Have your say on the Future of Wellingborough Town Centre

Overview

North Northamptonshire Council is developing a new Wellingborough Town Centre Masterplan and is inviting residents, businesses and stakeholders to help shape the future of the town.

A public consultation will run from Tuesday 5 May to Monday 15 June 2026. During this time, you can explore the proposed ideas for the town centre and tell us what matters most to you.

You can view all consultation materials online using the link Wellingborough Masterplan Consultation, or you can visit Wellingborough Library, where printed copies will be available.

View a message from Cllr Martin Griffiths, Leader of the Council and Cllr Jan O'Hara, Executive Member for Planning and Economic Growth:

Join Us at Our Public Open Days

Come and speak with the project consultants at the in‑person Open Days:

• Swansgate Shopping Centre on Tuesday 12 May 2026 at 10am – 4pm and
• Wellingborough Library on Wednesday 27 May 2026 at 10am – 4pm

These sessions provide an opportunity to ask questions, share your views, and learn more about the Masterplan.

What is a Masterplan?

A Masterplan is a long-term plan that sets out how a town should grow and develop over the next decade and beyond. It provides:

• A clear vision for the future
• Identification of opportunities for how land, buildings, public spaces and transport could evolve
• A framework to support economic growth, investment, and community wellbeing
• A coordinated range of short, medium and long term actions to guide delivery over time

It helps ensure that improvements are coordinated, sustainable, and reflect the needs of local people.

Background: Earlier Work

In 2025, an independent company carried out Town Centre Health Checks for four growth towns in North Northamptonshire: Corby, Kettering, Rushden, and Wellingborough.

The findings showed that Wellingborough has the greatest opportunity for change and improvement, due to:

• Strong existing assets
• Locations suitable for redevelopment
• A need for more recent external investment

These results led to Wellingborough being chosen for the development of a detailed Masterplan.

How the Masterplan Has Been Shaped So Far

Development of the Masterplan has included:

• Collaboration with Council service teams to identify opportunities for investment and ensure a coordinated approach.
• Engagement with Wellingborough Ward Councillors to reflect local priorities and aspirations.
• The creation of the Wellingborough Stakeholder Focus Group, which included representatives from the Town Council, Police, community and charity organisations, businesses and local services.

Masterplan Themes

The Masterplan focuses on four key objectives:

1. Delivering a Civic Heart and Unified Cultural Experience
2. Coordinating ‘Big and Small’ Connectivity
3. Harnessing Heritage and Repurpose ‘Tradeable’ Assets
4. Empowering an Integrated Mixed‑Use Economy

A number of opportunity sites have been identified to support a more sustainable, family‑friendly and well‑connected town centre. The proposals aim to strengthen the civic heart, enhance cultural experiences, and improve walking and cycling links to help reduce congestion and emissions.

What We Want Your Views On

As part of this consultation, we would like your views on the Vision and Objectives of the Wellingborough Masterplan.

We are also asking for feedback on the five town centre Intervention Areas set out in the Masterplan. Each area includes a number of proposed projects and opportunities for improvement.

We invite you to rank these projects in order of priority and share any comments you may have.

Your feedback will help us refine the proposals and focus future investment on the improvements that matter most to you.

To read the draft Wellingborough Masterplan, please follow this link: Wellingborough Masterplan.

What Happens Next

When the consultation period closes, all responses will be reviewed. Key themes will be identified and used to inform potential amendments to the Masterplan.

A final draft Masterplan will then be presented at a future Council Executive meeting for consideration and approval.

Following approval, the Council will work with key partners and stakeholders to develop a clear action and delivery plan, bringing organisations together to consider funding, phasing and practical implementation of the Masterplan proposals.

Following completion of the Wellingborough Masterplan, the Council’s next step will be to carry out a town centre Masterplan for Kettering. This will build on the same principles of evidence‑led planning and public engagement, ensuring a consistent and coordinated approach to town centre regeneration across North Northamptonshire.

How to Have Your Say

You can share your views in any of the following ways:

1. Complete the Online Survey - Use the link at the end of this page to access the short survey.
    
2. Email Us

At town.centre.masterplan@northnorthants.gov.uk

3. Write to Us    

Wellingborough Masterplan Consultation
North Northamptonshire Council
Swanspool House
Doddington Road
Wellingborough
NN8 1BP

View the Equality Screening Assessment.

This survey closes at 23.59 on Monday 15 June 2026.

For information about how consultation and engagement responses are managed, please see the consultation and engagement privacy notice.