Plans to convert two houses on same Northampton street into residential care homes set for approval

The applicant said the two properties would provide dedicated care facilities for young adults who require wheelchair-accessible accommodation and associated support

Nadia Lincoln Local Democracy Reporter | Thursday 30th July 2026 2:51pm

Plans to turn two residential properties on the same Northampton street into care homes, with up to 12 occupants between them, look set to get the green light at a council meeting next week.

The proposals, which have both been submitted by applicant MSA Properties Limited, seek permission to convert two large detached homes on Church Way, in Weston Favell, into separate care homes for young adults who require wheelchair-accessible accommodation and associated support.

West Northamptonshire Council’s (WNC) non-strategic planning committee will meet next Thursday (August 6), where it is recommended that councillors approve both the plans.

The largest property, which will house up to eight occupants, is currently a two-storey detached five-bedroom dwelling with parking space for up to seven cars. The application proposes to adapt the home to an eight-bed residential care home including three wheelchair-accessible bedrooms at ground-floor level, each with an accessible wet room, and five standard ensuite rooms upstairs.

An already approved rear extension would also provide an open-plan kitchen, dining and living area on the ground floor.

The second home is a large detached three-bedroom house which is proposed to be converted to provide four large ground-floor bedrooms with wheelchair compliant wet rooms. The report states the site provides four on-site parking spaces, two of which will be wheelchair-compliant.

Both applications have been called into committee by Weston Favell and Abington Vale ward councillor Andrew Kilbride, on the grounds of overdevelopment of the area and the impact on traffic and local infrastructure.

More than 100 letters of objection have been submitted across both applications from local residents in the area raising similar concerns about highway safety and the cumulative impact of two residential care homes on neighbours.

One person wrote: “This part of Northampton is a quiet, established residential neighbourhood, and residents have chosen to live here because of its peaceful character and stable environment.

“Based on previous personal experience of living adjacent to a respite facility, developments of this nature can generate significant levels of activity throughout the day and night. In that instance, the surrounding residents experienced frequent disturbances, increased parking pressures, visitors arriving at all hours, and heightened security concerns.

“The proposed development raises genuine concerns that similar impacts could arise here.”

Another commented: “Church Way has already become an extremely busy road, with many of those passing through treating it as a race track. There is nowhere near enough room for all vehicles, both resident and employees own vehicles, to be parked at the property, meaning complete congestion on the road.

“There is NOT enough space for either parking OR safe entry/exit to and/or from the property, due to a narrow entrance. Of even more concern is the safety of pedestrians, which would be completely compromised.

“If planning was approved for multiple vehicle access to this property, it would be an accident waiting to happen.”

However, MSA Properties Limited said there would be “ample” parking space at the properties, with two staff cars and one car for visitors proposed at any one time at the smaller care home, and four staff cars and one car for visitors at the larger one.

WNC has imposed a condition requiring the home to submit a management plan which will include details of mitigation measures to ensure that shift changes do not disturb neighbours more than would be typically associated with a residential home.

In its planning documents, the applicant said that there is an “alarming shortage” of care facilities for people who are wheel-chair bound and that its scheme “would be welcomed”.

The WNC planning meeting will take place at 4pm, on August 6, at the council chamber in the Towcester Forum.

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