NHS trust appeals to government over homes plan

An access road into the new residential site would be positioned on Catlin Way in Rushden

An NHS trust has applied to the government to make a decision on whether homes can be built on a former hospital site due to "unacceptable" delays by council planners.

Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust wants to build 22 homes and a children's play area on former Rushden Hospital land that remains unused.

In its appeal statement to the Planning Inspectorate, the trust wrote: "The significant delay and lack of any certainty as to when a decision may be reached is unacceptable."

The Planning Inspectorate has started looking at the case, but no decision date has been set. Final comments from the applicant and North Northamptonshire Council are due in August.

The council has been contacted for comment.

Much of the hospital site has already been redeveloped, but plans for the remaining parcel of land fell through during the original planning process.

According to the council's website, 81 objections have been submitted by members of the public.

Concerns include the impact on a nearby school and child safety, existing parking and traffic issues, overdevelopment of a "cramped" area and loss of green space.