Planning Application 2024/0642/MAF
https://wnc.planning-register.co.uk/Planning/Display/2024/0642/MAF
I am pleased to say that the Planning Committee have accepted the arguments I put to them and REFUSED planning permission for 23 houses in Drovers Way, Potterspury.
This was development outside the village confine line. The council policy does allow this for affordable homes and self build homes, provided they are adjoining or very near to the confines. In addition these ‘rural exception sites’ as they are known must be less than 1 hectare in size.
This site was bigger than 1 hectare. It was split as 20 affordable homes seeking full planning permission, and 3 self build properties seeking outline permission.
The applicant supported by council officers were attempting to argue that the affordable housing element was less than 1 ha. The self build element was less that 1 ha. Therefore they were compliant. But to meet the adjoining the confines it was necessary to view it as a bigger single site.
The Committee agreed with that we cannot view this as two sites for the purposes of size, but one site for determining if it adjoins the confines line.
For many years Northants County Council and now WNC have had a rule that no more than 5 houses should be served off an unadopted road. The Drovers Way development from 2010 is serviced from an unadopted road. This proposal would have also been an unadopted road bringing that total to nearer 50.
Councillors on the Committee were concerned at this too.
The Committee members expressed concern about the issues raised by British Horse Society about the bridle way. Local residents commented about the impact on their business and children with special needs and disabilities.
The Parish Council also raised concerns that this was a second tranche of affordable housing and would be putting all Potterspury’s affordable housing in one area, which also contravened planning guidance.
The self build plots have no demand. Potterspury has NINE self build plots with permission and not a single spade in the ground to start any of them. Some of these existing plots have been marketed for almost 2 years.
Local Planning Policy does ask self builders to show a local connection and to show demand on the register. Very few people explicitly state Potterspury on the register. Some may say something like, within 10 miles of Towcester, but when all taken together they don’t make the 9. An additional 3 plots have no demand.
The Committee were persuaded and voted to refuse this application.