Revised housing plans for former Poppies ground

Plans to build almost 50 houses on the site of Kettering Town FC's former stadium will soon be back up for discussion.

Harpur Developments Ltd's outline bid for the 49-home development at the Poppies' now-demolished old Rockingham Road site was approved by Kettering Council last year.

But it hit a stumbling block when the council then officially refused the plan six weeks ago, citing a reduction in the affordable housing mix and developer contributions as making the plan 'unsustainable'.

That refusal has since been appealed - and in the meantime revised plans have been submitted.

Because of concerns over the scheme's viability the developers had originally proposed that eight of the 49 homes would be "affordable", which at 16 per cent is below framework targets.

After the council refused the plan they have now increased this to 10. Half of the affordable homes will be affordable rent with the other half shared ownership.

But as a result they have now lowered the section 106 financial contributions to £260,000 - just over half of the £456,000 full requirement.

A planning statement said: "The previous application would have provided higher amounts for education as well as contributions towards libraries and public open space maintenance.

"The loss of these financial contributions from that previously proposed is counterbalanced by the increase in affordable housing provision and the benefits this would provide."

The scheme will be a mix of two, three and four-bedroom houses and will incorporate a small play area.

Entry to the new development will be via the mini-roundabout near the bowling alley.

The planning statement added: "The granting of planning permission for the proposed development would allow for a positive boost to housing land supply in the borough on a brownfield site which, although not yet formally allocated, has been highlighted and put forward as being suitable and available for residential development."

The Poppies had played at the ground since 1897, but left in 2011 before an ill-fated move to Nene Park in Irthlingborough.

Fans had always hoped to return to the former ground and twice tried to get Kettering Council to list it as a community asset, but the stadium was demolished in 2017.

The team now plays in Burton Latimer and the club has recently acquired a site in the Scott Road area of Kettering.

It's hoped a decision on the new plan for Rockingham Road will be made by the end of May.