Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed all of the members of the public who had attended the meeting.  He clarified that the meeting was not a planning meeting and would not be making any decisions on the Kettering Energy Park.

Apologies for non-attendance were received from Councillor Anne Lee.

The Chair invited those who wished to do so to declare any interests in respect of items on the agenda.

The following declaration of interest was made:

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 October 2023 were approved and signed as a correct record.

The Senior Planning Officer presented the report which informed Members of the feedback relating to the consultation on the Draft Masterplan Document for Kettering Energy Park.  The report also requested that Members consider the next steps in progression of the Masterplan.

At the invitation of the Chair, Mr Kevin Binley, Councillor Adrian Watts and Councillor Paul Rothe addressed the meeting.

The Chair thanked the speakers for their contributions and stated that it was important for the promotors to understand the concerns of local residents.  He thanked them for all of their work in putting their responses together.

Matthew Thomas of Michael Sparks Associates and Tony Watkins of First Renewable Ltd gave a presentation on the Kettering Energy Park.

During discussion, the following key points were noted:

i.        Members stated that they did not believe that the concerns raised at the Panel’s meeting earlier this year had yet been addressed. 

ii.       The scale of proposed B8 (Storage and Distribution) was not in conformity with the Joint Core Strategy (JCS).  The site had been identified as an energy park and not another B8 site and 78% of B8 was unacceptable.  The former Kettering Borough Council had wanted an energy park and there were other areas that could be extended for B8.

iii.      Highways was fundamental for the development.  Finedon would be particularly affected by traffic.  The existing Junction 11 of the A14 may not be able to cope with the increased traffic and the effect of large vehicles could already be seen on the structure of the highway in other areas.  There was concern that the highways assessment had not yet been seen. 

iv.      It was recognised that there was a need for some B8 in the area as North Northamptonshire was on the edge of the golden triangle for logistics.  The site had not been tested as an allocation for B8 and some further work was needed to be done.  It was important to ensure that uses for the site were complimentary.

v.       The Masterplan was the mechanism for the site and the promotors were responding.  There were time factors around the preparation of the new Local Plan which needed to be taken into account.

vi.      Members reiterated that the proposed level of B8 was not acceptable and much more work needed to be done.  The draft Masterplan needed to be brought back to the EAP before it was considered by a planning committee.

vii.     Consultation by the promotors needed to improve and they needed to take on board local concerns.  The promotors were encouraged to engage more with local communities.

The Chair thanked everyone for their contributions today.

RESOLVED:

(i)         To note the contents of the report.

(ii)       To note the comments made by the Public Speakers.

(iii)      That the Draft Masterplan document be brought back to a future meeting of the Planning Communities EAP.

The EAP noted the Executive Forward Plan for November 2023 to February 2024.

The Chair thanked the public, members and officers for their attendance and closed the meeting.

The meeting closed at 12noon.