'One thousand new homes will change the village forever'

Under West Northamptonshire Council's draft local plan - a blueprint for future development - up to 47,300 new homes could be built by 2043.

In one village, Long Buckby, near Daventry, earmarked for a possible 1,000 homes, residents fear the fabric of their community will be destroyed.

Elsewhere, 300 properties could even be built on part of the course at Collingtree Park Golf Club, near Northampton, which has 600 members.

The council says it will review responses to a public consultation before any final decisions are made.

Meanwhile, people at Long Buckby and Collingtree told the BBC about their concerns.

Emma Wagner moved to Long Buckby in search of more green space after living in cities and towns.

"It's a rural community.

"It's a historic village with a lot of heritage and by building 1,000 extra houses it will change the village forever, and not in a positive way."

She said she feared it would bring thousands more cars to a village "already struggling with traffic issues".

She also raised concerns about a lack of amenities, like GP surgeries and schools.

Wagner said there would "always be a need for housing" but suggested councils should focus on regenerating areas in need of improvement and repurposing empty buildings.

Warren Bailey was born in the village and said it has already changed a lot.

"I've seen it change over 54 years.

"There's always been a good community spirit in the village and a tight knit community and as we've seen the extension of the village, there's been a change in that area.

"[There are] lots of people now I don't know," he said.

Bailey said the proposals would "take away the fabric of the village as it stands today" and have a "high impact".

Nick Welch lives on the golf course at the Collingtree club.

He picked that spot for its views over the lush greenery and a lake.

He said there was a sense of community.

"It's the only place where both young and old can come together to feel connected."

He said his son was a junior golfer. He worried that his son and other young golfers at county level, who use the course to practise, could lose out.

"By building houses on the golf course you're going to take that facility away," he said.

Oliver Hart, the golf club's general manager, says the plans would mean the course losing between three to five holes.

It would have to become a nine-hole course, which he said was "not viable".

"We have a successful 600-member golf course that is supporting the local community, as well as local health."

Catherine Williams, planning director for the Home Builders Federation, told the BBC local authorities were responsible for identifying where houses should be built.

"The government set an ambitious target of 1.5m homes over this Parliament and then that is divided up into local requirements.

"So for West Northants, that's an increase of 391 dwellings per annum [compared] to what they were originally planning for."

She encouraged anyone with concerns about draft proposals to take part in the consultation and "have their voices heard".

A spokesperson for West Northamptonshire Council said the consultation on the draft plan was ongoing.

"This is an early stage in the plan-making process and no decisions have yet been made.

"All comments submitted during the consultation will be reviewed and used to shape the next version of the Plan before it progresses later this year."

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