Claiming the WatersideNorthampton and the River Nene

Sue BridgeHead of Planning, Northampton Borough Council

Outline of presentation:• Historical context

• Key issues

• The Vision for Northampton and the Nene

• Strategic objectives

• Policies for the Waterside

• Implementation

• Future key challenges

Northampton – the historical context

Dates back to Bronze AgeMiddle Ages - important town

Northampton Castle - a Royal ResidenceHosted Parliament of EnglandMany churches and monasteriesUniversity of Northampton(dissolved 1265 as threat to Oxford)Granted Royal Charter 1189

Great Fire in 1675

Grew rapidly with industrial development of 18th century

The Waterside -Historical Context, 18th & 19th Centuries

Nene opened to navigation from the Wash to Northampton in 1761

Canal link to Grand Union Canal was completed in 1815

Connected by water and rail by 1845 with loop to main line completed in late 1870’s

Beginning of encroachment of town into the watermeadows by 1880

• Large amount of growth north and south of river• Town turned its back on the river

• Traditional industries started to decline• 1980s/90s - free market economy

• Heavy industry• Rail-related industries• Power generation

The Waterside - Historical Context, 20th Century

The 20th Century saw significant encroachment into the watermeadows:

Declared a New Town in 1968

Waterside Campus through the Ages

The new University of Northampton Campus site has had a chequered history

• 1810 - rural• 1883 - rural, but with rail line passing

through, and beginning of• development in river margins• 1937 - power generation/industrial/power

links/rail sidings

Changes came in ...1979 - Demolition of power station

New Avon HQ - setting the tone

Historical Context The Legacy

Town has not capitalized on resource

Waterside inaccessible or unattractive at numerous points

Recent attempts to change legacy with residential/other developments fronting river not always successful

Maximise its opportunities:

• Increasing the presence of University of Northampton in the Central Area

• Strengthen and diversify the economic base to increase quantity and quality of job opportunities

• Enhance the diversity of cultural, leisure and recreational opportunities

• Provide high-quality green infrastructure

• Enhance natural and built heritage

Key Issues for the Waterside

The VisionBy 2026 the town centre will be firmly established as the economic and cultural centre for Northamptonshire:

• A destination of choice

• A distinctive retail offer

• New employment areas supporting regeneration

• A lively cultural quarter

• A new focus on the Waterside

Delivery Vehicles• The Central Area Action Plan (CAAP)• The Northampton Waterside Enterprise Zone (EZ)

Policies of CAAP and aspirations of EZ are aligned

CAAPNBC prepared the Central Area Action Plan as its development plan for the central area of Northampton.

The Plan sets out the Vision and Strategic objectives as well as the detailed policies for the area.

It is a wide-ranging document so I will concentrate on those aspects of the CAAP which impact on the Waterside Campus, the Waterside and the University of Northampton.

Policy 25: The WatersideAims to achieve:

• An appropriate mix of activities

• High quality, sustainable transport networks

• Environmental and recreational linkages

• Enhancement of biodiversity• Opportunities for a wide range

of recreational activities• Buildings and spaces that

address the water’s edge• Access to the water’s edge

and low-impact boating activities

• Range of uses including residential, neighbourhood retail, commercial leisure, education, commercial B1 offices, but primarily envisaged as new residential quarter

• Footpath/cycleway network and links

• High-quality public realm

• New road links

• Flood risk mitigation

• Suitable access to Delapré Lake and Abbey

• Address the site’s location within and on the edge of the Registered Battlefield

CAAP Policy 28: Avon/Nunn Mills/Ransome RoadDevelop a single new community in a comprehensive and complementary manner:

• Central Area Action Plan prepared before University of Northampton announced its intention to relocate

• Agreed that masterplan for the new campus would respect the framework set out in the CAAP

• Benefits of new Campus located within the EZ and in close proximity to town centre outweighs loss of residential units

From Policy to Delivery

From Policy to Delivery

Key benefits of the Waterside CampusCurrent reality is that market does not see Northampton as a major player.

University of Northampton has the ability to be a game-changer:

• Raise economic profile

• Deliver jobs and levers in £330m of investment

• The student £ comes to the town centre

• Makes a reality of the Enterprise Zone aspiration

• Improving land values in the area

• Kick-start commercial development

• Exemplar of new development addressing and opening up the river frontage

• Improving footway/cycle links to town centre and Delapré Abbey

• New leisure opportunities

• Improvements to green infrastructure

• Increase footfall and activity in parks, along the river and canal and town centre

Key benefits of the Waterside Campus

Conclusions

The relocation of the University to the Waterside is the catalyst for a new beginning for Northampton’s relationship with its river and canal.