Council to pay NHS trust over delayed homes plan

A council has been ordered to pay legal costs to an NHS trust over a planning appeal for housing at a former hospital site.

Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust wanted to build 22 homes and a children's play area on former Rushden Hospital land that remains unused.

It appealed to the Planning Inspectorate saying North Northamptonshire Council's (NNC) lack of action on the plans had caused it "wasted expense".

Although the trust won its claim for costs, the government body ultimately turned down the housing plans.

The trust lodged an appeal in July last year after the council failed to make a decision on its plans for the homes on land off Catlin Way in Rushden.

According to the council's website, 81 objections to those plans were submitted by members of the public over potential over-development of the area, the proximity of the development to a school and loss of green space, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

The Planning Inspectorate concluded that the housing plans were in conflict with the council's requirements and should be refused.

However, the inspector did allow the NHS trust's application for costs, stating that there were delays in the council processing the planning application.

NNC originally told the applicant that a decision on the homes would be made in February 2024, but never issued one.

A spokesperson for North Northamptonshire Council said: "The appeal was dismissed by the Planning Inspectorate on the grounds that there wasn't an appropriate mechanism by which to secure an adequate provision of affordable housing, an appropriate contribution towards measures to reduce car use, and a biodiversity net gain as part of the proposed development.

"These matters are complex and required careful consideration and consultation with a number of different parties, and regrettably, the council was unable to satisfactorily conclude on these matters prior to the submission of the appeal."

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