DEVELOPMENT OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE Solar Farm on land between B4256 and Charles Street, Wauntysswg Farm, Abertysswg, Rhymney, NP22 5BQ. LOCAL PLANNING AUTHORITY’S LOCAL IMPACT REPORT PLANNING INSPECTORATE REF: APP/X6910/A/16/3154384 CAERPHILLY COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL: 18/0626/DNS R KYTE HEAD OF REGENERATION AND PLANNING Tredomen House Tredomen Park Ystrad Mynach Hengoed CF82 7WF 1 Contents Page 1. The likely impact of the development on the area 3 2. Landscape impacts 3 3. Glint and glare 10 4. Highway impacts 12 5. Residential amenity impacts 13 6. Historic environment impacts 14 7. Habitat impacts 15 8. Planning history of the site 16 9. Local designations relevant to the site / surroundings and 16 relevant local planning policies, guidance or other documents 10. Secondary consents 21 11. Draft conditions 21 Map 1 Extract from LDP proposals map 23 Map 2 Location of site notices 24 2 1. The likely impact of the development on the area 1.1 This local impact report (LIR) will concentrate on the likely impact of the proposed development on the area falling within Caerphilly County Borough (CCB). The extent of the solar farm is wholly within Blaenau Gwent County Borough (BGCB), with only the access to the site and cable route falling within CCB. Also, that area would be the location of the temporary site compound, car parking and turning area. The discussion will therefore be confined to the following areas: Landscape impacts Glint and glare Highway impacts Residential amenity impacts Historic environment impacts Habitat impacts 1.2 The only other aspect of the scheme within CCB is an area of off-site habitat enhancement for curlew on the western side of the valley. 2.1 Landscape impacts The proposed development if approved would represent a sizeable and significant visual impact upon the Visually Important Local Landscape (VILL) within CCB, as defined in the Caerphilly County Borough Local Development Plan adopted in 2010. The site is located immediately adjacent to the Caerphilly Borough to the north east of the settlement of Abertysswg. The landscape in general is predominantly agricultural with pockets of linear settlement confined to the northwest-southeast aligned valleys. Isolated and sometimes nucleated farms and private residences are distributed throughout the study area. 2.2 The LVIA that accompanies the application states that enclosure levels vary and are heavily influenced by the surrounding topography and vegetation levels. Existing built form is confined to the linear settlements of Abertysswg and Rhymney. In addition, clusters of existing wind turbines and the presence of industry to the north along the Rhymney valley floor and A465 corridor characterise the otherwise open upland agricultural landscape, a large proportion of which is classified as VILL. 2.3 The LVIA also states the site is located in a landscape that is of high sensitivity to change due to it being an important Cultural and Historic valued landscape as classified by LANDMAP. The VILL has a distinctive strong visual character which is a predominantly upland and open area with distinctive rock outcrops, upper valley sides and extensive views across the Rhymney valley. Similarly the adjacent complementary landscape within BGCB is classified as Special Landscape Area (SLA). 2.4 The site straddles the BGCB and CCB boundary, with the majority of the solar farm site falling within the former. However, site access and associated infrastructure relating to grid connection are located partially within the latter. The 3 Zone of Theoretical Visibility (ZTV) shown in Figure 6, however, shows that there is a significant visual impact from the proposed developments which covers and affects the CCB. 2.5 The LVIA undertaken is well structured and broadly follows the guidelines set down in the third edition of Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment published jointly by the Landscape Institute and the Institute of Environmental. The LVIA adequately assesses relevant landscape elements and features including topography, trees and hedgerows, farm land, and public rights of way (PRoW). The LVIA carries out a further detailed baseline study and analysis of the Landscape Character Visual and Sensory data, which is limited to Visual and Sensory data within a 2km radius of the site. The LVIA assesses the tranquillity as High. However, it is stated that, "It is not considered that the tranquillity levels would change as a result of the Proposed Development.’’ However, views of major infrastructure covering 58ha with its ordered uniform appearance will no doubt affect the viewers' perception of tranquillity, as tranquillity is a quality intrinsically associated with the presence of nature, visually pleasing surroundings and relaxing atmosphere, characteristics not generally associated with solar arrays of this magnitude. 2.6 Assessment of Landscape Character The LVIA assesses two LANDMAP Visual and Sensory Aspect Areas affected and located adjacent to the site landscape within CCB: East of Rhymney Visual and Sensory Aspect Area (CYNONVS716) Rhoslas Visual and Sensory Aspect Area (CYNONVS361) It is agreed that the visual impact on the Rhoslas aspect area is low and generally screened by topography from this aspect area, but the assessment of the East of Rhymney aspect area underestimates the impact as views of the site are afforded which will be higher magnitude of medium value with a moderate adverse effect on the East of Rhymney Visual and Sensory Aspect Area. 2.7 More importantly however, the LVIA omits to assess the VILL NH2.1 Northern Rhymney Valley non statutory designation, which is afforded protection within the CCB LDP due to the overall combined LANDMAP evaluation being either outstanding, high or moderate for the five LANDMAP aspect areas as detailed below. LANDMAP Aspect Ref Area name Evaluation area Geological CYNONGL008 Upper Rhymney Moderate Landscape and Bargoed Rhymney valley Landscape Habitat CYNONLH114 High Landscape Habitat CYNONLH112 High Landscape Habitat CYNONLH119 Moderate Visual & Sensory CYNONVS785 Parc Cwm Darran Moderate Visual & Sensory CYNONVS605 Cefn Y Brithdir Moderate Visual & Sensory CYNONVS716 East of Rhymney Moderate Historic Landscape CYNONHL831 Gelligaer Common Outstanding Historic Landscape CYNONHL483 Rhymney Hill Moderate 4 Historic Landscape CYNONHL701 Rhymney Valley High It is alsoCultural noteworthy Landscape that the VisualCYNONCL056 and Sensory valuesDesignated are frequently only reducedHigh by the adjacent urban development and LDP VILL designation serves to protect the landscape from further degradation. The LDP acknowledges that the primary landscape qualities and features of the V Landscape Areas I Cultural Landscape CYNONCL045 Rhymney Sirhowy High L Ebbw Valleys L 2.8 It is also noteworthy that the Visual and Sensory values are frequently only reduced by the adjacent urban development, and LDP VILL designation serves to protect the landscape from further degradation. The LDP acknowledges that the primary landscape qualities and features of the VILL are its predominantly open upland landscape. It contains distinctive rocky hillsides with rock outcrops, upper valley sides and views across the Rhymney valley which give it a strong upland character, which is only occasionally limited by topography or vegetation. 2.9 There are two long term key policy management and development control issues for the VILL which are Retain the open feel of the area, particularly the upland areas. Landscaping and planting to reduce the impact of the A465 and other development proposals may not be appropriate in this situation. Prevent further loss of overall visual landscape quality and character on the settlement edge as a result of development. The settlement edges are sensitive and due care and consideration needs to be given to the wider visual landscape setting and character when making development decisions. 2.10 With Sensitivity therefore considered High and magnitude High, the overall effect is therefore considered to be Substantial adverse on the quality of this VILL. Therefore the LVIA has underestimated the adverse effect that the proposed 58ha solar farm will have on this locally significant landscape and will result in significant and substantial visual impact on the visual quality found in this tranquil open upland landscape. 2.11 The LPA do not concur with the assessments relating to Landform and Enclosure, Landscape Pattern and Complexity and Settlement pattern. The proposed solar farm will be seen from sensitive, close and midrange receptors, in context as larger than the adjacent settlement of Abertysswg. It will be seen as out of scale with the landscape dominating the field system, and the rigid gridlines, conflicting in lower lying areas with the more intimate and complex landscape pattern associated with the Abertysswg urban fringe. 2.12 The LVIA assesses Baseline Visual receptors within the ZTV which are generally acceptable, with the exception that it is not agreed that the 58ha solar farm would appear as a very small component in the wider composite view notable from sensitive landscape and visual receptors. The adverse visual effect on residential properties located within CCB is limited to a small number of properties located on the north east and eastern fringes of Abertysswg and will not result in any substantial visual impact as views are generally either oblique or limited to upper floors or generally filtered by existing vegetation. 5 2.13 There is no assessment of the visual impact