West Northants primed for 700 homes
Two large-scale housing projects close to Harpole go before committee next week recommended for approval.
Both sites sit within sustainable urban extension boundaries, which represent major allocations in the West Northamptonshire joint core strategy. The schemes combined could add up to 683 homes.
Housebuilding giant Vistry is behind one of the projects, within the 258-acre Norwood Farm SUE. Vistry is seeking to establish reserved matters approval for 233 homes, comprising phase 2a at Norwood Farm. Noble Consultancy is advising.
Harpole Parish Council is an objector to the scheme, which would see 157 market-sale homes delivered, the rest being classed as affordable. The parish council’s contention is that parts of the wider project have thus far failed to deliver the benefits in connectivity set out by national planning standards.
The site comes in at a shade above 20 acres and is made up of two parcels, either side of the Sandy Lane relief road. Development of both parcels would represent a continuation of development from other housebuilders’ sites now granted full approval. Miller is working in the area.
A hybrid planning permission was granted in 2020 for Norwood Farm SUE, granting full planning permission for a section of the Sandy Lane relief road, and outline permission for up to 1,900 dwellings and associated infrastructure.
Davidsons wants a hybrid consent. Credit: planning documents
In the other application going to committee, Davidsons Developments – along with co-applicants John and Iris Green – is pursuing a hybrid consent for land north-west of High Street, Harpole.
This is made up of full permission for demolition of buildings, and the development of infrastructure and 100 homes; and outline consent for a further 350 homes.
These 450 homes make up part of the 2,550 homes allotted to the Northampton West SUE as set out in the design & access statement provided.
Approval is recommended, pending several conditions including securing 14% affordable housing and 3.8 acres of managed open space including a play area, and a contribution to the area’s north-west relief road – likely to be around £1.2m. Again, the parish council is an objector.
The application from Leicestershire-based Davidsons was previously considered by the strategic planning committee on 23 September, but was deferred so that officers could reassess viability, in relation to securing a commuted sum towards the maintenance of open space.
Members also requested that officers explore the potential to provide a footpath link from Harpole village to the application site, options for which have been explored and are outlined in the officers’ report.
Davidson’s professional team includes landscape architect Golby & Luck and planner nineteen47.
Bloor Homes is also working in the area, establishing three reserved matters approvals totalling 430 homes initially, ahead of the Sandy Lane relief road’s completion. Bloor’s allocation also includes a local centre and primary school.
Both Vistry and Davidsons’ plans will be considered at the strategic planning committee meeting on 18 November.
The Vistry application documents can be viewed on West Northants’ planning portal with the reference 2025/2236/MAR and the Davidson one at 2024/0672/MAO.
