Market town development goes to planning inspector

An artist's impression of what part of the housing estate could look like

A decision to build 700 homes on the outskirts of a market town will be made by the Planning Inspectorate following opposition from a local council.

The plans for the homes, on 86 acres of greenfield in Brackley, Northamptonshire, were submitted by developers Ashfield Land and Vulpes Land.

Ashfield Land said the housing estate would include public open spaces, allotments, an extension of Brackley Rugby Club, and access from Halse Road and the A422 Brackley roundabout.

West Northamptonshire Council is opposed to the application.

Councillors have not been able to agree the level of financial contributions the developer should make, known as a Section 106 agreement.

The decision was referred to the Planning Inspectorate after the authority failed to issue a decision on the plans for four years, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The council received more than 100 letters opposing the plans. Local people cited a lack of dentists, doctors and schools in the area, a loss of farmland and biodiversity and increased traffic.

'Enough is enough'

Farthinghoe Parish Council, the Wildlife Trust and the Campaign to Protect Rural England also objected.

Conservative councillor Fiona Baker said adding more houses would be "detrimental to the quality of life of the residents already in the town".

"There's a mention of allotments and a rugby pitch. This is in no way compensation for the increase of a minimum of 1,400 people joining the area," she said.

Traffic in the morning was already "like a mass exodus from the town".

"I ask you to refuse this application, not because it's 'not in my backyard', but because enough is enough," she added.

Officers said they would work with the developers to secure appropriate Section 106 conditions, ahead of the appeal, due at the end of October.