Housing plan ditched after 'overwhelming' criticism

Plans earmarking land for more than 40,000 new homes have been thrown out after thousands of responses were received through a public consultation.

West Northamptonshire Council's Local Plan was discussed and rejected by its planning policy committee on Monday.

The Reform UK-led authority had proposed up to 47,300 new homes across the area by 2043.

Mark Arnull, leader of the council said there had been an overwhelming objection to a large number of allocations and added: "There's no point in doing a consultation if you don't take the feedback on board."

The consultation which ran from 29 January to 27 March received 6,184 responses.

Arnull said one of the key things people objected to was the large allocation to rural villages.

One proposal was to build about 300 homes on part of Collingtree Park Golf Club, near Northampton.

Residents raised concerns about views and the effect on the golf course, which would have lost between three and five holes.

In Long Buckby, near Daventry, land close to the railway station had been earmarked for about 1,000 homes.

Residents were worried about additional traffic and the availability of GPs, schools and other facilities. Some described the village as "already struggling with traffic issues".

There were also plans for nine warehouses and a country park at Furtho Pit in Old Stratford, between the A5 and A508.

The council now has to produce a new Local Plan based on the 2026 National Planning Policy Framework and the 2026 Town and Country Planning Regulations.

Producing the new plan, and having it evaluated by a government assessor, could take around three years.

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