Affordable homes set to be built on site neighbouring new University of Northampton campus

Northampton Borough Council's cabinet formally approved the transfer to the authority of a parcel of land near Southbridge Court. It will allow Northampton Partnership Homes to bring forward the new homes, which would be located between Trenery Way and New South Bridge Road.

The land had been earmarked for affordable housing since 2002 as part of deal where permission was granted to build a mixed development of

houses, flats and a café nearby. The land was to be gifted to the council by the landowners as part of the scheme's section 106 agreement of contributions towards the community.

Eighteen years has since lapsed, but the land transfer was welcomed by Councillor Tim Hadland, though he bemoaned the delay which he said had 'a longer gestation period than an elephant.'

Speaking at the cabinet meeting on January 22, Councillor Hadland said: "It's a super move for the council, although the land has been sitting there for longer than we would have liked.

"We can now get Northampton Partnership Homes in and they have progressed a draft housing scheme for it and this will bring forward more affordable housing for Northampton. So this is good, if slightly delayed, news for housing and the town as a whole."

Council leader Jonathan Nunn also welcomed the news, and said that the exact number of homes would not be known until a later stage but that whatever the figure it would be 'a big help'.

Planning permission had been granted for affordable housing on the site, which is known as Area E5, but this has now lapsed and will need to be re-submitted.

The cabinet will be given an update on how the scheme is going in May.