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Planning team taps into high technology sector

Written by: Jez Abbott
Published on: 25 Sep 2015
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Greyfriars town-centre siteA local authority planning team is using technology sectors to spearhead its growth agenda.

“We are home to global brands and high-performance technology including Formula 1 motor sports,” Northampton Borough Council interim head of planning David Hackforth told Planning.

“Northampton is one of England’s fastest growing towns, thanks partly to our strategic location, one hour from London.

“Our enterprise zone is one of the largest in the country, with more than 1,000 jobs created since its designation and we are delivering a series of ambitious, high-profile projects.” 

A new railway station and a new bus interchange has already opened and more projects are due to follow including a new riverside campus for Northampton University, he explained.

The council is seeking to recruit a head of planning to lead and manage planning policy and heritage, development management and building control teams.

The council recently adopted a core strategy for Northampton, Daventry and South Northampton and is starting to formulate local plans for the three areas.

Hackforth said: “This is a long-established town in the heart of England with lots of heritage, so from a planning perspective there are lots of new developments to blend into a historic fabric.”

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Image: the Greyfriars town-centre site has been cleared for property development