During early-March residents from across the district were invited to public consultation events held at Rushden Lakes to view plans for the Rushden East Sustainable Urban Extension (SUE) Masterplan and District-wide Local Plan Part 2.
The events across two days, which were organised by East Northamptonshire Council (ENC), provided stakeholders and local residents with the opportunity to find out more about the consultations and submit their views.
Questions raised by residents included the prospect of Rushden being extended and the impact on infrastructure, alongside the connectivity between new developments and existing towns. ENC planning officers were on hand to answer queries, explain details of each of the consultations and ensure that residents and stakeholders had an understanding of how the proposals will influence development in Rushden and Higham Ferrers.
The Rushden East SUE Masterplan is a strategy that sets out to build approximately 2,700 dwellings, to provide a wide range of employment opportunities, community facilities, greenspaces and improved infrastructure within the next 15 years. This strategic development will work alongside the district-wide Local Plan Part 2 and Householders Extensions SPD, which when finalised and adopted, will cover the remainder to the current Local Plan period to 2031.
Cllr Steven North, Leader of East Northamptonshire Council, said: “We’d like to thank everyone who came along to the consultation events to view the proposals and speak with planning officers. Officers had some useful discussions with residents who were all keen to have their say on future development in Rushden and Higham Ferrers.
“The consultations for Rushden East SUE Masterplan and Local Plan Part 2, alongside the Householder Extensions SPD, run until 4:30pm on Monday 23 March, so there is still plenty of time to have your say. Residents can view the plans on our website and submit their comments.”
Further details about all ENC’s current consultations can be found at www.east-northamptonshire.gov.uk/consultation