Northampton MP visits site of major 1,400-home development as plans progress
Plans for a major development of 1,400 new homes in Northampton are progressing, with a detailed planning application expected to be submitted early next year.
Housebuilder Vistry is preparing a masterplan and design code for its Upton Lodge development, which already has outline planning permission, ahead of the next stage of the project.
The latest update comes after Northampton South MP Mike Reader visited the site to meet representatives from the company and discuss its plans for housing, infrastructure and employment opportunities.
Vistry exchanged contracts with Homes England in March 2026 and is set to deliver 1,190 of the proposed properties, with the remaining 210 homes to be built by another housebuilder.
The company's homes will use timber-frame construction and be built to Future Homes standards.
The development also includes plans to support employment and construction skills in Northampton through an £84,000 contribution towards a Construction Training Scheme.
The scheme will provide apprenticeships, trainee placements and opportunities for young people to gain experience through site visits during construction.
During his visit, Mr Reader was given a tour of the development site and briefed on progress and the next stages of the project.
He said: "Northampton needs more homes, and they need to be built well, with the infrastructure in place from the start rather than playing catch-up years later.
"Building in timber frame to Future Homes standards means families will move into homes that are warmer and cheaper to run.
"I'm especially keen to see the training scheme open doors for young people here, so the people who build Upton Lodge are local people starting careers in construction."
Nic Chapman, managing director of Vistry Northern Home Counties, said the development would provide more than additional housing.
"This is a significant scheme for Northampton, not only through the delivery of much-needed new homes, but through the jobs, skills and training opportunities it will create for local people," he said.
Graham Hyslop, director of projects at Homes England, welcomed the progress being made following the exchange of contracts.
He said the development would provide new homes alongside investment in local skills and training, adding that Homes England looked forward to continuing its work with Vistry ahead of the detailed planning application anticipated in early 2027.