The meeting included a number of planning applications covering a range of proposals including a retrospective application for the construction of a dwelling; an outline application for up to 19 dwellings in Kilsby; and an application to increase the occupancy of an existing House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) from nine to 12 people.

Land Off Barby Road, Kilsby, Northamptonshire

An outline planning application was submitted for the construction of up to 19 dwellings with associated landscaping, open space, drainage infrastructure and associated works, with all matters reserved except access from Barby Road. The application site lies on the western edge of Kilsby village on land presently used for grazing. It is bounded to the west by fields, to the south by the M45 motorway, to the east by residential properties on Devon Ox Road, and to the north by Barby Road.

This application had previously been submitted with a proposal for 44 dwellings but was reduced to 19 dwellings to address concerns that the site lay outside of the village confines. Objections had been received on the grounds that the site was in open countryside, contrary to the Kilsby Neighbourhood Plan and Daventry Local Plan. Further representations objecting to the proposal were submitted by Kilsby Parish Council and local Councillor Rupert Frost, who both objected to the application on the grounds that it was outside the village confines and contrary to policies in the development plan.

The report set out the policies in the development plan that are relevant to the proposal, starting with the West Northants Joint Core Strategy. The report went on to consider the proposal against policies in the made Settlements and Countryside Local Plan (Part 2) for Daventry. The report noted that Kilsby is identified as a Secondary Service Village, and policies RA2 and RA6 allow for some limited development outside the confines of the village. The report included the Council's position on the five-year housing land supply, and noted that the Daventry District Area has a supply of 5.9 years.

The report considered the proposal against the policies contained within the Kilsby Neighbourhood Plan. Policy K4 of the Plan requires any development to address local housing need. The housing needs survey identified the need for seven affordable homes and 14 market houses. The report noted that the development proposed in the application more closely aligned with the identified local need than the previously submitted scheme.

The report noted the objections of the Kilsby Action Group to the proposal, and included a response to each of the concerns they raised. The report set out the responses from statutory consultees including the Lead Local Flood Authority, the Highways Authority, and the Council's Ecology Officer. The response from the Ecology Officer suggested that the development would be acceptable, subject to a number of conditions.

The report concluded:

Overall having regards to the provisions of the development plan as considered above the proposal is judged to be acceptable in principle and subject to the completion of a section 106 agreement is recommended for approval subject to the conditions below.

The report set out the heads of terms for the Section 106 agreement. These included contributions for early years education, health care, and affordable housing. The agreement was also intended to secure the provision of on-site open space, and to set out details for the future management of the open space, with the expectation that it would be transferred to either Kilsby Parish Council, or a private management company.

The report concluded with a recommendation that the Assistant Director for Planning and Development be given delegated powers to grant permission for the development subject to the conditions set out in the report and subject to a Section 106 legal agreement being completed. The report then set out all of the conditions that were recommended to be attached to any approval.

22 Abington Grove, Northampton, NN1 4QW

The report pack included a planning application to increase the occupancy of an existing nine person HMO to 12 people at 22 Abington Grove. The proposal included using the lower ground floor as a bedroom and communal kitchen/lounge area. It was referred to the Committee by local Councillor Bob Purser, on the grounds of overdevelopment, impact on the local environment and community, and impact on the health and well being of residents.

The application had received 18 objections, citing concerns over the potential for anti-social behaviour and littering, and the concentration of HMOs in the area. Two comments were also received, though the details were redacted from the report.

The Council's Private Sector Housing team responded to the application, confirming that:

The room sizes, amenities and facilities indicated on the submitted plans indicate that the proposed HiMO would meet the requirements for a twelve (12) occupant HiMO

The report pack also included a response from the Northamptonshire Police, Fire & Rescue Designing Out Crime Officer, who noted that they had no objections to the proposal and were:

pleased to note the use of police approved cycle storage

The application was assessed against the policies set out in the West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy and Northampton Local Plan Part 2, as well as national guidance including the National Planning Policy Framework, the Planning Practice Guidance, and the Council's Houses in Multiple Occupation Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

The report stated that:

The property is currently in use as a HiMO, and therefore the principle of the use has been established and the considerations for this application relate to the additional impact of three additional tenants

The report included a consideration of the proposal against the four principles of the HMO SPD:

• Principle 1 is intended to create, support, and maintain a balanced, mixed and inclusive community, and protect neighbourhood and street scene character. This principle states that no more than 10% of the dwellings within a 50 metre radius of the application site should be HMOs. The report found that including the application site, the total number of HMOs would be 4.17%, and therefore compliant.
• Principle 2 seeks to secure the provision of adequate facilities and amenities for HMO residents. The report stated that:

The property is of sufficient size, providing room sizes in accordance with the Council’s HiMO SPD and an appropriately sized kitchen/living room and adequate sanitary facilities

• Principle 3 seeks to minimise flood risk. The report found that:

The site is located outside the areas at risk of flooding and is located within Flood Zone 1 and therefore a site-specific flood risk assessment is not required. There are also no surface water risk areas that affect the property.

• Principle 4 seeks to secure the provision of adequate parking. The report recognised that there would be insufficient parking for the number of bedrooms in the property, but noted the proximity of the site to bus stops and local services, and stated that this meant it satisfied the criteria of Principle 4.

The report concluded that the application was acceptable, subject to conditions, and recommended:

THAT THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT BE GIVEN DELEGATED POWERS TO GRANT PERMISSION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS.

The report included details of the conditions recommended to be attached to any permission, including:

• A condition limiting the number of occupants to a maximum of 12 residents.
• Conditions setting out requirements for cycle and refuse storage.
• Informatives advising the applicant of the requirement for the property to be licenced, security requirements for any new openings, and working practices on site.

Land at 35 Deancourt Drive, Northampton, NN5 6PY

A retrospective planning application for the construction of a two storey, two bedroom end of terrace house, was submitted for a site at the end of a row of two storey dwellings at the junction of Park Lane and Deancourt Drive. The application was called in by Councillor Mary Goldby on the grounds of overdevelopment, highway safety, impact on the original property and character of the area, and because it was contrary to the Duston Neighbourhood Plan. The application also attracted nine objections from local residents raising concerns over access, parking, flooding and the appearance of the building.

The report set out the relevant planning policies in the West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy and Northampton Local Plan Part 2, as well as the Duston Neighbourhood Plan.

The report noted that the principle of the development was acceptable, but that other considerations like parking, access, design, neighbour amenity and flood risk needed to be taken into account. The report found that the design of the house was acceptable, because:

The proposed design, building line and roof would echo the existing built form on Deancourt Drive and therefore the effect on street scene is acceptable

The report noted that the two parking spaces provided would be adequate and that the access arrangements were acceptable to serve the development. It also considered the impact on neighbours, stating that:

The proposed rear wall of the new dwelling would be a significant distance from the bungalow to the rear and also from the front facing windows of the existing dwellings on Park Lane opposite the side of the site. For this reason, there would be reasonably limited effect in terms of overbearing, loss of light, outlook and overlooking

The report concluded that the development was acceptable subject to conditions, and recommended:

THAT THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT BE GIVEN DELEGATED POWERS TO GRANT PERMISSION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS

The report then set out the conditions recommended to be attached to any permission, including:

• Conditions relating to the approved plans, the materials used and the provision of cycle parking.
• A condition to remove some permitted development rights.
• Conditions relating to contamination, the provision of bins, vision splays and sustainability.
• A condition requiring the boundary treatment to be erected before the first occupation.