Latest news with #Towcester
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
New facilities will nearly double Towcester school in size
A secondary school will nearly double in size when a range of new facilities based in a previously abandoned building Gateway School in Tiffield, near Towcester, Northamptonshire, educates 11-18 year-olds with additional social, emotional and mental health facilities, opening in September, will include a gym, food technology suite, science rooms, a drama studio, a multi-use games area and a horticulture area. "We are thrilled to unveil these new spaces, which have been thoughtfully designed to meet the evolving needs of our students," said Conor Renihan, the school's executive head teacher. "This expansion allows us to offer a richer, more diverse curriculum and a nurturing environment where every pupil can feel valued and supported." The existing sports hall and pool has been refurbished as part of the plans. The new facilities will complement the school's existing specialist areas for craft design and technology, art, music, motor vehicles, bricklaying, and hair and beauty."The long-term aim is to help students thrive, laying the foundation for successful adult lives beyond the school gates," West Northamptonshire Council said. Kathryn Shaw, a Reform UK councillor and the cabinet member for children, families and education at the authority, said: "This expansion is a vital investment in our pupils' futures."It's inspiring to see how this development will empower pupils to reach their full potential in the new school year." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
08-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Council ordered to pay costs after turning down Towcester plans
A council has been told to pay some of a developer's costs after the refusal of planning permission for a business development was overturned on Planning Inspectorate said West Northamptonshire Council acted "unreasonably" when it rejected proposals for an 11-acre (about 4.5-hectare) business and logistics zone next to Bell Plantation garden centre in Alban Mann has won a partial award of its council has been contacted for comment. It turned down the plans in 2024 despite receiving a recommendation to approve the of a two-day inquiry into the decision last month, the council withdrew its refusal reasons and did not participate in the the inquiry, the Planning Inspectorate said the project could go Smith, the inspector, said: "I find that the council's unreasonable imposition of its first reason for refusing planning permission led to unnecessary expense being incurred in the appeal process."The move followed a separate case involving a nearby DHL warehouse site, in which an appeal found that the development should have been allowed. According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, that appeal is understood to have cost the council nearly £170,000 in legal fees. 'Unnecessary expense' The inspector ruled that one of the council's reasons for refusal – the visual impact of tall buildings – was "unreasonable" since the land had already been allocated for employment ruling stated the council's actions caused the developer "unnecessary expense", as it had to prepare expert evidence that ultimately wasn't required.A second reason for refusal, about the potential impact on traffic, was also rejected. Outline planning permission has now been granted and the development is expected to include more than a dozen industrial units and could create about 500 full-time jobs. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
07-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Towcester Community Larder to hand out leftover Silverstone food
More than eight tonnes of leftover food from the British Grand Prix have been saved from landfill and are to be given out to local Community Larder will distribute the food collected from Silverstone Circuit at an event on Islington Road from 18:00 is the fifth year that the larder has organised a "food rescue" mission, with about 500 people taking advantage of last year's Steele from the larder said the event was free and "open to everyone", but prioritised those in hardship as well as school, council and social housing networks. Ms Steele told BBC Radio Northampton's Liz Jeeves: "For a scale of a pop-up like this, we really need to open it up to everyone to make sure that the food goes out instead of being wasted."The leftovers have been collected by a team of food-hygiene trained volunteers before being sorted and stored ahead of the pop-up event. The food is taken from caterers who operated at the Grand Prix. Last year it included fruit, vegetables, pastries and cold meatsThe first rescue mission four years ago involved just two cars but Ms Steele said the scale of the operation had "massively, massively increased".She said: "It's definitely changed a lot over those four years, but hopefully we've got better at it."We've got a bigger team that goes and we can make the most [of it] and get as much as we possibly can without any going in the bin."Queues are expected at the pop-up event, and Towcester Community Larder said it would share updates on its Facebook larders exist to reduce unsold food and pass it on to members who pay a small subscription. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Cocktail bar in former Towcester Lloyds Bank building approved
A former high street bank is set to be turned into a cocktail bar after a council granted planning permission, despite objections from nearby Vault Cocktail Lounge in Towcester, Northamptonshire, at the site of the former Lloyds Bank on Watling Street East, had already been granted a licence to service Northamptonshire Council approved the planning application, bringing the site back into applicant Jenny Hunter told a planning committee the venue would be "breathing new life" into the building. The Local Democracy Reporting Service said the committee heard objections to the proposals on behalf of local residents, who raised concerns about the closeness of the drinking establishment and its outside courtyard to their homes and the potential for noise and antisocial letters of objection were raised in response to the cocktail lounge Town Council submitted its own objections to the plans, also questioning the venue's proximity to existing residential neighbours, which it said would be "incompatible". But Ms Hunter said: "While some may wish the bank to return, retail has shifted and hospitality is one of the few viable uses for this space."This is also not a pub or a sports bar, but a small, mixed-age, dog-friendly space for the community to gather perhaps for a drink before or after dinner."The benefits are clear."The planning permission was granted with a series of conditions, including a noise management plan, which must be approved prior to the opening of the bar. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
25-06-2025
- BBC News
'Illegal activities' house closed down in Towcester
A house that was the subject of persistent complaints about illegal activities has been closed down.A three-month closure order is now in force at the property on Willis Way in Towcester, who enters the building could be arrested for breaching the Police said getting a closure order was always "a last resort". Northamptonshire Police said they had been responding to reports of "drug-related criminality and associated anti-social behaviour" at the house since April force added that the issues were "causing misery to other residents and the wider community" and it had worked with West Northamptonshire Council to gather information about the "impact the escalating behaviour was having on others".With assistance from the council and housing association, Amplius, the force applied for a closure order, which was granted on 16 June at Northampton Magistrates' house was boarded up, and the tenant moved out. Anyone who enters it before 16 September could be Lorna Clarke of the Towcester Neighbourhood Policing Team said: "The issues associated with this property were causing real harm and distress to those living nearby and the wider community."We do not take the decision to apply for a closure order lightly, and it will always be a last resort once all other avenues have been exhausted." Fay Hirel, director of housing and healthy communities at Amplius, said: "We're committed to ensuring all our customers can live in a safe and welcoming community."Where we have evidence of anti-social behaviour, we'll work with our partner agencies to take the relevant tenancy and legal action against the perpetrators to help us achieve this." Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
