Have your say on the draft Northampton Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan
Overview
A Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) sets out how we plan to make it safer and easier for people to walk, wheel, cycle or scoot locally, with a focus on the next ten years and beyond. This will help residents and visitors to think about making more journeys actively where they can.
West Northamptonshire Council has developed a series of LCWIPs for Brackley, Daventry, and Towcester which were approved in April 2025. We are now in the process of developing a LCWIP for Northampton.
Background
LCWIPs are the first step in identifying a pipeline of possible schemes, so that over time a complete walking and cycling network is delivered. The proposals are in an early stage of development and give examples of what can be delivered. A later step will decide if they are actually possible to be brought forward.
A Northampton LCWIP is a valuable tool to enhance active travel, improve public health, secure funding, and make new or improved routes where they are needed the most.
Read more about the benefits of a Northampton LCWIP
Summary of benefits for the council having a Northampton LCWIP in place includes:
- Improved Safety and Accessibility: making it easier for people to walk, wheel, cycle, or scoot locally.
- Funding: We are better positioned to secure funding for walking and cycling schemes. We can also make sure projects provide the best value for money by focusing on those likely to have the biggest increases in walking and cycling.
- Health and wellbeing: Promoting active travel improves physical and mental health, reduces traffic congestion, and improves air quality.
- Strategic planning: Can help to identify and develop a complete walking and cycling network over time.
- Collaboration with stakeholders: allows us to work with key transport partners.
- Enhanced community engagement: Helps to better engage stakeholders and the community to reflect local needs.
- Environmental benefits: Encouraging walking and cycling helps decrease air pollution and congestion.
- Economic benefits: Improved infrastructure like this can help the local economy.
Key local stakeholders have been engaged in the development of the Northampton LCWIP, and we are now seeking wider views on the proposals, particularly the routes that have been identified.
Proposed mapped routes
The below maps have been provided as references and appear within the consultation, they do not display the full breakdown of proposals and improvements. For the full detail please see the Related Documentation section.
Proposed routes within Northampton town
This is an interactive map.
The map shows ten routes in Northampton: Route R1: This key north to south route crosses the town centre. It connects residential areas of Kingsthorpe and Far Cotton with the town centre. It also connects key local employment sites and recreational facilities. Route R2: This route connects the town centre and Brackmills Industrial Estate via the University and around Delapre Abbey. Route R3: This route provides a connection between the town centre, via the railway station, to the Kings Health areas. It also links Dallington Grange and Brampton Valley Way. Route R4: This route links the town centre to Moulton via Kettering Road. Route R5: The route connects the centre of Weston Favell to residential areas and the Round Spinney Industrial Estate. Route R6: Provides East and West connections south of the town centre between Upton and Delapre Abbey via Far Cotton. It helps with local journeys between highly populated areas, retail, employment and recreational facilities. Route R7: This key route is between the town centre and Upton and consists of a northern route around the towns sports stadiums, and an alternative via St James Mill Road. Route R8: This spine route is between West Hubsbury and Wootton. It connects residential to many places for everyday trips and also some of the warehouse employment sites of the M1. Route R9: Close to the town centre, this route connects Abington to Western Favell along the Wellingborough Road corridor. Route R10: This route is in the Merefield area and connects residential areas to schools, retail and leisure facilities. This detail is repeated within the consultation
Proposed routes connecting Northampton to other locations
This is an interactive map.
Route IUR1: This route provides a link to the west of Northampton. It connects the town to Weedon Bec, Flore and Panettoni Park Industrial Estate. Route IUR2: This route provides a link through Kislingbury and down to Bugbrooke. It also forms a link to Campion Secondary School. Route IUR3: This route links the the village of Blisworth via Collingtree, to the outskirts of Northampton town Wootton area. Route IUR4: This route connects Wootton to the village of Roade. It also connects Roade to the SEGRO Logistics Park and other key employment areas. Route IUR5: This route connects the Brackmills Industrial Estate in Northampton to Little Houghton. Route IUR6: This route provides connectivity from the West of Northampton Bellinge area, and continues towards Ecton. The route further connects Wellingborough, outside of West Northamptonshire. Route IUR7: The route largely follows the Brampton Valley Way between Brixworth and Kings Heath. This detail is repeated withint the consultation.
Related documentation
The Northampton LCWIP is a large and complex document. To help people to respond the consultation, we have created a document summarising the key points and outlining key proposals. To accompany this, we have also produced a glossary document.
Detailed information is provided in the following technical report and appendices.
- Draft Northampton LCWIP – technical report
- Appendix A – Plans
- Appendix B – Walking and Cycling Audit Tables
- Appendix C – Design recommendations booklet
- Appendix D – Prioritisation
How to provide your views
We want to hear the views of local businesses, residents, as well as other interested parties and stakeholders.
You can tell us your views by completing the following questionnaire. Take me to the survey
You do not have to answer all the questions. If you don’t want to answer a question, or don’t know the answer, then move on to the next question.
For further information, if you have difficulties accessing the consultation, or would like a copy of this questionnaire in another format please contact Esme Cushing, Principal Transport Planner at LocalTransportPlan@westnorthants.gov.uk
This consultation closes at midnight Sunday 5 October 2025.
For information about how consultation and engagement responses are managed, please see the consultation and engagement privacy notice.
What happens next?
We will review the feedback from the consultation and will use it finalise the document before it is taken to Cabinet to seek approval.
The next stage following approval at Cabinet, will be to undertake optioneering, engagement and feasibility design on each of the corridors to understand what is possible in a particular area. As part of developing schemes we will undertake further, stakeholder and public consultation.
Thank you for helping us by completing this consultation.
Interests
- Consultations
- Health, leisure and parks
- Planning and building control
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