Decisions about the long term strategic land use planning of Northamptonshire are made at the regional level by the East Midlands Regional Assembly (EMRA). The plan that does this is the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), also known as the Regional Plan. This plan covers the whole of the East Midlands and therefore includes Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Rutland and Leicestershire, as well as Northamptonshire.
Due to the growth that is taking place in Northamptonshire there is also a sub-regional component of the Regional Spatial Strategy; this is called the Milton Keynes and South Midlands Sub-Regional Strategy (MKSM SRS) and gives more detail on where growth will occur in the area which straddles three regions and includes Bedfordshire, Milton Keynes and Aylesbury as well as Northamptonshire.
Eight policies from the Northamptonshire Structure Plan, the plan that dealt with long term strategic planning for the county until the planning system was changed, have been saved and are therefore continuing in force; they need to be read in conjunction with the RSS and MKSM SRS.
The other elements of the strategic planning in Northamptonshire are the core strategies of the local development frameworks.
- North Northamptonshire (the districts of Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough and East Northamptonshire). This plan to 2021 was adopted in June 2008
- West Northamptonshire (the districts of Northampton, Daventry and South Northamptonshire). This will be a plan to 2026
- A core strategy for minerals and waste that covers the whole county. This plan to 2026 reached Preferred Options stage in Autumn 2007. It is due to be adopted in mid 2009.
The County Council is responsible for the minerals and waste core strategy; the preparation of the other two core strategies is being led by two joint planning units.
For more information about Regional Planning browse the links on the right (Pages in this Section) or contact us using the details on the right.