINGTON STREET EAST 6.28 The Abington Street East site is split into two parcels by the Ridings, a narrow The Northampton Central Library and access/service road, with the northern parcel adjoining properties fronting Abington facing Abington Street and the southern Street and St Giles Street will be parcel fronting St Giles Street. The northern regenerated to: parcel contains the existing Grade II Central Library and the buildings at 78 – 82 Abington • Retain, preserve and enhance the Street. It is located within the Primary character of the Northampton Central Shopping Area, and on the pedestrianised Library building, and respect the part of Abington Street and part of the setting of the Derngate and St Giles primary shopping frontages. The southern Conservation Areas. parcel contains a family planning clinic, buildings at 71 St Giles Street and an area • Provide up to 9,000 square metres of surface car parking. Part of the existing gross / 6,000 square metres net of properties fronting St Giles Street is located comparison retail floorspace on land within the defined secondary shopping between Abington Street and St Giles frontage. Street.

• Provide the opportunity for the continued provision of the library and clinic services either within the regeneration site or elsewhere within the Central Area.

• Contribute to the improvement of the shopping frontages along Abington Street (primary shopping frontage) frontage and St Giles Street (secondary shopping frontage) through incorporating the principles of the Shopfront Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document.

60 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Castle Station 6.30 There is a need to address the deficiencies of the current station to provide 6.29 The Castle Station site and car a future station which is fit for purpose parks, and to the east, land and buildings and reflective of Northampton’s ambition associated with the railway social club is whilst contributing to the economic and predominantly owned by Network Rail. social regeneration of the town. An initial The station building which was developed Masterplan ‘The Regeneration of Castle in the 1960s has not been substantially Station Stage 1 Final Report’26 identified updated since then. It provides a basic the potential to take the site forward for transport facility, which does not enhance redevelopment; this has been updated the travelling experience of visitors. As a further with more detailed work. gateway to the town centre, the station does not present a good initial impression to those 6.31 It is anticipated that a new station entering the Principal Urban Area within building and concourse will be delivered, Northamptonshire. These inadequacies are together with ancillary retail and eating heightened by its relative isolation from other facilities. Funding for the new station areas of activity within the Central Area. building was secured in mid-2012. Platform capacity is adequate for current Consolidation of the existing predominantly needs but will not be from 2012. There is surface level car park into a multi-storey a low intensity of use on the site that is not car park will be in the next phase. This reflective of the opportunities that it brings in will provide sufficient area to develop a its role as a major transport facility. significant amount of office floorspace, together with associated ancillary uses and residential properties to take advantage of the excellent access to the train station.

3D visual of the new Castle Station

26 BDP, CBRE, MVA and Gleeds, The Regeneration of Castle Station Stage 1 Final Report (2006)

61 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

6.32 The Station site was created in archaeological assessment and subsequent Victorian times on large areas of what was improvements to interpretation of this previously Northampton Castle. Much of historical important feature. Given the likely the Castle was destroyed, nevertheless, archaeology on the site, the Council will regeneration of the Station provides an also require an appropriate archaeological opportunity to gain further knowledge from assessment to be undertaken prior to development.

POLICY 19: CASTLE STATION

The Castle Station will be developed in a manner consistent with the development principles set out in Figure 6.2 ‘Policy 19: Castle Station Development Principles’. It will accommodate:

• A new station building and • Ancillary retailing, cafés, restaurants concourse reflective of its role as a and bars. principal gateway to Northampton serving a population of over 200,000 • A development that preserves and and the Central Area. enhances the significance of the former castle site and, in particular, • Facilities to cater for the identified the undesignated archaeological patronage up to at least 2026. remains on site, the scheduled monument and listed Postern Gate, • A multi storey car park for rail users. the setting of these heritage assets and St Peter’s Church and other • Improved interchange facilities to historic buildings in Marefair. encourage substantially increased use of buses, taxis and cycles to and • Buildings that front and give a sense from the site, including the provision of enclosure to Black Lion Hill and of secure cycle storage facilities for which reflect its historic character. long and short stay travellers and pick-up/ drop off cyclists. • A pedestrian route across St Andrew’s Road to Spring Boroughs as part of a • Up to 26,000 square metres of office wider link through to the Central Area. floor space. • Environmental enhancements to the • Up to 270 dwellings. River Nene Brampton Branch.

62 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Figure 6.2 Castle Station Development Principles

63 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

St John’s/ Angel Street/ Bridge Street impacts on the Bridge Street site, which has a mixture of primarily low intensity, low 6.33 The St John’s, Angel Street and grade industrial uses and restaurants, with a Bridge Street sites together form a large greater range of owners. area for development within the Central Area. St John’s is owned in its entirety by 6.35 The development potential of the three the Borough Council and was predominantly sites was explored through a piece of work used as surface level car parking. Angel commissioned by Northampton Borough Street is primarily owned by the County Council, Northamptonshire County Council Council, incorporating their main town and West Northamptonshire Development centre offices and a large vacant site used Corporation, the St John’s Masterplan 27. This primarily for parking purposes. The Borough recognised that it was necessary to capitalise Council also owns a number of buildings on on the proximity to the Theatre and Museum the Fetter Street frontage. Other buildings in order to strengthen the cultural offer of the towards the south of the Angel Street area town, whilst using the existing historic fine are in private ownership. grain of townscape to create an environment that is well suited to niche retailers, business 6.34 In the southern part of the Angel and cultural uses. The area also provides Street area is a gyratory road system, a an opportunity for the County Council to product of 1970s highways interventions. consolidate much of its currently dispersed This has created a fragmented and office based functions on to one central site. unattractive townscape, with limited benefits The three development sites are shown in for the transportation network. It also the Development Principles Figures 6.3 to impacts on the setting of a number of listed 6.5. buildings in this location. The gyratory also

POLICY 20: ST JOHN’S

St John’s will be developed in a manner consistent with the development principles set out in Figure 6.3 ‘Policy 20: St John’s Development Principles’ and in particular will: • Comprise office development (up to • The Albion Place frontage to be 10,000 square metres) a hotel, small set back to the current building scale retail (up to 250 square metre line of numbers 3 to 7 and of a units), restaurants, cafés and living complementary scale and use. accommodation including student accommodation. • Contain no vehicular parking or any servicing area in front of new • Deliver a public square to the north development built on the Albion Street of the Albion Street car park adjacent frontage. to the Royal and Derngate Theatre entrance, fronted by restaurants, • Will be sympathetic in its form to the cafés and bars, public houses or topography of the site. drinking establishments at ground floor level. 64 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

• Provide uses that give an actively • Enhance pedestrian routes adjacent to overlooked frontage throughout the the development areas, including an day and evening along the Swan improved pedestrian crossing facilities Street and St John’s Passage Way between St John’s and Becket’s elevations. Park across Victoria Promenade, that improve the links between the waterside to the south and the Central Area to the north.

Figure 6.3 St John’s Development Principles

27 Taylor Young with Lambert Smith Hampton, St John’s Masterplan (2008) 65 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

POLICY 21: ANGEL STREET

Angel Street will be developed in a manner consistent with the Development Principles set out in Figure 6.4 ‘Policy 21: Angel Street Development Principles’ and expected to play a major role in the provision of new offices. On completion of the remodelling of Plough Hotel Gyratory it will: • Provide up to 27,000 square metres • On the site bounded by Guildhall of office development. Road, Fetter Street and Angel Street provide office accommodation. In • Create a publicly accessible square 34-38 Guildhall Road premises with active uses at ground floor to accommodate some small level as an integral part of an office scale creative businesses, or as a development on the site bounded by replacement facility for the Fishmarket Angel Street, St John’s Street and Gallery. Fetter Street. • Be sympathetic to the change in • Provide a mixture of office, hotel, topography of the site and its setting residential, and small scale retailing, in terms of its form and height and in financial services, restaurants, cafés particular not impact on the strategic and bars, public houses / drinking views of All Saints from the south and establishments within the existing north. County Council offices. • Provide a mixture of office and • Introduce active frontages for the residential development on the site day time and early evening along bounded by Bridge Street, Victoria Guildhall Road. Promenade and Victoria Gardens with small scale retailing, financial services, • Without causing harm to existing restaurants, cafés and bars at ground heritage assets provide a direct floor level along the street frontages. public pedestrian route between Angel Street and George Row.

66 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Figure 6.4 Angel Street Development Principles

Looking south down Guildhall Road

67 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

POLICY 22: BRIDGE STREET

Bridge street will be developed in a manner consistent with the development principles set out in Figure 6.5 ‘Policy 22: Bridge Street Development Principles’, and in particular on completion of the remodelling of the Plough Hotel Gyratory will:

• Redevelop north and south of • Introduce active frontages for the day Navigation Row in a comprehensive time and early evening along Bridge manner. Street.

• Deliver up to 8,000 square metres • Develop landmark buildings which of office development in addition to must be provided at the northern and residential with small scale retail, southern ends of the development site. financial services and restaurant uses Development proposals will need to be at ground floor. compatible with the existing brewery operation to the west, in terms of amenity, design, scale and land use.

Carlsberg Brewery and apartments at Far Cotton

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Figure 6.5 Bridge Street Development Principles

69 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Upper Mounts/ Great Russell Street The area is part of that currently being evaluated for inclusion into a Boot and Shoe 6.36 The premises of Northampton Conservation Area. Chronicle and Echo have been based on the Upper Mounts since 1978. The site 6.38 The area comprises a mixture of low was purpose built to provide headquarters, grade employment and retail uses together printing press and distribution facilities. with several vacant / derelict leisure uses, In September 2008, the printing side of which make for a low quality environment. operations ceased and the premises behind The surrounding uses are Victorian the office frontage have remained vacant. residential with the Grade II Listed Building of Clare Street Drill Hall / Territorial Army Centre 6.37 Great Russell Street lies to the north providing a high quality background on the of this site and a Masterplan was produced north edge. This is reinforced by a recent for the Borough Council in 2005. The site conversion from factory to residential. is approximately 1 hectare. There are advantages to combining this site with the 6.39 The Mounts frontage provides an Chronicle and Echo site in order to achieve opportunity to provide a building reflective in a comprehensive redevelopment of the scale and character of other public buildings corridor between The Mounts and Clare along the northern edge of this street. Street, which forms the northern boundary.

POLICY 23: UPPER MOUNTS / GREAT RUSSELL STREET

Upper Mounts / Great Russell Street will be developed in a manner consistent with the development principles set out in Figure 6.6 ‘Policy 23: Upper Mounts / Great Russell Street Development Principles’ and in particular will:

• Be planned in a comprehensive • Provide public realm improvements manner to deliver a mixed use including public art on the mounts scheme to include some or all of the frontage and enhancing pedestrian following uses: residential, office / connections to the town centre. small scale employment, community (including religious facilities), leisure, educational, and small scale retailing.

• Enhance the character on the northern Clare Street frontage provide a building on the mounts frontage reflective in scale and character of other public buildings along the northern edge of this street.

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Figure 6.6 Upper Mounts/ Great Russell Street Development Principles

71 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Spring Boroughs

6.40 Spring Boroughs is currently the education, lack of skills and training, crime, largest single residential area within the health problems and unemployment. Spring Central Area. The area contains a mixture Boroughs contains a higher percentage of of employment uses, a primary school, 20-44 year olds, and elderly people than the municipal car parks, a small amount of Northampton average. There are also a high community facilities and local retailing. proportion of single households in this area; It also has one listed building and the 60% compared with 30% in Northampton as Castle Mound, a remnant of the original a whole and 70% of people live in blocks of Northampton Castle with associated flats. archaeological remains.

6.43 The area has an ethnically diverse 6.41 The Council is the main land / property population, with ethnic minorities forming a owner in the area, owning the majority of the high proportion of the population. The area housing. Little of the stock in this area has also has a strong network of community been bought through the ‘right to buy’ (only groups. It has been subject to a number of 16% of the properties are owned). There projects to address a variety of social issues has been some recent significant investment over the years. The last such project was in the housing stock of Spring Boroughs; the CASPAR+NR project for which funding the ‘New Life’ apartment blocks have been ended in March 2010. refurbished to provide housing of a high standard. However, much of the housing 6.44 Connections from Spring Boroughs stock is still of poor quality and provides to the rest of the Central Area are severed inadequate standards of amenity for local by the major roads of Horsemarket / Broad residents, including outdoor space. Of the Street, St Andrew’s Road and Grafton Street 647 Council owned properties, it is estimated and the fact that there are no through routes.

455 do not meet the nationally recognised Decent Homes Standard. Without 6.45 The need to address the poor quality intervention a further 81 will become non- of the Council’s housing stock, together decent by 2015, and all of them will become with proposals for the rest of the Central non-decent after 2026. Area provide an opportunity for the Council

and its partners to work together with the 6.42 Spring Boroughs is recognised by community to fundamentally reassess the Central Government as being one of the future of Spring Boroughs. It is important to most deprived areas in the country. The area find radical solutions that seek to break the is in the top 5% nationally in terms of the cycle of multiple deprivation that occurs in Indices of Multiple Deprivation28 . Key issues the area. are income deprivation, poor standards of

28 Department for Communities and Local Government, The English Indices of deprivation (2007) 29 Northampton Borough Council, Housing Asset Management Strategy (2010)

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6.46 There has been a substantial shortfall POLICY 24: SPRING BOROUGHS in the ability to fund improvements to housing stock for a substantial number of years which Spring Boroughs will be regenerated in is evident from the Council’s Housing Asset a manner consistent with the Management Strategy 29. It is clear that the development principles set out in types of solutions needed to improve the Figure 6.7 ‘Policy 24: Spring Boroughs Council’s housing stock in the area cannot be Development Principles’ and the delivered if methods previously used are used following priorities: as a template for the future.

• Encouraging a more balanced 6.47 Within Spring Boroughs the Council has community in terms of age, wealth, transferred some of its stock to a registered household size and reducing the social landlord to regenerate and shows turnover of residents; through to that alternative solutions are available. The appropriate provision of housing Council as planning authority and landlord management, housing types and needs to take a realistic assessment of what tenures and access to necessary is deliverable in the context of the current social and physical infrastructure. economic cycle. • The potential to incorporate a wider 6.48 To ensure that the regeneration of the range of uses within the area, area brings benefits to the population there particularly increased employment has to be a significant level of community opportunities, taking into account its engagement and development of ownership location as an edge-of-town centre to shaping its future. It is clear from site and Castle Station. representations received from the County Council and others that there are both real • Increase and improve the and perceived issues with the capacity of connectivity to the wider Central the existing social infrastructure in the area, Area, particularly by direct for example, the primary school. This issue pedestrian routes, for example, from needs to be considered further, particularly if Castle Station towards the Market more family housing is to be provided in the Square. area. • Make provision for an urban school 6.49 Using new powers within the Localism site to cater for a 2 form entry Act, the community of Spring Boroughs intend primary school. to produce a Neighbourhood Plan for the area. A successful bid was made to Government • Positively address the boundaries in November 2011. It is envisaged that these of the site with the adjoining major new powers will provide a greater degree of roads including the proposed community engagement in the regeneration change of Horsemarket to a process for the area, in addition to providing boulevard. greater clarity as to how future regeneration projects could be delivered in accordance with • Enhance the setting of the Castle the policy. Mound and Grade II listed Castle Hill United Reform Church. 73 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Figure 6.7 Spring Boroughs Development Principles

74 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

The Waterside continuous public routes along its length. Strong physical connections will be provided 6.50 The Waterside as its name would between The Waterside and the town centre, suggest, is based on the River Nene and making the riverside more accessible. its tributaries together with the Grand Union Canal and adjacent land. It includes 6.54 The opportunities presented by the land running from an area adjacent to the Waterside have been assessed in the most Brampton Arm tributary of the River Nene recent Waterside Masterplan30 commissioned (to the south of Castle Station), south and by West Northamptonshire Development eastwards (to include Avon Nunn Mills and Corporation. Becket’s Park, Midsummer Meadow and Barnes Meadow). 6.55 The Action Plan seeks to set out the broad principles that will apply to the 6.51 As a whole, over the last 100 years Waterside as a whole. In particular it or so, it is an area of Northampton that has outlines the strategic walking and cycling not been addressed in the most positive links along a green corridor. It focuses on manner. Northampton has somewhat turned the opportunities that will arise through the its back on the river and canal. There has development of specific sites identified over recently been some change through the the period of the Plan, such sites include: redevelopment of former industrial buildings the Brampton Branch St Peter’s Way, and the opportunities this brings. Southbridge, Becket’s Park and Avon / Nunn Mills/ Ransome Road and the Meadows. 6.52 The Waterside could be a real environmental asset providing sustainable 6.56 Taking into account the location of opportunities for leisure, recreation, tourism Waterside, the eastern section being 900 development and enhanced ecology. It metres from the Upper Nene Valley Gravel can also bring elements of the surrounding Pits Special Protection Area, the Council will countryside into the heart of Northampton take into consideration the requirements set adding another component in creating a real out in the Clifford Hill Management Plan. sense of place. 6.57 The south-eastern part of Waterside 6.53 The natural features that exist lies within Northampton Battlefield, a alongside the River Nene will be enhanced designated heritage asset of the highest for wildlife, while areas of derelict and significance, which is included on the underused land will be redeveloped with National Heritage List for England. The new buildings that overlook the river and Battle of Northampton took place in 1460 create vitality. Additional areas of significant and was an important event in the continuing activity based around office, leisure and struggle for power as part of the “Wars of the residential uses will be created and linked Roses.” with enhanced open spaces through new and extended riverside paths providing

30 David Lock Associates, Waterside Masterplan (2009)

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POLICY 25: THE WATERSIDE

The Waterside will be transformed into a positive asset for Northampton, truly integrated into and forming a destination within the Central Area as a place in which to live, work and play. Development within and adjacent to the Waterside, together with other actions will deliver:

• A mixture of areas that will have a • Opportunities for greater access to higher intensity of use and activity, use the river and canal for a wide particularly close to the town centre; range of recreational purposes. and those further towards the edges of the central area where it might be • Opportunities to extend water appropriate to have little or no activity. courses into adjacent areas.

• Safe, continuous, high quality, public • Buildings and spaces that overlook footpath/cycle network along and and positively address the water’s across the water’s edge. edge and surrounding frontages.

• An effective environmental and • Development that does not recreational link across and between compromise the performance of the Central Area and the wider West flood defences. Northamptonshire strategic green corridors. • An environment with easier access to the water’s edge and low impact • Wherever possible create a more boating activities natural water’s edge and enhance biodiversity.

The Waterside: Brampton Branch St 6.59 The area between Castle Station Peter’s Way and B&Q has substantial constraints that currently limit the range of development 6.58 The northern part of The Waterside possibilities. The current, most significant, running south of Castle Station contains a constraints are the two operational mixture of vacant cleared sites, small scale gasholders, which have extensive commercial, residential properties on Tanner development exclusion zones. These sites Street, two substantial gasholders with and adjacent areas will be opened up to associated plant and storage areas and part development opportunities early in the plan of a B&Q retail warehouse car park. West period through the decommissioning of the Northamptonshire Development Corporation gasholders. There will be the need to deal owns much of the freehold interests in this with contamination, access to the highway area, apart from the gasholder site, which is network and the risk of flooding. owned by National Grid, and a site owned by Capital and Provincial.

76 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

6.60 The site will be primarily developed centre gateway, by either providing office/ for office uses, with an element of residential complementary uses along this frontage, uses together with some ancillary retail and or providing sufficient land to ensure that leisure. This is consistent with the need its delivery will not be undermined by the to attract more office employment to the expanded brewery operation. It is recognised Central Area. However, it is also recognised that the removal of the gasholders and that Carlsberg’s existing site is heavily remediation of the contaminated land will constrained in providing the opportunity for be expensive. Therefore the mix of uses the existing brewery to generate increased could be revisited if an approach becomes expansion/efficiency in its operation. unviable after exhausting all of the potential The Council will support expansion of routes for public subsidy (see Chapter 7. the brewery operation to adjacent land ‘Infrastructure, Delivery and Monitoring’). within the Waterside: Brampton Branch St Peter’s Way as an alternative to office 6.61 Various points along the river could development, subject to this not undermining benefit from improvements to reverse the policy objective of securing economic their legacy of heavily engineered banks, growth within the area and the objective particularly the area adjacent to Towcester of providing greater and enhanced public Road. If it can be shown to not compromise access to the river bank. In particular, it is the overall effectiveness of flood defences, it considered that such an expansion must is desirable that this area should be softened positively address the St Peter’s Way/Gas to provide a more natural environment and Street frontage which is regarded as a town easier access to the water’s edge.

The River Nene

77 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

POLICY 26: THE WATERSIDE: BRAMPTON BRANCH ST PETER’S WAY

Subject to more detailed site Flood Risk Assessments a comprehensive redevelopment at the Waterside: Brampton Branch St Peter’s Way will be consistent with the development principles set out in Figure 6.8 ‘Policy 26: The Waterside: Brampton branch St Peter’s Way Development Principles’, and in particular will provide:

• A development primarily focused on • Positively addressing the crossing of commercial office floor space (up to Towcester Road for river path users. 43,000 square metres). • Development that assists in improving • Up to 270 dwellings. the character of the inner ring road in terms of townscape and as a • An extension to the brewery operation pedestrian route. will be acceptable on part of the site. This is subject to appropriate • A landmark building on the gasholder boundary treatment to; protect the site at the Gas Street roundabout potential attractiveness and viability reflecting the historic use of the site. of office development along the St Peter’s Way/Gas Street frontage; • Four-storey development along the St to realise the potential to enhance Peter’s Way frontage. the waterfront; and to mitigate against harmful impacts on the living • Up to six-storey development on the conditions or general amenities of landmark buildings located at both neighbouring users. the gateways at the northern and southern extremes of the site. • A publicly accessible square adjacent to the river as a focal point for • The provision of a public space ancillary retailing, cafés, restaurants consistent with Public Realm and bars. Implementation Framework.

• The retention and sensitive • Reprovision of the existing green integration of the existing Victorian space on St Peter’s Way elsewhere brick built former gas company within the development. building into the development. • Softening the heavily engineered • Improved pedestrian crossings over banks of the river adjacent to the inner ring road towards the town Towcester Road to allow a more centre and Castle Station. natural environment and provide easier access to the water’s edge. • Enhancements to the existing footbridge river crossings within Foot Meadow.

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Figure 6.8 The Waterside: Brampton Branch St Peter’s Way Development Principles

79 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

The Waterside: Southbridge West from Avon/ Nunn Mills to the Grand Union Canal to the west. 6.62 The Southbridge West site comprises vacant land, bus depot, Carlsberg social 6.63 Other sites are more likely to be club with small former dock area, two priority for the public sector in the short to public houses and small-scale commercial medium term of this Plan period. Therefore, operations. The Waterside Masterplan it is considered that the Plan should set identified its potential as a gateway site. out the broad principles for the site’s There is currently no public access along the development. These would apply whether water’s edge - an omission in what would the site was developed comprehensively or otherwise be a continuous public footpath incrementally over time.

Policy 27: The Waterside: Southbridge West

Subject to a more detailed Flood Risk Assessment to adequately address the potential risk of developing behind existing flood defences; Southbridge will be developed in a manner consistent with the development principles set out in Figure 6.9 ‘Policy 27: The Waterside: Southbridge West Development Principles’ and will:

• Be developed for leisure, residential • Enhance the character of the existing

or office use. historic building frontage along bridge street. • Ensure the continuation of the public footpath on the river’s edge through • Retain and positively address the the site from the Southbridge to the dock environment, provide easier Grand Union Canal lock. access to the water’s edge and moorings for visiting boats.

Figure 6.9 The Waterside: Southbridge West Development Principles Figure 6.10 The Waterside: Southbridge West Development Principles

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The Waterside: Avon/ Nunn Mills/ 6.66 The disused railway line that bisects Ransome Road this site brings a high degree of uncertainty surrounding the future of the site. The 6.64 The Avon/ Nunn Mills/ Ransome Council’s position on this line is clearly set Road site is an extensive area of vacant, out in the policy justification for Safeguarded derelict, under-used, previously developed Public Transport Route. It looks increasingly land of approximately 41 hectares. Given likely that Network Rail will dispose of this its size and location, the area provides land which will allow easier development of the opportunity to create a development the site. Nevertheless, the Avon/Nunn Mills/ that positively addresses the vision for Ransome Road Development Parameters the Central Area and the Waterside. It retain flexibility in the layout until it is certain will provide a substantial new residential that at grade crossing can occur (see Policy 8 community. However, on the Avon / Nunn ‘Safeguarded Public Transport Route’). The Mills site in particular, there is potential to future use of the line as a public transport accommodate substantial amounts of high corridor will allow at grade crossing, thus quality office floor space, to mirror that of the integrating the planned community. new Avon European Headquarters. 6.67 The Avon / Nunn Mills site will be 6.65 The site has been subject to a number redeveloped with offices/ retail/ restaurants/ of planning applications and more detailed hotel and up to 1,250 dwellings. The Council master planning, both by the owners/ regards the offices as necessary in bringing developers and West Northamptonshire people back to work within the Central Area, Development Corporation in association together with the associated benefits for the with Northampton Borough Council and centre’s vitality and viability. The site has Northamptonshire County Council. The good access to the strategic road network, Avon/ Nunn Mills Strategic Development a prestigious location overlooking the river Framework31 and subsequent master and new marina and extensive parkland. It planning through the Avon/ Nunn Mills / would allow the provision of large plate or Ransome Road Development Parameters32 headquarters style offices similar to Avon as have informed the policies in this Plan. The the site does not have the constraints of the Council will adopt a Supplementary Plan more historic parts of the town centre. Document that takes forward the work undertaken for these documents. 6.68 In view of the economic and cultural importance of the University of Northampton and the attractiveness of the site in terms of its waterside location, mature landscaping and excellent pedestrian links to the town centre, educational use on part of the site would be acceptable in principle.

31 LDA Design, Avon / Nunn Mills Strategic Development Framework (2010) 32 West Northamptonshire Development Corporation and Northampton Borough Council, Avon / Nunn Mills / Ransome Road Development Parameters (July, 2011) 81 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

6.69 The commercial use will act as a 6.72 The Avon / Nunn Mills and Ransome gateway on either side of the entrance to Road sites sit within the context of a the site on the river frontage, and provide substantial amount of adjacent river valley approximately 16,000 square metres of open space and historic parkland. The office accommodation (excluding the existing Council will flexibly interpret its normal Avon Headquarters). The site will also standards for the provision of on-site public accommodate a primary school and retail open space, having regards to the location of / services to serve the new community in the site and its ground conditions. However, a local centre. Up to 800 dwellings will be it should include a substantial green space provided on the Ransome Road site with corridor that will run through the development leisure uses located at the edge of Delapre from Becket’s Park and the riverside through Lake. to Delapre Park in the south. The sites will be expected to link more fully into the 6.70 Due to its location within the Central surrounding open space and in lieu of on site Area, it is anticipated that the site will be an provision of open space will be expected to average of 55 dwellings per hectare across make contributions towards delivering the Avon/ Nunn Mills/ Ransome Road. Higher visions in the Becket’s Park Masterplan33 and densities will be expected on the northern the emerging Nene Meadows Masterplan34 river’s edge of Avon/ Nunn Mills and along consistent with Policy 29 ‘The Waterside: the main movement route through the site Becket’s Park’ and Policy 30 ‘The Waterside: from Bedford Road to London Road. Lower Nene Meadows’. density development will be towards the edge of Delapre Park. Across both sites 6.73 It will be necessary to create a new there will be a range of housing types access corridor from Bedford Road to to create a sustainable community. The London Road to allow development of the proximity of the site to the town centre sites to be completed. However this will not provides an opportunity for apartments be designed to encourage through traffic and therefore a substantial number of seeking to bypass the inner ring road. The dwellings. However it is anticipated nature and character of this route will be that the development of this area will be appropriate to a predominantly residential predominantly family housing. area.

6.71 The area contains, and is adjacent 6.74 Extensive works to increase flood to, buildings that vary in height between attenuation capacity upstream, west of two and four storeys. It is envisaged that Upton Valley Way has been undertaken to development will be of similar scale, although allow the Avon / Nunn Mills/ Ransome Road the position within the river valley would developments to proceed. Nevertheless, appear to be able to lend itself to some taller substantial parts of the site still sit within buildings, particularly along the river’s edge. the historic floodplain. This has to be satisfactorily addressed in the uses proposed, their location and the layout through site-specific flood risk assessments.

33 Halcrow, Becket’s Park Masterplan (2008) 34 Nortoft, Nene Meadows Masterplan (2010)

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POLICY 28: THE WATERSIDE: AVON/ NUNN MILLS/ RANSOME ROAD

Avon/ Nunn Mills/ Ransome Road will be developed in a comprehensive and complementary manner to function as a single new community, consistent with the development principles shown in Figure 6.10 ‘Policy 28: Avon/ Nunn Mills/ Ransome Road Development Principles’. Further guidance will be provided in a Supplementary Planning Document for the site. Subject to site specific Flood Risk Assessments, development will:

• Comprise up to 2,000 dwellings of • Sensitively restore and provide a a mix of sizes, types and tenures, long term viable use for the Grade II although it is anticipated that the listed former train workshop within an majority of the site area will be family appropriate setting. orientated housing. • Include neighbourhood retail • Provide an overall average of 55 and commercial leisure facilities dwellings per hectare, but allow consistent with providing an for a range in density related to attractive living and working appropriate character areas across environment. the site. • Make provision for a two form entry • Provide approximately 16,000 square urban primary school, a community metres of additional office floorspace facility that can accommodate faith to meet identified strategic groups and a site for a pre-school employment requirements and as a nursery. gateway to the site along the river front, educational use connected with • Deliver a strategic green space the University of Northampton would corridor with associated footpaths also be acceptable in principle. and river crossings to effectively link, through the site, Becket’s Park and • Generally be two to four storeys Delapre Park. in height, with the taller buildings facing along principal movement • Deliver a continuous riverside path routes, the gateway and the river’s that will link in with the existing edge, although it is considered that footpath and cycleway networks without prejudice to the requirements and incorporate new pedestrian of tall buildings, the opportunity for and cycleway river crossings to some taller landmark buildings exist Midsummer and Barnes Meadows appropriate to the location of the site. as defined in Figure 6.12 ‘Policy 30: The Waterside Nene Meadows • The provision of a public space Development Principles’. consistent with Public Realm Implementation Framework.

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• Deliver improvements to Becket’s • Include an extended electrical Park and Nene Meadows consistent transformer site on Nunn Mills to with Policy 29 ‘The Waterside: consolidate existing dispersed Becket’s Park’ and Policy 30 ‘The facilities and flood resilience Waterside: Nene Meadows’ and also measures (including screening to Delapre Abbey and Park. around it).

• Include a new continuous street • Incorporate appropriate measures between Bedford Road and to mitigate against flood risk both London Road designed not to within the area and downstream of encourage through traffic from the the sites, particularly taking account wider primary distributor network of the role of Hardingstone Dyke. consistent with the predominantly residential character of the site. • Encourage suitable access to Delapre Lake and Delapre Abbey • Provide a new junction at Nunn Mills and Park from Ransome Road Road/ Bedford Road that creates and provide a commercial leisure good townscape and gives priority to facility such as a restaurant/ public pedestrian and cyclists consistent house on the Delapre Lake edge of with the ambition of creating a Ransome Road. walkable centre. • Be designed to have enough • In the case of the new Nunn Mills flexibility to positively address Road/ Bedford Road junction, have the edges of, and crossing of, the respect to historic integrity of existing disused railway line. Becket’s Park. • Appropriately address the site’s location within and adjacent to the registered battlefield of the Battle of Northampton and also make an appropriate contribution to supporting its interpretation in the local area.

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Figure 6.10 Avon / Nunn Mills / Ransome Road Development Principles Figure 6.11 The Waterside: Avon / Nunn Mills / Ransome Road Development Principles / Nunn Mills Ransome Road Avon The Waterside: Figure 6.11 85 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

The Waterside: Becket’s Park 6.77 The Masterplan outlined a strategy of investment to improve its quality, both 6.75 Becket’s Park is a traditional park in terms of the existing activities and adjacent to the River Nene that was initially infrastructure to improve its offer in the designed for promenading in 1783. It is future. It recognised the strategic link bounded and crossed by formal tree lined the park has between the rejuvenated St avenues and contains some formal children’s John’s area with its links to the town centre play facilities, tennis courts and a small and also the Avon/ Nunn Mills/ Ransome pavilion. As with many municipal parks it Road development with its links to Delapre has suffered from a comparative lack of Park and the rest of the Waterside. The investment over the last 30 years or so. It Masterplan also recognised the need to is a park that many people pass through on generate more activity throughout the day their way to work in the morning or evening and to make better use of the water, to but otherwise it is currently underused. make it feel more vibrant and safer. A key component of this is a restaurant/ café / 6.76 More recently the park has been the leisure facility, with the ability to incorporate beneficiary of some substantial investment to community / office space. In addition the create a new marina within a former boating park would incorporate more up-to-date lake. Taking account of its condition, its facilities. role as the town centre’s main formal park and the need for it to be a positive asset 6.78 Enabling development of either that would add to the town centre offer, the housing or office would be placed along the Council commissioned a Masterplan for the western edge of the park. This would also park in 2008. assist in overlooking the link along this edge of the park between Avon/ Nunn Mills, the Marina and St John’s.

The new Marina management facility.

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POLICY 29: THE WATERSIDE: BECKET’S PARK

Becket’s Park will be developed in a manner consistent with the development principles contained within Figure 6.11 ‘Policy 29: The Waterside: Becket’s Park Development Principles’ to enable it to perform its role as the pre-eminent formal town centre park. It will accommodate:

• A building (up to 500 square metres) • Additional facilities for activities that containing uses appropriate to the encourage greater use of the park and role of the park and its marina, such the river including visitor moorings, as a café/ restaurant/ retail/ bike hire/ access for canoes and other vessels. leisure opportunities, together with potential park warden accommodation • Enabling development of three to four and office/ interpretation space. storey housing or two to three storey office along its western edge with a • Enhanced pedestrian cycling routes frontage that positively overlooks the throughout the park, but in particular Park, replacing the former St John’s along the eastern edge to provide the railway line embankment. strategic link between Avon/ Nunn Mills, the Marina and St John’s.

Figure 6.11 The Waterside: Becket’s Park Development Principles

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The Waterside: Nene Meadows 6.82 The Masterplan recognises the 6.79 There are two meadows located in importance of movement and accessibility. the south east corner of the Central Area New footpaths, cycleways and bridges are known as Midsummer and Barnes Meadows. planned to improve connections between the Midsummer Meadow is a mixture of parking, sites and along the Waterside, linkages partly mowed grass and natural / semi are made through Becket’s Park and up natural space. Occasionally large-scale to the town centre and other routes lead leisure events take place on this space such towards Brackmills. Midsummer Meadow, as circuses and fairs. Barnes Meadow is a as a Gateway into the Central Area, will nationally designated Local Nature Reserve; provide a hub of activities including play it is separated from Midsummer Meadow areas for a range of ages from the very by the River Nene and the dead arm of the young to the more mature. Event spaces Nene. are planned, a visitor centre, cycle hire and appropriate parking facilities. As a first 6.80 The Nature Reserve straddles the phase of introducing greater activity to the river; part of the site has been transformed area a skate park was completed in summer into a complex of permanent pools and 2012. Barnes Meadow will be conserved seasonal wet scrapes, which are particularly and enhanced by habitat improvements. The attractive to wading birds and invertebrates more sensitive areas will be protected but including dragonflies. The rest provides boardwalks and bird hides will enable visitors important habitat for a variety of birds and to share and enjoy this natural environment. other wildlife and is used for grazing local Based on policies and proposals in the cattle. Despite this attractive environment West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy and prominent location the Meadows are on the River Nene Strategic Corridor, the currently underused. Council will adopt a Supplementary Planning Document that amplifies this policy. In the 6.81 In recognition of the increased meantime the proposals for Midsummer population within the Central Area and the Meadow are as set out below: opportunities for funding from developments along the rest of the Waterside; the Borough Council and Northamptonshire Sports Facilities Management Group developed the Nene Meadows Masterplan. This Masterplan identifies the potential to create a strategic leisure and recreational facility, incorporating a wider area outside the Central Area boundary. It includes the Delapre Lake and adjoining area to the south and Nene White Water Centre; Northampton Rowing Club and the Northampton Casuals Rugby Club to the east.

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POLICY 30: THE WATERSIDE: NENE MEADOWS

The Nene Meadows will become a strategic leisure and recreation destination and developed in a manner consistent with the development principles contained within Figure 6.12 ‘Policy 30: The Waterside Nene Meadows Development Principles’. It will:

• Within Midsummer Meadow provide • At Barnes Meadow Local Nature for a central activity hub with Reserve ensure appropriate provision for a visitor centre, café management techniques are applied and licensed bar facilities, changing to maintain and improve the Reserve’s facilities, hire facilities e.g. cycle, status and improve public access retail (up to 250 square metres) and an and interpretation of the site, there indoor activity area to accommodate appropriate, using boardwalks and play/ parties/ meeting rooms will be bird hides. provided together with recreation and leisure facilities appropriate to the • Remoulding of the earth bund that scale and location of the site. runs along the edge of Bedford Road east of Cliftonville Road. • Incorporate a comprehensive movement network of footpaths and • Provide a range of smaller scale cycleways to improve pedestrian and interventions that increase the cycle accessibility around the site and opportunities for leisure and to areas beyond. recreation.

• Incorporate a river crossing, for • Ensure the appropriate management pedestrians and cyclists, close to and interpretation of the Battle of the A45 flyover, to join the separate Northampton. sites of Barnes Meadow Local Nature Reserve and strengthen links through to Delapre Lake.

Radlands Plaza (Skate Park & BMX)

89 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Figure 6.12 The Waterside Nene Meadows Development Principles Figure 6.13 The Waterside: Nene Meadows Development Principles Figure 6.13 The Waterside:

90 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

The Market Square

6.83 The Market Square is a destination Recent investment in the public realm and a in its own right through its function as a programme of events at the Market Square market and event space. It is a major should be used as a starting point for future historical landmark and area of public improvement and investment. In terms of role space. It provides a unique opportunity for and function, the Borough Council intends Northampton to differentiate its retail and to maximise the potential offered by this leisure experience from competing out-of- asset, by encouraging more restaurants and town retail parks and other retail centres. cafés to invest in the properties fronting the Square.

POLICY 31: MARKET SQUARE

The Council will seek to establish leisure uses within the Market Square and enhance its function and appearance by:

• Allowing more restaurants (A3) • Ensure proposals respect or enhance within the Market Square’s the building design and character of secondary frontages. the Market Square in line with Policy 1 ‘Promoting Design Excellence’. • Not allowing the loss of restaurants (A3), unless it can be clearly • Working with property owners and demonstrated that the proposal occupiers to improve the fabric and will meet the council’s strategic appearance of buildings. objective for the Market Square. • Seeking to sustain and enhance the • Ensuring that proposals will market square as a venue for the complement and improve the quality market and as an event space. of the public realm in line with Policy 3 ‘Public Realm’.

The Market Square

91 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Drapery POLICY 32: DRAPERY 6.84 This site is bounded by Bradshaw Street and King Street on the north, St. The Drapery will be regenerated Katherine’s gardens on the west, Drapery in a manner consistent with the on the east and Jeyes Jetty on the south. It development principles contained is bisected by College Street. It currently within Figure 6.13 ‘Policy 32: Drapery accommodates the Debenhams department Development Principles’. It will: store, associated car parking/ service area and other smaller retail, service, public house • Provide an extension to the Primary and eating and drinking establishments. Shopping Area.

6.85 There is a strong likelihood that • Provide up to 17,000 square metres some of the current occupiers of this area, gross / 11,300 square metres net Debenhams in particular, will relocate into of comparison retail floorspace, the redeveloped Grosvenor Centre. This together with associated eating will provide an opportunity for the area to establishments. be redeveloped for additional comparison retailing floorspace of up to 17,000 square • Positively address and enhance the metres after the opening of the Grosvenor setting and use of St Katherine’s Centre extension. This floorspace will Gardens through appropriate uses be more suited to retailers’ requirements, and active frontages on the west of provide an extension to the primary shopping the development site. area and enhance the role of the Drapery as a primary shopping frontage. It can also • Reuse and restore historic buildings create a better connection to and setting for wherever possible and enhance the the St. Katherine’s Gardens and the listed setting and make a feature of the College Street Church. listed College Street Church and also 41 Drapery.

• Have strong connections that promote movement to and from the former Fishmarket and adjoining buildings site in their role as extensions to the Primary Shopping Area.

• Enhance Swan Yard and Jeyes Jetty through respecting their historic character whilst seeking to provide, attractive and safe links between Drapery and College Street.

92 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Figure 6.13 Drapery Development Principles Bus Interchange Figure 6.14 Drapery Development Principles

93 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Freeschool Street of development permissible on site will be dependent on assessment on impact on the 6.86 The Freeschool Street development Scheduled Monument. site is situated between Castle Station and the town centre boundary. The northern part 6.89 Northampton Borough Council fronting Marefair is predominantly Victorian commissioned a Freeschool Street in character whereas the southern part Masterplan35 to assess the potential comprises a mixture of car repair workshops, of the site. The site offers a significant car sales, business space, derelict land opportunity to regenerate an unattractive and and highway. This piecemeal development underperforming part of town. The proximity of low-grade light industrial uses provides to the town centre and station provides an a poor quality environment. The land is opportunity to deliver a high quality mixed also fragmented under several different use development that focuses on increasing landowners part of which is owned by the employment opportunities, improving Borough Council and is currently used as pedestrian links and the overall quality of the surface level parking. environment.

6.87 The surrounding environs of the site is characterised by a mix of uses. To the north Sol Central dominates the Victorian three storey terraces and to the west residential development forms a partial barrier to pedestrian movement between the site and St Peter’s Green. The inner ring road to the south and east also presents a significant obstacle to pedestrian access to the town centre and wider area.

6.88 The two operational gasholders’ adjacent to the ring road have extensive development exclusion zones and present a significant constraint for the southern part of the site. However, it is anticipated that the gasholders will be decommissioned early in the Plan period, which will open up the Freeschool site for development. The majority of the site is designated as a Scheduled Monument with only a small area without formal designation. Any development will have to protect and enhance the Scheduled Monument together with potential contamination issues and access to the highway network. The amount 35 Lathams, Freeschool Street Masterplan (2005)

94 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

POLICY 33: FREESCHOOL STREET

Freeschool Street will be regenerated in a manner consistent with the development principles contained within Figure 6.14 ‘Policy 33: Freeschool Street Development Principles’ and in particular will:

• Be developed in a comprehensive • Generally be a maximum of four manner to provide a mixed use storeys in height and be sympathetic predominantly office development in its form to the topography of the (approximately 2,500 square metres) site. with ancillary optional uses for small scale retail (maximum 250 square • Provide a building that positively metres), restaurants and cafés at addresses the corner of Horseshoe ground floor level along Marefair and Street and Marefair. residential development. • Rationalise the area dedicated to • Ensure that development takes highway within the site. account of and positively addresses the Scheduled Monument. • Not have parking in front of new development along St Peter’s Way • Provide development that improves and Horsemarket. the character of the inner ring road in terms of townscape and creates a • Improve St Peter’s Green and positive frontage along Marefair and pedestrian connections to the St Peter’s Way and Horseshoe Street Waterside and the town centre. consistent with their future roles as boulevards.

95 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Figure 6.14 Freeschool Street Development Principles Figure 6.15 Freeschool Street Development Principles 96 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Former Royal Sorting Office, Barrack Road POLICY 34: FORMER ROYAL MAIL SORTING OFFICE 6.90 The site is located on the northern edge of the Central Area boundary along The former Royal Mail Sorting Office the Barrack Road. The surrounding area will be: is a mixture of uses including a school, residential, small industrial units and low • Redeveloped or converted for grade retail. The site has been unused and business (B1) or residential use. largely vacant since it was damaged by fire Applications for other uses will be in 2003. considered in accordance with other policies within the Development 6.91 The building dominates the area due Plan. to its bulk and design being inconsistent with the urban form in the adjacent Barrack • Conform to the design principles Road Conservation Area. Nevertheless, outlined in Promoting Design its heavily reinforced construction means Excellence and Green Infrastructure demolition may be unviable. On this basis, it policies. is considered that it would probably best lend itself to either conversion for residential or • Provide improvements to pedestrian business use. crossing along Barrack Road and enhance links to the town centre and 6.92 Barrack Road acts as a barrier to Racecourse. pedestrian movement and will need to be addressed to improve access to the site • Create a positive frontage along from the wider area. Enhancements to Barrack Road and incorporate Barrack Road frontage and the inclusion opportunities to enhance the exterior of soft landscaping will help improve the of the building. external appearance of the building. The large flat roof presents an opportunity to • Incorporate appropriate vehicular promote biodiversity and improve air quality access arrangements that are as a green roof, as would living walls. The sympathetic in their design to the Barrack Road Air Quality Management Area adjacent Barrack Road Conservation and existing vehicle access arrangements Area. will need to be addressed if a greater intensity of use is promoted. However, associated changes to the highway should be consistent with enhancing the Barrack Road Conservation Area.

97 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Telephone Exchange, Spring Gardens POLICY 35: TELEPHONE EXCHANGE, 6.93 The site is located in the eastern part SPRING GARDENS of the town centre and is currently occupied by a telephone exchange, offices and the The Telephone Exchange will be former Citizens Advice Bureau. The sur- redeveloped and in particular will: rounding area is predominantly Victorian in character with a mixture of commercial and • Deliver a mixed use development, residential occupiers. The site is within the comprising offices and other uses St Giles Conservation Area and is adjacent including residential. to a number of Grade II and locally listed buildings along St. Giles Street, Spring Gar- • Conform to the design principles dens and Derngate. outlined in Promoting Design Excellence, Tall Buildings and Green 6.94 The Telephone Exchange building Infrastructure policies. dominates the area and is regarded as having a negative impact on the skyline • Accommodate offices/ retail at of Northampton due to its height and ground floor level on St Giles Street. monolithic appearance. Development of a more appropriate scale and form would • Provide vehicle access from spring be advantageous to the area together with gardens. improvements along the Spring Gardens frontage. This one-way street linking St Giles • Improve the open space at St Giles Street and Derngate would be the primary Church. access to the site.

6.95 The northern edge of the site is adjacent to secondary retail frontage on St Giles Street. This provides an opportunity to redevelop the former Citizens Advice Bureau building and create an active frontage. Development will also need to be sympathetic to the Conservation Area and complement the adjacent listed buildings.

98 Chapter 7: Infrastructure, Delivery and Monitoring

99 3D visual of the Innovation Cube Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Chapter 7: Infrastructure, Delivery and Monitoring

7.1 The chapter seeks to: • University of Northampton • Business Improvement District • Demonstrate the deliverability of the key • Health care commissioning bodies regeneration projects included in this Area Action Plan by outlining the committed 7.4 A monitoring system is required in projects, the infrastructure which have order to assess the effective delivery of each been identified and the key partners policy. This chapter contains the following: involved in delivery • Provide an account of how each policy • A summary of how each of the policies will be effectively monitored and the conforms to the relevant Strategic contingency plans Objectives and Policies (Table 7.2 ‘Schedule 1: Strategic Objectives 7.2 The Vision and Strategic Objectives and Central Area Action Plan Policy – for the Central Area evolved through Conformity Matrix’). consultation, national policies and the • A summary of the how the Council technical evidence base. Through this intends to monitor the effectiveness of the plan making process, policies have been Central Area Action Plan policies (Table formulated to fulfil the Vision for the Central 7.4 ‘Schedule 3: Monitoring Central Area Area by 2026. Table 7.2 ‘Schedule 1: Action Plan Policies)’. Strategic Objectives and Central Area • A summary of the key projects where Action Plan Policy – Conformity Matrix’ there are commitments from delivery demonstrates how each policy meets partners, and; where funding mechanisms the each of the eight relevant strategic are either in place or in the process of objectives. being sought (Table 7.3 ‘Schedule 2: Delivery of Key Development Projects 7.3 Key to the success of these policies (May 2012)’. is their delivery. To ensure that the Council’s Vision for the Central Area is met, the Delivery Models and Funding Streams Council will continue to work in partnership with a range of key stakeholder’s from the 7.5 The successful delivery of the public, private, community and voluntary Central Area Action Plan’s key regeneration sectors to secure regeneration and to ensure initiatives is reliant upon effective, co- that development management policies ordinated and committed delivery from are complied with. These partnership all key partners; as well as the ability to arrangements will include (and / or their secure private commercial interest and successor bodies where relevant) the: investment. Within the Central Area a cautious but realistic approach to delivery of • West Northamptonshire Development the ‘Strategic Objectives’ and the delivery of Corporation policies major development sites Chapter 6.1 • Northamptonshire County Council ‘Major Development Sites Policies’ has been • Highways Agency taken. However, this should not preclude • West Northamptonshire Joint Planning the delivery of development in advance Unit of the timescales set out in Appendix: G 100 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

‘Development Sites Indicative Outputs in purchase orders, for example, at the Avon the Plan Period’, provided that it does not / Nunn Mills development site to enable prejudice the proper delivery of the plan and delivery of suitable access to the site. As the Vision and Strategic Objectives. a delivery vehicle, West Northamptonshire Development Corporation has also engaged 7.6 There are various delivery models, continuously with Network Rail as part of the which will be used to deliver these need to redevelop Castle Station together projects. Table 7.3 ‘Schedule 2: Delivery with a mixed-use commercial scheme. of Key Development Projects (May 2012)’ demonstrates the extent to which these Private / Public Sector Partnership and models are being used and the status of Private Investment. key projects. The key models affecting the delivery of the Central Area Action Plan are 7.10 This delivery model requires outlined below. involvement or funding from one or more agency, sharing joint objectives and co- Delivery Vehicles and Specialist Funding operating together to ensure that these Streams common objectives are met. In the broadest sense, this model covers all types of 7.7 For Northampton, a key delivery collaboration across the interface between vehicle is the West Northamptonshire the public and private sectors. It can be used Development Corporation. In their role to deliver policies, services and infrastructure as enabler and deliverer, together with through development agreements or similar local authority partners, utility companies, joint venture arrangements. community organisations and other key partners, they have worked towards 7.11 Such agreements detail the matters the preparation of 5 key priority sites that are required to enable the development in Northampton. The Central Area’s work to start and have been used to infrastructure requirements will be progress: incorporated into the West Northamptonshire Infrastructure Delivery Plan, which will be • The redevelopment of the Grosvenor part of the West Northamptonshire Joint Core Centre – In December 2009, a Development Strategy. Agreement was signed between the Borough Council and Legal & General. This 7.8 Growth Area Funds channelled partnership will see the demolition of the through the West Northamptonshire Greyfriars Bus Station, the development of a Development Corporation have already been replacement Bus Interchange at Fishmarket used to deliver some key projects in the and the expansion of retail and leisure Central Area, including improvements to the provision for the Grosvenor Centre public realm along Black Lion Hill and Gold Street and to enable site assembly within the • The regeneration of St John’s Waterside area. development area – Planning permission for the development of student accommodation, 7.9 The West Northamptonshire ancillary communal facilities, gymnasium, Development Corporation has the powers educational training spaces and public realm and the funds to undertake compulsory works was approved in April 2012, which 101 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 demonstrates the progress towards the objectives for the Central Area are achieved. regeneration of the St John’s strategic site. Construction began in July 2012. 7.15 Currently, there are two mechanisms in legislation for attaining contributions from Public Sector Agencies and Mainstream development: Public Funds • The Community Infrastructure Levy (a standard infrastructure charge that local 7.12 Mainstream public funds have been authorities can set through an approved the largest contributor to regeneration charging schedule for different types of projects in the country and they involve, development) amongst others, funds from: • Planning obligations (generally on site, or off-site non-strategic infrastructure) through • Homes and Communities Agency for the Section 106 of the Planning Act delivery of housing schemes and the regeneration of brownfield sites, including 7.16 The West Northamptonshire Joint Core enabling works. This funding stream has Strategy, will set out the strategic approach been used in the Central Area at Ransome to infrastructure provision that will be sought Road in association with new developments • Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership across Northampton, Daventry and South for the delivery of economic regeneration Northamptonshire through the Infrastructure initiatives and marketing tools, including Delivery Plan. This will identify infrastructure, improvements. This funding stream has which will require funding through pooled been used in the Central Area in the contributions from more than one development, Market Square as well as that which will be provided through • Local Transport Plan for the delivery Section 106 Agreements or from the public of key transport programmes such as purse, or from a combination of sources. junction improvements. This delivery The Central Area Action Plan has sought mechanism has been used to change to identify where site-specific contributions the character of the inner ring road along towards identified pieces of infrastructure Horsemarket to improve pedestrian and will be required. The financial cost of these cycle movement within the Central Area. contributions can be offset against any general requirements set out in the West 7.13 The Borough Council will continue to Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy seek funding from these and other emerging and to be funded through the Community agencies including the Local Economic Infrastructure Levy. Partnerships. 7.17 The West Northamptonshire Planning Obligations Infrastructure Delivery Plan is currently under review. In respect of developer contributions, 7.14 It is essential that development a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) contributes appropriately, either financially on Planning Obligations will be completed in and/or in kind towards the infrastructure that 2013. This document will address the delivery is required to make it acceptable and that of strategic infrastructure requirements by it is brought forward at the right time. This means of the Community Infrastructure Levy or will ensure that the growth and regeneration Planning Obligations, as outlined above. 102 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

7.18 Within the Central Area, developer • Green infrastructure obligations will be sought as appropriate for • Affordable housing the following: 7.19 The development site policies in • Public realm improvements Chapter 6 of this Plan set out relevant site • Public Transport specific contributions to infrastructure. • Highways improvements and site access New developments should meet their own • Pedestrian and Cycleway Improvements infrastructure needs, whether for transport, • New or improved educational facilities/ utilities or other infrastructure. Residential resources schemes will be expected to make provision • New and improved health facilities/ for affordable housing in accordance with resources the approved policy. Where development • Community safety initiatives viability will be affected by the cost of • New or improved infrastructure provision, planning obligations to such an extent for example, water, sewerage, electricity that it is unlikely that the development will and flood mitigation proceed, developers will be asked to submit • New or improved recreational facilities a financial appraisal to support their case. • Wildlife/ Habitat protection and enhancement

POLICY 36: INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY

The Borough Council will require, The Borough Council will require by securing the direct provision of developers to demonstrate that infrastructure and / or developer full consideration has been given contributions, that all new to infrastructure requirements, in developments provide the appropriate conjunction with the appropriate service on and off-site infrastructure to mitigate providers and to establish that, within the impact of development on the the timescales required: existing community and to provide the facilities needed, to support the new • Adequate capacity exists to provide development. for the development

The required provision of infrastructure • New provision will be proposed and / or developer contributions either directly and / or by financial will be sought by a requirement, as contribution and / or by proposals appropriate, for a Planning Agreement for the more efficient use of existing with the developer in accordance services or the promotion of with paragraphs 203 – 206 of the behavioural change, sufficient to be National Planning Policy Framework equivalent to new service provision and / or developer contributions to strategic infrastructure being sought In the event that the developer considers in accordance with the policies and that the required level of infrastructure approach required within the West provision is unduly onerous and Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy. will prejudice the delivery of the

103 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

development proposals, the Borough contributions. The infrastructure Council will require the developer to provision will be coordinated and undertake a Viability Assessment as delivered in partnership with local part of the further consideration of an authorities and agencies in West agreement linked to the determination of Northamptonshire and appropriate the development application. service providers, to ensure that the development proposals are delivered The provision of infrastructure will be in a coordinated manner ensuring that linked to the phasing of development in proposals form part of the sustainable the Infrastructure Delivery Plan for West growth of Northampton Central Area and Northamptonshire, which programmes Borough. the coordinated delivery of supporting funding and the assembly of developer

Potential Development Output required by local communities is delivered when the need arises. Whilst better 7.20 This section demonstrates the management of projects has a key role to capacity and capability of delivery of play, the timing of infrastructure delivery proposed development and the amount will need to take account of all the funding and the time frame for doing so. This is streams available to local communities. The summarised in Table 7.1 ‘Summary of process of infrastructure provision involves Indicative Outputs by Phases 2011-2026’). a wide range of organisations providing Potential outputs from the Action Plan are services. Full and effective partnership detailed in Development Sites: Indicative working will be essential for successful Outputs in the Plan Period where the land delivery through agreed investment and use components and indicative phasing for delivery plans. the major development sites are listed. 7.23 Development outputs for the major Phasing of Development development sites will be set out in detailed Masterplans and in the development site 7.21 Delivery of the infrastructure will be policies (Chapter 6.1 ‘Major Development dependent upon maximising the contribution Sites Policies’) contained within the Action from the development process. However, a Plan. Appendix: H ‘Potential Housing Sites significant contribution from the public purse (West Northamptonshire Strategic Housing will also be necessary. Central Government Land Availability Assessment) Outside Major has a key role in providing the necessary Development Sites’ lists sites considered to investment to achieve sustainable growth be suitable for housing from the Strategic within West Northamptonshire. As well as Housing Land Availability Assessment. capital investment it will need to provide There is considerable potential for these appropriate revenue support to those smaller sites to contribute to housing growth agencies required to manage or serve such within the Central Area. This contribution development. could be made in the early phases of the Action Plan (Phase 1: 2011-2016) at a time 7.22 It is important that the infrastructure when, due to lead in times, the larger sites are likely to have a relatively limited output. 104 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

7.24 On the basis of available information, Table 7.1 ‘Summary of Indicative Outputs by indicative outputs by site are identified and Phases 2011-2026’. The distribution of major detailed in Appendix G. ‘Development Sites: development sites and phased completions Indicative Outputs in the Plan Period’. A is shown in Table 7.3 ‘Schedule 2: Delivery of summary of these outputs is given in Key Development Projects.

Table 7.1 Summary of Indicative Outputs by Phases 2011-2026 Totals Use All Sites Phase 1 Phase 2 Phase 3 2011-2016 2016-2021 2021-2026 Retail – (square 71,050-74,050 4,000 66,050-69,050 1,000 metres) Hotels – (beds) 405-480 105 50-75 250 + Offices – (square 132,500 28,500 96,000 8,000 metres) Housing – 3,437 529 1,523 1,385 (Dwellings)

Monitoring the Policies in the Central 7.26 Each of the policies will need to be Area Action Plan monitored. Some of the policies can be monitored through interrogation of planning 7.25 The CAAP contains 36 policies, approvals, refusals and appeals. Others in addition to the key overarching policy will be monitored through the targets and associated with “presumption in favour timescale set down for each projects or the of sustainable development” which each completions. The effectiveness of each of proposal will be determined against. On these policies will be determined generally adoption these replace some of the saved through the: policies and proposals contained in the Northampton Local Plan 1997. The relevant • Strength in which these policies have saved policies replaced are identified in been successfully used to refuse Appendix: I. ‘List of Northampton Local Plan unacceptable developments and defend (1997) Policies that are replaced by the the decision at appeals. Policies within the Central Area Action Plan’. • Successful delivery of each phase of the projects within the stated timescales. • Completion and implementation of the relevant planning agreements/ Section 106 Agreements.

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Table 7.2 Schedule 1: Strategic Objectives and Central Area Action Plan Policy – Conformity Matrix Strategic Objectives Policy SO1 SO2 SO3 SO4 SO5 SO6 SO7 SO8 Promoting Design Excellence (Policy 1) X X X X Tall Buildings (Policy 2) X X Public Realm (Policy 3) X X X Green Infrastructure (Policy 4) X X X Flood Risk and Drainage (Policy 5) X Inner Ring Road (Policy 6) X X X X Bus Interchange : Fishmarket (Policy 7) X X Safeguarded Public Transport Route X X (Policy 8) Pedestrian and Cycle Framework X X (Policy 9) Parking (Policy 10) X Town Centre Boundary (Policy 1 X X X Definition of Primary Shopping Area X X (Policy 12) Improving the Retail Offer (Policy 13) X X Meeting Retail Capacity (Policy 14) X X Office and Business Use (Policy 15) X X X Central Area Living (Policy 16) X X X Grosvenor Centre (Policy 17) X X X X X X X Abington Street East (Policy 18) X X Castle Station (Policy 19) X X St John’s (Policy 20) X X X X X X X Angel Street (Policy 21) X X X X X X X Bridge Street (Policy 22) X X X X X X X Upper Mounts / Great Russell Street X X X X (Policy 23) Spring Boroughs (Policy 24) X X X X X The Waterside (Policy 25) X X The Waterside: Brampton Branch X X X X X X X St Peter’s Way (Policy 26) The Waterside: Southbridge West X X X X X X X (Policy 27) The Waterside: Avon / Nunn Mills / X X X X X X X Ransome Road (Policy 28)

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Table 7.2 Schedule 1: Strategic Objectives and Central Area Action Plan Policy – Conformity Matrix Strategic Objectives Policy SO1 SO2 SO3 SO4 SO5 SO6 SO7 SO8 The Waterside: Becket’s Park (Policy 29) X X X X X X X The Waterside: Nene Meadows (Policy 30) X X X Market Square (Policy 31) X X X X X Drapery (Policy 32) X X X X Freeschool Street (Policy 33) X X X X Former Royal Mail Sorting Office X X X (Policy 34) Telephone Exchange, Spring Gardens X X X X (Policy 35) Infrastructure Delivery (Policy 36) X X X X X X X X

References within the table:

NBC: Northampton Borough Council NCC: Northamptonshire County Council WNDC: West Northamptonshire Development Corporation EA: Environment Agency HCA: Homes and Communities Agency RNRP: River Nene Regional Park

107 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 2012 2012 Status Project Planning application Agreement G and NBC discussions commenced between L & between L signed 2009; Development pre-application approved in July Any station Library to enable relocation Bus station Potential to relocate the demolition of Greyfriars bus dependencies NCC funding funding Sources of private sector Private sector £5m NBC; WNDC; £6m NBC; NCC; Cost £220m Public and Estimated Trust Trust Lead delivery Operators PCT; NHS PCT; & General; Foundation NBC; NCC; NBC; NCC; NBC; Legal WNDC; Bus WNDC; NCC organisation

Bus m2); Retail Specific sufficient providing library and up to 2026 opportunity capacity for (9,000 m2); provision of Interchange bus demand for continued clinic services development Retail (37,000 requirements fer Why Centre Station improve facilities; retail of To improve To connectivity and upgrade and increase retail capacity Greyfriars Bus within the Town Town within the 2) 1) 2017; completion (timescale Anticipated demolition of for extension for delivery) of Grosvenor of Grosvenor start of works the Greyfriars Phases 1 and Centre (Phase Centre (Phase 2013; opening CAAP Phase 2CAAP increase To CAAP Phase 1CAAP replace To 2) 2018 (CAAP 2) 2018 (CAAP bus station and Where When Centre Abington (Policy 7) (Policy 17) (Policy 18) Grosvenor Street East Fishmarket Table 7.3 Schedule 2: Delivery of Key Development Projects (May 2012) Table

108 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 1; 2012 (under Status GRIP 4 GRIP Project powers) building. Planning approved Permitted for student application Surface Car Government Park closure Development (single option development) granted 201 now complete. now complete. ‘Prior Approval’ Approval’ ‘Prior 2012; St John’s 2012; St John’s accommodation funding secured to deliver station Any Victoria Victoria elements Completion commercial Promenade Access from of the station for delivery of dependencies public funding; public funding; Securement of and residential to release land redevelopment funding funding Sources of Developers; Developers; Government Network Rail; Private Sector Private Sector NEP/SEMLEP Cost £18m NBC; NCC; £44m NBC; WNDC; Estimated Lead Network delivery NBC; NCC; NBC; NCC; Developers; of Transport of Rail; London organisation WNDC; NEP; Midland; Dept Private Sector NEP/SEMLEP

office

(10,000

Specific car parking units); (c. 464 units) development Office requirements Ancillary retail; railway station; m2); hotel (105 bed); retail (A3) New passenger accommodation residential (2700 (26,000 m2); new (200 m2); student m2); (200 Why Area Area increase improve improve capacity; increase operational to assist in leisure offer leisure offer To modernise To cultural offer; cultural offer; station facility; and residential and residential regeneration of commercial offer commercial offer commercial and connectivity with connectivity with maximise parking accommodation; accommodation; accommodation; the wider Central the wider Central facilities; increase Spring Boroughs; Spring Boroughs; (Detailed Phase 2) of GRIP 5 of GRIP 6 of GRIP (timescale Completion Completion 2015 (CAAP 2015 (CAAP for delivery) design), 2013. design), 2013. (Construction), CAAP Phase 1CAAP strengthen To Where When St Johns (Policy 20) (Policy 19) Castle Station Table 7.3 Schedule 2: Delivery of Key Development Projects (May 2012) Table

109 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

finances finalised

Status develop Project willing to to initiate to access for market to improve but waiting application it is unlikely town centre relocating to limitations to regeneration Full planning development the proposed Given current business case being can take place public until after 2021 viability of NCC expected 2012; Any decision location; long term: to relocate medium to term: NCC potential to In the short commercial town centre operation to redevelop site dependencies Land assembly Land owners Sector funding Developers Developers Developers; Sources of Private Sector Private Sector £4m NBC; Private Cost £11m NBC; NCC; £30m NBC; NCC; Estimated Lead Sector delivery Developers Developers Developers NBC; NCC; NBC; NCC; NBC; Private Private Sector Private Sector organisation

(8,000 leisure, (27,000

financial financial

bars services; Specific (34 units); mixed use Mixed use scheme to m2); hotel; residential; small scale small scale educational civic space, units); public Office development: scale retailing office; Office residential (62 retail, retail; facilities; small development services cafes, requirements community and m2); residential of the following: of the following: restaurants and include some / all Why offer; increase offer; offer; increase offer; The Mounts and wider Central Area wider Central wider Central Area wider Central wider Central Area wider Central offer and residential offer offer and residential offer offer and residential offer connectivity with the connectivity with the connectivity with the To strengthen cultural To Clare Street; increase commercial and leisure commercial and leisure commercial and leisure redevelopment between accommodation; improve accommodation; improve accommodation; improve Phase 3 Phase 2; Start CAAP Start CAAP (timescale for delivery) CAAP Phase 3CAAP strengthen cultural To Phase 3CAAP Achieve comprehensive complete CAAP complete CAAP Street Street Upper Where When Bridge / Great Mounts Russell (Policy 21) (Policy 22) (Policy 23) Angel Street Table 7.3 Schedule 2: Delivery of Key Development Projects (May 2012) Table

110 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 Status Formal Project initiated Purchase remaining gasholder. gasholder. bid to fund properties. Plan. 2012 decision on Station and Partnership programme Compulsory underway for most freehold Energy Saving Decent Homes of Gas Holders the Community development of Neighbourhood freeholds / land expected 2012. expected 2012. between Castle 2011 successful 2011 Programme and decommissioning WNDC now owns Any of the Flood risk mitigation; Community gasholders; removal and Junction and dependencies enable access future planning The successful capacity issues highway related engagement for and to cope with decontamination improvements to

NBC; Social Sector Private funding WNDC; Housing funding Landlords; Sources of Developers; / Registered University Government Associations private sector Northampton; Cost with de- Unknown associated Estimated gas holders commissioning £73m plus cost

Lead Social WNDC; Housing delivery Carlsberg; Landlords; NBC; Local NBC; NCC; Community; / Registered University Associations Northampton organisation National Grid;

(43,000

Specific (270 units); through the development Office requirements Neighbourhood m2); residential Planning process To be determined To public civic space Why improve To meet To integration Standards; to increase leisure offer leisure offer improve the between the employment For effective For effective Government opportunities for residents, Central Area; Central connectivity to Waterside and Waterside Area; increase and residential Decent Homes commercial and living conditions requirements for accommodation; environment and the wider Central CAAP CAAP CAAP CAAP Phase 3 Phase 3 Phase 1; Complete (timescale Start CAAP Start CAAP for delivery) for The Way Where When Spring St Peter’s Boroughs (Policy 26) (Policy 24) Waterside: Waterside: Table 7.3 Schedule 2: Delivery of Key Development Projects (May 2012) Table

111 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Status partner Project to deliver confirmation completed / Ransome anticipated 2012-05-16

Compulsory Purchase of land at Avon Avon land at / Nunn Mills; development agreement to London Road Road junction – NBC and HCA NBC and HCA HCA procuring HCA provide land to WNDC initiated Ransome Road enable link from Ransome Road; Bedford Road to Any mitigation Flood risk Compulsory New access A45 junction corridor from London Road access (Nunn dependencies line; Impact on improvements; disused railway Mills); Future of mitigation; Land Purchase Order of transfer rail Bedford Road to decontamination;

Sector funding and Private Sources of Developers; University Northampton. Cost £8.5m Private sector Flood risk £180m WNDC, HCA Estimated

Lead sector WNDC; Network delivery Rail; HCA; NBC; NCC; University NBC; private Northampton organisation

usage (16,000

space Specific Hotel (100 (2,000 m2) public open school; new office residential or bed); leisure, (2,000 units); development Office requirements bed); residential m2); retail (2,000 m2); hotel (50-75

for

Why edge University

Gateway principle. residential integration fitting to increase between the For effective For effective retail, leisure Central Area; Central acceptable in Development would also be Waterside and Waterside with use connected along the rivers of Northampton and commercial accommodation, location; improve offer; educational offer; pedestrian access 3 3 Phase 1; Complete (timescale Start CAAP Start CAAP for delivery) CAAP Phase CAAP CAAP Phase CAAP The The West Road Mills / Where When Ransome (Policy 28) (Policy 27) Waterside: Waterside: Waterside: Avon Nunn Avon Southbridge Table 7.3 Schedule 2: Delivery of Key Development Projects (May 2012) Table

112 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 Status Project in 2012; Planning Skatepark completed Supplementary developed 2012 Document being Any funding streams Securing mitigation dependencies sector EA, and funding Sustrans, Sources of shire Wildlife Trust; private Trust; Northampton- Cost £6.7m NBC, Estimated NBC £8.5m Private sector Flood risk Trust Lead EA, and delivery shire Wildlife organisation Northampton- NBC, Sustrans, office) Reserve Specific Leisure / Leisure / / cycleway facility (500 facility (250 recreational recreational Local Nature development opportunities m2); footpath network; new (residential or m2); enabling development requirements river crossings; interventions to enhancements; increase leisure and recreational removal of earth bund; small scale

people

benefits benefits

Why the the

facility that and wildlife. environment To capitalise To Central Area; Central wider Central river frontage provision of a with the wider river frontage; Area; create a to improve the and reconnect and reconnect on on of the river and of the river and benefits the site with strategic leisure leisure facility to increase activity and recreational and create safer quality of the park Phase 1; Complete (timescale Start CAAP Start CAAP for delivery) CAAP Phase 1CAAP capitalise To CAAP Phase 2 CAAP The The Nene Where When Meadows (Policy 29) (Policy 30) Waterside: Waterside: Waterside: Waterside: Becket’s Park Becket’s Table 7.3 Schedule 2: Delivery of Key Development Projects (May 2012) Table

113 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 Status Project Any of the Centre Grosvenor Monument gasholders; removal and of Scheduled enhancement dependencies Protection and redevelopment The successful Land assembly; decontamination sector funding SEMLEP / SEMLEP Sources of NEP; Private Cost £20m Private sector Delivery of £5.5m NBC; Estimated Lead sector sector delivery NBC; Private organisation / NEP; Private NBC; SEMLEP NBC; SEMLEP

floor

(2,500

Retail Street Specific scale retail restaurant / ground and College Office incorporating (c. 250 sq m) café facilities; development requirements on corner of St m2); residential (50 units); small (17,000m2); link Peter’s Way and Peter’s Way between Drapery Horseshoe Street landmark building landmark Why extend the extend the Town Centre Town Area; improve Area; improve connectivity to retail capacity; retail capacity; Waterside and Waterside the Town Centre Town the Primary Shopping Primary Shopping connectivity within (timescale for delivery) CAAP Phase 2CAAP increase To CAAP Phase 2CAAP increase To Street Where When (Policy 33) (Policy 32) Freeschool The Drapery Table 7.3 Schedule 2: Delivery of Key Development Projects (May 2012) Table

114 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 for a Status Project Planning July 2012 application was approved supermarket in Any building exchange Viability for Viability the reuse or of telephone dependencies demolition of the Decommissioning funding Developers Developers Sources of £7m Private Sector £4m Private Sector Cost Estimated Lead Sector Sector delivery Developers Developers NBC; Private NBC; Private organisation units) Specific convert site Redevelop / for business / Dwellings (50 development requirements residential use Why Area improve surrounding impact on the / or residential has a negative by the removal enhancements exchange which of the telephone connectivity with accommodation; accommodation; the wider Central conservation area business offer and offer business (timescale for delivery) CAAP Phase 3CAAP Area CAAP Phase 1CAAP increase To Where When Exchange Telephone Telephone Royal Mail (Policy 35) (Policy 34) Barrack Road Table 7.3 Schedule 2: Delivery of Key Development Projects (May 2012) Table

115 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

References within the table: Implementation and Monitoring

EA: Environment Agency 7.27 The Government requires local EH: English Heritage authorities to undertake an effective GRIP: Governance for Railway Investment monitoring of its policies through the Annual Projects Monitoring Report, which provides details HCA: Homes and Communities Agency on how policies in the Local Development NBC: Northampton Borough Council Documents are being achieved. In order to NCC: Northamptonshire County Council comply with legal requirements the policies NEP: Northampton Enterprise Partnership in the Action Plan must be capable of being SEMLEP: South East Midlands Local assessed and monitored. The criteria for this Enterprise Partnership assessment and monitoring are set out in WNDC: West Northamptonshire Table 7.4 ‘Monitoring Framework’ below. Development Corporation

CAAP Phasing Schedule:

Phase 1: 2011 to 2016 Phase 2: 2016 to 2021 Phase 3: 2021 to 2026

116 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Contingencies Review evidence base Consider barriers to implementation Consider review of policy If the Grosvenor Centre redevelopment does not go ahead, there will be an opportunity to capitalise on the Greyfriars site through another development. Review evidence base Consider review of policy previously

of for by

use

floorspace floorspace

the

delivered

floorspace

Trigger Grosvenor Centre extension not commenced by 2016 <37,000m² gross comparison shopping floorspace 2021 >61,000m² gross comparison shopping approved period 2026 >4,500m² gross convenience permitted 2026 <1, 500m² gross convenience permitted by 2021 maximising

WNJPU WNJPU

data Main Agencies Source for monitoring for delivery / sub-region, Developers/ NBC, Developers/ NBC,

its

SA Objective heart Delivered? SA10 NBC, WNDC, SA10 NBC, WNDC,

the

Policies Delivered Area Additional

Policy 17,18, 32 Not site specific Urban

Delivered Policy 3, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Policy 3, 7, 9, 11, Principal

a Policy 11, 12, 13, Policy 11, 14 Policy 11, 12, 13, Policy 11, 14

for for

role

future

61,000m² gross comparison shopping floorspace period 2026 period 2026 4,500m² gross convenience (Food ) shopping floorspace

Policy Indicator Target Main Policy Numbers: created in Northampton Centre Town Amount of new gross retail comparison floorspace Table 7.4 Monitoring Framework Table Strategic Objective 1 - Regeneration Objective: Expanding retail, town centre facilities and the scale of employment opportunities in to match Northampton’s developed land Amount of new gross retail convenience floorspace the town centre

117 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 Contingencies

Identify reasons changes and if jobs are being created faster or slower than expected. Consider allocation of additional employment land with Work developers / land owners to develop viable and suitable schemes. Review policy

previously

floorspace floorspace of

Trigger use

the

>4,500m² gross convenience permitted 2026 <1, 500m² gross convenience permitted by 2021

maximising

data WNJPU

for monitoring delivery /Source Main Agencies for Main Sector, NBC, Sector, Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership, Enterprise Zone / NBC, sub-region,

its

of SA

Objective Delivered? SA10 WNDC, Private heart

the

Policies Delivered Additional 20, 21, 22, 26, 28, 33 Area

Urban

Delivered Policy 11, 15Policy 11, Policy 19,

Policy 3, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Policy 3, 7, 9, 11, Principal

space space

office office

Target Main Policy role

of of

future

Planning permissions for developments up to 98,500 gross square metres by 2016 Developments for up to 132,500 gross square metres by 2021 No loss of safeguarded employment sites to non town centre uses Policy Indicator Numbers: Strategic Objective 1 - Regeneration Objective: Expanding retail, town centre facilities and the scale of employment opportunities in to match Northampton’s developed land Annual analysis of approvals for change of use and new developments employment for use, broken down into B1, B2, B8 use classes order

118 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Contingencies Policy review as part of the revision to Central Action Plan to assess Area the future potential of waterside site. revised Waterside A Masterplan may need to be commissioned to inform the Action Plan Area Central review process previously

use

the

Trigger Table G.1 Table maximising

Each development listed in ‘additional policies as well each delivered’ phase not commenced by 7.3 Table the year set out in G.1 Table and Each phase of Policy 26 Brampton Branch St Peter’s development is not Way commenced by the year set out in Policy 27 Southbridge West is not commenced by 2021 Avon Phase 2 of Policy 28 Nunn Mills/Ransome Rd is not commenced by 2021 G.1) (Table Leisure facilities in Policy Park are not 29 Becket’s completed by 2021 Policy 30 Nene Meadows sub-region,

data WNJPU its

of for monitoring

delivery /Source Main Agencies for Main Northamptonshire EA, Trust, Wildlife Private Sector / NBC, heart

the SA

Objective Delivered? SA14 NBC, NCC, Area

Policies Urban Delivered Additional

19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 33 Policy 3, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Policy 3, 7, 9, 11, Principal

Delivered Policy 11, 25Policy 11, Policy 17, as

role

future

Delivery of leisure facilities such as ancillary retailing, cafés, restaurants, bars, visitor centre, cycle hire (Policy 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 33) Delivery of greater access to use the river and canal for a wide range of recreational activities (Policy 25, 26, 30) 29, 28, 27, Policy Indicator Target Main Policy Numbers: Strategic Objective 1 - Regeneration Objective: Expanding retail, town centre facilities and the scale of employment opportunities in to match Northampton’s developed land Annual analysis of approvals for leisure/ community uses

119 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 Contingencies Policy review The thresholds A1 use for non in primary and secondary frontages around Market Square may need to be increased following further consultation and health checks.

A3 previously

Trigger use

the

<15 % footfall increase in Market Square by 2021 < 12 % increase in A3 frontage in Market by 2021 Square West <18% increase in frontage in Market Square South by 2021

maximising Town

delivery /Source Main Agencies for Main for monitoring data Centre Operations, Centre Health Town Check Sector, Town Centre Town Sector, Centre Town BID, Operations / NBC, WNJPU, Sector, Town Centre Town Sector, Centre Town BID, Operations / NBC, WNJPU sub-region,

its

SA of

Objective Delivered? SA14 NBC, Private SA14 NBC, Private heart

the

at Policies

Delivered Additional Policy 3, 7, 9, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 13 Area

Urban

Delivered Main Policy Policy 11, Policy 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 Policy 31 Policy 3, Policy 3, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33 Policy 3, 7, 9, 11, Principal

Target role

future

18.5% net increase in Centre Town footfall in The Market Square will become the central attraction for retail and leisure uses in the Borough A3 40% net increase in frontage in Market Square and Market Square West South to replace existing non-A1 uses.

defined

Policy Indicator Numbers: Annual analysis of footfall for Centre Town Strategic Objective 1 - Regeneration Objective: Expanding retail, town centre facilities and the scale of employment opportunities in to match Northampton’s developed land Annual analysis A3 of % within frontage

120 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 Contingencies Identify cause and consider justification. Policy review as part of the revision to the Area Central Action Plan Review processes for determining applications, e.g. additional supporting document such as design guides assets Trigger

Increase in number of heritage assets at risk Permissions granted where there was an unresolved objection from English Heritage, NBC and NCC conservation teams No improved perception of town centre from users related to safety by 2016 heritage

Town

WNJPU, architectural

delivery /Source Main Agencies for Main rich for monitoring data WNDC, English Heritage Centre Health Check Health Centre NBC, WNDC, NCC, Town Private Sector, Town Centre BID, Centre Operations / NBC,

the

SA Objective reflects Delivered?

SA14 NBC, Developers, SA7, SA11, SA7, SA11, SA12 that

Policies Delivered Additional policies Site- specific Policy 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 standard

highest

Delivered Main Policy Policy 1, 2, 3, 6, 9 Policy 1, 2, 3, 4, 25 the

Policy 1, 2, 3, 4, 17,18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 of

Target development

No net increase in number in increase net No of heritage assets at risk Improved perception of town centre from users related to safety Ensuring

Policy Indicator Numbers: Annual analysis of heritage assets A well designed Town Centre Town well designed Strategic Objective 2 - A Objective: Annual town centre health check identifying people’s perception of general safety, impression of the town centre.

121 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 Contingencies Policy review as part of the revision to the Area Central Action Plan Policy review as part of the revision to the Area Central Action Plan Policy review as part of the revision to the Area Central Action Plan The thresholds for primary and secondary frontages around Market Square may need to be increased following further consultation and health checks

use

for

Trigger No increase of floorspace cultural initiatives by 2021 5% decrease in permanent/casual traders occupancy by 2016 Each development listed in ‘Main Policies not Delivered’ commenced by the Table year set out in G. 1 (Appendix G) <15 % footfall in Market Square by 2021

Town Town

WNJPU

delivery /Source Main Agencies for Main for monitoring data Derngate Theatre / Derngate NBC, Centre Operations Sector, Town Centre Town Sector, Centre Town BID, Operations / NBC, WNJPU, Private Sector, Private Sector, University Northampton / NBC, WNJPU sector, Town Centre Town sector, Centre Town BID, Operations / NBC, WNJPU, Centre Operation SA Objective Delivered? SA14, 15 NBC, Private Sector, SA14 NBC, Private SA10, SA14 NBC, NCC, WNDC, SA14 NBC, private Policies Policy 1, 3, 7, 11, 12, 13, 17, 20, 21, 22, 31, 32, 36 Policy 1, 3, 7, 11, Delivered Additional 21, 22 Policy 1, 36 11, 12, 13, 11, 17, 32 Main Policy Delivered Policy 11 Policy 20, Policy 31 Policy 3, 7, 17, 20, 21, 22, 32 Policy 3, 31 Policy 7,

floorspace

Target 600 sqm gross increase for use by cultural initiatives by 2021 Stable occupancy of permanent /casual traders by 2016 5% increase in permanent/casual traders occupancy by 202 Completion of Policy 3 Public Realm Improvement, Policy 7 Bus Interchange, Policy 17 Grosvenor Centre, Policy 20 Policy 21 St John’s, Angel Street, Policy 22 Bridge Street and Policy 32 Drapery The Market Square will become the central attraction for retail and leisure uses in the Borough 18.5% net increase in footfall Market Square

floorspace

Indicator Policy Numbers: Increase for cultural initiatives such as cinema, theatre, museum and art gallery Annual analysis of stall occupancy in Market Square Completion of key projects related Market Square and St John’s area Annual analysis of footfall for retail and events of the Market Square A destination of choice Strategic Objective 3 - A Centre , and creat ing develop cultural initiatives based Town Objective: Revitalising the Market Square at heart of Theatre area and the Derngate around St John’s

122 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 Contingencies Policy review as part of the revision to the Area Central Action Plan Policy review as part of the revision to the Area Central Action Plan Trigger <500m increase by 2021 <1km of strategic footpaths completed by 2021 Inner Ring Road SPD not commenced by 2016 No removal of subways by 2021 <1km of footpaths for leisure purpose created by 2026 delivery /Source Main Agencies for Main for monitoring data Private Sector /NBC, WNJPU Private Sector /NBC, WNJPU SA Objective Delivered? SA1 NBC, WNDC, NCC, SA1 NBC, WNDC, NCC, Policies Delivered Additional Policy 4, 7, 10, 17, 23, 31, 32, 36 Policy 4, 10, 17, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36 Delivered Main Policy Policy 1, 3, 6, 8, 9, 25 Policy 1, 3, 6, 9, 25 Policy 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 17, 20, 21, 23, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36

reconfiguration

Target Road

1km of footpath improved (Grosvenor Centre, Abington Street and Market Square) by 2026 is commenced by 2026 1km of ‘strategic link’ 1km of ‘strategic link’ footpaths completed (St Johns to Delapre) by 2021 1km of footpaths completed for leisure uses Nunn (Waterside/Avon Mills/ Nene Meadows/ St by 2026 Peters Way) Completion of removal subways by 2021 Ring Policy Indicator Numbers: Amount of existing pedestrian environment improved to the quality consistent with PRIF A walkable centre Strategic Objective 4 - A Area pedestrian friendly and ‘walkable’, with an improved public realm linkages between key Objective: Making the Central destinations Increase in the length of pedestrian footpaths

123 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 Contingencies Policy review as part of the revision to the Area Central Action Plan Policy review as part of the revision to the Area Central Action Plan Trigger <1km of strategic routes ways improved by 2021 Inner Ring Road SPD not commenced by 2016 <1km of footpaths for leisure purpose created by 2026 <<1km of strategic routes improved by 2021 Inner Ring Road SPD not commenced by 2016 <1km of footpaths for leisure purpose created by 2026 delivery /Source Main Agencies for Main for monitoring data Private Sector /NBC, WNJPU Private Sector /NBC, WNJPU SA Objective Delivered? SA1 NBC, WNDC, SA1 NBC, WNDC, NCC, Policies Delivered Additional Policy 4, 10, 17, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36 Policy 4, 10, 17, 20, 21, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36 Policy 1, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 17, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36 Delivered Main Policy Policy 1, 3, 6, 9, 25 Policy 1, 3, 6, 9, 25

reconfiguration

Target Road oad reconfiguration

is commenced by 2026 1km of strategic cycle routes improved (St Johns to Delapre) by 2021 1km of cycle routes for leisure uses (Waterside/ Nunn Mills/ Nene Avon Meadows/ St Peters Way) by 2026 Ring is commenced by 2026 1km of strategic cycle routes improved (St Johns to Delapre) by 2021 1km of cycle routes for leisure uses (Waterside/ Nunn Mills/ Nene Avon Meadows/ St Peters Way) by 2026 Ring Policy Indicator Numbers: Amount of existing cycle environment improved to the quality consistent with PRIF Strategic Objective 5 - Public transport and cycling Objective: Ensuring good public transport and cycle accessibility Increase in the length of high quality cycle routes

124 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 Contingencies Policy review as part of the revision to the Area Central Action Plan Policy review as part of the revision to the Area Central Action Plan Policy review as part of the revision to the Area Central Action Plan Trigger Bus Interchange not completed by 2016 No decommissioning by 2021 <15 % increase in number of bus users by 2026 WNJPU

delivery /Source Main Agencies for Main for monitoring data Private Sector /NBC, WNJPU Private Sector /NBC, WNJPU Private Sector /NBC, NCC, SA Objective Delivered? Policies Delivered Additional Policy 10 SA1 NBC, WNDC, NCC, Policy 1, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 17, 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36 Delivered Main Policy Policy 7 N/A SA1 NBC, WNDC, NCC, Policy 8 N/A SA1Policy 7, 14, NBC, WNDC, NCC, 15 Target Some decommissioning of railway between Brackmills and Castle Station by 2026 18.5% increase in number of bus users by 2026 Completion of Bus Interchange by 2016 Policy Indicator Numbers: Any decommissioned railway between Brackmills and Castle Station is transformed into public transport / cycle pedestrian route Annual analysis of number bus users Strategic Objective 5 - Public transport and cycling Objective: Ensuring good public transport and cycle accessibility new a of Delivery Bus I nterchange

125 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 Contingencies Policy review as part of the revision to the Area Central Action Plan to good crime prevention by design Review processes for determining applications to deliver good design, e.g. additional supporting document such as design guides Consider policy review Trigger Public realm improvement in Grosvenor Centre, Abington Street, The Drapery and Market Square) not completed by 2026 Increase in crime Identify barriers WNJPU,

delivery /Source Main Agencies for Main for monitoring data Private Sector /NBC, WNJPU Centre Health Town Check Private Sector, Private Sector, Northamptonshire Police / NBC, Northamptonshire Police, SA Objective Delivered? SA7 NBC, WNDC, NCC, SA7 NBC, WNDC, Policies Delivered Additional Policy 4, 6, 7, 9, 17, 18, 23, 31, 32 Policy 6, 7, 9, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 Delivered Main Policy Policy 1 and 3 Policy 1, 3 and 25 Policy 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35 Target Completion of public realm improvement in Grosvenor Centre, The Abington Street, Drapery and Market Square) by 2026 Decrease of crime in physical assaults, fear of crime, robbery. Policy Indicator Numbers: A Safer Environment Strategic Objective 6 - A Objective: Providing an appealing and safe environment within the urban framework along W aterside Areas of town centre subject to public realm improvement Crime measures in town centre

126 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 Contingencies Contingencies Work with Work developer / land owner to produce a viable and suitable scheme Further discussions with developers on viability Consider a review of policy

relaxation

Trigger Trigger Each development listed in ‘Additional not Policies delivered’ commenced by the Table year set out in G.1 (Appendix G). Either: % new homes failing to meet current national standard > 10% or % new homes where viability analysis justifies 15%

delivery /Source delivery /Source Main Agencies for Main Agencies for Main for monitoring data for monitoring data Private Sector, Private Sector, University Northampton / NBC, WNJPU Developers / NBC, Building Control, WNJPU SA SA Objective Objective Delivered? Delivered? SA14 NBC, WNDC, SA8 NBC, WNDC, Policy 16, 19, 22, 23, 24, 26, 28 Policies Policies Delivered Delivered Additional Additional 22, 23, 24, 26, 28 19, 22, 23, 24, 26, 28 Delivered Delivered Main Policy Main Policy Policy 16 Policy 19, Policy 16 Policy 1, 2, Policy 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 Target Target Completion of 3,900 dwellings by 2026 Planning Permissions: 100% achievement of and 100% Level 3 now, Zero carbon standard from 2016.

clearly

Policy Policy Indicator Indicator Numbers: Numbers: Repopulate the Central Area Strategic Objective 7 - Repopulate the Central Objective: Substantially increasing the resident population through redevelopment of redundant industrial areas and regeneration of Spring Boroughs Annual analysis of approvals for change of use and new developments for housing and student accommodation Strategic Objective 8 - Sustainability Area develops in a sustainable manner and helps create positive framework for action on Objective: Ensuring the Central climate change Minimum Code for Sustainable Homes Ratings for Residential Development (Unless demonstrated to prevent development viability

127 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 Contingencies Review with Development Management Identify barriers preventing achievement Identify cause and consider justification. Review implementation. Consider any remedial action Consider policy review Identify causes and identify what planning related solutions are available Discuss with partners potential solutions Trigger >10% of qualifying developments fail to achieve the standard Permission granted contrary to advice >5% increase in no of properties within designated AQMA;s, based on no of properties at 01/04/2011

Users,

WNJPU WNJPU

delivery /Source Main Agencies for Main for monitoring data Commercial WNDC / NBC, Building Control, WNDC, Environment NCC Agency, (through Water Management Plan), NBC, Developers, WNDC / Environment Agency Response -Objections to Applications, NBC, WNDC, Services / NBC, Reporting DEFRA SA Objective Delivered? SA8 Developers, NBC, SA8, SA20, SA21, SA22 SA2 NBC, Environmental Policies Delivered Additional Policy 1, 2, Policy 1, 2, 7, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 32, 33, Policy 9, 19, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 36 Policy 10, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 34 Delivered Main Policy Policy 14, 15, Policy 4, 5, 25 N/A Policy 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 Target Planning Permissions for Non-Residential Development over 500m2 to achieve a rating of Good at least ‘Very Standard’ No applications should be granted contrary to EA Advice Improvements to air quality measurement areas New development should address existing problems. Regular reporting of measurements Policy Indicator Numbers: Strategic Objective 8 - Sustainability Area develops in a sustainable manner and helps create positive framework for action on Objective: Ensuring the Central climate change BREEAM Standards for Non-Residential Development Planning Permissions Granted Contrary to EA Advice on Water Quality or Flood Risk Grounds after failing the sequential and / or exceptions test NO2 Levels at existing designated AQMAs

128 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 Contingencies Consider barriers to implementation and relevance of policy with Development Management and key organisations with developers/ Work land owners to develop viable and suitable schemes Review policy Trigger >0 of major new development schemes (excluding those already permitted) that are proposed in the Joint Core Strategy and approved after 2014 that fail to provide decentralised energy opportunities

WNJPU

delivery /Source Main Agencies for Main Note: means policies that directly relate ‘Main Policy Delivered’ to delivery of the target. means policies that ‘Additional Policies Delivered’ contribute towards delivery of the target. The start date / baseline for the purposes of targets is April 2010. 1st for monitoring data Environmental Services at NCC, NBC / WNDC, NCC, Application NBC Monitoring, Monitoring SA Objective Delivered? SA8 Developers, WNDC, Unit

Policies Delivered Additional 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 Planning

Joint

Delivered Policy 1 Policy 7, Policy 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 Target Main Policy Northamptonshire

To provide To renewable energy at source through decentralised energy schemes considered on all new developments and regeneration schemes through open book analysis with NBC Business Improvement District Affairs Department for Environment Food and Rural Agency Environment Northampton Borough Council Northamptonshire County Council Northampton Enterprise Partnership Northamptonshire Development Corporation West

Policy

Indicator Numbers:

Strategic Objective 8 - Sustainability Area develops in a sustainable manner and helps create positive framework for action on Objective: Ensuring the Central climate change Sustainable Energy Generation within major new development through decentralised and renewable or low carbon sources References within the table: BID: DEFRA: EA: NBC: NCC: NEP: WNDC: WNJPU: West

129 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

GLOSSARY

Active Frontage - Refers to a façade of a Community Infrastructure Levy – A charge building that provides natural surveillance on that local authorities will be empowered, but to a public or private space. not required, to charge on the majority of types of new development, dependent on its Adoption – The stage at which, by resolution size and use. of the Council, the local authority can adopt a Local Plan as Council policy. As part of the Comparison Goods – Goods that Development Plan a Local Plan acquires full consumers buy infrequently and would weight once it has been adopted. compare prices before purchasing such as clothing and electrical goods. Affordable Housing – Affordable housing includes social rented and intermediate Conservation Area – Nationally recognised housing, provided to specified eligible designation with the primary aim is to households whose needs are not met by the protect and enhance an area’s character market. and heritage. They can vary in both size and character, and can include small groups Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) – Local of buildings, public spaces or even open authorities are required to produce an AMR spaces. They often include groups of Listed to assess the implementation of the Local Buildings. Development Scheme and the extent to which the policies in the Development Plan County Council: Northamptonshire County are being successfully implemented. Council.

At Grade Crossings – Road crossings at Development Plan – Under the Planning street level. Acts, this is the prime consideration in the determination of planning applications. Brownfield Land – Previously developed land is that which is or was occupied by a Examination in Public - The local permanent structure, including the curtilage authority must arrange for an independent of the developed land and any associated examination of a submitted Local Plan to fixed surface infrastructure. test the ‘soundness’ of the policies and proposals. The examination is held by an Building for Life – The national design independent planning inspector appointed standard for the design of new homes and by the Secretary of State from the Planning neighbourhoods. Inspectorate.

Code for Sustainable Homes – The Gateway – Key entry point into the Central national standard to guide developers on Area. the design and construction of sustainable homes.

130 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Infrastructure - The facilities and services Major Developments – Defined as that help local people to live their everyday developments proposing 1,000 or more lives. It can range from strategic provision, square metres of floor space or 10 or more such as a new road or school, to the creation dwellings. of a local play-space. Master Plan - A master plan shows Landmark - Points of reference that assist proposals for a series of buildings and people in orientating themselves to an area, spaces and how each component of a plan this could be a building, monument or open links and functions together. space Mixed Use – A variety of different activities to Legibility – The degree to which a place or be contained within development proposals. route can be understood. Modal Shift - Making alternative travel choices to the car. Lifetime Homes - 16 levels of design criteria which can be applied to all new housing Open Space – Areas free of development - developments. this includes public landscaped areas, parks, playing fields and rivers. Areas of water such Listed Buildings – When buildings are as rivers and canals can also be considered listed, they are placed on statutory lists of open space as they offer opportunities for buildings of ‘special architectural or historic sport and recreation or can also act as a interest’. Listing ensures that the architectural visual amenity and haven for wildlife. and historic interest of the building is carefully considered before any alterations, Palette – A specific range of materials and either outside or inside, are agreed. styles which can be used in development in order to create a sense of cohesion and Local Development Scheme (LDS) – Sets identity in an area. out the programme for the preparation of local plans. It will be subject to regular Pedestrian Desire Lines – A route that review. people would find most convenient to use when travelling between destinations. Main Town Centre Uses – the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) in Pedestrian Severance – Severance of addition to retail identifies several other uses pedestrian routes - this can include things as ‘main town centre uses’ including offices, such as busy roads and railway lines. leisure, entertainment facilities, the more Permeability – The ability to move through intensive sport and recreation uses (including areas via a variety of pleasant, convenient cinemas, restaurants, drive-through and safe routes. restaurants, bars and pubs, night-clubs, casinos, health and fitness centres, indoor Planning Inspectorate – Government bowling centres and bingo halls); and arts, agency responsible for the processing of culture and tourism development (including planning and enforcement appeals and theatres, museums, galleries and concert holding inquiries into local development halls, hotels and conference facilities). plans.

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Public Realm – Areas that are accessible to Sustainability Appraisal – The appraisal everyone. Includes most street, squares and of plans and policies to evaluate whether parks. proposed policies and forthcoming development take account of social, Regeneration - The economic, social and environmental and economic factors. environmental renewal and improvement of an area. Sustainable Development – Sustainable development is the core principle Sequential Test - A sequential test requires underpinning town planning in the UK. The applicants to assess the availability, key message of sustainable development suitability and viability of all in centre sites is to plan for development which meets the before bringing forward development needs of today without compromising the proposals for town centre uses outside of a potential needs of future generations. centre. Sustainable Transport - A wide range of Sound / Soundness – In order for a local travel modes, including walking, cycling, plan to be considered ‘sound’ it must be public transport and car sharing, that are an justified by a robust evidence base and be alternative to single-occupancy car journeys prepared in accordance with the tests set out or non-renewable energy-using modes. in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and in legal conformity with the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and The Town and Country Planning 2004 (as amended). (Local Planning) (England) Regulations Provides the statutory basis for Town and Statement of Community Involvement – A Country Planning in England including Local Development Document which sets regulations on the procedures for plan out the methods and standards which the making. local authority intend to achieve in relation to involving the community during the Town Centres - Defined in National Planning preparation of the Area Action Plan Policy Framework (NPPF) as an area defined on the local authority’s proposal Supplementary Planning Documents map, including the primary shopping area (SPDs) – When the local authority wishes to and areas predominantly occupied by main provide policy guidance to supplement the town centre uses within or adjacent to the policies and proposals in the local plans they primary shopping area. References to town can produce an SPD. SPDs are material centres or centres apply to city centres, town consideration in making planning decisions centres, district centres and local centres but do not form part of the Development but excludes small parades of shops of Plan. shops of purely neighbourhood significance. Unless they are identified as centres in Local Plans, existing out-of-centre developments, comprising or including main town centre uses, do not constitute town centres.

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Townscape – The visual appearance of a built up area, such as street pattern, architecture and hard and soft landscaping.

Tall Building – Any building or structure that breaks the skyline and/or which is significantly taller than its surrounding built fabric.

Use Classes Order – The Use Classes as outlined in the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended). The Use Classes range from Shops (A1) to Business Offices (B1) to Hotels (C1) to Non- Residential institutions (D1).

Urban Design – Urban design involves the design of a building, groups of buildings, spaces and landscaping and considers how these elements all function and link together to form successful areas of cities, towns and villages.

Urban Form – Urban form refers to the physical layout (structure and urban grain), density, scale (height and massing), appearance (materials and details) and landscape of development.

West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy – A Local Plan prepared by the West Northamptonshire Join Planning Unit, setting out the long-term vision for land use and development and strategic policies for the West Northamptonshire area.

West Northamptonshire Development Corporation - A Government-sponsored regeneration agency with a focus on the regeneration of Northamptonshire.

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Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Appendix: A. Character Areas Related to Policy 1:

Promoting Design Excellence

A.1 Each of these character area aspirations can be cross referenced to the sites specific CAAP policies.

Figure A.1 The 10 Central Area Character Areas

Character Area 1: The Brewery District Design Aspirations: New development should promote The Brewery District as a Character 2010: Despite being located place to work, live and visit, which is well a short distance from the historic and retail linked to and complements the overall offer heart of Northampton, the Brewery District within the town centre boundary. currently feels isolated and disconnected Development should enhance movement from the town centre due to the severance north towards the town centre and Castle provided by St Peters Way. The River Nene Station. Proposals should also look to fully is the centrepiece of the character area with exploit the potential of the River Nene as a the mixture of built development responding location for mixed use development and seek to its presence but not always exploiting the to provide active frontage onto the River. A benefits of being at a riverside location. Key finer grain of development more typical of landmarks in The Brewery district which aid Northampton’s heritage is more appropriate navigation around the area are the Carlsberg and will allow more permeability through the Brewery and the Gas Holders on either side area. of Towcester Road. 135 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Character Area 2: Avon changes and lack of north - south permeability provide challenges for any Character 2010: The River Nene and the future development. greenery of Becket’s Park and the Meadows are defining characteristics of the Avon char- Design aspirations: The Council will acter area. Avon’s European Headquarters, seek to establish a clear vision for the area the redbrick former power station façade through encouraging key landowners such and Becket’s Park Marina provide a striking as the hospital to develop a comprehensive gateway to the character area from the north Masterplan to reduce the piecemeal ap- along the historic Nunn Mills Road. With the proach to the area. To strengthen the arrival exception of Avon’s Office Headquarters, for into the Central Area from the east, new the most part the Avon/ Nunn Mills/ Ransome development along the Bedford Road should Road development sites currently lie derelict have strong active frontage and provide a or underused. Key to the successful redevel- memorable gateway into the town. opment of these sites and the permeability of the character area is resolving movement north - south over the currently safeguarded Character Area 4:Spring Boroughs railway line. Character 2010: Spring Boroughs is Design aspirations: Development propos- characterised by post-war municipal housing. als should incorporate a mix of uses includ- Housing types in Spring Boroughs include ing residential and commercial. Residential high-rise flats, deck access flats and newer development should be built to the highest of modern apartment buildings fronting Broad standards at an appropriate density. Street. Spring Boroughs is in a strategically Improving pedestrian and vehicular links important location directly affecting east-west within the character area and also north movement between the historic and retail towards the town centre should be key centre of Northampton and one of considerations in any development Northampton’s major transport hubs, Castle proposals. A suitable level of active building Station. frontage needs to be provided onto Delapre Lake and Delapre Conservation Area in order Design aspirations: Community for people to be able to more fully appreciate involvement is of paramount importance in the area’s natural and historic assets. delivering the successful regeneration of Spring Boroughs. Involving the community at early stages of formulating development Character Area 3:Cliftonville proposals will create a sense of community ownership over this important regeneration Character 2010: Cliftonville is a small scheme. As well as providing new housing, parcel of fragmented development in the development proposals should look to Central Area, fragmented in terms of building incorporate clear east-west links through design, built form, grain and use mix. Spring Boroughs and beyond to the station Development of individual parcels in an and town centre by reducing the severance uncoordinated manner has been to the currently provided by Horsemarket and detriment of the area’s character, legibility Broad Street, and removing existing and permeability. The significant level subways. 136 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Character Area 5: Castle Station Design aspirations: New development should be of a finer grain more akin to that of Character 2010: The defining feature of the dwellings lining Barrack Road. the character area is Castle Station, a major Proposals should ensure strong active transport hub for Northampton and frontage is provided around Regent Square consequently an important, if currently to reinforce the northern gateway to the understated, gateway to the town. The Central Area. Measures should also be taken boundary of the character area to the east, to reconnect the Grafton Street area with St Andrews Road, is firmly established to the Castle Station and Greyfriars through detriment of how the area connects with the improving the clarity and quality of pedestrian heart of Northampton to the east. Remnants routes. of Northampton’s Castle remain in the south east corner of the character area and are provided protection through designation as a Character Area 7:Upper Mounts Scheduled Monument. Character 2010: Upper Mounts hosts a Design aspirations: Redevelopment of range of architectural styles, the Locally Castle Station should provide an iconic and Listed civic buildings fronting Campbell attractive gateway to Northampton, which Street/Upper Mounts are a unique sensitively manages the environment around characteristic of the Northampton’s Central the Scheduled Monument. New development Area. The character area is further enriched should seek to promote a high intensity use by a number of Grade II Listed Buildings of the site and investigate the opportunity to at St Michael’s Road and around Abington build to a ‘tall building’. Active building front- Square. Upper Mounts itself forms part of age should be provided on Black Lion Hill the inner ring road and severs north-south and St Andrews Road. Appropriately manag- movement between Northampton’s town ing the change of levels between the Spring centre and residential areas to the north. Boroughs and Castle station will be a key design challenge for development proposals. Design aspirations: Future development should look to celebrate the civic character and complement the Statutory Listed and Character Area 6:Grafton Street Locally Listed buildings within the Upper Mounts character area. A strong building Character 2010: The Grafton Street line and continuity of frontages should be character area contains the northern promoted along Upper and Lower Mounts gateway to the Central Area along Barrack and around Abington Square to reinforce the Road towards Regent Square. The character western gateway to Northampton. area is fragmented in terms of built form and the mix of uses within it. Fine grain residential dwellings line the western side of Barrack Character Area 8:St John’s Road which are in contrast with the larger commercial floor plates at Quorn Way and Character 2010: -The mixed-used nature the former Post Office further north along of the St John’s character area is mirrored by Barrack Road. the fragmented urban grain currently in the area; pockets of finer grain buildings provide 137 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 obvious movement patterns, reflecting tradi- offering further protection to the setting and tional streets. ‘Out of town’ style retail ware- appearance of heritage assets. houses at St Peter’s Way and modern development such as The Pinnacle hamper north Design aspirations: Development to south movement through St John’s and fail proposals should be well designed and to complement the urban grain and built form imaginative whilst still respecting and taking in the neighbouring Historic Core. Statutory positive cues from the appearance and Listed and Locally Listed buildings and the setting of designated heritage assets within encroachment of All Saints and Derngate the Historic Core. The expected rate of Conservation Area’s into St John’s positively change and regeneration throughout contribute to overall character of the area. Northampton’s Central Area between now and 2026 should look to complement and Design aspirations: Proposals for the enhance the rich historic environment within development of a mixed-used quarter for the Historic Core. Proposals for public realm St John’s based around arts, culture and improvements should look to use a employment should adopt a sensitive complementary palette of materials and approach to design by respecting the reduce clutter, particularly around streets in surrounding historic townscape. This the designated retail circuit. includes enhancing views of All Saints Church to the north and wider views of Northampton’s historic skyline. The Character Area 10:Greyfriars design of a new quarter should incorporate a new activity area for the Character 2010: The Greyfriars character Central Area by creating a well defined public area is dominated by large scale and coarse open space. Proposals for new development 1970’s buildings. These have a direct impact should also look to improve the north-south on the permeability of the character area permeability through the character area and and the wider skyline of Northampton. Bulky provide strong frontage onto St Peter’s Way. buildings such as Greyfriars Bus Station, the Grosvenor Shopping Centre and the Park Inn hotel are currently obstacles to north-south Character Area 9:Historic Core movement. They also cause severance between the Historic Core and Character 2010: The Historic Core northern end of Sheep Street, which falls character area forms the historic heart of within the Holy Sepulchre Conservation Area. Northampton. Small building plot sizes, finer Abington Street provides a high volume of grain streets, high quality built form, and a pedestrian activity being the main outdoor high density of Statutory Listed Buildings, retail pitch in the Central Area, car parking to Locally Listed Buildings and Scheduled the north of Abington Street hampers easy Monuments are all features which capture pedestrian movement to residential areas in the true character of the Historic Core and Upper Mounts. Northampton. Three of the Central Area’s Conservation Areas, Derngate, All Saints Design aspirations: Retail expansion and St Giles all fall within the Historic Core should be built to an appropriate scale to

138 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 accommodate the needs of the Central Area. The design of proposals should be of a high standard in order to promote a positive identity for the Central Area. The street layout and design of future development should look to complement and take positive cues from the fine grain nature of Sheep Street to the north and the Historic Core character area. Proposals should also look to increase north- south permeability and the legibility of routes between Upper Mounts and the Historic Core. Development should provide active frontage at ground floor level onto existing streets such as Sheep Street and new streets incorporated into the design proposals.

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Appendix: B. Gateways: The Role and Function and Appropriate Design Solutions

B.1 The Gateway sites have been identi- area historically as an entrance to fied as important points on the routes into Northampton’s centre. The desired the Central Area. They will provide a sense approach in this area is to use buildings to of arrival giving a good first impression of the create a greater sense of enclosure by Central Area. Gateways will also generally bringing them closer to the road, particularly be major destinations or activity areas locat- on the northern, southern and western sides. ed at intersections and pathways, providing Whilst the eastern side is well defined by St key points for people to gather. Peter’s House, this could be improved by its eventual replacement by a building of high B.2 Gateways should include features architectural quality that respects the set- that enhance the sense of place. Common ting of St Peter’s Church and the Scheduled characteristics will be to create landmarks Monument. Although there have been recent whether that be through distinctive build- improvements to the public realm in this area ings, perhaps of civic status, bridges, public through new road and pavement surface art, the use of materials and lighting, key treatments, the space is of sufficient size for views and vistas, distinctive landscaping and a notable piece of public art or sculpture to the built form. Those elements of the public add interest and give a memorable landmark. realm in Gateway sites must be of the highest quality. Regent Square Gateway

B.3 Six Gateway locations for Northampton B.5 This site, a major crossing point be- Central Area have been identified, taking into tween two principal routes and around the account existing and proposed Central Area is a gateway from the north to developments and the functioning of the the Central Area. To a large extent it has Central Area in the period to 2026. lost its sense of place as a Square through The gateways are: a number of highway interventions. It is for the most part poorly addressed by buildings. Black Lion Hill Gateway There is the opportunity to create a tighter, better defined space in this location giving a B.4 This Gateway location is on the western better sense of arrival into a denser central entrance to the Central Area. It includes the urban environment, and reflecting the impor- northern frontage of the Waterside: Bramp- tance of this area historically as an entrance ton Branch St Peter’s Way site’s frontage to Northampton’s centre. (off Green Street), Castle Station, the south west corner of Spring Boroughs, St Peter’s B.6 The desired approach in this area is House and the space between. There is the to use buildings to create a greater sense opportunity to create a tighter, better defined of enclosure by bringing them closer to the space in this location giving a better sense road, particularly on the northern, southern of arrival into a denser central urban environ- and western sides. The façades along Sheep ment, and reflecting the importance of this Street should be protected and enhanced as

140 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 a strong feature to give a distinctive visual B.10 Changing the character of this area and cultural impact to visitors. The tip of the from a busy traffic island to an attractive triangle block on Sheep Street/ Broad Street pedestrian focused public space will be can have distinctive public art or building integral to making this place a successful frontage as a landmark, which has historic gateway site. In the longer term (at the earli- meaning in the local context, and creative est likely to be towards the end of this Area lighting at night. Action Plan’s end date) rationalisation of the highway space and better pedestrian access B.7 Bringing buildings closer to the edge of to a larger central island which could either the pavement on the north east side accommodate better quality open space, or (Barrack Road/ Campbell Street) and on the new buildings with activities that add vitality south west (Grafton Street/ Broad Street) to the square, or a mixture of both would be will create a sense of enclosure. Significant beneficial. improvement of the overall public realm is fundamental to enhance this Gateway B.11 All edges should provide a consistent location. The junction needs to be building line to create a continuity of frontage dramatically improved to make it more and enclosure. Improvement of accessibility accessible and welcoming to pedestrians to Abington Street is also essential and and cyclists. could involve clearing street clutter such as railings, unnecessary signage, road Abington Square Gateway markings and street furniture at the junction of Abington Street and Lower Mounts. It is B.8 Abington Square is a major access vital to improve the crossing arrangement at and gateway into the Northampton Central this junction. Area from the east. This area like other gateways has also had a number of highway Meadows Gateway interventions that have had an adverse impact on its character and reduced its B.12 The Meadows Gateway is on the sense of place, creating an area with a south eastern approach to the town along the disjointed feel which is not assisted by the Bedford Road. It’s currently primarily open poor quality of public realm. on the southern side, with the exception of the sewerage pumping station and the bund B.9 There are significant elements that could be used to enhance this Gateway. There are large amounts of public space at this site, particularly within the triangle island, such as the Garden of Rest and green open space surrounding the former Unitarian Chapel. There are historic buildings that add local distinctiveness and identity to the site such as the former Unitarian Chapel, 16-28 Wellingborough Road and the Bradlaugh Monument.

141 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 along Bedford Road. The northern side is and improved Foot Meadow Parkland street predominantly car showrooms and some planting also help enhance this Gateway office set back from the road, either behind function. There should be some landmark green space, or car parking. buildings especially at Towcester Road which should have a good design to enhance the B.13 There is the probability that the Mead- existing key view of St Peters Church and ows will contain more built development, the Green from the bridge. The existing old which together with a more consistent build- brick building at St Peter’s Way should be ing line provided in the Nunn Mills develop- retained and integrated into new development will create a new built edge on this ments. This Gateway will provide a very good entrance to the Central Area. On this Gate- impression of Northampton providing strong way, there is the opportunity to create a more employment opportunities, quality living consistent entry approach to Northampton, space with high quality office and residential by bringing buildings closer to the highway, development, open space and cultural dis- but maintaining a green feel by putting 10 tinctiveness. More details can be found in the metres of green space in front of buildings site specific policy, Policy 26 ‘The Waterside: and reintroducing the avenue planting within Brampton Branch St Peter’s Way’ the highway where this has been lost.

Bridge Street South Gateway

B.14 This Gateway is marked by the building line drawing in towards the back of the pavement creating a visual pinch point before crossing the Southbridge where the views widen out. This should be consoli- dated in any redevelopment of Southbridge West by maintaining the building line on the west side of Cotton End.

Waterside West Gateway

B.15 This Gateway site is located in the middle of Waterside West development. It will have a large scale comprehensive office led mixed-use hub development with some public space on the right, and a high quality waterside residential led mixed-use development on the left. These developments must be high quality and distinctive and their built form should contribute to the Waterside West Gateway. Landscape features such as the river with strong building frontage, bridge

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Appendix: C. Street / Movement Corridor Typologies within the Public Realm Implementation Framework (2007)

The Cross: Priority Streets Historic Streets

C.1 This historic cross has been identified C.3 These routes contain historic referenc- as having the most important streets in rela- es to the past, have an intrinsic charm, and tion to their function and use in the Central provide links to undiscovered parts of North- Area and is to be reinforced as part of the ampton. As many of these streets are within strong identity of Northampton. The aim is protected Conservation Areas, there is more to create a primary street design approach importance placed upon a need to treasure that will tie the two major axes of the town and enhance the historical character that together. This will be achieved by applying a bestows their charm. Together these streets style that relates to the rich cultural heritage provide the secondary tier of connecting and activity associated with these important routes around the town. Streets are distin- primary routes. The design should respond guished from lanes and alleys by their width. to the strong symmetry and linear perspec- Within the classification of historic streets, tive of the Cross. This will be achieved by two streets in particular have been identified straightening pavement lines, positioning as Priority Streets. These streets retain the trees, lighting and other street furniture in strong heritage characteristics defined by ex- formal rows, and widening footpaths to isting surfaces, location, use or impact upon allow for more generous footfall allowing by street façades of the built form therefore clear sight lines along the street. The paving applying a Palette Zone One treatment is can enhance and balance out the detail and required. Non-priority historic streets tend to intricacies of the architectural façades, with a follow a width varying between 5 and 12 me- timeless, simple and elegant paving tres. Historic streets are usually wide enough solution. Footway paving along Priority to incorporate a traditional approach of a car- Streets should take precedence and go riageway supported by pavements. across minor vehicle crossovers with a primary palette of materials. Historic Alleys

The Cross: Secondary Streets C.4 This network of narrow lanes and alleys, many of which still have original tradi- C.2 Outside the primary areas, these arms tional materials are key to providing a strong of the cross will continue the theme within sense of connectivity throughout the town. a palette that is secondary to the principal Technically these tend not to exceed a width streets. The treatment and layout of of 5 metres. They should be paved edge to pavements, kerbs and drainage channels edge in the appropriate uniform material. If a will match that of the Priority Streets. These lane is to be accessed by vehicles then the consist of natural stone materials. The carriageway should be incorporated into the carriageway along Secondary Streets will footway, so as not compromise the layout have a surface dressing of tarmac. of the traditional lane pattern. Wall mounted street lights and signs should be used along these narrow routes.

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Priority Retail Street function, such as access to car parks and rear properties for servicing. As a result, de- C.5 Abington Street has been identified as sign should respect the qualities and consist- a Priority Street, due to its significant role ency of the adjacent historic environs; as Northampton’s primary external retail especially where these streets stem from corridor. The public realm approach to this Priority Streets they should be street is to provide accentuation of key build- complementary in the design. The units ings, reinforce cross links to St Giles Street, should be of the same material in a smaller particularly along Fish Street, and reinforce size to reflect the reduced extent of the links to the internal shopping arcades such street. A palette of improvements including as the Grosvenor Centre and the Ridings. resurfacing, lighting, signage, and tidying up It will help to unite the shopping experience rear service yards would be proposed. and help to take the centre of gravity to the Market Square. The scale ratio of Abington Principal Georgian Boulevard Street is extremely wide and therefore there is an opportunity to break this down by creat- C.8 The treatment of Derngate is distinct in ing different movement zones for commercial that it relates closely with the predominantly or more passive activities. Introduction of Georgian style properties fronting the street. street trees as well as temporary landscape It can establish a greater sense of arrival by solutions will help to add colour and anima- creating a strong and distinct avenue into the tion to the street and break down the scale town centre. The aim will be to maximise the of the street. A greening strategy for Abing- impact of this transport corridor in order to ton Street will introduce colour, interest and create a unifying image and attractive ‘front detail and will invigorate and soften an other- door’ into Northampton. wise hard environment. C.9 Trees lining this improved route to the Retail Arcades south east of the town centre will continue across into Becket’s Park, guiding people C.6 The Arcades are internal, covered or into the town from the southern and eastern semi-covered streets linking the main shop- hinterland. In addition, care should be taken ping circuits. These are important interfaces not to hide important building façades. The with the external environment and provide character of the area should be protected by critical connections to the retail circuits re-casting traditional Georgian and Victorian around Northampton. lighting fittings, signage or cast iron railing detailing. Access & Service Roads Georgian Residential C.7 Small access routes and service areas across the town centre should be improved C.10 These streets are defined by the as these routes provide an additional layer of residential properties found within the permeability across the town. These streets distinctly Georgian Character Area. Many are are similar to historic lanes and alleys in served from Derngate, the main scale but are distinguished separately by arterial spine. The proposals aim to create a

144 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 pedestrian-friendly environment along these Internal Boulevards residential streets and courtyards within the residential communities. The proposals will C.12 These routes are identified as im- also aim to enhance the series of well used, portant linking elements in the town. The overlooked and safe garden courts that in- concept will be to draw out the character of tegrate parking, access and pedestrian use. the tree lined boulevard along Victoria Prom- Within such places, a shared space type ap- enade and take the green theme through in proach should be adopted. Along traditional the form of tree lined boulevards, low hedges streets proposals should include narrowing and grass. These important linking routes carriageways to allow better public realm will become the subject of a comprehensive treatments along footways and maximise package of environmental enhancements opportunity for tree planting but trees should comprising boulevard landscaping, enhanced only be planted where the scale and width of signage, lighting and public art in line with the street is appropriate. the reduction of carriageways and dedicated pedestrian crossings. A surface treatment Living Streets that provides extended space to pedestrians will be implemented along these routes, C.11 Living Streets will be the principal providing for a safe and pleasant stroll under connecting streets within Spring Boroughs a canopy of trees. Residential District, and also from/to the town centre linking visually and physically by External Boulevards ‘greened’ avenues. Using street improvements, overlaying recreational C.13 These boulevards will extend the aspects, improving crossings and notional promenade around the town through supplying public open spaces along linear a wide, landscaped walkway that will connect route serving the pedestrian environment the town centre to its close hinterland. They will help to reinforce the concept of Walkable are required to support the highest volume Neighbourhoods as aspired to in the Manual of traffic which encompasses Northampton for Streets. Trees lining the improved routes centre and as such have been design at a will provide continuous pedestrian links large scale enabling scope for extensive tree through the area and across Horsemarket planting lining many of the routes. These and Mayorhold, guiding locals and visitors streets will be designed to reduce the impact into the town centre. Specific consideration of the vehicle on the public realm by soften- should be given to pedestrian crossing ing the space with trees and planting where facilities that closely reflect desire lines. This appropriate. Grass will be used on verges will involve the re-organising of the street to provide a soft buffer offering protection to layout, such as removal of islands, and the pedestrian and retaining open views. In surplus lanes to create a much more com- addition, there are key gateways along these pact junction that allows for greater distribu- routes providing important access points tion of pedestrian footfall. when approaching Northampton centre, therefore the routes will have an important contribution to make in terms of creating a first impression of Northampton.

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Market Square town for the visitor will be established at the key gateways to the town. The use of public C.14 This unique civic space, Market realm projects, in some cases Square, will be redefined as the largest associated with other development and Market Square in England. The image of the corridor improvements programmes will Market Square can be articulated through reinforce the sense of arrival into the town high quality design to include ‘The Drapery’, and lessen the impact of the ring road by ’Mercers Row’, ‘George Row’ and ‘Wood Hill’ re-establishing the hierarchy of direction and both in visual terms and through the function use. These public realm projects should draw of the street. By re-establishing the bound- on the energy of the gateway spaces, point- ary of the Market Square and facilitating a ing to the dynamic and distinctive character more sociable and ‘visitor/ shopper’ friendly of the town centre. Future proposals will street scene with high environmental quality, ensure that these gateway spaces are the design of the Market Square can begin rationalised by improvements to the highway to function as a primary destination for shop- layout, to create a greater provision of ping and entertainment. The public realm pedestrian space in the form of wider will be created to support the use of markets footpaths and public spaces, seamless and fairs, on the former locations of Mercer’s crossing arrangements and a platform for the Row, George Row and Drapery. The exist- introduction of public art. ing Market Square will become an important open, flexible civic space with a design approach that celebrates its scale and stature. This can be achieved by creating a ‘Shared Use’ environment comprising a form of traffic calming that in contrast to more conventional methods, balances highway engineering with stimulating design which will improve a pedestrian priority. Being at the heart of the town, the quality of materials should be of the highest quality natural stone.

Influential Public Realm Space (existing)

C.15 Town spaces: There are a number of open spaces with hard and soft spaces have been identified for improvement within the town centre the material Palette Zone applies. It will be the innovative design approaches that will reinforce the distinct identity of these spaces from the connecting streets.

C.16 Gateways: The distinctive image of the

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Table C.1 Public Realm Palette Zones Palette Zone 1 Palette Zone 2 Palette Zone 3

Areas Market Square All areas in the Historic All External and Internal Boulevards Core, excluding those Priority Arms of the identified within Palette Spring Boroughs Residential Cross Zone 1, and west of the Business and Leisure District Horse Market Priority Retail Street Residential Areas south of Marefair Georgian Quarter Other Priority Streets Gas Street Roundabout car parks within the Historic Core Church of the Holy Sepulchre Conservation Area, excluding areas within Palette Zone 1

Secondary Arms of the Cross

Grosvenor Centre Extension

Footways To be paved in To be paved in To be paved in manufactured stone Yorkstone Yorkstone aggregate products to compliment natural stone in colour tones or black asphalt as determined by the implementation framework.

Kerbs Mid Grey Granite Mid Grey Granite Mid Grey Granite

Channel Blocks Pink Granite Pink Granite Pink Granite

Carriageway Mid Grey Granite Black Asphalt Black Asphalt Blocks Street Furniture (see Northampton Brand Northampton Brand A Standard Range (as described in also Page 198 of Public Suite Suite the Public Realm Implementation Realm Implementation Framework) Framework)

147 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Table C.1 Public Realm Palette Zones Palette Zone 1 Palette Zone 2 Palette Zone 3

Lighting Highest quality A high quality lighting Many of the approach roads into the (See also the Lighting equipment with the solution is proposed town will have consistency and a Strategy contained highest quality of within the Lighting distinct style of equipment to mark a within the Public light source. Streets Strategy. In areas clear identity for Northampton. Realm Implementation with narrow footways where traditional Framework) should be lit from lighting equipment building mounted brings added value to lighting wherever the street they should possible. Bespoke be protected and subtly lighting solutions will supported with a base be required in streets light without adding of Special Character additional clutter or including the use of extra columns to the additional feature street. lighting. Landscape There is limited scope Tree planting should The highest standard of street for tree planting within be included where tree planting is required. Larger Palette Zone 1. The possible. Larger species should be considered along highest standard of species should be boulevard type streets. street tree must be considered on main carefully considered approach roads with and executed to protect medium sized species the visual quality of the on other routes. architectural heritage as well as ensuring that the planting survives. Public Art Sensitive and Sensitive and The sensitive incorporation of public responsive art will be responsive art will be art into road corridors and gateways overlaid on the streets overlaid on the streets is encouraged. according to the Art according to the Art Strategy. Strategy contained within the Public Realm Implementation Framework.

148 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

266 348 N/A N/A N/A Site ID 263 249 1802 1326 Area.

Central

the

assets

Becket’s Park Becket’s Delapre Estate The Nene Northampton to Salcey Arm The Brampton Corridors / Sites Barnes Meadow Foot Meadow Island between River Nene and Way Valley Andrews Road NSN St infrastructure

green

the

part

form

which

Various informal recreation and Various community events. Provides opportunities for walking, cycling and horse riding whether for Also allows leisure purposes or travel. for wildlife migration. Wildlife conservation, biodiversity enhancement and environmental education and awareness. Role and Function sites,

individual

and

land.

corridors

the

Includes publicly accessible woodlands, scrubland, grasslands (meadows and non-amenity grassland), wetlands and river corridors, nature reserves and brownfield and country parks. infrastructure corridors. Includes towpaths along canals and riverbanks, cycle paths, rights of way and disused railway lines. Definition identifies

schedule

Assessment Audit (2009). Site ID refers to the same reference used in Open Space Sport and Recreation Needs Assessment This Natural and Semi Natural Open Space Parks and Gardens Includes urban parks, formal gardens Green Corridors These are the sub-regional green Table D.1 Types of Open Spaces in the Central Area of Open Spaces in the Central D.1 Types Table of Space Type

Appendix: D. Open Spaces within the Central Area: Type and Function Area: Type Appendix: D. Open Spaces within the Central D.1 D.2 149 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 423 Site ID 1803 N/A 1879 264 1327 1331 1092 N/A N/A N/A 1333 1874 1875 1 2

Street Street

Church

Bath Bath Canal

Area between Main Road and Grand Union Upper Area Park Play Becket’s Corridors / Sites Derngate Open Space Mercer’s Row Midsummer Meadow Narrowtoe Lane (St Peter’s Green) Northampton General Hospital Nunn Mills Road Spring Boroughs Pocket Park St Johns Street Southbridge Unitarian Upper Provides opportunities for informal activities close to home or work. Enhances the appearance of residential and urban areas. Areas designed primarily for play, physical activity and social interaction involving children and young people. Role and Function Includes informal recreation spaces and green spaces in around housing and urban areas. Includes equipped play areas, ball courts, skateboard areas and teenage shelters. Definition Amenity Green Space Mainly found in housing areas. Play provision for children and young people Table D.1 Types of Open Spaces in the Central Area of Open Spaces in the Central D.1 Types Table of Space Type

150 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 N/A N/A Site ID 1743 1862 1325 1329 247 N/A 246 250 253 Square

Memorial

Katherine’s

Holy Sepulchre Churchyard Notre Dame Nuns Burial Ground St Giles Churchyard St N/A N/A Corridors / Sites Park OSF Becket’s Courts Tennis Park Becket’s Spring Lane Primary School St Georges Middle School St Peters Churchyard Marefair

and

fields

playing

school

This type of open space is for burial, quiet contemplation and the promotion of wildlife conservation and biodiversity. Provides a setting for civic buildings, public gatherings and community events.. Provides opportunities for people to grow their own produce. Promotes sustainable health and social inclusion. Provide opportunities for participation in outdoor sports. Includes sports pitches, tennis courts, bowling greens, water sports. Role and Function

sport

for

surfaces

artificial

These include private burial grounds, local authority burial grounds and disused churchyards. Natural Includes civic and market squares other hard surfaced community areas designed for pedestrians. Includes all forms of allotments including urban farms and gardens. and recreation that are either publicly or privately owned. Definition Cemeteries and Churchyards Outdoor Sports Facilities Civic Spaces Allotments and Community Gardens Table D.1 Types of Open Spaces in the Central Area of Open Spaces in the Central D.1 Types Table of Space Type

151 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 Cycle Parking Standard (Minimum) (area refers to gross floor space) 1 space per 200 square metres 1 space per 200 square metres 1 space per 60 square metres 1 space per 200 square metres cycle parking area to help protect cycles from wet weather. cycle parking area to help protect cycles from wet weather. E.3 Developers should also consider the additional needs of cyclists such as lockers, changing and shower facilities. Where longer stay cycle parking is anticipated, for example where it is provided for employees in association with a travel plan, for students, or passengers continuing their journey by rail or bus at leisure facilities, facilities such as cycle lockers or secure compounds should be provided.

the

Car Parking Standard (Maximum) (area refers to gross floor space) 1 space per 25 square metres 1 space per 25 square metres 1 space per 14 square metres 1 space per 30 square metres over

Stand

light

provided and

Sheffield

the

should

development

parking

and

Shelter

cycle

research

stay

sufficient.

associated residential accommodation) Offices, industrial be

medium

may

and

A1A2 Shops A3 Financial and professional Food and drink (excluding B1 Table E.1 Parking Standards Central Area Zones E.1 Parking Standards Central Table Use Description Appendix: E. Parking Standards: Central Area Zones Appendix: E. Parking Standards: Central E.1 Parking provision for other land uses will be considered on their merits and in line with the standards set out below. E.2 Cycle parking should be convenient to use, secure and in areas of good surveillance that are well lit. Cycle parking should be provided in prominent sites close to key destinations such as close to entrances of public buildings, leisure facilities, educational establishments, in town centre areas, at local centres and transport termini. It should be clearly signed from the public highway wherever possible. For short similar

152 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 Cycle Parking Standard (Minimum) (area refers to gross floor space) 1 space per 500 square metres 1 space per 1,000 square metres 1 space per 10 guest bedroom 1 space per 10 bedrooms 1 space per 10 students 1 space per 10 bed spaces 1 space for per dwelling with no garage 1 Space Per 2 Bedrooms 1 cycle space per 3 consulting rooms 1 space per 3 car spaces 5 and 10 spaces per class room or alternative teaching area for primary and secondary schools respectively Car Parking Standard (Maximum) (area refers to gross floor space) 1 space per 55 square metres 1 space per 120 square metres 1 space per guest bedroom 2 spaces per 5 residents plus 1 space per 15 1 space per 2 staff students 2 spaces per 5 bed development scheme 1 Space per Bedroom 3 spaces per consulting room 1:2, 6th formers 1:1, Other staff Full time staff 1:20 In addition to the provision above 1:10, Children professional staff Visiting Parents 1:2 children centres and halls of residence educational needs B2B8 General industrial C1 Storage and distribution C2(I) Hotels, motels or guest houses C2(II) Nursing, rest and care homes C2(III) Residential schools colleges or training Hospitals C3C4 Dwellings, including sheltered housingD1(A) Houses in Multiple Occupation on average 1.5 spaces per dwelling over a Medical/health services D1(B) Crèches, day nursery and centresD1(C) (1) All schools D1(C) (I) 1 space per 25 square metres Special schools/units for children with special Table E.1 Parking Standards Central Area Zones E.1 Parking Standards Central Table Use Description

153 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 Cycle Parking Standard (Minimum) (area refers to gross floor space) plus 2 1 per 10 students 1 space per 10 staff 1 space per 10 staff plus 1 per 10 students plus 1 per 50 square 1 space per 15 staff metres 1 space per 10 seats 1 space per 75 square metres 1 space per 10 staff Car Parking Standard (Maximum) (area refers to gross floor space) 1:10 1 space per 35 square metres 1 space per 30 square metres 1 space per 15 seats 1 space per 22 square metres (cinema and conference facilities over 1000 m2 1 space per 5 seats) – 1 space per 45 square Staff Workshop metres Customers – 3 spaces per service Workshop bay 1 space per full time Car sales – staff equivalent Car Sales – Customers 1 space per 10 display cars Car Hire – Case by case basis related to operation & location Art galleries, museums and libraries worship bingo halls, concert casinos, dance halls, swimming baths, leisure centres or other areas for indoor sports ) Car sales, repairs and servicing D1(C) (II) Higher and further education collegesD1(C) (III) and conference centres Training 1:2, Students 1:1, Other staff Full time staff D1(D, E & F) D1(G& H) Public halls, exhibition halls or places of D2 Assembly and leisure (cinemas, theatres, Table E.1 Parking Standards Central Area Zones E.1 Parking Standards Central Table Use Description

154 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Lorry Parking Standards

E.6 The following minimum lorry (HGV) parking standards will apply to development (based on the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended). These are expressed as minimal.

Table E.2 Lorry Parking Standards Use class Description Lorry parking standard

A3 Food and drink 1 space per 4 square metres transport cafés

B1/B2/B8 Business/ general, First 235 square metres – 1 unloading/ manoeuvring space industrial and special per unit industrial 235 square metres – 800 square metres 1 unloading/ manoeuvring space plus 1 waiting space per unit

Over 800 square metres – 1 loading bay 800 square metres plus waiting space at each bay for 1 additional vehicle of the largest type likely to be used for servicing requirements B8 Open storage uses 1 space per unit/ area

Sui Generis 1 unloading/ manoeuvring space: unit

Parking Space Dimensions and Layout E.9 Within car parking areas a clear zone Criteria of 6.0 metres is required between opposing parking spaces. This may be reduced to 4.2 E.7 Minimum sizes of parking spaces are metres for 60-degree spaces and 3.6 metres laid out below: for 45-degree spaces (this latter standard relates to one way traffic only). E.8 Adequate access and manoeuvring space will be necessary in all cases. Those E.10 Consideration should also be given to developments, which would normally expect the location of parking spaces for staff that to be serviced by articulated vehicles, may are car sharing; ideally as for dedicated require special arrangements. parking spaces, these should be located close to the staff entrance.

155 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Table E.3 Parking Space Dimensions and Layout Criteria Vehicle Type Dimensions and Layout Criteria

Private Cars 4.8 metres x 2.4 metres

Dedicated Parking Spaces 4.8 metres x 3.6 metres (minimum width)

Commercial Vehicles Varying between 9.0 metres and 18.0 metres x 3.1 metres depending upon the type of vehicle most likely to serve the development.

156 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Appendix: F. The Character of Shopping Frontages

Schedule of Shopping Frontages Secondary Frontages

Primary Frontages Abington Street (East) – (79-85) Abington Street (West) – (98,116) Abington Street (East) A (1-29), B (31-45), C Abington Square (North) – (1-29) (47-61), D (63-77b) Abington Square (South) – (2-24) Abington Street (West) A (2-6a), B (8-32), C Bridge Street (East) – (1-41) (34-96) Bridge Street (West) – (2-60) Drapery (West) Derngate (North) – (1-23) Drapery (East) Derngate (South) – (2-8) Grosvenor Centre Fish Street (East) Market Square (East) Fish Street (West) The Parade George Row Peacock Place Gold Street (North) Gold Street (South) Market Square (South) Market Square (West) Mercer’s Row Ridings Sheep Street (West) – (5-15) Sheep Street (East) – (1-20a) St Giles Street (North) – A(15-29), B (31-65) St Giles Street (South) – A(2-30), B (34-72) St Peter’s Walk (West) – (1,17) St Peters Walk (East) – (2-20) St Peters Square Wood Hill

157 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Table F.1 Primary Shopping Frontage Current Role Future Role

Abington Street West & Abington Street is the dominant To reinforce the role and importance East retail pitch for outdoor shopping of Abington Street as a key shopping in Northampton town centre. The destination in Northampton town centre pedestrianised shopping street mixed by ensuring that the street retains with the predominant presence of key and attracts key A1 national multiples. national retailers such as H&M, Primark Abington Street should also look to and Marks & Spencer reinforce Abington sustain complementary high volume Street’s status as a prime location usage A2 and A3 uses that have good for retailing. The occupiers with the shop window displays or allow viewing exception of the more recent addition of of activity inside and are in keeping with some amusement arcades have a strong a street allocated as Primary Shopping draw across the range of the population Frontage. It is not considered that these and are a significant part of the vitality frontages are suitable for amusement and viability of the street. Shop windows arcades, experience of which has shown are generally open showing activity that they detract from its character by inside, or have interesting displays. appealing to a small sector of society, Local retailers, banks, other services have a comparatively low number of and eating and drinking occupy a limited visitors, present ‘dead’ frontage and are number of units. shown to lower people’s perceptions of quality of Northampton’s overall retail offer and character. Critical to developing a successful retail circuit through Abington Street is making significant public realm improvements and the future maintenance of the shopping environment. Grosvenor Centre Upper The Grosvenor Centre is the premier site The Grosvenor Centre will remain Level = One Frontage, for A1 retailing in the Primary Shopping the premier site for A1 retailing in the Lower Level = One Area offering comfortable indoor Primary Shopping Area following the Frontage shopping facilities and the majority of completion of its planned redevelopment the Primary Shopping Area’s national and expansion. The Primary Shopping retailers such as House of Fraser, WH Frontage will be extended to cover the Smith and Boots. It also contains the new streets built as part of the extension key convenience anchor store in Primary of the Grosvenor Centre. Shopping Area; Sainsbury’s. Market Walk Upper Level Peacock Place provides modern indoor By fronting Market Square and Abington and Lower Level shopping facilities. It currently under Street, possessing a large amount of A1 performs in terms of significantly adding floorspace and containing some notable to the draw of the Primary Shopping national high street multiples Peacock Area. This is despite possessing Place has the potential to become a national retailers such as Dorothy major draw for the Primary Shopping Perkins, Next and Laura Ashley. Poor Area. Solving problems with the internal performance can be attributed its internal layout and encouraging pedestrian layout and high concentration of vacant movement through Peacock Place will units on both the upper and lower floors increase its attractiveness to prospective of Peacock Place. retailer investors and shoppers alike. In the future Peacock Place should look to maintain its status as Primary Shopping Frontage and focus on improving its comparison goods offer.

158 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Table F.1 Primary Shopping Frontage Current Role Future Role

Drapery East & West Drapery, a key north-south route Increase the A1 retail offer of Drapery to is anchored by Debenhams and the desired level for a street allocated as possesses national retailers such as H Primary Frontage (as outlined in Policy Samuel Jewellers and Game Station. 14). Drapery should also continue to However, overall, Drapery possesses provide suitable A2 and A3 uses which a comparatively weak A1 retail offer are influential in attracting pedestrians for a street of such historic strategic such as Barclays Bank, Nationwide importance and high footfall. Outside of Building Society and McDonalds. the national retailers the varied offer of Bringing use back to the vacant units at Drapery, the high a number of vacant Drapery is also critical to improving the units and the tired look of the public character and function of the street. The realm all fail to add to the draw of the vitality and attractiveness of Drapery will location for retailing. improve from an investors and visitors perspective following the redevelopment of the Grosvenor Centre to the north and the redevelopment of the Fishmarket and adjoining buildings, together with the redevelopment of part of the Drapery (as outlined in Chapter 6). The Parade & Market Together the Parade and the eastern The Parade and the eastern frontage Square East frontage of the Market Square possess of the Market Square should look to the vast majority of the A1 frontage on maintain their predominant A1 retail offer the Market Square. The two frontages and provide further uses which add to possess national retailers such as vibrancy and character of the Market Phones 4u, Boots and Millets along with Square in the day and in the evening. popular A4 and A5 uses such Burger The uses within these two frontages King and a JD Wetherspoon Public should look to complement the ambition House. At present these two frontages to encourage restaurants and cafes are the most vibrant on Market Square in to locate on the southern and western terms of attracting pedestrian footfall and side of the Market Square. In seeking to providing active frontage onto the Market improve its quality and attractiveness to Square itself. a wider range of people it is considered that bookmakers and amusement arcades are unsuitable for these frontages.

159 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Table F.2 Secondary Shopping Frontage Current Role Future Role

St Giles Street North & St Giles Street runs east-west parallel St Giles’ Street should look to retain and South to Abington Street from the Guildhall strengthen its independent and niche A1 to York Road. St Giles Street is Retail and A3 Restaurant/Café offer. It is characterised by a large number not considered that the St Giles Street of independent retailers and cafes, frontages are suitable for A2 uses such making the Street an important and as Bookmakers and A5 uses as they are unique element of Northampton’s not in keeping with the niche function of retail ‘offer’. National chain stores are St Giles Street and could be more not represented on St Giles Street. appropriately accommodated elsewhere The quality of the public realm and in the Primary Shopping Area. By townscape around the Guildhall provides keeping its niche and independent retail an attractive shopping environment for character St Giles Street will provide a shopper at the western end of St Giles healthy and varied southern route to the Street. At present the legibility of routes retail circuit, when compared to the offer north to Abington Street via Ridings of other streets on the retail circuit and Arcade and Fish Street is poor. elsewhere in the Primary Shopping Area. Market Square South & At present the southern and western The southern and western frontages West frontages onto Market Square have a have a key role to play in improving weak leisure and retailing offer. The the vitality and vibrancy of the Market presence of the three bookmakers on the Square in the day and in the evening. western frontage reduces the amount of These frontages should seek to attract active frontage on to what should be a further A3 and A4 uses in order to vibrant public space. Barclays Bank and complement A1 on other sides of the Halifax Bank are the only major draws of Market Square. It is not considered that the two frontages in terms of generating bookmakers, amusement arcades and footfall. In terms of boosting the vitality beauty / hair salons are suitable for and vibrancy of the Market Square in the these frontages. day and in the evening the current offer of the two frontages is unsuitable. Sheep Street East & West Sheep Street consists of a mixture A1, Sheep Street should look to consolidate A2, A3, A4 and A5 uses. The A1 offer of its status as Secondary Frontage Sheep Street is low order (newsagents in the Primary Shopping Area by and charity shops) and fails to add to improving the shopping environment the draw and attractiveness of the street and attracting investment from A1 to visitors and potential investors. The retailers to complement existing A3 and maintenance and quality of the public A5 uses. Capitalising on the potential realm and shopping frontages along the of Sheep Street in terms of increasing east and west of Sheep Street is poor. its draw may be easier following the Despite the poor environment, lack of redevelopment of the Grosvenor focus and quality in terms of uses Sheep Centre and or the completion of the Street still possesses a favourable redevelopment of the Fishmarket amount of pedestrian activity due to and adjoining buildings (as detailed in its proximity to Greyfriars Bus Station, Chapter 6). Mayorhold Car Park and residential areas to the north.

160 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Current Role Future Role

All Saints Square (Wood Shopping frontages around All Saints All Saints Square should look to maintain Hill, George Row & Square offer a limited amount of its status as Secondary Frontage by Mercers Row) comparison and convenience A1 possessing a mix of uses. In the future retailing. Much of the draw of All Saints shop frontages surrounding All Saints Square comes from the pleasant Square should also look to capitalise shopping environment and the quality of on the presence of Nando’s and Prezzo the architecture provided by All Saints by attracting further high quality / family Church and the character of the shop orientated A3 and A4 leisure uses. fronts. The recent additions of national chain restaurants Nando’s and Prezzo at Wood Hill have improved the vitality of All Saints Square into the evening. Derngate South & North Derngate is made up of a range of Derngate should look to maintain its different uses including niche and current role and function of supporting independent A1 retailers (similar to those the niche retail offer of St Giles Street found on St Giles Street) and a number and providing quality and family A3 and of A3 and A4 units which complement A4 uses around one of the Central Area’s the nearby Royal Derngate Theatre. key tourism and leisure hubs, the Royal The minimal number of vacant units on and Derngate Theatre. Derngate illustrate that it is currently performing well. Fish Street Fish Street is the linking route north Fish Street should look to attract further and south between Abington Street retail A1 units that complement the and St Giles Street and is largely offer seen on St Giles Street in order to comprised of A3 and A4 uses. The A1 become an effective part of the outdoor retail offer is limited to low order shops retail circuit in the Primary Shopping such as newsagents and hairdressers. Area. Pedestrian footfall on Fish Street is higher than would be expected given the limited draw of the units it possesses. Bridge Street East & West Bridge Street possesses the Central Provision of A1 Retail use and or A3 Area’s highest concentration of A4 uses Cafés at Bridge Street should be sought along with a number of complementary in order to increase pedestrian activity A3 and A5 uses. Consequently Bridge in the area in the daytime and stop its Street plays an important role in the daytime offer from becoming even more evening / night time economy. The A1 peripheral from rest of the town centre. Retail offer of Bridge Street is limited, with Bridge Street’s role in the evening A2 Estate Agents being the other major economy should also be supported but uses. Consequently pedestrian activity managed appropriately to not discourage and the overall draw of Bridge Street in investment from daytime retailers and the daytime is low. operators. Gold Street Gold Street is the first major shopping Gold Street should look to maintain street pedestrians reach if arriving its status as Secondary Shopping in Northampton by train. Gold Street Frontage, and limit the addition of comprises a varied offer of national takeaways in particular as they often multiple discount stores, charity shops, present dead frontage during the day. places to eat and hot food takeaways. The lack of higher order national retailers and the varied, low quality nature of the offer fail to add to the draw of Gold Street as a major shopping destination in the Central Area.

161 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Current Role Future Role

St Peters Walk & Square St Peter’s Walk provides an entrance of The offer and role of St Peters Square small, low order, independent A1 units should be maintained as the pedestrian to St Peter’s Square. These units add activity it attracts adds to the vitality of vitality to and provide active frontage on nearby Gold Street. St Peters Square the entrance to St Peter’s Square but also adds to the retail offer of the Central don’t necessarily add to the trade draw Area as it accommodates national to the area. St Peter’s Square comprises retailers not currently present elsewhere of a number of large out of town style in the Primary Shopping Area. retail units occupied by national retailers such as Argos, Iceland and Peacocks. The peripheral nature of St Peter’s Square to the main Shopping Frontages of the Grosvenor Centre and Abington Street, and the large surface car parking at the Square allow it to function more like an out of town centre retail park. Abington Street East & Located at the northern end of the The future offer of these two frontages West Abington Street these two frontages should be strengthened in order to offer a smaller proportion of A1 retailers complement the rest of Abington Street than would be expected to be found on and not the predominantly low order a street designated as Primary Shopping retailing found at Abington Square, Frontage. The mixture of A1, A2 and A3 which these frontages are beginning to uses on these two frontages fail to add to resemble. the draw and attractiveness of Abington Street as the prime pitch for outdoor retailing in the Primary Shopping Area. Abington Square North & These frontages provide the retailing These frontages should look to maintain South gateway to the Primary Shopping Area a suitable amount of A1 retailing to and the north eastern entrance to the support the needs of the surrounding Central Area. The low order A1, A3 residential communities. and A5 retailing predominantly serves the surrounding residential areas, and it does not form part of the retail offer that would attract visitors and tourists to Northampton. Ridings Arcade The Ridings provides a small stretch of As an integral element of the retail circuit indoor retailing as well as being a key, the A1 retailing offer of the Ridings if underused, pedestrian link between should be maintained, along with the St Giles Street and Abington Street. efforts that have been made to ensure The northern entrance to the Ridings occupants of units complement the provides access to national chain stores offer of surrounding streets. Efforts Sports Direct and H&M, whilst the small should be made to improve the legibility units at the southern end of the Ridings and potential for the public to use the look to complement the niche character Ridings as a route between Abington of St Giles Street. Street and St Giles Street.

162 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 influences

external

development

m²)

Dependents Late delivery in Plan Period as ‘edge of centre’ Flood risk mitigation as appropriate Bus station relocation to enable demolition in Phase 1 A3 (see policy) O figures Delivery

Office

O: * : ▵ : (All

Up 132,500sqm Phase 3 2021-2026 for phase 1-3 Phase 2 2016-2021 37,000 R Interchange and ancillary retail Phase 1 2011-16 m²) Use

Business

figures

and

Retail Dwellings Hotel (bed number)

(Policy 15) Fishmarket: Bus Interchange (Policy 7) Offices Grosvenor Centre Redevelopment (Policy 17) Table G.1 Development Sites Indicative Outputs in Plan Period Table Areas Policy Appendix: G. Development Sites: Indicative Outputs in the Plan Period Key R: D: H: (All

163 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

bars/public scale

residential/office/small

services/restaurants/cafes/

either

allows

retailing/financial

allocation

houses Late delivery in Plan Period as ‘edge of centre’ Site scale facilities/leisure/education/small employment/community retailing: amounts to be determined through Masterplanning / planning application process Community engagement for future planning. Site allocation allows housing / employment development and detail will be determined through Neighbourhood Planning. Access from Victoria Promenade Access from Victoria In the short term: NCC decision to relocate operation town centre location Medium to long term: commercial potential redevelop site. Site allocation allows for a mixture of hotel/residential/small scale Dependents Securement of public funding Redevelopment of station and car park prior to commercial development Potential to relocate Library facility 8,000 O 34 D 62 D Phase 3 2021-2026 Hotel

27,000 O Phase 2 2016-2021 26,000 O 270 D 9,000 R 250 R 464 Student Accommodation Phase 1 2011-16

Russell

Great

Mounts/

Bridge Street (Policy 22) Upper Spring Boroughs (Policy 24) Street (Policy 23) Angel Street (Policy 21) Castle Station (Policy 18) Abington Street East (Policy 19) St John’s (Policy 20) Policy Areas Policy

164 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

amount

University

the

office/leisure/residential, with

either

connected

allows

use

allocation

Marina completed Funding streams coming on line No net change known – of use and public realm improvements Delivery of Grosvenor Centre redevelopment to be determined through Masterplanning / planning application process A45 junction improvements – London Road and Impact on Bedford Road Flood risk mitigation Land contamination mitigation prior to / phased with development Educational Northampton would also be acceptable in principle Dependents Removal of gasholders and decontamination / remediation prior to site availability. Flood risk mitigation measures Subject to junction improvements etc enable access / capacity Flood risk mitigation Site 1,000 D Phase 3 2021-2026 70 D 250 R 17,000 R 16,000 O 1,000 D Phase 2 2016-2021 200 D 500 * 20 D Phase 1 2011-16 The Waterside: Nene Meadows The Waterside: (Policy 30) Market Square (Policy 31) The Drapery (Policy 32) The Waterside: Avon / Nunn Mills Avon The Waterside: / Ransome Road (Policy 28) The Waterside: Park Becket’s (Policy 29) The Waterside: Brampton Branch Brampton Waterside: The St Peter’s Way (Policy 26) Southbridge The Waterside: West (Policy 27) Policy Areas Policy

165 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

amount

uses

office/residential

allows

Allocation determined through Masterplanning / planning application process. Decommissioning of telephone exchange Dependents The successful removal and decontamination of the gasholders Land assembly Protection and enhancement of Scheduled Monument 50 D Phase 3 2021-2026 36 D Phase 2 2016-2021 2,500 O 50 D 250 R 390 D 119 D 119 Phase 1 2011-16 Office

Sorting

Mail

Royal

Telephone Exchange, Spring Telephone Gardens (Policy 35) Potential Housing sites not considered through policy allocation. (Policy 34) Freeschool St (Policy 33) Former Policy Areas Policy Information from the West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment – see Appendix Assessment – see Availability Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy Strategic Housing Land Information from the West 8: Potential Housing Sites

166 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 Phase 3: 2021-26 Phase 2: 2016-21 18 20 20 15 19 15 14 14 26 Phase 1: 2011-16 Offices

mitigation required Access to be resolved Single ownership Flood zone 2 & 3 - mitigation required Access available Preservation Tree Order adjoins Vacant Constraints

Katherine’s

House,

dwellings Dwellings Trefoil 14 dwellings Dwellings Site/Potential Dwellings N8 Ransome Road Gateway - 18 dwellings Flood zone 2 & 3 - N8 End – 20 Ransome Road West N22 14-20 St Michaels Road – 20 dwellings N24 52-56 Hazelwood Road - 15 dwelling N6 N7 26 Regent Street - 15 dwellings N6 Gold St - 14 dwellings 23/23A N6 St Manda Manufacturing - Woolmonger N23 Spencer House, Cliftonville Road - 26 Plan Ref NBC 174 NBC 038 NBC 894 NBC 891 NBC 505 NBC 504 NBC 503 NBC 502 NBC 186 Table H.1 Potential Housing Sites (West Northamptonshire Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment) Outside Availability Northamptonshire Strategic Housing Land H.1 Potential Housing Sites (West Table Major Development Sites Site Ref Appendix: H. Potential Housing Sites (West Northamptonshire Strategic Housing Land Appendix: H. Potential Housing Sites (West Assessment) Outside Major Development Sites Availability 167 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013 Phase 3: 2021-26 36 36 Phase 2: 2016-21 22 390 18 77 10 48 40 Phase 1: 2011-16 acant Not being promoted at present Vacant retail but not in Vacant primary retail area Vacant Area Conservation / ListedBuildings adjacent Potential Not currently available Vacant sites but not Vacant being promoted Flood zone 2 & 3 - mitigation required Started no progress Part listed Currently not available Constraints

Street

Gold

Floors

Square – 18 dwellings Horseshoe Street Corner – 10 dwellings Upper Street) – 48 dwellings adjacent to Avon - 40 dwellings Avon adjacent to side) - 36 dwellings Buildings in commercial use Site/Potential Dwellings N23 Elgin House Billing Road - 22 dwellings V N22Abington Road / 16-28 Wellingborough N24 - 77 dwellings 3 Cheyne Walk N6 N4 Street (South of Regent Andrew’s St N8 Southbridge East - Residual site N7 Street - 14 dwellings 10-16 St George’s Currently not available 14 N22 St Michaels Road (South and North Plan Ref Total Total NBC 864 NBC 747 NBC 726 NBC 670 NBC 627 NBC 624 NBC 525 NBC 329 Site Ref

168 Northampton Central Area Action Plan January 2013

Appendix: I. List of Northampton Local Plan (1997) Policies that are Replaced by the Policies within the Central Area Action Plan

I.1 List of the adopted Northampton Local I.3 Policies L2 Development of Schools Plan 1997 policies that are to be replaced by Sites D23 (Castle Yard), D27 (Lower policies in the Central Area Action Plan. Mounts), D28 (St Andrew’s Street), D33 (Wellington Street) and D35 (York Road) will, I.2 The list provides details of Saved Poli- on adoption of the Central Area Action Plan cies replaced by the Central Area Action no longer be saved policies as they are not Plan. Saved Policies which are not listed considered to be relevant. below will be replaced by strategic policies within the West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy.

Table I.1 List of Northampton Local Plan 1997 policies that are to be replaced by policies in the Central Area Action Plan 1997 Northampton Local Plan Replacement CAAP Policy Saved Policy Policy Title Policy Title

E1 Landscape and Open Space 1 Promoting Design Excellence

4 Green Infrastructure E2 Riverside landscape 25 Waterside

E6 Greenspace 4 Green Infrastructure

E9 Locally important landscape areas 4 Green Infrastructure

29 Waterside Becket’s Park E14 Corridors of travel 1 Promoting Design Excellence

4 Green Infrastructure E17 Nature Conservation 4 Green Infrastructure

E18 Sites of acknowledged nature conservation 4 Green Infrastructure value

E19 Implementing development 36 Infrastructure Delivery

E20 New development (design) 1 Promoting Design Excellence

E26 Conservation Areas: developments and 1 Promoting Design Excellence advertisements

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E29 Shopping environment: new or replacement 1 Promoting Design Excellence shop fronts 13 Improving the Retail Offer E30 Shop front: external security protection 1 Promoting Design Excellence

E38 Historic landscapes: nationally important 1 Promoting Design Excellence ancient monuments/landscapes

E39 Renewable energy 1 Promoting Design Excellence

E40 Crime and vandalism 1 Promoting Design Excellence

H6 Other housing development: within primarily 1 Promoting Design Excellence residential area 4 Green Infrastructure

16 Central Area Living H7 Other housing development: outside primarily 1 Promoting Design Excellence residential area 4 Green Infrastructure

16 Central Area Living H11 Other housing development: 1 Promoting Design Excellence

Commercial property in primarily residential area H14 Residential development, open space and 4 Green Infrastructure children’s play facilities

H18 Extensions to dwellings 1 Promoting Design Excellence

H31 Cumulative effect 16 Central Area Living & Article 4 Direction

H32 Affordable housing 36 Infrastructure Delivery

B1 Land allocations for business and industry: 15 Office and Business Use proposed business use

B2 Land allocations for business and industry: 15 Office and Business Use existing business areas

B3 Land allocations for business and industry: 11 Town Centre Boundary business developments 15 Office and Business Use B4 Land allocations for business and industry: 11 Town Centre Boundary sites less than 1 hectare

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B13 Business use and related infrastructure 36 Infrastructure Delivery

B14 Development for non-business uses in 15 Office and Business Use business areas

B17 Use of land for open storage, salvaging and 1 Promoting Design Excellence recycling 15 Office and Business Use B19 Existing business premises in primarily 1 Promoting Design Excellence residential areas

B22 Small businesses: up to 200 sq.m 1 Promoting Design Excellence

10 Parking

11 Town Centre Boundary B23 Repair and maintenance of vehicles 1 Promoting Design Excellence

10 Parking

11 Town Centre Boundary B31 Environmental impact of business 1 Promoting Design Excellence development: new locality

T4 Proposals for main distributor and primary 36 Infrastructure Delivery roads: impacts of major developments T11 Commercial uses in residential areas 1 Promoting Design Excellence

10 Parking

36 Infrastructure Delivery T12 Development requiring servicing 36 Infrastructure Delivery

T14 Public transport – rail corridors 8 Safeguarded public transport route

T16 Taxi services 1 Promoting Design Excellence

T22 Provision for people with disability 1 Promoting Design Excellence

R5 Town centre: change of use 13 Improving the Retail Offer

R6 Town centre: primary shopping frontages 13 Improving the Retail Offer

R7 Town centre: secondary shopping frontage 13 Improving the Retail Offer

R15 Car showrooms 1 Promoting Design Excellence

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R17 Retailing from industrial premises 11 Town Centre Boundary

L1 Existing recreational facilities 4 Green Infrastructure

L3 Other existing local open space 4 Green Infrastructure

L4 New local recreational land 4 Green Infrastructure

Development Sites policies L6 Maintenance of open space 36 Infrastructure Delivery

L16 River Valley policy area 4 Green Infrastructure

25 –30 Development Site policies on Waterside L17 Use of river and canal 4 Green Infrastructure

25 –30 Development Site policies on Waterside L26 Leisure proposals: site specific 4 Green Infrastructure

L29 River Valley policy area: provision of new 4 Green Infrastructure facilities 25 –30 Development Site policies on Waterside

36 Infrastructure Delivery D17 Southbridge area and power station site, 27 –28 Waterside Southbridge and Waterside Avon Nunn Mills: residential, business and leisure Nunn Mills Ransome Road

D22 Angel Street/ Bridge Street: retail or office 21 – 22 Angel Street and Bridge Street

D26 Freeschool Street: high density residential or 15 Office and business use residential and office with retail on frontage to Marefair 33 Freeschool Street D29 St John’s car park 20 St John’s

D30 British Gas land, St Peter’s Way: mix of 25 –26 Waterside and Waterside St Peter’s Way leisure, retail and employment with a minor element of housing D31 Victoria Streetcar park: office and car parking 17 Grosvenor Centre

D32 Western Island, Lady’s Lane 17 Grosvenor Centre

172 Regeneration, Enterprise & Planning

Northampton Borough Council,

The Guildhall, St Giles Square Northampton NN1 1DE 01604 837279 www.northampton.gov.uk