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
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