Policy KET5 Shopfronts in the Town Centre
Proposals for new and altered shopfronts must be high quality and respect the local character of Kettering in their design, use of materials and scale in a way that enhances the streetscene. To achieve this, Shopfront proposals must have full regard to the design guidance set out in the Kettering Shopfronts Guidance in Appendix B.
Supporting Text
- Initial meetings with the Advisory Panel and the community revealed the concept of “Look up Kettering” and the heritage value of the often wonderfully preserved upper floor facades of local buildings. In seeking to protect the historic identity of the town, these buildings are to be celebrated. This policy therefore focuses on shop fronts both within and outside of the conservation area to show how they can support the visual aspect of the town’s architecture, at ground level and above, as an attractive destination, through the creation of a StoryMap to provide illustrative guidance for Kettering Shopfronts.
- Whilst a Kettering Shopfronts SPD has been in place for some years and some shopfronts have been very respectful of the identity of the town, there appears to have been an erosion of its architectural heritage at ground floor level in a number of instances. To seek to reinstate this sense of history and character in the town centre, this policy revisits the SPD and considers how better to protect the market town heritage of Kettering through its shopfronts. The highly visual StoryMap guidance document is designed to be less technically worded than the SPD in order to be better understood by the lay reader.
Policy Map
To see the full Kettering Central Neighbourhood Plan Policy Map, please visit our Policy Map page.