Government outlines the future of West Northamptonshire Development Corporation
Andrew Stunell MP, the Minister responsible for the affairs of West Northamptonshire Development Corporation, has outlined plans for the future of the organisation. The body delivering new jobs, homes and investment across West Northamptonshire will continue its final delivery phase while becoming more locally accountable.
The Minister is visiting WNDC today to view some of its key development projects in Northampton and meet representatives from the local authorities. Prior to the visit he has clarified his plans for the Corporation. Recognising the progress that has already been made by WNDC, the Minister expects the Corporation to focus on using its specialist development powers to transform Northampton town centre. This includes supporting the redevelopment of the Grosvenor Centre, Northampton waterside, Castle Station, the Avon/Nunn Mills area, and the St John's/Angel St project.
During this delivery phase, the Minister proposes to change the board of WNDC so it becomes more locally accountable. Under the proposals, the board will be reduced from 13 members to nine. However, its board will still have six local authority members, therefore bringing the Corporation under majority local authority control.
The Minister has re-iterated plans to transfer smaller-scale planning powers from WNDC to the local authorities, while signalling that the transfer of larger scale planning powers could follow when the local authorities are ready. Subject to the agreement of Parliament, the threshold for applications determined by WNDC is set to be raised from 50 to 200 homes from April 2011. It has now been announced that later this year the government will begin consultation on proposals to transfer the remaining powers at a later date.
Chair of WNDC, John Markham, said: “I welcome the confirmation from the Minister that the role of WNDC in delivering investment and growth across West Northamptonshire continues to be essential at this critical time. Guided by our local authority partners, we are focusing on transformational town centre schemes, including redevelopment of the Grosvenor Centre and other key sites. The government is clear that our specialist development powers are essential to the implementation of these projects which are complex, ambitious and hugely important for the future of the area. In Northampton alone, our programme could secure £900 million in private sector investment and around 10,000 new jobs.”
As well as becoming more locally accountable, WNDC is making significant efficiency savings and reduced its running costs by 25% this year. It also recently established a steering group to identify ways of working more closely together with Northamptonshire Enterprise Limited and North Northants Development Company – its counterpart in the north of the county.
Posted by: West Northamptonshire Development Corporation
