Plans to build more than 20,000 new houses across Northampton, Daventry and Towcester will be examined during a series of public hearings over the coming weeks.
The West Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit has drawn up plans for housing expansion in the area up to 2026.
They show 8,000 new homes should be built in Northampton, a further 7,360 in Daventry and 6,010 in South Northamptonshire.
Councillor Tim Hadland (Con, Old Duston) said: “The strategy is hugely important to the future of the area.
“We urgently need an up to date planning framework to be able to pro-actively respond to current development needs, including the need for regeneration, across West Northamptonshire.”
The strategy has been prepared by Northamptonshire County Council and the councils which represent Northampton, Daventry and Towcester.
It identifies specific locations for housing and employment and changes to transport infrastructure as well as defining where development will be restricted.
The first public hearing about the plan will begin at 9.45am on Tuesday April 16 at Franklins Gardens in Northampton.
After the first session, they will be held every weekday from 9.30am until Wednesday, May 1.
The hearings will consider the scale and amount of development proposed in the strategy.