The North Northamptonshire Council Planning Committee was scheduled to meet on 9 July 2025 to consider planning applications for a change of use in Wellingborough, a tourist accommodation development at Rockingham Forest Park, and a hybrid application for a storage and distribution unit and employment park in Thrapston.

Rockingham Forest Park

The committee was scheduled to discuss a planning application for a change of use of land to the west of Jacks Green at Rockingham Forest Park, Wansford Road, Kings Cliffe, PE8 6FR. The application proposed tourist accommodation in the form of 64 caravan lodges, along with a facilities building, supporting infrastructure, hard standing bases, drainage, service provision, and landscaping. The applicant is Rockingham Forest Park Ltd, with Mr Ian Sharpe named, and the agent is SF Planning Limited, with Becky Brown named.

The existing holiday park has 50 lodges, granted under planning application 14/02225/FUL. The second phase of development seeks to respond to a demand for additional units and feedback from guests regarding the provision of facilities. The facilities building would include a restaurant and bar, a gym, and a swimming pool. 156 parking spaces were proposed, 43 for the facilities building and the remainder adjacent to the lodges.

Land Adjacent Haldens Parkway, Thrapston

The committee was scheduled to consider a hybrid planning application for land adjacent to Haldens Parkway in Thrapston. The applicant, IM Properties Developments Ltd, sought full planning permission for a storage and distribution unit (Development Plot 1) with ancillary offices, the creation of a principal estate road (including a bus stop) and a new access from the A605. The application also included highways improvements to Huntingdon Road and the A605 roundabout and at Junction 13 of the A14, strategic green infrastructure, vehicular and cycle parking, pedestrian infrastructure, hardstanding, circulation areas, lighting infrastructure and other associated works. Outline planning permission with all matters reserved was sought for an employment park comprising Class B2, B8 and E uses with ancillary offices, a new access from Oundle Road, vehicular and cycle parking, pedestrian infrastructure, hardstanding, circulation areas, lighting infrastructure and other associated works. The agent is Stantec, with Stephenie Hawkins named.

The overall site area extends to 60.05 hectares. The proposed building (Unit 1), which would be occupied by DSV, would have a total floorspace of 99,817m2, with 95,821m2 as warehouse space and the remainder as ancillary office space. Outline planning permission was sought for the remaining area of the site, which it is envisaged would come forward as separate plots.

Great Park Street, Wellingborough

The committee was scheduled to discuss planning application NW/25/00039/FUL for 1 Great Park Street, Wellingborough. The application seeks permission for a change of use from a retail unit (class E (a))¹ and residential (class C3)² to a 6-bedroom, 6-person occupancy HMO (class C4)³. The applicant is Mr Onur Nidayi, and the agent is Mr Jordan Bratby.

To facilitate the conversion to a single HMO, the property would be reconfigured to provide two bedrooms, a communal kitchen and dining room, a shower room and a communal hallway on the ground floor. Four bedrooms and a shower room would be provided on the first floor. Access to the property would be via the main front door for bedrooms 1 to 5, and bedroom 6 (the former retail unit) can also be accessed from its own front door. The rear garden proposes the inclusion of a secure, covered cycle store for 6 bicycles with an outdoor surveillance camera with Wi-Fi and 24-hour recording. Security cameras and motion sensor alarms are proposed to be installed to all external accesses.

Amended plans have been received during the consideration of the application following concerns raised by the NNC Senior Built Heritage Consultant regarding the external changes to the windows of the former retail unit. The changes include the removal of the transoms to the windows, the removal of the inward opening windows and their retention in their original form. The fanlight above the front door is also proposed to be altered to provide ventilation to bedroom 6, the timber shutters are to be retained and fixed open and frosted glass is proposed to be added to the bottom half of the large shop windows on the Herriotts Lane and Great Park Street elevations.

Additionally, following concerns raised by NNC highway engineer and Wellingborough Town Council, the applicant submitted a parking beat survey to demonstrate sufficient on street parking to serve the development is available.