Council condemns authority for mishandling planning process

Corby Town Council has expressed strong disapproval over not being routinely involved in planning application discussions by the unitary authority. The Labour-led council has urged North Northamptonshire Council, led by Reform UK, to reassess its consultation practices and ensure effective communication with all town and parish councils in the region.

Steve O'Brien, chair of Corby Town Council's Planning Committee, emphasized that the lack of consultation "deprives residents of a meaningful local voice in development decisions."

A spokesperson for North Northamptonshire Council described the omission of Corby Town Council from a planning consultation as an "administrative error."

Minutes from the Corby Town Council Planning Committee meeting on 4 November revealed that councillors had noted a backlog of planning applications: "Recently, more planning applications in the Corby area have been validated by NNC, but the town council has not yet received formal consultation."

The report further mentioned that delays in processing applications were due to technical difficulties within North Northamptonshire Council, potentially affecting the number of applications reviewed.

O'Brien added, "When planning applications move forward without town council input, it limits resident engagement and undermines democratic oversight. Meanwhile, developers experience delays in receiving responses, which compounds inefficiencies."

North Northamptonshire Council stated that the issue had been addressed promptly, ensuring Corby Town Council was given the standard consultation period to provide input, which will be considered in the planning process.

Author: Sophia Brooks