Compton Way, Earls Barton - Political Developments Limited - PDL

Compton Way, Earls Barton 

Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) 

August 2011 

Contact Details 

Freephone: 0800 319 6111 

Free post: RSLK-HRRU-BXAR, Compton Way Consultation, 29 New Bond Street, London, W1S 2RL 

Website: www.comptonway.co.uk 

Email: information@comptonway.co.uk


STATEMENT OF COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT 

Contents 

1 Introduction 1 

1.1 Overview 1 

1.2 The Proposals 1 

2 Informative Newsletter 2 

2.1 Background 2 

2.2 Recipients 2 

2.3 Newsletter Content 2 

3 Consultation 2 

3.1 Pre-application discussion 2 

3.2 Methods of Response Available 3 

3.3 Response to Newsletter 3 

4 Developers Response 4 

4.1 Traffic & Access 4 

4.2 Infrastructure & Capacity 4 

4.3 Need for Affordable Housing 4 

4.4 Green Infrastructure 4 

4.6 Sustainability 5 

4.7 Drainage 5 

Appendices 

Appendix A: 0.5km Radius Mailout Map 6 

Appendix B: Stakeholder and Business Recipients 7 

Appendix C: Newsletter 9 

Appendix D: Website 17 

Appendix E: Email Correspondence 18 

Appendix F: Letter 29

1 INTRODUCTION 

1.1 Overview 

Compton Way, EarlsBarton 


The aim of this Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) details how Redrow 

Homes, South Midlands (the developer) set about engaging with the local community 

and other stakeholders regarding their proposals for residential development on land 

off Compton Way, Earls Barton. This SCI includes the feedback received to an 

informative newsletter, as well as a response from the developer to the issues which 

have arisen, ensuring that the views of the community and stakeholders are taken 

into consideration when finalising the scheme. 

This report has been prepared by Political Developments Limited (PDL), a 

community consultation and public relations company and will be submitted 

alongside the outline planning application and made available to the general public, 

stakeholder groups, Borough of Wellingborough Council Officers and all elected 

representatives. 

1.2 The Proposals 

The site spans 2.37 hectare (5.74 acres) of land to the west of Compton Way and is 

bounded by existing homes to the south and east. Open countryside forms the 

southern and western boundaries. The proposals comprise up to 65 high quality 

family homes of similar density to the adjacent residential area. Building heights will 

be predominantly two storey, although there will be occasional two and a half storey 

dwellings. The provision of much needed affordable housing will also be included. 

0.67 hectares of Green Open space located on the southern and western borders of 

the site will provide substantial green infrastructure which will create an attractive 

space for both the existing and new residents. A children‟s play area will be situated 

in the south west corner. 

Vehicle access is proposed from the southern access point through Thorpe Road, 

south of Compton Way. Proposals include a new pedestrian and cycle link onto 

Compton Way from the north east corner of the site and pedestrian and cycle routes 

through green space onto Thorpe Road in the south east corner. 

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2 INFORMATIVE NEWSLETTER 

2.1 Background 

PDL were instructed by Redrow Homes to create a newsletter to be distributed to 

local residents and stakeholder groups. This newsletter was intended to include a 

brief summary of the plans for development on land off Compton Way. The 

newsletter also included contact details for the project team to enable the general 

public and local stakeholders to express any concerns or ask any questions via 

freepost, freephone or email address. A holding page website was also established 

which hosted both a brief description of the proposals and a downloadable version of 

the document. 

2.2 Recipients 

Recipients of the newsletter were selected within a 0.5km radius of the site, an 

indicative image of this can be found in Appendix A. This included 591 residential 

addresses. All businesses within Earls Barton were also selected to receive the 

newsletter which totalled 108. A list of 27 stakeholder groups also received the 

newsletter which comprised of local Schools, Doctors Surgeries, Libraries and 

Sports Groups. The list of businesses and stakeholders can be found in Appendix B 

2.3 Newsletter Content 

The newsletter itself comprised of an eight page document with information on key 

aspects of the proposed development. This included an Illustrative Masterplan, 

general information on the proposals, access and connectivity, ecology and scheme 

benefits. A context map was included in the newsletter to further clarify the location 

of the proposals along with photographs of the site in its current state. To view a 

copy of the newsletter please see Appendix C. 

3 CONSULTATION 

3.1 Pre-application discussions 

Prior to the application being submitted and the newsletter being sent to residents 

the project team offered a briefing to Earls Barton Parish Council along with the Earls 

Barton Ward members for the Borough of Wellingborough Council. 

The Parish Council expressed some concerns over whether a meeting prior to the 

application would „pre-determine‟ any discussions at a later date and as such 

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declined a briefing. Similarly with all three Ward members also sitting on the Parish 

Council, expressed some concerns as to whether a meeting would be appropriate. 

It was reiterated to all elected representatives that a meeting prior to the application 

would be an informative one and that it would in no way pre-determine any future 

discussions or decisions on the application in question. Despite this the project team 

were unable to reach an agreement with the Councillors. All literature that was 

circulated to the residents of Earls Barton was made available to the elected 

members prior to the plans being made public and the opportunity to ask any 

questions or make any comments was also offered. 

3.2 Methods of Response 

As part of the consultation process three avenues for dialogue were provided for any 

interested party to communicate with the project team, ask any questions or raise 

any concerns. These included email at information@comptonway.co.uk, freephone 

on 0800 319 6111 and freepost at RSLK-HRRU-BXAR, Compton Way Consultation, 

29 New Bond Street, London, W1S 2RL. A Website was also established with a 

downloadable copy of the Newsletter along with an email function and information of 

how to contact the project team. To see a screen grab of the website see Appendix 

D. 

In total we received: 

21 emails 

7 freephone calls 

1 letter 

3.3 Responses to Newsletter 

Copies of all email correspondence can be found in Appendix E along with a 

scanned version of the letter in Appendix F. All contact details or information 

regarding the individuals who have responded have been removed or blanked out, 

whilst the emails and letters themselves remain unchanged. 

There are 6 key themes which arise from the correspondence received on the 

proposals and these are outlined below. The comments made in Appendix D and E 

have been highlighted for ease of reference to reflect the different subject matters. 

1. Traffic and Access 

2. Infrastructure and Capacity 

3. Need for Affordable Housing 

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4. Green Infrastructure 

5. Sustainability 

6. Drainage 

4. DEVELOPER RESPONSE 

All emails received by the Project Team have been responded to, answering any 

relevant questions and addressing any concerns being raised. The Developer would 

like to address the 6 key themes that have arisen from the feedback received and 

has set out responses below. 

4.1 Traffic and Access 

WSP (Consulting Engineers) who comprise part of the project team, have undertaken 

extensive discussions with Northamptonshire County Council (NCC) as highway 

authority. These discussions have resulted in NCC‟s agreement in principle to the 

proposed vehicular access to the site. In addition, traffic modelling using traffic count 

data obtained from various junctions on the local highway network has been 

undertaken. This has confirmed the development proposals will have no detrimental 

impact on the operation of the local highway network. 

4.2 Infrastructure and Capacity 

The chief concern appears to be the ability of the local schools to accept an in-take of 

children generated by the development proposals. As part of the planning gain 

package which is likely to be secured by a legal agreement, it is envisaged that 

discussions will be held with NCC as education authority to ascertain if a financial 

contribution towards improvements to local schools is required. 

4.3 Affordable Housing 

It is proposed to deliver 20 much needed affordable homes, which equates to a level 

of provision which represents 30% of total dwellings proposed. The mix and tenure 

of the affordable housing will be worked out as part of the legal agreement 

negotiations. 

4.4 Green Infrastructure 

The land is currently private land with a public footpath following the north-western 

edge. It is proposed that the western and southern areas of the site form part of an 

area of green infrastructure, which will also incorporate the hedgerow on the western 

boundary of the site and a children‟s play area. 

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4.5 Sustainability 

The site is in close proximity to a wide range of local facilities which are accessible by 

walking, cycling and public transport in accordance with the acceptable distances 

prescribed in national planning policy. 

4.6 Drainage 

The site lies outside of the designated flood zone as defined by Environment Agency 

flood zone mapping. WSP (Consulting Engineers) have devised a drainage strategy 

that ensures that surface water run-off is restricted to the same rate as for the 

existing “greenfield site.” 

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APPENDIX A: 0.5km MAILOUT RADIUS 

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APPENDIX B: STAKEHOLDER & BUSINESS RECIPIENTS 

A1 FELT ROOFING 

BARKERS SHOES LTD 

ESPRESSO 

M F PERKINS ELECTRICAL 

OPUS HAIRDRESSERS 

DYLANS 

NOBLE EXPRESS 

WHITES NURSERIES 

EARLS BARTON MEDICAL CENTRE 

EARLS BARTON BAPTIST CHURCH 

THE BOOT 

GLEBE HOUSE 

EARLS BARTON BOWLS CLUB 

EVANS TECHNICAL LTD 

MINERAL STAR ROOFING CO 

GRANGEFIELD RESIDENTIAL HOME 

GRANGE SPORTS GROUND 

T L C SPORT LTD 

PROLINE REFINISHING 

ALL TYRE MARKETING LTD 

TOTALLY FRANK UK LTD 

ANITOX LTD 

GREEN CHILLI 

ORTON & MCLEOD LTD 

DELLAMIX CONCRETE LTD 

R N J MOTORSPORT 

ANITOX LTD 

NEWMAN & REIDY 

SCOTCH LODGE FARM SHOP 

GROVERALL PLC 

BOXES PRESTIGE LTD 

MINSTER CLEANING SERVICES 

NC T L C TRUST 

WOODWAY PACKAGING LTD 

M BLISS (SUBCONTRACT BRICKWORKS) LTD 

RALPH WRIGHTSON LTD 

MINERAL STAR ROOFING 

NOBLES ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS LTD 

MAKKIPAK LTD 

SPACEWALL LTD 

WOODWAY 

UKSTOVES.CO.UK 

RYAN PLASTICS 

CO-OPERATIVE RETAIL SERVICES LTD 

CLAREMONT DAY NURSERY 

BIZZY SIZZORS 

TRADECARS DIRECT LTD 

EARLS BARTON AUTO SERVICES 

SHELLPLANT 

COLUMBIA METALS LTD 

KEITH BARROW HEATING & PLUMBING LTD 

DENNY ENGINEERING 

BLENKHARN MEMORIALS 

UNITED WORKING MENS CLUB 

EARLS BARTON OLD SILVER BAND CLUB 

ADVANCED SECURITIES 

ABLE DIRECT CENTRE LTD 

VINS VILLAGE STORES 

PHOENIX SOUNDWORKS 

POLDERS 

B N G PHOTOGRAPHY 

THE TOWER HOME & GARDEN CO LTD 

THE OLD SWAN 

MIDLAND TRADE STRINGING SERVICE LTD 

ANN FARMER CHIROPRACTOR 

DENTAL SURGERY 

E LEE & SON BUTCHER 

DAVID JEYES CHEMISTS 

JACKSON GRUNDY 

TOBY HUNT UNDERTAKER 

PERRY BROS 

POST OFFICE 

THE CHIPPERY 

RAFTERS RESTAURANT 

EARLS BARTON METHODIST CHURCH 

EARLS BARTON JUNIOR SCHOOL 

EARLS BARTON INFANT SCHOOL 

DOCTORS SURGERY 

BERRILLS FLORIST 

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL 

JANES HAIRDRESSERS 

EYE TO EYE OPTICIANS 

MACHINERY PLANT SERVICES LTD 

M & B NEWSAGENTS 

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POLYTIME INTERNATIONAL LTD 

STAGS HEAD 

DAVE SHURVILLE DESIGNS LTD 

L GREEN & SON 

SPRINGWOOD INTERIORS 

MERAZ TANDOORI 

COLUMBIA METALS LTD 

LYNDA HAIR FASHIONS 

MANDARIN HOUSE CHINESE TAKE AWAY 

SMALL WORLD CAFE 

EARLS BARTON FIRE STATION 

Earls Barton Methodist Church 

All Saints Church 

Earls Barton Cricket Club 

Earls Barton Junior School 

Great Doddington Primary School 

Ecton Village Primary School 

Earls Barton Bowls & Tennis Club 

CENTRONIC SERVICES LTD 

NIGHTFREIGHT 

HANSON AGGREGATES 

RETRO RESTORATION 

WHITE PLANT 

T L S VEHICLE RENTAL 

M A M TRANSPORT SERVICES LTD 

EARLS BARTON MOTOR CO LTD 

A E SERVICES LTD 

GAUGE ONE MODEL RAILWAY ASSOCIATION 

EAZYLIFE DIRECT LTD 

Wilby Church of England School 

Earls Barton Library 

Earls Barton United Football Club 

Earls Barton Health Centre 

The Nightingale Clinic 

Broad Street Surgery 

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APPENDIX C: 

NEWSLETTER 

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APPENDIX D: Website 

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APPENDIX E: EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE 

We live at 73 Compton Way and have received your newsletter with proposals. We would like to raise the following points. 

You state that a transport assessment has concluded that there will be no significant impact on the area. On the 

contrary, Thorpe Road exits onto Station Road which is already double parked, heavily congested & the only 

route up to the centre of the village. There are ongoing concerns and Council reviews of parking and congestion 

in this area. Your development would prospectively add 130 cars trying to access this road at peak times (if we 

assume each home has 2 cars- which is the case for all existing houses in Compton Way). 

You talk of extensive open space in your development; however this appears to be a narrow green channel 

continuing along from an existing footpath, which the Parish Council last month agreed to close down, to protect 

homes in Shoemakers Close and Compton Way from burglary. 

We are personally concerned with the 8 houses you propose to pack in to a very small space at the top of your 

development. 6 of these houses fall along our boundary line with no space in between them. Instead of an open 

field we would be faced with a wall of houses which appear very close to our fence line in places. If the front of 

the terrace is in line with our neighbours back fence at no.69, then those houses must have tiny back gardens 

and loom large at the back of no.71. Can you state the proposed distance from our boundary line of these 

properties? If this proposal goes ahead in this form, we would share fences with 6 separate neighbours. Whose 

responsibility would maintenance be? Would you build substantial fences at the back of each property when you 

develop the site? At the moment we have open planting to enjoy the view and cannot pay to fence the boundary 

line. 

We appreciate your comments about drainage issues being dealt with, however our practical experience over the 

last 12+ years has been that, whenever there is heavy rain, that field becomes a bog. Should you build a wall of 

houses, with tiny gardens behind our property there are likely to be drainage issues both for our garden and the 

new homes. 

If this application is going ahead, we strongly suggest that you significantly reduce the number of houses 

proposed on this site to allow more space between properties and build slightly further away from existing 

homes. 

Mr & Mrs J Bromilow 

Sir 

I live at no 53 Compton Way. I appreciate the details of the proposed development. I would like to make the following 

comments: 

1) Although I realise there is a need for further housing in the county and that extra houses in Earls Barton may help to 

support the local shops I would be interested to know if the doctors, dentists and schools are able to support the extra 

need. 

2) Station Road, the only access to this site, is already a difficult thoroughfare. there is usually only single lane traffic due to 

the parked cars. putting a potential 100 plus extra cars along this stretch of road will increase the difficulty and is likely to 

cause considerable problems. This stretch of the road must already be difficult for the emergency services. with extra 

housing comes extra likely hood of need for these services and therefore more difficulty for all who live locally. 

3) Compton Way is already a minor race track for youths on motorcycles since they are able to exit via the current 

pedestrian and cycle access to Station road at the north end of the road. only yesterday I saw three small children on cycles 

almost run down by a speeding motorcyclist. an additional loop with access marked '2' on your plan is likely to increase 

this disturbance 

thank you 

Mrs Liz Waine 

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Dear Sirs, 

I refer to your recent ‘Newsletter’ in which you inform me of your plans to build 65 new dwellings on a greenfield site to 

the west of Compton Way, Earls Barton and invite me to ask questions about the proposal. 

I do have a number of questions, which I would like you to consider and answer for me – my questions are as follows:- 

Given the very large scale of this development proposal, would I be correct in assuming that you have already held 

discussions with both The Borough of Wellingborough Council (BWC) and Earls Barton Parish Council prior to ‘going 

public’? 

If the answer to the above question is yes, are both Council’s supportive of your proposal? 

If the answer to the question is no, are you aware of the ‘Rural Village’ development constraints set-out in BWC’s planning 

strategy documentation? 

Your proposals as described are clearly very much in conflict with BWC’s policies /aims/ and preferences in terms of 

permitting large scale housing development to take place in Earls Barton. Only two modestly sized potential development 

sites are specifically identified within the Councils’ plan for the village Earls Barton – your proposed development site is not 

one of them. How have you managed or how do you propose to convince BWC to abandon their sound and sensible 

planning strategy? 

I note that the proposed play area (LEAP) is to be tucked away in the far south-westerly corner of the development and is 

shown to be well-screened behind new trees. Do you not think that for reasons of safety, the play area would be better 

placed in a more central location where a greater degree of safety would be afforded by being overlooked by many more 

houses? 

I also note that the proposed play area is shown to be located immediately adjacent to two large and presumably deep 

storm water balancing ponds. Given the known fascination of water by small children do you honestly believe the close 

proximity of the two ponds to the play area to be a good idea? 

Sustainable development is not only about material quality, good practice and energy efficiency. Sustainability also implies 

CLOSE proximity to bus-stops, shops, schools and healthcare facilities. Do you honestly consider a walking distance of AT 

LEAST 0.7miles to be in CLOSE proximity to these services and essential amenities? 

Sustainable Development also calls for housing to be located close to ‘workplaces’. Earls Barton itself offers relatively little 

by way of employment opportunity and most of what industry exists is located on the extreme northern outskirts of the 

village. Do you concede that your proposal to build 65 new houses in the village has nothing at all to do with meeting the 

employment needs of an industrial/commercial workforce? 

There is only one small school in Earls Barton and only limited availability of nursery places. How do you propose to defend 

you building another 65 homes the result of which will certainly to be to overload the available nursery and education 

infrastructure of the Village? 

What percentage of affordable homes are you proposing? 

How many parking spaces are to be afforded to the 65 homes? 

Are all of the proposed parking spaces located off road – i.e. entirely within the curtilage of each property? 

If the above answer is no, what provision is to be made for communal and visitor parking and where will this be located? 

I estimate that there are approximately 120 existing houses in Compton Way and associated side roads, all of which are 

afforded vehicular access only via Thorpe Road and Station Road. How can you sensibly argue that building another 65 

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family homes (i.e. increasing this number by more than 50%), all of which will require vehicular by the same means, will 

not have a significant impact on the surrounding highway network? 

Bearing in mind the above, do you think it is fair on existing residents of Station Rd and Thorpe Rd to inflict upon them the 

nuisance of a long construction programme which will involve constant movements past their properties of heavy 

construction plant and building materials? 

You describe the site character as being a single field not of high ecological value and possessing no landscape features 

within the site. You are missing a significant point. This is a GREEN FIELD one which defines the very edge and character of 

the village and by wanting to concrete it over for no better reason that your own financial advantage are you not helping to 

destroy the very surrounding greenery which defines Earls Barton as being an attractive village? 

Is there not a government directive encouraging LPA’s to resist the development of ‘greenfield sites’ in favour of utilising 

brownfield land? 

Are there not plenty of alternative brownfield sites in Northamptonshire resultant from de-industrialisation, gravel 

extraction and ironstone quarrying? 

I note that your proposal includes for “substantial open space along the southern and western edges of the development”. 

You surely must concede that attractive open space is not a thing that is in any way lacking in the immediate vicinity of 

Earls Barton. Are you not risking insulting people’s intelligence for using this as a supportive argument in favour of your 

proposal? 

I find your mention of a ”New Homes Bonus” which will serve to reward both BCW and Northamptonshire County Council 

for approving your scheme to be ‘distasteful’. Local Authorities should be well aware of the windfall financial benefit that 

would be likely to come their way. Do you not imagine that by putting this forward as a ‘benefit’ you will be perceived by 

many members of the public as being close to offering the Council a bribe? 

As for your other so called benefits, the Parish Council and BWC in conjunction with the Northants Rural Housing 

Association are already looking at providing more affordable housing in the village. Indeed, one of the proposals 

currently being considered is for 17 affordable homes on land very adjacent to your own proposed development. This 

would make for 82 new houses to being built in this area. Are you aware of the HA proposal? 

When the wind direction is from the south-west (as it is predominantly), the traffic noise caused by the A45 can be 

deafening on the southern outskirts of the village. What if any measures are you proposing to mitigate the nuisance of 

traffic noise from the nearby A45? 

Similarly, at certain times, depending upon weather conditions, a strong Hydrogen Sulphide odour from the nearby Ecton 

Sewage Treatment Works can be a serious problem on the southern and western edges of Earls Barton. Are you intent 

upon disclosing this (and the noise problem) to prospective buyers or will your sales team be instructed to keep quiet 

about it? 

I look forward to receiving your answers soon. 

Regards – Duncan Gandy – Resident of Station Road, Earls Barton. 

To whom it may concern 

I have received your proposals for the development of Compton Way in Earls Barton. 

I am a resident of Compton Way and already have concerns over the approach to Thorpe Road via Station Road. Station 

Road, as you will be aware is a no through road with access only to Thorpe Road/Compton Way. Station Road is already 

very congested with parked cars on either side of the road and the thought of more traffic having to use this access is of 

concern. 

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Has there been any proposals to reduce on road parking in Station Road? 

Regards 

Eileen Wright 

Good Morning, 

As i have not had a reply to my previous email dated 30th July 2011, i would again like to question the transport 

assessment that you mention in your information pack which has been undertaken, could you please let me know your 

findings and how you undertook this assessment of the impact on Station Road and Thorpe Way, 

I look forward to hearing from you. 

Sue Hawkins 

144 Station Road 

Earls Barton 

Northants 

NN6 0NX 

Hello. 

I am a local resident of Earls Barton, could you please provide me with a copy of the transport assessment conducted as 

part of your proposed development plan for Compton Way, Earls Barton. 

Many thanks. 

David Skett 

Mobile - 07773 813 513 

Dear Mr Stock. 

Re: Development of Compton Way , Earls Barton – EB7 

My family and I reside at 69 Compton Way , Earls Barton and we read with absolute dismay about your plans to develop 

EB7, Compton Way , Earls Barton. This objection is based on several key and very important factors which I have outlined 

below: 

Health & Safety 

The Compton Way development will only be accessed via Station Road and then Thorpe Road . It is abundantly clear for all 

to see that Station Road was not designed to carry the amount of traffic it currently sees let alone an increase on the scale 

proposed. A conservative estimate would suggest that 65 new houses would have 2 cars each meaning another 260 vehicle 

movements per day through Station Road . On an already congested road this is a ridiculous proposal and will obviously 

pose a significant risk to pedestrians (many children play up and down Station Road) due to the amount of traffic and 

parked cars on Station Road and will increase the risk of vehicle accidents, many of the houses on Station Road do not have 

garages or off-road parking already creating a permanent single lane road. 

This point alone should be more than sufficient reason to end the proposal for developing Compton Way , there is simply 

an unacceptable risk to the health and safety of current residents and Station Road cannot cope as it already serves more 

than the maximum number of houses permitted within a single cul de sac. 

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Greenfield Site / Outside Village Boundary 

The land known as EB7 is outside of the village boundary and is a greenfield site, this therefore makes it a non preferred 

option as consideration should be given to brownfield sites within the village boundary that we note have already been 

identified. The option to develop EB7 looks like an easy and cheap solution as far as the developers are concerned and 

seems to have been chosen for this reason alone. 

Property Devaluation / Compensation 

My family purchased 69 Compton Way in 1996 and it was made absolutely clear in writing and within our property deeds 

that our garden formed the village boundary and that the land beyond it was for agricultural use only. We specifically 

purchased the property for this reason as it offered significant views across the Nene Valley that would be completely 

destroyed by the proposed build, we note that some properties are designed as 3 storey which would only exacerbate the 

issue. Our property, and all the other properties backing onto EB7, currently enjoy privacy and a standard of living that 

would be irreparably damaged by the proposal and significant compensation would be due to us all, not only for the 

obvious and significant devaluation of property, but also for the aforesaid loss of privacy and standard of living currently 

enjoyed that would disappear with the building of 65 homes, many of which would be affordable housing. 

Hedgerows 

The Redrow document makes scant mention of the significant wildlife that currently lives and thrives in the hedgerows 

bordering EB7, there are many species of birds and several families of bats that occupy this area as well as pheasants that 

live in the field. This development would obviously upset the eco balance of these mature hedgerows beyond repair. 

Sustainability 

Earls Barton village is full. You only need to look around on any given day to see the amount of parking, vehicle 

movements and congestion around the village centre, there have already been significant road traffic accidents at the 

junction of Station Road . The local amenities cannot cope with or support an influx of people on the scale proposed. 

Petition 

The development at EB7 will be strongly opposed by every resident of Station Road , Thorpe Road and Compton Way , 

there is a significant health and safety risk for us all and our village and for those of us that back onto EB7 a housing 

development that would be classed as unacceptably life changing. Petitions and letters are already being drawn up and 

sent to you and the Parish and Borough Councils. 

Finally Mr Stock, I note that Redrow did not have the decency to write to individual residents but generically wrote to “The 

Occupier” in the hope that most people would just throw the correspondence in the bin and you could carry on with your 

plans, please have the decency to reply to this letter. 

Yours sincerely, 

Steve & Michelle Biggs 

69 Compton Way 


Dear Sirs, 

I am still waiting to receive answers to my list of questions concerning your Compton Way housing development proposal. 

Would you kindly confirm to be by return 'e'-Mail that you have received my list of questions (originally sent to you by 'e'- 

mail last Sunday) and that I may expect to receive your answers shortly. 

Thank you - Duncan Gandy - Resident of Station Road, Earls Barton. 

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Dear Matthew, 

Please forgive our approach but we want to introduce our company to you, JACKSON GRUNDY ESTATE AGENTS. We are a 

local independent estate agent having eleven branches across Northamptonshire, including one in the village of Earls 

Barton. We have read through your Compton Way newsletter and are very excited about your proposals. Earls Barton has a 

thriving community with continued demand from people wanting to move into the village. There has been no new home 

development in the village since Bellway built a small close of some 30 homes back in 2007. 

We support your scheme and wish you every success in obtaining planning following the WBC consultation. 

If later on we can be of any assistance regarding comparables/pricing etc then please feel free to contact us. 

Brian Evans (Director) 

Jackson Grundy Estate Agents 

T: 01604 810933 

E: earlsbartonfs@jacksongrundy.co.uk 

Dear Sirs, 

Thank you for providing answers to some of the questions I have raised (or which have been raised by me on behalf of 

other concerned Earls Barton residents). 

I have told, or will tell, those who's questions you have declined to answer that they will need to re-address their individual 

concerns to BWC and Earls Barton Parish Council, if and when a formal planning application is made. 

There is however just one point on which I would and appreciate having your further opinion. Not surprisingly this relates 

to the certain increased number of motor vehicles which will all need to travel up and down Station Road and Thorpe 

Road. These two roads are in affect cul-de-sac's south of the junction of Station Road and Dowthorpe Hill and beyond this 

point are almost entirely residential in nature. You have already conceded that this particular issue is generating a very 

high level of local concern. 

Whilst your 'traffic assessment' might well show that local road junctions may be able to cope with the extra volume of 

traffic, I doubt that it takes into account the nuisance by way of noise, vibration, and fumes the additional residential traffic 

and extra service traffic (delivery and trade vehicles) will inflict upon the existing residential community. Furthermore, 

being residential in nature and no-through-roads, Station Road and Thorpe Road are currently areas where young children 

can and do play with a high degree of safety. This will not be so if and when traffic volumes are permitted to increase by 

more than 50%. What if any measures are you proposing to take to mitigate the impact the huge percentage increase in 

traffic will have on the quality of life currently enjoyed by residents of Station Road and Thorpe Road? 

I look forward to hearing from you soon regarding this particular area of contention. 

Thank you - Duncan Gandy 

With regards to the Planning application by Redrow for development at Compton Way, Earls Barton. 

We both wish to express our objections for the proposal, and copies of this have been sent to Councillor G Blackwell, The 

clerk of the Parish council Earls Barton, and the Chief planning officer at Wellingborough Borough Council. 

Reasons for our objection. 

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1. The development is out of the Earls Barton boundary. 

2. The site for development is a Green site and not a Brown site. 

3. Compton Way is already a large enough Cul - de- Sac, without the addition of another 65 houses. From just below 

Dowthorpe Hill, to the end of Compton Way, there is only one way in and one way out. A total of 215 houses plus another 

65............ How big can a Cul - de- Sac get. Compton Way and Thorpe Road are already used as a race track. 

4 . 65 houses= 1 possible 2 cars perhousehold, which means at least another 100 cars using Station Road/ Thorpe Road/ 

Compton Way. Station Road is already a danger area, with parking on both sides of the road. Emergency vehicles would be 

severely hampered by the restricted width of the road, and a life could be at risk, in the proposed development area. 

5. The site you say, has a 1 in 1000 chance of flooding from the river..... This we agree with. But for the last 35 years we 

have lived in Compton Way, and overlooking the field.It does have standing water after a heavy rainfall and will not drain 

away, and is like this for most of the winter. 

6. How many new estates have to be built with two attenuation ponds, the reason being for this, is the field does not drain 

properly........... The ponds would also create a dangerous area for youngsters, and could become smelly in the summer 

months. 

7. 65 houses= at least 1 child per household, another 65 children for the school,..... the school is already overcrowded, and 

has to accomodate 1 class in a Portakabin. Another one is not acceptable, and there is no land for another to be erected. 

8 Parking and congestion is already a major problem in the village, and most days is chaotic. 

We both feel the village has reached its maximum capacity, as do most of Earls Bartons residents. Therefore a 

development of 65 houses, should never be allowed. 

John & Vivienne Tomkins 

Dear Mr Stock, 

I recently received your proposed development plans for Earls Barton. I am assuming from the address on the leafet you 

are based down in London and have not actually been to the village? 

The main concern/problem with the development is traffic. 65 houses with an average of 2 cars per household would 

mean approx 260 more vehicle movements per day, at least half of those between 8-9am for work/school. There is already 

a problem in the centre of the village in particular the top of Station Road by the Bakers and corner shops on the cross 

roads. Traffic is also often parked 200 yards heading south on station road over the brow of the hill turning the road into 

single lane. Each month in "Barton Today" traffic is discussed on how to solve/ease the problem. This development would 

only add to the problem. 

There is however a potential solution that would not impact the existing problem and if anything ease an existing problem. 

As you say the fields down that way arfe only used for grazing horses... if a road was built from the south west corner of 

the development heading WSW to join the round about that would move much of the traffic straight out and also move 

some existing traffic out that way, easing the problem by the cross roads. 

Hope this is food for thought. Also just a not on the benefits section of the leaflet.. they are of no benefit what so ever to 

probably 95-99% of the village. 

Regards, 

Matthew Maisey 

Station Road 

Earls Barton. 

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Dear Sirs 

We have recently received the newsletter regarding the proposal of building 65 new houses off Compton Way in Earls 

Barton. 

I would like to express 2 areas of concern regarding the proposal. 

1. It looks from the information provided that the traffic throughput once out of Thorpe Road/Compton Way will be up 

through Station Road. This is a heavily conjested road at the best of times, with cars parked on both sides of the road. I 

feel that potentially adding another upto 130 cars (2 cars per house - which is now the norm) will make this an extremely 

unsafe road. Please take into account that there alot of children that cross this road before and after school that have to 

catch buses to get them to school and the more traffic throughput we have the more likely a child is to get run over. 

Whilst I am not opposed to the houses being built I think that you should reconsider where the access through to this 

estate should be. Could you not get access from the the road leading up to the village just off the A45. 

2. The village school is already full to capacity and is oversubscribed with more children in a class then there really should 

be. Where are all these additional children going to go to school as there is no space in the current one? 

Your comments would be appreciated. 

Kind regards 

Melanie Dormer (Mrs) 

Good afternoon 

I wish to object to your proposal to build behind Compton way. 

The main objection is that already the traffic on Station road is totally unacceptable it is a nightmare getting up and down 

this stretch of road at any time 

Specifically in the main morning: early to late evenings and especially at weekends. 

I have lived in my current address for 26 years and it has got worse and worse especially when they built the estate at the 

end of Compton way 15 to 18 years ago 

I am all for affordable houses but something has to be done to ease the traffic also there is a accident just waiting to 

happen specifically with all the trucks delivering to site 

In the last two years I have had three counts of road rage aimed at myself and my wife just because people do not give way 

to oncoming traffic 

Please take in to account all the above in your planning. 

Thank you 

We are writing to you to express our objections to the proposed development of land to the west of Compton Way, Earls 

Barton. There are a number of reasons why we feel this development should not be given permission some of these are as 

follows 

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1). The position development only access from the centre of the village via a already over crowded Station Rd which 

already at times has caused problems with the passage of emergency vehicles. 

2). The narrow access via Thorpe Rd. would mean taking away part of the footpath to gain enough width to allow any 

vehicles to gain entry, however this would stop any parking outside of our property at any time of the day. 

3). During winter Station Rd. below Dowthorpe Hill and Thorpe Rd. are impassable as these are unsalted roads and are 

extremely treacherous when laden with snow or ice. 

4). Our village schools are already oversubscribed and not in a position to take anymore pupils. 

5). The centre of the village is at saturation point with vehicles at most times of the day which has already caused local 

shops to close due to lack of parking facilities. 

6). Our village does not require any further developments of private houses we are only in need of a limited amount of 

social housing for local young people who have connections to the village that are not at present in a position to purchase 

homes of there own. 

7). With reference to the New Homes Bonus in your leaflet we feel will do nothing t enhance the well being of our 

community and we take exception to what appears to be a bribe to influence planning authorities. 

8). The illustrative Master Plan can only be taken as a work of fiction when the proposed play area is stated on one page as 

being in the south east of the site not the south west as shown on the Master-plan. If a small item like this cannot be 

accurate how can we guarantee that the rest of the Master-plan is also correct. 

I await your reply and comments. 

Yours faithfully 

Malcolm and Sherryl Perkins 

23 Thorpe Road. 

Dear Tom, 

So in a nut shell you can't or won't tell us anything until you have put in for planning in which case i wonder why you say in 

your brochure if you have anything you would like to ask please do so. I do not have a problem with the building of these 

houses but i do think you are wrong when you say that an extra 120 cars up and down Station Road and Thorpe Road will 

not have any impact. 

Regards 

Sue Hawkins 

Phil Smith 10 Compton Way. 

Regarding the proposed Redrow Homes development of up to 65 new homes in compton way. There are obvious serious 

problems with this proposal. 1/ The one vehicle access route which already gets congested at certain times during the day 

plus the roadside parking in Station road. 2/ The present parking problems in the centre of the village with the medical 

centre and co-operative car park already being used for other purposes e.g. delivering and collecting children to and from 

school. 3/ Current village infrastucture unable to cope e.g. shops,schools, medical centres, chemist etc. 

Thanks. (Copies of email to local councillors). 

| 26 Page



We are writing to express our objections to the proposed development of land to the west of Compton Way, Earls Barton. 

There are several reasons as to why we feel this should not proceed as follows: 

1. The access to the proposed site via Station Rd is already a problem due to the additional cars parked either side of this 

road - should an emergency vehicle need access it would be impossible! 

2. Access at end of Thorpe Rd would mean narrowing the exisiting footpath 

3. During winter inclement weather - Station Rd and Thorpe Rd become impassable, no road treatments have been 

applied to this area for a number of years. 

4. Village schools are already over subscribed 

5. The centre of the village is always at gridlock with traffic from all directions and the additional build would exacerbate 

this problem. 

6. The village does not require additional private housing but is in need of limited social housing enabling youngsters with 

local family attachments to remain local to relatives. 

We hope that you will further consider these points before you take these proposals forward to the planning application 

stage. 

Your faithfully 

Dudley & Marilyn Downing 

194 Station RD 

Good afternoon 

I wish to object to your proposal to build behind Compton way. 

The main objection is that already the traffic on Station road is totally unacceptable it is a nightmare getting up and down 

this stretch of road at any time 

Specifically in the main morning : early to late evenings and especially at weekends. 

I have lived in my current address for 26 years and it has got worse and worse especially when they built the estate at the 

end of Compton way 15 to 18 years ago 

I am all for affordable houses but something has to be done to ease the traffic also there is a accident just waiting to 

happen specifically with all the trucks delivering to site 

In the last two years I have had three counts of road rage aimed at myself and my wife just because people do not give way 

to oncoming traffic 

Please take in to account all the above in your planning. 

Thank you 

Regards Arthur 

Arthur Smith 

5 Compton Close 


Northampton NN6 0PN 

| 27 Page



Dear Mr Stock, 

Thank-you for the leaflet that outlines the development proposal, for Compton Way Earls Barton, as a homeowner that 

currently backs onto the field for proposed development. 

Please can you outline the benefits that Redrow Homes will directly provide the local residents. 

Kind regards 

Kim 

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APPENDIX F: SCANNED LETTER 

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Compton Way, Earls Barton - Political Developments Limited - PDL

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