The Planning Policy Committee of West Northamptonshire Council was scheduled to discuss several key planning matters, including responses to consultations from neighbouring authorities, updates on local development strategies, and the council's five-year housing land supply position. The meeting's agenda focused on ensuring effective cross-boundary cooperation and adherence to national planning policy.

Buckinghamshire Local Plan - Response to Consultation and Unmet Housing Need Request

A significant item on the agenda was the proposed response to Buckinghamshire Council's consultation on its New and Expanded Settlements Study (NESS). The report pack indicated that West Northamptonshire Council was asked to consider accommodating unmet housing needs from Buckinghamshire, including pitches and plots for Gypsy and Travellers and Travelling Showpeople. The recommendations suggested that West Northamptonshire Council would not accommodate any unmet Gypsy, Traveller, and Travelling Showpeople pitches from Buckinghamshire at this time. The report also detailed concerns regarding potential impacts on West Northamptonshire from proposed allocations at Beachampton and Turweston, particularly concerning heritage, landscape, and infrastructure. The council's draft response, outlined in Appendix A, requested further assessment and engagement on these sites, noting that the Turweston proposal would effectively be an extension of Brackley and could lead to the coalescence of settlements.

Spatial Development Strategies

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the government's consultation regarding Spatial Development Strategies (SDSs). The report highlighted that West Northamptonshire Council had submitted a holding response to this consultation, aligning with the council's position on devolution. The council's preferred geography for an SDS was the South Midlands, encompassing Bedfordshire, Luton, Milton Keynes, and Northamptonshire, building on over two decades of collaboration. However, the response also indicated that if a South Midlands footprint was not agreed, the council would propose progressing an SDS for Northamptonshire in partnership between North and West Northamptonshire Councils. The report noted that the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 introduced a duty for certain authorities to prepare SDSs, with secondary legislation expected to operationalise this system.

Neighbourhood Plans and Neighbouring Authority Local Plans - Update

An update was scheduled on neighbourhood planning activity within West Northamptonshire and the local plan progress of neighbouring authorities. The report indicated that there were 33 adopted neighbourhood plans across West Northamptonshire, with several others in various stages of development. The council's role in supporting these local initiatives through guidance and consultation was highlighted. In terms of neighbouring authorities, the report provided an overview of their local plan making activities, including Buckinghamshire Council's request for West Northamptonshire to accommodate housing needs, and the progress of plans in Cherwell, Harborough, Milton Keynes, North Northamptonshire, Stratford-on-Avon, and Rugby. The report also mentioned the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government's consultation on a New Towns Draft Programme, which included Milton Keynes as a potential location.

Five Year Land Supply Position - Update

The committee was to be informed about a recent planning appeal decision that impacted West Northamptonshire Council's ability to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply. The report indicated that a previous assessment in June 2025 had identified a 5.5-year supply, but an Inspector at a Brackley appeal concluded that the council could not demonstrate this. The report detailed how the Inspector had removed several sites from the supply calculation, citing concerns about deliverability and the evidence provided by developers. The recommendations included noting that the council cannot currently demonstrate a five-year housing land supply and that a new assessment with a base date of 1st April 2026 was underway. The report also highlighted the challenges in obtaining sufficient evidence from developers to confirm build-out rates and the implications of not having a five-year supply, which triggers the tilted balance in favour of sustainable development under paragraph 11 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).¹