CoCo, the 'local knowledge' has already been watered down dramatically, for instance 3 years ago the guys at Suffolk did around 80% of flights in Suffolk, 10% in Essex and 10% between Cambs and Norfolk (mutual support), since then Cambs have gone, Norfolk have gone, Herts have gone, Kent never had one. Essex are spending about 30% flying in Kent/cambs/Herts/East Sussex/Suffolk/over London.
So a typical 'ex-Suffolk' late shift is flying anywhere in 5 counties or more with intimate knowledge of only one county with ex-Suffolk TFOs. The 3 'amalgamated' Norfolk observers gradually decided driving to Wattisham wasn't a great idea and left, and the Cambs guys were forbidden from applying for NPAS. Net result, local knowledge doesn't matter in the NPAS plan.