House developers back for 140 home bid in Northampton after ownership wrangle put paid to previous effort

Developers who failed to gain full planning permission for a 200-home scheme on land in Northampton three years ago because they did not own all of it have returned again with a smaller scheme.
Lancaster Way residents protested against the Bovis Homes proposal back in 2013.Lancaster Way residents protested against the Bovis Homes proposal back in 2013.
Lancaster Way residents protested against the Bovis Homes proposal back in 2013.

Bovis Homes Limited first applied to build the houses on land at Lancaster Way, Buckingham Fields, back in 2012.

The scheme was approved in principle by Northampton Borough Council - but the company could not prove it had “good title” to a swathe of unregistered land there.

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The proposals became the subject of a protest by residents of Lancaster Way, who were concerned that part of the development site was not owned by Bovis Homes, including one piece of land which contained a deep well.

Now the developer and Xcite Projects Limited have returned with a smaller scheme for 139 homes.

The application will be heard by Northampton Borough Council’s planning committee on Tuesday, November 22 and is recommended for approval.

A report by the authority states: “The proposed development, subject to conditions, represents an acceptable land use which would contribute towards the council’s five-year housing supply.”

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The application site is about 12 acres and was previously used for keeping animals, while only a small part was used as allotments, now long overgrown.

The development would also includes 341 car parking spaces, including those contained within garages.

But some fear the amount of traffic the proposal would bring.

Lynne Sewell, of Towton Court, said: “Buckingham Fields has only one road in and out which is currently suitable for the number of houses on the estate,

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“An increase in vehicles will not only add additional queues to get out of the estate but also add to the ever increasing queues going up

Towcester Road.”

Others are concerned that a planned roundabout for the scheme sits on one of the only patches of green land around Lancaster Way, which is a popular play-spot for children.

According to Northampton Borough Council the landowners and the developers have progressed in registering parts of the land.

However as there are still some outstanding plots the developers do not own, the scheme has had to be reduced to ensure no development takes place in these areas.

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