Residents win fight over Stanton Cross amenities

North Northamptonshire Council has rejected a developer's plea to delay the construction of essential local amenities at the Stanton Cross housing estate. The development, which began in May 2018, has seen over 1,300 homes occupied. A legally binding agreement stipulated that local shops and a centre should be provided once the 1,200th home was sold.

Stanton Cross Developments requested an extension, aiming to postpone building the shops until 2,000 homes were sold. This move faced significant opposition, including over 300 objections from residents and formal opposition from Wellingborough Town Council and the local residents' association. Residents voiced concerns that such delays were already prompting people to move away from the estate.

Planners at North Northamptonshire Council unanimously turned down the developer's request. The committee acknowledged the developer's stated difficulty in securing a retailer for the proposed unit, but the strong objections from the community and local bodies led to the decision. The ruling means the promised amenities must proceed as per the original agreement.