02 November 2026
Northampton South MP Mike Reader visits Vistry’s Upton Lodge development
Vistry, the UK’s leading specialist mixed-tenure housebuilder, welcomed Mike Reader, Labour MP for Northampton South, to its Upton Lodge development in Northampton, providing an opportunity to discuss plans for the scheme and its role in delivering new homes, jobs and skills for the local area.
During the visit, Mike met with Vistry representatives for a tour of the site and an overview of the plans for Upton Lodge, including progress to date and the next stages of delivery.
The visit comes as Vistry continues to progress plans for Upton Lodge, following the exchange of contracts with Homes England earlier this year. With outline planning permission in place for 1,400 homes, the scheme will combine the delivery of much-needed new housing with investment in local skills and training, while Vistry’s homes will use timber-frame construction and be built to Future Homes standards.
Of the 1,400 homes planned for Upton Lodge, Vistry is set to deliver 1,190, with the remaining 210 to be delivered by an SME housebuilder. Vistry is currently preparing a Masterplan and Design Code for the development, ahead of a detailed planning application anticipated in early 2027.
A key focus of the visit was the role the development will play in supporting local employment and skills. The existing planning permission includes a Construction Training Scheme, funded through an £84,000 contribution, which will support apprenticeships, trainee placements and hands-on site visits for young people during construction.
Nic Chapman, Managing Director, Vistry Northern Home Counties, said: “It was great to welcome Mike to Upton Lodge and share our plans for the development. This is a significant scheme for Northampton, not only through the delivery of much-needed new homes, but through the jobs, skills and training opportunities it will create for local people.
“We look forward to continuing to work with our partners and the local community as we progress our plans and move towards the next stage of delivery.”
Mike Reader, MP for Northampton South, said: “It was great to visit the Upton Lodge site with the Vistry team and see how the plans are taking shape. Northampton needs more homes, and they need to be built well, with the infrastructure in place from the start rather than playing catch-up years later.
“Building in timber frame to Future Homes standards means families will move into homes that are warmer and cheaper to run. I’m especially keen to see the training scheme open doors for young people here, so the people who build Upton Lodge are local people starting careers in construction. I look forward to staying in touch as the plans move forward.”
Graham Hyslop, Director – Projects at Homes England, said: "We're pleased to see Vistry progressing the plans for Upton Lodge at pace, following the exchange of contracts in March.
"The scheme will deliver 1,400 much-needed new homes for Northampton, alongside real investment in local skills and training through the Construction Training Scheme. We look forward to continuing to work with Vistry as the development moves towards a detailed planning application early next year."