Housing growth in Northampton is 'the only option'
The leader of the group which has published details of possible housing development sites across Northampton, Daventry and Towcester has said he understands people's concerns, but insists they must realise expansion is inevitable.
The West Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit (JPU) this week agreed to put plans to build more than 40,000 new houses around the three towns out to public consultation.
Their move came despite about 50 anti-development protesters gathering outside the council office where the decision was made.
Councillor Tony Woods (Lib Dem, St Davids), the chairman of the JPU, said: "It's understandable that people are worried. But while some people say they just don't want growth, it's not an option.
"The area has already grown over the years and now the Government is saying we've got to grow faster."
The development proposals were first revealed at the end of last month. They include the possibility of 18,000 homes being built between Grange Park, Wootton and Little Houghton, 5,663 between Moulton and Overstone, 2,200 on the edge of Collingtree, 6,900 on the edge of Duston, more than 5,300 around Daventry and almost 5,000 in south Northamptonshire.
Councillor Woods said: "We can't say no to growth in Northampton and west Northamptonshire; that's already been decided by the Government.
"So we're trying to do the best for the area in terms of saying where these houses should go. But these plans are for the next generation; they're not something that's going to be built tomorrow."
He also insisted the improvement of Northampton town centre must be at the heart of any expansion, adding: "We need to make Northampton the regional city for all of us, not just the people of Northampton, because if we don't get Northampton right, everything else will fail."
Plans will be put out to public consultation for six weeks before being submitted to the Government in November.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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