Motocross track on course for planning approval near Crick

Councillors look set to approve a planning application for a new motocross track near Crick.
An artist's impression of the track, the M1 is in the backgroundAn artist's impression of the track, the M1 is in the background
An artist's impression of the track, the M1 is in the background

The application, for land to the north of Rugby Road, will be discussed by Daventry District Council’s planning committee on Wednesday evening. It has been recommended for approval by planning officers.

The site lies immediately to the east of the M1, to the north of Crick.

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The site’s owners had in 2015 submitted an application to convert the site into a permanent motocross track, but that was refused by DDC over concerns about noise and the impact on the rural area.

Planning officers at DDC say permitted development rights – rights to build and develop that do not require planning permission – allows for activities like motorcross evens to be held on land on a temporary basis not exceeding 28 days in a calendar year.

Under these rights the landowners held a number of events on the site, to allow real noise information to be gathered. At one event the council’s own environmental health officer was there to judge the sound levels.

The parish councils of Yelvertoft, Crick and Lilbourne have all submitted objections to the scheme. They highlight issues about noise, dust, and traffic – both in terms of the site’s access road and the impact of people travelling to and from the track on the road network. The council also received 18 letters of objection from residents.

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The planning officers state that while the noise assessment shows the track can be operated in a way that excessive noise does not affect nearby neighbours, they state the track should only be operated from 10am to 6pm (although people can arrive and leave at other times) and only on four days a week.

Highways England have raised no objections regarding dust blowing onto the neighbouring M1, and the applicants will use a water spray to dampen down dust on site.

The planning officers also point out that the number of vehicles expected will not overload nearby roads, and that no trees of hedges will be removed and one additional hedge will be planted which could improve biodiversity. As such they recommend approving the application.

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