Northants council raises concerns over Government's new planning changes
Concerns have been raised by North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) over the Government's new planning changes and whether it will make it more difficult to turn down large strategic developments, such as the Kettering Energy Park.
The local authority discussed its response to the proposed changes last week on Wednesday (September 11). Alongside increased housing targets which will require NNC to build more than 2,000 homes a year, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) also places emphasis on what it deems valuable in other larger developments.
Chair Cllr David Brackenbury told the committee meeting: "One thing that does concern me is the potential for the secretary of state to get involved in strategic development.
"I think we’re all aware of a very substantial renewable energy project in West Northamptonshire. We are the local planning authority and I think there should be the presumption that we do our own placemaking."
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Cllr Robin Carter asked about the upcoming proposals for the Kettering Energy Park and if the planning changes would make it easier to go forward.
The development, which has not officially submitted plans but has already generated controversy, campaigns and petitions locally, would cover an area of 550 football pitches on a site close to Burton Latimer. The site would expand an existing wind farm, tacking on solar farms and warehouses up to 25m tall.
Developers First Renewables say the park will improve resilience in the energy network, but objectors say it is nothing more than a 'greenwashing' tactic.
Simon James, strategic policy manager at NNC said: "I think the package of proposals would lend national policy to support such schemes because the proposed changes are very positive towards renewable energy, strong emphasis on economic growth etcetera.
"But that’s not necessarily to say that there’s a green light for anything because there’s the usual considerations- you know the development plan, material considerations.
"Certainly the whole package is more supportive and provides more national policy weight behind the scheme, but obviously the council is still the decision maker of any proposal."
The Government is proposing amendments to direct decision-makers to give "significant weight" to the benefits associated with renewable and low-carbon energy generation, and proposals contributing to meeting a net zero future.
Cllr Steven North added: "I fear that maybe there’ll be less involvement of members going forward in the future. It seems to be heading that way."
Cllr Brackenbury replied: "I would certainly agree with that, but I would also say this government policy covers the whole country and as a local planning authority we are in a much much better position than so many other local authorities.
"The secretary of state has said that she will be using her powers to intervene where delivery does not take place.
"Fortunately in our area, because of our successful 20-year period of growth and delivery of housing and indeed commercial development, we are in a much better position.
"It doesn't mean we’re out of jail, doesn’t mean we could not have the secretary of state intervening on strategic development, but the secretary of state’s eyes have got to be elsewhere in the country as well and that I think may help.
"In the end, we do have to work with the realities we’ve got and we do have to come up with a local plan that covers our placemaking agenda and what we want to achieve here in North Northamptonshire."
The Government's new planning policy has also proposed setting a new threshold at which point onshore wind developments are determined as nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs). This would mean they therefore fall into the hands of the government over local authorities.
The proposed thresholds would be 100 megawatts for onshore wind and 150 megawatts for solar projects.
According to NNC planning officers, Kettering Energy Park would deliver 50MW of solar power so would be retained by the council to make planning decisions.
However, another controversial development Green Hill Solar Farm would fall into the NSIP category as it would provide a maximum power output of 500MW. The project spans multiple sites across the Northamptonshire countryside from Lavendon to Walgrave and would be one of the biggest in the UK if approved.
Both green energy developments will be subject to further public consultation before any decisions are made.
A final response on the updated planning policy will be agreed upon by Cllr Brackenbury, executive member for growth and regeneration, and George Candler, the executive director of place and economy, by September 24.
The Government has said it will respond to the consultation and publish revisions to the NPPF before the end of the year so that policy changes can take effect as soon as possible.