Planning for Large Scale Solar PV in Cornwall

Adrian LeaManager; Natural Resources Planning Team

April 2010 - Feed in Tariff

• Anticipated a large number of applications for 5MW solar farms

• Dedicated team of planning officers• Training for elected Members• Planning guidance• Planning Performance Agreements• 250 sites screened

Solar PV Screening Requests

August 2011 – Our achievements

• 36 planning applications submitted• 36 granted planning permission• 130MW (50MW installed)• No refusals

Solar PV Planning Applications

http://www.cornwallsolardirectory.co.uk/inward-investment.php

Community Gain

• 4MW solar farm• Community benefit £20-25,000 per year for 25 years• Direct to Parish Councils to be spent in the community• Sustainable energy production, energy demand reduction

and awareness raising

• Landscape/visual impact • Agriculture• Ground maintenance• Ecology• Ground Anchors• Historic environment• Drainage• Security• Glint & glare• Duration of planning

permission

Planning Guidance for Large Scale Solar PV Arrays

The Golden Rules

• Avoid BMV agricultural land• Ground maintenance• Landscape & visual/cumulative

impact• Ecological

opportunities/enhancement• Longevity/permanence/reversibility

Large Scale Solar PV – The Current Position

Adrian Lea Manager; Natural Resources Planning Team alea@cornwall.gov.uk 01872 224504