West Northants Local Plan receives more than 6,000 responses from members of the public

The council will consider all responses to help shape the final vision for future development in the area

Nadia Lincoln Local Democracy Reporter | Tuesday 28th July 2026 1:56pm

More than 6,000 people have responded to the council’s draft Local Plan, which sets out where thousands of homes, new employment areas and supporting infrastructure will likely be built over the next 20 years.

The latest consultation on the important planning document took place between January 29 and March 27, 2026. West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) said it had been publicised through a variety of channels including online social media posts, public posters and banners, and in-person exhibitions.

A report updating members on the responses received will go to the council’s planning policy committee next Tuesday, August 4.

In total, 6,184 respondents made submissions to the consultation – the majority of which came from members of the general public. These were handed in alongside 100 nominations for new areas to be designated as specially protected Local Green Spaces and 140 new calls for sites.

All representations received during the consultation will be considered by the authority to help shape the next stage of the plan before it goes to the government for final approval.

The current draft outlines plans for up to 47,300 new homes to be built across Northampton, Daventry, Brackley, Towcester and surrounding villages up to 2043.  It also includes policies on protecting the environment, supporting the local economy, and shaping the places where we live, work, and spend time.

The record-breaking public response trumps the number of people who were reached in WNC’s previous Local Plan consultation in Spring 2024, which was not taken forward any further due to the government’s changes to national planning policy and housing targets.  According to reports at the time, the 2024 consultation received just 712 responses.

The officer’s report going to committee next week highlights a number of specific housing projects across West Northamptonshire that individually received the most pubic feedback.

According to WNC, a policy allocating 100 homes to be built at Harlestone Firs received 3,638 individual responses that were delivered by hand by the parish council, in addition to the general consultation responses.

Other controversial projects that received a higher number of objections – and have in the past been the subject of public outrage and local campaigns – include plans for up to 300 homes at Collingtree Golf Course, 1,000 homes in Long Buckby, up to 1,000 homes on land to the north of Newport Pagnell Road, Northampton, and residential allocations to rural villages.

Cllr Thomas Manning, cabinet member for planning, previously said that the feedback will “will help us ensure that future growth is well-planned, sustainable, and reflects what matters most to local people”.

An opportunity to make representations on the next version (the Regulation 19 Plan) will be available in the autumn, subject to approval of next stages by committee. Submission of the final plan to the Secretary of State for examination is expected by December 2026.

More News Headlines