Council and government still at odds over housing plans
Both sides remain divided over plans that could shape future development across the area
West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) has told the Government it shouldn’t intervene in its Local Plan process, saying the current draft - based on 2012 rules - needs updating.
Recently, the Council decided to restart planning efforts using the updated 2026 National Planning Policy Framework and the latest regulations, aiming to cover new concerns about infrastructure, growth, and development options.
Despite this, the Housing and Planning Minister, Matthew Pennycook, instructed them to proceed with the old draft.
WNC wrote to the Minister on 28th September, outlining why they think the Government should step back and let local decisions lead the way.
The draft local plan sets out proposals for up to 47,300 new homes to be built across West Northamptonshire by 2043.
The Council highlights risks and delays if problems raised during consultations are confirmed later in the examination process.
They argue it’s crucial to work on issues like the local electricity grid’s capacity and consider growth alternatives before locking in development plans.
Councillor Mark Arnull, leading West Northamptonshire Council, said:
"We have responded robustly and constructively to the Government's request, setting out why we believe intervention is not necessary and why local decision-making should be respected.
"Members took the decision to pause the current draft Local Plan because they were not satisfied that important questions around infrastructure, growth and alternative options had been fully resolved.
"These are matters that must be addressed if we are to deliver a plan that is genuinely sound, deliverable and in the long-term interests of our residents."
The Government will now consider the Council's representations. WNC say it is committed to engaging constructively with Government as it deliberates on the next steps.