Views sought on a review of Grand Union and Oxford Canal Conservation Area

17 June 2025

Residents are being encouraged to provide their feedback as part of a review of the Grand Union and Oxford Canal Conservation Area.

The consultation is open until Sunday, 27 July and focuses on:

• Grand Union Canal from Braunston to Stowehill,
• Grand Union Canal Leicester Arm from Norton Junction to the River Avon,
• Oxford Canal from Tarry’s Bridge, south of Hillmorton, to Braunston.

A section of the Northampton Arm, from the M1 to Cotton End, that is not currently part of the conservation area also forms part of the review.

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) would like to hear the views of residents, the community and other key stakeholders on the draft appraisal and management plan that has been prepared.

The draft appraisal and maps showing the proposed conservation area boundary can be viewed on the Council’s dedicated Conservation areas webpages.

“We are carrying out a review of some sections of the Grand Union and Oxford Canal Conservation Area and are keen for people to help shape this. Our local canal network is an important asset, used by and visited by many and we want to ensure we’re focussing on the right things.”Cllr Thomas Manning, WNC’s Cabinet Member for Planning and Communities

If the appraisal and management plan is adopted by the Council it will be a supplementary planning document (SPD), which means it will be used in making decisions about planning applications along with other local and national policy documents.