Sustainability Appraisal of the Site Specific Proposals Local Development Document

Scoping Report March 2009

Contents

Page No 1. Introduction 1

2. Context within the Core Spatial Strategy 3

3. Baseline Information - Introduction 8

- The Borough in Context 10 - Housing 12 - Gypsy and Travellers 14 - Employment 14 - Retail 18 - Leisure and Tourism 19 - Community Facilities 19 - Education 20 - Transportation 21 - Waste 23 - Settlement Pattern 24 - Land & Soil 25 - Landscape 26 - Cultural Heritage 27 - Conservation 27 - Archaeology 28 - Open Space 28 - Biodiversity 29 - Water 32 - Air & Climate 33 - Social Deprivation 34 - Crime 34 - Health 36

4. The Sustainability Report 37

Appendix 1. Appraisal Questions 38 Appendix 2. Biodiversity data 43

1. Introduction

Purpose of the Scoping Report

1.1 Under the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 a Sustainability Appraisal is mandatory for Development Plan Documents, including Supplementary Planning Documents. Planning Authorities must also undertake an Environmental Assessment in accordance with European Directive 2001/42/EC. Sustainability Appraisals are intended to help Local Planning Authorities to achieve ‘sustainable development’ in its widest context and are undertaken as part of a systematic process during the formulation of Development Plan Documents. The requirements of the European Directive are incorporated into the Sustainability Appraisal.

1.2 This Scoping Report is the first stage of the Sustainability Appraisal process with regard to the Site Specific Proposals Local Development Document (LDD). The purpose of the Scoping Report is to set out the social, environmental and economic issues identified in so far as to: - Develop and agree an appraisal methodology and programme - Ensure stakeholder involvement in the appraisal process - Identify and review relevant policies, plans, and programmes and sustainable development objectives that will affect or influence the plan - Present a characterisation of the plan area based upon the relevant social, environmental and economic baseline information - Provide an environmental report to cover the requirements of the SEA directive - Identify key sustainability issues for the Sustainability Appraisal to address - Agree a Sustainability Appraisal Framework, consisting of the sustainability objectives and indicators - Test the plan objectives against the Sustainability Appraisal Framework - And to set out the broad options which are considered in more detail in developing the LDD.

1.3 As the requirements of the Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment incorporate similar processes with the Sustainability Appraisal focusing on environmental, social and economic matters, the scoping report along with the subsequent sustainability reports address the requirements of both together.

1.4 This report is divided into four sections: -

1. The introduction – explaining the purpose of the report in relation to the plan process and pre commencement background work.

2. Context within the Core Spatial Strategy – including the outline of Sustainability Objectives, Sustainability Framework and Plan objectives

3. The identification of baseline information – which also informs the identification of key sustainability issues.

4. Structure of Final Sustainability Appraisal Report – identifying the level of detail considered appropriate to the further stages.

2. Context within Core Spatial Strategy

2.1 The North Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit has been set up to provide a strategic planning context for the administrative areas of East Northamptonshire, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough with the production of the Core Spatial Strategy for North Northamptonshire. The Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report for the Core Spatial Strategy for North Northamptonshire was published in April 2005 and also covers the districts of East Northamptonshire, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough. It provides the context for the Sustainability Appraisal of the Local Development Documents within the area.

2.2 Government advice provides for local authorities to prepare a single scoping report and in this instance it is considered that in assisting with the provision of context for sustainable development, the scoping report of the Core Spatial Strategy is acceptable for use for the Site Specific Proposals LDD. However it is considered that it would be beneficial if the scoping report were supplemented to address specific local baseline information and issues in the locality as this would better inform the sustainability process.

2.3 In this respect the Scoping report to the Core Spatial Strategy should be read in conjunction with this report. The Scoping report to the Core Spatial Strategy is available on the Joint Planning Unit web site www.nnjpu.org.uk or from the Joint Planning Unit on 01536 274974. The Sustainability Framework to the Core Spatial Strategy for North Northamptonshire was formulated following extensive stakeholder consultation. The sustainability objectives remain the same for the Site Specific Proposals LDD. It is considered that this process meets the requirements of the Sustainability Guidance and SEA Directive.

2.4 The Sustainability Framework is essential to the process and is proposed to be used for appraising the Plan. The Framework consists of objectives measurable by indicators, which will help assess the overall sustainability of the plan policies and allow recommendations and mitigation measures to be proposed as well as provide a basis for future monitoring and appraisal of the plan.

2.5 The Core Spatial Strategy for North Northamptonshire identified a limited number of sustainability objectives to ensure a manageable level for the assessment stage and the Sustainability Appraisal continued with this approach. These objectives are considered to be relevant to the plan and will form the basis for the Site Specific Proposals LDD. For clarity they are indicated in Table 1.

Table 1: Sustainability Objectives

SA TOPIC SA OBJECTIVE Social progress which recognises the needs of everyone Accessibility Enable people all to have similar and sufficient levels of access to services, facilities and opportunities Housing Provide the opportunity for people to meet their housing needs Health Improve overall levels of physical, mental health and social well being and reduce disparities between different groups and different areas Crime Reduce the incidences of crime and the fear of crime Community Value and nurture a sense of belonging in a cohesive community whilst respecting diversity Skills Assist people in gaining the skills to fulfil their potential and increase their contribution to society and the economy Liveability To create healthy, clean and pleasant environments for people to enjoy living, working and for recreation and to protect and enhance residential amenity Effective protection of the environment Biodiversity To protect, maintain and enhance the diversity and abundance of species and their habitats, to implement a net gain and to avoid habitat fragmentation Landscape Maintain and enhance the quality, character and local distinctiveness of the landscape, including its contribution to the setting and character of settlements Cultural Heritage Protect and enhance sites, features and areas of historical, archaeological, geological and cultural value and their settings Built Environment Maintain and enhance the quality and distinctiveness of the built environment Climate Change Reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases and protect people from the effects of climate change Prudent Use of natural resources Air Reduce all forms of air pollution in the interests of local air quality and the integrity of the atmosphere Water Quality Maintain and improve the quality of ground and river waters Water Conservation Ensure adequate water supply, maximise water and Management efficiency and reduce the risk of flooding Soil and Land Ensure the efficient use of land and maintain the resource of productive soil Minerals Ensure the efficient use of minerals and primary resources

Energy Use Minimise energy consumption, increase energy efficiency and maintain the stock of non renewable energy sources Renewable Energy Increase the opportunities for energy generation from renewable energy sources Waste Reduce the consumption of finite materials and increase reuse and recycling Maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and employment Employment Maintain and enhance employment opportunities and to reduce the disparities arising from unequal access to jobs Wealth Creation Retain and enhance the factors which are conducive to wealth creation, including personal creativity, infrastructure and the local strengths and qualities that are attractive to visitors and investors Town Centres Protect and enhance the vitality and viability of town centres and market towns

2.6 In order to understand the relationship between the plan objectives and the sustainability objectives, they need to be compared. The plan objectives for the Site Specific Proposals LDD are provided in Table 2 and the comparison matrix in Table 3 below.

Table 2: Site Specific Proposals LDD Objectives

The objectives for the Site Specific Proposals LDD are to:

1 Provide appropriate housing to meet the needs of all sections of the community 2 Enhance the economy of the Borough ensuring residents have access to a wide range of employment opportunities and life long learning 3 Increase accessibility to community, leisure and retail facilities for all members of the community 4 Provide a safe, attractive, healthy and sustainable environment for people to live, work and play 5 Protect and enhance the built and natural environment for all to enjoy now and in the future 6 Ensure development responds to the need to adapt to climate change

Table 3: Sustainability Appraisal Matrix

retail natural Housing facilities, Built and leisure and Community sustainable healthy and Employment environment environment Accessibility to Climate change Safe, attractive, Safe, attractive, Accessibility 33 3 33 33 33 3 3 Housing 33 3 33 33 3 3 3 Health 33 3 33 33 33 33 3 Crime - - - 33 - - Community 33 3 33 33 - - 3 Skills - 3 33 - - - 3 Liveability 33 3 33 33 33 33 3 Biodiversity 3 3 3 33 33 33 Landscape 3 3 3 - 33 - Cultural 3 3 3 - 33 3 Heritage Built 3 3 - - 33 - Environment Climate Change 3 3 3 33 33 33 Air ? ? 33 - 33 33 Water Quality ? ? - - 33 - Water 3 3 - - - 33 Conservation & Management Soil and Land 3 3 - - 33 - Minerals - - - - 33 - Energy Use 3 3 33 33 3 33

Renewable 3 3 - - 3 33 Energy Waste 3 3 - - 33 33 Employment 33 3 - 33 3 3 3 Wealth Creation 33 3 33 - - - 3 Town Centres 33 3 33 33 33 3 3

2.7 The following symbols have been used within the table:

33 Compatible 3 Compatible with mitigation 2 Possible conflict ? Uncertainty - Neutral or no relationship

It can be seen that the plan objectives are broadly compatible with the Sustainability Appraisal objectives. Where conflict exists this usually relates to those plan objectives which will result in the loss or change to existing resources in all cases this conflict can be mitigated against.

2.8 The options which will be developed as the Site Specific Proposals LDD is produced will be appraised using the format contained in Table 3.

Appraisal Questions and Indicators

2.9 A number of appraisal criteria and indicators have been identified for each sustainability objective and remain the same as those for the Core Spatial Strategy. They are listed in Appendix 1.

3 Baseline Information

3.1 This baseline information provides the background for predicting and monitoring the effects of the plan and helps to identify key sustainability issues. The baseline information supplements the information contained in the Scoping Report to the Core Spatial Strategy providing a local context. The general area of search relates to the Borough as a whole. The information has been categorised under the headings as follows:

• The Borough in Context - Population change and projection - Ethnic diversity - Age structure • Housing - Housing growth - House prices - Housing need - Use of previously developed land • Gypsy and Travellers - Existing provision - Future need • Employment - Economic characteristics - Economic activity - Employment types - Earnings - Major employers - Travel to work • Retail - Existing provision - Future need • Leisure and Tourism • Community Facilities • Education - Northamptonshire wide trends - Kettering trends (primary and secondary) - Future need - University provision • Transportation - Transport network - Modes of travel • Waste - Recycling - Waste disposal • Settlement Pattern

- Evolution of existing settlements - Rural development • Land & Soil • Landscape • Cultural Heritage • Archaeology • Open Space • Biodiversity - Habitats - Protected species - Statutory and non-statutory designations • Water • Air & Climate - Air quality - Renewable energy • Social Deprivation • Crime • Health

3.2 Plans indicating the location of environmental data are available within the Scoping Report to the Core Spatial Strategy for North Northamptonshire.

The Borough in Context

3.3 The Borough of Kettering covers an area of nearly 234km2 and is located in the Southern Sub-Area of the East Midlands Region, the 2003 designated Milton Keynes and the South Midlands (MKSM) growth area, and the North Northamptonshire sub-region.

3.4 The Borough is well placed in relation to the strategic transportation network by either road or rail being served by the Midland Mainline Railway, the A43 and the A14, which forms part of the Trans-European Network of roads.

3.5 The approximate population in 2007 for Kettering Borough stood at 89,500. Approximately 90% of the Borough’s population live in the main urban areas of Kettering, Rothwell, Desborough and Burton Latimer. It is anticipated that the Borough’s population will increase further during the planned growth period to 2021, to approximately 101,073.

3.6 Graph 1 below highlights the recent changes in the Borough’s population as well as projected figures for 2011 and 2021 based on planned growth, whilst Graph 2 shows the breakdown of the population into age groups according to the 2001 Census.

Graph 1: Population change and projection:

110000

105000

100000

95000

90000

Population 85000 80000

75000

70000 1991 2001 2006 2011 2016 2021 Year

Graph 2: Population by Age Group (2001):

20000 18000 16000 14000 12000 10000 8000 Population 6000 4000 2000 0 0 - 4 5-9 10-14 15 - 19 20-30 31-44 45-59 60-74 75-89 90+ Age group

3.7 In terms of ethnic diversity, the majority of the population is White British which represents 93.79 % of the Borough’s population – the largest other ethnic group is the Asian community, which represents 1.68% of the Borough’s population. A breakdown of the ethnic groups within the Borough compared to the East Midlands and England is given in the table below.

Table 4: Ethnic Groups in the Borough compared to the East Midlands and England

East Kettering Midlands England Ethnic Group (%) (%) (%) White: British 93.79 91.26 86.99 White: Irish 0.98 0.85 1.27 White: Other White 1.92 1.37 2.66 Mixed: White and Black Caribbean 0.27 0.5 0.47 Mixed: White and Black African 0.07 0.08 0.16 Mixed: White and Asian 0.23 0.27 0.37 Mixed: Other Mixed 0.15 0.19 0.31 Asian or Asian British: Indian 1.36 2.93 2.09 Asian or Asian British: Pakistani 0.09 0.67 1.44 Asian or Asian British: Bangladeshi 0.05 0.17 0.56 Asian or Asian British: Other Asian 0.18 0.28 0.48 Black or Black British: Caribbean 0.17 0.64 1.14 Black or Black British: African 0.19 0.22 0.97 Black or Black British: Other Black 0.04 0.09 0.19

Chinese or other ethnic group: Chinese 0.34 0.31 0.45 Chinese or other ethnic group: Other ethnic group 0.17 0.18 0.44 Source: Office of National Statistics

3.8 Approximately 16% of the population is 65 years of age or over (compared to 16% nationally), and approximately 2.6% of the population claims for Disability Living Allowance.

3.9 Over the years, Kettering has experienced a steady increase in the number of households within the Borough. In 1991, there were 30,630 households, which rose to 33,871 in 2001. Approximately 36% of households comprise 2 people, whilst 28% live in single person households.

Key Issues • The needs of different ethnic groups • High levels of population growth • Increasingly elderly population

Housing

3.10 Kettering Borough has seen a steady increase in the number of households since 1991, when there were 30,630 households, which had risen to 33,871 in the 2001 census. Council tax records show that as of March 2007 there were 39,760 households in Kettering Borough, the number is predicted to increase further during the next plan period to 2021 due to the major growth intended for the Borough within the Regional Spatial Strategy and Core Spatial Strategy.

3.11 House prices have risen within Kettering since the mid-1980s, and have risen sharply since 2001, broadly in line with county, regional and national trends. However, average house prices in the Borough remain lower than the national average for England and Wales, and lower than for the county of Northamptonshire. This is illustrated in table below. Graph 3 below shows average property prices in Kettering against national and regional trends.

Table 5: Kettering Borough average property prices (July 2008)

Kettering Northants. England & Wales House Type Detached £253,242 £274,397 £344,550 Semi-Detached £146,773 £148,810 £191,438 Terraced £126,895 £133,185 £174,598 Flat/Maisonette £107,910 £108,482 £204,793 All properties £170,800 £179,764 £222,220 Source: Land Registry

Graph 3: Average property price trends against national & regional trends 2001-2008

£250,000

£225,000

£200,000

£175,000

£150,000

£125,000

Average Price (£) Price Average £100,000

£75,000

£50,000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Year Kettering Northants East Midlands England & Wales

3.12 Nationally the housing market has slowed down and house prices have started to drop. It is unclear at the present time what long term impact this will have on the housing market in Kettering Borough.

3.13 Affordable housing is an important issue within Kettering Borough with the existence of a significant need for such housing. The rapid increase in house prices has meant that a growing proportion of people are unable to afford their own property. A Strategic Housing Market Assessment (SHMA) was completed for North Northamptonshire in August 2007. This study identified a need for 30% of new housing to be affordable. This target has been set in the North Northants Core Spatial Strategy.

3.14 The SHMA identifies a market housing need within North Northants for 2 and 4 beds with some need for 1 beds. Main affordable housing need in North Northants is for 2-3 bed intermediate homes and 2 bed and some 4 bed social rented housing. There is also a need to provide lifetime homes and homes that are wheelchair accessible.

3.15 The Kettering Housing Needs Assessment completed alongside the SHMA provides district level information on housing need. This identifies that in Kettering affordable housing need is almost entirely for social rented housing.

3.16 Of the 4,117 dwellings built in the Borough between April 2001 and March 2008, 35% of dwellings were built on previously developed land. The CSS sets a target of at least 30% of housing to be provided in previously developed land

in North Northamptonshire.

Key Issues: • Provision of lifetime homes and homes that are wheelchair accessible • Provision of affordable housing – type and tenure • Provision of appropriate housing mix to meet local need • Need to maximise use of previously developed land

Gypsies and Travellers

3.17 There are a total of 42 Gypsy and Traveller pitches in Kettering Borough. They are all permanent residential pitches and there are no transit pitches.

3.18 A Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment has been completed for Northamptonshire and was published in March 2008. It identified a need for a further 10 residential pitches and 3 transit pitches in Kettering Borough for the period until 2017. These are in addition to the pitches already scheduled for development in 2008/9. Due to affordability issues 90% of the identified need should be social sector in tenure. The full assessment can be viewed by using the following link: http://www.kettering.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=465&pageN umber=13

Key Issues: • Provision of accommodation for gypsy and travellers

Employment

3.19 Traditionally the primary focus of economic development in Kettering Borough has been manufacturing. The level of manufacturing in Kettering Borough has declined but at a slower rate than it has done nationally and manufacturing remains an important sector. This reduction has taken place alongside an increase in service industry based employment.

3.20 Kettering Borough has a relatively diverse economy; particular strengths include retail, construction, transport and communications, warehousing, real estate and the public sector. The Boroughs position on the strategic road network has lead to a growth of jobs in the distribution sector. A diverse economy is important as this can prevent shocks to the economy which can be caused when an economy is specialised.

3.21 Kettering Borough, along with the whole of the East Midlands region, has experienced significant growth in employment over the last 10 years. Economic activity rates have generally been high with low unemployment.

3.22 Over 83% of the Borough’s economically active population is currently in full

time employment; whilst only 4.3% of the Borough’s economically active population is unemployed. The table below accounts for the economic activity for the Borough as at March 2008.

Table 6: Kettering Borough population economic activity

East Kettering Great Kettering (%) Midlands (Numbers) Britain (%) (%) Economically active 50,200 86.4 80.1 78.7 In employment 48,100 83.1 75.8 74.5 Employees 43,400 75.7 66.3 64.7 Self employed 4,200 6.6 9 9.4 Model-based unemployed* 2,100 4.3 5.2 5.2 Source: Office for National Statistics (www.nomisweb.co.uk) Numbers are for those aged 16 and over, % are for those of working age (16-59/64) * Numbers and % are for those aged 16 and over. % is a proportion of economically active

3.23 Table 7 below shows the total employee jobs within Kettering Borough while table 8 and graph 4 below show the proportion of people employed in various sectors in Kettering Borough, compared with regional and national rates.

Table 7: Kettering Borough total employee jobs 2007

Kettering East Great (employee Kettering (%) Midlands Britain (%) jobs) (%) Total employee jobs 36,100 - - - Full-time 24,100 67 68.3 69 Part-time 12,000 33 31.7 31 Source: Office for National Statistics (www.nomisweb.co.uk)

Table 8: Kettering Borough proportionate employment by sector 2007

East Great Kettering Ketteri Midla Britain (%) Sector (employee ng (%) nds jobs) (%) Manufacturing 6,200 17 15.2 10.6 Construction 2,000 5.5 5.6 4.9 Services 27,600 77 77.1 83 > Distribution, hotels & 23.3 restaurants 9,600 27 23.1

> Transport & 5.9 communications 1,500 4.3 5.6 > Finance, IT, other 21.6 business activities 5,300 15 17.8 > Public admin, 26.9 education & health 10,000 28 26.2 > Other services 1,200 3.4 4.4 5.2 Tourism-related* 2,700 7.6 7.5 8.2 Source: Office for National Statistics (www.nomisweb.co.uk) Note: Tourism-related includes the following sectors: Hotels; Camping sites etc; Restaurants; Bars; Activities of travel agencies etc; Library, archives, museums etc; Sporting activities; Other recreational activities.

Graph 4: Kettering Borough proportionate employment 2006

15 Percentage

0 Manufacturing Construction Distribution, hotels Transport & Finance, IT, other Public admin, Other services Tourism-related* & restaurants communications business activities education & health Sector Kettering East Midlands Great Britain

3.24 The above data shows that the distribution / service industry and the public sector are the largest employers in the Borough while the manufacturing and finance sector continue to be major employers.

3.25 The table below shows gross weekly and hourly earnings in Kettering Borough at March 2008 are generally slightly lower than the East Midlands average and quite considerably below the national average.

Table 9: Kettering Borough earnings by residence 2008

East Midlands Kettering (£) Great Britain (£) (£) Gross weekly pay Full-time workers 411.8 442.8 479.1 Male full-time workers 426.4 488.7 523.5

Female full-time workers 351.7 374.9 412.4 Hourly pay Full-time workers 10.22 10.89 12 Male full-time workers 10.51 11.56 12.69 Female full-time workers 9.02 9.76 10.95 Source: Office for National Statistics (www.nomisweb.co.uk) annual survey of hours and earnings - resident analysis Note: Median earnings in pounds for employees working in the area.

3.26 The table below shows business VAT registrations / de-registrations and net changes between 2001-2007 in Kettering Borough. This is an indication of economic development as it shows the extent to which the Borough is a venue for entrepreneurial investment. The figures show an overall net increase of around 500 businesses in the period resulting in a stock of 2,840 by 2007. This suggests that Kettering is seen as a good location in which to invest.

Table 10: Kettering Borough VAT registrations / de-registrations 2001- 2007

Stocks at Net- Year Registrations Deregistration end of year change 2001 220 175 2,350 45 2002 260 175 2,435 85 2003 290 200 2,525 90 2004 280 205 2,600 75 2005 250 200 2,650 50 2006 285 205 2,735 80 2007 305 205 2,840 100 Source: Office for National Statistics (www.nomisweb.co.uk)

3.27 63.63% of economically active persons in the Borough are in full time employment. This compares to 64.15% in the county and 60.95% in the UK. Other categories that account for the remaining percentage include students, retired persons, and sick persons. When split between the sexes, 60.09% of economically active males were in full time employment in the Borough as a whole compared to 33.11% of economically active females. More economically active women were in part-time employment and were unemployed. This corresponds to the national and countywide trends.

3.28 A relatively high percentage of the workforce in the Borough have no qualifications

3.29 Major employers in the Borough include Weetabix and the two NHS trusts. Kettering is the main employment area. Burton Latimer also has substantial employment provision. Desborough and Rothwell offer limited employment

opportunities and most people leave the towns to find work elsewhere with particularly strong links to Kettering.

3.30 Kettering is a net importer of employees from the rest of North Northants with 5,694 commuting from the Borough and 8,067 commuting to the Borough in 2001. The average distance travelled to work in the Borough in 2001 was 9.41km. In 2001 a net of 2762 people commuted to neighbouring areas, the majority of this was to Northampton.

3.31 An important objective for the Borough is that the rural area’s economy is assisted, where possible, with proposals for diversification. This has to be considered alongside the need to preserve and enhance the high environmental quality of the rural area and its sensitivity to change.

3.32 However, none of the employment land completions during 2007-2008 were within the rural areas of the Borough. This indicator will continue to be monitored in future Annual Monitoring Reports (AMRs) to inform future rural policy development, for example in the Site Specific Proposals Development Plan Document.

Key Issues: • Provision of jobs in rural areas • High level of workforce with no qualifications • Provision of employment opportunities for growing population

Retail

3.33 Kettering provides the main retail offer in North Northamptonshire with a range of town centre and out of centre stores such as those at Kettering Venture Park. However the town faces competition from larger centres such as Bedford, Milton Keynes, Peterborough, Northampton and Leicester which have a much greater retail offer.

3.34 The smaller towns of Burton Latimer, Desborough and Rothwell meet more local retail needs. The CSS identifies Burton Latimer and Rothwell as locations to maintain a pleasant town centre environment and Desborough as a location for environmental improvements, upgrading of retail stock and small-scale infill development.

3.35 As part of the North Northants Sub-region Housing Market Assessment (HMA) Fordam Research identified that people living in rural areas had more difficulty accessing grocery shops than people living in urban areas, particularly poorer households.

Key issues • Access to convenience retail in rural areas • Need to enhance town centres

Leisure and Tourism

3.36 Leisure facilities are also focused in Kettering, facilities include:

• Multiplex cinema with associated restaurants and fast-food establishments. • Wicksteed Leisure Park • Kettering Conference Centre • Kettering Leisure Centre • Bowling alley with arcades, pool tables, fast-food chain and bar. • Several nightclubs and numerous bars • Two snooker clubs • Several gymnasiums

3.37 Kettering Town Football Club founded in 1872 play in the Conference Premier League and have a 5,100 capacity stadium. The town also has a ladies football club; men’s and women’s cricket clubs and hockey clubs; and a men’s rugby club.

3.38 Tourism is the Borough is a relatively peripheral section of the economy. Attractions include:

• Wicksteed Leisure Park, Kettering • Boughton House, North East of Kettering • Kids Kingdom, Kettering • Triangular Lodge, North of Rushton • West Lodge Rural Centre, North East of Desborough

Key Issues

• Provision of facilities to meet needs of a growing population

Community Facilities

3.39 Kettering Town provides the majority of community facilities for the Borough. Facility provision is extremely important for a town of Kettering’s size and will continue to be so with the planned future expansion of the town.

3.40 There are many Churches and Community Centres across the Borough that provide important recreational and social facilities, as well as a focal point, for residents. Key Issues • Provision of community facilities to meet needs of a growing population

Education

3.41 A 2-tier schooling system operates in the area, where pupil’s transfer from Primary to Secondary. Further and adult education is available locally at Tresham Institute of Further and Higher Education at Kettering, Corby and Wellingborough, though evening classes operate at various establishments across the Borough. Secondary education is available at Bishop Stopford School, Montagu School, Latimer Community Arts College, Montsaye School, Ise Community College and Southfield School for Girls. Primary education is available at 27 schools in the area.

3.42 Since conversion to the two tier system Northamptonshire has experienced a fall in primary rolls, however these are expected to increase as housing developments begin to impact on rolls. The secondary roll across Northamptonshire had also begun to experience a decrease, it is predicted that this is likely to continue to fall until early 2010 when housing development begins to impact on pupil numbers.

3.43 Recent trends in Northamptonshire schools reflect trends nationally. However, in the future, the national roll is expected to continue to fall whereas the role in the County is expected to increase as housing developments impact on pupil numbers.

3.44 In contrast to the County pattern, the secondary roll in Kettering has increased over the last few years from 6,400 in January 2001 to 6,900 in January 2007, although the rate of growth has slowed in recent years. Low primary numbers suggest this will fall again before it begins to rise post 2010.

3.45 There are a number of major developments underway or proposed in Kettering Borough and these will impact on school provision.

3.46 The level of planned growth is likely to require a new secondary school. A site for this has been safeguarded on the East of Kettering development. In addition to this other developments are likely to require additional primary places.

3.47 The University of Northampton now has a full University status with full research degree awarding powers. This potentially has positive implications for Kettering in terms of attracting future graduates to remain in the area and contribute to the economy. However, there is no University within Kettering or the sub-region of North Northamptonshire, which contributes to the lack of high- tech and knowledge based industries and also accentuates out-migration to these facilities. There are more adults in the area than the national average with no qualifications and there are fewer people than the national average educated to degree level or above.

Key Issues • Education provision to meet the needs of a growing population • High number of adults with no qualifications • Access to university provision

Transportation

3.48 Kettering Borough benefits from being well placed in terms of transport infrastructure and benefits from having a Midland Mainline rail station with fast and regular train services to London St Pancras and Nottingham (both just over an hour away), Leicester (20 minutes) and Leeds (under 3 hours). The proximity of the A14 and the A43 (and beyond to the M1 and M6) means that access by road is equally easy. Peterborough, Cambridge, Milton Keynes, Birmingham and Oxford can be reached in under an hour, and Norwich and the Norfolk coast in 2 hours. For international travel, Birmingham, Coventry, Luton, Stansted and the East Midlands Airports can be reached by car in 60-75 minutes, and Luton Airport can be reached by rail in 40 minutes.

3.49 The highway network in and around Kettering has not been designed to cater for an existing population of approximately 80,000 residents, consequently, the majority of junctions within the town are operating at capacity and would benefit from improvement.

3.50 Tables 12, 13 and 14 below provide information on modal share, car ownership and work place population. In terms of typical modal share on a weekday, 64.93% of people travel to work by car or van. This compares to 64.1% in the county and 55.23% nationally. Throughout the Borough 10.83% of people travel to work on foot whilst 8.35% work from home. This corresponds closely to national and countywide figures. In terms of workplace, 57.5% of the population work within the Borough, 29.1% work with in the county and 13.4% work outside of the county. In terms of car or van ownership, only 20.33% of people have no car or van, the remainder have one or more.

Table 12: Typical modal share on a weekday Means of Travel to Work Kettering Northants. England and Wales Work mainly at or from home 8.35 8.98 9.19 Underground, Metro, Light Rail or Tram 0.06 0.06 3.01 Train 1.32 1.28 4.08 Bus, Mini Bus or Coach 3.58 4.44 7.4 Motorcycle, Scooter or Moped 0.88 0.79 1.09

Driving a Car or Van 64.93 64.1 55.23 Passenger in a Car or Van 7.33 7.65 6.25 Taxi or Minicab 0.29 0.59 0.52 Bicycle 2.12 2.25 2.76 On foot 10.84 9.52 10.01 Other 0.3 0.34 0.47 Percentage of working age in employment (Source: Census 2001)

Table 13: Car Ownership Figures 2001 Car Ownership 2001 England Kettering Northants. and Wales No car or van 20.33 20.84 26.79 1 car or van 43.79 42.50 43.80 2 cars or vans 28.93 29.19 23.53 3 cars or vans 5.42 5.71 4.51 4 or more cars or vans 1.53 1.76 1.38 Percentage of households (Source: Census 2001)

Table 14: Resident Workplace (ONS 2001-02) Workplace Within Rest of Outside Within District County County Kettering 57.5% 29.1% 13.4%

3.51 Kettering Town is the main hub for transportation in the Borough. An assessment of public bus services serving Kettering indicates a variable service to a hierarchy of centres offering employment opportunities, retail choice and leisure and recreation facilities. The town has good accessibility by bus during weekdays and good accessibility by bus to Market Harborough, Corby and other towns within the Borough including Rothwell, Desborough, Barton Seagrave and Burton Latimer

3.52 In spring of 2008 the Kettering Intelligent Transport System (KITS) was launched in Kettering town centre. This is a technology based transport system which will improve journey time, reliability and traffic flow. It works by a series of detectors located around the network which send real-time traffic information so that traffic light timings can be controlled according to the conditions. CCTV has also been installed at key junction intersections so traffic control operators can manage the network and introduce strategies to ease congestion or deal with

specific issues, such as roadworks/accidents.

Key Issues • Increasing modal shift • Capacity of highway network

Waste

3.53 Household waste recycling in the Borough has improved steadily over recent years. During 2007-2008 49.88% of household waste collected within the Borough was recycled meaning the Community Plan target has been exceeded. The figure achieved also represents an excellent improvement from the 2004 starting point of 5.41% and a steady increase from the previous reporting year of 45.1%. This is illustrated in graph 5 below.

3.54 The increase in recycling can be largely attributed to the successful implementation of the kerbside recycling collection which now serves 96% of households within the Borough and collects Household recyclables such as glass, cans, plastic bottles, paper, card and green garden waste.

Graph 5: Percentage of household waste recycled 2004-2008

0 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08

3.55 The improvement earned the Borough 5th place in the DEFRA ‘Most improved recycling/composting rate’ league table 2006/07. The Borough Council commissioned a research report, the People's Panel, which was published in July 2006. The report highlighted that support for the recycling scheme was high, 98% of people surveyed said they recycled, and 86% indicated that the kerbside scheme made it convenient to do so.

3.56 There are 7 working landfills within in the Borough as follows:

Cranford landfill site - ABC* Glenhill Farm, Rothwell - A Barton Plant, Pipewell Road, Desborough - A Railway Cutting, Harrington Road - A Thorpe Underwood - ABC Geddington - A Federation Avenue, Desborough – A

*Landfill waste categories are defined as follows: Category A – Solid Inert Waste, Category B – Solid Degradable Waste, Category C – Solid Putrescible Waste, Category D – Difficult Waste, Category E – Asbestos, Category F – Toxic Waste, Category G – Prohibited Waste

3.57 Another waste disposal facility of significance in the Borough is the civic amenity recycling centre on Cunliffe Drive. Northamptonshire County Council as the Waste Authority have identified the need for additional recycling/ sorting facilities in the north of the County.

3.58 The Northamptonshire Waste Local Plan (WLP) March 2006 identified current waste disposal sites in the Borough that could accommodate major new facilities. The Plan has not identified any new sites within the Borough since it is estimated that there is enough waste disposal capacity with in the County, provided all recycling targets are met, to take the County to 2016 (the end of the WLP period). The WLP will be replaced by the Locations for Waste Development DPD which will form part of the Minerals and Waste Development Framework.

Key Issues • Managing waste generated by growth • Provision of recycling facilities in new development

Settlement Pattern

3.59 Kettering Borough is a largely rural district with the majority of development concentrated around Kettering which is the largest town and the three smaller towns of Desborough, Rothwell and Burton Latimer. The rural area of Kettering Borough contains 27 villages and hamlets (listed below).

Ashley Grafton Underwood Rushton Brampton Ash Harrington Stoke Albany Braybrooke Little Oakley Sutton Basset Broughton Loddington Thorpe Malsor Cranford St Andrew Mawsley Thorpe Underwood

Cranford St John Newton Warkton Cransley Orton Weekley Dingley Pipewell Weston by Welland Geddington Pytchley Wilbarston

3.60 Kettering is a market town which a strong historic heritage. The town grew rapidly in the second half of the 19th Century following growth in the footwear industry. This lead to the growth of large areas of terrace housing around the town centre. The growth in the footwear industry also led to the growth of a number of smaller towns along the A6, these include Burton Latimer, Rothwell and Desborough.

3.61 Development in rural areas and the villages of the Borough is currently controlled by saved local plan policies which seek to offer a degree of protection to their character and environment. The LDF Core Spatial Strategy also plays an important part in the protection of rural areas. Village boundary reviews and rural development policies will need to be covered by the Site Specific Proposals LDD.

Key Issues • Protection of the countryside from inappropriate development • Protection of historic heritage

Land and Soil

3.62 The geology of Kettering Borough, and indeed the county, is almost entirely sedimentary strata pertaining to the Jurassic period. The geology of the Borough has influenced the soils, which are predominantly calcareous, reflecting the underlying iron, limestone and clays. To the north the boulder clays became heavily wooded by the Royal Forest of Rockingham and to the south, the river valleys – especially the broad fold plain of the River Nene – present easy to work, fertile soils.

3.63 As a result the Borough has, since at least the prehistoric period, been settled and exploited by man. Jurassic limestone and ironstone deposits have also influenced the form and appearance of settlements and buildings, and through extensive quarrying, and have provided a rich source of building material which is reflected in the local vernacular. There are a number of buildings in the Borough of these materials.

3.64 Kettering Borough Council’s Environmental Health Department had not identified any sites as contaminated within the Borough, as defined by Part IIA of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. However, sites have been identified as being potentially contaminated. The information about exact locations is sensitive and not for general release.

Key Issues • Continued use of local materials

Landscape

3.65 Northamptonshire County Council commissioned consultants to carry out a Landscape Character Assessment of Northamptonshire. This forms part of a wider comprehensive landscape characterisation of the county: The Northamptonshire Environmental Characterisation Project. This wider project integrates the three primary environmental aspects of the landscape, comprising the historic landscape, the ecological landscape and the present landscape character. The project refers to and builds upon the Countryside Character and Natural Area approach developed by the Countryside Agency and English Nature.

3.66 Part of land within Kettering Borough falls within the boundary of the Rockingham Forest (see map below). The Rockingham Forest is an area of approximately 200 square miles in North-East Northamptonshire, lying between the River Welland and the River Nene and the towns of Stamford and Kettering. Inhabited since the Iron Age, the area was designated a royal hunting ground for William the Conqueror in the 11th Century. The Forestry Commission took over the last surviving areas of public woodland in 1923 and continues to manage the area in partnership with the Rockingham Forest Trust. Today the Forest is a rich and varied landscape including farmland, open pasture, woodland and villages built from local stone.

Rockingham Forest indicative area

(Reproduced with permission from the Rockingham Forest Trust)

3.67 Work undertaken by the North Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit has determined that landscape sensitivity is generally high to the north and north- east of Kettering town, with patches of high sensitivity scattered within other areas. The rural setting of distinct villages forms an important element within the wider landscape. Woodland cover, the parkland around Boughton House and the Ise valley landscape are also important elements which add to the intrinsic character of the area.

Key Issues • Protection of landscape character

Cultural Heritage

3.68 Appendix 8 of the Core Spatial Strategy Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report identifies Grade 1 listed buildings, Scheduled Ancient Monuments, Registered Parks and Gardens, Conservation Areas, and areas of Ridge and Furrow in North Northamptonshire. These appear to be fairly evenly spread across the plan area although there is a slight concentration of heritage and cultural assets around the Boughton Park and Geddington Chase area north- east of Kettering.

3.69 The historic character of the Borough’s landscape is the subject of a parallel study to the landscape character assessment. This important piece of work (Northamptonshire Historic Landscape Character Assessment (HLC)) provides a detailed analysis of the cultural dimension of the landscape and allows for an understanding of the historic structure of the landscape and maps the dynamics of change over a long period of time. The findings of the HLC have been integrated with the current Landscape Character Assessment and other datasets to formulate the combined area character map. Landscape Character Assessments form part of the North Northamptonshire Environmental Character and Green Infrastructure Suite – see www.rnrpenvironmentalcharacter.org.uk

3.70 Work undertaken by the North Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit has determined that in terms of cultural heritage the area north-east of Kettering is the most sensitive area. In this area the combination of well-preserved built historic environment assets in the villages of Weekley & Warkton, and important historic landscapes in the surrounding areas present major constraints to potential growth.

Key Issues • Need to protect cultural heritage

Conservation Areas

3.71 Many parts of the towns and villages in the Borough have a special quality or character which is created by the arrangement of buildings, trees and other

elements of the street scene, rather than by the architectural merit of individual buildings. There are 25 designated Conservation Areas in Kettering Borough designed to offer a degree of protection to such areas and to prevent the unjustified loss of buildings and features which contribute to the collective quality of the area. In Conservation Areas, special consideration is given to maintaining the qualities which give the area its particular character with the sensitive application of special controls including:

• Control over the demolition of buildings; • Strengthened controls over minor development; and • Special provision for the protection of trees.

3.72 The objective of these measures is to provide for the preservation and enhancement of the special interest of the place. The intention is not to stifle change, but to provide for the positive management of these unique areas.

3.73 The Borough Council has recently adopted a new Conservation area for Desborough Town Centre and has undertaken Conservation Area reviews for four villages to the east of Kettering (Cranford, Weekley, Grafton Underwood and Warkton) and Kettering town centre. As part of these reviews the special character of the area has been fully researched and the boundaries of the current Conservation Areas have, in some cases, been extended. The revised Conservation Areas have now been adopted. The Conservation Areas for Burton Latimer and Broughton are currently being reviewed.

Key Issues • Need to ensure development respects the character of conservation areas

Archaeology

3.74 Archaeological and historical data for the Borough can be derived from two sources: a full monument report from Northamptonshire County Council (NCC) accompanied by GIS data, and an Extensive Urban Survey undertaken by Foard and Ballinger (2004) for NCC.

3.75 The full monument report provided by NCC details all the sites of historic importance in the Borough. This data set is too long to include in this paper but a copy of the report is available to view at the KBC customer services desk.

Open Space

3.76 The Borough Council has undertaken an assessment of open space in compliance with PPG17. The document has been published as a background document to an Open Space SPD which was recently adopted by the Council. Details of formal and informal sporting facilities can also be found in the Borough’s Sports Facilities Strategy (2003 – 2012), this strategy is currently being reviewed.

3.77 Kettering provides a central venue for more specialist interests or larger facilities which smaller communities in the Borough would be unable to sustain.

Issues identified • Need to provide adequate levels of open space and formal and informal sports facilities

Biodiversity

3.78 The existing ecology of Northamptonshire has evolved mainly through human intervention without which Northamptonshire would have been largely wooded with wetland along river valleys. Currently, the majority of rural land in the Borough is used for intensive arable production. Other habitat types existing in the Borough includes woodland, scrub, grassland, hedgerows, open water and watercourses. Protected species occur within the area with known sightings of badgers, bats, great crested newts, reptiles and water voles.

3.79 Throughout the Borough substantial change occurred with field enclosures as a result of the enclosure acts, which resulted in a network of small fields and hedges, interspersed with copses. Only remnants of the ancient woodlands now exist mainly in the north of the County in the heart of the Rockingham forest but many of these are now fragmented.

3.80 The quarrying of ironstone has also had a dramatic effect on biodiversity both through the destruction and creation of habitats. Ironstone gullets have been left to naturalise and hill and dale forestry restoration has created new woodland habitats.

3.81 In more recent times field drainage and engineering works to river valleys has resulted in the loss of riverine vegetation. Hedgerows in the area are not generally diverse but do include trees of mixed ages.

3.82 The Biodiversity Action Plan for Northamptonshire (BAP) identifies the range of habitats that remain in the county, subdividing them by broad habitat types, which collectively comprise the biodiversity resource as indicated in Table 15 below. The BAP also identifies Priority Species which are listed in table 16 below.

Table 15: Northamptonshire BAP Priority Habitats

Northamptonshire BAP Priority Habitats Rivers and Wetlands: Rivers and Streams Open Standing Water Reed beds and Swamps

Wet and Marshy Grassland Springs and Flushes Trees and Woodlands: Lowland Mixed Woodland Wet Woodland Lowland Wood-Pasture and Parkland Farmland: Cropped Land Field Margins and Beetle Banks Hedgerows Dry Grasslands and Heaths: Lowland Calcareous Grassland Acid Grassland and Heath land Lowland Neutral Grassland Road Verges Quarries and Gullets Towns and Villages: The Built Environment Urban Forest and Green space

3.83 The elements of most these habitats exist within the Borough.

Table 16: Priority species

Common Name Conservation measures in place A Lichen Action plan to record the locations of P.clementei on a central database, raise awareness & ensure appropriate protection. Barn Owl Schemes in place to install nest boxes and monitor numbers. Black Hairstreak Projects to plant blackthorn & compile a database of landowners who have the species on their land. Black Poplar Database of landowners with Black Poplars on their sites. Brown Hare National actions as listed in the National Brown Hare Species Action Plan, e.g. encourage landowners/farmers to take up the new flexible set- aside scheme. Common 1,500 Dormouse boxes installed & a project in place to Dormouse designate all Dormouse sites as County Wildlife Sites (CWS). Concolorous Moth Systematic survey work. Eurasian Otter The Regional Otter Action Plan ; surveys, construction of otter holts, releases & establishment of otter havens at gravel pits. Grey Partridge Schemes to encourage up-take of the Countryside Stewardship Scheme promoting best land management practices.

Harvest Mouse The Mammal Society has initiated two surveys. Advice given on farming practices that encourage Harvest Mice conservation. Lime Bark Beetle Re-introduction of coppicing management in old woodlands & increased awareness of the importance of deadwood as a habitat. Nightingale Coppicing and monitoring as part of the Northamptonshire bird index series. Palmate Newt Ponds where Palmate Newts are present are recognised as County Wildlife Sites (CWS) Pipistrelle Bat English Nature enforces the legal protection of bats and is a consultee for planning applications, which might affect bats. Surveys and monitoring programmes undertaken. Plot's Elm Monitoring scheme & research into habitat requirements with a view to future introductions. Water Vole Projects to research, monitor and survey water voles. The monitoring of planning applications and liaison with landowners is currently being undertaken to prevent the loss of water vole sites. White-Clawed Planning applications are screened for potential Crayfish impacts on known sites for native Crayfish. Source: Northamptonshire Biodiversity Plan

3.84 There are numerous statutory and non-statutory designations in and around the Borough of Kettering. These include Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI); locally designated County Wildlife Sites (CWS), and a number of Pocket Parks. These are included in Appendix 2. The condition of SSSI is measured by Natural England. The table below shows the condition of sites in Northamptonshire.

Table 17: Condition of SSSI’s Condition Percentage of sites Favourable 57.28% Unfavourable recovering 33.69% Unfavourable no change 7.32% Unfavourable declining 1.64% Destroyed 0.07% Source: Natural England

3.85 Work undertaken by the North Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit has determined that around Kettering the areas of high sensitivity are located around the rivers and streams, in addition to a range of sites of conservation

value. Sensitive habitats occur in both Liassic and limestone slopes around Kettering.

3.86 The River Ise is the largest of the tributaries of the River Nene in Northamptonshire, rising near Naseby and flowing east past Desborough, turning south at Geddington and passing through Kettering to join the River Nene at Wellingborough. The 4.7km stretch west of Geddington and east of Barford Bridge is the only section of river in Northamptonshire to be designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. However, from just north of Kettering significant modification has taken place, firstly to create formal water features in the historic parkland at Boughton House and latterly, through Kettering and beyond, the river has been straightened and deepened in an attempt to reduce the risk of flooding.

3.87 The Revital-ISE project is a partnership project which aims to implement environmental improvements along the length of the river Ise valley. It is part of the wider River Nene Regional Park project which aims to rejuveninate existing green spaces, many of which are not fulfilling their potential. The Revital-ISE project seeks to improve access, leisure and recreational opportunities along the river, enhance biodiversity and restore the natural floodplain where possible.

Key Issues: • Need to protect and enhance biodiversity • Need to protect statutory and non-statutory designations

Water

3.88 The rivers Ise, Slade and Jordan dominate the hydrology of the Borough. The River Ise and Slade Brook form tributaries of the River Nene. The River Jordan is a tributary of the River Welland. They are all classified as main rivers. The River Ise is a very good quality watercourse and supports trout downstream of Rushton village as well as being part of a SSSI at Barford Bridge. The Slade Brook and other tributaries of the Jordan, Welland and Harpers Brook are small watercourses and as such any new discharge would have a significant effect on water quality.

3.89 The Environment Agency is responsible for securing the correct use of water resources as well as maintaining or improving the quality of fresh, surface and underground water in England and Wales. A Strategic Flood Risk Assessment (SFRA) was undertaken for Kettering Borough by consultants in 2005 in accordance with Planning Policy Guidance Note 25. The SFRA was produced with the cooperation and support of the Environment Agency in order to provide a detailed and robust assessment of the extent and nature of the risk of flooding and its implications for land use planning.

3.90 According to the SFRA report most of the watercourses that run through the

Borough of Kettering have a history of flooding. The major flood risk areas identified in the Borough are concentrated along the River Ise which runs through the east of Kettering town. Other areas of flood risk include the Ise at Geddington and south of Desborough. There is also some probability of flooding around parts of the Slade Brook in and around Kettering town.

3.91 A key issue within the context of the SFRA is the possible increased flood risk within the Borough and downstream of development due to additional run off or modified ground conditions instigating changes to the local hydrology. All new developments have the potential to explore opportunities to minimise surface water runoff through the installation of Sustainable Drainage Systems and other features.

3.92 An Outline Water Cycle Strategy has been produced for North Northamptonshire. The next stage of this work is currently being progressed and further information can be obtained from the Joint Planning Unit at www.nnjpu.org.uk.

3.93 Sewage within the Borough is the responsibility of Anglian Water, with the main and public sewer coming within their remit. Any sewers that were constructed before 1936, are classified as ‘public’, and are maintained by Anglian Water. Existing public foul sewage for Kettering draws to the Ise Valley Terminal Pumping Station and thence to Broadholme Sewage Treatment Works. Broadholme also serves the towns of Desborough and Rothwell. The Outline Water Cycle Strategy identified that Broadholme Waste Water Treatment Works and its sewer capacity were at or near capacity in many areas. The Wastewater Strategy: Interim findings are available on the Joint Planning Unit website and identify a solution to the capacity issues.

Key Issues: • Need to minimise surface water runoff and reduce risk from flooding • Need to ensure adequate supply of water and sewage capacity

Air and Climate

3.94 Kettering Borough Council’s Environmental Health Department has been monitoring the levels of nitrogen dioxide, an indicator of road traffic pollution, in the Borough for several years. Monitored areas must yield results less than 40 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m³) in order to meet government air quality targets.

3.95 Climate change and the reduction of CO2 emissions is a key priority for the region. New development will have a key role to play in contributing towards sustainable development principles, design, energy efficiency, sustainable construction and housing provision and therefore to contribute positively towards the national climate change agenda.

3.96 The Borough contains Burton Wold Wind Farm which is the only wind farm in Northamptonshire. It is located to the east of Burton Latimer approximately 2km from Kettering town centre, and consists of 10 wind turbines. The annual average output of the wind farm provides sufficient electricity for over 10,000 homes, equating to around 35% of the homes in the Borough of Kettering.

3.97 Permission has been granted to extend the current operation by an additional 7, 100m wind turbines. The existing Wind Farm’s capacity is 20MW and this will be increased by 16.1MW to 36.1MW. This represents a very significant renewable energy development for the Borough meaning enough additional power will be generated to supply around 7,200 additional homes annually, or around 20% of the households in the Borough. The extended operation at Burton Wold will, therefore, contribute considerably to the RSS Northamptonshire-wide target of 55.5MW of capacity installed by 2010.

Key Issues: • Need to ensure development contributes to sustainable development • Need to ensure new development does not result in a reduction in air quality

Social Deprivation

3.98 Compared to other authorities in North Northamptonshire Kettering Borough has fewer people living in income deprived households. The Index of Multiple Deprivation (IDM) gives an overall ranking of 209 for the Borough out of 354 authorities in England, where 1 is the most deprived. However there are pockets of wards of deprivation and the Local Strategic Partnership is leading work within the authority on assisting these wards through the Community Strategy.

Key Issues • Pockets of deprivation within the Borough

Crime

3.99 The table below shows a comparison of crime rates in Kettering to other North Northamptonshire towns and the national average shows that crime rates per 1,000 population for Kettering Borough are generally at or below national averages and compare favourably with other towns in the sub-region. The exception to this being theft from a motor vehicle offences which is relatively high. This suggests care should be taken when designing car parking solutions.

Table 18: Comparison of crime rates for 7 key offences and BCS comparator per 1,000 population 2007/08 Violenc Sexual Robbery Burglar Theft of Theft Interferi Record e offence offences y a motor from a ng with ed against s per per 1,000 dwelling vehicle vehicle a motor crime the 1,000 populatio offence offence offence vehicle BCS person populat n 07/08 s per s per s per offence compar offence ion 1,000 1,000 1,000 s per ator* s per 07/08 househ populat populat 1,000 offence 1,000 olds ion ion populat s per populat 07/08 07/08 07/08 ion 1,000 ion 07/08 populat 07/08 ion 07/08 Ketterin g 15 1 1 8 3 8 1 50 Corby 26 1 1 9 5 4 2 74 Wellingb orough 18 1 1 12 4 11 2 66 England and Wales 18 1 2 13 3 8 1 54 Source: Home Office Crime Statistics (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/crimeew0708.html)

3.100 The table below shows percentage change in crime rates between 2006/07 and 2007/08. It shows that generally crime rates have fallen in Kettering Borough for the period. A notable exception being sexual offences and robbery offences which both saw marked increases in the period. The rise of such crimes against the person suggests planning out crime considerations should be a key priority.

Table 19: Comparison of crime rates for 7 key offences and BCS comparator percentage change 2006/07 - 2007/08 Violence Sexual Robber Burglar Theft of Theft Interferi Record against offence y y a motor from a ng with ed the s offence dwellin vehicle vehicle a motor crime person change s g change change vehicle BCS change 06/07- change change 06/07- 06/07- change compar 06/07- 07/08 06/07- 06/07- 07/08 07/08 06/07- ator* 07/08 (%) 07/08 07/08 (%) (%) 07/08 change (%) (%) (%) (%) 06/07- 07/08 (%) Ketterin g -3 2835 -14 -2 -19 -10 -8 Corby -7 -28 -20 -28 -17 -46 -49 -19 Wellingb orough 1 10 -18 -28 -12 -3 -21 -5 England and Wales -8 -7 -16 -4 -12 -14 -22 -11 Source: Home Office Crime Statistics (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/crimeew0708.html)

* The Recorded crime BCS comparator is a sub set of recorded crimes which covers about 60% of all recorded crimes.

Key Issues: • Comparatively high thefts from motor vehicle offences - implications for designing car parking solutions. • Comparatively high increases in crimes against the person between 2006/07 – 2007/08 – implications for planning out crime considerations.

Health

3.101 Kettering General NHS Trust provides a range of acute services as well as accident and emergency cover for the area. Northamptonshire Heartlands PCT is responsible for Primary Care services. Six GP and nine dental surgeries exist in Kettering itself. Other health care facilities exist in the Borough with Desborough, Rothwell, Burton Latimer and Mawsley Village each having one GP and dental surgery.

3.102 People living in Kettering have a life expectancy comparable to that of the figures for England with a life expectancy of 77.3 for males and 81.2 for females. Nationally these figures are 77.32 for males and 81.55 for females. 69.9% of people in the Borough describe their health as good compared to 68.8 % nationally, 22.4% describe their health as fairly good compared to 22.2% nationally and only 7.7% of people describe their health as bad compared to 9% nationally. 16.2% of the population have a limiting long term illness.

Key Issues: • Need to ensure access to health provision

4. Where Next: Methodology for testing LDD options and format of the final Sustainability Report

4.1 This scoping report sets out the baseline information on Kettering Borough; plans and policies influencing the production of the LDD; current sustainability issues that are facing the area; and the sustainability framework for assessing the LDD. The comments made on this document will be taken into account when preparing the final sustainability framework in which to test the emerging LDD and the options contained within. If required, further assessment of the options will be undertaken, along with any updates of baseline data, plans policies and programmes.

4.2 The initial Sustainability Report will set out: - When the appraisal was carried out, by whom, and who was consulted - The strategic options considered and how they were identified - Any revisions of the plan objectives as a result of the consultation process - An appraisal of the options - Proposed mitigation measures

4.3 The final Sustainability Appraisal, together with this Scoping Report and the Scoping Report to the Core Spatial Strategy for North Northamptonshire will make up the Environment Report for the purpose of the SEA Directive. It will be in a format similar to the example structure contained within the Scoping Report to the Core Spatial Strategy for North Northamptonshire.

Appendix 1 Appraisal Questions

SA OBJECTIVE DECISION MAKING CRITERIA SA TOPIC (will the option or policy:) Social progress which recognises the needs of everyone Accessibility Enable people all to have similar and sufficient - Improve access for the disabled? levels of access to services, facilities and - Improve access to public transport? opportunities - Improve public transport services? - Improve access to local services and facilities? - Improve access to IT? - Improve access by foot or cycle? - Ensure services are located to maintain the viability of settlements? - Reduce the need to travel? - Reduce travel distances (particularly journey to work)? Housing Provide the opportunity for people to meet their - Reduce homelessness? housing needs - Provide affordable housing? - Reduce the number of unfit homes? - Provide housing to meet local needs in the rural area? - Provide a range of house types and sizes? Health Improve overall levels of physical and mental - Improve levels of physical or mental health? health, reduce the disparities between different - Encourage healthy lifestyles (including travel choices)? groups and different areas - Increase access to affordable locally produced fruit and vegetables? - Improve sporting or recreational facilities? - Improve access to high quality health facilities Crime Reduce the incidences of crime and the fear of - Reduce incidences of crime? crime - Reduce the fear of crime?

- Ensure design and layout minimises the opportunity for crime?

Community Value and nurture a sense of belonging in a - Increase the ability of people to influence decisions? cohesive community whilst respecting diversity - Improve cultural diversity? - Create or sustain a vibrant community? - Encourage engagement in community activities? - Meet specific needs of a section of the community? Skills Assist people in gaining the skills to fulfil their - Improve access to educational/learning or training potential and increase their contribution to facilities for all ages? society and the economy Liveability To create healthy, clean and pleasant - Reduce noise pollution? environments for people to enjoy living, working - Improve the cleanliness of the environment? and recreating in and to protect and enhance - Reduce unpleasant odours? residential amenity - Improve the satisfaction of people with their neighbourhoods? Effective protection of the environment Biodiversity Maintain and enhance the diversity and - Protect and enhance sites of acknowledged importance abundance of species and their habitats, for wildlife (SSSI’s, CWS, LNR’s)? including those specifically protected, and - Avoid harm to and enhance opportunities for protected create new greenspace networks for wildlife to species and others listed in the Northamptonshire Red flourish and people to enjoy Data Book? - Create habitats of value for wildlife in particular those which meet BAP target? - Improve the connectivity of green spaces and green networks? - Improve appropriate access to natural areas? Landscape Maintain and enhance the quality, character - Ensure landscape character is used to assess the

and local distinctiveness of the landscape, capacity of areas to absorb new development thereby including its contribution to the setting and influencing the location and scale of development? character of settlements - Ensure landscape Character Assessment influences design of the built environment and networks of green infrastructure Cultural Protect and enhance sites, features and areas - Protect and enhance sites, features and areas of Heritage of historical, archaeological, geological and historical, archaeological and cultural value and their cultural value and their settings setting? - Protect and enhance sites of geological value? Built Maintain and enhance the quality and - Maintain and enhance the quality of built settlements? Environment distinctiveness of the built environment - Protect, maintain, enhance and expand good quality open space within and adjacent to settlements? - Create buildings and spaces that are attractive, functional, adaptable and durable that compliment, enhance and support local character? - Encourage the re-use and refurbishment of the existing built environment? Climate Change Reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases - Reduce emissions of greenhouse gases? and protect people from the effects of climate - Increase tree cover? change - Ensure adaptability of environments and buildings to natural hazards? Prudent Use of natural resources Air Reduce all forms of air pollution in the interests - Reduce traffic related pollution? of local air quality and the integrity of the - Minimise or reduce light pollution? atmosphere - Reduce levels of dust or particulates? Water Quality Maintain and improve the quality of ground and - Minimise or reduce the risk of pollution to water? river waters Water Ensure adequate water supply, maximise water - Reduce water consumption? Conservation efficiency and reduce the risk of flooding - Improve water efficiency?

and - Reduce the risk of flooding? Management - Encourage Sustainable Drainage Schemes (SUDS)? Soil and Land Ensure the efficient use of land and maintain - Maintain the best and most versatile agricultural land? the resource of productive soil - Reduce the risk of land contamination - Remediate contaminated land? - Minimise the loss of green field land? - Maximise the use of brownfield land? - Maximise densities? Minerals Maintain the stock of minerals - Avoid the sterilisation of known minerals reserves? - Promote the appropriate use of primary and secondary aggregates? Energy Use Minimise energy consumption, increase energy - Minimise or reduce energy use? efficiency and maintain the stock of non - Promote energy efficient buildings? renewable energy sources Renewable Increase the opportunities for energy - Encourage the development of renewable energy Energy generation from renewable energy sources generation schemes (e.g. Wind)? - Encourage community heating schemes or combined heat and power? - Encourage small scale schemes in developments (e.g. Solar) Waste Reduce the consumption of finite materials and - Promote resource efficient buildings? increase recycling - Encourage the use of recycled materials? - Reduce the production of waste? Maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and employment Employment Maintain and enhance employment - Provide new jobs? opportunities and to reduce the disparities - Encourage efficient patterns of movement? arising from unequal access to jobs - Increase the proportion of knowledge based and high tech businesses? - Encourage and support the rural economy?

- Increase the diversity and quality of employment opportunities in the rural area - Provide quality accessible childcare opportunities? Wealth Creation Retain and enhance the factors which are - Encourage enterprise and innovation? conducive to wealth creation, including - Exploit opportunities for new technologies? personal creativity, infrastructure and the local - Encourage innovation in sustainable design and strengths and qualities that are attractive to construction? visitors and investors - Enhance and promote the image of the area as a business and a sustainable tourist location? Town Centres Protect and enhance the vitality and viability of - Retain and develop a wide range of uses, attractions and town centres and market towns amenities? - Ensure good accessibility to and within the centre? - Attract continuing investment in development or refurbishment - Encourage the evening economy 5. Encourage increased housing

Appendix 2

Biodiversity data

Statutory and non-statutory natural environment designations in Kettering Borough.

Site Designation

Dingley Wood CWS Hermitage Wood CWS/Semi-natural ancient woodland Brampton Wood CWS/Semi-natural ancient woodland/Wildlife Trust reserve Stoke and Bowd Lane Woods SSSI Walter Wood CWS Askershaw Wood CWS Pipewell Woods SSSI Goodman’s Spinney CWS 11-Acre Spinney CWS Alder Wood and Meadow SSSI New Wood CWS Gaultney Wood CWS/Semi-natural ancient woodland The Plens CWS/Wildlife Trust reserve The Cedars CWS Tailby Meadow CWS/LNR Desborough Pocket Park Pocket Park Desborough Pond and Stream CWS Rushton Grange Meadow CWS Rushton Park Woodland CWS Rothwell Gullet CWS/Wildlife Trust reserve Rothwell Pocket Park Pocket Park Harrington Pool CWS Harper’s Brook CWS Corner Pond CWS Storefield Wood Corner CWS

Oakley Bushes CWS Sart Wood CWS/Replanted Ancient Woodland Geddington Chase SSSI SSSI/CWS/Replanted ancient woodland/Semi-natural ancient woodland End Quarry, Newton CWS Newton Old Railway and Pit CWS Geddington Wood CWS Barford Meadows SSSI/CWS/Wildlife Trust reserve Weekley Hall Wood Railway CWS 69 Cutting Glendon Junction Quarry CWS Glendon Railway Cutting CWS Weekley Hall Wood and Quarry CWS 69 Cherry Hall Plantation CWS Glendon Lodge Quarry CWS New Lake and New Lake CWS210 and 211 Meadow Old Head Wood CWS Grafton Park Wood CWS Kirtley Coppice CWS Loddington Coppice CWS Mawsley Wood CWS Birch Spinney and Mawsley SSSI Marsh Cransley Wood CWS/Semi-natural Ancient Woodland/Replanted Ancient Woodland Broughton Green Lane CWS Northfield Avenue Reserve CWS Kettering Railway Embankment CWS Mound Slade Brook and Lake CWS Kettering General Hospital Pocket Park Pocket Park Ise Marsh and Cook’s Spinney CWS Ise Marsh, Weeksteed CWS 221

Castle Field CWS 219 Big Spinney and Wallis CWS Spinney/Barton Seagrave Pocket Park Coppicemoor Spinney CWS Wicksteed Park South Lake CWS 220 Cranford Wood CWS Cranford Meadow CWS 79 Sandy Spinney Quarry CWS 78 Duck End Quarry, Cranford CWS 76 Quarry End, Cranford Road CWS 74/Geological SSSI South East Quarry, Cranford CWS Hogs Hole CWS Burton Latimer Pocket Park Pocket Park Broughton Pocket Park Pocket Park Cranford Pocket Park Pocket Park Dog Kennel Spinney Pocket Park Pocket Park Grange Pocket Park Pocket Park Rothwell Pocket Park Pocket Park Stoke Albany Pocket Park Pocket Park Wallis Spinney Pocket Park Pocket Park Rushton Pocket Park Pocket Park River Ise and Meadows SSSI/CWS Southfield Farm Marsh SSSI/ CWS Cranford St John SSSI West Lodge Quarry CWS Glendon Old Quarry CWS Storefield Wood East CWS Storewood Wood Grassland CWS South Wood CWS Grange Road Spinney CWS