Updating of Facilities, Northampton Stadium, Brafield Road, Horton, NN7

Case Study Reference: CS23-02-04

Planning Authority: West Northamptonshire Council

Planning Reference: WNS/2022/2377/FUL and WNS/2023/0353/COND

Synopsis:

Given the sensitive nature of the development (residential) and the history of the site a contaminated land planning condition was attached to the decision notice for the proposed development.

The first stage of discharging the condition was to prepare a Phase I desk study report in order to determine if the site has the potential to be impacted by elevated levels of contamination, and to determine the source as well as the likelihood of the risk occurring.

A desk study determines what issues relating to historical contamination may affect the site, this is undertaken by reviewing the site history using a combination of O.S. maps, aerial, plates and street level imagery, a review of data held by regulatory bodies (Environment Agency, local authority, BGS etc.) as well as a site walkover survey.

The history of the site and surrounds were researched using a combination of Ordnance Survey (O.S.) maps, street level imagery and aerial plates, this revealed the site was initially undeveloped and by 1950 the site formed part of the land associated with Brafield Stadium.

The planning history of the site was reviewed as part of the desk based research and reports associated with any previous application were located and studied, no salient information was obtained.

The published geological maps identified the site as being underlain by the Oadby Member which in turn was underlain by limestone.

Data provided by regulatory bodies indicated that a pit was present on the site, a review of the dates indicated the stadium had been mistaken for an excavation.

On completion of the desk based research a site reconnaissance visit was undertaken, this confirmed the site formed part of the land associated with the race track.

Once the walkover survey was completed a qualitative risk assessment was undertaken on the potential sources of contamination identified in the desk study report in order to determine if any warranted further investigation, this concluded that given the nature of the development there were no credible sources of contamination / plausible pollution linkages were present, hence no further works were proposed.

The report was submitted to discharge the contaminated land planning condition (WNS/2023/0353/COND), the recommendations of the report were accepted and the condition discharged.