Non-Technical Summary

Transcription

1 1.1.1 October 2016 Non-Technical Summary Land on the Caldicot Levels, South of Llanwern Steel Works, Nr Newport, Wales

2 Project: Client: Gwent Levels Farmer s Community Solar Scheme Ltd Job Number: File Origin: Taunton Document Checking: Prepared by: Nick Beddoe Signed: Checked by: Peter Grubb Signed: Verified by: Peter Grubb Signed: i

3 Contents 1.0 Introduction Development Proposal The Site Traffic and Transport Cultural Heritage Ecology, Nature Conservation and Ornithology Landscape and Visual Effects Flood Risk and Water Resources Additional Assessments Noise Agricultural Land Quality Tree Survey Conclusions Appendix 1: Scheme Drawing... i ii

4 1.0 Introduction An Environmental Statement (ES) Non-Technical Summary has been prepared by Savills UK Ltd on behalf of the Ltd. It was been prepared in support of a planning application, for the construction of a 49.9MW net installed generating capacity solar farm, on the Gwent Levels, Nr Newport. The proposal is classed as a Development of National Significance (DNS) and will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for determination As part of the application, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been required by the European Community Directive 85/337/EEC (as amended by Directive 97/11/EC) which is implemented into UK law through the Town & Country Planning (EIA) Regulations This EIA predicts and evaluates the potential effects that the new road would have on the environment. Measures to avoid or reduce negative impacts have been included where possible. The remaining positive and negative, impacts have been assessed The results of the EIA process are presented in full within the ES and are summarised in this Non- Technical Summary Other relevant legislation and guidance for both the development plan and individual receptors was identified, which has been adhered to throughout the ES. This ensures that the proposal is compliant with planning policy conditions set out in all levels of legislation This report describes the significance of potential impacts caused by the development to the following key aspects identified during scoping: Traffic and Transport; Cultural Heritage; Landscape and Visual Effects; Ecology, Nature Conservation and Ornithology; Flood Risk and Water Resources; and Scheme October

5 Additional Assessments: Noise Agricultural Land Quality Tree Survey 2.0 Development Proposal The development of a renewable energy hub comprising a 49.9MW solar farm (export capacity), 200 battery storage units and associated infrastructure on land at Llanwern on the Gwent Levels. The proposals seek to provide green energy for over 15,000 homes and save over 21,000 tonnes of CO2 per annum The development requires a site of around 345 acres and is spread over six distinct parcels of land which make up the site area. The eastern most part of the site adjoins an elevated pipeline. Figure 1 shows the location and configuration of the site in relation to the nearby settlements and the Whitson sub-station. Scheme October

6 Figure 1 Site location The proposal is for a ground mounted solar farm with arrays set out in rows and mounted on a framework system which is either screwed or driven in to the ground The proposals include supporting infrastructure and a battery storage area which will allow for the energy captured during the day to be stored and re-used during times when energy is in greater demand, making the most of the energy generated by a renewable source and helping to make the scheme viable and flexible to meet the demands of the grid The grid connection hub is located to the north of the between two pylon lines approaching the Whitson Sub-station. It will sit alongside the battery storage area and be immediately accessed via a track connecting the site with North Row. The closure of the steel works has resulted in spare Scheme October

7 capacity on the existing grid infrastructure, which is an unusual position at a time where most grid infrastructure is at capacity The proposals will be temporary for a period of 30 years after which the site could be returned to its current condition, with a positive legacy of planting and landscape management retained for the benefit of the area Sheep would be grazed between the panels. While providing an additional income for the landowners they also serve to maintain the grassland The proposed development includes supporting infrastructure comprising inverter cabins, transformers, grid connection hub, stock proof fence, CCTV, underground cabling, temporary vehicle tracks, access and landscaping Solar PV panels silently convert sunlight to electrical energy. They generate direct current (DC) that is converted by the inverter hardware to alternating current (AC) that can be used by the electricity grid. PV systems are rated for capacity in watts (or kw or MW) with the designation 'peak' (e.g. kwp, MWp). The peak capacity of individual panels is established by measuring their performance under internationally recognised standard conditions that include temperature and wavelength of sunlight. The actual output of a system will be determined by latitude, local weather and site conditions The proposals would export 49.9 MW of electricity. The export of electricity would be controlled by the inverters. In accordance with guidance outlined by the Solar Trade Association 1 this would offset around 21,208 tonne tonnes of Co2 per annum, and 636,240 tonnes over the life of the scheme. This (conservatively) equates to enough electricity to serve the total power needs of around 15,000 average UK households per annum To put this in perspective, the new community of Glan Llyn (on the former Llanwern steelworks site) is planned to contain 4,000 new homes upon the completion of the redevelopment in Based upon an notional density of 35 dwellings per hectare (which is considered typical for modern housing developments), this would provide enough electricity for a development of 428 hectares. The whole of the former Llanwern steelworks site (shown below in Figure ) covers an area of 415 hectares, demonstrating the sheer capacity of the proposed scheme to provide a substantial amount 1 Solar Trade Association 2016: Resource Centre - Scheme October

8 of renewable energy. Figure 2 Area covered by former Llanwern steelworks site The detailed scheme drawing can be viewed in Appendix The Site site is located on agricultural land on the Gwent levels in south Wales and lies within the local plan area for Newport City Council. At a local level, the site lies within the Llanwern ward and the Goldcliff Community Council Boundary The site occupies a distinctively flat area of land to the south of the former Llanwern steelworks site and is shown below in Figure 3. It is split into six distinct parcels of land, lying either side of the settlement of Whitson and there are no buildings within the site boundary There are a number of large pylons on the land that carry cables across the site towards the Magor sub-station. These would facilitate a connection to the electricity grid and are shown below in 4. Scheme October

9 Figure 3 Photograph of site looking northwards Figure 4 View of site showing electrical pylons Scheme October

10 4.0 Traffic and Transport For clarity, the proposed solar farm has been split into three distinct Areas to explain the access arrangements (see Figure 5): Area A: Three separate western plots of land, comprising of land parcels 39 to 53; Area B: Two separate eastern plots of land, comprising of land parcels 12 to 38; and Area C: Single central plot of land, comprising of land parcels 1 to A Transport Assessment has been undertaken in the form of a Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP). This section explains the proposed vehicular access arrangements for the scheme and outlines the proposed mitigation. Scheme October

11 Scheme October Figure 5 Vehicular Access Arrangements

12 Area A On accessing the northernmost and southernmost plots of land located in Area A, vehicles will be required to cross existing separate culverts, which are likely to be required to be widened / temporary bridge structure put in place. The existing crossings will be tested for their suitability to accommodate construction vehicles prior to any commencement of works on the site, and will be enhanced / modified accordingly The ability to access all the three separate plots of land is due to the land being in the control of Gwent Farmers Community Partnership Ltd. Area B Two separate vehicular access points are proposed to Area B. The eastern access point assumes use of the existing gated track which links North Row to the east of Area B. The western access assumes use of an existing access road which links North Row to the west of Area B. Area C Vehicular access to Area C is proposed to be taken from the unnamed road (to the east of Broad Street Common), via an existing field access over a culvert. The ability to provide an access road between the unnamed road (to the east of Broad Street Common) and Area C is due to the land being in the control of Gwent Farmers Community Partnership Ltd. Management Measures The CTMP has recommended a number of mitigation measures which will be implemented to reduce nuisance during instruction. The full detail of these can be viewed in the CTMP. They include: Weight limits and signage; Construction site signage; Restricted construction hours; Tool box talks and driver awareness; Scheme October

13 Public information; Wheel cleaning facilities; Dust Management; and Road condition surveys. 5.0 Cultural Heritage Gwent Levels Historic Landscape The site area lies within the Gwent Levels Historic Landscape Area as shown in Figure 6 as designated under the Register of Landscapes, Parks and Gardens of Outstanding Historic Interest in Wales The area comprises discrete and extensive areas of alluvial wetlands and intertidal mudflats and represent a 'hand-crafted' landscape having been recurrently inundated and reclaimed from the sea since the Roman period. The areas have distinctive patterns of settlement, enclosure and drainage systems belonging to successive periods of use This Area is further broken down into 21 character areas which reflect the locally distinctive features within the area as shown on Figure 6. Scheme October

14 Figure 6 Gwent Levels Historic Landscape Area The application site stretches across the Nash and Goldcliff, Porton and Whitson Character areas. These areas are described within the Historic Landscape Character record and are briefly characterised as follows: Nash and Goldcliff: Complex "irregular landscape" in higher coastal area, with small irregular fields, sinuous lanes and dispersed settlement. Porton: Unusual "intermediate" type landscape by the coast. Whitson: Unique, planned village There are a number of listed buildings within close proximity to the site. Whitson Court, a Grade II* property lies centrally between the two sides of the site. The pavilions and garden walls are included within the listing. Whitson Lodge, a grade II listed property also lies centrally between the two sides of the site. Scheme October

15 5.1.2 Other listed buildings in close proximity to the site are grade II Whitson Farm, grade II barn at Great Newra and II Great Newra. Further afield are grade II* Whitson Church, grade II Little Portion Byre, Little Portion Cottage, Samson Court and the Church of St Mary Magdalene Bearing in mind the flat nature of the land between the site and the nearest listed buildings, it is considered that the proposal s impact upon heritage assets will be minimal A thorough assessment of the impact of the scheme on the historic environment has been undertaken by Savills Heritage team in support of this application. This identifies and evaluates heritage assets within the Application site and surrounding study area, and assesses how the Scheme might affect these heritage assets. Details relating to this assessment s methodology and findings can be found in the ES Using the professional judgement of the Heritage Consultant and the thorough application of the archaeological assessment and ASIDOHL2 process it has been concluded that whilst there will be some unavoidable short-term moderate to minor adverse effects during the construction phase of the project (largely from noise and increased traffic movements, and potential impacts to buried archaeological deposits), overall the project during its operational phase will have a minor adverse to negligible effect on the value, coherence, legibility and significance of the historic landscape. The preservation by record of any archaeological deposits impacted by the Scheme will mitigate any impacts to the archaeological resource where discovered. If no archaeological remains are present then the residual effect of the Scheme will be None. 6.0 Ecology, Nature Conservation and Ornithology The site is subject to two Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) designations. The western area of the site lies within the Nash and Goldcliff SSSI whilst the eastern area is located within the Whitson SSSI. The boundaries for each of these areas are shown below in Figure 7 and Figure 8. Scheme October

16 Figure 7 Map showing boundary of Nash and Goldcliff SSSI Scheme October

17 Figure 8 Map showing boundary of Whitson SSSI The Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) have released guidance to explain the special features of these SSSIs set out in documents titled Your Special Site and its Future. Within these documents both the Whitson and the Nash and Goldcliff SSSIs are notified for the having three features of special interest as follows: Reen and ditch habitat Insects and other invertebrates Shrill Carder Bee The application site also lies to the north of the Severn Estuary which is widely recognised for its environmental importance as reflected by its International designation as an Special Protection Area, Special Area of Conservation and a Ramsar site. The site does not fall within the boundaries of these designations, but given their significance and their proximity to the site, it has been important to consider the potential impact of the proposals in this regard A full suite of ecology surveys have been completed and the associated reporting is detailed within the accompanying Environmental Statement and standalone reports. This reporting has assessed the impact of the proposed development upon the range of habitats and species identified within the area. Specific attention has been paid to the assemblage of species for which the two SSSI sites are designated In accordance with pre-application guidance received from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) the scheme proposes to observe the appropriate buffer zones around the reen habitats on the site. These are; 12.5m from all reens and 7ms from field ditches. Within these areas it is proposed that the growth of vegetation will be carefully managed in order to facilitate increased biodiversity and an enhancement in the ecological value of the entwined reen and grassland habitats Around each of the six larger site parcels a stock proof fence would be installed at the edge of these buffer zones to protect the areas from grazing livestock. The fence would allow for the passage of small mammals through and under it and would not limit affect overland flow of water during heavy rainfall or flood events. Scheme October

18 6.1.5 Existing hedgerows will all be retained and two distinct sections of additional planting is proposed (along Chapel Road and around battery storage units). This responds to pre-application consultation with the Gwent Wildlife Trust which revealed an important local perspective on the site in this regard. Through this consultation it was explained that hedgerow planting in this area actually has the potential to disrupt the aquatic reen habitats and to affect the drainage of water through this complex system. Such planting is typically required as a means of mitigating against visual impact. However, due to the setting and topography of the site, only minimal planting is required for this purpose and therefore any potential impacts on this system will be negligible During the construction phase, a strategy for the installation of the panels and associated infrastructure will ensure minimal disruption to ecology. Detailed drawings have been submitted, which show how underground cabling will be bored below ditches/reens in order to entirely avoid any contact with this environment A CTMP has been prepared which demonstrates how the panels and equipment will be delivered to the site. The site will be accessed from four main points and where required, panels will be decanted into smaller vehicles in order to allow the installation to proceed without the need for extensive roads or tracks to be laid. A relatively small track will need to be laid to allow access to the gridyard Once operational the proposed development will not create any adverse environmental impacts. The panels themselves are non-moving, inert and produce virtually no noise or emissions The majority of ornithological interest on the sites is of site or at most local value and the proposed development of the sub-units will not result in impacts of greater than site level significance except in the case of Lapwing where displacement impacts on breeding and wintering populations are of potentially local significance. A number of land management proposals associated with the development can result in positive impacts for both wintering and breeding species The proposals will not therefore result in any significant harm to ecology and will actually result in a net benefit, which is compliant with all levels of planning policy. Scheme October

19 7.0 Landscape and Visual Effects The site lies on the Gwent Levels and within the Caldicot Levels Special Landscape Area as designated under the Newport Local Development Plan. Policy CE10 [Renewable Energy] of the plan sets out the relevant policy tests against which proposals for renewable energy schemes in these areas must be assessed. Paragraph 4.51 of the supporting text to this policy explains that: Proposals which affect the special qualities of the Gwent Levels, or any other protected site, will be resisted unless it can be demonstrated that there will be no significant adverse effects The site lies approximately at sea level, is extremely flat and is not overlooked by rising topography in the immediate vicinity. In England, the siting of large-scale solar farms is addressed within the National Planning Practice Guidance (NPPG). This guidance favours flat sites over undulating landscapes due to the lower level of visual impact that arises in such locations (Paragraph: 013 Reference ID: ) Furthermore, the existing trees, hedge lines and vegetation will provide a significant degree of screening to the installed panels and associated infrastructure. In light of the topography of the site and the surrounding area, the visual impact of the proposed development is limited A Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) has been prepared and accompanies the submission of this application. This has identified and assessed the likely effects on the landscape of the proposed development. Overall, this report has concluded that: The proposed development would not have any major adverse effects on either landscape character, or visual receptors More specifically, the impact of the proposals are assessed to reduce with increased proximity from the site as follows: The development would result in a moderate adverse impact on the immediate rural character of the site context Between approximately m away there will be reduced impact to minor adverse as Scheme October

20 the changes are restricted by the flat landscape, and the well vegetated nature of the reens surrounding the site boundaries In the wider landscape the change would be negligible as views of any part of the development are limited or obscured from more than 500m away The development of the site is considered to have a negligible impact on the landscape setting of the Landscape of Outstanding Historic Interest and the corresponding Special Landscape Area as the development is not a widely perceptible element from within the wider landscape. Impacts on listed buildings and scheduled monuments are considered to be negligible-none The conclusions demonstrate that if the proposed development is implemented there will be no significant adverse effects upon the special qualities of the Gwent Levels area. It follows that the proposals satisfy the requirements of Policy CE10 and are acceptable in planning terms. 8.0 Flood Risk and Water Resources Technical Advice Note 15 (TAN 15) provides the relevant guidance on flood risk in relation to these proposals. The site is located within Flood Zone C1 In accordance with the categories set out within this document. This means that it sits within an area of the floodplain which is developed and served by significant infrastructure, including flood defences. This designation is used to indicate that development can take place subject to the application of a justification test, including acceptability of consequences To this end a Flood Consequences Assessment (FCA) has been prepared which considers the impact of the proposed development on hydrology in the area. The document also details the specific mitigation measures which would be incorporated in association with the built infrastructure including solar panels, battery storage units and ancillary equipment With regards to the installation of the solar panels (which make up the bulk of the proposed development), these will be individually spaced to allow thermal expansion and more even dispersal of rainwater The report identifies specific changes brought about through the proposals which will affect surface Scheme October

21 water drainage. These include: Change in agricultural use of the land: Reduced grazing intensity Reduced use of machinery on the land No harvesting, or seeding of new crop Longer grass and increased biodiversity in vegetation on site, particularly in buffer zone areas adjacent to reens and ditches The consequences of these changes have been assessed within the report and the following conclusions have been drawn: Soil compaction will be reduced resulting in an overall improvement in the soil condition and reduced surface water runoff Increased capacity for surface water attenuation The fields will be better able to naturally manage rainfall Consequently the report has concluded that the proposed development will bring significant betterment in terms of improved infiltration reduced flood risk off-site and improved water quality, and is therefore in accordance with the guidance given in TAN Additional Assessments 9.1 Noise The construction and operation of the proposed solar farm is unlikely to have an adverse and demonstrable impact on the local residents in terms of noise emissions. It has been recommended that conditions are attached to any planning permission in line with British Standards to manage noise levels from the inverter / generators associated with the solar farm. Scheme October

22 9.2 Agricultural Land Quality Having conducted a survey of the lan it is considered that the land is classified as grade 3b to 4 on the Agricultural Land Classification Map of England and Wales and as such is not considered to be best and most versatile agricultural land. 9.3 Tree Survey An Arboricultural Impact Assessment in accordance with the guidance set out in BS5837 (2012) Trees in Relation to Design, Demolition and Construction, Recommendations was undertaken for the proposed development All of the trees recommended for retention in the Tree Survey Schedule and on the Tree Survey Plan (see ES) can be protected for the duration of demolition and construction in accordance with current best practice guidance set out in BS 5837 (2012). In this regard, the Tree Constraints Plan and Arboricultural Method Statement provide further details of proposed working methodology and protection measures Conclusions This Non-Technical Summary supports a planning application made under the Developments of National Significance regime for a solar energy hub and associated infrastructure on land on the Gwent Levels in south Wales. The site extends to circa 345 acres of grade 3b and 4 agricultural land and the development will produce around 49MW of renewable electricity The proposal is sustainable in terms of the environmental, economic and social strands of sustainability set out in Planning Policy Wales It is demonstrated that the proposals wholly comply with planning policies at national and local levels The proposals bring about numerous and significant environmental, economic and social benefits without giving rise to any unacceptable harm. Scheme October

23 Scheme October

24 Appendix 1: Scheme Drawing Client Month YYYY I

25 Client Month YYYY II

26 Savills (UK) Ltd York House, Blackbrook Business Park, Taunton, TA1 2PX t f e taunton@savills.com