Weekley Hall Woods: Public inquiry underway

George Baird begins hearing eight days of evidence at the council offices in Thrapston

More than 180 representations have been made on the opening day of a public inquiry about plans to build warehouses in a wood.

A planning inspector, George Baird, has started hearing eight days of evidence about the proposal for Weekley Hall Woods in Kettering, Northamptonshire.

Mr Baird will report back to the government and a decision will be made.

It has been taken out of the local council's hands because it took too long to decide.

Buccleuch Property originally applied to build up to six warehouses on the land in 2020, and took legal action when no decision had been made three years later.

The company said it had "reluctantly concluded" an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate was "the only way forward".

Mr Baird told the hearing on Tuesday he would consider if the proposal would affect the character and appearance of the woods and whether biodiversity would suffer.

He added he would also examine whether the plan for warehouses in that area fitted in with the council's blueprint for the future, known as the core strategy.

Opening statements were made on behalf of the developers, campaigners and North Northamptonshire Council. (NNC)

'2,400 jobs'

Zack Simons, representing Buccleuch Property, said: "This is a much-needed scheme on a sustainably-located site allocated for the proposed uses in the council's core strategy".

"Over the next 10 years, the scheme will account for almost 2,400 jobs."

'Ticks no boxes'

David Forsdick KC, for NNC said the allocation was intended to be small-scale and the issue "is not just about the size of individual units, but the cumulative scale.

"The scheme ticks none of the essential boxes which justified the allocation of this land in the first place".

Campaigners brought their placards to the public inquiry

Paul Stinchcombe KC, for the Save Weekley Hall Wood (SWHW) campaign group, said: "It should be a plan-led system, not developer-led so that if and when the allocation is ultimately developed that development follows the development plan rather than defying it."

'Sanctuary of solace'

Representations were also heard from residents about what the site meant to them.

Tessa Sellick pleaded for the woods and meadows to be preserved.

"For over 30 years I've walked and cycled here, it is a sanctuary of solace," she said.

The inquiry is due to last eight days and will include one evening session to allow more people to speak.