Images show planned Northampton power station would '˜dominate' skyline

Rolton Kilbride had already released a series of images showing how its £120 million gasification plant earmarked for the Westbridge Depot in St James would look against a plain green background.

But this week, campaign group No Incinerator in St James, released “to scale” mock up 3D drawings of the plant against the Northampton skyline, using Google Earth.

The pictures showed a simplified red cuboid towering above the town, complete with the proposed 80 metre high chimney stack.

Now Rolton Kilbride has released its own images using one of their own proposed designs in context.

But Tony Clarke of the action group, has described the building as “monstrous.”

He said: “You can argue or disagree about its architectural merits as much as you want.

“But you cannot escape the fact that it is a 200,000 tonne power plant in the centre of town.

“It will dominate the local skyline.”

Another action group member, Brian Calder, said: “The sheer size of it is a monstrous sight. What is it going to do to your local property value?”

The Chron has seen copies of a visual impact study of the proposed plant, which shows it would be visble from as far away as Althorp.

Rolton Klbride says the plant needs to be that size based on the amount of waste it will take and the need for power in the local area.

“To maximise the power and heat available and to get the lowest emissions we are using a vertical gasifier - this is what determines the height of the main building,” a spokeswoman said.

Brian Binley, who will, if the plan is passed, head the community interest company selling the wholesale energy onto the public, claims its benefits will be equally “enormous.”

“I believe this energy centre will be of massive benefit to Northampton and its citizens over a long period of time,” he said.

“Its benefits are enormous, including cheaper power for our public buildings and some of our businesses in the Enterprise Zone.

“It will also use any profit from the sale of power to enhance the built environment. It will also provide cheap heat for up to 2,000 homes in areas where considerable fuel poverty exists.

“It is vital that we take a balanced view of this issue and that is exactly what the planning authorities will do over a period of months following receipt of the planning application on 29th April.”