The Non-Strategic Planning Committee of West Northamptonshire Council met on Thursday 19 February 2026, approving five planning applications and deferring one. The committee considered a range of planning applications, including extensions, changes of use, and agricultural buildings.

Planning Applications Approved

The committee approved several planning applications, with decisions made in accordance with the Case Officer's recommendations. These included:

• 28 Limefields Way, Northampton (2025/2739/FULL): This application for a change of use from a dwelling (C3) to a children's care home (C2), along with garage conversion and the construction of a boarded fence, was approved. A condition was added requiring the fence to be reduced to a height of 1 metre. Councillor Ronald Firman, speaking as a local ward member, had raised objections regarding the location, parking, and amenity impacts. Local residents also voiced concerns about increased visitors, parking pressure, and the visual impact of the fence. The applicant, TANAC Ltd, proposed to provide accommodation for up to four children aged between 7 and 17, staffed 24 hours a day. The decision acknowledged the government's strategy to support the development of accommodation for looked-after children.
• Unit 1, Kingsfield Business Park, Northampton (2025/4765/MAF): The change of use of an industrial warehouse from Use Class B2/B8 to an Indoor Padel Courts' Sports Facility (Use Class E(d)) was approved. This application, for Padel Power Northants Limited, involved no external changes to the building, which had been vacant for approximately two years. The facility will include nine indoor padel courts, a warm-up area, café, and changing rooms. The proposal was supported by various consultees, including the Local Highway Authority, Environmental Health, and Public Health, with comments from the Public Health team highlighting the health-promoting aspects of the development.
• Old Dairy Farm, Main Street, Upper Stowe (2025/2097/FULL): Permission was granted for a building for agricultural use with vehicular access and hardstanding, including the demolition of welfare facilities. This retrospective application for Mr Ian Brodie's farm had a complex planning history, including previous refusals and dismissed appeals. The committee noted that the building, after demolition of the welfare area, would be 864 sq.m, which was considered an appropriate scale for the agricultural holding. Concerns were raised by objectors regarding the scale and justification of the building for agricultural use, and the impact on the public right of way. However, the committee considered the current use to be agricultural, with evidence of storage for hay, straw, plant, and machinery. Conditions were imposed regarding the demolition of the welfare facility, the use of the building, and ecological enhancements to compensate for the loss of hedgerow.
• 31 Peverels Way, Northampton (2024/5677/FULL): The committee refused this application for a two-storey side extension and single-storey rear extension. The refusal was contrary to the Case Officer's recommendation and was based on the proposal's siting, height, massing, and scale, which were deemed to result in a substantial and disproportionate increase in built form. This was considered to be an overly large and dominant addition that failed to respect the original form and proportions of the property, appearing visually intrusive and uncharacteristically bulky. Councillor Sally Keeble, a local ward member, had objected, echoing residents' concerns about traffic, amenity loss, and the potential for the extension to be used as a care facility or HMO.
• 21 Lower Street, Pury End, Towcester (2025/4820/FULL): This application for a pitched roof outbuilding to the rear of the garden, intended as a hobby room and workshop, was refused contrary to the Case Officer's recommendation. The refusal was based on the proposal's size, scale, design, and massing, which were considered contrary to local planning policies, including Policy SS2 of the South Northamptonshire Local Plan Part 2 and Policy S10 of the West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy. Objectors, including local residents and Councillor Ian McCord, had raised concerns about loss of light, privacy, overbearing impact, and overdevelopment. The applicant, David Barnes, argued the building was policy-compliant and proportionate.

Planning Application Deferred

• 63 Bourgainvillea Drive, Northampton (2025/4359/FULL): A decision on the application for an outbuilding at the rear of the garden was deferred for a Committee Site Visit. This was to allow the committee to assess the siting, scale, and mass of the outbuilding and its impact on neighbouring dwellings and gardens. Local residents and Councillor Stephen Hibbert had objected, citing concerns about the outbuilding being overbearing, causing overshadowing, loss of privacy, and a breach of permitted development rights. The applicant, Chris Stobart, stated the outbuilding was necessary for family needs and was constructed with acoustic-sealing tiles.

The meeting was chaired by Councillor John East.