NORTH NORTHAMPTONSHIRE TEST CASE Wilbraham Associates Ltd has recently secured outline planning permission for around 200 dwellings, on appeal to the Secretary of State. The land at Burton Latimer was not allocated for development, but the Secretary of State endorsed our argument that the serious shortfall in deliverable housing sites in Kettering Borough outweighed this. The Secretary of State also agreed that the development would be broadly in line with the Regional Spatial Strategy. So far as we are aware, this was the first application of Government policy in PPS3 to a housing proposal in the North Northamptonshire growth area. After a week-long Public Inquiry the Inspector found firmly in our client’s favour and the Secretary of State strongly endorsed her report in granting outline planning permission. We worked with a professional team including highway and drainage engineers, landscape architects, an ecologist, archaeologists and other professionals including Queen’s Counsel in order to deliver the outline planning permission. A number of detailed technical issues had to be resolved, in particular a strong objection by the Environment Agency. Any questions about the case can be put to Laurence Wilbraham at info@wilbrahamassociates.co.uk (Drawing courtesy of Lovejoy Planning & Design) April 2008 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Redevelopment of Former Nightclub is Allowed on Appeal
Wilbraham Associates were appointed by the owner of the Former Top of the Town Nightclub, Great Russell Street, Northampton to advise on the redevelopment prospects of the site. The building was originally built as a working men's club in 1978 and later became a nightclub before closing in 1991. Since its closure, the building has become a magnet for vandals and petty crime. An outline planning application for a four storey building providing offices (A2/B1) on ground floor and residential above (14 units) with basement parking was submitted to West Northamptonshire Development Corporation (WNDC) in June 2007. The application was refused permission by the WNDC in October last year on the grounds that the proposal would fail to provide a satisfactory level of amenity for future residential occupiers given the adjoining ‘Soundhaus’ entertainment venue and that it would represent a piecemeal development of an area identified for comprehensive regeneration. An appeal against WNDC’s decision was lodged in November 2007. The redevelopment scheme has now been allowed on appeal. On the issue of whether the proposed residential units would provide acceptable living conditions for future occupants, the Inspector outlined that "It seems to me that anyone wishing to live in the flats would be aware of the presence of the neighbouring venue and would make their decision accordingly." She concluded that with the imposition of planning conditions, the proposal would provide acceptable living conditions. On the issue of regeneration, the Inspector considered that the proposed scheme would help to improve the environment of the area, and as such could be a catalyst for further redevelopment locally. The Inspector added that she had not been presented with any evidence to demonstrate that allowing the redevelopment of the site would prejudice redevelopment elsewhere in the vicinity of the site. Please contact Sally Stroman for any further information.
April 2008
