New plans to demolish Rushden police station for housing

Plans to demolish Rushden's former police station to make way for housing have been resubmitted.

The new application is for demolition of the old police station and construction of seven dwellings with associated landscaping, car parking and new accesses to North Street.

Planning permission had been sought last year for demolition of the existing police station and construction of eight three-storey houses with associated car parking and new access to Shirley Road.

But following its refusal, the applicant has come back with revised plans.

Changes include reducing the number of dwellings from eight to seven and reducing it from three storey townhouses to 2.5 storey properties with dormer windows.

They have also made alterations to the car parking and access arrangement so that no more than four houses are sharing a private access drive.

The application states: "The development as presented now provides for an attractive scheme of seven family houses each with acceptable provision of car parking and garden space.

"Given this the development is considered acceptable and would accord with both the Rushden Neighbourhood Plan and the Joint Core Strategy."

The application says the site formed part of Northamptonshire Constabulary until its sale to the applicant in 2019.

It provided local police services for Rushden but these have now been reallocated to Wellingborough.

In conclusion, documents submitted as part of the application state: "It is considered that the development as now presented has successfully overcome the five reasons for refusal on the previous scheme and represents an opportunity to provide seven family homes within the district.

"Further this can be done in a manner that would not have a substantive impact on the amenity of the adjoining occupiers or the appearance of the street."

For more details on the application, which will be considered by East Northants Council, search for 20/01446/FUL on the planning pages of the council's website.

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