Brackley set to take 1,650 more new homes
07/01/2026
The figures are in the new draft Local Plan for West Northamptonshire
by Nadia Lincoln, Local Democracy Reporter
Thousands of new homes have been proposed to be built across West Northamptonshire’s towns and villages, as the council has revealed details of the latest draft of its Local Plan.
From Brackley to Long Buckby, major changes to the makeup of the county’s residential and employment footprint have been proposed to meet the government’s new housing targets and set out the future of development for the area.
The Local Plan is a required document which sets out how land will be used for housing, employment, green spaces, and infrastructure, while supporting regeneration and protecting the environment.
A consultation on an older version of the West Northants Council (WNC) draft plan took place between April and June 2024, however council officers had to go back to the drawing board after higher housing targets were introduced by the newly elected Labour government that year.
The current draft outlines plans for up to 47,300 new homes to be built in West Northamptonshire over the plan period 2025-2043. There is a requirement to deliver, on average, 2,503 dwellings per year – which would be a 25 per cent increase on the number of houses delivered on average over the last five years.
Northampton
The largest housing delivery allocation for the authority falls to Northampton, which has grown significantly in recent years. In total, the plan sets out just over 33,000 homes to be built in the town, across sustainable urban extensions (SUEs), regeneration sites, and smaller allocations over the plan period.
According to the 2021 ONS Census, there were around 100,000 households in Northampton, meaning the Local Plan would represent around a 33 per cent increase in housing numbers for the town if all proposals are built out. Some of the residential developments have been re-allocated from previously allocated sites and not all the proposals are completely new.
The plan also notes a priority to use brownfield sites, especially within the town centre, and marks a number of residential, hotel and leisure opportunities including at Four Waterside, Greyfriars, Marefair Heritage Park, the Northampton Railway Station and Market Walk.
Daventry
Daventry will take on the next biggest share of the housing delivery, with allocations for at least 4,670 homes put forward and a potential growth of 40 per cent on its current residential footprint. This includes the Micklewell Park Extension, an allocation at Middlemore, and the largest development at the Daventry North East SUE.
Other proposals include the allocation of land to the north and west of the town centre to be protected as Local Green Space and the regeneration of the former council offices at Lodge Road. Daventry has a population of roughly 28,000 and 11,740 households
Brackley and Towcester
Other growth is earmarked in Brackley, by 1,650 homes (a 25 per cent increase), and Towcester by 1,400 homes (a 28 per cent increase). WNC says both towns have experienced significant growth over in recent years, with Brackley’s current population at roughly 16,200 and Towcester at around 11,500 people.
Other non-residential proposals suggest providing leisure, tourism and exhibition facilities at the Towcester Racecourse and the three large employment allocations at Bell Plantation, Woolgrowers Field and Tiffield Lane.
Long Buckby and rural
Another large residential scheme has been identified at land surrounding the village railway station, in Long Buckby, due to the increased housing need outlined by the government. The council has allocated 1,000 homes and 4 hectares of employment land on the site, stating that the station would benefit from investment as a result of the development.
This represents the largest increase of any settlement in West Northants, with a 50 per cent rise in the number of houses from the current 1,979 households.
Approximately 3,800 homes will also be built across the rural areas of West Northants, with primary and secondary service villages being prioritised for housing. According to WNC, the individual developments would be led by local Neighbourhood Plans.
The plan also includes policies to help achieve net zero and improve health outcomes and enhanced protection for valued green spaces and opportunities for communities to nominate more.
‘One of the most important documents we produce’
The proposals must first be discussed by the WNC planning policy committee at its meeting on Thursday, January 8.
Cllr Thomas Manning, Cabinet Member for Planning at West Northamptonshire Council, said: “This Local Plan is one of the most important documents we produce, setting out how we balance homes, jobs, and infrastructure while protecting our environment and creating thriving places for future generations.
“The views of residents, parishes, and businesses will be vital in shaping the final plan, and I strongly encourage everyone to get involved when the consultation opens in February.”
Full council will be asked to approve a public consultation on the draft Local Plan at an extraordinary council meeting on January 19. The consultation with then run for eight weeks.
Once the Local Plan is approved, it will help guide planning decisions made by the council in future years.
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
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Eli keyes On 08/01/2026 at 9:07 pm
To WNC; if Brackley expands… just where are the children going to go to school and families go to the doctor’s??