Land East of Rushden

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Bellway Homes is pleased to have submitted an outline planning application for the development of land to the east of the A6 and north of Bedford Road, Rushden.

The planning application has been submitted to North Northamptonshire Council as the Local Planning Authority and seeks permission to build up to 450 dwellings with a community / retail and or health facility. The application includes access from the existing A6 / Bedford Road roundabout, parking, landscaping, drainage features, open space and associated infrastructure.
The submission follows the public consultation held online between September and November 2021. The comments received during the consultation were taken into account when finalising the proposals. A summary of the feedback received can be found in the Statement of Community Involvement, submitted with the application and available via the Resources tab above.
The complete outline planning application will be available to view on the Council’s planning application webpages (NE/22/00851/OUT). Key documents can be found under the ‘Resources’ tab above.

About the Proposals

Proposed Allocation

The site is a proposed allocation in the emerging North Northamptonshire Part 2 Local Plan, which aims to deliver on the North Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy (JCS) commitment to build 8,400 new homes in the former East Northamptonshire Council area between 2011 and 2031.

VIEW PART 2 PLAN

The Vision

Bellway’s vision is to create an attractive and sustainable community that leaves a positive legacy. There will be a focus on creating attractive homes set within in green infrastructure and public open space.

READ THE VISION DOCUMENT

Sustainable location

The site is a logical extension to Rushden. It is in a sustainable location, well placed to provide the new homes East Northamptonshire needs alongside infrastructure, public open space and a community facility.

Emerging design

The emerging design has been informed by surveys, technical studies and initial pre-application discussions with East Northamptonshire Council (now part of North Northamptonshire Council).

VIEW THE MASTERPLAN

Around 450 new homes helping to meet the local housing requirement. The development will include a range of properties catering for families of all sizes.

30% Affordable housing, helping to create a diverse community. The mix and tenure will be agreed with the local authority as part of the planning application.

A new community facility, potentially a shop, health facility or community hall.

A contribution to the local economy and supply chains during construction, followed by additional spending from new residents.

Extensive public open space, hosting children’s play areas and areas of informal recreation space to meet the needs of existing and future residents.

Green corridors around and through the site, providing attractive and safe cycle and pedestrian links, overlooked by new homes.

Vehicular, pedestrian and cycle access via the existing A6/Bedford Road roundabout. Providing access to the new sports pitches and community facilities on the adjoining land to the East.

There is an opportunity to deliver a ‘Biodiversity Net Gain’ on site, improving the value of the arable land, tall ruderal vegetation, species poor hedgerows, and poor semi-improved grassland.

Anticipated Timeline

Sustainability

The site is in a sustainable and accessible location, and well placed to deliver new homes.

A logical extension to the built up area of Rushden, to the south of Rushden East and the proposed new rugby club development to the east.
Good access to the existing network of footpaths and cycle routes throughout Rushden, the Town Centre and associated convenience and comparison retail provision, local services and facilities.
Opportunity to provide improved linkages, and to forge links with Rushden East, north of the site, beyond Newton Road.
The existing public right of way will be retained and incorporated into the development.

Site Opportunities and Constraints

Please view the Indicative Site Layout plan which shows the proposed layout of the site:

The Masterplan has been informed by an appraisal of the opportunities and constraints. There are opportunities for:

New areas of public open space with children’s play facilities.
New vehicular, cycle and pedestrian access point from the Bedford Road roundabout.
Pedestrian and cycle links with the existing built up area, through the site and to the wider countryside. There is an opportunity to provide pedestrian links to the new development north of the site.
New hedgerow, thicket and tree planting provides a chance to reinstate hedgerows along former historical field boundaries, enhancing green links through the site.
The land is suitable for a sustainable urban drainage system, to manage surface water run-off from the site.

Consideration has been given to the following constraints on site:

The potential for noise from the A6 along the western boundary, which can be addressed by providing a suitable noise buffer.
A water main runs beneath the site and will be retained. Development will need to be offset from it.
The interface between the development and the proposed rugby club site adjacent needs to be carefully managed.
There is a low risk of fluvial flooding, with only limited areas of the site at risk of surface water flood risk.
Limited views of the site from the wider area, due to the landform and mature vegetation, with no landscape designations.
No historic buildings on site or adjacent, with only limited intervisibility with the Rushden Conservation Area, circa 1.4km to the north west.

Indicative Site Layout

Social Benefits

A mix of market and affordable house types will be provided, to meet the needs of the local community.
Large areas of high quality and accessible public open space will be provided, and will include children’s play areas and space for informal recreation.
The existing public right of way will be retained and enhanced. The new routes will provide an attractive access to the proposed rugby club site and countryside beyond the site.
A new community facility will be created, providing a focus for the new neighbourhood.

Economic Benefits

New homes to support investment in the local economy as part of a sustainable pattern of development.
Good connections by all modes of transport to Rushden, including employment opportunities in Rushden centre and throughout the town.
A contribution to the local economy and supply chains during construction, followed by additional spending from new residents.
Financial contributions towards new infrastructure and community facilities, including education and community facilities, as required.

Environmental Benefits

Green corridors along the site’s boundaries will set the new homes within a green framework. Existing landscape features, including trees, hedgerow, and the wet ditch through the site will be retained and improved.
Ecological enhancements will maximise biodiversity value and improve wildlife connectivity. Green corridors will create new habitat and movement routes for wildlife around and through the site. New planting will secure a significant increase in tree cover.
There is an opportunity to deliver a ‘Biodiversity Net Gain’ on site, improving the value of the arable land, tall ruderal vegetation, species poor hedgerows, and poor semi-improved grassland.
The extensive public open space provided will minimise additional pressure on the nearby Nene Valley Gravel Pit Special Protection Area (SPA) / RAMSAR / Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Comments and Next Steps

The planning application has now been submitted to North Northamptonshire Council

It is important that any comments you wish the Council to consider when deciding the outline planning application are submitted to them directly and within the consultation period.
Details can be found on the planning pages of the Council’s website.

NE/22/00851/OUT

About Bellway Homes

Bellway began as a small family business in 1946, with a passion for building exceptional quality homes in carefully selected locations, inspired by the needs of real families. To this day, Bellway maintains these same core values, combining decades of expertise with the level of personalised care that Bellway is known for.

Bellway is now the fourth largest housebuilder in the UK. Its commitment to quality is demonstrated by it achieving the House Builders Federation’s coveted five star housebuilder award and is experienced in delivering high quality housing schemes across the country and in the local area, including recent schemes in Northamptonshire.

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