PROPOSED SOLAR FARM - · PDF file · 2015-01-12proposal is for installation of a...
Transcript of PROPOSED SOLAR FARM - · PDF file · 2015-01-12proposal is for installation of a...
PROPOSED SOLAR FARM
LAND WEST OF MEERE’S LANE, KIRTON END, LINCOLNSHIRE
PLANNING APPLICATION BY
DESIGN AND ACCESS STATEMENT
SEPTEMBER 2014
Proposed Solar Park
Kirton End
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Introduction
1. This statement has been prepared in support of a full planning application for the creation of
a solar park at land located west of Meere’s Lane and immediately north of Pick’s Barn. The
proposal is for installation of a 3.167MWp ground mounted solar array. The land is currently
agricultural and utilised for arable purposes. The proposal includes the installation of ground
based framing systems, mounted solar panels, power inverters, two structures containing low
voltage switchgear / control panels, 2 No step up transformers, security fencing and
associated access gates, and a CCTV security camera system mounted on free standing
support poles. A built enclosure will also be required to accommodate the switchgear and
metering requirements of Western Power Distribution.
The solar farm will be used to produce a clean, renewable and sustainable form of electricity
production which will be connected to and exported on to the National Grid.
2. The statement assesses the design and access arrangements, and how they relate to their
context. This statement has been prepared in accordance with Circular advice.
3. The proposal is shown on the following drawings:-
Topographical Survey – Drawing E/WK/14/001
Architectural Layout Drawings / details –
• 1:2500 site location plan
• Site layout: EP1097 GA 06092014 Rev D
• AC cluster: MAM_2014_07_10
• CCTV detail: EPTEMP CCTVPOB Detail A
• Fence Detail: EPTEMP Fence Detail A
• Site access road: EPTEMP Road Detail A
• Panel detail: Typ 14R/3x8 gerammt
• Transformer / LV Pillar: KHV14-317-001 Rev A
4. The application is also supported by the following documents:-
• Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA)
• Ecological Walkover Survey Report
• Archaeological / Heritage Statement
• Planning Policy Statement
• Grid Connection Details
• Inverter Details
Pre-Application Discussions
5. No pre-application discussions have taken place with the Local Planning Authority. Preliminary
discussions have taken place with the County Archaeologist, the Environment Agency and the
Landscape officer. No adverse comments have been received.
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Statement of Community Involvement
6. Due to the site’s topography and location the proposal will have extremely limited impact on
adjacent settlements. No formal public consultation exercise has therefore taken place.
Solar Farms
7. Solar photovoltaic (or ‘PV’) technology is the process of collecting solar irradiation and
converting it into electricity. Its common application is to individual properties – solar panels
on the roof – but its method of application is becoming wider and solar farms have emerged
as a larger scale, commercial application of the technology to generate electricity directly into
the National Grid.
PV panels silently convert sunlight to electrical energy. They generate direct current (DC)
that is converted to alternating current (AC) to be used by the electricity grid. There are
various forms of PV technology (thin film, and crystalline) however these provide the same
basic function. Regardless of the PV configuration, inverter hardware and transformers are
required to change the direct current PV output to useable AC power for the grid. PV may be
connected to the distribution network at the domestic level of 240V or at higher voltage,
depending on the size and location of the generating plant.
Typical Installation
8. The technology is in fact over 100 years old. Large multi-megawatt generation facilities have
been operating for several decades in other countries across Europe. The facilities are based
either on fixed solar panels or tracker systems that move either horizontally, vertically or both
in order to maximise solar gain.
Ethical Power has opted for fixed systems which are three panels high with panels being
positioned landscape on an angled frame (25 degrees). The maximum height of panels and
frame structure will be 1.862m. Mounting panels in landscape format ensures that the
installation will have a smaller area of visual impact, and therefore less environmental impact.
The framing system ensures that panels can be easily installed and removed from the site at
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the end of their life. Framing is driven into the ground rather than relying on concrete
foundations which further minimises the impact of the development.
Proposed framing system to be utilised at Kirton End Solar Park.
9. A major advantage of PV technology is that the panels convert sunlight to electrical energy
without any noise output. The only noise generation will be from the inverter panels and step-
up transformers. A total of 180 inverter panels will be required, which are attached to the rear
framing of the galvanised panel framing.
Noise generated from each unit will amount to 56dBA at a distance of 1.5m.
Diagram providing descriptions of various noise sources.
The table above identifies 50 dB(A) as being equivalent to “quiet urban daytime” noise .
Notwithstanding this the inverter panels are located a substantial distance away from any
sensitive receptors and noise generated from the proposed solar development would be
imperceptible when measured from the site boundary. In addition to inverter panels the
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development will require 2 No 1600kVA, 11000/415V super low loss amorphous transformer
which produce 56dbA at a distance of 0.3m. Transformer details form part of the application.
Typical Inverter Details
Inverters and transformers are needed to change the direct current output from the panels to
AC power for the National Grid.
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The Site and its Context
10. The site and its surroundings are fully described within the Landscape and Visual Impact
Assessment. The site is located at co-ordinates TF 28206,38844.
CLA Land Classification map
Proposed Solar Park Location
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Key to ALC Land map
The site forms part of an 800 acre agricultural land holding owned by Mr Robin Woodward.
The agricultural land classification mapping identifies the proposed land area (see map above)
as being Grade 2 (Very Good). Paragraph 112 of the NPPF states that LPAs should seek to use
areas of poorer quality agricultural land for “significant” development. Land within the Boston
Borough Council is predominantly Grade 1 as can be seen from the attached map and
therefore this application ensures that the most productive land within the borough is
retained for the purposes of agriculture. It should also be noted that no less fertile land exists
within the Borough Area as can be seen below.
Mr Woodward has supplied the following comment:-
“The Meeres Farm where the site is located is around 220 acres in one block. It is all however
listed as grade 2 soil. The site is actually located on the heaviest part of that grade 2 land with
the 10 acre field that forms the east end of the site being the heaviest field we own. However
on the map it is still all shown as grade 2 soil.”
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CLA Land Classification map
The development site is virtually flat and sits at approximately 2.6m above Ordnance Datum,
and is therefore located within a Zone 3 risk of flooding. However the accompanying Flood
Risk Assessment details the measures in which the proposal is considered acceptable in flood
risk terms and paragraph 46 of the accompanying Planning Statement describes how the
development is acceptable in policy terms.
The development site field extends to approximately 8.7 hectares. The development area
occupies approximately 6.1 hectares. A pet crematorium and pair of semi-detached dwellings
are located immediately to the eastern boundary but screened from the development site by
an established tree / hedge line. The field boundaries are demarked by drainage ditches. A
woodland area exists to the western boundary and isolated farm buildings are located to the
south of Meere’s Lane. The village of Kirton is located approximately 1.8Km east of the
development site and the hamlet of Kirton End is located approximately 1.2Km north-east of
the proposal.
Planning History
11. No relevant planning history exists for the site.
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Policy
12. In formulating the scheme, regard has been paid to Government guidance on design
contained within paragraph 56 to 68 of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) along
with the Planning Practice Guidance.
13. The accompanying Planning Statement issues local level and national policy in detail. The 1999
Adopted Local Plan provides guidance under Policy ED11 for renewable energy projects. The
weight attributed to this policy is discussed at length in paragraphs 30-44. No other adopted
policy relates to design issues for a proposed solar park.
Amount of Development
14. The filed site area measures a total of 8.7 Hectares. The development area for the solar farm
is contained within an approximate area of 6.1 Hectares.
15. There are no existing buildings on the physical application site and the adjacent land is
predominantly utilised for the purposes of agriculture.
16. An existing 11Kv connection is available north of the existing semi-detached dwellings. A grid
connection offer has been made by Western Power Distribution and the proposed connection
route is illustrated below.
Details of Grid Connection
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17. It is proposed to construct a solar park array consisting of a total of 12,420 panels within the
main field. The table size varies due to site boundaries and the orientation of panels but the
each table consists of 3 rows of photovoltaic panels mounted in landscape format. Each
photovoltaic panel measures 1.64m x 0.986m. Photovoltaic panels are mounted in a
landscape format in order to minimise the overall height of the structures within the open
landscape. The maximum height of the frames will therefore be 1.862m above existing ground
level. The panels are mounted onto galvanised steel framework. The frame legs are pile driven
into the ground and therefore no intrusive foundations are required as part of the sub-
structure works. The framing arrangement is detailed below in the diagram below:-
Layout
18. The Panels are to be laid out utilising the existing topography to maximise the solar gain. The
panels will be orientated southwards.
19. A low level fence would be installed around the perimeter of the solar farm, which would
consist of an agricultural galvanised steel stock fencing as illustrated below.
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Example of Stock fencing
20. Site security is maintained by a total of 3 pole-mounted CCTV cameras, details of which are
included within the application. Again, these are easily removed at the end of the facilities
working life.
4m high CCTV Camera
The CCTV columns each include infra-red lighting and movement detection. If a sensor
detects movement within its zone of detection LED lighting would be activated. Sensors
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would be angled to prevent wildlife from causing false alarms. Under normal operation the
development will not therefore cause any light pollution.
21. No structures are required to accommodate control gear and the like. The LV pillar
arrangement is shown adjacent the transformer on drawing KHV14-317-001 Rev A.
22. An ecological assessment is submitted as part of this application. No significant ecology
issues have been identified.
Scale
23. The installation of ground mounted photovoltaic panels over 6.1 Ha is a development of
significant scale within the context of Kirton and of its rural surroundings. The LVIA assesses
its implications for the landscape setting and its impact on the surrounding villages and the
application is also accompanied by a Heritage assessment which addresses the impact the
development will have on adjacent Listed Buildings and heritage assets. However, the panel
arrays themselves are relatively low, physically recessive structures which will not be readily
visible.
Perimeter fencing will be provided around the development for security purposes but this will
be of agricultural quality and is described and illustrated in paragraph 19 of this document.
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Appearance
24. The nature of this development is that it is an unusual feature within this landscape, and of
course is in no way traditional in its materials and appearance. Planning policy at all levels
encourages the principle of renewable energy developments and the intrinsically modern
appearance of the facility is to be taken as read. It is how the facility responds to the particular
landscape setting in terms of its siting and any mitigation of particular viewpoints that are the
key considerations in terms of the appearance of the development. These factors are fully set
out in the LVIA.
Landscaping
25. The site benefits from existing boundary hedgerow planting and the LVIA submitted as part of
this application provides additional mitigation planting that will successfully screen the
development. It is anticipated that any planning permission would secure the detailed design
of this landscape mitigation works by way of a pre-commencement condition.
Key Considerations
26. This development is proposed to assist the UK in meeting is stated renewable energy
objectives by generating approximately 2975MWH (2,975,000kWh) of renewable energy per
year. This supports both Energy Security and Climate change considerations. The power
generated will be imported directly onto the National Grid and the power generated would
be sufficient to power the annual electricity demands of 500-550 dwellings.
27. The deployment will not result in the loss of any existing buildings or structures.
28. Details of the visual impact of the development are fully described in the Landscape Visual
Impact Assessment forming part of this application.
29. The development will not remove a large land area from agricultural use but rather generate
a secondary use of it, therefore maintaining a ‘Food vs Fuel’ balance by retaining sheep on the
site.
30. The proposed development will not introduce any site levelling works. The proposed panels
will utilise the existing site contours. The only excavation work required will relate to trenching
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works for cable routes. The leg frames to tables will be driven into the ground rather than
supported from concrete foundations.
31. The development proposal will have virtually no impact on the local highway network. A
nominal intensification will be generated during the construction phase but thereafter only
access for routine maintenance will be required.
32. The development proposal will not generate undue noise pollution. It has no moving parts
and does not therefore generate any safety concerns in operation. It will not generate any
electro-magnetic interference and will not cause glare issues.
Access
33. The site will be accessed from an existing track which currently extends from Meere’s Lane
and Washdyke Road and serves Pick’s Barn. The tracks all currently serve as the main
transportation routes for the various farms in the locality. The deployment of the proposed
solar farm will take approximately 10 weeks and all vehicles will be parked off the adopted
road network during this phase. A new hardstanding area will be provided to accommodate
construction vehicles and a temporary hardstanding will be provided for material storage.
Predicted traffic movements during the construction phase will involve:-
• HIAB with welfare facilities: 3 in / 3 out
• 40T with mounting system / solar frames: 20
• 20T tipper vehicles with road stone: 10
• HIAB transformer delivery : 1
• HIAB LV container delivery: 2
• Waste container delivery and removal: 10
• Plant hire deliveries: 4
• Toilet emptying: weekly – small truck
• General site deliveries: 2 per day. Van / small truck
• Staff: estimated maximum on site at one time: 15.
After deployment the site will be visited approximately quarterly for security and maintenance
purposes.
The proposed grid connection will be taken from the north-east corner of the site as illustrated
on the site layout. Details of the grid connection are included separately within this
application.
34. A new access road 4.8m wide will extend from the existing track and will extend through the
neighbouring field into the proposed development site.
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