New flats approved close to 12th-Century church

Approval has been given for a block of flats to be built next to a 12th Century church after the government’s planning inspectorate allowed an appeal.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, planning permission has been granted for the six apartments and car parking in Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire, directly opposite the Church of St Peter.

Applicant Resham Limited lodged an appeal at the beginning of 2023 as North Northamptonshire Council had spent too long determining the outcome.

The council later advised the planning inspectorate that it would have refused the application had they made a formal decision.

The site is just outside a conservation area and is also next to the Louisa Lilley Almshouses - a group of charitable homes built to house the poor on the legacy of a member of a local shoe manufacturing family.

The apartment block will be made up of four one-bedroom flats and two two-bedroom properties.

Previous proposals for the site were dismissed, including one for a three-storey building.

The planning inspector wrote that the main issues with the current designs were whether the proposed housing would preserve the special architectural or historic interest of the Grade I listed Church of St Peter, the effect on the setting of the Louisa Lilley Almshouses heritage asset and the living conditions of the future occupants.

The inspectorate said that the "submitted plans and visualisations demonstrate that the appeal proposal would not visually overwhelm the setting of the Church".

It added: “Crucially, the appeal proposal would not compete with the Church’s tower as experienced from surrounding vantage points. It would not be domineering or visually discordant.”

It was also found that the flats would not harm the setting of the Almshouses and that the living conditions would be acceptable for future tenants.

The inspector concluded that the appeal proposal would not conflict with the development plan and that planning permission should be granted, subject to conditions.

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