x
RECEIVE BUSINESS TIMES FREE TO YOUR DOOR EACH MONTH, COURTESY OF ROYAL MAIL.
* indicates required

Appeal win for housing plan

AITCHISON Raffety, acting on behalf of Lourett Developments Ltd, have on appeal secured outline planning consent for four dwellings adjoining the limits to development in Thrapston, East Northamptonshire.

The proposal had been strongly resisted by both the Town and District Councils, resulting in five reasons for refusal. These reasons related to the proposed mix of dwellings; impact on the street scene; ecology; loss of public open space; and its open countryside location adjoining the limits to development.

East Northamptonshire District Council conceded their objections to ecology prior to the hearing, and the loss of open space during the course of the hearing.

The council felt that the appeal proposal was contrary to the core strategy, which required an emphasis on properties of one to three bedrooms; (the proposal indicating two four-bed and two five-bed properties). Aitchison Raffety, however, successfully argued that the core strategy did not explicably state that proposals should be refused if they fail to place an emphasis on smaller properties; as such a policy would not be positively prepared in line with the Government’s Planning Framework.

Aitchison Raffety also convincingly argued at the appeal hearing that, as scale (in so far as it relates to height) and appearance were not before the Inspector, the housing mix could be addressed at the Reserved Matters stage. The Core Strategy was found not to entirely rule out larger homes as it only defines smaller properties by reference to bedroom size, not floor area. Therefore, the Inspector accepted that a mix, with an emphasis on three-bedroom properties, even larger ones, alongside a four-bedroom home need not be at odds with the development plan.

The Inspector accepted that four dwellings on the site provided opportunity to accommodate generous landscaping levels. This was considered to allow a sensitive transition from the urban area to the rural fringe.

In respect of impact on the street scene, Aitchison Raffety were able to convince the Inspector that whilst the site constituted a form of back-land development it represented a cluster of housing, in keeping with the surrounding area; with opportunity for the proposed housing to be orientated to punctuate the vista along the access drive. The Inspector also found the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, prepared by Aitchison Raffety, to demonstrate the proposal would have little visual impact beyond the immediate context of the site.

Should you require planning advice, contact Andrew Gray at Aitchison Raffety in Northampton on 01604 880 163 or via email to

Companies mentioned in this article

More property articles: