'Vital' you have say on 40,000 homes before it is too late
The leader of the group which drew up the latest expansion plans for Northampton, Daventry and Towcester has said it is vital people continue to give their views on the proposals.
The West Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit (JPU), a group made up of councillors from Northampton, Daventry and Towcester, published the latest expansion plans for the area at the end of June.
They suggested more than 40,000 houses could be built around the three towns over the next 15 to 20 years, proposals which have led to widespread anger among communities who feel their homes could be subsumed by the new developments.
But the leader of the JPU, Northampton Borough Council leader Councillor Tony Woods (Lib Dem, St Davids) pointed out the proposals were still at a very early stage.
He said: "It's important to note that although these plans are based on current evidence from a number of areas, including transport, job, healthcare and housing needs, at the present time the strategy is in its development stage.
"This means it is vital the public offer their views on the Emergent Joint Core Strategy to ensure the proposals are appropriately shaped over the coming months.
"The Government has decided that growth is going to take place in the West Northamptonshire area. Therefore, it is the Joint Planning Unit's job to listen to feedback and help progress the framework for growth in the best possible way."
An exhibition of the development plans will be held at the Parson's Memorial Hall in Great Houghton tomorrow between 5pm and 8.30pm.
The expansion issue will also be discussed at a meeting of Northamptonshire County Council on Thursday.
The leader of the county council, Councillor Jim Harker (Con, Kettering Rural) said: "As part of the consultation on this strategy, which will see huge population and economic growth in the west of the county, it's essential that the views of the people who will be most affected are heard.
"These are not the county council's proposals, nor are they the final proposals, this is a snapshot of how the plans are emerging at the moment and this allows room for input from all sides so the growth can be shaped in the best way possible."
The county council has set aside 90 minutes to discuss the issue at County Hall in the centre of Northampton from 2pm tomorrow.
The JPU plans are expected to be submitted to the Government either at the end of this year or early in the new year. A full public inquiry is then due to be held in the summer.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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