The Non-Strategic Planning Committee of West Northamptonshire Council met on 18 November 2025, and approved planning permission for a residential development at 381 Harlestone Road, Northampton, and for the conversion of an agricultural building at West Lodge Farm, Courteenhall. A decision on a retrospective application for a livestock building off Catesby Road, Hellidon, was deferred for a site visit. An appeal statement of case for land east of Drovers Way, Potterspury, was withdrawn.

Planning Decisions

1. 381 Harlestone Road, Northampton

The committee approved application 2024/4540/FULL for the development of 82 dwellings, formation of amenity space, hard and soft landscaping works, provision of access and associated engineering work at 381 Harlestone Road, Northampton, in accordance with the case officer's recommendation. The approval is subject to the completion of a Section 106 agreement to secure:

• 35% affordable housing provision on-site
• Affordable housing tenure mix
• Libraries financial contribution
• An on-site Local Area of Play (LAP)
• On-site public open space
• Buzz Card (bus passes) for future residents
• Travel Plan implementation fee
• Adoption of public open space by Duston Parish Council
• Public open space maintenance financial contribution to Duston Parish Council
• Biodiversity Net Gain Habitat Management and Monitoring Plan for a 30-year period and the amended conditions as set out in the Committee Updates.

Councillor Vincent Clive, speaking as a local ward member for Duston, said that while residential development on the site could be a net positive, the application required further improvements to design out risks of antisocial behaviour. He also raised concerns about insufficient local services, highway safety, and a non-operational speed camera.

Stephanie Eastwood, agent for the applicant, said the site's allocation for residential development in the Northampton Part 2 Local Plan had established the principle of residential development, and that the scheme would facilitate the delivery of much-needed affordable housing. She added that the Local Highways Authority had not objected to the access, and conditions had been added to provide boundary treatments.

The Principal Planning Officer, Rebecca Bates, explained that the positioning of lighting and recycle bin storage had been considered as part of the amended conditions to address concerns regarding antisocial behaviour. She also said no education need was presented during the application stage, and the NHS confirmed no healthcare requirement was needed for the S106.

2. West Lodge Farm, Courteenhall

The committee approved application 2025/1959/FULL for the conversion of an existing agricultural building at West Lodge Farm, Blisworth Road, Courteenhall, to a farm shop and café (Use Class E) and a commercial unit (Use Class E(g)(iii), B2 and/or B8), a new access from Courteenhall Road, car parking, cycle and bin store, landscaping and associated works, in accordance with the Case Officer’s recommendation.

Chloe French, agent for the applicant Courteenhall Estates, said that while the estate was implementing the previous consent, this application had been submitted to create a more efficient layout within the building. She said the revised proposal would lead to a reduction in the amount of Use Class B8 floorspace, and an increase in the amount of Use Class E floorspace, which would better suit the operation of the building.

3. Land off Catesby Road, Hellidon

The committee deferred application 2025/2590/FULL for the retention of a livestock building at land off Catesby Road, Hellidon, for a Committee Site Visit, to enable the Committee to assess the size, scale and mass of the existing property and its impact on the character of the local landscape setting.

The Development Management Team Leader, Eamon McDowell, explained that the principle of development had been established by the original permission issued by Daventry District Council, but what had been built differed from that permission and the purpose of this application was to regularise the development.

A written statement from Councillor Charlie Hastie, local ward member for Woodford and Weedon, was read out, objecting to the application. The statement explained that the existing building was materially different to the approved scheme, and that the proposal in its current form caused an unacceptable impact on the area of special landscape character of Hellidon.

Eamon McDowell explained that, although there were impacts and differences with the previously approved plans, such impacts were not sufficiently harmful to warrant refusal of the application.

4. Other Matters

Two other applications were on the agenda for the meeting:

• Application 2024/0612/MAF - Appeal Statement of Case for Land East of Drovers Way, Potterspury was withdrawn.
• Application 2025/2664/FULL - Rye Hill Lodge, Norton Junction, Long Buckby Wharf was withdrawn.