School and residents fear new housing development
Farmland on the edge of Northampton which escaped development 10 years ago could be turned into an estate of 300 homes despite more than a hundred objections.
The greenfield site, off Newport Pagnell Road in Wootton, had been originally earmarked for making up an expected shortfall in Grange Park.
But over-development in the area meant construction firms no longer needed the land.
However, Twigden Homes now hopes to get outline planning permission on Thursday, to build 300 mixed houses, subject to conditions.
South Northamptonshire Council has consulted neighbouring parish councils, as well as Northamptonshire County Council, the Environment Agency and Caroline Chisholm School in Wootton Fields, which objected to the plans.
Village residents and local authorities also raised concerns.
David Atkinson, the vice-chairman of governors at Caroline Chisholm, said: "We have had a look at it and if it goes ahead, there will need to be new schools, and not just a new primary school but probably a new secondary school as well.
"If that's not built into the infrastructure, then there will be real problems. We will be up to capacity next year, with about 1,700, and our fear is that there has got to be enough infrastructure to cope with the number of children."
As well as representations from the Wildlife Trust, Primary Care Trust and Sport England, the planning application has drawn objections from 113 homes in the area, with people raising concerns about flooding, traffic and the loss of countryside.
Peter Baldwin, the deputy chairman of Hackleton Parish Council, said: "I can see if we don't stop covering more and more productive land in concrete, we're going to need every inch of this island to feed us.
"Preston Deanery is also particularly susceptible to flooding.
"We have one resident who has some sheep. Every time it rains, the water laps up to the property and they have to move the sheep away."
A member of Wootton and East Hunsbury Parish Council is likely to attend the meeting on Thursday, where planning officers are expected to approve the application.
Jonathan Nunn, the chairman of the parish council, said: "We've got houses on the Wooldale Road with a one-in-10 year flood risk. We're just frightened about the overall development, without being absolutely clear of its impact on flooding, roads and facilities."
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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