A manor 'party house' and 55 new village homes - the latest planning decisions from South Northamptonshire

Using webcam technology, the committee met on Thursday (May 14) and discussed two applications within the region, and here’s how the meeting went.

DEFERRED: Change of use of The Manor House at Thorpe Mandeville Manor to a mixed use comprising residential dwellinghouse and private function venue.

It was proposed that The Manor House would get a change of use to allow it to host corporate dinners, private parties, charity events, press launches and overnight stays. Guest numbers would range from ten to 100.

A second application has also been submitted for a change of use for the garden into a private function for up to six events every year, such as weddings.

Planning officers concluded that the proposal before them was acceptable for a temporary period of two years. This would be subject to conditions such as no sound amplification within the garden of the Manor House, and a closing time of 11pm for events with less than 30 people and 9pm if there was more than 30 people.

One of the ward councillors for the area, Councillor Mary-Ann Sergison-Brooke said: “This is one of those finely balanced applications. The report does outline planning reasons why this should be approved, but I do have reservations and the main one is noise.”

Thorpe Mandeville Parish Council also registered noise concerns as there are 11 homes within 200 metres of the site.

Councillor John Townsend questioned how the venue would be monitored in reality, saying: “Our officers are not going to be going out at 10pm. It seems like it will just be a case of neighbours complaining.”

Councillor Martin Johns said the venue would 'essentially be a party house', but suggested deferring a decision until the second application for the garden was also before them. He said: “I’m not terribly happy with this application. Although it’s not a planning consideration, you do have to consider the practicalities and I can’t see how it’s going to work. We are also kidding ourselves if we think we can monitor it. It’s also linked with the second application, so I think we should defer until we see the second application.”

Councillors were told there was the potential that the second application could be ready by the next committee meeting, but that there was no guarantee. In the end, the committee decided to defer a decision – by eight votes to five – in the hope they could determine both applications side by side when they next meet.

REFUSED: Outline application for the erection of up to 55 dwellings, landscaping, open space and associated works on land to the north of Ashton Road, Hartwell.

The committee heeded the advice of planning officers in refusing the application from Kler Group Limited. The site neighboured the grounds of Oakleaf Care, a brain injury clinic, and to the south the site is bounded by Ashton Road, beyond which lies the village.

Officers stated that the application was an ‘unnecessary housing development outside the village confines and in open countryside contrary to the development plan’. They also said it would have an ‘adverse impact on the character of the village and its setting’.

The decision to refuse will have been welcomed by the 47 people who wrote in to object to the scheme, with many saying the school and pre-school are near capacity or full with several existing village children unable to get in.

Councillor John Budden, a ward councillor for Hartwell who was also on the planning committee determining the application, said: “I see little point in repeating what is said in the report. I’ve discussed the application with residents and there have been lots of letters of complaint.”

The committee unanimously refused the application.