Controversial plans for 80 homes next to Northampton village recommended for approval despite 100 objections

Proposals to build up to 80 homes next to Pineham Village have been recommended for approval by West Northamptonshire Council (WNC).

A report published by WNC on Wednesday July 29 recommends councillors approve the outline application when it goes before the planning committee on Thursday, August 6.

The proposals have been in the planning system for almost six years. They were first submitted in October 2020 before being amended and resubmitted in June 2023. Over the years residents have objected, raising concerns over flooding, traffic and pressure on local services.

The application, submitted by Kislingbury Farm LLP, would see up to 80 homes built on 3.3 hectares of land off Upton Valley Way North, immediately north of Pineham Village.

According to Companies House, the directors of Kislingbury Farm LLP are David Beamish, 67, of London; Justin Geoffrey Bunberry Fish, 67, of London; Michael Noy, 66, of London; and Deborah Peele, 64, of Dorset.

According to plans, the development would include a mix of two to five-bedroom houses and apartments, together with public open space, a children's play area and landscaping. Around 22.5 per cent of the homes would be affordable housing.

The applicant said the development would "create a scheme with a strong sense of place" that would integrate with the existing Pineham Village community. It said the site would be built around "a strong landscape framework" to create "an attractive place to live for people of all age groups."

The application has attracted 100 letters of objection.

One resident wrote: "I object because that area is known to flood almost every year, often multiple times.

"The village is already struggling with parking, school places and the condition of the roads. There are no local dentists or GP surgeries with capacity for more patients.

"The whole concept of adding more houses to this area is ridiculous. If new homes are needed, they should be added to the newer developments nearby, along with the infrastructure to support them, such as another school, GP surgery and dentist. Please don't make unreasonable decisions and ruin our village.”

Hunsbury Meadows Parish Council also objected, citing concerns over flooding, the displacement of flood water into existing infrastructure, pressure on already stretched local services, increased traffic and congestion, the number of homes proposed, the need for a comprehensive impact assessment and changes to the flood risk assessment.

Despite the opposition, council planning officers have recommended the site for approval.

The council says the site can accommodate the development and that the Environment Agency, highways officers, ecologists, environmental health officers and the council's flood authority all raised no objections, subject to planning conditions.

West Northamptonshire Council's planning committee will decide the application on August 6. Reform UK, which now holds seven of the committee's 13 seats, will have the opportunity to decide whether the long-running plans should finally be approved.