Major plans to allow almost 1,000 caravans to be used as permanent homes at popular Northampton holiday park set to go ahead

Plans to allow 996 static caravans at Billing Aquadrome to be used for permanent residential occupation have been recommended for approval ahead of a council planning committee meeting next week.

The hybrid application for the 121-hectare Crow Lane site will go before West Northamptonshire Council’s Planning Committee on February 17.

The plans would cut the number of static caravans from a possible 3,104 to 2,239. Of these, 996 would be allowed for permanent residential use, with the rest remaining as holiday caravans. The scheme also includes 20 floating lodges and space for touring caravans and tents.

A section of the park has been used for long-term occupation for many years, despite planning conditions restricting the site to “seasonal caravanning and camping” and stating “there shall be no permanent occupation of any static or mobile home within the Aquadrome site”, according to planning papers.

The report says there has been “permanent or long term occupation of some of the units” and that in some cases this “may in some cases have become lawful over the passage of time”.

If approved, the scheme would formally allow 996 units to be used for permanent residential occupation rather than holiday use. Permanent residential units would be classed as main homes rather than holiday accommodation, meaning they would be liable for council tax.

A spokesperson for Meadow Bay Villages, which owns Billing Aquadrome, said: “Since our acquisition in April 2024, Meadow Bay Villages has invested nearly £20 million into Billing Aquadrome. This initial programme of investment has focused on safety, essential infrastructure, and improvements to facilities and accommodation, helping to enhance the overall quality and resilience of the park.

“We see this as the first step in a long-term commitment to revitalising Billing Aquadrome, ensuring it can continue to provide a high-quality experience for visitors while contributing postively to the local area. Billing has been an important part of Northampton for many years, and we remain committed to strengthening its role within the community for the future.

“As the leisure and tourism market continues to evolve, delivering quality and value is essential to long-term success. We believe the proposals submitted last summer are designed to support the park's sustainability and enable it to continue contributing to the local economy, including through employment opportunities and visitor spending in the wider area.

“The application is now being considered by West Northamptonshire Council's planning committee. We respect the committee's role in carefully reviewing the proposals and remain committed to engaging constructively throughout the process."

In the report to councillors, planning officers state: “The principle of development and use in part for permanent residential occupation rather than for holiday and leisure use is therefore considered acceptable, in principle.”

However, they add this is “subject to the concerns as set out in the remainder of this report being satisfactorily addressed, in particular in respect of flood risk.”

The site, notorious for flooding, is largely within Flood Zones 2 and 3. The Environment Agency’s position in the report states: “Our position on flood risk for this scheme is supportive of the site operators’ proposals to make the site safer in times of flood and to reduce in the number of static caravans.

“Whilst we are satisfied at this stage that the proposed development could be allowed in principle, the applicant will need to provide further information to ensure that the proposed development can go ahead without posing an unacceptable flood risk to third parties.”

Summarising the planning balance, the planning report concludes: “It is considered that the proposed development would be acceptable in principle and would provide an appropriate standard of accommodation for future occupiers."