356-bed student flats in Kingsthorpe granted planning permission by councillors

The scheme will see the former Bective Works on Bective Road and Yelvertoft Road demolished, and will also utilise a partially derelict grade II listed building – the former Abraham Lee shoe factory – as a new retail and student hub unit.

Members of Northampton Borough Council’s planning committee awarded planning permission last night (May 19) in a virtual meeting, as they could find no planning grounds on which to refuse it.

The scheme is effectively an updated version of plans that had already been granted planning permission in June 2016. It includes 54 extra bedrooms but is smaller in height than the previous scheme.

Councillors still had concerns however, mostly to do with potential parking problems.

Councillor Sally Beardsworth, who was objecting to the plans, said: “The idea that people will not bring cars to this area is ridiculous. Students will be given cars by their parents or grandparents and will park them in the adjoining streets, which are already over congested now. I cannot believe the highways department has not put in a complaint about this.”

The highways department at the county council did however request a condition that a clause be adoped in the students’ lease agreement that would prohibit car ownership.

Jennifer Smith, the agent for the applicants U3 Developments Limited, told councillors: “It’s been done elsewhere and is a planning condition, which is enforceable and falls within the control of the local authority to enforce that if permission is granted.”

She added: “Permission was previously granted for a 293-bed student accommodation scheme on this site. The principle for student accommodation has been established. The main difference is that this application incorporates the listed buildings to be restored for shops and facilities for students. The building is also smaller in height. So it provides clear benefits over the already approved scheme, and would reduce the number of HMOs in the town.”

But Councillor Beardsworth questioned whether the parking promise would be adhered to saying: “Even if you sign a waiver, I have dealt with student accommodation all my life as a councillor and I can assure you they promise you the earth and deliver very little with regards to noise, parties and parking. I have very little faith in this letter that they are talking about people signing, and whether it would be enforced.”

The flats would be spread across six blocks, with blocks A to D forming a three-storey terrace row from Bective Road and Yelvertoft Road. Blocks E and F would form one three-storey building to the south of the existing listed building in line with Yelvertoft Road.

The application also includes a basement car park with 36 spaces, but NBC planning officers said these would be reserved for blue badge holders and staff.

Councillor Jamie Lane, a member of the planning committee, questioned why the developers were still looking at the site for flats when students would be much further away now that the University had moved to Waterside. Jennifer Smith responded that the applicants felt there ‘was still a market’ for student flats on the Bective Works site.

Councillor Lane was the sole member of the committee not to vote in favour of the plans, saying: “I’m not sure why students would want to live in Kingsthorpe when it’s so far away from the University. If it is approved I think we need to look at the county council putting parking permits in for the surrounding streets.”

But Councillor Arthur McCutcheon said: “We might want something else, but it’s not on offer for us. It may be an over intensive development, but it’s the best one in front of us and it’s the best of a bad show.”