More homes approved for large housing estate

An extra 295 homes will be built at a large housing estate after the latest application for the project was approved by councillors.

The plans for the Dallington Grange development, near Kings Heath north-west of Northampton town centre, were voted through by the strategic planning committee at Reform UK-led West Northamptonshire Council on Tuesday.

The estate scheme had been granted hybrid planning permission in 2021, with proposals for 3,000 homes, a secondary school, two primaries and employment opportunities.

However, Labour committee member Bob Purser said he was disappointed with the lack of affordable housing.

Six letters of objection were submitted by members of the public, which included concerns about the impact of traffic on Kings Heath, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Kingsthorpe Parish Council has asked that the new schools for the estate are built "quickly".

As part of the latest application, councillors were told there would be 20 two-bedroom homes, 109 three-bedroom homes, 133 four-bedroom homes and 13 five-bedroom homes.

A further two one-bed homes, eight two-bedroom and 10 three-bed homes would be classed as affordable.

This means about 7% of the properties would be available for either affordable rent or shared ownership.

The council's planning policy states that 35% of dwellings on a development of more than 15 houses should be affordable.

However, the proportion of affordable homes is expected to be made up elsewhere across Dallington Grange.

Phase one of the estate is currently being built.

The committee unanimously voted to approve the latest plans, in line with officers' recommendations.

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