The big planning applications decided by Northampton Borough Council this week

Members of Northampton Borough Council’s planning committee met for the second time in a week on Tuesday evening (May 19).
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Using Zoom technology and broadcasting the meeting to the public on YouTube, the councillors determined ten applications, and came to a conclusion on eight of them – including a major student flat complex in Kingsthorpe.

Here’s how the meeting panned out.

APPROVED: Application for the permanent diversion of a footpath at Dayrell Road, on development land rear of Hunsbury Park Primary School.

The borough council's planning committee had its second virtual meeting within a week.The borough council's planning committee had its second virtual meeting within a week.
The borough council's planning committee had its second virtual meeting within a week.
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Councillors approved the first application of the evening, which was to permanently divert part of the existing Bridleway which runs from Hunsbury Hill Country Park eastwards towards Danes Camp Way. This was required to allow building work to start on the construction of 73 new homes on land next to the primary school, a scheme which was approved in March by the planning committee.

APPROVED: Erection of purpose-built student accommodation, refurbishment and change of use of listed building with other works at former Bective Works, Kingsthorpe.

The committee reluctantly agreed to grant planning permission for the 356-bed student flat complex on Bective Road. Although there were concerns regarding students parking on surrounding streets, members could find no planning reason on which to refuse it – especially as planning permission had already been agreed for student flats before. The difference with the new scheme was the inclusion of the grade II listed former shoe factory – which would become retail and a student hub. It also offered more beds but was not as tall as the previous proposals. Read more about the decision in the detail here.

APPROVED: Change of use of office to House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) for four occupants, demolition of existing ground floor flat roof rear structure and construction of new two-storey flat roof rear extension and two new dormers at 8 Palmerston Road.

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Planning officers said that the scheme had been reduced to four occupants from the six it proposed before, and that the updated scheme had a ‘much better layout’. Councillor Danielle Stone objected to the plans on the basis that it would ‘result in fly-tipping, overdevelopment and loss of a family home’. She said: “I think it would be a real shame that the people who are the glue in that community should feel like they want to move away, and that’s what some of them feel like.”

But planning officers said that there is a parking permit zone in the area and the county council’s Highways team have not raised concerns about the proposal as the number of permits could be controlled.

APPROVED: Alteration of shop front to Ice Cream Kiosk to install counter/service window and new shutters to side window at 8 Newnham Road.

Councillors quickly approved the application, which will allow service to customers via an opening in the existing window.

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APPROVED: Single storey front and rear extensions including external alterations and relocation of air conditioning units to rear at 22 Dallington Road.

The current application was a resubmission of an originally refused application, which was refused due to the impact of the rear extension on the adjoining property. The extension was reduced in depth by 1.5m to address the impact on the neighbouring property.

APPROVED: Change of use from house to HMO for four occupants at 108 Lower Thrift Street.

The proposal would see the conversion of a two bedroom dwelling to four bedroom HMO with two bedrooms at ground floor with lounge, kitchen/dining and bathroom and two bedrooms above. Councillor Tony Ansell objected on the grounds of impact of parking, loss of a family home and noise. But councillors were informed by planning officers that the proposal ‘would not adversely impact on the character of the area and amenity of residential areas’.

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DEFERRED: Change of use from house to HMO for 10 occupants at 51 St Matthews Parade.

The seven bedrooms will share bathroom and toilet facilities located on the ground floor, first floor and second floor. One double bedroom will have an en-suite bathroom. But some councillors were concerned at the number of people within the home. Councillor Mary Markham, a member of the committee, said: “We need to look at ourselves and think whether this is really fit for purpose, and I don’t think it is.”

A motion to approve it was lost, after which it was proposed to defer the scheme so that officers could renegotiate the occupation level of the HMO.

DEFERRED: Change of use from house to HMO for 10 occupants at 53 St Matthews Parade.

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This application was virtually identical to the one at 51 St Matthews Parade, and was deferred by the committee for the same reasons.

APPROVED: Variation of planning conditions for scheme approved at former Pearce Leather Works, Wellingborough Road.

This application amended a couple of planning conditions relating to the conversion of the old leatherworks building into 20 flats. The Grade II listed building has stood empty since 2002 and had become the target of vandalism. The planning committee approved the scheme in January, and this variation permits two offices on the ground floor to also be used by the management company of the building.

APPROVED: Change of use from house to HMO for six occupants (retrospective) at 117 Upper Thrift Street.

Despite an objection on parking grounds from Councillor Zoe Smith, the committee approved the final scheme of the evening.