Thread by @JAverillJourno

Evening all. I'm at @NorthamptonBC this evening, where members of the public have packed out the gallery for the latest planning committee. Thread of decisions here. #LDReporter

@NorthamptonBC As of 12 minutes ago, the deadline for appeals against the adoption of NBC's new HMO supplementary planning document had passed.

It now means the planning committee can consider dismissing HMOs if 10% of properties within a 50 metre radius are also HMOs. Had previously been 15%.

@NorthamptonBC As a result, two applications for HMOs have been deferred as the new restrictions now apply.

They were in The Crescent (Parklands ward) and Burns Road (Castle ward).

Remaining HMO applications are either amendments to already approved schemes or the threshold doesn't apply.

@NorthamptonBC First application now being discussed. It's for outline planning permission for 525 homes on land north of Newport Pagnell Road. It's pretty much sandwiched between Brackmills, Wootton and Hardingstone.

@NorthamptonBC Site straddles the boundary between NBC and South Northamptonshire, so both councils are considering it.

@NorthamptonBC Here's the article I did previewing the decision that is about to be made. northamptonchron.co.uk/news/politics/…

@NorthamptonBC Cllr Phil Larratt is the first of four public speakers. He's speaking on behalf of ward councillor Penny Flavell.

He says concerns of residents in Great Houghton are being 'ignored'.

He says S106 funds are being directed towards Wooldale Rd in Wootton where there is no need.

@NorthamptonBC Cllr Larratt says S106 funds should be used in Great Houghton where the real issues are. He says the village is used as a 'rat run'. Says S106 should address the lack of a footpath on the main road, the troublesome junction with the A428 and putting in a weight restriction.

@NorthamptonBC Cllr Perry Thomas, from Hardingstone Parish Council, also speaking against the application on traffic grounds.

He says: "Newport Pagnell Road is at peak capacity and is thoroughly inadequate to cope with the extra traffic."

@NorthamptonBC Cllr Thomas [cont]: "The A45 is subject to a lot of accidents and more recently flooding. Can the emergency services cover all these new developments as well? Can any reassurance be given to Brackmills employees who struggle to get to and from work in a reasonable time?"

@NorthamptonBC Thomas Bowler, chair of Great Houghton Parish Council, now speaking against the application.

"The village was established long before the motorcar. It has become a rush hour rat run. The High Street was not meant to take more than a horse and cart."

@NorthamptonBC Thomas Bowler [cont]: "At present the major routes are frequently gridlocked as a direct result of extensive developments nearby."

@NorthamptonBC Rob Barber is the planning consultant and agent for the applicant, and is the only one speaking in favour.

He says: "The applicants have worked considerably with officers to comply and also ensure that off-site facilities are delivered such as highways contributions."

@NorthamptonBC Rob Barber [cont]: "This will make a vital contribution to the council's housing requirements. Residents will also enjoy the benefits of open green space."

@NorthamptonBC Committee member Cllr Brian Markham questions why the level of affordable housing is only 13% (NBC target is 30%).

Rob Barber replies: "There are a number of significant costs with this development. Off-site highways is a substantial burden on the viability of the scheme."

@NorthamptonBC Tonight, NBC is determining roughly 115 of the 525 home proposal. The other homes fall on the site that will be determined by South Northamptonshire Council.

@NorthamptonBC Planning committee chairman Cllr Brian Oldham says he can't see any 'justifiable reason' why they should reject the application.

But he also sees no reason why they can't ask the county council's highways team to look at a potential weight restriction in Great Houghton.

@NorthamptonBC Councillor Arthur McCutcheon says he is 'unimpressed' with the amount of affordable housing and wants to see more social rents on the site, but he has no qualms with areas being 'rat runs'.

"We're all on rat runs. It's part of urbanisation," he says.

@NorthamptonBC The Newport Pagnelle Road scheme is APPROVED for outline permission by seven votes to one. Councillor Brian Markham the only councillor to vote against.

@NorthamptonBC The committee has agreed however to write to NCC highways to ask them to look at a potential weight restriction on traffic through Great Houghton.

@NorthamptonBC Committee has now agreed to raise no objections in principle to the second part of the application, which it is being consulted on by South Northamptonshire Council.

@NorthamptonBC Getting the other 'consultation' out of the way. This is for an application to be determined by Northamptonshire County Council.
Veolia wants to change some of the conditions for the waste transfer building that was given planning approval on Edgar Mobbs Way.

@NorthamptonBC Veolia wants to increase the amount of imported waste it can take from 45,000 tonnes to 65,000 tonnes per year. Essentially means it can take commercial waste on top of residential waste.Also removes proposed opening times to allow the facility to be able to operate 24/7.

@NorthamptonBC Committee again agrees to raise NO OBJECTIONS to the proposed changes at the Veolia waste transfer building on Edgar Mobbs Way.

@NorthamptonBC Next application is for conversion of Highfield House (a three-storey building on Kettering Rd) into six apartments. It would also demolish the garage and build an extension for four further apartments.

A further four homes (each would be two-storey) would be built at the back.

@NorthamptonBC This is Highfield House. It's directly opposite the Spinney Hill pub.

@NorthamptonBC There will be five public speakers on this application. Recommendation is for approval. First speaker up is @cllrmikehallam.

@NorthamptonBC @cllrmikehallam Speaking as the ward councillor, @cllrmikehallam says: "I'm becoming something of a regular feature at every planning meeting you have.

"All of the applications I have spoken out against have one core thread, which is the concern over the level of traffic in that area."

@NorthamptonBC @cllrmikehallam .@cllrmikehallam [cont]: "Residents said the traffic couldn't get worse, but since that McDonald's opened my god has it got worse.

"This is not a small development. We're going from one or maybe two cars to potentially 20 cars on a section of road that is regularly gridlocked."

@NorthamptonBC @cllrmikehallam Next up is one of the neighbours next to the property. He's been at his home for 30 years.

He says: "If this goes ahead we will be overlooked and have no privacy whatsoever. It will create more noise, more pollution and more traffic."

@NorthamptonBC @cllrmikehallam One resident calls on for construction vehicles to be banned from accessing the site from Mountfield Road. He accuses the developers of a 'cavalier approach' during the clearance of the site.

@NorthamptonBC @cllrmikehallam Roy Hammond, on behalf of applicants Snedker and Smith Developments, says: "The site is in a highly sustainable location.

"The design has been carefully considered with the character of the area and will provide an attractive and safe environment for the future occupiers."

@NorthamptonBC @cllrmikehallam Ben Snedker is the final speaker. He's (obviously) from the applicants Snedker and Smith.

He says: "This will be an investment in local infrastructure, traders and suppliers. We will also be ensuring that the construction phase is carried out in a manner that is acceptable."

@NorthamptonBC @cllrmikehallam Onto comments from the committee.

Cllr Jamie Lane says he's not happy with the access onto Mountfield Rd and it's 'out of keeping' with the area.

Cllr Arthur McCutcheon says it's a 'good use' of a site that is too small for a care home but too large for a single use home.

@NorthamptonBC @cllrmikehallam The application for Highfield House is APPROVED by seven votes to one, with Cllr Jamie Lane the only to object.

@NorthamptonBC @cllrmikehallam The two big applications are now out of the way. Next application to be discussed before a short break is a change of use from a home at 73 Derby Road into a HMO for six occupants.

Approval would make HMO concentration in the area 10.24%, so is currently under threshold.

@NorthamptonBC @cllrmikehallam Councillor Danielle Stone is objecting and says that the application is an 'over development'. She also says the highways report is 'inadequate' and doesn't take into account road safety. Says there is a lot of 'near misses' nearby.

@NorthamptonBC @cllrmikehallam She asks for the decision to be deferred so committee can get 'better information' from NCC highways.

@NorthamptonBC @cllrmikehallam It's another 7-1 victory for the applicant. @CllrJaneBirch the solitary councillor to object this time.

@NorthamptonBC @cllrmikehallam @CllrJaneBirch The councillors are discussing the construction of a semi-detached two-storey dwelling in Laceby Walk blissfully unaware that Mauricio Pochettino has been sacked.

They've approved it by six votes to two (the house, not Poch).

@NorthamptonBC @cllrmikehallam @CllrJaneBirch And literally as I tweet that, the planning chairman notifies one of the footy supporting councillors that the axe has been wielded in North London.

Some things transcend politics...

@NorthamptonBC @cllrmikehallam @CllrJaneBirch Two HMO applications remaining, which are the last on the normal agenda before all the NPH applications.

They are:

🔴 Change of use from dwelling to HMO for four occupants at 38 Florence Road
🔴 Change of use from house to HMO for six occupants at 51 Adnitt Rd (amendment)

@NorthamptonBC @cllrmikehallam @CllrJaneBirch Both the HMO applications have been approved.

@NorthamptonBC @cllrmikehallam @CllrJaneBirch Final applications are all from Northampton Partnership Homes. They are:

🔴Demolition of 3 garages and construction of 2 houses at Margaret Street
🔴Development of 2 residential units with associated parking at Swansea Crescent
🔴Amend internal layout of new home at Tyes Court

@NorthamptonBC @cllrmikehallam @CllrJaneBirch All three applications are APPROVED.

That brings to an end the planning committee meeting.

Thanks if you've followed.