Appeal dismissed over plan for new family houses

An appeal over a rejected plan to build three family homes on a disused piece of land has been dismissed by the government.

West Northamptonshire Council refused the proposal for the area behind the Rectory Farm Community Centre in Northampton.

Residents objected to the proposed properties, describing them as "devastating" and "overdevelopment".

The applicant appealed to the Planning Inspectorate, but the council's rejection decision was upheld.

The original planning application received almost 30 letters of objection to the residential development from members of the public, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

They raised possible issues about the proximity to a community centre and school, dangers from increased car usage, the impact on neighbours, and the site being too "cramped".

The developer said the unused site was "ideal for much-needed generation and housing in the area" and added that it would provide "good family housing using good-quality materials".

The planning inspector agreed that the largest home, which was proposed just 42.6ft (13m) away from the back of an existing house on Lowlands Close, would "lead to an oppressive sense of enclosure and an adverse effect on outlook for occupiers".

They found that the new building was also likely to reduce light in the neighbouring property's garden and have an adverse effect on their living conditions.

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