West Northamptonshire Development Corporation
Encyclopedia
The West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) is an urban Development Corporation
set up to cover parts of Northamptonshire
in England
, by the United Kingdom
government in December 2004. WNDC was set up by the Secretary of State under the provisions of the Local Government Planning and Land Act 1980 and has an explicit objective "to secure the regeneration of its area". The Act provides that it may do so in a number of different ways including making decisions on planning applications. It is one of three existing urban development corporations in the United Kingdom and the only one outside London.
WNDC covers the three defined "Urban Development Areas" of Daventry
, Towcester
and Northampton
. The corporation received its full Development Control
powers on 6 April 2006.
Following the establishment of the new Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government in May 2010 the role of WNDC is uncertain following the removal by the new government of the "Regional Spatial Strategy". The positions of West Northants Joint Planning Unit, and the North Northants Development Corporation are also uncertain.
As of July 2010 the Executive Team is -
Peter Mawson - Chief Executive, Roger Mendonca - Deputy Chief Executive, Chris Garden - Director of Regeneration and Development, Adrian Arnold - Director of Planning Services and Bill Allen -Director of Implementation and Delivery
As of July 2010 the board members are -
John Markham (chairman) John Weir, Cllr Sandra Barnes, Mary Burrows MBE, David Dickinson, John Farrow, Cllr Chris Millar, Anne Tate, Nick Thompson, Cllr Anthony Woods, Cllr Richard Church, Cllr Jim Harker, Cllr Joy Capstick.
The building has also won a Green Apple Award for the built Environment and Architectural Heritage. The Green Apple Awards, presented by The Green Organisation, are part of an annual international campaign to recognise, reward and promote environmental practice around the world.
Development Corporation
In England and Wales, Development Corporations are bodies set up by the UK government and charged with the urban development of an area, outside the usual system of Town and Country Planning in the United Kingdom...
set up to cover parts of Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, by the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
government in December 2004. WNDC was set up by the Secretary of State under the provisions of the Local Government Planning and Land Act 1980 and has an explicit objective "to secure the regeneration of its area". The Act provides that it may do so in a number of different ways including making decisions on planning applications. It is one of three existing urban development corporations in the United Kingdom and the only one outside London.
WNDC covers the three defined "Urban Development Areas" of Daventry
Daventry
Daventry is a market town in Northamptonshire, England, with a population of 22,367 .-Geography:The town is also the administrative centre of the larger Daventry district, which has a population of 71,838. The town is 77 miles north-northwest of London, 13.9 miles west of Northampton and 10.2...
, Towcester
Towcester
Towcester , the Roman town of Lactodorum, is a small town in south Northamptonshire, England.-Etymology:Towcester comes from the Old English Tófe-ceaster. Tófe refers to the River Tove; Bosworth and Toller compare it to the "Scandinavian proper names" Tófi and Tófa...
and Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
. The corporation received its full Development Control
Town and country planning in the United Kingdom
Town and Country Planning is the land use planning system governments use to balance economic development and environmental quality. Each country of the United Kingdom has its own planning system that is responsible for town and country planning devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly, the...
powers on 6 April 2006.
Following the establishment of the new Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition government in May 2010 the role of WNDC is uncertain following the removal by the new government of the "Regional Spatial Strategy". The positions of West Northants Joint Planning Unit, and the North Northants Development Corporation are also uncertain.
Powers
They have a wide range of powers at their disposal, these powers include:- Investment - As of July 2010 they have invested over £70 million in the regeneration of Northampton, Daventry and Towcester, with major regeneration schemes happening in all three town centres.
- Planning - WNDC has the power to determine strategic planning applications in its area of operation. From April 2011, the threshold for residential planning applications determined by WNDC will be raised from 50 units to 200 units, with local scale planning powers returning to the local authorities.
- Development - A range of specialist development powers give them the ability to acquire, manage and sell land and property, together with powers to develop, invest and provide business support.
Executive Team
WNDC is driven by a skilled, innovative and creative team of people, dedicated to helping West Northamptonshire achieve its potential as one of the best places to live, work and invest in Central England.As of July 2010 the Executive Team is -
Peter Mawson - Chief Executive, Roger Mendonca - Deputy Chief Executive, Chris Garden - Director of Regeneration and Development, Adrian Arnold - Director of Planning Services and Bill Allen -Director of Implementation and Delivery
Board Members
WNDC Board members come from both the public and private sector, representing the needs of local government, the community, and business.As of July 2010 the board members are -
John Markham (chairman) John Weir, Cllr Sandra Barnes, Mary Burrows MBE, David Dickinson, John Farrow, Cllr Chris Millar, Anne Tate, Nick Thompson, Cllr Anthony Woods, Cllr Richard Church, Cllr Jim Harker, Cllr Joy Capstick.
Northampton
- The redevelopment of Castle Station Railway
- The regeneration of Northampton's waterside
- £1.4 million to support arts facilities in the town centre and the Royal and Derngate theatre
- £7.4 million to help Northampton boast some of the best flood defences in the United Kingdom
- £10.8 million to resurrect derelict Brownfield landBrownfield landBrownfield sites are abandoned or underused industrial and commercial facilities available for re-use. Expansion or redevelopment of such a facility may be complicated by real or perceived environmental contaminations. Cf. Waste...
for development - £6 million to create safer, attractive, more pedestrian friendly streets from the railway through to All Saints Square
- £1.8 million for a new marina in Becket's Park as part of wider waterside development
- Investment in a series of three new roads in the south west of the town
- Investment in the redevelopment of Northampton's famous market square
Daventry
£9 million has been spent so far kick-starting -- A doubling of the town's retail and commercial floor space
- The creation of 2,000 new jobs
- £60 million of private investment
- Construction of the landmark iCon centre for sustainable construction
- Provision of a new and improved town centre library
Towcester
Over £6 million has been invested in Towcester Town Centre helping to support -- A quality public space in the centre of the town
- New community, leisure and cultural facilities
- The renovation of Bury MountBury MountBury Mount Motte is the remains of an earthwork motte and bailey fortification or ancient castle, and has been designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument...
and the Water Meadows - New jobs for local people
iCon
The iCon is a building in Daventry that is currently under construction as of 2010. The iCon will be a new landmark building for the town. The state-of-the-art scheme will be a national centre of excellence for sustainable construction and green technologies.It will provide accommodation, support and advice for up to 60 businesses. The Centre will also have a conference hall for up to 300 people, as well as a public piazza and a café/restaurant. This £8.5 million project was funded by WNDC, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and East Midlands Development Agency.The building has also won a Green Apple Award for the built Environment and Architectural Heritage. The Green Apple Awards, presented by The Green Organisation, are part of an annual international campaign to recognise, reward and promote environmental practice around the world.