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03 December 2024

In a bid to strengthen local communities and pave the way for a more sustainable future, West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) is set to invest £100 million in capital funding next year.
The Council has unveiled an ambitious £100m capital programme for 2025-26, rising to £155m over the next four years, demonstrating its commitment to improving infrastructure, supporting residents, and encouraging sustainable growth.
The capital programme is different to the Council’s revenue budget, which funds day-to-day services like waste collection and social care. Instead, capital funding is used to improve local infrastructure and assets such as land, buildings and equipment, as well as other projects that will deliver long-term benefits for the area.
Among the key projects planned for the coming year is a substantial £12.4 million allocation to improve highways. This funding will support a wide range of projects and activities including road improvements across the area.
Projects such as the ongoing regeneration of Northampton town centre will continue to drive economic growth across the area. This includes a multi-million-pound investment in the Greyfriars redevelopment, which will also see the vacant Corn Exchange transformed into a hub for performance and creativity. Providing a link from Greyfriars to the wider town centre, this project will attract significant footfall and investment, revitalising the area as a vibrant urban hub.
Parking infrastructure will also receive a modern upgrade, with investments in Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology at key locations like Sixfields Reservoir, Racecourse, and Primrose Hill car parks. This initiative aims to improve the parking convenience and safety for residents and visitors.
To support families and strengthen community resources, the Council has committed
£2 million towards the creation of new family hubs in Daventry and Northampton, providing essential services for families.
The plans also include improvements to the Central Library. The library enhancements will include a new adult learning service, a dedicated children’s area, and modernised reception facilities, as well as the addition of public toilets to improve accessibility for all users.
Housing remains a key focus, with £10 million allocated to addressing the need for temporary accommodation. This funding will enable the Council to purchase 50 properties, providing safe, secure homes for residents facing urgent needs.
The programme also funds adaptations to homes for vulnerable adults, enabling them to live independently with greater comfort and security, reducing reliance on more intensive forms of care.
We’re always looking to invest in innovative and efficient ways to support and deliver services, and using capital budgets to not only improve our local communities but help us make ongoing savings or generate new income is something we’re particularly focusing on.Cllr Adam Brown, Leader of West Northamptonshire CouncilThis is about more than infrastructure; it’s about building a West Northamptonshire that works for everyone. By investing wisely in projects that enhance communities and reduce costs, we’re not only improving the quality of life for residents but also setting the stage for a sustainable future. Innovation and efficiency are at the heart of everything we do.
Undertaking these transformative initiatives supports our aims for a sustainable, prosperous and vibrant West Northants, with innovation and efficiency going hand in hand.
Beyond the capital programme, the Council remains committed to residents' well-being, addressing health inequalities, and supporting communities through the challenges posed by the ongoing cost of living crisis, with initiatives funded through government public health funding.
The Council’s Cabinet will consider the full range of General Fund Capital proposals during its meeting at The Forum, Towcester, from 6pm on Tuesday, 10 December. This can be viewed live on our YouTube Channel
View the 2025/26 draft budget reports
Public consultation on the proposals will launch on Wednesday, 11 December, when further information on how to get involved will be available on our Consultation Hub
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29 November 2024

The major incident declared by the Local Resilience Forum (LRF) in response to the widespread flooding in Northamptonshire has been stood down.
A major incident was declared on Monday (November 25) following significant rainfall throughout the weekend as a result of Storm Bert. Rain also fell overnight from Tuesday (November 26) into Wednesday (November 27).
Over the past week, the LRF - involving Northamptonshire Police, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, North Northamptonshire Council, West Northamptonshire Council and the Environment Agency - have been working together to provide a robust, multi-agency response which protects our communities across the county.
Today (November 29), the Environment Agency has reported that the river levels are nearly back to normal with the Northampton Washlands down to 30% full and continuing to drain.
In West Northamptonshire, the flood warning has been removed from Billing Aquadrome. Those with accommodation at the site cannot return until advised to do so by the site management company.
In North Northamptonshire, the severe flood warning has been removed from Yarwell Mill after water levels peaked at the site at 9.30pm last night (November 28) and continue to fall. However, residents at the site should also not return until advised to do by the site management company.
A number of people from both sites have been supported by both West and North Northamptonshire Councils who have provided those displaced with rest centres and other provisions.
As a result of the clearer picture going into the weekend, the LRF has made the decision to stand down the major incident and move into the recovery stage of their multi-agency response.
“Since we declared a major incident on Monday, the LRF has been working hard to keep our communities safe, support those who have been displaced as a result of the flooding, as well as trying to minimise disruption to the wider public and local businesses.Superintendent Steve Freeman, who is heading the response to the flooding through the Local Resilience Forum (LRF)“The water levels we have seen this week have been higher than that of the 1998 floods, which just goes to show the work everyone has put in to ensure that everyone in the county has been kept safe.
“I’m grateful for everyone’s work and I’d also like to thank the wider public for their cooperation, support and understanding.
“We have now made the decision to stand down the major incident but remain ready to react should the situation change.
“Our focus now will be to move onto the recovery phase of our response however I would still encourage anyone with any concerns to contact the relevant LRF agency who will be happy to help.”
Our communities are asked to remain alert, be prepared and sign up to receive free flood warnings by calling 0345 988 1188 or visiting www.gov.uk/flood.
Flood reports can be submitted at:
West Northants: https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/its-emergency/report-flood
North Northants: https://www.northnorthants.gov.uk/flooding
You can report other highways issues to Street Doctor services:
West Northants area: https://www.westnorthants.gov.uk/roads-and-paths-maintenance/report-potholes-or-highway-problem
North Northants area: https://www.northnorthants.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-transport/report-potholes-or-highway-problem
Useful information:
Follow the Met Office for up-to-date weather reports and warnings where you live: https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/forecast/gcr35qpbd#?date=2024-11-24
Sign up for flood warnings at www.environment-agency.gov.uk and you can find up-to-date warnings and information regarding the floods at https://check-for-flooding.service.gov.uk/
Find out what to do after you’ve experienced flooding here: Flood recovery | West Northamptonshire Council
What to do before or during a flood: What to do before or during a flood - GOV.UK
In an emergency, where life is at risk, please call 999.
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29 November 2024

West Northamptonshire councillors have reaffirmed their commitment to tackle the risks and impacts of flooding and secure more funding and resources to better protect residents and businesses across the area against extreme weather.
At their Full Council meeting last night (Thursday, 28 November), members unanimously supported plans to work closely with the government’s Floods Resilience Taskforce, Environment Agency, and other agencies to review flood defences and improve the resilience of its communities.
Over the past week residents and businesses experienced severe flooding from Storm Bert, which saw river flows higher than in the 1998 floods, prompting the area to receive the only severe flood warning in the country. The flood defences in the centre of Northampton, built following the devastating 1998 flooding, significantly reduced the risk to the 2200 residential and 300 commercial properties flooded in 1998.
At last night’s meeting Councillors from across political groups recognised and spoke out about the struggles of many local communities hit by flooding – many for the second time in just two months – and supported a motion pledging to step up West Northamptonshire Council’s (WNC) close working with partners on long-term solutions as the area continues to see more frequent and severe weather events.
Key to this will be the Council progressing the work to update the Local Flood Risk Strategy and seeking a review of existing flood defences by the Environment Agency areas continue to see the greatest impact from storms and heavy rainfall. WNC will also further develop and enhance inform communications to the public, particularly around who to contact in an emergency and the support available. It will also progress plans to recruit more specialist officers to its specialist in-house flood team which investigates all flooding incidents and lessons learned to act upon.
All agencies continue to face significant challenges around repeated flooding at Billing Aquadrome, which is located on a flood plain that protects houses and businesses in the area. The site was evacuated last weekend for the fourth time this year with WNC currently providing temporary accommodation to some residents whilst it awaits further information from the park’s owners on timescales and arrangements for their return to the site.
This afternoon (Friday, 29 November) the Council briefed local MPs Mike Reader and Sarah Boole on the ongoing Billing situation including the plans that the owners have put forward to resolve the issues. A multi-agency task group established to look at more long-term solutions for the site has met regularly and identified potential measures. The Council and the owners have set these plans out in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
“The welfare of residents and livelihoods of businesses is our top priority. All partners need to prioritise working together to find sustainable, long-term solutions to the increased risk of flooding and WNC has a key role to play in ensuring this happens.Councillor Rebecca Breese, WNC’s Cabinet Member for the Environment“It’s encouraging to see all councillors this week support plans to reaffirm our Council’s current working with the Environment Agency, the government’s Floods Resilience Taskforce, and other agencies towards securing funding and resources for improving flood defences and householder and business resilience.
“Among the next steps will be the production of section 19 reports, which are produced in collaboration with a number of agencies following major flood events and will make recommendations for future plans and mitigations, and ensuring our area’s flood risk strategy is up to date and fit for purpose. Residents will have the opportunity to have their say on the strategy work. We’ll continue to keep them updated as this important work progresses.”
For further information on flooding advice and flood risk management, visit the flooding and flood risk management page.
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A multi-agency response to the flooding at Yarwell Mill has been scaled back overnight after the water levels continue to fall.
A severe flood warning – meaning there is a risk to life – was issued at the site, which sits on the outskirts of Peterborough, just after 11.45am yesterday (November 28), with residents asked to leave for their own safety.
Throughout the day, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service (NFRS) assisted the site management company with the evacuation of 32 people, with the water levels peaking at 9.30pm last night.
Since then, the water levels have fallen and NFRS have scaled down its operation, however remain on hand to support North Northamptonshire Council and the Yarwell Mill site management as necessary should the situation develop today.
This morning (November 29), a specialist Water Incident Manager from NFRS will return to the site to make an assessment of the current situation.
Our priority remains the safety of residents, and the LRF will review the conditions on site ahead of decisions to remove the Severe Flood Warning.
No incidents in the wider area were reported to NFRS yesterday.
North Northamptonshire Council has been in regular contact with the site’s management company since the weekend and has also been working to safeguard the most vulnerable people at the site.
The Council has been supporting residents with a rest centre at Oundle Library and continues to offer support to those evacuated from the site.
In West Northamptonshire, the Billing Aquadrome site remains inaccessible due to flooding and those displaced from the site should not return until they are advised to do so by the site management company.
The LRF – involving Northamptonshire Police, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, North Northamptonshire Council, West Northamptonshire Council and the Environment Agency – continue to treat the flooding as a major incident, but hope to move into the recovery phase of their response as we move into the weekend.
Superintendent Steve Freeman, who is heading the response to the flooding through the Local Resilience Forum (LRF) said: “It’s been a real team effort to respond to the widespread flooding across the county and I would like to thank all of the LRF partners involved as well as our residents in Northamptonshire who, in the main, have been very supportive and understanding whilst we have dealt with this situation.
“Although it’s good news to hear that the water levels are falling, people with accommodation at Yarwell Mill and Billing Aquadrome should not return to the sites until advised to do so.
“Although we hope to move into the recovery phase of our response soon, the LRF will not become complacent and we stand ready to step up our response again should the situation change.”
People are still being asked to follow safety advice including checking travel information before setting off, driving appropriately for the road conditions, and being prepared to meet standing water, with motorists warned against entering it or trying to drive through it.
Please do not attempt to drive through road closures or wade through deep flood water. This not only puts your safety at risk but could also put the people rescuing you at risk, as well as resulting in some very costly repairs to your vehicle.
Our communities are asked to remain alert, be prepared and sign up to receive free flood warnings by calling 0345 988 1188 or visiting www.gov.uk/flood.