Plans approved for 450 homes in village

Plans to build up to 450 new homes have been approved after talks between the council and the developers.

The Roman Fields development will be built on land in Harpole near Northampton, off Upper High Street and Roman Road.

Full planning permission was granted for the first 100 homes, and outline permission for a further 350 houses to be built later. The development will also include open green spaces, a play area, and new walking and cycling routes.

West Northamptonshire Council gave the scheme the go-ahead at a meeting on Thursday.

The application, submitted by Davidsons Developments Limited and John R. Green & Iris F. Green, had been delayed since September while councillors looked again at whether the project was financially viable and how much affordable housing it could provide.

They also considered whether it would be possible to safely create a pedestrian route linking the site to the village.

Although the wider area is expected to eventually include a local centre, a primary school and other facilities, councillors were concerned that residents could be cut off from amenities in the early years.

Labour group leader Sally Keeble also warned there was a "chronic shortage" of affordable housing and said reducing the number would make a "significant dent" in what could be provided on the site.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, after negotiations, developers must pay nearly £7.8m towards transport, schools, libraries and the North West Relief Road.

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