Decision details

 That the Executive:

a)    Endorsed the Regulation 11 Notice to submit a draft statutory consultation response on the Preliminary Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) in regard to the proposed Green Hill Solar Farm.

b)    Delegated authority to the Executive Director of Place and Economy, in consultation with the Executive Member for Growth and Regeneration, to respond to consultations and engagement from the developer and the Planning Inspectorate (including the Examining Authority) during the following Development Consent Order stages: Pre-application; Acceptance; Pre-Examination; Examination; and Post-Examination.

c)    Delegated authority to the Executive Director of Place and Economy to deal with post-decision matters (if development consent is granted) including matters such as determination of applications under the Development Consent Order consenting regime and enforcement in respect of any Development Consent Order granted by the Secretary of State.  

Reason for Recommendations –

·       To adhere to the guidance set down by the Planning Inspectorate to ensure adequate delegations are in place to enable the Council to represent the interests of North Northamptonshire Council as ‘Host Authority’ and participate in the Development Consent Order stages within the tight formal timeframes.

Alternative Options Considered –

·       It has been considered whether the authority of the Executive should be sought at each of the different stages of the Development Consent Order process. This has been rejected due to the need to meet statutory timescales and the risk that the impacts of the development on North Northamptonshire’s local communities would not be fully considered.

·       The Council could also decide not to respond further to the Development Consent Order process. This course of action is not recommended due to the risk that the impacts of the development on North Northamptonshire’s local communities would not be fully considered and any opportunity to secure mitigation for the impacts would be lost should consent be granted. Furthermore, this option is likely to be reputationally damaging to the Council, especially given its status as a ‘Statutory Consultee’ and ‘Host Authority’.