Kettering Central Neighbourhood Plan

Policy KET12 Movement and Connectivity

The Neighbourhood Plan identifies the existing Active Travel Network (“Network”) and opportunities for improvements, as shown on the Policies Map for the purpose of prioritising active travel in Kettering, encouraging the use of public transport and protecting and enhancing Public Rights of Ways.

  1. Development proposals on land that lies within or adjacent to the Network should avoid harm, should sustain and where practicable enhance the connectivity of the Network by virtue of their layout, means of access and landscape treatment, including the creation of safe and suitable links to the existing footways, footpaths and walking routes.
  2. The Kettering Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) identifies opportunities where public realm improvements are required to improve highway and pedestrian safety. Development which lies within or adjacent to areas identified within the LCWIP must avoid measures which would adversely affect the ability to implement these proposals.
  3. The Active Travel Network also identifies opportunities where public realm improvements are required to enhance the walking, wheeling and cycling environment, improve residential amenity and highway safety. Proposals which deliver opportunities for such improvement will be supported where proposals also accord with the other policies of the Development Plan.

These opportunities are:

  1. The improvements identified by the Kettering Town Centre Travel Plan (2023-24) at Horsemarket, Market Street/ Market Place, the corner of Gold and Silver Street, and Lower Street/Trafalgar Road. (see figure 3)
  2. The re-development of the Bus Depot in Northampton Road to promote electric vehicles and associated infrastructure.
  3. Encouraging mixed mode travel by increasing cycle storage facilities near the main bus hub on Horsemarket and Newland/Eskdaill Street, ensuring cycle racks are in overlooked places to improve security.
  4. Cycling within the pedestrianised High Street, but with clear signage to make pedestrians aware.
  5. Extend the cycle network to include Northall Street and improve cycle provision along Bowling Green Road to help cycling and wheeling around the town.
  6. Extend the cycle network out towards the Kettering General Hospital.
  7. The creation of specific parking locations for e-scooter and e-bike parking.
  8. The creation of secure covered cycle hangers in new flatted and terraced developments
  9. Improvement of the junction of Bowling Green Road and London Road to improve pedestrian safety.
  10. Improvement of the layout under the railway bridge at Northampton Road to improve safety for pedestrian and cyclists.
  11. Improvement to the cycle network from Montagu Street along Stamford Road to link into Avondale Grange.

Supporting Text

  1. The neighbourhood plan seeks to encourage safe, accessible and convenient means of walking, wheeling and cycling through the Town and improve access to and frequency of bus services around the Town.
  2. The existing Active Travel Network includes walking routes, cycling and wheeling routes, bus routes and train routes (including the LCWIP routes and NNC Greenway Strategy) and uses the status of the KNP to draw to the attention of developers where this network is so that they can take it into account in designing their proposals, and especially how their schemes are accessed if they are located next to the network.
  3. The Policies Map therefore shows the full extent of the existing Network and uses the status of the KNP to draw to the attention of developers where this network is so that they can take it into account in designing their proposals, and especially how their schemes are accessed if they are located next to the network. Where proposals include provision for landscaping, new means of access or new layouts, there may be an opportunity to relate the land better to the Network and/or improve the attractiveness of routes. At the very least, the policy requires that proposals that will undermine the existing value of the Network will be refused permission.
  4. The map has also identified opportunities for improvement to encourage a higher uptake of active travel modes of transport, to assist decision makers and developers in prioritising funding when investing in the network. The Advisory Panel have noted that lack of clear signage and accessibility difficulties have been noted in Kettering, particularly around lack of provision of drop kerbs. As such, developers and those involved in improving and enhancing active travel routes are directed to use  the Healthy Streets Indictors Assessment tool to ensure that the whole community is able to access and enjoy the network. The tool includes planning safe routes which avoid severance including the removal of physical barriers wherever possible, making crossings easy and considering the appropriate placement of new street furniture as well as providing adequate spaces to rest or shelter. Proposals for new active travel routes should also seek to ensure they do not result in the loss of important biodiversity, including rare habitats and wildlife.
Town Centre Audit - Healthy Streets The Brightwayz team conducted a healthy streets audit on four main town centre locations. This provided an insight into how the facilities, design and maintenance of the streetscape affects how people use it and how 'active/sustainable travel-friendly' the area is. Below and example findings. For the full report visit www.brightways.co.uk/healthy-streets-kettering
Figure 6 Town Centre Audit – Healthy Streets (C) Kettering Town Centre Travel Plan

Policy Map

To see the full Kettering Central Neighbourhood Plan Policy Map, or to find instructions about how to use our interactive maps, please visit our Policy Map page.

ArcGIS map © Esri. Contains OS data © Crown Copyright and database right 2025 OS AC0000850371. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Terms and Conditions Apply

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