Redevelopment plans for Wellingborough car park move forward

Plans to redevelop a key site in Wellingborough town centre have taken another step forward.

Wellingborough Council has been working on proposals for the regeneration of the High Street/Jacksons Lane site for a number of years, with it first being earmarked for development back in 2006.

The most recent plans are for demolition of an existing building at 48 West Street and redevelopment of part of the car park in High Street for 114 dwellings consisting of 85 houses, 29 apartments, roads, car parking and landscaping.

This application was agreed in principle two years ago but the signing of a Section 106 agreement was needed before the decision was formally issued.

And Wellingborough Council has confirmed that this took place last week.

A council spokesman said: "The planning application (WP/14/00175/FUL) for the Jacksons Lane Car Park, Wellingborough was considered by Borough Council of Wellingborough’s Planning Committee on 18 April 2018.

"The application was agreed in principle but the signing of a Section 106 agreement was required before the decision was formally issued.

"Therefore the planning decision was formally issued on 8 April 2020.

"No decision has been made to sell the site, a report will be considered by councillors at a full council meeting in due course regarding the future of this site."

The site is owned by the council and has been used as an ‘informal’ car park for several years.

A petition started in 2018 in opposition to the plans attracted nearly 5,000 names.

Speaking at the time, campaigners said the loss of so many parking spaces would have a huge impact on nearby businesses, the United Reformed Church as well as people coming into the town to shop or use facilities in the area.

And with Tresham’s Wellingborough campus due to re-open to students this year following multi-million pound improvement works, they feared the north of the town wouldn't have the parking it needs.

Questions were also raised about the need for housing here when major housing developments are taking place elsewhere in the town, including at Stanton Cross and Wellingborough North.

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