South Midlands Region – October Update

Our South Midlands Region is based at our Northampton office and covers Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire and Bedfordshire. The team is headed by Guy Orton and Clare Tevlin. See further details and contacts on our South Midlands Region page.

Local government reorganisation remained a key issue in September after the Government announced a pause and review of the programme on 7 September. Decisions for Essex, Hampshire, Norfolk and Suffolk were withdrawn, while implementation in a number of other areas was paused as ministers consider the next steps. The government has also confirmed that local elections in May 2027 will go ahead on existing council boundaries, providing some short-term certainty for councils while the wider review continues.

Buckinghamshire

September saw the council go back to business as usual after the summer break. with no major planning application decisions in Buckinghamshire.

Central & North Buckinghamshire Area Planning Committee met on 9 September and considered and approved a major outline planning application for up to 36 dwellings on land off Barnet Way, Bierton. A key issue with this application concerned the principle of development. The site lies outside the ‘Development Boundary’ defined in the recently made Bierton Neighbourhood Plan.

East & South Buckinghamshire Area Planning Committee met on 15 September, with no major planning applications discussed.

West Buckinghamshire Area Planning Committee met on 23 September, discussed and approved the outline application for 40 dwellings along Thame Road, Longwick. The proposed development accorded with the majority of development plan polices except spatial policies relating to the location of new homes but the Council cannot currently demonstrate a 5-year supply.

There were no defections, new vacancies or by-election dates announced in Buckinghamshire during the month.

Northamptonshire

September has been relatively quiet in North Northamptonshire, with attention beginning to turn towards the next stage of the new Local Plan, which is due to go out for consultation on its proposed content and evidence in October and November. North Northamptonshire Planning Committee met on 16 September and discussed and approved the Chelveston Renewable Energy Park which occupies a 750-acre former RAF airfield near Chelveston in North Northamptonshire. Described by the council as the UK’s largest combined renewable energy park, it incorporates wind and solar generation, battery storage and green hydrogen production, generating up to 200GWh of renewable electricity. An adjoining innovation park is also being developed to accommodate energy-intensive and low-carbon businesses supplied directly by power generated on site.

West Northamptonshire Strategic Planning Committee met on 22 September and considered no major planning applications. Kathryn Shaw, who was elected for Reform UK but left the party in March, has now moved from the Independent group to the Liberal Democrats. There were no other defections, new vacancies or by-election dates announced during September.

Rugby Borough Council
Rugby Planning Committee meeting on 2 September was cancelled and then rescheduled for 30 September and they discussed no major planning applications. There were no defections, new vacancies or by-election dates announced in Rugby during September.

Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council The Planning Applications Committee meeting on 22 September was cancelled due to a “lack of business”. There were no defections or local by-elections announced during the month.

Cambridgeshire

Cambridge City Council’s Joint Development Management Committee met on 16 September and approved the joint application for outline planning permission for a phased mixed use development, including demolition of existing buildings and structures for up up to 3,800 dwellings, student accommodation, co-living, senior living, flexible employment floorspace and academic floorspace on land between Huntingdon Road and M11 and Madingley Road. Cllr Dave Baigent, who was elected for Labour in Romsey ward but left the party and joined Your Party in August last year, has now left Your Party to sit as an Independent councillor.

East Cambridgeshire District Council’s Planning Committee met on 2 September and discussed no major planning applications. There were no defections or local by-elections announced during the month.

South Cambridgeshire District Council’s Planning Committee met on 9 September and did not discuss any major planning applications. There were no defections or local by-elections announced during the month.

Huntingdonshire District Council’s (HDC) Development Management Committee met on 21 September and discussed the outline planning permission for up to 70 dwellings at land south of Blenheim Grove, Offord Darcy, and approved the application despite fears from residents of increased sewage spills in a village already suffering from the worst spills in the area. HDC is inviting residents, businesses and stakeholders to have their say on the Pre-Submission Local Plan to 2046 and accompanying Habitats Regulations Assessment and Sustainability Appraisal which will be open for six weeks from 16 September 2026. There were no defections or local by-elections announced during the month.

Peterborough City Council’s Planning and Environmental Protection met on 1 September.
Cllr Nicola Jenkins, who was elected for the Labour Party in Bretton ward but left the party in August 2025, has now joined the Green Party.

Oxfordshire

Cherwell District Council’s Planning Committee meeting for 3 September was cancelled. The committee did meet on 16 September to discuss and refused an urgent Crown Development application for a temporary ten-year change of use and phased non-detained asylum accommodation for up to 1,256 service users. The next meeting was on 24 September and there were no major planning applications discussed. Two councillors for Fringford and Heyfords ward have left the Liberal Democrat group to sit as Independents. They are Cllr Jean Conway and Cllr Grace Conway-Murray.

South Oxfordshire District Council’s Planning Committee met on 9 September, with no major planning applications approved. There were also no defections, vacancies or by-election updates announced during September.

West Oxfordshire District Council’s Development Management Sub-committee meeting on 7 September to discuss a number of applications including an outline application for up to 20 homes on land west of Combe Road, Stonesfield. The application was recommended for approval but the application was refused amid fears of a loss of heritage. The next meeting on 15 September was cancelled, and the next meeting is scheduled for 12 October. Cllr Phil Godfrey, who was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Carterton North West ward, has joined the Conservative Party.

Vale of White Horse District Council’s Planning Committee met on 16 September and discussed a two planning applications including the major application for 14 dwellings at 1 The Green, Drayton and it was approved. A hybrid planning application consisting of a link road, landscaping, drainage infrastructure all for a mixed employment development comprising up to 75,000 square meters of floorspace. It was also approved. No councillor or election updates.

Bedfordshire

Bedford Borough Council’s Planning Committee met on 14 September but the only planning application on the agenda (converting a home into a children’s home) was withdrawn. No major residential applications were discussed. The committee met again on 28 September to discuss a number of applications including an outline planning application for 93 dwellings at land north of Lower Farm Road, Bromham. The application was approved. There were no election updates announced in Bedford during June.

Central Bedfordshire Council Development Management Committee met on 23 September and discussed an outline application for the for 150 homes on Crawley Road, Cranfield. Councillors unanimously refused the development because of substantial harm to the open countryside, its unsustainability, and the lack of a completed Section 106 legal agreement securing financial contributions. There were no election updates announced in Central Bedfordshire during June.

Luton Council’s Development Management Committee met on 23 September and discussed no major planning applications. A minority Labour administration was removed in September 2026 with a Liberal-Democrat, Conservative and Independent Alliance coalition forming the new administration. Cllr Saima Hussain moved from Labour to non-aligned Independent, and Cllr Khtija Malik moved from non-aligned Independent to Independent Alliance and then both moved to the Green Party.