WNC pledges to invest in communities and infrastructure

15 December 2025

West Northamptonshire Council will continue to build for the future by investing in a broad range of schemes and projects to improve local infrastructure and services for our communities in the year ahead.

In 2026/27, the Council is planning to earmark £83 million within its capital programme to priority projects across highways, education, housing, and regeneration. 

While the Council continues to face significant financial pressures and the need to make savings in its revenue budget, which funds day-to-day services, capital funding works very differently. It can only be used for one-off projects, such as improving roads, building and expanding schools, regenerating town centres, and upgrading public facilities, and cannot be spent on running everyday services.

Much of this funding also comes from specific government grants or other sources that legally have to be used for capital projects. This means the Council can invest in important improvements while still managing the pressures on frontline services. Just as a household cannot pay weekly bills from a mortgage, the Council cannot use capital funds to cover the cost of daily operations.

The Council is therefore proposing in total a £143 million capital programme spanning 2026/27 to 2030/31, designed to deliver long‑term benefits for residents and businesses. This long-term investment aims to strengthen local infrastructure, support safer and more vibrant communities, and prepare West Northamptonshire for future growth. 

Planned key investments for 2026/27 include:

• Adult Social Care – £26 million over five years to support independent living through home adaptations, equipment and assistive technology.
• Assets and Environment – £18 million next year, contributing to £24 million over four years to modernise buildings, improve environmental resilience and deliver new facilities.
• Town Centre Regeneration and Place Shaping – £9 million next year, with £21 million over five years to deliver projects like the Marefare Heritage Gateway, Abington Street Redevelopments and improvements to leisure and public spaces.
• Highways and Waste – £8 million next year, contributing to over £15 million across five years to maintain roads, improve safety and support cleaner, more sustainable transport.
• Housing and Communities – £2 million next year, within a wider five-year £2 million programme supporting disabled facilities, libraries and community services.
• Education – £5 million next year, part of a £7 million four-year plan to increase school places and improve SEND provision for local families.

These investments are about improving everyday life for residents, from safer roads and better school places to revitalised town centres and community facilities. While we must continue to manage our day-to-day budget carefully, it is crucial that we keep building for the future. This capital programme will help West Northamptonshire grow, create new opportunities and remain a great place to live, work and visit for years to come.Councillor John Slope, Cabinet Member for Finance

WNC’s Cabinet will meet to discuss the draft 2026-27 budget on Monday, 22 December at the Forum, Towcester, from 6pm. The report and papers are available to view on the WNC website.