The Strategic Planning Committee convened to discuss and approve recommendations for a major residential development and a large solar farm project. Councillors approved the reserved matters for land at Towcester Vale relating to the main local centre, and agreed the position for the Green Hill Solar Farm as set out in the officer's report, subject to additional comments.

Green Hill Solar Farm

The committee agreed the recommendations outlined in the officer's report regarding the Green Hill Solar Farm Development Consent Order (DCO) application, subject to additional comments that will be detailed in the minutes. The application seeks permission to construct, operate, and decommission a ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) panel array energy generating facility, a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), and supporting infrastructure.

The Green Hill Solar Farm project, proposed by Island Green Power, spans nine sites, covering approximately 1,200 hectares, with a total order limit of approximately 1,441.4 hectares, including cable routes and environmental mitigation areas. While the majority of the development falls within North Northamptonshire Council's boundary, three sites, Green Hill A, A.2, and B, are located within West Northamptonshire, covering a combined area of 303.6 hectares.

Due to its scale, the project is classified as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP), requiring a Development Consent Order (DCO). West Northamptonshire Council is acting as a statutory consultee and 'Host Authority' in this process, with the final decision resting with the Secretary of State for the Department of Energy, Security and Net Zero, based on recommendations from the Planning Inspectorate.

The report sought delegated authority for the Assistant Director of Planning, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning & Communities and the Chair of Strategic Planning Committee, to respond to consultations and engagement from the applicant and the Planning Inspectorate during the DCO stages. This delegation aims to ensure that local knowledge and community interests are clearly presented and considered throughout the process.

The DCO process involves several stages, including pre-application, acceptance, pre-examination, examination, decision, and post-decision. The council has already engaged with the applicant during the pre-application stage, and has registered as an Interested Party and submitted initial comments. A Local Impact Report is being prepared, along with engagement with the applicant's consultants for a Statement of Common Ground.

The proposed solar farm has a generating capacity of approximately 500MW and includes battery storage. It would connect to the existing Grendon substation, with an anticipated operational phase of 60 years. The project includes various elements, such as solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, substations, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), and a cable route corridor.

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) submitted with the application covers a range of environmental matters, including landscape and visual impact, ecology and biodiversity, hydrology, cultural heritage, and transport.

Land at Towcester Vale, Towcester

The committee approved the reserved matters for application 2025/1448/MAR, concerning land at Towcester Vale, Towcester. The application sought approval for access, appearance, landscaping, layout, and scale for the main local centre, comprising a convenience store, six shop units, six flats, and five houses, pursuant to outline application S/2007/0374/OUTWNS.

The application site is part of the Towcester South Sustainable Urban Extension (SUE), a 180-hectare area on the southern side of the town. The specific site is opposite Marie Weller Primary School and a new care home currently under construction.

The development includes a convenience/food store, six smaller retail units, six two-bedroom flats above the shop units, and a terrace of five dwellings. A communal car park is provided for the local centre, including EV charging and disabled spaces, as well as cycle storage. Separate parking is provided for the residential units, accessed through existing shared parking courts.

The local centre scheme does not include the children's nursery stipulated in the outline planning permission, but a vacant space has been left on the Lincoln Street frontage for future delivery.

The committee considered the principle of development, design compliance with the Design Code, highway safety and parking, and crime prevention.

Several consultees raised no objections, including Towcester Town Council, WNC Highways, WNC Environmental Protection, Crime Prevention Design Advisor, and the Lead Local Flood Authority. Two letters of objection and two letters of support were received from the public.

The committee found that the proposal aligns with the relevant policies in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), the adopted Local Plan, and other relevant guidance. The design approach comprises a traditional parade of small retail units with flats above, finished in a Victorian style, as well as a separate, single-storey building containing the larger food/convenience store, finished in a traditional industrial style. The terrace of five dwellings is consistent with the Design Code requirements for residential dwellings across the wider development.

The committee also considered the impact on trees, ecology and biodiversity, flooding and drainage provisions, residential amenity, and designing out crime.

The Crime Prevention Design Advisor (CPDA) noted that local centres can be a source of nuisance and anti-social behaviour. As a result, the committee agreed to secure the following via conditions:

• The bin storage (both commercial and for the flats) to be protected by a security-rated door set.
• Details of all external lighting.
• Communal access doors into the flats to be controlled by a door entry access control system with no 'trades' buttons.
• External post boxes to be provided adjacent to the communal access doors for the flats.

Relevant Planning Policy and Guidance

The committee considered the following planning policies and guidance documents when making their decisions:

• National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF)
• Planning Practice Guidance (PPG)
• The approved Design Codes for this part of the development
• West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy Local Plan (Part 1)
• South Northamptonshire Local Plan (Part 2)
• Emerging West Northamptonshire Local Plan