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Planning Committee - Wednesday 11th June, 2025 7.00 pm

June 11, 2025 View on council website  Watch video of meeting Read transcript (Professional subscription required)
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Summary

The North Northamptonshire Council Planning Committee met to discuss planning applications, including a new SEN 1 classroom block at Greenfields Primary School in Kettering, a change of use for a property in Thrapston to a children's home, and a large logistics park also in Thrapston. Councillors approved the Thrapston children's home and were minded to approve the Greenfields Primary School application, but Sport England had objected to the school plans, so the application will be referred to the Secretary of State for a final decision. The committee also discussed a hybrid planning application for a logistics park in Thrapston, which is already subject to an appeal against non-determination.

Greenfields Primary School, Kettering

The committee considered planning application NK/2024/0516 for the demolition of a mobile classroom and the erection of a new building for four special educational needs (SEN) classrooms, with associated parking arrangements, at Greenfields Primary School, Highfield Road, Kettering.

Sport England, a statutory consultee, objected to the application because the proposal would result in the loss of part of the school's playing field. 2

Despite the objection from Sport England, the planning officer, Louisa Johnson, recommended that the committee approve the application, subject to conditions, because the new classrooms would meet an identified need for SEN provision in the area.

Two letters of objection had been received from neighbours, raising concerns about parking and noise.

The committee was minded to approve the application, but because of Sport England's objection, the application will be referred to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, who will decide whether to allow the council to approve the application, or whether to make the decision themselves.

10 Brambleside, Thrapston

The committee considered planning application NE/24/01082/FUL for a change of use from a residential dwelling to a children's home for up to six children, with up to three carers, and part garage conversion into a habitable sensory room, at 10 Brambleside, Thrapston.

The planning officer, Erika Davies, recommended that the committee approve the application, subject to conditions.

Thrapston Town Council did not object to the application, but requested that conditions be imposed to restrict the use to a children's home only, limit the number of residents to six, and adhere to the age restriction of 7-17. The town council also echoed residents' concerns about the location of the children's home.

Twenty letters of objection had been received from neighbours, raising concerns about traffic, parking, services, security, noise, and the loss of a residential dwelling to commercial use.

The committee approved the application, subject to conditions.

Sand And Gravel Quarry Land, Huntingdon Road, Thrapston

The committee considered planning application NE/22/00151/FUL for a hybrid planning application for a logistics park on land at Huntingdon Road, Thrapston. Full permission was sought for the demolition of existing buildings, realignment of a farm track, site infrastructure works, and construction of a storage and distribution unit with ancillary offices. Outline permission was sought for the construction of further industrial distribution space with ancillary offices.

The planning officer, Mike Spurgeon, recommended that the committee advise the Planning Inspectorate that, had North Northamptonshire Council remained the determining authority, planning permission would have been granted subject to conditions and a Section 106 legal agreement. 3

The application is now subject to an appeal against non-determination, meaning that the Planning Inspectorate will make the final decision.

More than 800 comments had been received on the application, with objections from several parish councils and local residents. Concerns were raised about traffic, infrastructure, environmental and landscape impacts, heritage, and community issues.

Statutory and technical consultees, including National Highways and the Environment Agency, did not object to the application, subject to conditions. However, the council's planning policy team objected to the proposals on the basis of conflict with the North Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy, which directs strategic development to growth towns rather than market towns like Thrapston.

The committee resolved to advise the Planning Inspectorate that, had the decision remained with the council, planning permission would have been granted subject to conditions and a Section 106 agreement.


  1. SEN stands for Special Educational Needs. 

  2. Sport England is a non-departmental public body responsible for promoting grassroots sport and physical activity in England. 

  3. Section 106 agreements are legal agreements between local authorities and developers; these are used to mitigate the impact of new developments on the community and infrastructure. 

Attendees

Profile image for Councillor David Brackenbury
Councillor David Brackenbury  Conservative Party •  Thrapston
Profile image for Councillor Paul Brooke
Councillor Paul Brooke  Reform UK •  Hatton Park
Profile image for Councillor Scott Brown
Councillor Scott Brown  Conservative Party •  Earls Barton
Profile image for Councillor William Colquhoun
Councillor William Colquhoun  Labour Party •  Corby West
Profile image for Councillor Gordon Dunsmuir
Councillor Gordon Dunsmuir  Reform UK •  Irchester
Profile image for Councillor Maurice Eglin
Councillor Maurice Eglin  Deputy Chair of the Council •  Reform UK •  Barton Seagrave and Burton Latimer
Profile image for Councillor Ash Hall
Councillor Ash Hall  Reform UK •  Pemberton
Profile image for Councillor Chris Kellett
Councillor Chris Kellett  Reform UK •  Rothwell and Mawsley
Profile image for Councillor Frank Kilgallon
Councillor Frank Kilgallon  Reform UK •  Oakley
Profile image for Councillor Denis McLean
Councillor Denis McLean  Reform UK •  Pipers Hill
Profile image for Councillor Darren Rance
Councillor Darren Rance  Reform UK •  Brickhill and Queensway
Profile image for Councillor James Towns
Councillor James Towns  Green Party •  Kettering Central
Profile image for Councillor Ben Williams
Councillor Ben Williams  Green Party •  Ise

Topics

No topics have been identified for this meeting yet.