Although there are no statutory sites within a 2km search area of the development, there are 9 such sites within a 10km radius which can see and/or can be seen from, this proposed development area.  Additionally, there are a number of non-statutory sites listed by the Northamptonshire Biodiversity Records Centre as either Local Wildlife Sites (LWS) or Potential Wildlife Sites (PWS). LWS are ‘areas of land which are rich in wildlife and are equivalent to Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation’. Criteria for selection include threats and declines in certain species, national priorities and local distinctiveness. PWS are sites that are ‘of higher biodiversity value than the average countryside but have not been confirmed to be of Local Wildlife Site standard’.

Within the area likely to be maximally affected, defined by the area enclosed by the A14, Lamport-Harrington Road, Draughton to Lamport Road, and the Brampton Valley Way (BVW), the most important Local (County) Wildlife Sites (LWS) are at Green Lane Meadow and the section of BVW from Draughton Crossing to Kelmarsh Tunnels. Green Lane Meadow is described as ‘A small area of wet grassland immediately adjacent to the Brampton Valley Way’. This has marshland dominated by Juncus subnodulosus, a ‘county rarity’. Fifty-nine species were recorded. The section of BVW from Draughton Crossing to Kelmarsh tunnels, also a County Wildlife Site, is described as follows ‘Part of this section has been destroyed to build the A1-M1 link road, but the rest remains one of the most species rich sections of the whole of the Brampton Valley Way’ with 175 recorded species.

The area in which it is proposed to site turbines includes two unnamed areas listed as PWS.

The same source has a list of sitings of protected and rare birds. ‘Harrington Airfield’ has records of Skylark, Wigeon, Rock Pipit, Tree Pipit, Short-Eared Owl, Little Owl, Buzzard, Linnet, Redpoli, Siskin, March Harrier, Hen Harrier, Quail, Yellowhammer, Reed Bunting, Merlin, Peregrine, Brambling, Snipe, Wryneck, Grasshopper Warbler, Grey Wagtail, Wheatear, Willow Tit, Tree Sparrow, Grey Partridge, Black Redstart, Redstart, Willow Warbler, Golden Plover, Green Woodpecker. Whinchat, Grey Plover, Stonechat, Turtle Dove, Redwing, Fieldfare Ring Ouzel, Barn Owl, and Lapwing, all of which species are subject to some form of ‘concern’ or protection.

The old railway tunnels to the south of Kelmarsh have become a major roosting point for a substantial bat population. Northants Bat Group points to serious deficiencies in the survey reported by the developer. We believe that the developer has not addressed the concerns they expressed at the scoping stage and is playing down the risk to endangered bat species, in particular the Noctule and Leisler bats which are known to be high flyers and are considered by Natural England to be at high risk of adverse impacts from wind farms.