POLICY DELAYED: North Northamptonshire taxi policy on pause until November as consultation opens on new knowledge test
- Perry Richardson
- Aug 21
- 2 min read
North Northamptonshire Council has confirmed a delay to the introduction of its new Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing policy.
The authority had originally planned to introduce the changes from 1 September 2025. However, the Department for Transport (DfT) must first approve new by-laws connected to the policy. With parliamentary business paused during the summer recess, approval is now not expected before the original date.
The council has instead set a revised start date of Monday 3 November 2025 for the new policy and creation of a single Hackney Carriage zone across North Northamptonshire.
While awaiting DfT approval, the council has opened a consultation on its proposed new knowledge test for drivers. The test will apply to applicants for both hackney carriage licences and combined hackney carriage and private hire licences. It will cover local geographical knowledge as well as broader taxi-related requirements.
The consultation is part of wider reforms designed to standardise taxi licensing across the North Northamptonshire area, which was formed in 2021 following local government reorganisation.
As part of the approval process earlier this summer, councillors also agreed to carry out a post-implementation review of the policy. This later review will look specifically at wheelchair-accessible vehicle requirements, the council’s exceptional age policy for vehicles, and transitional or grandfather rights for existing drivers. That consultation will take place once the policy is fully in place.
Cllr Kirk Harrison, the council’s Executive Member for Regulatory Services, said: “We know that this topic has been a talking point within the industry for some time which is why it’s important that we provide this update and next steps. I hope everyone can understand and appreciate that the go-live date is dependent on the Department for Transport approving the by-laws which has been put on hold whilst Government is on summer recess.
“Alongside this process, we have today launched a consultation on the proposed knowledge test for North Northamptonshire, and we are encouraging those likely to be impacted by any changes to get involved and have your say before the deadline.”
