The Strategic Planning Committee convened to discuss several planning applications, approving a storage and distribution building at Zone G, DIRFT, Crick, and an industrial and commercial development at Woolgrowers Field, Land North of Greens Norton Road, Towcester, subject to conditions. A decision on a renewable biomethane gas generation facility on Land to the West of A43 Buckingham Road, Evenley, was deferred.

Land to the West of A43 Buckingham Road, Evenley, NN13 5GH

The committee deferred a decision on planning application 2024/5352/MAF for the construction and operation of a renewable biomethane gas generation facility with associated infrastructure and works including highway access, landscaping and biodiversity enhancements. The reasons for the deferral are to be set out in the minutes.

The application had received objections from Evenley Parish Council, Croughton Parish Council, and CPRE Northamptonshire, while WNC Archaeology, Natural England, WNC Heritage and Conservation, WNC Ecology, the Lead Local Flood Authority, WNC Minerals and Waste, WNC Environmental Health, WNC Local Highways, and National Highways had raised no objections.

Zone G, DIRFT, Crick

The committee approved planning application 2025/1993/MAF for the construction of a storage and distribution building with ancillary office floorspace (Use Class B8¹) and ancillary buildings, with associated infrastructure works, drainage, access arrangements, internal roads, HGV and car parking, and hard and soft landscaping at Zone G, DIRFT, Crick.

The development, proposed by Prologis UK Limited, includes a 107,344 sq m warehouse building with a three-storey office, a two-storey security hub, a vehicle maintenance unit, and a recycling and reclamation unit. The warehouse building will be 594m in length and 170m wide and will incorporate a high bay element along 192 m of the southern end of the building. The maximum height of the building will be 33m across the high bay element. The remainder of the building will be 23m in height.

The committee approved the recommendations subject to conditions.

Woolgrowers Field, Land North of Greens Norton Road, Towcester

The committee approved planning application S/2020/2045/MAO for an outline application with all matters reserved except access, for industrial and commercial development including a potential car showroom, builders' merchants and an emergency services hub at Woolgrowers Field, Land North of Greens Norton Road, Towcester.

The application had received objections from Greens Norton Parish Council, Towcester Town Council, and Whittlebury Parish Council. WNC Planning Policy, WNC Highways, WNC Ecology, WNC Environmental Protection, WNC Heritage, WNC Archaeology, WNC External Funding Partnership, the Environment Agency, National Highways, Natural England, Historic England, the Lead Local Flood Authority, and Anglian Water had raised no objections, while WNC Economic Development was in support.

The committee approved the recommendations subject to conditions.

Councillor Fiona Baker, a local ward member for Brackley, had previously addressed the committee to object to a similar application on the grounds that it would overburden the local infrastructure.