Plans to build 450 new homes, primary school, cycle routes and play area approved on outskirts of Northampton

The proposals, considered by planning on January 22, for the large housing development, called Roman Fields, sit to the north of the village of Harpole off Upper High Street and Roman Road.

Developers Davidsons Developments Limited and John R. Green & Iris F. Green asked for full planning permission for 100 homes on the first parcel of land, with outline permission for a further 350 houses to follow later on. The development will also include public open spaces, pedestrian and cycle routes, a play area and landscaping.

The application was deferred by councillors in September last year to reassess the scheme’s financial viability and its levels of affordable housing, as well as exploring whether a pedestrian link from the village of Harpole to the estate could be delivered.

The site lies within the southern section of the Northampton West Sustainable Urban Extension, which will provide a local centre, primary school and other associated facilities once built out. However, concerns were raised that, until this comes forward, the homes would be isolated from any local amenities.

Planning officers said investigations into the provision of a footpath concluded that it was not a safe option in this plan, but that there is an opportunity for good cycle and pedestrian connectivity which can join up the sustainable extension more broadly.

Following detailed negotiations on the viability of the scheme, planning members were also told that it could either provide 14 per cent affordable housing across the 450 homes and a private management company would maintain the public open space, or this would be reduced to 10 per cent affordable housing with the land under the maintenance of the parish council alongside a 10-year maintenance payment.

Speaking on behalf of Harpole Parish Council (HPC) at the session, Cllr Claude Wallace raised concerns about the lack of community facilities and transport links surrounding Roman Fields. He also said there was “national concern” about the use of private management companies charging residents for dealing with public open space and said that HPC would like to be offered all public open areas to avoid becoming a “fragmented parish”.

WNC ward councillor, Debra King, added: “Using a private maintenance company for this development would set a very poor precedent not just for the site, but for the whole of Northampton’s West sustainable urban extension.

“Open green space is a public benefit and residents should not be charged for services that local councils are already designed to provide.”

Committee member and Labour group leader Sally Keeble spoke about a “chronic shortage” in affordable housing locally, and said that accepting the reduced number would create a “significant dent” in the amount provided on site.

However, Cllr Richard Pipes commented that he “wouldn’t want to hang this around people’s necks to pay for a management company for eternity”.

A proposal to approve the plans and pursue the option for 10 per cent affordable housing and having the public space under parish council control was ultimately accepted.

Developers will also be required through Section 106 conditions to make nearly £7.8 million in financial contributions to offset the impact on local services and infrastructure, including money towards public transport, education provision, libraries and the North West Relief Road.