WE DID IT!!
Yesterday, the Strategic Planning Committee voted to REFUSE the application.
This is a huge moment for our communities and a powerful reminder that when local people come together, their voices really can make a difference.
To the 3,400+ people who submitted objections, thank you. Every objection counted.
To everyone who covered many miles delivering leaflets, worked tirelessly organising fundraising events, donated to our Crowdfunder, stood in the blazing heat with placards, shared our posts, spoke to friends and neighbours – thank you! A special mention must go to Caz Tricks for her unwavering support and the many, many shout-outs on Stony Radio, helping us spread the word far and wide. This campaign was built on the passion, determination and generosity of ordinary people who care deeply about where they live.
A heartfelt thank you also goes to the five experts who generously gave their time and expertise, strengthening our case. Your evidence helped ensure the facts were heard. In particular, we have to thank Dominic Woodfield, our ecology expert, who spoke at the Committee meeting and has been absolutely fantastic throughout our campaign.
A special thank you goes to Old Stratford Parish Council and Cosgrove Parish Council for their unwavering support throughout the campaign, both financially and through their detailed objection letters, and for speaking so powerfully on behalf of their communities at yesterday’s Committee meeting.
We would also like to thank Stony Stratford Town Council and Deanshanger Parish Council, whose representatives also spoke passionately and effectively on behalf of their residents.
A huge thank you to our ward councillors - Ian McCord, who has supported us every step of the way, and who’s speech at the Committee was nothing short of a masterpiece - and Ivan Dabbs, who, since being elected last year, quickly recognised the strength of feeling against this application and gave us his support.
Thank you also to our MP, Sarah Bool, who spoke so knowledgeably and passionately on our behalf at the Committee meeting.
Finally, thank you to the members of the Strategic Planning Committee. They asked searching questions, carefully considered the evidence from all sides and ultimately reached the right decision.
This has never been about saying “no” to development. It has always been about standing up for our communities, our countryside, our roads, and ensuring that decisions of this scale are properly scrutinised.
We recognise that this may not be the end of the process. The applicant may choose to appeal, and we don’t yet know what will happen next. However, we firmly believe the evidence against developing this site is compelling, and we sincerely hope the Council will continue to protect this important area for the benefit of current and future generations.
Yesterday showed what people power looks like. This victory belongs to every single one of us.
Thank you for believing in Stop3000Trucks, supporting us and standing with us.
“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
