After losing 1,000-homes battle developer plans another 500 houses near Northampton village

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

The developers want to build 470 homes on fields to the east of Hardingstone and north of Newport Pagnell Road.

Developers say it would not be out of keeping with its environment as it would sit less than a mile east of the 1,000-home development set to take place outside of Hardingstone.

Villagers there fought hard to defeat that scheme by the Homes and Communities Agency, but finally lost the lengthy battle in March when the developers appeal was upheld.

Such a scoping application has to be submitted by developers prior to seeking full planning approval on large scale schemes.

A fuller plan would be submitted at a later date.

The scoping report by Pegasus Group states: “While there may be some effects upon the environment as a consequence of the proposed development, these would be limited in their effect.”

The plan would include an 22 acre area of woodland and the site itself would fall across both Northampton borough and South Northants council boundaries.

The border line is a small road known as The Green, which splits the site.

But as most of the scheme would fall within South Northants borders, it is likely Northampton Borough Council would only ne a consultee when a decision is made on it.