Environmental Report for a Single Wind Turbine Development At
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June 2013 Environmental Report for a Single Wind Turbine Development at Bellevue Farm Client: Mr Baines Site Location: Bellevue Farm c/o Lodge Farm Carlton Scroop Grantham NG32 3AZ Planning & Environment Department Prepared by: Chris McDonagh Edited by: Craig Bosworth Approved by: Jimmy Mair Disclaimer: © Copyright 2013 VG Energy Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this report may be copied or reproduced by any means without prior written consent from VG Energy Limited. If this report has been received in error, please destroy all copies in possession and notify VG Energy Limited at the above address. This report has been prepared for the exclusive use of the named client and unless otherwise agreed in writing by VG Energy, no other party may use, make use of or rely on the contents of the report. No liability is accepted by VG Energy Limited for any use of this report, other than for the purpose for which it has been written. The information and opinions provided in this report have been developed from the expertise of VG Energy Limited using due diligence, skill, care and attention to detail in its preparation and production. It should be noted, however, that no independent verification of any of the information supplied to VG Energy Limited has been made, unless expressly stated otherwise. Bellevue Farm VG Energy Ltd. Environmental Report CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................... 5 i. Planning Application ................................................................................................................... 5 ii. Applicant Information ................................................................................................................. 5 2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................... 6 i. Site Description ........................................................................................................................... 6 ii. Site Selection ............................................................................................................................... 6 iii. Alternative Locations .................................................................................................................. 6 iv. Development Specifications ....................................................................................................... 7 v. Site Access ................................................................................................................................... 8 vi. Grid Connection .......................................................................................................................... 9 vii. Decommissioning ........................................................................................................................ 9 3. PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF WIND ENERGY DEVELOPMENTS ....................................... 10 i. Public Perception ...................................................................................................................... 10 ii. Common Misconceptions ......................................................................................................... 10 iii. Changing Perception of Landscape ........................................................................................... 11 iv. Recreation and Tourism ............................................................................................................ 11 4. SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT ........................................................................... 13 i. Location ..................................................................................................................................... 13 ii. Local Businesses ........................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. iii. Socio-Economic Effects ............................................................................................................. 14 5. RELEVANT PLANNING POLICY ............................................................................... 15 i. Environmental Impact Assessment ........................................................................................... 15 ii. National Planning Policy and Legislation .................................................................................. 15 iii. Local Council ............................................................................................................................. 28 6. LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL ASSESSMENT ................................................................. 32 i. Methodology ................................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. ii. Landscape Context ....................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. iii. Landscape Impact ........................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. iv. Visual Assessment ........................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. v. Mitigation ..................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. Page | 3 Bellevue Farm VG Energy Ltd. Environmental Report vi. Residual Impacts .......................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. vii. Cumulative Impacts ..................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. viii. Do nothing scenario ..................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 7. HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................................... 43 i. Background ............................................................................................................................... 43 ii. Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 43 iii. Policy and Guidance .................................................................................................................. 43 iv. Designated Historical and Archaeological Sites within Xkm of XX ........................................... 47 v. Physical Impacts ........................................................................................................................ 64 vi. Overall Impact on Historic Environment ................................................................................... 64 vii. Mitigation Measures ................................................................................................................. 64 8. ECOLOGY ............................................................................................................. 65 i. Methodology ............................................................................................................................. 65 ii. Designated Environmental Sites near to xx ................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. iii. Potential Impacts ......................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. iv. Mitigation Measures .................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 9. SOIL AND HYDROLOGICAL ASSESSMENT ............................................................... 68 i. Soil Landscape .............................................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined. ii. Hydrology ..................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. 10. NOISE ASSESSMENT ............................................................................................. 69 i. Wind Turbine Noise Characteristics .......................................................................................... 69 ii. Noise in the Environment ......................................................................................................... 69 iii. Guidelines for Wind Turbine Noise ........................................................................................... 70 11. SHADOW FLICKER ................................................................................................. 72 12. AVIATION EFFECTS ............................................................................................... 73 13. TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT .................................................................................... 74 14. DELIVERY AND CONSTRUCTION ACCESS ROUTE .................................................... 76 15. EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE ................................................................................. 77 16. GENERAL SAFETY .................................................................................................. 78 APPENDICES ................................................................................................................... 79 Page | 4 Bellevue Farm VG Energy Ltd. Environmental Report 1. INTRODUCTION i. Planning Application This Environmental Report is being submitted as part of a Planning Application to South Kesteven Council for the installation of a single Norwin wind turbine, with a maximum height to blade tip of 49metres (m) at Bellevue Farm, Carlton Scroop. The application for planning consent is made under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. A Screening