Plans approved for next 169 homes to be built at huge housing estate in Northampton – despite traffic concerns

Barratt David Wilson Homes has been given permission to build the next 169 homes at Dallington Grange, after plans were approved this month (August) by West Northamptonshire Council.

The development will include 150 homes for sale and 19 affordable homes.

The 4.9-hectare site is next to the North West Relief Road and south of the Dallington Grange Farm employment area.

It forms part of the wider Dallington Grange development, which has permission for up to 3,000 homes, employment space, a local centre and open space.

The council's highways team initially objected to the latest plans, raising concerns about the number of homes being served by shared roads and private drives. Revised plans were later submitted and the highways authority withdrew its objection.

Harlestone Parish Council also raised concerns about the extra traffic.

It said: “169 houses could potentially result in over 300 vehicles using the neighbouring roads. There is a need for a green buffer between developments and parishes, each parish needs its own border and identity. An extra crossing is needed for road safety. The roads around the new developments are getting increasingly busier. We have dwellings on one side of the road and the open spaces, including the Firs, on the other. We desperately need provisions for GP surgeries and hospitals. The planned secondary school has been scrapped. This must be addressed with all the new families moving into the area.”

There will be 19 affordable homes – six one-bedroom, eight two-bedroom and five three-bedroom properties.

The wider Dallington Grange scheme was originally agreed to provide 10 per cent affordable housing following a viability assessment.

The planning report says the lower figure was agreed because the development also had to deliver part of the £55 million North-West Relief Road, of which WNC contributed millions. It says this takes up a large part of the money available for developer contributions.

Some of the affordable housing is also being provided on council-owned land to the south-east of the site, where 100 affordable homes are planned.

Persimmon Homes and Charles Church Midlands have recently started construction on its next phase of Dallington Grange housing development.

That next phase will deliver 295 two- to five-bedroom homes on land next to Harlestone Firs, with 153 homes being delivered by Persimmon Homes and a further 122 by Charles Church.