Could 12 new industrial units be built on a Northampton industrial estate's disused car park?

A proposal to build 12 industrial units on a former car park in Northampton has been recommended for approval by a council planning officer.

Three buildings with four business spaces each would be created on the former Opus car parks on Deer Park Road in Moulton Park Industrial Estate.

The car parks have not been used since Opus left its base in Summerhouse Road so Northampton Borough Council's planning officer supports the re-purposing of a brownfield site.

"The proposal would make a positive contribution to the provision employment within the borough and would not have an undue detrimental impact on the appearance and character of the wider area, nor result in any undue harm to residential amenity, parking, flood risk and highway safety," their report says.

The buildings would be used for light industrial, general industrial and storage/distribution firms with ancillary offices, car parking, landscaping and a new accesses from Deer Park Road and Summerhouse Road.

Gross internal floor areas of the proposed units range from 331sqm to 642sqm, including an ancillary mezzanine space.

The planning officer believes the application should be approved subject to a section 106 legal agreement to secure a financial contribution to provide construction training.

The planning committee will discuss the proposal during a meeting on Tuesday, February 16.