73 homes next to Northampton primary school awarded planning permission

The houses will be built to the east of Hunsbury Park Primary School, all of which will be affordable with a mix of affordable rent, social rent and shared ownership.

The application, submitted by Countryside Properties (WPL) Ltd, was given the green light by members of Northampton Borough Council’s planning committee on Tuesday night (March 17) at The Guildhall.

Councillor Jane Birch asked whether there would be any speed restrictions put in place, but was told that this would not be the case but that drivers would be ‘expected to drive with caution’.

Sticking on traffic concerns, Councillor Alan Bottwood added: “I welcome the application but I would like to see that a flashing school sign with a 20mph speed limit is put outside, like at some others. It just reminds drivers that there’s a school there.”

West Hunsbury Parish Council had decided to object on the grounds of increased traffic. In its written objection to the borough council, the parish stated: “There are already considerable concerns about the level of traffic in the vicinity of the primary school, especially as school pick up and drop off times. It is thought that the development of 73 houses will only serve to increase what is already a large problem.”

The parish council’s objections were received alongside two objections from residents citing similar concerns.

But the scheme was unanimously approved, with the affordable housing element particularly pleasing the chairman of the planning committee, Councillor Brian Oldham. He said: “This is like winning the lottery. This really is a worthy scheme. There’s nothing I can find wrong with it.”

The principle of building houses on the site had already been established, as outline planning permission was granted in March 2018 for a total of 50 homes. The council says the increase will ‘further help to meet the shortfall in housing provision’.

It is proposed that 28 of the dwellings will be three-bedroom properties and the other 45 will be two-bedroom properties. All of the proposed dwellings will be two storeys and will be arranged as semi-detached and terraced blocks.