‘It feels very undemocratic’: Anger after 100 homes next to Northampton woodland approved by Government inspector

Harlestone Parish Council chair Sarah Stock says residents are ‘very deflated’ and ‘very disillusioned’ after a Government inspector overturned West Northamptonshire Council's (WNC) refusal of plans for 100 homes next to Harlestone Firs.

More than 700 objections were submitted when the application was first considered, while a further 3,600 objections were hand-delivered when the same site was later included in the council's local plan for housing.

Sarah said: “It feels very undemocratic to us because the WNC members didn't want the housing built there.

“We put in all of the objections, and then at the end of the day, the inspector, who is just one person who is not democratically elected, gets to make a decision.

“So it feels, you know, that hurts. So whereas governments talk about community involvement and devolved powers and all the rest of it, they don't really mean it.

“So we feel very deflated by the whole process. We're very disillusioned.”

The government-appointed planning inspector approved the scheme this week following an appeal hearing in July.

The plans are for up to 100 homes between Harlestone Road and York Way, next to Harlestone Firs.

They include 40 per cent affordable housing, a new access from York Way, pedestrian links into the woodland, a visitor car park, public open space and a play area.

The original application attracted 731 letters of objection before councillors narrowly rejected it in October 2025.

Developer Barwood Development Securities then appealed.

Sarah said the inspector was aware of the scale of opposition and it was raised during the appeal.

But she said: “He just sort of noted it, you know, not really very much, just noted. It's disappointing. It's really disappointing.”

The inspector found West Northamptonshire does not have enough housing land to meet the required five-year supply.

The council's latest figure was 4.3 years, and the inspector said the shortfall carried “significant weight” in favour of the development.

He also found the woodland would be retained and protected by an appropriate buffer.

But Sarah said: “We just think that the light pollution, the urban boundary being right next to it will have a detrimental effect on the wildlife and the tranquility.”

The inspector rejected those concerns, finding the woodland would not be lost as a result of the development.

Sarah said: “What does he know? He knows nothing.”

She also pointed to the role of West Northamptonshire's Reform UK councillors, who opposed building on the Green Wedge.

She said: “The Reform councillors, I'm not a particular Reform supporter, but the Reform councillors were saying the right things.

“And they had the principle of not wanting to build on that green wedge.

“So they're our representatives. And in this case, they were absolutely representing the view of the local community.

“But their power is massively diminished. Their ability to do anything is massively diminished by the inspector, by central government. So it doesn't feel very democratic.”

She added: “Overall, I think it's quite difficult for parish councils as lay people to really participate in a meaningful way in the preparation of documents.

“We are just so disillusioned with the process and the lack of democracy.”