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Acting on behalf of Federal Estates, Prop-Search announces that East Northamptonshire Council Councillors have voted to approve a major planning application for a new 350,000 sq ft Innovation Park at Chelveston Renewable Energy Park, along with a 120 new houses at Higham Ferrers, which has been designed and optimised to use market leading technology in renewable energy.
The existing Chelveston Renewable Energy Park - the largest facility of its kind in the UK - generates wind and solar power, complimented by on-site power storage and hydrogen technologies. The highly innovative scheme will deliver renewable energy directly to businesses based at the new Innovation Energy Park. The significance of the site has been recognised in the recently publish Oxford Cambridge Arc Economic Prospectus, where it is identified as an exempla initiative for driving the Green Arc agenda, which seeks to significantly reduce the nation’s carbon footprint over the coming years.
Cllr Steven North, Leader of East Northamptonshire Council said: “The existing development at Chelveston Renewable Energy Park is already a huge benefit to our area and further afield and this new development will be an excellent addition.”
“The Innovation Park, alongside the nearby housing development, truly is cutting edge and will put East Northants on the map; drawing in high energy consuming businesses from far and wide who want to be powered by renewable energy, whilst also benefitting local residents with the addition of new jobs and much needed sustainable new housing.”
Simon Toseland, a Director of Prop-Search, acting for Federal Estates commented: “We are delighted that our client’s proposals for the projects at Chelveston and Higham Ferrers have been recognised and approved by East Northants Council. The proposals demonstrate that the integration of locally generated renewable energy into both domestic and employment platforms is now deliverable, creating a market leading project on a national basis. We will deliver these schemes that contribute to a net zero carbon future, creating a unique eco-system for cutting edge businesses to locate and collaborate with the technologies already employed at Chelveston Renewable Energy Park.”
“We appreciated the open and positive approach to planning from the East Northants Planning Services and Economic Development teams, who worked closely with us from the pre-application stages.”
The Park is expected to be of significant interest to businesses with large power demands, seeking to lower their carbon profile, as well as the cost of that power via a direct wire feed from the energy park. There has already been interest from companies including one specialising in vertical farming, which is considerably more efficient than traditional methods and a specialist recycling plant.
The 120 new houses will utilise advanced technologies in renewable energy, including on-site solar and battery storage, which will deliver future proofed housing well above the standards required by the current and planned building regulations.
Prop-Search and Savills represented Federal Estates in the planning application, with Prop-Search retained to advise on the future development of the projects.