Plans to build on land near renewable energy park in East Northants approved

Proposals to construct a manufacturing building with storage and office facilities, staff parking and HGV parking at Chelveston Renewable Energy Park based at Chelveston Airfield had been submitted by Wykes Engineering.

The plans led to East Northants Council receiving 22 letters of objection from neighbours, with concerns including increased traffic activity, visual and environmental impacts and loss of agricultural land.

But despite this, the plans were recommended for approval by planning officers and members of the council’s planning management committee gave them the go-ahead at a meeting last week.

During discussion of the plans, Cllr Dudley Hughes said the application was against the core spatial strategy and he said he feels there are enough industrial parks in and around the Raunds area already.

He said: “I object to this, I think it is misuse of that site.

“We will end up with 20 sheds on there and it will end up as another Warth Park.

“I think we should object to it.”

Planning documents stated that one of the buildings will be used to manufacture photovoltaic panels and frames and the other building will be used as office space to meet the administration needs of the site.

The two buildings will be south of the existing biomass facility and completely surrounded by existing solar arrays.

Despite the objections raised by neighbours and one councillor voting against the application, the plans were approved.