Ultimate bearing capacity of foundations is estimated most commonly considering the soil strata as incompressible and homogeneous. Bearing capacity of footings on compressible strata is governed not only by the strength parameters but also by the settlement of the soils beneath. Load-settlement response is non-linear for footings resting on soft ground characterised by its compressibility. Naturally sedimented soils exhibit increase in undrained strength with depth. Compressibility and heterogeneity of NC (normally consolidated) soil influence the bearing pressure as a function of settlement. The present study considers footing resting on medium-dense granular bed overlaying compressible normally consolidated soil (GNC). The numerical study quantifies the effects of heterogeneity and compressibility of NC soils and granular layer thickness on bearing pressure-settlement response of a circular footing on GNC soils. Results of the present study depict that bearing pressure of GNC soil increases with rigidity and heterogeneity in NC soil and granular layer thickness. The increments in bearing pressure with granular layer thickness and NC soil heterogeneity increase with footing settlement, whereas it decreases with the rigidity of NC soil. The influence of granular layer thickness on bearing pressure is more significant for given footing settlement when compared to that due to heterogeneity and rigidity of NC soil.