The Planning Policy Committee of West Northamptonshire Council was scheduled to discuss several key planning matters, including responses to consultations from Buckinghamshire Council regarding its Local Plan and potential unmet housing needs, as well as updates on Spatial Development Strategies, Neighbourhood Plans, and the council's five-year housing land supply position. The meeting's agenda focused on strategic planning issues and cross-boundary cooperation with neighbouring authorities.

Buckinghamshire Local Plan and Unmet Housing Need

A significant item on the agenda was the 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 sites adjacent to its border that could impact its own planning. Specifically, the NESS identified potential allocations at Beachampton and Turweston. Officers recommended that further assessment be undertaken for Beachampton, cautioning against its potential impacts on West Northamptonshire's infrastructure. For Turweston, which is adjacent to Brackley, concerns were raised about heritage and landscape impacts, with a recommendation for further assessment and engagement.

Additionally, Buckinghamshire Council had formally requested West Northamptonshire Council to accommodate unmet housing needs, estimated at up to 10,000 dwellings between 2024 and 2045, and 290 pitches and plots for Gypsy, Traveller, and Travelling Showpeople. The report pack indicated that the recommendation was for West Northamptonshire Council to state that it would not accommodate any unmet Gypsy, Traveller, and Travelling Showpeople pitches from Buckinghamshire Council at this time. This was due to the ongoing analysis of responses to West Northamptonshire's own Local Plan consultation, which had only recently closed, and the need to first understand its own housing needs.

Spatial Development Strategies

The committee was also scheduled to consider the Government's consultation on Spatial Development Strategies (SDS). The report highlighted that the Planning and Infrastructure Act 2025 introduced a duty for certain authorities, including West Northamptonshire Council, to prepare an SDS. The consultation invited views on proposed SDS geographies, with West Northamptonshire being an area without a defined proposal. The report indicated that the council's preferred SDS geography would align with its proposed devolution footprint, which favoured a South Midlands area encompassing Bedfordshire, Luton, Milton Keynes, and Northamptonshire. This preference was based on over two decades of collaboration, functional economic alignment, and shared strengths in key industrial sectors. The report also noted that if a South Midlands footprint was not agreed, the council would propose a Northamptonshire-only SDS, working in partnership between North and West Northamptonshire Councils.

Neighbourhood Plans and Neighbouring Authority Local Plans

An update was scheduled on neighbourhood planning activity within West Northamptonshire and the local plan progress of neighbouring authorities. The report pack stated that there were 33 adopted neighbourhood plans in West Northamptonshire, with others in various stages of development. The committee was asked to note and welcome this activity. Furthermore, the report provided an overview of the plan-making activities of neighbouring councils, including Buckinghamshire, Cherwell, Harborough, Milton Keynes, North Northamptonshire, Stratford-on-Avon, and Rugby. This was presented as part of the council's commitment to maintaining effective cooperation on strategic matters that cross administrative boundaries, as outlined in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

Five Year Land Supply Position

The committee was to receive an update on the council's five-year housing land supply position. The report pack indicated that a previous Housing Land Availability Report in June 2025 identified a 5.5-year supply as of 1 April 2025. However, a recent planning appeal concerning a site at Brackley resulted in an Inspector concluding that the council could not demonstrate a five-year supply. The report was expected to inform members that the council could not currently demonstrate this supply, and that a new assessment with a base date of 1 April 2026 was underway. The implications of not being able to demonstrate a five-year supply include the application of the tilted balance in decision-making, which presumes in favour of sustainable development.