The planning applications decided this week in Northampton

The borough council’s planning committee convened at The Guildhall on Tuesday (March 17), and approved nine of the ten applications that they heard. Here’s a rundown of their decisions.

APPROVED: Demolition of existing buildings and erection of 24 apartments and 8 townhouses at Castilian Street.

The site, on Castilian Street in the Derngate Conservation Area, had originally been earmarked for 95 apartments with a mix of one-bedroom apartments and studios, and included the demolition of 2 Castilian Street and 41 Derngate. But following concerns from officers over the scale of the six-storey building, a new amended design retains 2 Castilian Street to be used as a pair of townhouses, while the site will also have six further townhouses and a four-storey building offering 23 apartments. Councillors agreed to grant planning permission despite concerns from neighbours at the level of disruption the construction phase could have on Derngate. One resident also told councillors that a number of flats had not received consultation letters. Read more on this decision here.APPROVED: Erection of 73 homes with associated parking on land to the rear of Hunsbury Park Primary School, Dayrell Road.

The houses will be built to the east of Hunsbury Park Primary School, all of which will be affordable with a mix of affordable rent, social rent and shared ownership. West Hunsbury Parish Council had decided to object on the grounds of increased traffic, but members unanimously agreed the proposals. More on this here.APPROVED: Conversion of existing dwelling to create two apartments together with construction of two new apartments on land adjacent to 1 Addison Road.

This was seeking planning permission for a conversion and extension of the existing dwelling with a single-storey front extension, two-storey side and rear extension to create four one-bed flats. Resident Joanna Pole argued that the site would be overcrowded with inadequate parking, but Pat Dooley, representing the applicant, said that due to there being a live planning permission already on the site for a similar scheme, the scale of the development had already been deemed acceptable. Planning chairman Cllr Brian Oldham said he didn’t feel it was ‘intrusive development’. The scheme was unanimously passed.

APPROVED: New single storey Post Office with front brick boundary wall, cycle stands and block paving at Bipin Community Centre, Ecton Brook Road.

Permission was sought for a single storey extension, which would allow the relocation of the Post Office within the existing shop to a more ‘prominent and accessible’ location to serve the local community. Councillors quickly approved the scheme.

REFUSED: Change of use and alterations to existing home to house in multiple occupation (HMO) for seven people, with addition of rear dormer window, at 50 Manfield Road.

The only scheme refused on the night was this HMO. Councillor Zoe Smith, the Labour ward member for the area, had called the application in, and told councillors that seven occupants would be excessive, and was likely to exacerbate parking issues in the area. Councillors agreed with that assessment and turned it down due to the inadequate provision of parking. Planning officers also discovered half way through that the scheme could have been refused due to ‘inadequate facilities’ with the basement based kitchen not meeting a new planning document policy on acceptable HMOs. Prior to the debate, officers had recommended the scheme for approval.

APPROVED: Loft conversion with new rear roof dormer and new rooflights at 17 Spinney Hill Road.

This application was for a home improvement for a ward councillor – Councillor Mike Hallam. Originally it had been recommended for refusal despite no neighbours objecting, but it was deferred from the last meeting in order to find a satisfactory conclusion. Councillor Hallam agreed to remove a juliet balcony, replacing it with a window, in order to satisfy planners that the extension would not overlook the neighbours’ property. Cllr Oldham said: “I would like to complement everyone on this. We could see there was a way forward and I think it was a worthwhile exercise.”

APPROVED: Variation of conditions for planning permission awarded to 14 new homes at the former Silver Cornet pub in Kings Heath.

The scheme had already been approved, and the former pub has already been demolished with work already underway on site. The change of conditions allowed for a different height for entrances to the home than had previously been allowed.

NO OBJECTIONS: Outline application for 1,600 homes, new A43 dual carriageway, 5.95ha of commercial land east to Kettering Road, Overstone.

Northampton Borough Council was being consulted on this application, which is being considered by its neighbours at Daventry District Council. The application relates to an outline proposal for 1,600 dwellings, commercial land (including a local centre, employment, community hub and residential care home), primary school, open space, a new section of A43 Dual Carriageway, associated infrastructure and enabling works. The council raised no objections to the scheme.

NORTHAMPTON PARTNERSHIP HOMES APPLICATIONS

The two following applications from Northampton Partnership Homes were both approved:

Demolition of 11 domestic garages and erection of two new build units at Harold Street.

Development of four residential units with associated parking to the rear of 44 East Paddock Court.