For nearly 1300 years All Saints Church, Brixworth has dominated the local landscape.  Like many early monastery sites it was set on the top of the hill, and pilgrims and travelers would have  used it as a guide to help them on their way .A.W. Clapham (1930) described the church as ‘perhaps the most imposing architectural memorial of the seventh century surviving north of the Alps’. In modern times it has continued to be the dominant feature of the landscape, and these views of the church are familiar and treasured by many people in the area.  They do not want to see this ancient landmark dwarfed or dominated by modern structures three times its height.

The windfarm site is in a Special Landscape Area as designated in the Daventry District Local Plan 1997 (which covered the period 1997-mid 2006 and has not yet been replaced).  Environment Policy EN 3.4 directs that the District Council in considering new development should “have regard to the extent the proposals respect the amenity and character of settlement and the landscape of the District”.  EN 3.5 states that the “layout of new developments should reflect as far as possible the existing vernacular of the District, particularly in the Special Landscape Areas and Conservation Areas. It is also important to ensure that new development does not intrude into the settings of important buildings or groups of buildings, or into prominent landscape features and views.” *

The landscape of Northamptonshire is beautiful; it has a quiet beauty much valued by its inhabitants. Northamptonshire lacks National Parks and Areas designated as of Outstanding Natural Beauty, but for that very reason its best landscapes need to be protected. All Saints Church has been seen on the horizon from Brixworth and the surrounding villages of Hanging Houghton, Spratton, Holcot, Cottesbrooke, and Haselbech for over a thousand years. The proposed windfarm would intrude into the setting of this Special Landscape and into the distant views of the church so valued by local people. In 2004 the view from the A508 approaching from the north was specifically referred to as needing preservation in the Brixworth Village Design Statement.**

This heritage has been bequeathed to us by past generations – it comes to us free to spoil or to preserve.  We should not be tempted by a windfarm which claims to be creating “free” energy. In fact it would produce a minimal power supply, with a huge carbon footprint, at the cost of a large subsidy, paid by us through our electricity bills.

* Policy EN1 states. “IN RECOGNITION OF THEIR SPECIAL ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITIES, CERTAIN AREAS ARE DESIGNATED ON THE PROPOSALS MAP AS SPECIAL LANDSCAPE AREAS. IN THESE AREAS PLANNING PERMISSION WILL NORMALLY BE GRANTED FOR DEVELOPMENT PROVIDED THAT:  D. IT DOES NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT THE CHARACTER OF THE LOCAL LANDSCAPE.”

*Policy EN7 states “THE DISTRICT COUNCIL WILL REQUIRE THAT ANY DEVELOPMENT INVOLVING OR AFFECTING A BUILDING LISTED OF SPECIAL ARCHITECTURAL OR HISTORIC INTEREST HAS PROPER REGARD TO THE SCALE, FORM, DESIGN AND SETTING OF THAT BUILDING.” and EN7 3.23 states “The actual setting of an individual Listed Building is often an essential feature of its character.”

** The Brixworth Village Design Statement was adopted in September 2004 as supplementary planning guidance by the Parish Council and the District Council.  Landscape Guideline LG1 states “Views identified by this design statement all need to be protected and enhanced….. The Saxon Church dominates the Brixworth skyline from many directions and views of the church both from within and from outside the village ……need to be protected.  The view of the church approached form the north along the A508 is especially vulnerable and development …………must proceed very sensitively to the preserve this.”