Meeting Place was pleased to host a breakfast event with Cllr Tom Manning, Cabinet Member for Planning at West Northamptonshire Council, bringing together representatives from across the property and development sector for an open discussion on planning, growth and opportunity in the county.

A private-sector perspective in public office

Now nine months into his role, Cllr Manning shared how his background in construction is informing his approach within local government. He spoke about bringing private-sector experience into the public sector to improve processes and deliver efficiencies within the council.

A notable example is the authority’s planned rollout of AI tools to support the validation of planning applications – part of a wider ambition to modernise systems and improve responsiveness for applicants and stakeholders.

A clear pro-growth message

A consistent theme throughout the discussion was West Northamptonshire’s pro-growth stance. Tom emphasised that sustainable development is essential to delivering the infrastructure, jobs and services communities need, and that the council recognises the importance of enabling appropriate growth.

Delegates welcomed this clarity of direction and the opportunity to discuss their own priorities and challenges directly with the Cabinet Member.

Northamptonshire’s untapped potential

Conversation also turned to the county’s strengths and future positioning. With excellent connectivity to major economic centres including Coventry, Birmingham, Leicester and even London, alongside a diverse employment base – and its reputation as the “Formula One capital of the world” – Northamptonshire has significant growth potential.

There was strong agreement around the need to raise the county’s profile and perception, positioning it more prominently alongside recognised growth corridors such as the Oxford-Cambridge Arc.

Collaboration and communication

In closing, Tom highlighted that the key to unlocking growth lies in maintaining open lines of communication between the council and those bringing forward development. A collaborative approach between the public and private sectors will be essential to delivering the homes, employment space and infrastructure the area needs.