Green light for renewable energy generating station

An application proposing the creation of a renewable energy generating station in West Northamptonshire has been green lit.RPS Elgin Energy brought forward plans for land to the south of Fawsley Hotel and Spa, Fawsley.The application site extends to about 59.7 acres and is used as pasture.The development, with an export capacity of up to 12MW, has the potential to provide approximately enough clean electricity to power 4,600 average family homes or 5,300 electric vehicles.A report for the committee said: “In assessing this application your officers have considered the impacts of the development, including the local landscape, heritage and the natural environment.”Though finding that there will be limited harm to the landscape character of the area, it has been assessed that this limited harm is well mitigated and, when balanced against the significant weight to be applied to the provision of solar farms, it is felt that the limited landscape harm is outweighed.”The scheme was approved, subject to conditions.