The Proposed Scheme

As the application is being submitted in outline, matters such as the detailed design of the layout, as well as the precise number, types and appearance of the houses and the site landscaping scheme will be determined at a later stage and will all need to be submitted to West Northamptonshire Council for approval.

However, an illustrative masterplan has been prepared to show the main principles that a detailed design would need to reflect. The planning application documents, including the Design and Access Statement, also include a set of parameters and principles that will define specific key design principles that the future detailed design must align with and which will ensure a high-quality design is delivered.

Key principles of the scheme proposals, as outlined on the illustrative masterplan below, include:

    • The total number of new homes will not exceed 165.

    • Houses will not exceed 2 ½ storeys in height, with parameters set to create a ‘soft’ new village edge and to broadly reflecting the density of surrounding residential area.

    • 50% of the new homes will be affordable, in line with the Council’s housing policy, with a mix of house types and sizes, that is likely to comprise 2,3,4 and possibly 5-bedroom homes, which will take into consideration identified local needs.

    • The southern and eastern parts of the site will continue to be open space, comprising almost half (49%) of the site, which will be publicly accessible and properly managed and maintained in perpetuity.

    • Creation of a range of opportunities for play, relaxation, exercise and social interaction, including the retention of existing and creation of new public footpaths around the site, a new formal children’s play area and less formal ‘play on the way’ features lining a circular footpath loop around the site, potential for a community growing area or orchard as well as places to sit and relax.

    • Retention and improvements to existing public rights of way and new on-site footpaths and cycleways, connecting to the village centre and facilities and to the wider public rights of way network in the countryside beyond.

    • Vehicular access to be taken from Banbury Lane, with existing and new pedestrian and cycle connections and routes that provide safe and convenient access to the village centre and beyond.

    • A built form framed by generous areas of open space and respecting existing desire lines and key views, including along the public rights of way towards the village centre and church.

    • A sustainable and energy efficient design, with its design having a strong thematic connection with the village whereby the form, architectural style and palette of materials and colours used will respect and reflect the strong local character of the area.

    • Sustainable urban drainage features sensitively designed to integrate and form part of the informal areas of open space, in line with national and local requirements to serve the development and ensure the risk of flooding will not increase within the site or elsewhere.

    • Measures to deliver and secure the long-term protection and enhancement of ecological habitats within the site, including the existing trees and woodland.

    • High level of Biodiversity Net Gain, well in excess of the minimum legislative 10% requirement.

    • Whilst an outline planning application, we are committed to securing the delivery of a high-quality development that respects, reflects and celebrates Middleton Cheney’s distinctive character and identity and that it has a strong sense of place and belonging as a cohesive part of the village.

    • As part of this application, to guarantee and give the community confidence that the quality of development outlined will be delivered,  a series of design principles will therefore be proposed at this stage to ensure that those principles must be carried through at the detailed design (reserved matters) application stage and thereafter delivered.

    • Those design principles will be outlined in the Design and Access Statement that will form part of the planning application that is submitted.

Detailed site plan of a residential development with roads, green spaces, water features, and various marked points. Includes a legend with symbols for infrastructure and natural features.