The Place Solar Farm Environmental Statement Non-Technical Summary 28 August 2014 Produced for Prepared by St John s House Queen Street, Manchester M2 5JB
Contents Contents... 2 1 Introduction... 3 1.1 Environmental Impact Assessment... 4 1.2 Consultation... 4 1.3 Alternatives... 4 1.4 Existing Environment... 4 1.5 The Proposed Development... 4 1.6 Construction... 5 2 Environmental Impacts and Mitigation... 6 2.1 Introduction... 6 2.2 Transport Statement... 6 2.3 Landscape and Visual Effects... 7 2.4 Archaeology and Cultural Heritage... 7 2.5 Ecology and Nature Conservation... 7 2.6 Flood Risk Assessment... 7 2.7 Cumulative Environmental Effects... 8 3 Additional Information... 9 2
1 Introduction BE Renewables is seeking planning permission for a solar farm at The Place, located in Tilbury, Essex in accordance with the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (TCPA). The Planning Authority for the proposed development is Thurrock Council. Plate 1-1: Location of Proposed Development The proposed development is located on 46.1 hectares of agricultural land between the settlements of Tilbury to the south, Chadwell St Mary to the north and Grays to the east. It occupies two parcels of land either side of the A126, St Chad s Road. Plate 1-2 shows the red line boundary of the proposed development sites. Plate 1-2: The Place Solar Farm Location Plan 3
1.1 Environmental Impact Assessment The proposed development has been subject to a formal process of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011 (The Regulations). This Environmental Statement (ES) reports the findings of the detailed EIA. The Regulations allow the promoters of a proposed development to seek the opinion of the planning authority on the content and scope of the EIA through a Scoping Opinion and this has been undertaken for the proposed development. 1.2 Consultation Consultation has taken place for the proposed development to obtain feedback upon the proposals from statutory environmental and non-statutory consultees to the planning process as well as the public through a consultation event. A consultation event where members of the public were invited to share their views was held on Monday the 17th of July 2014 at Linford Methodist Church. In July 2014 a formal Scoping Opinion was received from the Planning Authority. 1.3 Alternatives The selection of a suitable site for the proposed development was principally dictated by the availability of a land parcel of sufficient size in single ownership within Thurrock Council and in proximity to a substation or power connection. The consideration of alternative site layouts within the proposed sites were primarily influenced by the need to maximise the solar radiation reaching each panel and the need to ensure the existing drainage network on the site was unaltered. 1.4 Existing Environment The proposed development lies on agricultural land that is presently used for sheep grazing and arable crops with a network of drainage channels cross the site. Agricultural land surrounds the site to the east, south and west. To the north of the site is the Gateway Academy and to the south lies the settlement of Tilbury. 1.5 The Proposed Development The proposed development involves the installation of 74,839 solar panels which are mounted upon steel and aluminium structures. The panels will lie at an angle of between 20 and 25 degrees and will be arranged in racks which will be south facing. The panels are static and do not follow the path of the site during the day. The rows of panels, known as arrays are spaced approximately 4m apart and 10m from any existing vegetation on the site boundaries to avoid any overshadowing. Installation of the panels in this manner allows access around the perimeter of the site as well as continued grazing of the land by sheep. 4
Plate 1-3: The Place Solar Farm Site Layout A network of internal roads will be installed as part of the proposed development which will allow access for maintenance. These roads will follow the route of the existing drain crossings which are present on site and used for agricultural purposes. 1.6 Construction Construction of the proposed development is scheduled to begin in 2014 lasting approximately 4 months. Mitigation of construction related impacts would be addressed through the adoption and implementation of a fully compliant Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP). 5
2 Environmental Impacts and Mitigation 2.1 Introduction The scope of the EIA has been based on three main topics. Landscape and Visual Effects Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Ecology and Nature Conservation A Transport Statement was prepared to address any construction traffic issues. A Flood Risk Assessment was also undertaken to assess the proposed development s impact on the flood plain. 2.2 Transport Statement Up to 16 Heavy Goods Vehicles per day will deliver construction materials to the site during the peak of the construction process. To minimise potential impacts upon the highway delivery vehicles will be restricted to the hours of 10am to 2:30pm on Monday to Friday. Access to the site during the operation of the solar farm will be very modest. Light goods vehicles will need to access the site on a very infrequent basis at approximately one visit every six months. The EIA has demonstrated that suitable access is available to the site and there will be no detriment to the operation of the highway network as a result of the proposed development. Plate 1-3: Environmental Constraints Plan 6
2.3 Landscape and Visual Effects The assessment of the effects on landscape character has identified that with the exception of a single character area the proposed development would not result in significant environmental effects. The assessment of potential effects on visual amenity concluded that the majority of the receptors (those with a view of the site) would be subject to a visual impact no greater than slight adverse, therefore the proposed development would not represent a significant effect. 2.4 Archaeology and Cultural Heritage The EIA has identified the presence of known heritage assets within the development boundary, including post-medieval field boundaries and World War II infrastructure. There is the potential for Palaeolithic, Roman and medieval assets to be present within the site boundary given their known presence in the wider study area. A watching brief during the construction of trenches and building foundations will ensure that any features encountered are duly recorded. Two Grade II listed buildings are present to the north east of the development area. The proposed solar farm development would impact upon the long view setting of these buildings although existing screening will minimise the degree of impact. 2.5 Ecology and Nature Conservation The site of the proposed solar farm has the potential for the presence of protected species including great crested newt, water voles, migrating birds and nesting birds. Avoidance of impacts related to ecology has been an integral part of the planning and design process for the proposed development. This has included: The avoidance of work in or near the existing drainage channels that could support water voles and great crested newt; The retention of all vegetation along site boundaries and along the drainage ditch network; The creation of an offset from any existing vegetation, reducing the risk of impact during the construction process; The use of low reflective panels to reduce the likelihood of the panels being mistaken for water bodies by migrating birds. The implementation of good construction practices, outlined in a CEMP, will reduce the potential for impacting upon any protected species. The inclusion of additional planting will provide opportunities for habitat creation. 2.6 Flood Risk Assessment The site lies partially within the flood plain of the River Thames and its tributaries. 7
There will be no significant increase in discharge or runoff of surface water as a result of the development and solar panels will be installed at a height to avoid damage in the event of a flood. 2.7 Cumulative Environmental Effects Potential interactions have been identified between Cultural Heritage and Visual Amenity; and Ecology and Nature Conservation and Landscape Character. No cumulative effects greater than those identified within the individual chapters and against the environmental aspects have been identified as part of the assessment of cumulative environmental effects. 8
3 Additional Information A copy of the Environmental Statement has been deposited at the offices of Thurrock Planning Authority and will be available for inspection, free of charge, during normal opening hours. The application will also be available for inspection on the website of Thurrock Council. Hard copies of this Non-Technical Summary are available as a separate stand alone document and copies of the whole ES are available in hard copy for a fee of 100. Expressions of support, representations, or opinions should be sent to the Planning Authority via the Planning and Growth section of their website (https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/have-your-say-on-planning-applications/makecomment-or-objection). 9