Clark approves Northamptonshire homes

Communities secretary Greg Clark has approved 39 homes on a site not allocated for development in a Northamptonshire village’s neighbourhood plan on the same day as residents voted overwhelmingly in favour of the document in a local referendum.In a decision issued last week, Clark allowed appellant Bowbridge Land’s appeal against the decision of Wellingborough Council to refuse its application for 39 homes on an agricultural site on the edge of Earls Barton, Northamptonshire, ruling that a five-year housing land supply shortfall should trump policies in an emerging neighbourhood plan.In allowing the appeal, Clark agreed with the conclusions of inspector Wenda Fabian, who recommended that the appeal be allowed and planning permission granted, subject to conditions.Clark’s decision letter said that the Earls Barton Neighbourhood Plan is “an important material consideration in this case”.The plan was approved in a referendum held on 29 October – the same day that Clark’s decision letter was issued – with 92.9 per cent voting in favour on a turnout of 28 per cent.