Gayton Solar Farm
Development of a 49.99MW solar farm on the land at Milton Road, Northamptonshire, NN7 3ER.
Anesco Limited is proposing to develop a 49.99MW solar farm on 70ha of land at Milton Road, Northamptonshire, NN7 3ER. The proposal involves the construction and operation of a solar installation that will connect into the local electricity network, comprising solar modules, solar inverters and associated works, including landscaping.
Further detail on the proposed development is set out below
Project update (February 2023)
Following pre-application discussions, EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) Screening, and public consultation in 2021 we submitted our planning application for the development. Unfortunately the planning application was refused by West Northamptonshire Council, and having considered options we have submitted an ‘Appeal’ against the decision.
The Appeal will be considered later this year by the independent Planning Inspectorate, and further details will be provided in due course.
In submitting the Appeal, we have sought to make minor changes to the proposed development which includes:
- Reducing the area of panels in the north eastern area of the northern parcel, close to Milton Road.
- Rationalising and reviewing the overall layout of the panels.
- Introducing additional tree planting landscaping in the aforementioned north eastern area.
- Providing additional tree planting and landscaping in the southern area of the site close to where the Milton Road bridge crosses the Grand Union Canal.
- Making other minor beneficial changes to the landscaping within the site.
We will be asking the Planning Inspector to consider the Appeal based upon these revised plans and not the plans previously presented in April 2021. Therefore, this is the opportunity for you to provide comments on these amended plans.
The revised plans and maps are available here:
How to comment on the revised plans:
Comments on these revised plans should be submitted here or via the link at the bottom of website.
You can also write to us by email to [email protected], or by post to: Gayton Development, c/o Anesco Ltd, Easter Park, Benyon Road, Aldermaston, RG7 2PQ.
Comments should be submitted by 10th March 2023.
Previous plans:
To access the previous site maps and plans click on the links below:
Previous consultation information
Live webinar 10th June 2021
Residents were able to express their views at a live webinar that was held at 7pm on 10th June 2021.
The webinar can be viewed by clicking HERE
We distributed leaflets to to the surrounding area in advance of the webinar confirming how to take part in the event.
Climate change emergency
In June 2019, the UK government became the first major economy in the world to pass laws to end its contribution to global warming by 2050. What this means is that by this date, the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions will be carbon neutral, creating a better environment now, and for generations to come.
Carbon neutral is about finding a balance between the total greenhouse gas emissions being produced, and the total emissions being removed from the environment. This commitment to becoming carbon neutral is a substantial increase on the UK’s previous target and comes at a time when pressure is building on governments to recognise and take urgent action in light of the climate emergency.
About solar technology
Solar is the most popular renewable technology in the world and is an incredibly clean source of renewable energy. Unlike other renewable technologies, solar panels have no moving parts and therefore operate silently. They are also low in height and can be hidden behind hedgerows or fencing, minimising the visual impact on the landscape.
The Gayton solar project
The Gayton solar project is expected to power approximately 13,344 average UK homes. Furthermore,
the project is expected to generate 54,123MWh per annum which is anticipated to save over 11,840 tonnes
of CO2 emissions per annum. Projects of this kind also present biodiversity enhancement opportunities.
The proposed site is not located within an AONB (Area Outstanding Natural Beauty), Greenbelt, National Park or other designated landscape area, and it is set away from heritage designations and features. Anesco has started engagement with the local parish council and welcome opportunities to engage with local schools to provide tours of the solar farm in future.
Biodiversity enhancements
The RSPB ‘State of Nature Report’ highlights the severity of the decline in British wildlife. It details that of the 8,431 species that have been assessed using regional Red List criteria, 15% have been classified as threatened with extinction from Great Britain. Climate change is driving widespread changes in the abundance, distribution, and ecology of the UK’s wildlife, and will continue to do so for decades or even centuries to come.
Solar farms present an excellent opportunity for biodiversity. The proposed solar farm will be installed on piles with minimal disturbance to the ground. The solar panels have no moving parts and the infrastructure typically disturbs less than 5% of the ground. The posts upon which the panels are mounted take up less than 1% of the land area. Because panels are raised above the ground on posts, more than 95% of a solar farm field area is still accessible for plant growth and potentially for wildlife enhancements. The proposed solar farm would have a lifespan of 40 years which is sufficient time for appropriate land management to yield real wildlife and biodiversity improvements within the local area.
A site-specific biodiversity plan will be devised to cover the lifetime of the proposed solar farm, working closely with the ecologists, and conservation organisations to ensure that the biodiversity enhancements are most appropriate to the local area.
FEEDBACK
Click here to provide your comments. All comments should be submitted by 10th March 2023.
THANK YOU
Clean green technology
Supports biodiversity
Saving 11,840 tonnes of Co2 per annum
Powering 13,344 homes
