Developers refused permission to build motel on A14 near Rothwell take it to appeal

Developers behind a refused motel off the A14 in Rothwell have taken the decision to appeal.

Mulberry Developments is hoping the planning inspectorate will overturn the decision made by Kettering Council’s planning committee to turn down the application to extend the existing truck stop and open a 38-bed motel on a patch of land near to the facility.

The committee refused the application on the grounds that it was outside of the masterplan and would also be built on greenfield land.

The developer – which last week had a plan for a mega warehouse park in Corby approved – lodged the appeal last month and residents have until July 17 to make any representations to the inspectorate.

The planning inspectorate can then decide to overturn the council’s decision if it thinks there are planning grounds to do so.

Councillor for the area Jim Hakewill said the plan was ‘purely speculative’ and the patch of green space being marked out for the motel was always intended to be left as a buffer for nearby houses.

He said: “The truck stop was granted as an exception against the will of the people. We didn’t expect that the land between it and the A14 would ever be considered as development land.

“It is false to suggest that truck drivers would use the motel at all. They don’t need another gym and somewhere to stay – they have that at the truck stop already and sleep in their cabs.”

Managing director of Mulberry Developments Phil Jones said: “The extension to the truckstop facility (which is being successfully operated by Welcome Break) utilises a small area of land between the operating truckstop and the A14 trunk road.

“The additional, ancillary facilities which were supported by the local planning authority have been shown to be acceptable in policy and transport terms and will further enhance the truckstop offering, bringing further job opportunities and much needed economic benefit to the area.”