New 'arc' will shape future plan of county
A new strategy is being unveiled by Northamptonshire County Council which is designed to shape future planning and investment in the county.
The so-called Northamptonshire Arc will sweep south-west to north-east from Northampton and encompass all the larger towns including Daventry and Towcester in the west and south, Kettering and Corby in the north and Wellingborough, Rushden, Oundle and Thrapston in the east.
This area of the county is the main focus of existing economic activity, principal road arteries and the bulk of new housing and other development. The Arc will also act as a concept to unite all of the county's development projects in order to strengthen bids to attract funding from central government.
County councillor Heather Smith, cabinet member for environment, growth and transport, said: "There is no single overall strategy for the county which offers a clear approach for plan-making, or expresses priorities in a practical spatial way. The Northamptonshire Arc will do this. It will help to ensure that future development benefits the people of Northamptonshire and the environment.
"The county has been earmarked as being part of one of the four main areas of the country which will facilitate population and economic growth over the next 20 years, so it is essential that we have a robust plan which will guide this."
Since 2001 Northamptonshire's population has grown by 7.7 per cent which is more than twice the national average of 3.3 per cent.
Up to 2026, the county's population is due to grow by 28 per cent (191,200 people) from 686,700 to 877,900.
In the same period there will be an increase of 29 per cent in school age children (aged four to 17) and an increase of 72 per cent in people aged over 65 years. The additional number of housing will be 128,200.
If the cabinet approves the proposal on April 13, a public consultation will take place with the county's borough and district councils invited to consider adopting the Northamptonshire Arc concept.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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