This meeting was scheduled to consider a planning application for 72 dwellings on the site of a former quarry off Hayway in Rushden. The meeting was also scheduled to decide whether to approve plans to demolish and rebuild a garage in Woodford.

Site 948 Former Quarry, Hayway, Rushden

This application proposed the development of 72 dwellings on a former quarry. It included the demolition of an existing house on the site. It was an outline planning application, with all matters reserved except for access to the site, which would be from Hayway.

The application had been called in to committee because Rushden Town Council had objected to an earlier version of the proposal, which proposed up to 84 dwellings. They felt this was an overdevelopment of the site and did not meet the objectives of the Rushden Neighbourhood Plan. The Town Council had withdrawn their objection to the revised scheme.

The site is within the development limits of Rushden. The Rushden Neighbourhood Plan allocates part of the site for housing, seeking a minimum of 65 dwellings.

The report notes that there were 22 comments from members of the public concerning the application, the most frequent of which were to do with the effect on the local road network. The report says:

The highways concerns expressed by the local residents and the Town Council include the fact that the volume of traffic has increased as this part of the town has been subject to development in recent years, in particular, Rushden Lakes.

The application was also discussed with Natural England. Natural England initially objected to the application because they were concerned about its impact on the nearby Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits Special Protection Area and Ramsar site, especially the impact on Lapwings and Golden Plovers, which often use nearby farmland to forage for food.

The site at Hayway is not considered suitable for these species as it comprises of woodland to the south, residential in the centre, and then scrub / young woodland in the north.

Following the submission of a Habitats Regulation Assessment by the applicant, Natural England withdrew their objection.

The report recommends the approval of the application subject to the completion of a Section 106 Agreement to secure:

• 30% affordable housing
• £200,952 towards early years education
• £328,536 towards secondary education
• £17,208 towards library provision
• Off-site biodiversity net gain to compensate for the 17.95% loss of habitat units¹ calculated as a result of the development.
• £27,619.92 towards the Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits Special Protection Area
• Provision of 4 self build plots
• £10,000 towards the Greenway cycleway
• £72,000 towards bus service improvements

Biodiversity units are a metric used to assess the biodiversity of a site. A habitat is assigned a value based on its distinctiveness, condition, and strategic significance. The value is multiplied by the size of the habitat to calculate the number of biodiversity units. Changes to a site that affect the size or condition of habitats result in a change in the number of biodiversity units.

13 Church Street, Woodford

This application sought permission to demolish an existing garage and storage building at 13 Church Street, Woodford and replace it with a garage and storage building with a playroom above.

The application was called in to committee because the applicant was a Council employee.

The report recommends approval of the application.