Pre-Submission Draft East Northamptonshire Local Plan Part 2/ 2011-2031 Regulation 19 consultation, February 2021 Contents Page Foreword 9 1.0 Introduction 11 2.0 Area Portrait 27 3.0 Vision and Outcomes 38 4.0 Spatial Development Strategy 46 EN1: Spatial development strategy EN2: Settlement boundary criteria – urban areas EN3: Settlement boundary criteria – freestanding villages EN4: Settlement boundary criteria – ribbon developments EN5: Development on the periphery of settlements and rural exceptions housing EN6: Replacement dwellings in the open countryside 5.0 Natural Capital – environment, Green Infrastructure, energy, 66 sport and recreation EN7: Green Infrastructure corridors EN8: The Greenway EN9: Designation of Local Green Space East Northamptonshire Council Page 1 of 225 East Northamptonshire Local Plan Part 2: Pre-Submission Draft (February 2021) EN10: Enhancement and provision of open space EN11: Enhancement and provision of sport and recreation facilities 6.0 Social Capital – design, culture, heritage, tourism, health 85 and wellbeing, community infrastructure EN12: Health and wellbeing EN13: Design of Buildings/ Extensions EN14: Designated Heritage Assets EN15: Non-Designated Heritage Assets EN16: Tourism, cultural developments and tourist accommodation EN17: Land south of Chelveston Road, Higham Ferrers 7.0 Economic Prosperity – employment, economy, town 105 centres/ retail EN18: Commercial space to support economic growth EN19: Protected Employment Areas EN20: Relocation and/ or expansion of existing businesses EN21: Town centres and primary shopping frontages EN22: Impact test thresholds for retail development EN23: Development of main town centre uses around the local centres 8.0 Housing Delivery – housing mix/ tenure, affordable housing, 132 specialist housing, market delivery, site specific allocations EN24: Oundle housing allocations EN25: Land rear of Cemetery, Stoke Doyle Road, Oundle East Northamptonshire Council Page 2 of 225 East Northamptonshire Local Plan Part 2: Pre-Submission Draft (February 2021) EN26: Cotterstock Road/ St Peter's Road, Oundle EN27: St Christopher’s Drive, Oundle EN28: Land east of the A6/ Bedford Road, Rushden EN29: Delivering wheelchair accessible housing EN30: Housing mix and tenure to meet local need EN31: Older people's housing provision EN32: Self and custom build housing 9.0 Delivering Sustainable urban extensions 165 EN33: Rushden East Sustainable Urban Extension 10.0 Town Strategies – Rushden, Higham Ferrers, 172 Irthlingborough, Oundle, Raunds, Thrapston EN34: Reimagining Town Centres – guiding principles EN35: Splash Pool and Wilkinson site redevelopment, Rushden EN36: Former factory site, between 71 Oakley Road and 37-51 Washbrook Road, Rushden EN37: Rectory Business Centre, Rushden EN38: Federal Estates/ former Textile Bonding factory site, Newton Road/ Midland Road, Higham Ferrers EN39: Former Select & Save, 13-21 High Street/ St Peter’s Way Car Park, Irthlingborough EN40: Former Rushden and Diamonds FC Stadium site, Nene Park, Diamond Way, Irthlingborough EN41: Riverside Hotel, Station Road, Oundle EN42: Cattle Market, Market Road, Thrapston East Northamptonshire Council Page 3 of 225 East Northamptonshire Local Plan Part 2: Pre-Submission Draft (February 2021) 11.0 Monitoring and implementation 210 Glossary 220 East Northamptonshire Council Page 4 of 225 East Northamptonshire Local Plan Part 2: Pre-Submission Draft (February 2021) Index of Figures and Tables Title Paragraph/ Page Policy reference Figure 1 Preparation of the Local Plan – key milestones 1.16 15 Figure 2 Plan Making – East Northamptonshire Framework 1.18 17 Figure 3 East Northamptonshire: Spatial context 1.37 21 Figure 4 Spatial Elements of the District 3.5 40 Figure 5 Local Plan outcomes 3.7 42 Figure 6 Local Plan spatial strategy – settlement hierarchy 4.26 55 Figure 7 Priority Green Infrastructure Corridors 5.13 69 Figure 8 The Greenway 5.17 73 Figure 9 Playing Pitch Strategy and Action Plan – North and 5.33 81 South areas Figure 10 Rockingham Forest and Destination Nene Valley 6.40 97 Figure 11 Sports Masterplan, Newton Road, Higham Ferrers 6.56 102 Figure 12 Land to the west of Moulton College, Higham Ferrers 6.57 103 Figure 13 South East Midlands area (Strategic Economic Plan, 7.4 106 Figure 1, p9) Figure 14 Land rear of Cemetery, Stoke Doyle Road, Oundle 8.26 140 Figure 15 Cotterstock Road/ St Peter's Road, Oundle 8.29 142 Figure 16 St Christopher’s Drive, Oundle 8.33 144 Figure 17 Land east of the A6/ Bedford Road, Rushden (South 8.46 148 East Rushden) Figure 18 Rushden East Sustainable Urban Extension 9.7 167 Figure 19 Irthlingborough West site plan 9.12 170 Figure 20 Rushden and Higham Ferrers Spatial Diagram 10.13 176 Figure 21 Rushden redevelopment opportunities 10.18 179 East Northamptonshire Council Page 5 of 225 East Northamptonshire Local Plan Part 2: Pre-Submission Draft (February 2021) Title Paragraph/ Page Policy reference Figure 22 Former factory site, between 71 Oakley Road and 37-51 10.25 182 Washbrook Road, Rushden Figure 23 Rectory Business Centre, Rushden 10.30 184 Figure 24 Federal Estates/ former Textile Bonding factory site, 10.40 187 Newton Road/ Midland Road, Higham Ferrers Figure 25 Irthlingborough Spatial Diagram 10.42 189 Figure 26 Former Select & Save, 13-21 High Street/ St Peter's Way 10.48 192 Car Park, Irthlingborough Figure 27 Irthlingborough East/ Nene Park 10.49 193 Figure 28 Oundle Spatial Diagram 10.57 196 Figure 29 Oundle – key redevelopment opportunities 10.58 198 Figure 30 Riverside Hotel, Station Road, Oundle 10.64 199 Figure 31 Raunds Spatial Diagram 10.68 201 Figure 32 Thrapston and Islip Spatial Diagram 10.72 204 Figure 33 Thrapston Town Centre redevelopment opportunities 10.81 207 Figure 34 Cattle Market, Market Road, Thrapston 10.83 208 Table 1 Population data 2.4 27 Table 2 Settlement roles 4.2 46 Table 3 Distribution of housing requirements (urban areas) 4.6 48 Table 4 Functional roles for rural settlements 4.12 49 Table 5 Defined villages 4.26 53 Table 6 Open Space Assessment – Quality and Value Criteria 5.27 77 Table 7 Open Space Accessibility Standards 5.28 77 Table 8 Level of provision required to support new development 5.29 78 East Northamptonshire Council Page 6 of 225 East Northamptonshire Local Plan Part 2: Pre-Submission Draft (February 2021) Title Paragraph/ Page Policy reference Table 9 Playing pitch demand calculator 5.33 82 Table 10 Criteria for deciding whether a building/ site/ structure 6.33 94 should be considered as a non-designated heritage asset Table 11 Jobs delivery trajectory 7.18 110 Table 12 Top 40 businesses 7.42 118 Table 13 Town centre boundaries and primary shopping areas 7.52 121 Table 14 Recent convenience retail developments 7.58 125 Table 15 Major sites 8.6 133 Table 16 Urban areas residual housing requirement, as at 1 April 8.8 134 2019 Table 17 Rural areas residual housing requirement, as at 1 April 8.13 135 2019 Table 18 Indicative rural housing need 8.17 137 Table 19 East Northamptonshire: Projected housing requirements 8.64 154 for older persons 2011-2031 (SHMA update 2015) Table 20 Specialist older person’s housing shortfall (East 8.66 155 Northamptonshire) Table 21 Identifiable needs for Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling 8.94 163 Showpeoples' accommodation 2018-2033 Table 22 Sustainable Urban Extensions - Anticipated delivery by 9.1 164 2031 Table 23 Irthlingborough West - breakdown of the development 9.11 169 area Table 24 Spatial parts of Rushden and Higham Ferrers 10.13 176 Table 25 Spatial parts of Irthlingborough 10.42 189 Table 26 Spatial parts of Oundle 10.57 196 Table 27 Spatial parts of Raunds 10.68 202 Table 28 Spatial parts of Thrapston and Islip 10.72 204 East Northamptonshire Council Page 7 of 225 East Northamptonshire Local Plan Part 2: Pre-Submission Draft (February 2021) Title Paragraph/ Page Policy reference Table 29 Performance indicators and targets for monitoring 11.14 214 East Northamptonshire Council Page 8 of 225 East Northamptonshire Local Plan Part 2: Pre-Submission Draft (February 2021) Foreword Introduction by Cllrs Steven North (Leader of the Council) and David Brackenbury (Chair, Planning Policy Committee) This plan sets out a vision for East Northamptonshire, building on the proposals and land use allocations as set out in the Joint Core Strategy. The North Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy 2011-2031 includes significant proposals such as the Rushden East sustainable urban extension and a new garden community at Tresham in the north of the district. It seeks to add local value through its policies which reflect the distinctive characteristics and attractiveness of the area. The plan supports the growth and diversification of business opportunities across the district, recognising the need to ensure its market towns remain as thriving and competitive centres by providing a range of services and facilities for their local communities as well as encouraging town centre regeneration schemes to encourage future redevelopment opportunities. As the growth town for the area, Rushden will provide the majority of new housing and employment development during the plan period. This will help deliver future housing and employment needs, supported by infrastructure and services including transport, retail and leisure, to help ensure a sustainable, high quality environment. East Northamptonshire Council Page 9 of 225 East Northamptonshire Local Plan Part 2: Pre-Submission Draft (February 2021) Much of the district is rural, interspersed with villages and market towns. It is bisected in a north/ south direction by the Nene Valley, a focus for blue and green infrastructure that provides a significant natural asset which enhances the district The Plan aims to ensure those rural communities have the ability to meet local needs, as well as providing opportunities to improve local connections, create local employment prospects and develop the visitor offer. To meet the needs of the wider community, the plan seeks to provide a range of housing types including for the older population who may be looking for quality housing for downsizing or meeting a specialist need through care and extra care provision.