This meeting was about deciding whether to grant planning permission for two applications. One application was about building houses on allotment gardens, and the other was about converting farm buildings to commercial units.

2024/1528/OUT - Allotment Gardens, Poundfield Road, Potterspury

The report pack contains an application for outline planning permission¹ for up to six self-build properties on the site of some allotments and equestrian land on Poundfield Road in Potterspury.

The site is on the edge of the village, in the open countryside, so the application relies on an exception in the South Northamptonshire Local Plan (Policy LH5) that allows for the building of self-build homes on such sites.

Proposals for two or more self or custom build sites immediately adjoining the confines of Rural Service Centres, Primary or Secondary Villages (A) as defined in policy SS1 of this plan will normally be permitted where they help to meet demand as demonstrated by part 1 of the council’s Self and Custom Housebuilding Register.

The report pack states that the dwellings subject of this application form part of the existing supply of available plots , so the application complies with this policy. The report pack also notes that the application was called-in by Councillor McCord following concerns that the development would not comply with Policy LH5 and due to highways concerns .

The application site contains allotments, but the report pack states that the allotments operates privately in a manner that could be withdrawn at any time regardless of the potential development of the site and concludes that their loss does not represent a conflict with the council's Policy INF2 on community facilities. Potterspury Parish Council objects to the application, saying that the site is in the open countryside, that there is little demand for self-build in the area , and that the housing mix on the site will not be controlled and it is clear that the local need for affordable housing will not be mitigated by this proposal .

2024/0027/FULL - College Farm, Charlton Road, Aynho

The report pack contains an application for full planning permission for the conversion of farm buildings to commercial units at College Farm on Charlton Road in Aynho.

The report pack notes that the site is in the open countryside, but that this is acceptable under policies in the South Northamptonshire Local Plan that permit the development of existing commercial sites in the countryside.

The applicant proposes to convert the buildings to the following uses:

• Units A and A1 - Class E(g)(i)² - offices
• Units B1, B2, C and E - Class E(g)(iii)³ - industrial processes
• Unit D - Class B8 - storage or distribution.

Units C and E are already in use for commercial purposes, having been granted permission under Class R of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015. The report pack recommends that the operational hours of the buildings be restricted to:

• Monday to Saturday: 8.00am to 8.00pm
• Sunday, Bank and Public Holidays: closed

The report pack notes that the site is located in Flood Zone 1 and therefore at minimum risk of flooding, concluding that the proposed surface water drainage scheme for the development will adequately manage flood risk .