West Northamptonshire Council Leader welcomes independent review of local plan issues
26 October 2026
West Northamptonshire Council has welcomed confirmation that an independent Planning Inspector will consider the emerging Local Plan.
The plan will guide decisions on housing, jobs, transport, infrastructure and environmental protection across West Northamptonshire through to 2043.
Earlier this year, the Council decided to restart the plan-making process because councillors were concerned that important questions around infrastructure, electricity grid capacity and alternative growth options required further consideration.
The Government subsequently directed the Council to continue progressing the current draft Local Plan and invited the authority to explain why it believed that intervention was unnecessary.
The Council submitted its response to Government, setting out these concerns and arguing that they should be fully explored before long-term decisions are made on future development.
The Planning Inspectorate will be undertaking a scheduled advisory visit during the current consultation period.
Councillor Mark Arnull, Leader of West Northamptonshire Council, said: "We welcome the opportunity for an independent Planning Inspector to conduct the advisory visit as part of the Local Plan process.
"The Council took the decision to pause the draft Plan because members wanted greater confidence that important matters, including infrastructure requirements and future growth options, had been fully considered. We have made those concerns clear to Government.
"The Local Plan will shape how West Northamptonshire grows over the coming decades, so I would encourage residents, businesses and community groups to take part in the consultation and make their views known. All representations received will be considered as part of the independent examination process next year."
The Regulation 19 consultation on the emerging Local Plan is now open until 16 November 2026. This is the final opportunity for residents, businesses and stakeholders to make formal representations before the Plan is submitted for independent examination.
Comments at this stage should focus on whether the Plan is legally compliant and sound. Representations received will be passed directly to the Planning Inspectorate as part of the independent examination process in 2027.
People can find out more about the Plan and submit their comments by visiting the Council's Local Plan consultation webpage.