Building the future
FAR from a misty vision for the future of Northampton, the mass expansion of the town is something happening here and now with new, sprawling developments of houses already starting to appear.
According to Government plans for the town, 47,500 houses are expected to be built by 2031; but will these houses serve to transform Northampton into a thriving city with an infrastructure to support a growing population or simply turn it into a giant, soulless housing estate?
In a series of features this week, the Chronicle & Echo will be exploring what new housing developments mean to the people of the town.
So far, major housing developments which have started to materialise have included Upton, a new village made up of environmentally-friendly homes of the type believed to become common in the future.
Of plans which have yet to become a reality, Dallington Heath has hit the headlines as a place which could soon become the site for 3,500 new homes; prompting fears among some local campaigners who do not want to lose this beauty spot.
In a deal believed to be worth 90 million, the county council also wants to sell off 18 former school sites and ahead of the sale, planning applications have been submitted for many of the sites for permission to build houses.
Roger Mendonca, deputy chief executive of the West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) – the group appointed to oversee the county's expansion – said: "Consultation and engagement is important to us but it depends on what is being consulted on. If people say to us we don't want the growth, that isn't helpful to us as that is why we are here. But if they say to us we need this running track or this swimming pool then that is the sort of thing we can pick up and listen to."
Major Northampton developments
1 Site: Dallington Heath, near Kings Heath
Background details: Two thirds of the heath is owned by Earl Spencer and is believed to be worth 40 million. The rest of the land is owned by Northampton Borough Council.
Use of land before development: Green open space, considered a beauty spot.
Future: Housing developers Persimmon Homes and David Wilson Homes have applied to Northampton Borough Council for planning permission to build up to 3,500 houses on the heath. There are also plans to build two primary schools, a restaurant or hotel, shops and a number of business units. Final decision over whether plans will be given the go-ahead will be made by the WNDC.
2 Site: Nunn Mills Road
Background details: Plans are underway to redevelop Avon's European headquarters in Northampton, demolishing their existing buildings and creating a new office block. Avon decided to redevelop the site as they do not need all of their current buildings. The WNDC masterplan is to develop this stretch of the River Nene.
Use of land before development: Part of the Avon site and former Nunn Mills power station.
Future: The WNDC plan for the area will incorporate a residential development of 1,250 homes along with shops, offices and restaurants.
3 Site: Between Upton and Swan Valley
Background details: The WNDC has backed plans to create a 9 million Cross Valley Link Road to pass through floodplain and cross the River Nene, linking Weedon Road with the A43 at Sixfields.
Use of land before development: Floodplain
Future: It is believed the three-mile long road will open up land between Upton and Swan Valley for 5,000 new houses. Work on the road is expected to be completed by March 2008.
4 Site: Ransome Rd/Harvey Reeves Rd
Background details: An 8 million project is being carried out to build a series of new embankments and flood walls along the river near Upton, with river banks altered and some fields turned into emergency flooding areas. The scheme has been supported by the Environment Agency and the WNDC.
Use of land before development: Industrial sites
Future: Work to improve Northampton's flood defences is expected to open up Harvey Reeves Road and Ransome Road for a development of 2,000 new houses.
As part of the flood defence work, a number of fields on the edge of Northampton are expected to be used to hold water in the case of serious floods.
5 Site: Upton
Background details: A new housing development known as Upton village has won national recognition for stylish and environmentally-friendly houses, designed with advice and input from Prince Charles.
Use of land before development: Fields
Future: The entire village of 1,020 houses is expected to be completed by 2015, but the first phase should be completed by Christmas.
6 Site: Land between St Crispin and Harpole
Background details: Plans for new road on this land have attracted some opposition from the Duston Action Group, fearing the affects of increase traffic running through what is now a rural area.
Use of land before development: Countryside
Future: There are plans to build 2,600 new houses and a major new road, which would link Berrywood Road and the A45. The hope is that this road would eventually join up with the cross valley link road to provide a continuous link to Swan Valley.
7 Site: BRITISH Timken, Duston
Background details: The British Timken building in Duston was demolished last year and the site bought by Bellway Homes.
Use of land before development: British Timken was once owned by the American roller bearings company and used to be one of the town's biggest employers.
Future: The site's new owner, Bellway Homes, is using the site of the demolished factory to create a complex of 480 homes, including sports pitches and offices on a 67-acre site.
School site developments
Proposals for 18 former Northampton school sites, available following a shake-up of education buildings in the town
8 Site: Spencer Middle School
Size: 0.7 acres
Future: Most of this site has been used to house a new St James school but some land surplus to the school's needs will be sold. No planning application has been made to Northampton Borough Council.
9 Site: Emmanuel School, Lings
Size: 5.7 acres
Future: Outline planning permission has already been given for homes to be built on this former middle school site. The site could contain 109 houses. The proposals include the part of the site where the school buildings stood. The playing fields have been kept back to be used by Northampton Academy.
10 Site: Kingsley Park Middle
Size: 2.5 acres
Future: The playing fields of the former middle school are now used by Unity College but the building itself is up for sale and some of the land behind it. No planning application has been made over the future of the site.
11 Site: Ecton Brook
Size: 3.8 acres
Future: An application has been made for a residential development which could hold more than 54 houses. The site includes the former middle school playing fields.
12 Site: Blackthorn,
Size: 8 acres
Future: The site of the former middle school is up for sale apart from some of the playing field kept to be used by Blackthorn Primary and Rectory Farm Primary. An application has also been made for outline permission to build homes on the land.
13 Site: Millway Primary, Millway
Size: 4.7 acres
Future: The area includes the fields of the former middle school. More than 80 houses could be built on this site.
14 Site: St Mary's RC Middle, Grange Road
Size: 4.8 acres
Future: More than 86 houses have been highlighted for this former middle school site. Part of the area has already been used to build a new base for St Gregory's Primary.
15 Site: Ryelands Middle, Prestbury Road
Size: 4.8 acres
Future: Part of the site will be sold but the rest will be used for a new Duston School. An application has been made for outline planning permission to create a residential development.
16 Site: Cliftonville, Cliftonville Road
Size: 13.9 acres
Future: Former middle school building and grounds will be sold. A planning application has been made for residential development.
17 Site: Parklands Middle, Devon Way
Size: 13 acres
Future: The former middle school building and its grounds will be sold. A planning application has been made for homes to be built.
18 Site: Bridgewater Primary
Size: 6.2 acres
Future: Part of the middle school site will be used to create a new Bridgewater Primary but the area next to this is not needed by the school so ranks among the county council's sites to be sold.
19 Site: St James Primary
Size: 0.7 acres
Future: The building and grounds of this former primary school will be sold. No planning application has yet been made.
20 Site: Great Billing, Station Rd
Size: 0.8 acres
Future: The building and grounds of the former primary school will be sold off. An application has been made to build houses.
21 Site: Kingsthorpe Middle, Northfield Way
Size: 13.9 acres
Future: The former middle school and grounds will be sold. An application has been made for outline planning permission to build homes there.
22 Site: St Luke's Primary, Duston
Size: 3.7 acres
Future: The school's buildings and site will be sold and the school will move to a new school to be built on the St Crispin site. No planning application has been made.
23 Site: Cherry Orchard Middle, Birchfield Road East
Size: 9.9 acres
Future: At least 170 houses could be built on this site, although an application for planning permission is being processed by the borough council. Part of the site has been used to create a new school for Weston Favell Primary and part of it is used by Northampton Lawn Tennis Club.
24 Site: Goldings, Crestwood Road
Size: 3.4 acres
Future: Part of the old middle school area is being used as a replacement school for Woodvale Primary, but the area to be sold off is the middle school building and land around it. More than 50 homes could be built on the site.
25 Site: Green Oaks/ Bective
Size: 8.9 acres
Future: A new school is to be created on part of the Bective Middle site. Land to be sold includes the site of the rest of the ex-middle school as well as the Green Oaks building and site. It could be the location for up to 126 houses.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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