KEY PRINCIPLES OF THE MASTERPLAN

A range of studies have been undertaken to assess the site covering ecology, highways, landscape, heritage and drainage.These studies have identified that the least constrained area of the site is located to the east of the wind turbines and close to the A510. The emerging masterplan has been developed alongside a Green Infrastructure Strategy to incorporate extensive areas of landscaping to help the development integrate with the surroundings. This landscape led approach will also support biodiversity, provide opportunities for habitat creation, drainage, and provision of amenity areas.

SUMMARY

It is anticipated that the Energy Park will be based on the following key principles:

  • Provision of additional energy infrastructure to increase resilience, such as battery storage and further solar PV, including on the roof of new buildings.
  • Vehicular Access from Thrapston Road into the Energy Park Site
  • Accommodate businesses that have high energy demands as well as other uses that will benefit from the on-site renewable energy.
  • Provision of landscape buffers around the site incorporating a variety of soft landscape to provide screening and help the Energy Park integrate into the surroundings
  • Minimum requirement for 50% of all energy consumed at the Energy Park to be provided by the on-site renewable technologies
  • Provision of up to 400,000 sq m of new employment space
  • Alignment of Wold Road retained to form main estate road with new/improved pedestrian/cyclist links
  • Provision of modern, energy and water efficient employment premises
  • Flexibility to incorporate a mix of uses
  • Minimum Biodiversity enhancement of 10%
  • Investment to improve sustainable transport opportunities
Image of a hedge row

New planting will help the Energy Park integrate into its surroundings

Minimum 50% of energy consumed will be generated on-site

Minimum 50% of energy consumed will be generated on-site

Sustainable transport opportunities will be improved

Sustainable transport opportunities will be improved

POTENTIAL USES

It is proposed that the following uses could potentially be accommodated at the Energy Park:

  • Manufacturing
  • Offices
  • Research and Development
  • High Tech Industries
  • Logistics/storage uses with a high energy demand
  • Sectors involved in the transition to the low/zero carbon society
  • Other sectors with a high energy demand, for example, those requiring extensive cooling, heating or with automation
  • Additional renewable/low carbon energy production and storage
  • Potential for Hydroponics/innovative agricultural systems