Response to West Northamptonshire Council Strategic Plan Spatial Options Consultation

I write in my capacity as Member of Parliament for South Northamptonshire in response to the above consultation and on behalf of those residents of the Towcester area who have expressed their serious concerns to me about the future of the town.

I hear with increasing frequency from constituents in the area who are deeply apprehensive about the existing capacity of the road network, the scale of development sites already identified as part of the Local Plan Part 2, and the number of planning applications currently under consideration.

There are several existing development proposals which will negatively affect the character of Towcester while simultaneously increasing traffic on local roads as well as the major roads network. These applications include a 76 acre, 80ft high DHL warehouse site proposed for the land immediately north of the Bell Plantation on the A5 which is due to go before WNC’s Planning Committee for a decision in February 2022.

Further applications will be sited between the A43/A5 roundabout and Tiffield (85 acres and up to 78ft high), between the A43/A5 roundabout and the Towcester Rugby Club (11 acres and up to 11 metres high) and above the A43/Whittlebury junction (31 acres, up to 49 ft high plus land elevation). Together, these four developments would total four million square feet of mainly warehousing, many of which my constituents note are up to 40% higher than industry average. The local campaign group Save Towcester Now have calculated that this could generate up to 10,000 extra traffic movements each day in and around the already overcrowded Towcester road network.

After many years of campaigning alongside residents, I am pleased that the Towcester Relief Road is in its construction phase. This vital piece of infrastructure will help to relieve longstanding issues for residents, notably traffic congestion, air pollution and noise. Whilst Persimmon are committed to delivering the relief road by spring 2023, with residents holding them to account on delivery of this timescale, nevertheless, this road is not designed to enable future development to the south of the area. I am continuing to pursue restrictions on HGVs through the centre of Towcester with local representatives and National Highways. Continued use of the A5 Watling Street by these vehicles would cause detrimental, irreversible damage to our area and should be considered as part of the future development viability for the south of Towcester.

Other developments that are causing concern for my constituents include the proposed expansion of 6000 dwellings and associated services at to the south east of West Northamptonshire, in proximity to Old Stratford and the boundary with Milton Keynes. This would put additional pressure on an already strained highways network and would have an adverse impact on many smaller villages in the vicinity. Additionally, a residential expansion at Towcester south and the Racecourse, with the potential to deliver up to 4250 dwellings and associated services would adversely affect the local environment, popular active travel routes and the busy highways network.

These applications will continue to exert pressure on our local area and its essential infrastructure, making it more important than ever that the Farthinghoe Bypass and the northern Northampton ring road are expedited, with funding options explored and obtained as a priority action by West Northamptonshire Council.

Concerns over planning and the future of Towcester is the top local issue that constituents write to me about. The volume of cases has increased in recent years as residents become even more concerned about the development of the local area, and the impact continued construction will have on businesses, health, wellbeing and way of life. I fully support my constituents in their calls for action to be taken to protect our local area, and to ensure that South Northamptonshire can be an attractive place to both live and work.

In summary, I do not believe that even the current planning proposals can be properly considered without a thorough review of the road and transport infrastructure being put in place in advance. Any further developments in our area will require improvements to major roads to be carried out in advance.

Please take this letter into consideration in the consultation on future plans.

With best wishes,

Rt Hon. Dame Andrea Leadsom DBE MP