The recent planning applications decided by Northampton Borough Council

Meeting virtually through Zoom on Tuesday September 29, the committee approved all but one of the ten applications they heard. Here’s a rundown of their decisions.

APPROVED: Mixed use development, involving a rear side rooftop extension, for two new offices and five self contained residential flats at 102a Abington Street.

The first application of the evening saw councillors approve a scheme to extend the building above the Europe Supermarket, opposite the Wedgwood pub on Abington Street, to offer a mixed use development. The scheme will offer two new offices, and five flats.

Councillors did raise concern at the fact that no new parking would be offered for tenants, but decided that the benefits of offering new housing in the town centre outweighed those concerns.

APPROVED: Single storey front extension and part two storey/part single storey rear extension with internal alterations at 10 Reedham Close.

The front extension would provide an extended lounge and porch. The proposed rear ground floor extension will provide a kitchen extension and utility with an additional bedroom above. Councillor Tim Hadland objected, saying the plans would ‘have a detrimental impact on neighbours’. But planning officers did not believe this to be the case, and the committee unanimously approved the application.

APPROVED: Change of use from dwellinghouse to House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) for four occupants at 110 Lutterworth Road.

Despite protestations from Councillor Zoe Smith, who complained about the impact of parking, loss of a family home and potential noise problems, members voted through the plans.

APPROVED: Change of use from dwellinghouse to children’s home to accommodate up to three children aged 8-18 at 5 Ditchford Close.

GAC Family Services proposed a children’s home for a maximum of three children aged 8 to 18 years old. There will be no staff living permanently at the property, however there would always be a member of staff on site, and one of the existing bedrooms would be used by the carers.

29 neighbour letters objecting to the application were sent to the council. Complaints ranged from existing parking issues in the area and no space for further on-street parking, to one complaint saying: “The area is affluent and safe and does not warrant the presence of people with a history of drug abuse.”

Thandi Zulu, speaking on behalf of the applicants, said the house ‘would be managed properly’, and councillors appeared reassured after hearing from the employee who would run the home.

This was the first of three applications from GAC Family Services to change houses into children’s homes. The other two were as follows:

APPROVED: Change of use from dwellinghouse to children’s home to accommodate a maximum of two children aged 8-18 at 121 Penrhyn Road.

APPROVED: Change of use from dwellinghouse to children’s home to accommodate a maximum of two children aged 8-18 at 62 Penrhyn Road.

Much of the same issues were raised during the debate on the two other children’s homes, both of which will be in Penrhyn Road. Councillor Julie Davenport called in the decision due to concern with ‘impact on parking’ and ‘anti-social behaviour from children with behavioural problems exacerbating issues already seen with HMOs and students, further affecting the character of the area’. But again, councillors sided with the applicants.

REFUSED: Prior Notification of installation of 20m telecommunications streetworks pole, equipment cabinet, meter cabinet and associated ancillary development, Telecoms Base Station at Arundel Street.

The plans were to put up a 20-metre steel 5G tower next to a war memorial in Semilong, operated by Vodafone and Telefonica. But councillors refused the scheme after listening to complaints from ward councillor Les Marriott, who said: “I’m not objecting on the basis of any conspiracy theory. My concern is that it’s towering over the memorial garden.”

No councillor proposed to approve the scheme, and it was eventually rejected due to its location. Read more about this here.

APPROVED: Change of use from dwellinghouse to HMO for four occupants at 14 Stanhope Road.

Councillor Jane Birch called in the application on the grounds of overcrowding, noise and disturbance, excess rubbish and fly tipping. But councillors couldn’t find any planning grounds on which to refuse the scheme, and feared losing any appeal.

NORTHAMPTON PARTNERSHIP HOMES

Two applications from Northampton Partnership Homes were also approved by the committee. These were:

Remove condition of planning permission relating the demolition of the existing dwellings and erection of 21 affordable dwellings at Toms Close. Bus shelter no longer required.

Single storey rear and side extension, together with internal alterations at 20 Hardy Drive.