Could this be the last crop in Hardingstone? Campaigners say further 500 homes are threat to village life

As another 500 homes is proposed for a swathe of Northampton's green land a village action group has asked: 'when is Northampton going to be left alone?'
By this time next year this rapeseed crop at Hardinsgstone could be the site of a huge housing development. Now the village is facing a further plan for 500 homes nearby. 6K8Q6OwuEB5wz5M4X-pRBy this time next year this rapeseed crop at Hardinsgstone could be the site of a huge housing development. Now the village is facing a further plan for 500 homes nearby. 6K8Q6OwuEB5wz5M4X-pR
By this time next year this rapeseed crop at Hardinsgstone could be the site of a huge housing development. Now the village is facing a further plan for 500 homes nearby. 6K8Q6OwuEB5wz5M4X-pR

It has only been two months since the Hardingstone Action Group lost its fight to stop the Homes and Communities Agency building 1,300 homes near the village.

And last week the Chron & Echo revealed a homes builder is scoping out another area next to Hardingstone as a possible site for nearly 500 new houses.

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Marton Grant Homes and Harcourt Developments have submitted a “screening application” to Northampton Borough Council regarding a swathe of agricultural land at Wootton Fields.

Posters in Hardingstone village in 2013, protested about the proposed 1000 new houses.Posters in Hardingstone village in 2013, protested about the proposed 1000 new houses.
Posters in Hardingstone village in 2013, protested about the proposed 1000 new houses.

Chairman of Hardingstone Action Group Adrian Bell, said the latest scheme would further erode the rural identity of Hardinsgtone.

“The identity is why people live here, it’s why people stay here.

“Through the generations that’s why people have moved here.

“Just when is Northampton going to be left alone.

A group of residents from Hardingstone delivered  700 letters to  the Guildhall to fight the original 1,000 homes plan in 2013. Adrian can be seen at the front.A group of residents from Hardingstone delivered  700 letters to  the Guildhall to fight the original 1,000 homes plan in 2013. Adrian can be seen at the front.
A group of residents from Hardingstone delivered 700 letters to the Guildhall to fight the original 1,000 homes plan in 2013. Adrian can be seen at the front.

“The whole greater Northampton area is just a target for developers.”

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Mr Bell believes the fact South Northamptonshire and Daventry authority boundaries creep into the Northampton area actually makes the town’s green parcels a target for developers.

A huge homes bid west of Duston will be decided by Daventry, while this latest plan for Wootton Fields will likely be decided by South Northants.

“Of course they are going to say yes to these homes because it might stop more being built on their own doorsteps,” he said.

Posters in Hardingstone village in 2013, protested about the proposed 1000 new houses.Posters in Hardingstone village in 2013, protested about the proposed 1000 new houses.
Posters in Hardingstone village in 2013, protested about the proposed 1000 new houses.

Last month Hardingstone Parish Council posted a picture of the rapeseed fields outside of the village stating: “This could be the last crop grown in the village.”

Mr Bell said the new 500 homes plan has come as a shock.

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While the Homes and Communities Agency successfully argued its 1,000 homes would not affect the view or “skyline” looking out of Hardingstone, Mr Bell says the homes at Wootton Fields would be far more visible due to the elevated position.

He says the first 1,300 will bring traffic on the Newport Pagnell road to a standstill.

A group of residents from Hardingstone delivered  700 letters to  the Guildhall to fight the original 1,000 homes plan in 2013. Adrian can be seen at the front.A group of residents from Hardingstone delivered  700 letters to  the Guildhall to fight the original 1,000 homes plan in 2013. Adrian can be seen at the front.
A group of residents from Hardingstone delivered 700 letters to the Guildhall to fight the original 1,000 homes plan in 2013. Adrian can be seen at the front.

But a further 500 in the future he said would make travel “impossible.”

“Me and another action group member said we might as well sell our cars,” said Mr Bell. “We will never be able to get anywhere near the Newport Pagnell Road.”