IMPORTANT UPDATE ON THE FURTHO PIT DEVELOPMENT
We have been notified that the Furtho Pit site visit with the Strategic Planning Committee is taking place this Tuesday at 10 am. We understand the SPC meeting is usually about 10 days to 2 weeks after the site visit, but we’ve had no notification of a date for this yet. However, we have seen on WNC’s website that there is an additional SPC meeting this month on 30th June. Although there is no published agenda for this yet - with the site visit on Tues and target decision date updated to 3rd July- it seems likely that the application will come before the SPC on June 30th.
WHAT YOU CAN DO….
- COME & SUPPORT US AT THE SITE VISIT- Despite the very short notice of the site visit, some of us hope to be at the site while the councillors are visiting, to stand in a silent protest and display the model. Please join us for a show of support if you can. We will meet at 9.30 on the footbridge over the A5 that runs from Oxfield Park Drive (Old Stratford) to the site. You can access from OS or Cosgrove side by foot. The site visit starts at 10am from that side, so once they have passed us we can pack up & leave. It’s going to be a hot day but we will try to find a shady spot. Please bring hydration, sunscreen, hats, etc. Please remember this must be a SILENT protest- no speaking or chanting (save that for outside the SPC meeting). The last thing we want is to upset the SPC members, so if you come along PLEASE be respectful. You can always make a sign to bring if you want to show a message. This is our last chance to show the strength of feeling against this.
- WRITE TO WNC PLANNING
- Whether or not you have objected to this already, now is the time to do so again. There have been several changes and new documents submitted to the application throughout the past year, some of which may supersede your previous comments, so check and update if necessary - this is the last chance to let WNC know that your opposition to this is still strong. Please read through the information on our website, which will help inform you of how this application may affect you, what may have changed, and how you can send in your comments to the council. You don’t have to live in West Northants to comment. Despite the comments deadline having passed, all comments will still be considered up to the date of the SPC meeting. More info on objecting can be found here:
- PREPARE TO TURN UP AT THE SPC & SHOW YOUR OPPOSITION - Try to attend the SPC meeting. Or just come along before the meeting to help demonstrate the strength of opposition to the development at The Forum in Towcester. The more people showing their opposition in person, the stronger the message this sends to the SPC Councillors that this is the wrong development in the wrong place. We will let you know via our social media once we know a date for the SPC Meeting.
Thank you to all of those who have supported this campaign so far. We will keep you updated on the latest via this website, our Mailing List, Facebook page and Instagram.
“Quite extraordinarily incongruous to its location and threatens significant impacts on the landscape”
Environmental Consultant
Dominic Woodfield CEcol, CEnv, MCIEEM
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Or you can email to planning@westnorthants.gov.uk
or write to: Planning Department, West Northampton Council, The Guildhall, St Giles Square, Northampton, NN1 1DE
Always include the Planning Reference Number WNS/2022/1741/EIA
The Wrong Development in the Wrong Place
A group of concerned residents have got together to oppose the planned warehouse development at the A5/A508 roundabout between Cosgrove and Old Stratford. The proposal is for a 750,000 plus sq ft development of 9 warehouses, 5 storeys high. The land was earmarked, several years ago, for development as a light industrial zone offering employment and in keeping with the local area. Our view is the development meets none of the above criteria.
This massive development and related infrastructure will negatively impact on traffic using the A5, the A508 and the A422. It will cause air, light, noise and environmental pollution and destroy land inhabited by protected species. It shows no concern for people who live within a five mile radius and who will be most impacted by the development.
We chose the name
Stop3000Trucks for our campaign based on the developer’s original plan for 96 docking bays x 1-2 movements per hour x 24 hours (a truck can comfortably be unloaded in 30 minutes. Faster if it’s automated). So 3000 was a conservative estimate of the site's potential.
In the previous lot of plans dated 15th August 2023, the number of bays was reduced from 96 to 59. This works out to potentially 2800 trucks per day. This number could easily be revised upwards as there is no WNC requirement to limit the number of bays, or the number of truck movements, or the hours in which they operate! In addition, automated unloading is becoming the norm in warehouses across Northants and nationally. This means a lorry can be unloaded in 7 minutes rather than the standard 25 minutes.
In the latest planning documents dated February 2025, the number of loading bays is obscured. We maintain that there are 78 bays unless they provide clarification. Until the unit is sold, the exact number will remain unknown.
We need your help to stop the A5/A508 junction Warehouse Development leading to massive traffic issues in an already congested area.
Have Your Say
You can use the red button above (and on every page of this site) to go straight to the WNC comments site. You will need to register, which will take 30 seconds. You can then use any of the objections listed on the link below, or add your own reasons. We would encourage you to use your own words wherever possible.
“Our vision is to make West Northants…..a place where we have modern towns but where rural character is cherished”
West Northants Council Vision Statement
