Plans to build the first 300 homes of massive 3,000 property housing development in Northampton set for approval

Plans to build the first 300 houses of a massive 3,000-home estate in Northampton are set to be given the green light.

Plans for the first phase of the Dallington Grange housing estate are set to be approved by West Northants Council (WNC) at a planning committee meeting on Monday (March 20).

The first phase of the Persimmon Homes development seeks approval for 329 homes to be built across nearly 10 hectares of land – which is equivalent in size to 14 football pitches.

A WNC planning officer said in a report: “The proposed development would create a high quality and attractive living environment for a new community and be sympathetic to the character and appearance of the area.”

Of the 329 homes, there will be 24 affordable properties.

Wider plans

A planning application to build Dallington Grange was first submitted in 2015. It was only in 2021 that the plans were finally approved by the now defunct Northampton Borough Council.

The site comprises 208 hectares of predominantly mixed agricultural fields – which is the equivalent to 291 football pitches – between Harlestone Firs and Kings Heath.

As well as 3,000 homes, which includes 300 ‘affordable’ properties, approval was granted to build offices; a local centre to accommodate a food store, six shop units for retail, professional and financial services, a restaurant/cafe, a pub and a takeaway.

Approval was also granted for a nursery, two primary schools and a secondary school; the redevelopment of Grange Farm for cafe/restaurant/public house or hotel; an extension of the North West Bypass on the site; provision of open space.

Objections

In a pre-planning report, WNC listed the themes of objections from residents which included how the development could impact residents in Conway Close and Hawksmoor Close as well as having a detrimental impact on wildlife, pollution levels and parking space.

North West Relief Road

Work got under way in March 2022 on phase two of the £54.5 million relief road which, once complete, will link the A428 Harlestone Road to the A5199 Welford Road and will eventually join up with a planned Northern Orbital Road, running to the A43 near Moulton.

To accommodate the road, developers felled approximately 1,800 trees in a section of Harlestone Firs in November 2022.