Affordable housing given go-ahead

“Affordable housing can go ahead, says inspector” according to a report on the BBC website.

To say that Potterspury Parish Council is disappointed by this decision is an understatement.

Appeal Reference:APP/W2845/W/25/3373629 is a planning application for 20 affordable homes and three self-build houses to be built on a plot of land beside the bridle path off Furtho Lane, in a field which is outside the confines of the village.

We have engaged with the planning process at every opportunity since 2024, highlighting the concerns of Potterspury residents regarding the development proposal. We have been strongly backed by our Ward Councillor Ian McCord (Independent).

Potterspury Parish Council believe

• The development is too big
• It is poorly located outside the confines of the village
• It is in contravention of WNC policies
• There is no indication that the road will be adopted (and therefore maintained) by West Northants Council.

Our submissions to the planning authorities and verbal addresses of objection, spanning 22 months are below.

In September 2025 the elected councillors at WNC rejected the plan, against the advice of planning officers. The developer, Amplius Living, appealed this decision. West Northants Council let it be known that they would not contest the appeal – in other words the council executive would disregard a decision made by democratically elected councillors.

An appeal hearing was scheduled for 20 January 2026, when the Planning Inspector could expect to hear from interested parties – including the parish council. It was cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice.

It was not rescheduled and on 17 March we heard that the Inspector had made a decision in favour of Amplius. The Inspector has disregarded the views of Potterspury residents and overthrown a decision by elected councillors at West Northants Council. We do not know why the appeal hearing was not rescheduled.

To be clear, Potterspury Parish Council is not against the provision of new housing, but we believe (in line with WNC’s stated policies) that it should be appropriately located, and that successful developments combine a mix of market and affordable housing, much like the Mansion Gardens development in the village.

Furthermore, we believe that due process has been undermined – by cancelling the appeal hearing, the democratic process has been sidelined.

We will be lodging a complaint via the Planning Inspectorate.