Plans formally submitted for up to 250 homes in Northamptonshire village that 'cannot cope with more housing'
A planning application for a much-discussed project which could bring up to 250 new houses on the border of Earls Barton has been officially submitted.
William Davis Homes wishes to build a new development on land to the west of Northampton road on the village’s southwestern border.
The site, which plans say covers approximately 15.18 hectares (37.5 acres) is predominantly made up of two grassland fields in ‘poor’ condition. Within the space, the applicant wishes to achieve 6.89 hectares (17 acres) of residential development of up to 250 dwellings, including affordable housing and over 55’s and extra care accommodation.
A planning document reads: “New development provides the opportunity to establish a distinctive identity to a place which, whilst having its own character.
"Creation of a development which allows ease of movement for all types of users and provides equal employment, social, community, leisure and retail activity opportunities for all.
"The proposals for the site will deliver a distinctive character and a strong sense of place, unique to this site, informed by its important qualities and retained features.
“The proposals aim to create a place that has a healthy, comfortable and safe internal and external environment.”
A total of 6.36 hectares (15.7 acres) of accessible, public open space is also included in proposals, with formal and informal play spaces, green links, and a 2.3km footpath route around the development.
However, while plans are comprehensive, the proposals haven’t gone down well with local residents.
One commenter on the application said: “The reasons I'm objecting are currently we cannot get a doctors appointment, often there's no doctors actually in the medical centre surgery.
"The school is almost at full capacity. The village is completely gridlocked during school starting and finishing times. There is zero parking at most times in the village centre.”
Another added: “This development would go against the current existing neighbourhood plan in place. The village has already accommodated enough housing and the village can not cope with more housing which would lead to increased traffic in the village. “Destroying wildlife and taking away what little is left of the surrounding fields.”
North Northants Councillor for Earls Barton, Cllr Vicki Jessop was also critical of the plans.
She said: “I strongly object to another outline planning application proposing the development of a further 250 homes on land east of Northampton Road and Station Road (25/01682/OUT), which sits outside the village envelope.
“This application comes less than 12 months after a proposal for adjacent land (NW/25/00367/OUT) at Northampton Road East.
“The application seeks to provide access from Northampton Road, with plans indicating a restricted access from Station Road. Any vehicle access to and from Station Road would create highway safety issues and the development will overwhelm the village from increased traffic.
“Further traffic pressure on Dowthorpe Hill will create a rat run.
“Again this is another example of building over our green land. Our village has already contributed to meeting housing targets. Building on this land is unnecessary and detrimental to our community and environment.
"Over 3,100 homes sit empty in North Northamptonshire, these should be made to be brought back into use to meet national housing targets without destroying our green spaces and placing pressure on our village roads, education and healthcare provision.”
The application from William Davis is the second application within the area near Northampton Road, as Richborough also submitted plans in July to build up to 250 houses on land that would immediately border William Davis’ development.
Also, Redrow has launched a public consultation to build up to 600 homes on land on the southern border of Earls Barton, which could increase the total number of proposed new homes to 1,100.
‘Prioritising profit over the interests of the local community’
Alongside plans, William Davis has released data relating to its public consultation launched in the summer, including how many people responded to each question.
Of the 673 people who answered the question ‘Do you agree that there is a need for new homes in the local area?’, 514 strongly disagreed (76 per cent), and when asked what type of new homes are needed in the local area, 561 of the 760 (83 per cent) responses believe there is no need for new homes.
Concerns were raised by residents concerning increased traffic flow and congestion, potholes on key access routes, parking, a lack of infrastructure to accommodate for health services and schools, and a loss of identity for the village.
The prospect of Green Hill Solar Farm, which would take up space on the village’s outskirts was also mentioned by some, believing this alongside new homes would create ‘excessive expansion’, which is unwanted. William Davis Homes believes the planning application will be ‘considered on its own merits.’
Many feel that the development is prioritising profit over the interests of the local community.
On the topic of an increase in traffic on the A45, the applicant responded: "It is accepted that the proposed development will generate additional traffic. However, the level of generated traffic which will distribute onto the A45 will only result in a one per cent increase against current peak hour levels. This percentage increase is viewed as not having an adverse impact on the operation of the A45.”
On the potential loss of countryside and open space, the response reads: “The site will retain significant areas of public open space and has been designed via a landscape-led approach. This ensures that the development is sensitively designed and will relate well to the local area.
Currently the site is only accessible via a public right of way. The proposed development will deliver 7.07 ha of publicly accessible open space which equates to 46.8 per cent of the application site.”
Finally, a planning document adds: “The feedback received has been taken into consideration and a response to each issue is provided in this statement. It is maintained that the scheme presented in this application addresses the comments and concerns raised by the local community, where possible. The proposals have also been amended to respond to comments received, namely to introduce a further Local Area for Play (LAP), provision of a circular walking route and an element of over 55s/extra care accommodation is now proposed.”
The full planning application can be found online here.