Desborough green space sell-off back on as council looks to dispose of leisure land

In September 2024, campaigners successfully saw off proposals to sell off land surrounding a now-demolished council-owned Hawthorns leisure centre to the south of Desborough, across the valley from Rothwell.

The tract was first identified for a residential development in 2014, received outline planning approval in 2017 – four years later Bellway Homes entered a conditional contract to purchase the land and build the homes.

In 2021, North Northants councillors voted to terminate a contract previously promising the land to Bellway, leaving residents and local councillors hoping for an enhanced green space – until now.

Cllr David Howes (Cons/Desborough), said: “It’s all very depressing. If you live at the south of Desborough this is the last bit of open space. It’s heavily used every day – it’s open countryside where you can stroll.

“After not extending the long stop date with the previous administration that meant Bellway had run out of time to put in a planning application, we thought we had finally killed off this area becoming housing.

“It was on a path to be enhanced green space and now it looks like the new administration are looking at options to develop it and sell it off.”

If sold off, the NNC-owned site would join the three other parcels of land – owned by the Co-op and a private individual – completing an unbroken swathe across the edge of Desborough, accessed via the old A6 Rothwell Road.

A sign informing residents of the disposal of the land was put up last week, but had to be replaced after errors in the date and the council’s own address were spotted.

The new sign states: “Notice is hereby given by North Northamptonshire Council (the council) that, in accordance with section 123(2A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the council intends to dispose of land to the south of Rothwell Road, Sycamore Drive, Desborough (the site).

“The site includes areas of land which consist of or may be deemed to consist of public open space.

“The disposal of the freehold interest in the site is to release the land for housing development and ancillary uses.”

Cllr Howes, and his two Conservative colleagues, say the group had been working hard with NNC officers to bring forward a project to transform the Hawthorns site into a ‘vibrant community play park, surrounded by the beautiful greenspace of the Ise Valley’, however, no protections had been put the land.

He said: “The whole plan was to get the redesignation of the area and protecting it. That was the will of the town. That was the trajectory we were going down, now it’s a 180 degree turn in the opposite direction.”

In 2021, NNC had said the land sale could provide the council with a capital receipt of £2.5m, secure section 106 funding totalling £2m and generate increased income through additional council tax payments.

Cllr Howes added: “It’s quite a lot of money and that would make a significant dent in the finances if it got developed. Once it’s gone, it’s gone for ever.”

An NNC spokesman said: “We can confirm that the council have just started a local consultation on the disposal of land south of Rothwell Road in Desborough which ward members have been briefed on.

“Officers have confirmed that the notice on the site is dated May 19, 2026, and includes the correct postal address of the Corby Cube, George Street, Corby.

“We want to take this opportunity to reassure residents that at this point no final decision has been made and a report will go to the council’s executive to consider various options for the council’s land at a later date.”

Any objections to the intended disposal must be made in writing, stating the grounds of objection, to Assistant Director, Assets & Environment, North Northamptonshire Council, The Corby Cube, George Street, Corby, Northamptonshire, NN17 1QG to be received no later than 5pm on Saturday, June 27, 2026.