DLA secures timely approval in Northampton

DLA has obtained Reserved Matters approval for a large, first phase of a 1,000-home southerly extension to Northampton within the 13-week target set by Government for determining major planning applications. The approval is for the first 349 homes of Bovis Homes’ Rowtree Park development, after the road of that name. The scheme lies to the west of the village of Collingtree and involves a re-configuration of Collingtree Park Golf Course. The proposals have been commended by the design review panel for the East Midlands (Opun) and have benefited from constructive engagement with a stakeholder group convened by Northampton Borough Council and consisting of local borough, county and parish councillors; and representatives of other local groups. Northampton Borough Council’s Planning Committee unanimously approved the scheme. DLA has acted as planning consultant to Bovis, coordinating the inputs of six consultancies: Define (master planners and landscape designers); Pegasus (layout designers); Peter Brett Associates (transport, drainage and air quality consultants); Cole Jarman (noise consultants); the Environmental Dimension Partnership (EDP – heritage and ecological consultants); and Gidman Golf (golf course designers).