The North Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit

Experience

Andrew Longley

North Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit

1. Context

2. What we do

3. Benefits

4. Challenges

5. Looking forward

North Northants JPU

Context• Small authorities -

limited capacity

• The Growth Agenda – threats & opportunities

• Partnership of equals

• Memorandum of Intent 2004

JointCommittee

NNDCBoard

SteeringGroup

Joint Planning Unit

ProjectDelivery

Team

ChiefExecutive

Decisions      Steer/filter        Technical work

Kettering

Wellingborough

Corby

East Northants

What do we do?

1. Local Development Framework

• Prepare Joint Core Strategy

• Support & coordination– Input to district plans– Programme Officer– Joint Supplementary

Planning Documents

Evidence baseUrban

Extensions

Employment

Transport modelling

Water Cycle

Sustainability AppraisalUtilities

Town centres

Settlement roles

Infrastructure Planning

Green Infrastructure

Housing

Energy Study

Urban structureViability

2. Joint technical work

What do we do?

What do we do?3. Development

Implementation

• Policy input on applications and appeals

• Specialist advice on design & sustainability

• Officer networks

4. Monitoring

• Support & coordination• Joint Annual Monitoring Report

What do we do?

5. Design Action Programme

• CABE & Arts Council support

• Training programme & site visits

• Specialist advice to planning authorities – design surgeries

• Supporting place-shaping

Better outcomes

• A sound plan

• Better developments

Increasing Capacity

Benefits

Cost savings

• Process costs and joint procurement

Rewards

• Housing & Planning Delivery Grant

• Resources from external partners e.g. NNDC, CABE, Arts Council

Benefits

Benefits

Attracting partners

• Studies and partnerships focused on strategic barriers– Water Cycle Study– A14 Study

• CABE support for Core Strategy review

Benefits

Recognition & influence

JPU used as good practice example• By Ministers, CLG, RTPI, CABE,

National Reviews

East Midlands RTPI Award winner

Keeping it together when:

• Budgets under pressure

• RSS to be abolished

• Growth Agenda not universally supported

• Localism could encourage parochialism

• Delivery arrangements changing

Challenges

Looking Forward• Financial pressures for joint

service delivery

• Duty to cooperate on plans

• Role of Core Strategy in provide big picture for Localism

• Continued support for JPU but the bar has been raised

• Council’s expecting Core Strategy to do more