Reporter ANDREW PAPWORTH looks at what the future holds.


A milestone in the growth of the county was reached yesterday when the Government gave the go-ahead for 52,100 homes to be built in north Northamptonshire.

After three years of debate, Communities Minister Hazel Blears backed the proposals which will mean the area will eventually have a population of 380,000, equivalent to the size of Bristol and about 100,000 more than the present figure.

And it is hoped that planning inspector Eric Searle's full endorsement of the Core Spatial Strategy will trigger a flood of funding for new infrastructure.

Planning manager of the North Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit Andrew Longley hailed the move as "an exciting piece of positive change".

Mr Longley said: "For us the big headline is that the Government has found this plan to be sound and that it is the one that should be adopted for growth in this area.

"This is the first plan in the East Midlands and the first Joint Strategy Plan nationally. We're being held up as best practice nationally."

Mr Searle endorsed many of the strategies being used by planning experts to expand housing while still preserving a strong countryside.

The boom in housing will go hand-in-hand with a bid to redevelop town centres to fill the demand for 47,400 jobs.

This will mean a new shopping and leisure complex in Kettering, based around the Newlands centre, as well as redeveloped town centres in Wellingborough and Corby.

One area for concern for Mr Searle is how the infrastructure will be provided. He has asked for the plans to be reviewed regularly as a safeguard against difficulties builders may face from a lack of investment or the credit crunch.

Work on the proposals started in 2005, when the North Northamptonshire Planning Unit joined forces with North Northamptonshire Development Corporation to consult widely about growth issues.

After talking to residents, community groups and experts at the Environment Agency and Highways Agency, drafts were sent to Mr Searle for inspection.

After consultations to listen to objections he has made his final recommendations.

It is now anticipated the proposals will be adopted by the Northamptonshire Joint Planning Committee at its meeting on June 12.

To see the inspector's full report visit the website www.nnjpu.org.uk.