Villagers raise concerns over plans to turn former Desborough airfield into solar farm
Plans to turn a former Second World War airfield in Desborough into a solar farm has been met with criticism by people living in the surrounding villages.
Innova Renewables Limited submitted a planning application to North Northamptonshire Council in June to turn the land in Desborough Road, Stoke Albany into a large scale solar farm with battery storage.
The plans include installing underground cables, a substation and an energy storage system to maximise the energy yield from the panels across 255 hectares (630 acres).
There have been more than 300 comments on the planning portal, with many raising concerns about the environmental impact of the development.
Friends of the Airfield and the Valley, a cross-community group against the proposals, has submitted 21 objections to the application and held a meeting at Wilbarston Parish Council about the plans.
Ann Dowling, 74, lives in nearby Wilbarston and claims she was ‘horrified’ when she saw the plans.
Ann explained: “It’s a huge development.”
“It would spoil the view, particularly for people from the Harborough side of the valley. It would just be awful.”
A smaller solar farm was approved for the airfield in 2018, but campaigners say the new plans go too far.
Ann said: “I’m for solar. I really am, but solar belongs on roofs.”
“There’s plenty of room for the wildlife, plenty of room for people to walk - and then suddenly this huge development came in.”
If approved, the site could house around 117,000 solar panels covering the equivalent of 226 football pitches, according to Ann.