The need to prepare a strategy for Wellingborough Town Centre stems from concerns about its future attractiveness and vitality as well as the need to make the most of opportunities to create lasting improvements.

Over the last few years, Wellingborough has slipped down the national ranking of town centres. The designation of Wellingborough as a Growth Area presents opportunities to address this. 12,800 new homes are to be built by the year 2021, with more beyond this. It is clear that the town centre will need to keep step with this expanded population if it is to prosper.

The Plan puts forward an ambitious strategy set to deliver a major expansion of retail floorspace, together with new housing, cultural and community facilities. It balances this with the need to conserve the town’s historic built fabric – with old and new stitched together via a high quality network of transformed public spaces.  

Against this backdrop, the practice was asked to prepare an Area Action Plan and accompanying Sustainability Appraisal, to form part of the North Northamptonshire Local Development Framework. This has been submitted to the Secretary of State for endorsement.