Affordable Housing – New Plans In Abthorpe

Affordable Housing – New Plans In Abthorpe

A last – a relic of Abthorpe’s show industry in a shed on the proposed development site. (Photo by David Snelson.)

Back in 2006 South Northamptonshire Council carried out a survey to determine if there was a need for affordable housing that would allow people with strong connections with Abthorpe to continue to live in the village once they needed their own home. The survey showed the need for only two homes. This was considered too small to justify any development.  But as the nearby villages of Wappenham, Bradden and Slapton had similar requirements proposals were drawn up where one scheme would serve the needs of all four parishes. The SNC identified a site in our Brackley Lane opposite the garages that was considered suitable.

Plans were drawn up and presented to villagers for inspection in March 2010 at a display in the Old School our village hall. It was envisaged that the development would be of nine dwellings consisting of four flats, each with two bedrooms that were aimed at single people. Additionally there were two bungalows designed for older people plus four family homes – three with two bedrooms each and one with three. There was considerable interest in the proposal but sadly, as Cllr Keith Fenwick the Chairman of the Parish Council reported at the Annual Parish Meeting in May 2011, the scheme had fallen through as the owners of the land in the end declined to sell. He continued that this decision enabled Mr David Snelson who owns the adjoining orchard at the corner of Wappenham Road and Brackley Lane to offer his site. Detailed new plans were presented to our Parish Council in March 2011 who voiced strong opposition to the inadequate car parking provision of only 14 spaces.

Now South Northamptonshire Council has drawn up new, but very similar plans, for the orchard plot behind the village notice board at the junction of Brackley Lane and Wappenham Road. In a circular distributed to homes in our village Mrs Laura Welch the SNC’s Strategic Housing Officer has stated that there will be nine new homes. All will be for affordable rent or shared ownership and will be for local people from the villages of Abthorpe, Bradden, Slapton and Wappenham. The plans of the proposed development on the SNC’s web site show that a huge amount of thought has gone into their plans. For example a traffic survey has observed driver behaviour in the vicinity.

In brief the plans show a small close with its entrance approximately 50 metres up Brackley Lane. The four flats are located immediately behind the current village notice board with the bungalow close by. A terrace of the 3 two bedroom homes lies parallel to Brackley Lane with the larger 3 bedroom house at the back of the plot. There are 16 parking spaces indicated on the plans.

It all looks very well designed and interesting. I just hope that if the scheme goes ahead the relics of the once proud Abthorpe shoe industry that lie in a shed on the site are not simply thrown in a skip but recorded for history.

John Riches

The junction of Wappenham Road and Brackley Lane showing the proposed development site behind the hedge to the right.

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