Plans for £15m Northamptonshire marina and wildlife haven

Barby Pool Marina is a 36 hectre site which will have half of its land dedicated to wildlife

A new £15m inland marina with 550 berths and a wildlife haven could be built in Northamptonshire.

Barby Pool Marina at Onley Park, near Daventry, has been designed by the Kirkland Fraser Moor partnership which was responsible for the Eden project.

The 36 hectare (89 acre) site will have half of its land dedicated to wildlife and 4km of new footpaths.

Daventry District Council recently received a planning application from J Marine Ltd.

The company initially carried out a feasibility study, which was approved by British Waterways in 2007.

Company Director Joseph Oliver said: "The project has the potential to deliver substantial boating, ecological and community benefits."

Dawn Cotton, secretary to Onley Park residents association, said: "This could alter the image of the village which will become known as the village located next to the marina rather than its current status as the village situated next to three prisons."