A planned primary school is set to be dropped from plans for a huge new housing development on the edge of Northampton.

Developers Vistry has submitted an application to remove the school from its plans for Upton Lodge Farm, off Weedon Road in Upton.

The development was given permission earlier this year for up to 1,400 homes, along with a local centre, community facilities, open space and play areas.

But West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) has now confirmed that a school is no longer needed on the site.

1,400 homes are planned to be built at Upton Lodge Farm, which sits on land next to the A4500 near Upton

placeholder image — 1,400 homes are planned to be built at Upton Lodge Farm, which sits on land next to the A4500 near Upton

The decision has been made after the council looked at the education needs of Upton Lodge Farm alongside the neighbouring Norwood Farm development, which is currently being built and will provide up to 1,900 homes once complete.

In a letter to landowner Homes England, a WNC spokeswoman said: "The school place planning team have reviewed the current and projected pupil forecasts for primary provision serving the Upton Lodge Farm development and whilst we have determined that the Upton Lodge Farm development will generate the need for additional primary school places, the level of demand does not justify the delivery of a new primary school on the reserved primary school site. Upton Lodge Farm is a joint sustainable urban extension (SUE) with Norwood Farm. We have looked at the education need across the wider SUE and are confident that one primary school at Norwood Farm should be sufficient to accommodate all pupils yielded from both schemes. We intend to seek the primary education S106 contributions from Upton Lodge Farm towards the delivery of the new primary school at Norwood Farm."

This means money from the Upton Lodge Farm development will instead be sought towards the new primary school at Norwood Farm.

The application to remove the school is expected to be decided by WNC by September 11.

The wider Upton Lodge development is planned to include a local centre with shops, healthcare and community facilities, as well as parks, play areas and other green space.

The site covers around 70 hectares of mainly farmland – roughly the size of 100 football pitches – between St Crispin's, Duston and Harpole.

The development was first submitted in 2017, with the proposals eventually receiving the green light from WNC in March this year.