PLANNING CONTEXT

The proposed 99.9 MW solar farm and battery storage 100MW project will be located on RAF Desborough Airfield and will be considered through local planning by North Northamptonshire Council, rather than the National Planning Inspectorate (PINS). This means North Northants Council has direct responsibility for the decision, and community input is crucial to ensure careful siting and design that minimises disruption, protects the landscape, the environment and preserves views.

While national and regional examples show that solar and battery projects can significantly alter rural landscapes, affect farmland, and introduce new infrastructure, the project’s size means local voices can have a real impact. Key issues for villagers include the location of the grid connection running through the Welland Valley, potential construction impacts, and how any new infrastructure may affect the character and enjoyment of the surrounding countryside.

By engaging with North Northamptonshire Council’s planning process, residents can help ensure that any development balances renewable energy goals with the protection of our local environment and scenery.

On the left side is a UK renewable interactive map produced 5th July 2024, it shows the scales of various projects in the UK, using information available on the gov.uk website:  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/renewable-energy-planning-database-monthly-extract. On this website there is a link to see all the current renewable projects across the UK. The link to this map is here: https://data.barbour-abi.com/smart-map/repd/desnz/?type=repd