Ashfield Land – working with Davidsons Homes and Vulpes Land – has secured planning consent for ‘Land West of Brackley’.

Granted at appeal, the scheme will see 700 new homes together with a full package of supporting infrastructure come forward as the next logical extension to the Northamptonshire town.

Claire Cope, Operations Director at Ashfield Land, said: “We’ve been patient with this one. The site is the best-positioned and most sustainable location for new homes in Brackley and, through some excellent consultation and engagement, we designed an urban extension that can knit into the town and deliver on a number of fronts. From new allotments to new facilities for Brackley Rugby Club, this scheme is infrastructure and landscape-led and one we are confident will contribute positively to Brackley and its future. The Planning Inspector has taken the same view and now we can look forward to switching from planning into delivery.”

Unusually for a planning appeal, both the applicant (Ashfield Land and partners) and West Northamptonshire Council (the local planning authority) agreed that planning permission should be granted. The central issues of the appeal were the route by which consent would be given and alternative opinions related to housing land supply and the West Northamptonshire development plan.

The application was an outline application with access detailed. The scheme will benefit from a new strategic spine road with direct connection onto the A422.

New homes will provide a mix of different sizes and tenures, the details of which will be confirmed at the detailed planning permission stage.

The planning appeal outcome and green light for the scheme demonstrates Ashfield Land’s ability to take a long-term view for strategic sites and the right opportunity.

“We’d have preferred a planning permission quicker than the five years this one has taken since we first submitted,” added Claire Cope. “But, the result is the most important thing and we all know that navigating the planning process isn’t straightforward, whatever authority you’re dealing with. Our strength at Ashfield Land is not just our patience but also our versatility – and we can go as quick or as slow as the situation requires to secure the best result.”