Councillor hits out at housebuilder over Towcester development

Cllr McCord has accused the developer of potentially breaching planning permission

By Natalie Bloomer*

Cllr McCord at the site of the proposed roundabout

Independent councillor Ian McCord wants the West unitary to prevent Persimmon from selling homes over what he says is a potential breach of planning permission by the builder.

In 2013 the former South Northamptonshire Council planning committee voted to approve plans for a huge development of just under 3,000 homes in Towcester. The planning permission included a number of conditions including the need for Persimmon to build a roundabout connecting to the A5.

The condition stated the roundabout should be completed before occupation of the 800th home at the site. However this has not yet happened - something that Cllr McCord says should lead to West Northants Council enforcing the planning permission and preventing further house sales at the development until the condition has been met. 

Cllr McCord has been told by planning officers that as of October 5th, 799 homes had been occupied at the site and that ‘technically’ the roundabout and the first stretch of the Towcester relief road should by now be completed. 

The completion of the relief road is something many local people have called for and an issue MP Andrea Leadsom has long declared is a priority for her. In a post on her website in April, the MP wrote:

 “I fully understand the concerns of residents and businesses about the ongoing traffic problems as well as the unwelcome proposals for new warehousing developments in our area. I will continue to push all parties involved in this project for a speedy completion and for any new development to be appropriate to the historic and unique nature of Towcester.”

Following a complaint from Cllr McCord, West Northamptonshire Council’s planning enforcement team said it is monitoring the Towcester development for compliance but that it is taking a ‘pragmatic approach’ due to some of the  obligations being delayed by ‘circumstances out of the developer’s control’. The council says the work is scheduled to finish in July 2023.

“Persimmon have known about this for almost a decade. They are well aware of the planning conditions...The council must stop them from selling more houses until the conditions are complied with,” Cllr McCord said.

“WNC must take action and enforce these conditions and get the Towcester Relief Road open. Another big milestone is the occupation of 1016 houses when the Towcester Relief Road must open end to end. With the A5 connection being a year late and no discernible start being made on the connection to the A43 I fear that condition will be missed. WNC must make it clear whose side they are on, residents or house builders.”

There were concerns from local residents at the time planning permission was approved. Then Lib Dem councillor Chris Lifts told the BBC in 2013:

“A lot of residents are still concerned as it will double the size of the town, but the principle of expansion has been agreed for 15 years and what Towcester has to do is get the best development possible.”

When approached by NN Journal Persimmon said they ‘have been working hard to fulfil’ their planning obligations. A spokesperson went on to say:

“Unfortunately delays have been experienced in obtaining technical approval. We are liaising with West Northamptonshire Council and National Highways on a regular basis and all parties are now working together effectively to deliver this roundabout as soon as possible. In the intervening period we have completed the majority of the construction works for the relief road and new roundabout which are within our land ownership and are seeking approval to carry out the final works required to the Local and National Highways networks.”

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*This story was written by Natalie before her final day. Members can look out for a special round up at the weekend of some of the stories Natalie has written at NN Journal since we launched in January 2021.