We need infrastructure before new houses - council

Turning the A43 between Northampton and Kettering into a dual carriageway is one of the West Northamptonshire projects

A council leader is urging the Labour government to fund new roads and services before extra homes are imposed.

Adam Brown from West Northamptonshire Council said his area had already seen thousands of new dwellings and the infrastructure had not kept pace.

He said he had already had "positive" conversations with the county's MPs about the issue.

A spokesperson for the Treasury said: “The chancellor has been clear that difficult decisions lie ahead on spending."

Mr Brown is hoping the government will commit to several major projects, including the dualling of the A43 between the A45 in Northampton and the A14 near Kettering.

He also wants confirmation that some of the funds released by the cancellation of the HS2 project north of Birmingham will be spent on West Northamptonshire projects.

The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, wants to "get Britain building again"

In her first speech as chancellor, Rachel Reeves warned that councils will face compulsory housebuilding targets to "get Britain building again".

She indicated that the Labour government would build 1.5 million homes during this parliament and a target for Northamptonshire of 4,648 houses was suggested by the deputy prime minister.

Adam Brown, with his North Northamptonshire counterpart Jason Smithers, wants commitment from government

West Northamptonshire will have to contribute 2,584 homes to that figure, a 20% increase over the existing target, even though, in Mr Brown's view, the area has "delivered significant housing growth over the past 20 years".

Adam Brown believes the county has delivered "significant housing growth" over the last 20 years

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Mr Brown added: “We haven’t had the infrastructure investment to match that growth so it’s vital that infrastructure keeps up with the pace of housing or employment development that we’re seeing.

“There’s a lot on there and it’s all been funded and promised so we really need that investment coming into the wider area and we certainly need the infrastructure before the expansion.”

A government spokesperson said: “The chancellor has been clear that difficult decisions lie ahead on spending, welfare and tax to fix the foundations of our economy, and any decisions on how to do that will be taken at the Budget in the round.”