Daventry

Orbit Homes, one of the country’s largest housing groups, has acquired Landform’s site in Daventry, Northamptonshire, on which to build 450 new homes as well as providing community facilities and land for a new primary school.

Site area
95 acres / 38 hectares

Housing units
450 + 250 dwellings

Use
25% social housing
70% private housing
5% self-build

Planning district
Daventry District Council

Status
Outline consent granted

Wider community benefits
5 acres for new primary school plus £900,000 for modernisation of the Phoenix Youth Centre

Landform is working on an adjoining second phase of land measuring approximately 12.5 acres (5 ha), which is part of an area allocated in the Daventry DC Local Plan for 250 units and an outline planning application is being prepared. Site preparation works of the Orbit first phase started in spring 2020 and construction of the first houses began in September 2021. Sales are already underway.

Mickle Well Park, Daventry will include 450 new homes of mixed tenure, of which a 112 will be for affordable housing and shared ownership. The new homes will be a mixture of apartments and two to five bedroomed houses. There are also 24 serviced plots for self-build or custom-built homes.

The rising topography of the site and the woodland areas, whilst technically challenging, provide an attractive natural setting in which Orbit will be able to create an exciting and diverse range of housing.

As part of the planning consent substantial contributions are being made to the local community through a Section 106 package, which includes £900,000 for the modernisation of the Phoenix Youth Centre, which is a national centre of excellence for gymnastics training. Since completion of the refurbishment of the Phoenix in 2019, the club is thriving with membership doubling from 600 to 1200.

5 acres (2ha) of land has been gifted to Northamptonshire County Council for a new two-form entry primary school, with places for up to 420 children and ownership of 3 acres (1.25ha) of land at Bridge Spinneys has been transferred to the local Scouts & Guides group for use as their permanent outdoor activities centre.

“Local people can benefit directly from developments like this. Usually there’s no dispute that new housing is needed and once we are able to talk to local residents, we can identify benefits that can meet their needs. In this way value is increased for everyone.”

Tom Symes

Landform director