Solar farm near Rushden Lakes approved after appeal

A solar farm on land near Rushden Lakes has been approved on appeal.

North Northamptonshire Council failed to issue a decision on the 20-hectare (49.4-acre) solar development on land to the east of Ditchford Road, between Wellingborough and Irthlingborough, due to concerns about how the scheme would affect the habitat of protected birds.

Applicant Innova Renewables Development Ltd took the Reform UK-controlled council to appeal over its indecisiveness in November last year.

The government's planning inspectorate concluded the site did not represent "functionally linked land" (FLL) used by wintering waterbirds, and plans could go ahead.

A decision notice, when the appeal was lodged, said the effect of the proposal on Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits Special Protection Area, which provides resting and feeding areas for over 20,000 birds, was an outstanding issue, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reported.

The appeal site, located within 100 metres of the protection area, had the potential to be classed as FLL for species such as lapwing and golden plover.

However, further wintering bird surveys undertaken at the start of 2026 reaffirmed previous survey results from 2024 and 2025, that no protected birds had been recorded there at any point.

The inspector concluded that the site does not represent FLL, with both Natural England and the council's ecologist confirming they were satisfied with the results.

He also dismissed other representations from interested parties regarding concerns about the visual and landscape impacts of the solar project due to the site's proximity to the large retail and leisure development at Rushden Lakes and the adjacent sewage works.

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