North Northamptonshire Urban Green Space Strategy - residents survey

Overview

North Northamptonshire Council has secured just over £1.5M of the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) to invest in the creation and improvement to the area’s local green spaces, community gardens and watercourse spaces.  Delivery of projects is scheduled to be complete by March 2025. The six urban areas identified are Corby, Desborough, Kettering, Wellingborough, Rushden and Higham Ferrers. 

The first part of the project includes undertaking an audit of urban green spaces within these settlements, before developing a strategy prioritising those spaces with plans for how the investment can improve the area and optimise its use for visitors. It is also hoped to create a legacy strategy document that can be used to attract future funding bids, building on the investment already secured through the UKSPF.  The Council has secured specialist open space consultants in The Environment Partnership (TEP) and CFP Landscape & Heritage to carry out engagement on the project brief and prepare a strategy with prioritised schemes for delivery.

The Council is keen to hear from residents, local groups/organisations and businesses with their views and suggestions for improvements to urban parks and green spaces at any of the six towns identified.  Examples might include any of the following, or other ideas:

• Developing or creating a new park;
• Creation of a new community garden;
• Tree planting within urban environments;
• Change in management to enhance ecological and amenity value;
• Improvements to existing parks or greenspaces;
• Improvements to accessibility.

This project is funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The closing date for sharing your thoughts is midnight, 18 March 2024.