A major warehouse and distribution development proposed for farmland near Thrapston in Northamptonshire is now under review by the government’s Planning Inspectorate after the local council failed to meet its decision deadline.
Equites Newlands (Thrapston East) Ltd submitted plans in 2022 to develop approximately 60 hectares of land at Castle Manor Farm, close to the A14. The proposal includes large-scale logistics units with a combined maximum floorspace of 200,000 square metres and building heights capped at 24 metres.
North Northamptonshire Council had until December 2024 to decide on the application but has taken no action, prompting the matter to proceed to appeal. The government will now assess the scheme in full.
The proposed site has drawn significant local opposition. Over 760 public objections have been lodged, alongside resistance from nearby parish councils and local campaign group Staunch, which cited environmental and infrastructure concerns. Only three letters of support were recorded.
While the exact layout of the full development remains undecided, the developer claims the project responds to strong regional demand for employment space along the A14 logistics corridor and could support around 2,700 new jobs.
Interested parties have until 16 May to submit comments, with a public hearing scheduled to begin on 8 July.
