'ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS': Plans to build another 48 homes as extension to quiet village near Northampton set for approval
Major plans to build another 48 homes as an extension to a quiet village near Northampton are set to be given the green-light – despite strong objections.
Plans for the second phase of the Pembleton housing development in Kislingbury will go before West Northamptonshire Council’s (WNC) planning committee on 4 December 2025. The scheme has been recommended for approval by WNC planning officers.
The application, submitted in December 2024, seeks permission for 48 homes on a 1.91-hectare field on the southern edge of the village, just off Rothersthorpe Road. Phase one – 44 homes – was finished in December 2023.
Phase two includes eight affordable homes – 17 per cent of the total – comprising two one-bed maisonettes, a one-bed bungalow, three two-bed houses and two three-bed houses. The remaining market homes would be a mix of 18 two-bed, 15 three-bed and 7 four-bed houses.
A new access would be created from Rothersthorpe Road. Public open space is planned to the east of the site, with pedestrian links through to phase one and the wider village, according to plans.
Council policy usually requires 50 per cent affordable housing unless a viability assessment proves it cannot be delivered. Spitfire’s viability report said only 17 per cent was achievable, and an independent consultant appointed by the council agreed.
Kislingbury Parish Council said: “We strongly object to the application. The parish council stance is that this should be rejected on the grounds that the village neighbourhood development plan identified only 40 houses which were increased to 44. At no point has the parish council agreed that there is the capacity in the village for another 48 house.”
There have been 16 public objections.
One resident said: “The village is already over its agreed allocation of houses, the roadways, school will not cope with 48 more houses.”
Another wrote: “With the huge new developments already approved in Harpole and Duston and the considerable new infrastructure being installed to manage that new demand, approving this development without considerable infrastructure development should be considered as negligent.”
A third added: “Absolutely ridiculous the school in the village cannot deal with that amount of housing. The wildlife in the village is only just coming back from the last build. There's enough houses being built on the developments in nearby Duston which incidentally has completely ruined Harpole. Keep to only small developments and protect the villages.”
Explaining the reason to recommend approval, a WNC planning officer said: “The principle of residential development on this site is considered to be acceptable. The proposed development is on an allocated site and lies firmly within the confine and is thus considered to be a sustainable form of development. Equally, whilst the density of the development is higher than anticipated, officers acknowledge that the cumulative number of units would result in a significant increase… however it is considered the wider public benefits would outweigh the harm identified.”
“Additionally, the proposed development is considered to provide an appropriate mix of family dwellings, suitable to the locality.
“Overall, this proposal is considered a sympathetically designed and good quality residential scheme which is responsive to the local design context and in keeping with the character of this part of Kislingbury.”