Major plans unveiled to provide clean energy to 10,000 homes in Northampton via huge tunnel from village solar farm

Proposals have been submitted to install an underground grid connection cable between the Glassthorpe Solar Farm, between Harpole and Flore, and the Northampton West Substation located just off Countess Road, Dallington.

The project, spearheaded by EDF Renewables (EDFR), aims to facilitate the transmission of clean renewable energy from the solar farm to the national grid.

An EDF spokesman said the proposed development will have the capacity to power approximately 9,787 UK homes annually, with the initiative expected to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions by an estimated 21,408 tonnes per year, according to planning papers.

21,408 tonnes of CO2 per year is equivalent to the annual emissions from approximately 5,093 gasoline-powered vehicles driven for one year. It’s also equivalent to burning 23,584,440 pounds of coal or the energy use of 2,791 homes for one year.

Explaining why plans should be approved, EDF cited major climate change reports which emphasise the significance of transitioning to a low carbon economy and the role of renewable energy in accomplishing that goal, and also cited West Northants Council’s commitments to achieve Net Zero on all council operations by 2030 and extend this target to residents and businesses by 2045.

The construction of the underground grid connection is expected to take around six months to complete. Construction would be between 7am and 7pm from Monday to Friday and 7am to 1pm on Saturdays, with no work permitted on weekends or Bank Holidays.

According to plans, the nine kilometre grid connection route would run east/west underground from the Glassthorpe Solar Farm through several agricultural fields to join Glassthorpe Lane in Harpole.

From there, the grid connection route would join on to the A4500 before diverting along Bruce Street, in St James, opposite Franklin’s Gardens.

From Bruce Street, the connection would cross the A428 Harlestone Road and heading north to Vicarage Road. From there, it follows Vicarage Road, briefly veering north on Baring Road and Darlington Road. At Tintern Avenue, the route turns eastward before heading south into the Northampton West Substation compound.

Construction traffic would be routed south from Glassthorpe Hill Farm, using an access track to cross the M1 and A45, to reach Upper Heyford. From there, the construction traffic will travel east along Main Road, to connect with the A4500 and travel into Northampton.

A target decision date has been set for July 2.