'Small communities could be annihilated by extra housing'
One of Northampton's top politicians has blasted proposals to build thousands of new houses close to the edge of the town, labelling them "a joke".
Detailed plans for the expansion of Northampton, Daventry and Towcester were published by the West Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit (JPU) at the end of June.
The group, which includes the leaders of Northampton Borough Council, South Northamptonshire Council and Daventry District Council, published plans showing where more 40,000 new homes could be built to meet Government expansion targets.
One of the largest areas highlighted for development was a section of land referred to as "Northampton South-East".
The JPU said the land, which is between Grange Park, Wootton and Little Houghton, could take up to 18,000 new homes.
The suggestion has been condemned by Northampton South's Conservative MP, Brian Binley.
He said: "It simply re-enforces my view that this whole project is misconceived and will be immensely damaging to our county town and the rural areas which surround it. My objections have been strengthened as a result of the publication of that document, and I will voice them with all the energy I can muster during the consultation period and I hope many others will join me in that process."
The MP said he feared many villages in the Northampton South-East area would be "swamped" by any large development and some small communities could be "annihilated".
Offering an alternative solution, he said existing rural villages should simply be expanded, rather than new ones being created.
He said: "We should look to a sensible policy of building in our rural villages without overwhelming them. For instance, Hackleton, Horton and Piddington could take another 100 to 120 homes to add to the 1,000 they already have, which would bring sizeable benefits to the village by providing homes for the many young people who wish to continue their lives in those communities."
Members of the JPU have acknowledged the plans will be "hugely controversial", but asked those who oppose them to offer alternative solutions.
The proposals will be put on public display from tomorrow and the JPU has reassured residents they are not the final plan.
A statement issued by the organisation said: "The Emergent Joint Core Strategy is not the complete plan.
"Following public consultation, we will consider and respond to the feedback that has been received. Further evidence will then be gathered and studies carried out before the next stage in the production of the Joint Core Strategy, called Pre-Submission."
The plans will be on display from Tuesday at Northampton Borough Council's offices in Cliftonville, Northampton, Daventry Library and South Northamptonshire Council's offices in Towcester.
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