Inspector to review controversial homes plan
Press AssociationA planning inspector will examine proposals for tens of thousands of homes after the government ordered the local authority to speed up the process.
West Northamptonshire Council's draft local plan could see up to 47,300 homes built across the area by 2043.
In September, the Reform UK-led council voted to go back to the drawing board and start a new local plan from scratch.
The following day, the government ordered the council to continue with its existing draft plan.
The council is fighting the direction from Westminster and says progressing the current proposals would "create greater risks and delays" following objections that were raised in a public consultation earlier this year.
An official from the government's Planning Inspectorate will now review the existing local plan.
"We welcome the opportunity for an independent planning inspector to conduct the advisory visit," said Mark Arnull, the leader of West Northamptonshire Council.
He said the local authority had made its "concerns clear to government".
A spokesperson from the Planning Inspectorate said these "advisory visits" were part of the standard process and not "unusual".
They involve an informal discussion chaired by an experienced inspector "without prejudice", they added.
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