Thousands of new homes are to be built in the region

Campaigners are concerned that a Government study on the development of Milton Keynes and its surrounding area called for up to 167,000 new homes built in Northamptonshire by 2031.

On Sunday, Sir Peter Fry, chairman of STOP (Stop the Over-development Plans for Northamptonshire), told BBC News Online that the plans could see villages across the county swamped by housing.

He said Northamptonshire has a shortage of urban (or brown field) land and so large numbers of new homes are likely to be built on green field sites.

"Our petition (which is to be unveiled on 1 September) is going to call for a reduction in the number of homes planned," he said.

If the plans go ahead villages near Wellingborough, Corby and Kettering will become part of the towns Sir Peter Fry, chairman of STOP

"We are not saying: 'No to all development.' But this enormous development would amount to a total transformation of life in Northamptonshire.

"The county as a whole would see a 50% increase in population.

"If the plans go ahead villages near Wellingborough, Corby and Kettering will become part of the towns."

Sir Peter said he is concerned that the Government consultation document talks of "Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough and Northampton merging to a significant degree".

Sir Peter is a fomer MP for Wellingborough

In July this year it was announced that the Milton Keynes/South Midlands growth area is to receive �63m to build "sustainable" communities.

Development will focus on six areas: Northampton-West Northamptonshire; North Northamptonshire area (Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough); Milton Keynes; Aylesbury; Bedford; and Luton and Dunstable.

Visiting Northampton, Jeff Rooker, the Minister for Regeneration and Regional Development, said it was important to revitalise existing communities.

The government recently committed �900m to local transport infrastructure, including the widening of the M1 between the M25 and Milton Keynes, widening the A421 between Bedford and the M1 and a new Dunstable Northern bypass.