Consultation on removing 3k from council house list

North Northamptonshire Council said the proposal would help it focus on those with "priority need"

A plan which could see more than 3,000 people taken off a council's social housing waiting list will go to consultation after its executive voted to progress the scheme.

North Northamptonshire Council's existing register ranks households based on their needs between bands of A to E, and how long they have been on the waiting list.

Under proposed changes, all applicants in the lower band, Band E, would be removed and the number of people in Band D would be reduced by changing the criteria.

Kirk Harrison, councillor responsible for housing on the Reform UK-controlled council, said he had seen how "the pressures of the system can distort expectations".

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the council reported receiving an average of over 500 housing applications per month to its Keyways Housing Allocation scheme.

There has been a 129% increase in applicants over the last three years, rising from 2,937 in April 2022 to 6,727 in April 2025.

In comparison, just 1,528 social homes were let in 2024-25.

Under the proposed changes those who have no housing need, the current Band E, would be removed.

Those in Band D who were living in other households, such as friends or family, and had no dependents, or were already homeowners, would no longer be on list.

Across the two bands that was currently 3,107 people.

The report to the council said the prospects of those people "being housed via the housing register are unrealistic and/or non-existent".

Those people would be directed to alternative housing solutions, such as mutual exchange, low-cost home ownership and the private rented sector.

Speaking at this week's council executive meeting, resident Dorothy Maxwell, who is also a former Conservative councillor, said cutting the housing list would leave many people with "no hope".

Harrison said: "What matters here is that we're open, honest and fair with people and the scheme focuses on the real need.

"It ensures that we signpost others to alternative housing options."

The council will begin a six-week consultation on the proposed changes from 20 October, running until 1 December.