Jobs growth the key to county expansion
PLANS which will create thousands of jobs and shape the future of the west of the county are to be finalised next year.
A consultation on initial proposals for how this part of Northamptonshire will meet Government targets for building homes and creating new jobs has been completed and a new joint planning unit is considering the responses with a view to publishing a report early next year.
The Government determined that more than 62,000 homes and additional jobs should be created in West Northamptonshire towns and villages
between 2001 and 2026.
The councils of Daventry District, Northampton Borough, South Northamptonshire and Northamptonshire County Council formed The West Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit to prepare the development plan documents.
The development will include affordable and environmentally-friendly housing, as well as transport links, schools, hospitals and community facilities.
A key issue is providing enough jobs to sustain an increase in population and thereby developing the local economy.
The largest growth is planned within Northampton itself, with an emphasis on making movement around the town easier.
Work has already started in Daventry, where the district council has identified the need for regeneration over the next 20 years, while the JPU document also looks at possible continuing development and expansion of the Daventry international rail freight terminal close to
the M1.
Within Towcester, the development would probably include a by-pass of the A5, re-routing the large amounts of traffic in the hope that an alternative route would encourage shoppers to return to the market town.
Other aspects of the plan include development of Brackley, Weedon, smaller towns and villages and a major scheme at Silverstone circuit and its role as a focus for employment.
Joint Planning Unit manager Ivan Moss said: "The unit was formed by the four councils because they recognised the growth of Northampton would have impact well beyond its administrative boundary. If this was to be properly co-ordinated it was essential to have one plan.
"The team, which consists of staff seconded from the constituent authorities, is now in the process of analysing the responses received from our public consultation exercise.
"One of the key challenges is to ensure that jobs are provided, as well as houses – so that sustainable communities are being created."
Among the groups to respond was Northamptonshire Chamber, which focused on the need for economic growth in line with extra housing and infrastructure.
Chamber policy manager Kirstine Storey said: "It is very positive for the county that this growth should take place, but it is important to make sure that it brings with it the jobs and economic growth to support it.
"Plans to regenerate Northampton town centre, for example, are a positive step towards making it the inspirational heart of the county we need if Northamptonshire is going to grow and develop.
"We feel that taking the traffic out of Towcester town centre would benefit businesses by giving shoppers a cleaner, more pleasant place to walk and browse, increasing footfall and, hopefully, trade.
"In addition, plans for an educational hub in Daventry will increase the local skills base, which is vital to economic growth."
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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