Northampton Saints submit plans to sell off land next to its training pitches to developers

Northampton Rugby Football Club has unveiled plans to sell some of “surplus” land adjacent to its training pitches for commercial development.

The Saints has recently submitted plans proposing to develop a currently unused piece of land they own between Edgar Mobbs Way and Ross Road.

The proposed site covers about 0.39 hectares and is currently empty, lying adjacent to the Saints Rugby Club training pitches and surrounded by established commercial areas.

Planning papers say: “The intention is for the site to be brought forward for sale transfer to a developer/occupier with all design matters subject to a future reserved matters application to suit their specific commercial requirements and use.

"The proposal seeks to provide an employment/commercial development site with an outline planning permission to approve the parameters for a range of potential commercial occupiers.”

An appraisal of the site for potential development for employment use has been carried out by commercial agents Drake and Partners.

A Drake and Partners spokesman said: “We believe there would be strong demand. It is fair to say there is a significant shortage of sites for sale in the current market and so especially within this size range. It would be of appeal to both developers and owner occupiers.

“It is our view that the level of such demand would be even greater for a site of circa one acre something that is very rarely available in the market. We believe it likely there would be several businesses, probably owner managed who would be attracted to the site.”

According to plans, the proposed development brings numerous benefits, including job creation in the Waterside Enterprise Zone, integration with existing employment areas, easy access via footpaths and cycleways to central Northampton and nearby residential areas, convenient proximity to major roads like the A45 and M1 Motorway, and flexible drainage options.

In other sporting news, Northants County Cricket Club (NCCC) has revealed plans to build a ‘state-of-the-art’, multi-million pound facility on council-owned adjacent to Boughton Lane in Moulton.

Plans to lease this land to NCCC for a 125-year period will be discussed at WNC’s cabinet meeting on Tuesday, February 13.