The West Northamptonshire Council Planning Policy Committee was scheduled to convene to discuss a draft Statement of Community Involvement and respond to a consultation from Rugby Borough Council regarding their local plan. The committee was also expected to consider whether West Northamptonshire Council could accommodate any unmet need for Gypsy and Traveller pitches from Rugby Borough.

West Northamptonshire Draft Statement of Community Involvement 2025

The committee was scheduled to discuss a report seeking approval to consult on a draft Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) for West Northamptonshire. The report, authored by Margaret Howe, Senior Planning Policy Officer, stated that all local authorities are required to have an up-to-date SCI in place, and these must be reviewed every five years.

The purpose of an SCI is to outline how the council will engage and consult with the public, businesses, landowners, developers, and other stakeholders in its planning functions. This ensures that interested parties can participate in the decisions made by the local authority.

According to the report, there are currently five SCIs in place for the West Northamptonshire area, including:

• The West Northamptonshire Local Plan SCI, adopted in January 2024
• Three SCIs from the legacy authorities of Northampton Borough Council (NBC), Daventry District Council (DDC) and South Northamptonshire Council (SNC) covering the development management function
• One for the Minerals and Waste Local Plan

The draft SCI aims to harmonise these existing SCIs, replacing the Local Plan SCI and the three legacy SCIs with a single document. The Minerals and Waste Local Plan SCI will remain in force for applications related to mineral and waste development.

The report stated that the draft SCI sets out the national and local context, the principles of engagement and consultation, and the mechanisms used across the planning service. It is divided into sections covering Planning Policy, Development Management, and Building Control, outlining the minimum standards for consultation in each area. The SCI also addresses how to handle consultation during extraordinary circumstances and details the review and monitoring process.

The report recommends that the Planning Policy Committee agree to undertake public consultation on the draft SCI and delegate authority to the Head of Planning Policy and Specialist Services to make minor editorial and presentational changes before the consultation begins.

The draft SCI itself, included as an appendix, provides further detail on the consultation arrangements, including methods for responding and the consultation period. It also outlines the purpose of the document, the structure of the West Northamptonshire Planning and Building Control Service, and the context for community involvement in planning.

The document states that the West Northamptonshire Planning and Building Control Service delivers a number of planning and building control functions, including development management, planning policy and specialist services, enforcement and building control. The service is based at The Forum at Towcester.

The SCI also details how the council will engage and consult on various planning activities, such as the West Northamptonshire Local Plan, neighbourhood plans, supplementary planning documents, Article 4 directions¹, conservation areas², local lists, and tree preservation orders.

Rugby Borough Local Plan - Preferred Option Consultation 2025

The committee was also scheduled to discuss a report regarding a consultation by Rugby Borough Council on the Preferred Options draft of their Local Plan. The report sought approval to submit a formal consultation response to Rugby Borough Council and to agree on the council's response to Rugby Borough's request for assistance in meeting any unmet need for Gypsy and Traveller pitches.

According to the report, Rugby Borough Council's Local Plan Preferred Option Consultation Document sets out a proposed development strategy for the borough for the period 2024-2045, identifying land use and development plans, as well as draft development management policies and housing and employment allocations.

Policy S2 of the plan identifies that 12,978 new homes will be delivered in the period 2024-2045 to meet future housing needs. Policy S3 of the plan identifies that 4.4ha of office floorspace and 284ha of floorspace falling withing the B2, E(g)(ii) and (iii), and B8 use classes³ is required to meet Rugby Borough's need for employment land in the period 2024-2045.

The report notes that the council's formal response to the Local Plan consultation offers a note of caution, raising observations about some of the housing allocations proposed under Policy S6 (Residential Allocations). These allocations, specifically:

• Allocation ref. 40 – East of Kilsby Road, Hillmorton (125 units)
• Allocation ref. 334 – Land off Barby Lane, Hillmorton (380 units)
• Allocation ref. 338 – South of Crick Road, Houlton (250 units)

The report states that these allocations need further assessment regarding their potential impact on the highway network, the character and functioning of an area of West Northamptonshire, and its residents who access Rugby.

The report also addresses Rugby Borough Council's request for West Northamptonshire Council to accommodate any unmet need for Gypsy and Traveller pitches. Policy S4 of the Rugby Borough Local Plan sets out a number of allocations for Gypsies and Traveller pitches to help address the requirements of the Rugby Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment 2025, which identifies a need for 94 pitches.

The report recommends that the Planning Policy Committee agree that West Northamptonshire Council will not accommodate any unmet Gypsy and Traveller pitches from Rugby Borough at this time. It argues that Rugby Borough Council has not demonstrated how it has explored all available options for addressing the need within its own planning area. Additionally, West Northamptonshire Council is in the process of reviewing its own evidence as it progresses its Local Plan to Regulation 18 consultation in Autumn 2025.