FORWARD TOGETHER

Growth Area � Development � May 2009 Fact Sheet 3 �

For a number of years, the to benefit from the expected has impacted on the timetable Council has been preparing upturn. for development. the plans which will see Your Councillors are also keen have an You have no doubt over the to see action and have recently attractive town centre, taking years of preparation been approved the first Public Realm advantage of its medieval street asked for your opinion about projects to be delivered layout and architecture. The the future and would now like next year. new Town Centre will be able to to see some evidence of these support the present population plans being delivered. We are Wellingborough has enormous of the Borough while providing now looking again for your potential - being at the hub future capacity for the expected thoughts about how you would of the Country’s major road growth up to and beyond 2021. like the Town Centre to look. infrastructure, a very good rail These plans will also see The Public Realm Strategy will service to and other improvements to the Railway direct the types of material British Cities and importantly Station to take advantage of and street furniture and lying in some of the most improved services and further lighting we will use, the Shop attractive, unspoilt and Head of Built Environment Rail Track investments to the Front and Advertising Design undiscovered countryside in Steven Wood East Midland line. Guide speaks for its self and . It is these messages the Conservation Area Appraisal we are bringing together with the I have been in Wellingborough will ensure that the quality of help of Wellingborough business for nine months now - probably the architecture of the town is leaders to provide the platform INSIDE the most challenging times in preserved and new buildings to tell people about the recent years for both the are designed to compliment Wellingborough story (more • High St Compulsory national and local economy. the existing historic buildings about this next time). I am Purchase Order � The prospects seem to indicate but importantly make their own confident that the Borough is that we will see a general statement on the street scene. well placed to take advantage of • Town Centre Planning improvement next spring. The vision is one which provides it’s geographical as well as its Support Documents � This has also been a very busy an attractive shopping centre but business position to be a really time within the growth team at also one which people will want vibrant and prosperous place in • Harrold Road Bozeat the Council working with our to visit and experience the the future. partners preparing the Borough abundance of the area’s • Wellingborough Rail Station of Wellingborough to be first heritage. Clearly the downturn Town Centre Update � Chief Regenerating the town centre Executive More shops, increased Public Enquiry was held Guide, and Public Realm leisure and community between 27th January and Strategy have been Welcome facilities and extra 3rd February 2009. produced. These include housing could all be part The Inspector’s report, assessments of the of the changing face of which will be binding on value and significance Welcome to our third Wellingborough Town the Council, is expected to of architectural and Growth Area factsheet. Centre. be received in May 2009. historic interest in the The Government’s The proposals form part The Council must ensure town centre, proposals ambitions for growth in of the Town Centre Area that the regeneration of to promote the Action Plan. The Plan was the town centre is improvement of shops this part of the submitted to the Secretary balanced with the desire and the wider street country have prompted of State on 26th June 2008 to conserve and enhance scene, plus a strategy for the definition of the and the 6 week Public the town’s heritage. To high quality, attractive and North consultation period help achieve this, drafts of accessible public areas Growth Area, followed until 7th August a Conservation Area including streets, squares 2008. Following this Appraisal, Shop Front and and parks. encapsulating the consultation period a Advertisement Design Boroughs of Wellingborough, Kettering and Corby, and the district of East Northamptonshire.

These newsletters are designed to keep residents and organisations informed of current growth and development throughout the borough. The Council website is available along Redevelopment of the Market Square with other council media resources to provide you with up to date information about all the High St Compulsory Council services. Purchase Order

The Borough Council of Wellingborough can announce that the High Street, Jackson’s Lane, West Street, and Oxford Street Compulsory Purchase Order was approved by Central Government on the 19th December 2008.

This marks the beginning of the first phase of the Town Centre regeneration (in line with the Town Centre Area Action Plan), which includes a new campus for the Tresham Institute, new housing, retail and enhanced car parking facilities. The Council has listened to concerns raised regarding historical Lyn Martin-Bennison, and environmental impacts on the site, Chief Executive and is committed to working with a developer (once appointed) to bring forward a scheme that will and enhance and improve this area, contribute to the town centre. Axonometric view of the proposed development Town Centre Planning Support Documents � Throughout the summer of 2.. Celebrating Heritage; 2008, the Council consulted promoting the historic the public on the Town Centre elements of the town, and Area Action Plan (TCAAP). drawing inspiration from This document describes the the past to influence aims and objectives for the future decisions. regeneration of Welllingborough Town Centre 3. Walkability and and provides suggestions for sustainable transport; development up to 2021. improving the efficiency of Consultation on the Town public transport, cycle Centre Public Realm routes and encourage a Strategy, Conservation Area more pedestrian friendly Appriasal and Shop Front environment. Design Guidance is taking place during April finishing 4. Best Quality sustainable on the 6th May 2009. public spaces; improving Documents are available to existing open spaces and view at Libraries, the guidance for new enhanced Councils Croyland Abbey landscapes. offices and the Councils website. 5. Promoting green links A number of events have and ecology; connect the been organised and further various opens spaces by a information is available Market Street The aim of the strategy is to network of ‘green links’, on our website build upon existing strengths new planting, new and www.wellingborough.gov.uk/ and resolve weakness within improved cycle routes, publicrealm Wellingborough’s public new ecological habitats realm and focuses on five key and places of interest To assist the elements. This is important including an educational to improve the attractiveness, arboretum. Introduction of implementation of the vitality and public image of Sustainable Urban Drainage TCAAP, the Council has the town centre; Systems (SUDS) to reduce produced three flood risks. supporting documents; Public Realm Strategy, 1. A place for people; Conservation Area providing a safe environment Assessment and the Shop for meeting, recreation Front Advertisement and and play. Design Guide.

Market Street Conservation Area Appraisal (CAA)

English Heritage guidance is the basis for the CAA methodology which consists of:

Map-Based Assessment Proposals This examines the Expansion of the existing geographical and historic Conservation Area based context of Wellingborough upon the location of listed Market Square from Market Street including the medieval buildings, ‘buildings of origins of the town which townscape merit’, the are firmly stamped upon the remarkably intact medieval modern street structure. street pattern and inclusion of ‘secondary areas’ that Site Based Studies provide a setting and context The CAA subdivides the town for areas of higher heritage centre into 10 character quality. areas described in terms of its listed buildings and An expanded conservation other ‘buildings of townscape area and identification of merit’, distinctive details and ‘buildings of townscape features of interest, green merit’ will provide greater spaces and vegetation etc. protection to the town All Hallows Church and Market Square Each area is analysed to centre’s rich heritage. establish key opportunities and threats. Shop Front and Advertisement Design Guide �

The design guide is underpinned by a baseline analysis that establishes Below left: Traditional shop front 10 general principles of good shop Various with timber window frame front design: subdivided by mullions and Shop Fronts transoms (Market Street). 1. � The character of Wellingborough Below Right: A modern shop should be respected containg a large expanse of undivided glass (Market Street). 2. � Consider the shop front in context Bottom Left: An original period with the building shop front with shop windows subdivided by elegant narrow mullions (Sheep Street). 3. � Consider the shop front in context with the street Bottom Right: A new window designed in a traditional style (Gloucester Place). 4. � Proposals should seek to contribute to sustainability

5. � Period shop fronts and details should be retained

6. � Existing unsympathetic shop fronts should be improved

7. � New or altered shop fronts should be designed and finished to a high standard using quality materials

8. � Designs should facilitate accessibility and promote community safety

9. � The historic environment and cultural heritage should be preserved or enhanced

10. Design responses should have regard to the character and sensitivity of the building

Greenway cycle route �

Work is continuing on the planning of a Greenway (cycle/ pedestrian route) linking the Embankment with Summer Leys Local Nature Reserve using the trackbed of the old railway line. This will link in with the existing urban cycleway network providing a link out to one of the Borough’s (if not the County’s) finest nature reserve and eventually may form part of the Sustrans Route linking Peterborough with Northampton. The Joint Planning Unit and the Core Spatial Strategy The North Northamptonshire Joint the standards it should aim to achieve. on Sustainable Design and Developer Planning Unit is a partnership of The Core Strategy is the framework Contributions to provide more detail Corby, Wellingborough, Kettering and for the Site Specific Plans being and guidance to specific policies in the East Northamptonshire Councils prepared by the individual Borough/ Core Strategy. together with Northamptonshire District Councils. County Council who have worked Information about the work of the together to create an overall plan for The Core Spatial Strategy is now being Joint Planning Unit, the review of the North Northamptonshire. The Joint reviewed to look at the period to 2026 Core Spatial Strategy and relevant Planning Unit reports to a Joint and beyond. To start the review documents can be found on the Joint Planning Committee, and works process, consultation is being Planning Unit Web Site: closely with the North Northants undertaken on the Scope of the Core www.nnjpu.org.uk Development Company. Strategy (what it should contain and what issues it should cover). If you have any questions about the The North Northamptonshire Core Consultation was held between work of the Joint Planning Unit tel: Spatial Strategy was adopted in June February and March this year. 01536 274974 email: 2008. This Plan sets out the overall [email protected] spatial strategy for North As well as preparing the Core Spatial Northamptonshire for the period Strategy, the Joint Planning Unit is 2001-2021, including where responsible for preparing development should be located, and Supplementary Planning Documents Wellingborough Rail Station � The Gateway � By 2031 North emphasises the station’s • New footbridge to toilets,improved staff Northamptonshire’s convenience to East existing platforms and facilities etc population will rise from Midlands, Luton and platform 4 298,000 to 445,000 with London Airports, Significant investment has over 73,000 new homes St Pancras and services • Enhanced vehicular been announced by and an estimated 71,000 to the European continent. access, drop off area to Network Rail to improve new jobs. Plans to 2021 are Wellingborough station the west of the railway the pedestrian bridge and already formally adopted. enables commuters and extend the present By 2021 Wellingborough travellers to arrive in • Enhanced parking, platforms. Investment in alone is scheduled to have a the centre of Paris within increasing capacity Nielson’s Siding was further 13,000 dwellings. 4 hours. from circa 500 to 1000 recently approved to spaces support the London Wellingborough Station is This provides further Olympic Rail extensions and a critical economic catalyst opportunities to enhance • Improved bus improvements to the for regeneration and growth the station and business interchange, taxi London Underground. and will be a Strategic potential around its vicinity. facilities, plaza and Transport Hub supporting drop off area to east Wellingborough’s Suggested Improvements to of railway line growing population. the station The station is already a • New station building, major business commuter • Disabled access via east of the railway hub, and connectivity lifts to all platforms including: buffet, with Eurostar further retail facilities, Harrold Road, Bozeat

Growth proposals and the delivery of appropriate by the Parish Council for the village envelope, in the case of affordable housing units is not only Affordable Housing. proven housing need - evidenced by a restricted to the urban areas. There The landowner the Duchy of Lancaster housing needs survey - was adopted are a number of dwellings allocated was keen to support the scheme. in 2004. for accommodation for rural areas After working in co-operation with within the Local Development architects and planners, a scheme Harrold Rd, Bozeat, is the first Framework, the majority of which was designed that complied with exception site that has been granted will be located in the larger, more sustainable code level 3. However, the planning permission within the sustainable centres. The lack of Duchy of Lancaster requested for the Borough. The progression of the affordable housing opportunities in scheme to reach sustainable code scheme is evidence of the working villages prompted Bozeat Parish level 5, which was found to be very partnership between the Bozeat Council to approach Northants expensive, jeopardising the scheme. Parish Council, NRHA, RHE, BCW, the Rural Housing Association (NRHA), The Housing Strategy team at the Duchy of Lancaster, and the Housing evidenced by the fact that Borough Council of Wellingborough Corporation. By means of a single residents were having to move then approached NRHA to determine conversation the partners are able to away to find suitable accomodation. how much money was needed to invest deliver the housing need of the village, NRHA, together with the Rural Housing in the scheme to raise it to sustainable while keeping to the aim of improving Enabler undertook a Housing Needs code level 4. After an application to the sustainable delivery of the scheme. Survey in July 2004, which identified committee, £70,000 was granted a need for 7 units, 6 rental and 1 allowing £10,000 per unit to achieve newbuild homebuy. the upgrade to sustainable code level 4. Following a village walk, a suitable site In summary, the exception policy for was identified that was deemed to be granting planning permission outside

Harrold Road, Bozeat Affordable Housing Scheme completed April 2007

Contact If you would like further information on any of these projects, please visit our website at: www.wellingborough.gov.uk Or contact: The Growth Area Development Team Tel: 01933 231989/85/849 Fax: 01933 231980

Email: [email protected]