Nadia Lincoln is the Local Democracy Report for Northamptonshire, based out of NLive Radio her role is to provide reporting and coverage of the activity of the local councils, and other public bodies.

Latest Local Democracy Reporter articles for Northamptonshire.

West Northants Council set to approve 850 homes on edge of Northampton
Plans to build a massive new housing development of up to 850 homes on the outskirts of Northampton are set to be approved by the council at a meeting next week.

Council set to approve plans to convert residential property into own children’s home
The council is set to approve its own plans to convert two adjoining properties on a residential street into a new children’s home.

Local MP calls for direct trains from Northampton to Universal's new theme park
The campaign aligns with strategic goals in West Northants Council's recently published Rail Action Plan to join up Northampton to the East West Rail line

North Northants to get new zero emission electric buses
Plans for a phased rollout at the Kettering depot have been reallocated to a route between Northampton and Raunds

West Northants looks to private rented sector to help house homeless families quicker
Concerns were raised that the new policy could lead to households being sent to out of area accommodation, with no set maximum distance

West Northants Council reports £7m overspend for 2025/26 year end
The authority has had to dip into its reserves to cover the funding gap, which it said was overwhelmingly linked to rising costs in children's and adults' social care

North Northants Council reports £13.8m overspend for 2025/26 year end
The authority has had to dip into its reserves to balance the books, but warned that this won't be sustainable in the long term

Solar farm near Rushden Lakes wins planning appeal
The planning inspector dismissed concerns that the land was linked to the habitat for protected birds

Six-person HMO in Northampton approved, despite on-street parking concerns
The plans were discussed by the council's non-strategic planning committee last Thursday (June 4)

Plans for new housing scheme in Northants village rejected
Major plans to build nearly 50 new homes in an extension to a Northamptonshire village have been turned down by the council.

Council outlines move to 'proactive, inclusive' local SEND offer in government reform plan
North Northants held an extraordinary meeting of its schools forum to discuss the upcoming submission of its Local SEND Reform Plan

Councillors recommend changes to West Northants Council constitution
The changes to meeting procedures will go to full council later this month, however a bid to change rules around councillors' free speech was dropped

Northampton shop given new alcohol licence
West Northants Council's licensing committee approved an application for the premises licence after hearing from concerned residents

Calls for more oversight on capital project overspends and council's use of waivers
Councillors on the audit committee scrutinised the issues at a meeting on Monday

Unauthorised Travellers’ site expansion near rural Corby village must be removed, planning inspector rules
A council enforcement notice ordering the owners to restore the land to its original condition within five months was upheld

Council to buy new-build homes for affordable housing
Nearly 50 new-build homes on a Daventry housing estate could be bought by the council to offer as social and affordable housing, after developers failed to secure a housing provider.

Council to discuss smartphone ban after consultation on mobile phone use in schools
A consultation about students having access to mobile phones in schools has received “overwhelming majority support” in favour of prohibiting device usage, the council has reported.

Council's town centre car park earnings revealed, after removal of weekend free-parking periods
West Northants Council scrapped free parking for blue badge holders and a two-hour no charge period on weekends in April this year, as part of its 2026/27 budget