Current Issues

Local Planning Issues - February 2024

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North Northamptonshire

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Local Plans and Strategic Plans updates

Corby Local Plan Part 2 - Adopted. 

Kettering Borough Council Local Plan Part 2- Adopted.

Wellingborough Borough Local Plan Part 2 - Adopted. 

East Northants Local Plan - Adopted December 2023.

North Northamptonshire Core Strategy following last year's consultation further consultations are awaited.

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Referrals/Casework

Travellers sites at Middleton - Three applications which went to Appeal are all being  considered by the same Inspector. The Inspector’s report is still awaited.

CPRE action - Awaiting the Inspectors decisions.

Land at Titchmarsh - Applications for two warehouse developments as described in previous Planning Updates.  NNC is not now considering both applications together.  A date of 20 March has been set for the Castle Farm application to be considered by the Planning Committee.

CPRE action - to consider speaking at the Planning Committee for the Castle Farm application and to continue to monitor both applications and to continue to be represented at STAUNCH meetings.

Broiler and Poultry farm south of Rushden – Some further consultation had taken place relating to manure spreading.  A decision is still awaited.

CPRE action - to monitor further objections and await outcomes. 

Rockingham Forest Park near Kings Cliffe - An application for the extension of tourist facilities with caravan lodges adjacent to woodland areas affecting a curlew habitat and neighbouring villages.

CPRE action - comments made on application. Decision awaited.

Tresham Village proposals - A planning application is awaited for this new settlement on the old Deene airfield.  It is understood that the promoters have delayed the submission of an application because of design and technical issues and that NNC are now reconsidering the position of the new settlement in terms of strategic housing needs. 

CPRE action – monitoring for submission of a planning application. 

Lilford Hall - The Grade 1 listed building and park has been sold and restored.  Recent issues include a solar facility for heating the hall.

CPRE action - ongoing monitoring of restoration and future use.

Telecommunication mast at Thurning - An application has been made for a mast in the open countryside.  There is an alternative site which is less intrusive.

CPRE action - comments were made and this has now been refused.

Solar Farm applications at Titchmarsh - application for a solar farm on agricultural land at Foxholes Farm has now been followed by a further application for another solar farm at Wood Lodge Farm, also at Titchmarsh.

CPRE action -Responses made to both applications and outcomes are awaited.

Weekley Hall Wood, Kettering - This application has now been refused at Appeal on the grounds of non compliance with Policy 36 of the Joint Core Strategy and adverse impact on the biodiversity of the area. This represents a victory for the local campaign group and all who took part. This decision will have implications for other proposals particularly those which are contradictory to the JCS.

CPRE action - CPRE Northamptonshire gave evidence at the Public Inquiry in November 2023.

CPRE will monitor for any new applications.

Desborough Ise Valley Housing - This was approved following an Appeal at which CPRE gave evidence approx 4 years ago. Reserved matters are now being dealt with and many unresolved items were recommended for conditioning which is unsatisfactory.

CPRE action - a requested deferral by CPRE and other parties was accepted.

Tree Felling at The Walks in Wellingborough - Tree felling for road works caused a major public response.  The Action Group is now taking NNC to the High Court.

CPRE action - monitoring the situation. 

Shopfront alterations in Oundle - an historic butcher’s shop front has been altered without consent.  NNC were unwilling to take appropriate action.

CPRE action - to gain support from the people of Oundle with a petition.

Kettering Energy Park - A master plan was consulted on earlier in the year which indicates a large area of B8 usage towards the parishes of  Addington and Finedon.  Although CPRE had not been included in the initial consultees, a response was made which was subsequently recorded in the report to NNC published in the autumn of 2023.

CPRE action - to monitor the situation and await the next round of consultations following the report to NNC.

Solar Farm at Bozeat - Proposals have been submitted to PCs in the area concerning a possible large solar farm which would have national implications if implemented.

CPRE action - to monitor the situation.

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West Northamptonshire

 

Local Plans and Strategic Plans updates

South Northants Local Plan Part 2 – Adopted.

Northampton Borough Local Plan – Adopted.   

Daventry Local Plan Part 2 - Adopted. 

West Northamptonshire Strategic Plan - Spatial Options Consultation. Following earlier public consultation  the next consultation stage is awaited.

CPRE action - monitoring for the next stage.

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Referrals/Casework 

Towcester Applications - The DHL proposals for AL1 are now in their 4th amendment largely relating to highways and transport.  DHL has dismissed the Supplementary Planning Document prepared for the site particularly on the issue of height. 

CPRE action - CPRE are currently focusing on the visual impact and the flood risk and also considering drone pictures of the current congestion at the A5/A43 junction to reinforce the Highway injections.

Shacks Barn/Podium Park application, A43 Whittlebury - A planning application has been submitted, which, although in the SNC Local Plan, also included a significant proportion of B8 warehousing.  The residents of Whittlebury have asked for this to be called in by the Secretary of State.  There is also concern that the access will involve vehicles going through Silverstone.

CPRE action - responding to the application and awaiting the outcome.

Furtho Pitts , Towcester site  AL5 - an application has been submitted and CPRE has been contacted by the local campaigning group.  The application is dominated by B8 usage rather than a mix of employment uses.

CPRE action - to prepare a response to the application.

Application for 450 houses on land adjacent to Brackley Grange Cottages, Halse Road, Brackley - This land is not allocated in the Development Plan and represents development into the open countryside.  A decision date is now currently not recorded.

CPRE Action - response made to planning application.  Monitoring outcome. 

Application for 700 houses on land adjacent to Halse Road, Brackley - This land is not allocated in the Development Plan and is outside the Brackley SUE area and therefore is in the open countryside. A decision date is currently not recorded.  

CPRE action - response made to application.  Awaiting outcome. 

Holly Lodge Drive, Boughton - Application for 65 houses in open countryside.  This application has now been refused.  An Appeal has now been lodged.

CPRE action -monitoring outcome of the Appeal.

Solar Farms - Currently there are several applications in West Northants including  Greatworth, Glassthorpe, Yelvertoft , Kislingbury, Flore, land near Daventry and more recent applications at Preston Deanery and Wicken with a further presentation on land between South Kilworth and Welford all of which CPRE are monitoring.

CPRE action - responses made and applications being monitored and Planning meeting attended.   

Anaerobic Digester at Evenley - An application has recently been lodged. 

CPRE action – comments made on the application and its impact on the countryside - the outcome is awaited.

Housing at Daventry - Application for a large urban extension at Daventry impacting on the countryside. 

CPRE action - comments made on the impact and design issues relating to the application.  Awaiting outcomes.

Lorry Park at Syresham - This is in open countryside close to  the village of Syresham and is not an appropriate location for such a facility - which it is accepted is needed.

CPRE action - comments made on the current application and the outcome is awaited - there may be some links with the HS2 works in this respect which have currently despoiled the area.

Housing at Park Hall, Bugbrooke - Application for enabling development of large houses to  support the restoration of Park Hall. 

CPRE action - comments  made on the application, monitoring  outcomes.

Dodford Grange - This is a wedding venue which has applied for accommodation units on the same site.  The new build accommodation buildings are incongruous and out of character.

CPRE response - comments made on the application - monitoring outcome.

Pig farms and Slurry Tank near Welford - An application for a holding tank for slurry for a pig farm has been submitted - the farm is likely to hold up to 9000 pigs which are near residential properties.

CPRE action - comments made on the application - awaiting outcome.

Housing at Kilsby - An application has been lodged for 22 houses outside the village envelope -a similar application was refused at Appeal.

CPRE action- an objection has been submitted and the outcome is awaited.

Warehousing at Kilsby -  A proposal for warehousing close  to  DIRFT on a site included in the Core Strategy Review has been withdrawn.  However the Kilsby Action Group consider it may re-emerge.

CPRE action - To liaise with the Kilsby Action Group for further developments.

Housing at Braunston - A proposal for housing outside the village envelope and contrary to the Neighbourhood Plan.

CPRE action - an objection has been submitted, the outcome is awaited .

Housing near Quinton - An application has been made for 900 houses as an extension to Grange Park .  A smaller application has already been refused at Appeal.  This would remove the green space between Quinton and the urban edge of Northampton.

CPRE action - an objection has been submitted to the application and the outcome is being monitored.

Housing near Great Houghton/Brackmills - There is currently a scoping application for 800 houses on land previously refused approval for industrial.

CPRE action - monitoring the situation for a full application.

Housing on land north of Nobottle near Harpole - application for 100 houses pending and another for 300 houses.

CPRE action - investigating applications and responding accordingly.

Quarry near Welford - heavy lorries being routed through Welford High Street have now been rerouted away from the village.

CPRE action - to  object with a successful outcome.

New farm access off Welford High Street - new access formed onto busy road without consent.

CPRE action - to object on highway and safety grounds. 

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