Plans to turn two Northampton homes into care facilities postponed after more than 100 objections
The council has voted to postpone its decision on plans to turn two homes on the same Northampton street into new care facilities, as councillors criticised the project for “scant detail”.
MSA Properties Ltd asked permission to convert two large, detached homes on Church Way, Weston Favell, into separate care homes for young adults who require wheelchair-accessible accommodation and associated support.
West Northamptonshire Council’s (WNC) non-strategic planning committee met on Thursday, August 6, where officers recommended approval of both schemes.
However, members raised concerns about potential road safety issues from additional car movements and insufficient information on the future management of the homes.
The largest property would house up to eight occupants, with three wheelchair-accessible bedrooms downstairs, five standard ensuite rooms upstairs and parking for seven cars.
The second home would have four wheelchair-accessible bedrooms and four parking spaces.
More than 100 letters of objection were submitted across both applications.
Church Way resident Gary Dinnell told the committee there was “no way” seven vehicles could fit on the driveway at the larger home.
He raised concerns that deliveries, visitors or staff during shift changeovers would “take the easy option” and park on the road or pavement, creating blind spots and safety concerns on the “bumpy, dimly lit road”.
Dean Wishart, a town planner speaking on behalf of residents, said there was not enough information on staff movements and management arrangements to properly assess the impact on neighbours.
He warned councillors they were being asked to take “a significant leap of faith” and grant permission with a heavy reliance on planning conditions while many details remained unknown.
Ward councillor Andy Kilbride also raised concerns about the cumulative effect of both homes being converted into care facilities and the impact on neighbours, particularly the effect of “encasing” the home directly between both properties.
Indy Shokar, agent for the applicant, said the schemes would provide “a modest, bespoke, focused, specialist care home” responding to local need.
He assured members that more detailed scrutiny of the management arrangements would take place at a later stage through legal planning conditions.
However, committee members raised concerns that the applications were “premature” and contained “scant detail”.
Councillors voted to defer decisions on both applications.
The committee is expected to consider the developments again later this year following a planned site visit by highways officers and councillors, as well as requests for further information.