Downing Street commits to publishing 'one million homes' plan linked to Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire and surrounding counties have been called "key to the UK's prosperity" in a Government funding promise.

Northamptonshire will be folded into a plan that Downing Street says will make the Midlands "a world leader" for jobs and housing.

Last year, chancellor Rishi Sunak announced plans for a joint 'spatial plan' for growth in the so-called "OxCam Arc" - the area between Oxfordshire and Cambridgeshire that takes in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire.

But since the announcement in the March budget, there has been little else said on the subject, despite naming it a "key economic priority".

Now, housing minister Christ Pincher has re-committed to the scheme by announcing the complete plan will be published next year.

A consultation across the five counties will reportedly take place in summer this year, with the final framework plan drawn up in autumn 2022.

The lofty goals of the plan include overhauling public transport from east to west to cutting emissions - with earlier reports claiming it will lay the groundwork to build "one million homes" by 2050.

The idea, the report reads, is that "with the right investment" in house building and infrastructure, the five counties could "double" its economic output in 30 years.

It aims to do this by assessing land that can be used to build, land that is already in use and setting policies "to support different land uses".

Other ideas include supporting an existing plan to create East-West railway link.

A section also sets out its intention to that "housing needs to be met in full" that are built "at the scale and speed needed".

An 'introduction' to the scheme published today (February 18) does not seem to recognise that Northamptonshire is set to be divided into two unitary councils as of April, while acknowledging the plan would need to coordinate the efforts of 23 local planning authorities.

Housing Minister Rt Hon Christopher Pincher MP said in a statement: "The Oxford-Cambridge Arc is already home to world-leading economic, cultural and scientific assets.

"We know for instance Cambridge’s rate of patent applications – a key indicator of innovation – is the highest in the United Kingdom, while nearby Milton Keynes is the fastest growing city in the country.

"We want to take this region to the next phase of its renaissance by unlocking its full potential and our plans will drive investment where it is needed and ensure, as growth happens, we create well-designed, inclusive and vibrant places and communities.

"The OxCam spatial framework will allow us to plan positively for growth and we look forward to working with our local partners over the coming months to strengthen our vision and approach to the Arc."