Go-ahead to demolish garages to make way for car park on Northampton housing estate

An application to demolish four garages to allow the construction of 24 spaces for cars to provide more parking in an area of Northampton has been given the green light.

Northamptonshire Partnership Homes Ltd applied to West Northamptonshire Council to carry out the work at The Briars which is acccessed from Thornhill

The council’s interim planning committee for the Northampton area approved the application subject to conditions at a meeting on April 27.

One of the conditions is the replacement of a silver birch tree which will need to be removed from the site area.

A report to the council’s committee stated: ‘The application seeks planning permission for the demolition of four garages situated to the rear of residential properties on Thorn Hill and the creation of a new car park with 24 car parking spaces.

‘The proposal includes two disabled parking spaces and two electric vehicle charging spaces and 20 standard sized parking spaces.

‘The parking areas are proposed to be finished in Tarmac with suitable drainage, gullys and new kerbs.

‘The application site comprises of a large grass amenity space and small Tarmac parking area located within a dense residential area surrounded by terraced properties and two blocks of four garages.

‘On-street parking is at a premium throughout the day and evening and many cars are using the grassed area as parking provision.’

Councillor Arthur McCutcheon asked why every parking space could not have its own electric charging point.

In the comments section, he went on to say: “As I said suggested when I was asking a question earlier, this is no reason why it shouldn’t be entirely electrical point and electrical charging done at this time.

“I think this time would be the right time to do it. It’s a matter of only eight years coming up isn’t it before no new cars are allowed to be made and sold that are anything other than electrically powered.

“And so having it done at the time when we are making these sorts of improvements would be the right time to do it wouldn’t it.”

Nicky Scaife, planning officer, said: “In terms of the EV charging that’s being provided, it does comply with the planning requirements in terms of our parking standards.

“So we couldn’t require them from a policy point of view to provide any more.”

Committee chairman, councillor Brian Oldham, said: “It’s something that could be done in the future but I don’t think anybody objects to it but we have to judge it Arthur (Cllr McCutcheon) on what we’ve got infront of us which is a start. And I think it’s an improvement.”