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.
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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
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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 Opinion (referenceS12/3143/EIASCR) was received from the Council on the 5th January 2013, stating than an EIA is not required. The proposal has been amended from 2x 35m turbines to a single49m from the original application submitted last year, consequently resulting in the reduced impact of the overall development. As per the guidelines issued through the Screening Opinion, this report will thoroughly examine the potential impacts of the proposal on various aspects of the environment, including:landscape, ecology, hydrology, cultural heritage, shadow flicker and noise.VG Energy Ltd has prepared this Environmental Report on behalf of Mr Baines, who owns Bellevue Farm.
ii. Applicant Information
The applicant runsBellevue Farm as a family business, consisting of primarily arable and livestock farming. As outlined in EC Council Regulation 1782/2003 governing single farm payments, Bellevue Farm has participated in agri-environment schemes to ensure natural habitats, native wildlife and woodlands flourish including grass margins, species rich grass, managing hedges to provide habitat for wildlife and wishes to continue to encourage environmental friendly practices. The applicant has identified wind farming as a diversification opportunity that will provide an income for the farm independent of the fluctuations in farm prices and significantly reduce its carbon footprint. It is intended that this income stream would be used to secure the continued use of local farm workers, while also providing funds for the upkeep of the farm property.
The applicant has also achieved both entry level and higher level stewardship in conjunction with the RSPB and Natural England and 10% of the land at the site has been accredited as such.
This proposal has been submitted by VG Energy Ltd. VG Energy are an Ayrshire based organisation involved in the planning, re-sale, installation and maintenance of turbines. The organisation employs over 60 employees over four offices across the United Kingdom. This project, if consented, will be maintained internally within VG Energy to ensure that any project is part of the company’s portfolio from start to finish of its 25 year operation and ensures the long- term security of the organisation.
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2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
i. Site Description
Bellevue Farm is on the western edge of the hamlet of Carlton Scroop, just outside Grantham, from the eastern boundary of the farm. To the north, south and west of the farm there are sporadic houses and smallholdings, as well as small areas of tree coverage.There is one access road which serves the farmstead as well as a few other smaller houses adjacent to Bellevue Farm.The topography of the site is relatively flat, gently sloping in a northerly direction, and consists of higher land to the north of the farm.
The site selected for the proposed turbineconsists of land located at an elevation of approximately75m m AOD, and is likely to have a good wind resource. The proposed development site is located 1.1km to the northwest of the farmstead, and circa 1.2km from Carlton Scroop to the southeast.There is also a disused pit circa 175m northeast of the turbine site. An illustration of the site layoutand detailed site drawings have been attached to the appendices (figures 1-4).
ii. Site Selection
The location of the turbine was chosen mainly due to:
Topography – whilst the turbine is not situated at the highest point on the farm, (which is in the northwest, approximately 80m AOD), it is well placed to receive a good wind resource because the site selected is open to the south and southwest (prevailing wind direction);
Ecology – the base turbine is an appropriate distance (at least 50m plus the blade length) from any potential wildlife habitats, such as trees and hedgerows. In addition, it is close to an existing access track running along the north and east of the field, therefore reducing the land take required if located elsewhere;
Nearby structures – the turbine is a safe distance from the nearest buildings (approximately 650m northwest) and any other associated infrastructure;
Hydrology - the turbines have been sited a minimum of 50m from the nearest issue;
Noise – the turbine is located a sufficient distance from nearby noise sensitive receptors, as the closest residential dwelling is approximately 650m northwest of the development.
iii. Alternative Locations
Due to current farming practices within Bellevue Farm, the north-western fields have been identified as the most suitable for a new turbine. As such, the location chosen represents the
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best option available: It is a safe distance from the unnamed road to the east, yet is placed close enough to this so that the upgrade required to the existing access track running along the north of the field is minimal. The turbine is also close to this existing access track so that the land take required is small and the field remains productive farmland. Any other location within this field would be closer to neighbouring properties and/or would require a longer access track.
Whilst other sites within the farm were considered for the turbine, these are perceived to be unsuitable chiefly due to landscape issues and the presence of noise sensitive receptors.
The original turbine location specified in the Screening Opinion was closer to the road to the east and the village of Carlton Scroop; due to the height of the proposal (49m to blade tip), this proposal was re-evaluated and an alternative location 150m southwest of the original location was chosen to lessen the visual impact on the village as well as increasing the distance from the road, which is frequented by horse riders. In doing so it is hopedwe have shownthe effort has been made to negate such issues and shown sensitivity to the local horse riders and thus display a certain sensitivity towards the needs of this organisation and their continued enjoyment of this area for horse-riding purposes.
Although the land belonging to Bellevue Farm is fairly large,the majority of the site is unsuitable for this proposal due to the presence of noise sensitive receptors. Once noise has been taken into account, the potential areas for the turbine to be situated decrease in number and owing to additional factors such as the ones above, the north-western fields were considered to be the best option.
The turbine site chosen is as close to the field entrance to the north and also the edge of the field as noise restraints will allow. This is in order to minimise the land take required for the access track, which allows the majority of the field to remain productive farmland. Lastly, as the field is on a slope, with ground height becoming lower towards the southeast heading towards the farmstead, the turbine is likely to be most productive in the location selected; as wind speed increases with height.
iv. Development Specifications
The proposed project has been designed with the intention of generating zero-carbon electricity through the utilisation of wind as a renewable energy source. The development will require the infrastructure associated with the wind turbine itself, an on-site control unit system and a meter house. The project will also require new access tracks and a crane pad, which will be required at the foundation of each turbine for component lifting. The tip height of the proposed turbine is49m, as detailed in the turbine elevation drawing in the Appendices, Figure 2.
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The turbine details as proposed for this project are shown below:
FIGURE 2.1: PHOTOGRAPH OF A NORWIN225 WIND TURBINE
TABLE 2.1:TURBINE SPECIFICATIONS
No. of Turbines 1 X Norwin 225 Hub Height 34.45m Rotor Diameter 29.1m Height to blade tip (max.) 49m Rated output (kW) 225 Colour Light grey, matt finish
v. Access Track
A new track will be required from the existing access track to the north of the turbine field to the turbine base where a crane pad will be constructed. This track is proposed to be around 260m in length heading southwest towards the turbine base.
The track will be 4m wide (wider at turns) and will be created using stone aggregate (Type 1). The crane pad will be approximately 12m by 12m and will also be created using stone aggregate (Type 1). A number of local contractors will be considered to carry out the building of the access road. The soil where the track will be located will be tested before the depth of the road is determined; although it is thought that the maximum depth will not exceed 60cm. Since the track and crane pad will be constructed of compacted stone aggregate, surface water run-off will be limited due to the permeable nature of the material. This should negate the need for detailed site drainage designs. When construction is completed the track will be left in place to allow for any maintenance work to be carried out.
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vi. Grid Connection
The turbine will be connected to a single storey meter house via underground cabling. The underground cabling will be laid adjacent to the access tracks, and the meter house will be situated adjacent tothe foundation of the turbine.
Connection to the national grid will not be considered as part of this Environmental Report as consent falls under another process, and the environmental legislation surrounding it is separate from that which is covered in this assessment. The planning application for connection to the national grid will also be carried out independently. vii. Decommissioning
The operational period of the turbine will be set at 25 years and provision for it to be decommissioned will take place on the expiration of the planning permission. The site will be restored within 6 months of this time unless planning permission is sought for the extension of the operational period. Any application for extension must be done so in accordance with the legislation and regulations surrounding the development at the time of applying. If an extension for operation is not sought then it is common practice for all equipment which is above ground to be removed from the site completely after having been dismantled.
The disassembled turbine parts can mostly be recycled and will be taken to a suitable recycling plant. Another option is for the decommissioned turbine to be refurbished and sold on the second hand market. At this time the turbine foundations will be removed and the area will be reinstated. The cables, which will be laid inside ducting, can be easily removed leaving only the ducting in-situ. Once again, the cabling can be recycled at a suitable recycling plant. Access tracks may be covered by topsoil or left in as they are if they are beneficial to the landowner.
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3. PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF WIND ENERGY DEVELOPMENTS
i. Public Perception
In order to gain an indication of public attitudes towards wind power in the UK, Ipsos MORI recently conducted research for RenewableUK using an online panel in April 2012.1 This involved 1,009 adults, (aged between 16 and 64), from across the UK. Ipsos Mori’s online panels follow ESOMAR’s code of conduct and use a pre-recruited group of individuals who are screened to ensure representative samples.2 The results, summarised below, show that the UK public support wind energy:
66% of respondents either strongly favour or tend to favour the use of wind power in the UK: This contrasts to only 8% who strongly or tend to oppose wind energy;
43% believe that the average UK household contribution of their energy bill3 towards wind energy as part of the Renewables Obligation is very or fairly good value and 25% believe it is average value: Only 19% feel it is very or fairly poor value;
59% perceive that the benefits of wind energy include helping to reduce carbon emissions and the UK’s dependence on fossil fuels: Only 8% fail to see any benefit at all;
66% believe that the visual impact of wind farms on the landscape are more acceptable than not.
From another study by YouGov and The Sunday Times,4 it appears that combating climate change and environmental issues are still very much supported by the majority of the public. Of the 1,696 adults from across the UK surveyed in September 2011, 56% wanted to see more wind farms in the UK. Only 19% of survey respondents wanted to see less emphasis on wind power. When asked about other forms of energy, just 35% of survey respondents believed more nuclear was the way forward, while only 16% believed the number of coal power stations should be increased. 60% of respondents thought the government is right to subsidise wind farms to encourage more wind power.
ii. Common Misconceptions
It is sometimes believed that if a wind turbine is consented within an area it will ‘set a precedent’ to allow further of developments within that region. Each site is considered individually as no two locations are the same. As such, each proposed development should be analysed by the local authority and judged on individual merit. Developers should additionally
1 RenewableUK Wind Power Omnibus research: http://www.ipsos-mori.com/researchpublications/researcharchive/2946/RenewableUK- Wind-Power-Omnibus-research.aspx 2 Ipsos Mori’s online panels (see link to i-Omnibus too): http://www.ipsos-mori.com/researchtechniques/datacollection/online/onlinepanels.aspx 3 Calculated by Ofgem for financial year 2010/2011 as £7.74 4 YouGovPlc& Sunday Times (2011): http://cdn.yougov.com/cumulus_uploads/document/gm4jg0973n/Sunday%20Times%20Results%20111125%20VI%20and%20Trackers.pdf
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consider the constraints of each site carefully for their application and propose a development that is suited and sensitive to the landscape. Planning authorities are, in turn, discouraged from second guessing future development within regions. Some landscapes have the capacity for multiple turbine developments without suffering negative effects from a cumulative visual impact. However, some landscapes are only suited to single or few turbines being sited within them, or may not be suited to any.As landscapes evolve the issue of a cumulative impact of turbines and their effect on the natural and anthropogenic environments becomes more prominent. It may be pertinent for some developments to be assessed for their effect in conjunction with other applications within the planning process. However, local authorities should not make assumptions beyond what is tangible within the planning system. As stated, each turbine location is specific and therefore each application is unique. The role of cumulative impact should only be applied where it is pertinent to do so and only as part of a fair analysis of each site.
iii. Changing Perception of Landscape
The impact of the turbinehas to be examined, to the greatest extent possible, using analysis of the effect on contemporary visual receptors. It must, however, be noted that public perception of landscape evolves as the landscape itself changes. Wind turbines are a modern and rapidly expanding part of the renewable energy sector. As such their presence is relatively new which causes them to be perceived as particularly visually prominent. It is anticipated that public perception of this technology, and its apparent impact upon landscape, will change over time. Although turbines should always be sited with the upmost consideration and respect for the landscape, their impact should lessen over time as they become a more common sight.
iv. Recreation and Tourism
To date there is no evidence to suggest that wind turbines have an adverse effect on tourism. Wind farms have become increasingly popular, with tourists and locals alike visiting a number of wind farms across the UK. Whitelee wind farm, Ayrshire, and the Ecotech Centre, Norfolk, have proven to be popular attractions; with Whitelee alone attracting over 120,000 visitors in its first year. MORI conducted a study on “Tourist Attitudes towards Wind Farms” which states that “when [participants of the survey were] asked whether the presence of wind farms had a positive or negative effect, two in five (43%) maintained that it had a positive effect, while a similar proportion felt it was equally positive and negative. Less than one in ten (8%) felt that it had a negative effect”5.
5 BWEA, Tourist Attitudes towards Wind Farms, http://www.bwea.com/pdf/MORI.pdf
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4. SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT
The following section provides a brief overview of the area surroundings the proposed development.
i. Location
The site is located within the local authority ofSouth Kesteven which has a population of approximately 131,100 in mid-20076. South Kesteven is located in Lincolnshire near the east coast of England. The Council borders with two other Lincolnshire local authorities to the north: North Kesteven to the north and South Holland to the east.
Within South Kesteven, the site is located in the ward of Loveden. Carlton Scroop, along with other small villages such as Long Bennington and Culverthorpe, form the ward of Loveden, containing a population of just under 2,2007.
The proposed turbine development at Bellevue Farmis located approximately 1.2km northwest of the nearest village,in a largely isolated rural area and circa 8km north of Grantham. The A1road is located around 6.7km west of the site and is the biggest road in the area. Other roads within 5km of the turbine are minor roads and are either unnamed or B roads.
8 FIGURE 4.1:MAP OF SOUTH KESTEVEN LOCAL AUTHORITY AREA
6 South Kesteven council; http://www.southkesteven.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=2323&p=0 7Loveden Population: http://www.policyresearch.org.uk/statistics/population/all/allwards?sort=ID&order=up 8 South Kesteven Local Authority Area; http://www.southkestevencab.co.uk/locations.htm
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ii. Socio-Economic Effects
As the scale of the development is relatively small, the turbine has the potential to generate a limited range of social and economic effects. The opportunities are listed as follows:
Pre-construction – contract opportunities for various specialists;
Construction – opportunities for haulage, access track and turbine base construction, supply of building materials, electrical services and fencing contractors;
Operation – the owner of the turbine, who may be able to use the profits created from the turbine to support his farming business;
Decommissioning – similar benefits as that of the construction stage.
To summarise, there will be a short to medium term improvement in employment created by the additional spend of income and wages in the local economy and purchase of materials. Employment opportunities may arise down the supply chain by the companies providing services to this development. The turbine will require regular maintenance over its lifespan which will be provided by VG Energy’s own installation and maintenance team. It is perceived that as the turbine will be owned by a local employer, the income generated will be reinvested into both his business and the local economy, therefore creating more opportunities for workers in the area.
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5. RELEVANT PLANNING POLICY
i. Environmental Impact Assessment
There is a statutory obligation for an EIA to be undertaken if deemed necessary by the Local Planning Authority. The level of assessment required should correspond to the scale of the development, as defined by the EIA Directive.As this turbine is more than 15m to blade tip, a screening was submitted to South Kesteven Council. As referred to in the introduction, an EIA was not requested by the council; however landscape issues were a concern and a separate Landscape Visual Impact Assessment is attached along with this application to negate any possible concerns on behalf of the council.
This report will give a comprehensive account of the above issues while also considering other environmental, social and economic aspects within the study area.
The projects development hasbeenrefined in order to avoid or reduce any foreseeable potential environmental conflicts. Potential impacts associated with all stages of the development, from construction through to decommissioning,have been thoroughly analysed. Where necessary, mitigation measures have beendesignedto alleviate any impacts as much as is feasibly possible and will be discussed later in this report.
ii. National Planning Policyand Legislation
a. Legislation
The United Kingdom has committed itself under the European Framework Convention on Climate Change (also known as the Kyoto Protocol) to reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 12.5% during the period 2008-2012, when compared to the 1990 baseline levels.
In 2008 the UK Climate Change Act was implemented and set stringent targets for reducing the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions by 80% by 2050. The act also requires that over the 5 year period
2008-2012 limits be set on the total amount of CO2 emissions allowed and that at the very least the UK will have achieved a 34% reduction by 2020 compared to the 1990 baseline emission
levels. To date it has been shown that the UK’s CO2 emissions have been reduced successfully by 10.5% of the 1990’s emission levels, showing that Britain is making significant progress towards its targets. However, in order for the 34% reduction target to be met further action is required.
Accompanying the CO2 emissions reduction targets are the UK Governments targets for renewable energy development. The Government are aiming for 20% of the Country’s electricity supply to be met by renewable energy sources as part of the Low Carbon Transition Plan. These targets were outlined in the 2009 Renewable Energy Strategy which also named an intermediate target of 10% of the UK’s electricity supply to be met by renewable energy sources by 2010.
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Wind energy is thought to hold the greatest potential for generating electricity whilst complying with the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions reduction targets..
b. Planning Policy
National Planning Policy for England is outlined in the National Planning Policy Framework, which was adopted by the Government in March 2012. This framework replaced the previous Planning Policy Statements (PPS) and aims to condense themfrom thousands of pages of documentation to around 50. This new guidance seeks to ensure the planning system is much more streamlined and flexible to suit the demands placed upon it, which is particularly relevant for developments such as wind turbines. The new planning policy framework does not change the statutory status of local plans produced by the relevant council; if a proposal meets the criteria set forth in the local plan, it should be approved. And the same should be the case for those proposals which conflict with the plans.
The new framework provides guidance to local authorities in the preparation of local plans and as such can have a huge influence on decision making, especially with contentious issues such as wind turbine development. With this in mind, the following policies have been highlighted as important and relevant to this application;
Supporting a Prosperous Rural Economy
Planning policies should support economic growth in rural areas in order to create jobs and prosperity by taking a positive approach to sustainable new development. To promote a strong rural economy, local and neighbourhood plans should:
Support the sustainable growth and expansion of all types of business and enterprise in rural areas, both through conversion of existing buildings and well-designed new buildings;
Promote the development and diversification of agricultural and other land-based rural businesses;
Support sustainable rural tourism and leisure developments that benefit businesses in rural areas, communities and visitors, and which respect the character of the countryside. This should include supporting the provision and expansion of tourist and visitor facilities in appropriate locations where identified needs are not met by existing facilities in rural service centres;
Promote the retention and development of local services and community facilities in villages, such as local shops, meeting places, sports venues, cultural buildings, public houses and places of worship
Meeting the Challenge of Climate Change, Flooding and Coastal Change
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Planning plays a key role in helping shape places to secure radical reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, minimising vulnerability and providing resilience to the impacts of climate change, and supporting the delivery of renewable and low carbon energy and associated infrastructure. This is central to the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.
Local planning authorities should adopt proactive strategies to mitigate an adapt to climate change, taking full account of flood risk, coastal change and water supply and demand considerations.
To support the move to a low carbon future, local planning authorities should:
Plan for new development in locations and ways which reduce greenhousegas emissions;
Actively support energy efficiency improvements to existing buildings; and
When setting any local requirement for a building’s sustainability, do so in a way consistent with the Government’s zero carbon buildings policy and adopt nationally described standards.
In determining planning applications, local planning authorities should expect new development to:
Comply with adopted Local Plan policies on local requirements for decentralised energy supply unless it can be demonstrated by the applicant, having regard to the type of development involved and its design, that this is not feasible or viable; and
Take account of landform, layout, building orientation, massing and landscaping to minimise energy consumption.
To help increase the use and supply of renewable and low carbon energy, local planning authorities should recognise the responsibility on all communities to contribute to energy generation from renewable or low carbon sources. They should:
Have a positive strategy to promote energy from renewable and low carbon sources;
Design their policies to maximise renewable and low carbon energy development while ensuring that adverse impacts are addressed satisfactorily, including cumulative landscape and visual impacts;
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Consider identifying suitable areas for renewable and low carbon energy sources, and supporting infrastructure, where this would help secure the development of such sources;
Support community-led initiatives for renewable and low carbon energy, including developments outside such areas being taken forward through neighbourhood planning; and
Identify opportunities where development can draw its energy supply from decentralised, renewable or low carbon energy supply systems and for co-locating potential heat customers and suppliers.
When determining planning applications, local planning authorities should:
Not require applicants for energy development to demonstrate the overall need for renewable or low carbon energy and also recognise that even small-scale projects provide a valuable contribution to cutting greenhouse gas emissions; and
Approve the application if its impacts are (or can be made) acceptable. Once suitable areas for renewable and low carbon energy have been identified in plans, local planning authorities should also expect subsequent applications for commercial scale projects outside these areas to demonstrate that the proposed location meets the criteria used in identifying suitable areas.
Local Plans should take account of climate change over the longer term, including factors such as flood risk, coastal change, water supply and changes to biodiversity and landscape. New development should be planned to avoid increased vulnerability to the range of impacts arising from climate change. When new development is brought forward in areas which are vulnerable, care should be taken to ensure that risks can be managed through suitable adaptation measures, including through the planning of green infrastructure.
Inappropriate development in areas at risk of flooding should be avoided by directing development away from areas at highest risk, but where development is necessary, making it safe without increasing flood risk elsewhere. Local Plans should be supported by Strategic Flood Risk Assessment and develop policies to manage flood risk from all sources, taking account of advice from the Environment Agency and other relevant flood risk management bodies, such as lead local flood authorities and internal drainage boards. Local Plans should apply a sequential, risk-based approach to the location of development to avoid where possible flood risk to people and property and manage any residual risk, taking account of the impacts of climate change, by:
Applying the Sequential Test;
If necessary, applying the Exception Test;
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Safeguarding land from development that is required for current andfuture flood management;
Using opportunities offered by new development to reduce the causes and impacts of flooding; and
Where climate change is expected to increase flood risk so that some existing development may not be sustainable in the long-term, seeking opportunities to facilitate the relocation of development, including housing, to more sustainable locations.
The aim of the Sequential Test is to steer new development to areas with the lowest probability of flooding. Development should not be allocated or permitted if there are reasonably available sites appropriate for the proposed development in areas with a lower probability of flooding. The StrategicFlood Risk Assessment will provide the basis for applying this test. A sequential approach should be used in areas known to be at risk from any form of flooding.
If, following application of the Sequential Test, it is not possible, consistent with wider sustainability objectives, for the development to be located in zones with a lower probability of flooding, the Exception Test can be applied if appropriate. For the Exception Test to be passed:
It must be demonstrated that the development provides wider sustainability benefits to the community that outweigh flood risk, informed by a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment where one has been prepared; and
A site-specific flood risk assessment must demonstrate that the development will be safe for its lifetime taking account of the vulnerability of its users, without increasing flood risk elsewhere, and, where possible, will reduce flood risk overall. Both elements of the test will have to be passed for development to be allocated or permitted.
When determining planning applications, local planning authorities should ensure flood risk is not increased elsewhere and only consider development appropriate in areas at risk of flooding where, informed by a site-specific flood risk assessment following the Sequential Test, and if required theException Test, it can be demonstrated that:
Within the site, the most vulnerable development is located in areas of lowest flood risk unless there are overriding reasons to prefer a different location; and
Development is appropriately flood resilient and resistant, including safe access and escape routes where required, and that any residual risk can be safely managed, including by emergency planning; and it gives priority to the use of sustainable drainage systems.
For individual developments on sites allocated in development plans through the Sequential Test, applicants need not apply the Sequential Test. Applications for minor development and changes
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of use should not be subject to the Sequential or Exception Tests22 but should still meet the requirements for site-specific flood risk assessments.
In coastal areas, local planning authorities should take account of the UK Marine Policy Statement and marine plans and apply Integrated Coastal Zone Management across local authority and land/sea boundaries, ensuring integration of the terrestrial and marine planning regimes.
Local planning authorities should reduce risk from coastal change by avoiding inappropriate development in vulnerable areas or adding to the impacts of physical changes to the coast. They should identify as a Coastal Change Management Area any area likely to be affected by physical changes to the coast, and:
Be clear as to what development will be appropriate in such areas and in what circumstances; and
Make provision for development and infrastructure that needs to be relocated away from Coastal Change Management Areas.
When assessing applications, authorities should consider development in a Coastal Change Management Area appropriate where it is demonstrated that:
It will be safe over its planned lifetime and will not have an unacceptable impact on coastal change;
The character of the coast including designations is not compromised;
The development provides wider sustainability benefits; and
The development does not hinder the creation and maintenance of a continuous signed and managed route around the coast.
Local planning authorities should also ensure appropriate development in a Coastal Change Management Area is not impacted by coastal change by limiting the planned life-time of the proposed development through temporary permission and restoration conditions where necessary to reduce the risk to people and the development.
Conserving and Enhancing the Natural Environment
The planning system should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by:
Protecting and enhancing valued landscapes, geological conservation interests and soils;
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Recognising the wider benefits of ecosystem services;
Minimising impacts on biodiversity and providing net gains in biodiversity where possible, contributing to the Government’s commitment to halt theoverall decline in biodiversity, including by establishing coherent ecologicalnetworks that are more resilient to current and future pressures;
preventing both new and existing development from contributing to orbeing put at unacceptable risk from, or being adversely affected byunacceptable levels of soil, air, water or noise pollution or land instability;and
Remediating and mitigating despoiled, degraded, derelict, contaminatedand unstable land, where appropriate.
In preparing plans to meet development needs, the aim should be to minimise pollution and other adverse effects on the local and natural environment. Plans should allocate land with the least environmental or amenity value, where consistent with other policies in this Framework.
Planning policies and decisions should encourage the effective use of land by re-using land that has been previously developed (brownfield land), provided that it is not of high environmental value. Local planning authorities may continue to consider the case for setting a locally appropriate target for the use of brownfield land.
Local planning authorities should take into account the economic and otherbenefits of the best and most versatile agricultural land. Where significantdevelopment of agricultural land is demonstrated to be necessary, localplanning authorities should seek to use areas of poorer quality land inpreference to that of a higher quality.
Local planning authorities should set criteria based policies against whichproposals for any development on or affecting protected wildlife orgeodiversity sites or landscape areas will be judged. Distinctions should bemade between the hierarchy of international, national and locally designated sites, so that protection is commensurate with their status and givesappropriate weight to their importance and the contribution that they make to wider ecological networks.
Local planning authorities should:
Set out a strategic approach in their Local Plans, planning positively for thecreation, protection, enhancement and management of networks ofbiodiversity and green infrastructure; and
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Maintain the character of the undeveloped coast, protecting andenhancing its distinctive landscapes, particularly in areas defined asHeritage Coast, and improve public access to and enjoyment of the coast.
Great weight should be given to conserving landscape and scenic beauty in National Parks, the Broads and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which have the highest status of protection in relation to landscape and scenic beauty. The conservation of wildlife and cultural heritage are important considerations in all these areas, and should be given great weight in National Parks and the Broads.
Planning permission should be refused for major developments in the designated areas except in exceptional circumstances and where it can be demonstrated they are in the public interest. Consideration of such applications should include an assessment of:
The need for the development, including in terms of any national considerations, and the impact of permitting it, or refusing it, upon the local economy;
The cost of, and scope for, developing elsewhere outside the designatedarea, or meeting the need for it in some other way; and
Any detrimental effect on the environment, the landscape and recreationalopportunities, and the extent to which that could be moderated
To minimise impacts on biodiversity and geodiversity, planning policies should:
Plan for biodiversity at a landscape-scale across local authority boundaries;
Identify and map components of the local ecological networks, including the hierarchy of international, national and locally designated sites of importance for biodiversity, wildlife corridors and stepping stones that connect them and areas identified by local partnerships for habitat restoration or creation;
Promote the preservation, restoration and re-creation of priority habitats,ecological networks and the protection and recovery of priority speciespopulations, linked to national and local targets, and identify suitableindicators for monitoring biodiversity in the plan;
Aim to prevent harm to geological conservation interests; and
Where Nature Improvement Areas are identified in Local Plans, considerspecifying the types of development that may be appropriate in theseAreas
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When determining planning applications, local planning authorities shouldaim to conserve and enhance biodiversity by applying the following principles:
If significant harm resulting from a development cannot be avoided(through locating on an alternative site with less harmful impacts),adequately mitigated, or, as a last resort, compensated for, then planningpermission should be refused;
Proposed development on land within or outside a Site of Special ScientificInterest likely to have an adverse effect on a Site of Special ScientificInterest (either individually or in combination with other developments)should not normally be permitted. Where an adverse effect on the site’snotified special interest features is likely, an exception should only be madewhere the benefits of the development, at this site, clearly outweigh boththe impacts that it is likely to have on the features of the site that make itof special scientific interest and any broader impacts on the nationalnetwork of Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
development proposals where the primary objective is to conserve orenhance biodiversity should be permitted;
Opportunities to incorporate biodiversity in and around developmentsshould be encouraged;
Planning permission should be refused for development resulting in theloss or deterioration of irreplaceable habitats, including ancient woodlandand the loss of aged or veteran trees found outside ancient woodland,unless the need for, and benefits of, the development in that locationclearly outweigh the loss; and
The following wildlife sites should be given the same protection asEuropean sites:
I. Potential Special Protection Areas and possible Special Areas of Conservation; II. Listed or proposed Ramsar sites; and III. Sites identified, or required, as compensatory measures for adverse effects on European sites, potential Special Protection Areas, possible Special Areas of Conservation, and listed or proposed Ramsar sites.
The presumption in favour of sustainable development (paragraph 14) does not apply where development requiring appropriate assessment under the Birds or Habitats Directives is being considered, planned or determined.
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To prevent unacceptable risks from pollution and land instability, planning policies and decisions should ensure that new development is appropriate for its location. The effects (including cumulative effects) of pollution on health, the natural environment or general amenity, and the potential sensitivity of the area or proposed development to adverse effects from pollution, should be taken into account. Where a site is affected by contamination or land stability issues, responsibility for securing a safe development rests with the developer and/or landowner.
Planning policies and decisions should also ensure that:
The site is suitable for its new use taking account of ground conditions; and
land instability, including from natural hazards or former activities such asmining, pollution arising from previous uses and any proposals formitigation including land remediation or impacts on the naturalenvironment arising from that remediation;
After remediation, as a minimum, land should not be capable of beingdetermined as contaminated land under Part IIA of the EnvironmentalProtection Act 1990; and
Adequate site investigation information, prepared by a competent person,is presented.
In doing so, local planning authorities should focus on whether the development itself is an acceptable use of the land and the impact of the use, rather than the control of processes or emissions themselves where these are subject to approval under pollution control regimes. Local planning authorities should assume that these regimes will operate effectively. Equally, where a planning decision has been made on a particular development, the planning issues should not be revisited through the permitting regimes operated by pollution control authorities.
Planning policies and decisions should aim to:
Avoid noise from giving rise to significant adverse impacts on health and quality of life as a result of new development;
Mitigate and reduce to a minimum other adverse impacts on health and quality of life arising from noise from new development, including through the use of conditions;
Recognise that development will often create some noise and existing businesses wanting to develop in continuance of their business should not have unreasonable restrictions put on them because of changes in nearby land uses since they were established; and
Identify and protect areas of tranquillity which have remained relatively undisturbed by noise and are prized for their recreational and amenity value for this reason.
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Planning policies should sustain compliance with and contribute towards EU limit values or national objectives for pollutants, taking into account the presence of Air Quality Management Areas and the cumulative impacts on air quality from individual sites in local areas. Planning decisions should ensure that any new development in Air Quality Management Areas is consistent with the local air quality action plan.
By encouraging good design, planning policies and decisions should limit the impact of light pollution from artificial light on local amenity, intrinsically dark landscapes and nature conservation.
Conserving and Enhancing the Historic Environment
Local planning authorities should set out in their Local Plan a positive strategy for the conservation and enjoyment of the historic environment, including heritage assets most at risk through neglect, decay or other threats. In doing so, they should recognise that heritage assets are an irreplaceable resource and conserve them in a manner appropriate to their significance. In developing this strategy, local planning authorities should take into account:
The desirability of sustaining and enhancing the significance of heritage assets and putting them to viable uses consistent with their conservation;
The wider social, cultural, economic and environmental benefits that conservation of the historic environment can bring;
The desirability of new development making a positive contribution to local character and distinctiveness; and
Opportunities to draw on the contribution made by the historic environment to the character of a place.
When considering the designation of conservation areas, local planning authorities should ensure that an area justifies such status because of its special architectural or historic interest, and that the concept of conservation is not devalued through the designation of areas that lack special interest.
In determining applications, local planning authorities should require an applicant to describe the significance of any heritage assets affected, including any contribution made by their setting. The level of detail should be proportionate to the assets’ importance and no more than is sufficient to understand the potential impact of the proposal on their significance. As a minimum the relevant historic environment record should have been consulted and the heritage assets assessed using appropriate expertise where necessary. Where a site on which development is proposed includes or has the potential to include heritage assets with archaeological interest, local planning authorities should require developers to submit an appropriate desk-based assessment and, where necessary, a field evaluation.
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Local planning authorities should identify and assess the particular significance of any heritage asset that may be affected by a proposal (including by development affecting the setting of a heritage asset) taking account of the available evidence and any necessary expertise. They should take this assessment into account when considering the impact of a proposal on a heritage asset, to avoid or minimise conflict between the heritage asset’s conservation and any aspect of the proposal.
Where there is evidence of deliberate neglect of or damage to a heritage asset the deteriorated state of the heritage asset should not be taken into account in any decision.
In determining planning applications, local planning authorities should take account of:
The desirability of sustaining and enhancing the significance of heritage assets and putting them to viable uses consistent with their conservation;
The positive contribution that conservation of heritage assets can make to sustainable communities including their economic vitality; and
The desirability of new development making a positive contribution to local character and distinctiveness.
When considering the impact of a proposed development on the significance of a designated heritage asset, great weight should be given to the asset’s conservation. The more important the asset, the greater the weight should be. Significance can be harmed or lost through alteration or destruction of the heritage asset or development within its setting. As heritage assets are irreplaceable, any harm or loss should require clear and convincing justification. Substantial harm to or loss of a grade II listed building, park or garden should be exceptional. Substantial harm to or loss of designated heritage assets of the highest significance, notably scheduled monuments, protected wreck sites, battlefields, grade I and II* listed buildings, grade I and II* registered parks and gardens, and World Heritage Sites, should be wholly exceptional.
Where a proposed development will lead to substantial harm to or total loss of significance of a designated heritage asset, local planning authorities should refuse consent, unless it can be demonstrated that the substantial harm or loss is necessary to achieve substantial public benefits that outweigh that harm or loss, or all of the following apply:
The nature of the heritage asset prevents all reasonable uses of the site; and
No viable use of the heritage asset itself can be found in the medium term through appropriate marketing that will enable its conservation; and
Conservation by grant-funding or some form of charitable or public ownership is demonstrably not possible; and
The harm or loss is outweighed by the benefit of bringing the site back into use.
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Where a development proposal will lead to less than substantial harm to the significance of a designated heritage asset, this harm should be weighed against the public benefits of the proposal, including securing its optimum viable use.
The effect of an application on the significance of a non-designated heritage asset should be taken into account in determining the application. In weighing applications that affect directly or indirectly non designated heritage assets, a balanced judgement will be required having regard to the scale of any harm or loss and the significance of the heritage asset.
Local planning authorities should not permit loss of the whole or part of a heritage asset without taking all reasonable steps to ensure the newdevelopment will proceed after the loss has occurred.
Local planning authorities should look for opportunities for new development within Conservation Areas and World Heritage Sites and within the setting of heritage assets to enhance or better reveal their significance. Proposals that preserve those elements of the setting that make a positive contribution to or better reveal the significance of the asset should be treated favourably.
Not all elements of a World Heritage Site or Conservation Area will necessarily contribute to its significance. Loss of a building (or other element) which makes a positive contribution to the significance of the Conservation Area or World Heritage Site should be treated either as substantial harm under paragraph 133 or less than substantial harm under paragraph 134, as appropriate, taking into account the relative significance of the element affected and its contribution to the significance of the Conservation Area or World Heritage Site as a whole.
Non-designated heritage assets of archaeological interest that are demonstrably of equivalent significance to scheduled monuments, should be considered subject to the policies for designated heritage assets.
Local planning authorities should assess whether the benefits of a proposal for enabling development, which would otherwise conflict with planning policies but which would secure the future conservation of a heritage asset, outweigh the disbenefits of departing from those policies.
Local planning authorities should make information about the significance of the historic environment gathered as part of plan-making or development management publicly accessible. They should also require developers to record and advance understanding of the significance of any heritage assets to be lost (wholly or in part) in a manner proportionate to their importance and the impact, and to make this evidence (and any archive generated) publicly accessible. However, the ability to record evidence of our past should not be a factor in deciding whether such loss should be permitted.
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iii. Local Council
Bellevue Farm is within the boundary of South Kesteven, and as such can help the Council contribute to the Government’s climate change targets through reducing the local economy’s reliance on fossil fuels and lowering carbon emissions. In 2006, South Kesteven council signed the Nottingham Declaration on climate change, acknowledging the risks of climate change and the relevant measures in which to tackle them; as such, this application can help the council contribute to this declaration and carry its commitment forward to the next generation.
a. Implemented Policy
The following policies from the Core Strategy (2010) relate to wind farm and renewable energy development and are taken into account within this planning application:
Policy SP1 – Spatial Strategy
EN1 – Protection and Enhancement of the Character of the District
EN3 – Renewable Energy Generation
The Core Strategy’s adoption in 2010 meant that most of the existing policies within the Local Plan (1995) were superseded. Those which were not do not apply to this application, and as such were not consulted. (Direct quotations from the policies are given in italics)
South Kesteven Core Strategy
Policy SP1 – Spatial Strategy
The Spatial Strategy indicates that the majority of new development within the South Kesteven district should be focused in and around Grantham, with secondary provisions made for the smaller towns of Bourne, Stamford and The Deepings. Whilst this development is not located in any of these areas, the Spatial Strategy does indicate that, while development in all other locations are restricted, there will be exceptions for the following development types;
affordable housing (rural exception or allocated sites)
agriculture, forestry or equine development
rural diversification projects
local services & facilities
replacement buildings (on a like for like basis); or
conversions of buildings provided that the existing building(s):
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The proposed wind turbine at Bellevue Farm qualifies as a rural diversification project, as the turbine offers the owners of the farm the opportunity to capitalise on another income stream which brings minimal environmental constraints, whilst at the same time safeguarding the continued use of the land for agricultural purposes. This turbine can help to ensure the farm is able to continue operating for the long term and upon completion of the 25 years the project is aimed to be in operation the turbine will be decommissioned and the land returned to the way it was previously.
Policy EN1 – Protection and Enhancement of the Character of the District
This policy outlines the council’s approach to ensuring the local distinctiveness and character of the area is not jeopardized by any development and assesses this by way of the potential impacts both on the built and natural heritage. The policy reads as follows; (Only relevant policy factors have been included)
Development must be appropriate to the character and significant natural, historic and cultural attributes and features of the landscape within which it is situated, and contribute to its conservation, enhancement or restoration.
All development proposals and site allocations will be assessed in relation to:
Statutory, national and local designations of landscape features, including natural and historic assets;
Local distinctiveness and sense of place;
Historic character, patterns and attributes of the landscape;
The condition of the landscape;
Biodiversity and ecological networks within the landscape;
Public access to and community value of the landscape;
Remoteness and tranquillity;
Visual intrusion;
Noise and light pollution;
Conservation Area Appraisals and Village Design Statements, where these have been adopted by the Council;
Protection of existing open space (including allotments and public open space, and open spaces important to the character, setting and separation of built-up areas).
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Taking each of these points in turn, we can judge the turbines relevance to this policy in the following ways;
The turbine is not anticipated to have a detrimental effect on any statutory designated landscapes or historical assets within the given study zones. This will be discussed in more detail in chapters 6, 7 & 8 on Landscape, Built Heritage and Ecology as well as the accompanying Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment;
As with the previous point, the issues involving the potential impact of the turbine on the local distinctiveness are discussed in the Landscape chapter and LVIA;
Again, this is discussed in more detail in the Landscape chapter and LVIA;
The condition of the landscape is relatively undeveloped in and around the farm, with some precedent for infrastructure such as pylons and nearby farmsteads;
Biodiversity and ecological networks are discussed in more detail in chapter 8 on Ecology;
Public access to the landscape in the vicinity of this development is limited; there is one Public Right of Way 1km south of the site which leads east to west past Bellevue Farmhouse, but besides this there is no public access to the land around the turbine;
The site is somewhat tranquil, although this is not a given due to the presence of several farms nearby and the village of Carlton Scroop to the east and Hough on the Hill to the north. Farm machinery and nearby roads forgo the sense of complete tranquillity, and aside from the initial construction period and resulting extra traffic and noise, there will be no excess disturbance to the tranquillity of the area from the turbine due to its location being safely distanced from nearby properties and settlements;
Visual intrusion is evaluated in the landscape chapter as well as the accompanying LVIA in more detail;
Noise pollution is not anticipated to be an issue for this proposal; the turbine has been sited a reasonable distance from any nearby sensitive noise receptors (such as nearby Bleak House which is circa 640m from the turbine).
A Parish Plan produced by the Carlton Scroop and Normanton-on-Cliffe Parish Council exists for the period 2008-2013, however none of the document relates to this application and is therefore not a material consideration in the determination of this turbine proposal by South Kesteven Council;
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The protection of open space must be a consideration for any wind turbine application; the inclusion of a turbine at Bellevue Farm will introduce a new man-made element into the landscape. However, through careful siting and using natural screening available, it is not anticipated this impact will be to a great extent. This is discussed in more detail in the following landscape chapter and accompanying LVIA.
Policy EN3 – Renewable Energy Generation
The District Council will grant planning permission for proposals to generate energy from renewable sources, subject to the proposals according with the other Core Strategy policies, national guidance and complying with the following criteria:·
The proposal can be connected efficiently to existing national grid infrastructure, unless it can be demonstrated that energy generation would be used on-site to meet the needs of a specific end user;
The proposal should make provision for: the mitigation of the real emissions/impacts arising from the installation of the renewable energy generation the removal of the facilities and reinstatement of the site, should the facilities cease to be operational.
This policy relates directly to this application and as such the need to fulfil the requirements is paramount.
The turbine proposed can be connected efficiently to the existing grid infrastructure, an application for which has been submitted to the District Network Operator (DNO). It is not anticipated that there will be any serious issues with this connection, however any subsequent development constraints will be discussed with the council and the DNO prior to any required works commencing.
The decommissioning of the turbine is scheduled to take place around 25 years from approval of the project and the land around the site would then be completely reinstated to its original condition.
Based on the above policy context, it is believed that the proposed developmentwill meet the requirements set out and is appropriate to its location.
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6. LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL ASSESSMENT
The purpose of this visual study is to ascertain the probable effects of the proposed turbine at Bellevue Farm, Carlton Scroop, bethem beneficial or adverse, on the existing landscape and visual environments. Important factors to be considered include the landscape characteristics, sensitivity and visual amenity of the area.
Landscape impact may be defined as:Changes in the physical landscape, which may give rise to changes in its character and how it is experienced.
Visual impact comprises the change in the composition of available views from dwellings and public areas resulting from the proposals.
Although the turbine being considered at Bellevue Farm is a medium-scale development compared to those installed at wind farms, its impact must still be fully analysed as both a stand-alone development, and cumulatively, with other wind turbines in the area. Turbines such as this are important in meeting the energy needs of the future through providing a local, clean energy source; this positive must be weighed against the landscape and visual impacts of the development.
Nevertheless, concluding on the acceptability of this proposal is difficult as the judgement will always be subjective. In order to make this as unbiased as possible, the development will be considered alongside specific policies and material considerations, such as the sensitivity and capacity of the landscape, and the significance of the impact. i. Methodology
The methodology for this assessment is, as best practice states, flexible and follows current guidance including:
Government Policies and Publications:
National Planning Policy Framework;
Town and Country Planning (EIA) Regulations (1999).
Scottish Natural Heritage Policy and Guidance:
Countryside Agency & SNH (2004)Landscape Character Assessment, Guidance for England and Scotland;
Countryside Agency & SNH,(2004) Landscape Character Assessment - Topic Paper 6: Techniques and Criteria for Judging Capacity and Sensitivity;
Scottish Natural Heritage (2001)Guidelines on the Environmental Impacts of Windfarms and Small Scale Hydroelectric Schemes;
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Scottish Natural Heritage (2003)SNH Policy Statement No 02/03: Policy on Wildness in Scotland’s Countryside;
Scottish Natural Heritage (2005)Cumulative Effect of Windfarms; Version 2 revised 13.04.05;
Scottish Natural Heritage (2005)Environmental Assessment Handbook, 4th edition;
Scottish Natural Heritage (2009). SNH Policy Statement No. 02/02: Guidance on Onshore Renewable Energy;
Scottish Natural Heritage (2009)Siting and Designing Windfarms in the Landscape;
Scottish Natural Heritage (2012)Assessing the Cumulative Impact of Onshore Development; and
Scottish Natural Heritage (2012)Assessing the Impact of Small-scale Wind Energy Proposals on the Natural Heritage.
NB; Reference to SNH policy is included intentionally. Policy determinations for turbine development and best practice for siting projects of varying scale have been led by SNH through the burgeoning wind development sector in Scotland. Many of the bench marks set in these documents have been used by Local Planning Authorities across the United Kingdom for best practice.
Local Development Planning
South Kesteven Core Strategy policies:
EN1– Protection and Enhancement of the Character of the District
Visual Representation and Reporting Aids:
Landscape Institute & Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment (LI-IEMA: 2002)Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment. 2nd Edition; and
Landscape Institute (2011)Photography and Photomontage in Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment.
The methodology for this study involved carrying out a baseline study of the existing landscape resources and visual amenity, following the best practice guidelines set out in the “Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment” referenced above.
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A desktop study has been undertaken to collect data on the existing landscape including landscape character and landscape designations.
The likely Zone of Theoretical Visibility (ZTV) has been created using ResoftWindfarm software. This has been used to identify the potential extent of the visual envelope and to help pick representative viewpoints. A ZTV highlights where a wind turbine may be visible from within a specified area surrounding the development, taking into account local topography. In regards to this proposal, ZTVs have been calculated to a 15km radius, taking into account views to blade tip, (this is attached to the Appendices, figure 6). The ZTVs have been calculated at 2m above ground level, which is higher than the mean height of UK citizens.9 However, ZTVs are used to provide an indication of turbine visibility only, as they are limited in a number of ways. For example, the area highlighted does not allow for potential views through upper floor windows; nor does it take into account other factors that may screen the turbine from view, such as vegetation, buildings or field walls; lastly, it does not specify whether the whole turbine can be viewed, or just a small part of it – although calculations to both hub height and blade tip aim to reduce this uncertainty.
The ZTVs were then used to select representative viewpoints. A field visit was undertaken and photos were taken from these viewpoints. This field visit also allows for a more detailed assessment of the existing landscape, visual amenity and likely potential impacts of the development than the desktop study alone. Following the field visit, photomontages were developed using these photos on WindFarm Release 4 software. These photomontages are investigated below and have been attached to the Appendices (figure 6).These have been compiled as per industry standards.
The scale of potential direct and indirect impacts of the proposed wind technology developmenthave been assessed with resultant effects and an assessment of the turbine’s significance upon the following at the various stages of the development: Landscape Character Area; Landscape Designations; visual receptors; landscape and visual amenity sensitivity.
Appropriate mitigation measures have been used, where possible, to reduce any predicted potential negative effects of the turbineto the greatest extent possible.
The turbine’s lifespan is expected to be approximately 25 years, so for the basis of this assessment it has been assumed that all impacts and effects assessed are long term, as it will be possible to return the land to its former use after turbine decommissioning. This may change if the turbine were to be disassembled prior to this time, which may reduce the predicted impacts and effects of this proposal.
Potential impacts on historical sites or cultural features and their setting are discussed in Chapter 7 of this Environmental Report: Historic Environment.
9 Approximately 1.8m: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2002/aug/28/science.research
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ii. Study Area
A study of area of 20km was chosen in line with best guidance and industry standard. The turbine isunlikely to cause significant visual or landscape impact beyond 10km, with potential effects expected to be mostly confined to 5km of the site. iii. Landscape Context
1. Landscape Character
The landscape character of the study area is considered at both regional and local level. The basis of the landscape character area assessment is taken from a study undertaken by Natural England whereby the landscape of England is divided into separate types and analysed to assess its intrinsic value and characteristics.10This publication, together with field studies, forms the basis of the landscape character assessment and potential impacts and effects of the proposed turbine. Text taken directly from the Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) report is highlighted in italics.
Landscape Character Area:
The study area lies within theTrent and Belvoir Vales National Character Area (Area No. 48)as defined by the Natural England Landscape Character Assessment:
Gently undulating landform, with shallow ridgesdropping down gently to broad river valleys.
Open, arable or mixed farmed landscape, stronglyrural in feel, with trimmed hedges and fewhedgerow trees; woodlands only locally significant.
Frequent nucleated villages with red brick houses,roofed with pantiles, and spired churches prominentin long views.
Large market towns with historic centres andsubstantial churches visible from afar, notablyNewark, Grantham, Southwell, Lincoln.
Subtle variations within the area from the remoteand pastoral landscape of the Vale of Belvoir, to themore undulating and wooded farmland north-east ofNottingham and the open arable lands to the northand east.
Urban development closely confined to majorcentres, in particular the outskirts of Nottingham.
10 Natural England Landscape Character Assessments; http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/publications/nca/searchpage.aspx
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Elsewhere the open, undeveloped and ruralcharacter strongly influenced locally by powerstations, pylons and sand and gravel extraction onthe Trent floodplain.
Local Landscape Character Type:
South Kesteven published its own Landscape Character Assessment in 2007 with a more detailed analysis on a local level. The site is within the Trent and Belvoir Vales area, as with the National Assessment by Natural England. This area is described as;
The Trent and Belvoir Vale character area lies to the north-west of the District. The southern boundary is formed by the undulating and rising ground that extends from south of Woolsthorpe by Belvoir, to the north of Barrowby and Great Gonerby and on towards Barkston.
The eastern boundary is formed by the rising ground east of Barkston and Fulbeck. The western and northern boundaries of the character area are formed by the district boundary, although the Trent and Belvoir Valeextends beyond the district boundary into Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.
A relatively simple, medium to large-scale, openarable ormixed farming landscape.
Flat or very gently undulating topography
Simple regular fields enclosed by hawthorn hedges.
Relatively few hedgerow trees and virtually nowoodland.
Small villages typically located on slightly rising land.
Church towers and spires visible across thelandscape.
Buildings styles vary, but a high proportion of brickwith dark red pantiles.
Other Landscape Types within the study area include Kesteven Uplands to the south and South Lincolnshire Edge to the east.Within the area there are numerous mentions of power stations which line the River Trent to the west and man-made infrastructure such as canals and large power lines. iv. Landscape Designations and Policy
There are noNational, Regional or Local landscape designations covering the proposed site.Checks were made with GIS datasets for designations such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty or conservation areas but none are present. The nearest AONB is the Lincolnshire Wolds 49km northeast of the turbine site.
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v. Landscape Impact
The following section considers the potential effect of the proposed turbine during its operation on the landscape amenity. A full Landscape Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) has been submitted along with this application separate from this report.
1. Landscape Character
TABLE 6.1:ASSESSMENT OF LANDSCAPE CHARACTER IMPACTS AND EFFECTS
Landscape Sensitivity Magnitude of Change (Impact) Effect Character
Landscape Character Low- Slight adverse impact Minor Type (LCT) Medium adverse This Landscape Character Area type is Trent and Belvoir characterised as flat-undulating farmland, Vales intersected by nucleated villages, large market towns and power stations. Precedent for development in this area exists with the advent of power stations.
Local Landscape Medium Slight adverse impact Minor adverse Trent and Belvoir The local landscape is described as flat-slightly Vales undulating, so landscape impact is likely to be somewhat greater than in an area with more dynamic topography. However, according to the South Kesteven LCA, the area includes ‘major powerlines’ giving precedence for vertical man-made development in the area.
Significance Criteria for Impact:
Substantial adverse impact: Where the scheme would cause a significant deterioration.
Moderate adverse impact: Where the scheme would cause a noticeable deterioration.
Slight adverse impact: Where the scheme would cause a barely perceptible deterioration.
Slight beneficial impact: Where the scheme would cause a barely perceptible improvement.
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Moderate beneficial impact: Where the scheme would cause a noticeable improvement.
Substantial beneficial impact: Where the scheme would cause a significant improvement.
No change: No discernible deterioration or improvement.
Significance Criteria for Effects:
Severe adverse impact: The proposal would result in effects that are at a complete variance with the landform, scale and pattern of the landscape; would permanently degrade, diminish or destroy the integrity of valued characteristic features, elements and/or their setting; would cause a very high quality landscape to be permanently changed and its quality diminished.
Major adverse impact: The proposal would result in effects that cannot be fully mitigated and may cumulatively amount to a severe adverse effect; are at a considerable variance to the landscape degrading the integrity of the landscape; will be substantially damaging to a high quality landscape.
Moderate adverse impact: The proposal would be out of scale with the landscape or at odds with the local pattern and landform; will leave an adverse impact on a landscape of recognised quality.
Minor adverse impact: The proposal would not quite fit into the landform and scale of the landscape; affect an area of recognised landscape character.
Neutral impact: The proposal would complement the scale, landform and pattern of the landscape; maintain existing landscape quality.
Minor beneficial impact: The proposal has the potential to improve the landscape quality and character; fit in with the scale, landform and pattern of the landscape; enable the restoration of valued characteristic features partially lost through other land uses.
Moderate beneficial: The proposal would have the potential to fit very well with the landscape character; improve the quality of the landscape through removal of damage caused by the existing land uses.
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2. Construction and Decommissioning Stages
During construction there will be a slight increase of construction activity including the presence of excavators, vans and one crane, with all work being carried out during weekdays and not at weekends. Works will be limited to removing a small area of pasture farmland for construction crane pad and new track, existing laneways are to be retained and utilised.
After the expected operational lifespan of the turbine (25 years), the turbine’sstructure, associated components, crane pad and track (unless required by the landowner) will be removed. This will result in a temporary increase in construction activity. The removal of the turbine will see the land where the turbine was situated returned to agricultural use. The operational impact will be reversible with no residual impact, resulting in a positive or neutral impact on the landscape after decommissioning.
3. Overall Landscape Impact
The predicted impact of the proposed turbine on the landscape character of the area is likely to be slight adverse impact, leading to a barely perceptible deterioration of the local landscape’s resources and amenity.
There would be a minor adverseeffect whereby the proposed scheme would not quite fit into the landform and scale of the landscape; affect an area of recognised landscape character.
The turbine’s visual impact would diminish further as the landform reduces the prominence in the greater scale of the Landscape Character Area. vi. Visual Assessment
Visual impacts relate to the change of views and visual amenity for a number of receptors: Residents, (dwellings, settlements); travellers, (roads, rail, paths, cycle); and visitors, (destinations, viewpoints).
The extent of the visual impact from this turbine has been assessed through calculating the ZTV attached to the Appendices. The ZTV has identified a number of areas within the surrounding landscape where the turbine will be visible from.
As seen through the ZTV, views of the proposed site will be limited largely to immediate local areas and those north and east of the site, while being slightly visible from the towns of Grantham and Newark-on-Trent and other small hamlets like Hough on the Hill and Normanton-on-Cliffe. There may be some elevated views towards the turbine from certain points across the surrounding upland hills particularly to the north while there may be some distant views further east from beyondSleaford.
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1. Tourist and Main Routes Sequential Impacts/Visual Receptors
TABLE 6.2:ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS ON VISUAL RECEPTORS
Receptor Sensitivity Magnitude of Change (Impact) Effect
Main Roads & Low Slight adverse impact Minor Local Access adverse Routes: Views from the major roads in the area are largely transient in nature and the turbine is less likely to A1, A15, A17, form a visual intrusion on the landscape from these A52 & local receptors. minor roads. Local minor roads are more susceptible to change visually and these are all likely to suffer from some element of visual impact. However, the roads around the site are characterised by high hedgerows which are not accounted for in the ZTV, and these are likely to offer some natural screening, although not completely.
Recognised High- Slight adverse impact Minor Walking and Medium adverse National Cycling The turbine is likely to visually impact on the Routes: national cycle route; however the nearest section is circa 6 miles south. This is likely to lessen the National Cycle impact somewhat due to the distance. No other Route No.15 recognised walking or cycling routes are within the study zone. There are, however, a small number of public rights of way, the closest of which is around 800m south of the site. A public bridleway also runs through the land belonging to Bellevue farm, around 600m south of the site.
Significance Criteria for Visual Impact:
Substantial adverse impact: Where the scheme would cause a significant visual deterioration.
Moderate adverse impact: Where the scheme would cause a noticeable visual deterioration.
Slight adverse impact: Where the scheme would cause a barely perceptible visual deterioration.
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Slight beneficial impact: Where the scheme would cause a barely perceptible visual improvement.
Moderate beneficial impact: Where the scheme would cause a noticeable visual improvement.
Substantial beneficial impact: Where the scheme would cause a significant visual improvement.
No change: No discernible visual deterioration or improvement.
Significance Criteria for Visual Effects:
Severe adverse: The proposed scheme would result in visual effects that are highly intrusive to visual receptors; would permanently degrade, diminish or destroy the integrity of valuable views; would cause important visual receptors to be permanently changed and the visual amenity severely diminished.
Major adverse: The proposed scheme would result in visual effects that cannot be fully absorbed and may cumulatively amount to a significant adverse visual effect; are a considerable intrusion to visual receptors degrading the integrity of the receptor; will be substantially damaging to visual amenity.
Moderate adverse: The proposed scheme would noticeably intrude on local visual receptors; will leave an adverse impact on the recognisably important visual amenity.
Minor adverse: The proposed scheme would slightly intrude on local visual receptors; slightly affect important visual amenity.
Neutral: The proposed scheme would visually complement the scale of the landscape; maintain existing visual quality.
Minor beneficial: The proposed scheme has the potential to provide improvement on local visual amenity and receptors.
Moderate beneficial: The proposed scheme has the potential to significantly provide improvement on important visual amenity and receptors.
2. Overall Visual Impact and Effect
The proposed turbine’s setting within the landscape will have a slight adverse impact on the overall visual amenity, which would result in a minor adverse effect on visual amenity and receptors.
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The introduction of a new man-made element into this Landscape Character Type will, of course, have a degree of impact varying from differing view corridors. The reduction of negative visual impacts to the greatest extent possible is achieved through measures including sensitively siting and scaling the turbine to fit neatly within the landscape as part of the farm developmentand siting the turbine against a backdrop of rolling hills and man-made vertical structures such as power lines. The turbine is further absorbed and screened in the landscape by the mixed woodland and variations in the local topography together with receptors orientation and distance of views to the turbine. vii. Mitigation
The slender vertical form of the proposed turbine will mean it will be difficult to completely mitigate it against the surrounding landscape; though measures can be undertaken to help reduce the impact on the landscape and visual resources of the study area to the greatest extent possible. These measures have been considered at every stage of the proposed development from the initial design, operation and decommissioning to include:
Choosing a turbine of suitable modern design and colour to best fit into the landscape and reduce reflective glare;
Careful siting of the turbine within the landscape, downwards of the crest of hills and ridges to help reduce its visibility by minimising “sky-lining”;
The transport route of the turbine will be carefully chosen so that it has a minimal impact on local users and the landscape. The smaller size of the single turbine does not require any amendment to the local roads layout;
Construction of the access track and crane pad for the turbine will be an extension of the existing farm yard track and retain existing field boundaries to minimise disruption to the area of land to be farmed; and
When the turbine is decommissioned all the turbine structures will be taken down, associated components removed and the ground will be covered with topsoil and seeded with a suitable grass seed mix, unless the landowner believes the access track will be of beneficial use. viii. Residual Impacts
The residual impact of the proposed development is likely to be medium term but reversible as the turbine will be in the landscape for a lifespan of only 25 years. At this stage, the turbine will then be decommissioned and the land returned to its previous agricultural use, useless the land owner wishes to retain the access track. Subsequently, any likely predicted impacts will then be reduced to slight adverse or none at this end life cycle stage of the turbine.
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7. HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT
i. Background
Modern wind energy, which has been developed partly to address climate change issues, can both threaten the historical landscape if sited inappropriately, and work towards protecting it in the long-term. This is because the threat of changing weather patterns from climate change, (higher winds, increased rain and other indirect effects), has been recognised as a significant risk to the fabric of the historic built environment. Wind energy therefore has a positive role to play in regards to our cultural heritage and archaeology.
ii. Methodology
A thorough assessment of the cultural heritage and archaeology local to Bellevue Farm has been conducted to determine the potential impacts of the proposed turbine development. The aim of this investigation is to identify the direct and indirect impacts of theturbine, cable trench, access roads and other infrastructural requirements within a targeted study area around the development.
This assessment is conducted via a desk-based assessment of Historic Environment Records (HERs) using a variety of resources, in addition to GIS datasets of listed buildings, scheduled ancient monuments (SAMs) and gardens and designed landscapes in the vicinity of the development site. A map of the local historic environment to Bellevue Farm has been attached to the Appendices.
iii. Policy and Guidance
National planning policy and guidance aims to protect, conserve and enhance the historical environment. A number of policy and guidance documents, some geared towards proposed renewable energy development in particular, indicate how the planning system will achieve this. These documents include:
Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1999; Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979; Town and Country Planning Act 1990; National Planning Policy Framework (Chapter 12) 2012
Paragraph 128 of the National Planning Policy Framework within the chapter ‘Conserving and Enhancing the Historic Environment’ states that;
In determining applications, local planning authorities should require an applicant to describe the significance of any heritage assets affected, including any contribution made by their
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setting. The level of detail should be proportionate to the assets’ importance and no more than is sufficient to understand the potential impact of the proposal on their significance. As a minimum the relevant historic environment record should have been consulted and the heritage assets assessed using appropriate expertise where necessary.
Below is an evaluation matrix taken from the document produced by Aberdeenshire* council, ‘Use of Wind Energy in Aberdeenshire Guidance for Assessing Wind Energy Developments’ 2005 regarding the evaluation of heritage assets with regards to wind turbine applications. Whilst not produced by an English council, this standard is used as an evaluation matrix in the absence of such methods in this council area.
11 TABLE 7.1: SENSITIVITY: BUILT AND CULTURAL HERITAGE ON THE SITE
Sensitivity Definition Category A and B listed building
Scheduled Ancient Monument High Non-statutory list of sites likely to be of national importance
Designed Gardens and Landscapes
Category C(S) listed building
Archaeological sites on the Sites and Monuments record (of regional Medium and local importance)
Conservation Areas
Archaeological sites of lesser importance Low Non-Inventory Gardens and Designed Landscapes
11 Use of Wind Energy in Aberdeenshire Guidance for AssessingWind Energy DevelopmentsAugust 2005
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TABLE 7.2:MAGNITUDE OF BUILT AND CULTURAL HERITAGE EFFECTS
Magnitude Definition of Impact
Any number of wind turbines and/or ancillary development that would result in:
• The removal or partial removal of key features, areas or evidence important to the historic character and integrity of the site, which could result in the substantial loss of physical integrity; and/or • A substantial obstruction of existing view by the addition of uncharacteristic High elements dominating the view, significantly altering the quality of the setting or the visual amenity of the site both to and from. Where the mechanical or aerodynamic noise from any number of wind turbines (or from other neighbouring wind energy developments) that are likely to detract from site amenity of a popular built or cultural heritage site managed as a visitor attraction adjacent to a wind energy development.
Any number of wind turbines and/or ancillary development that would result in:
• The removal of one or more key features, parts of the designated site, or evidence at the secondary or peripheral level, but are not features fundamental to its historic character and integrity; and/or • A partial obstruction of existing view by the addition of uncharacteristic Medium elements which, although not affecting the key visual and physical relationships, could be an important feature in the views, and significantly alter the quality of the setting or visual amenity of the site both to and from. Where the noise intrusion (mechanical or aerodynamic) from any number of wind turbines (or from other neighbouring wind energy developments) may detract from the amenity of a built or cultural heritage site adjacent to a wind energy development.
Any number of wind turbines or ancillary developments that may result in:
• A partial removal/minor loss, and/or alteration to one or more peripheral and/or secondary elements/features, but not significantly affecting the historic integrity of the site or affect the key features of the site; and/or • An introduction of elements that could be intrusive in views, and could alter to Low a small degree the quality of the setting or visual amenity of the site both to and from Where the noise intrusion (mechanical or aerodynamic) from any number of wind turbines (or from other neighbouring wind energy developments) is unlikely to detract from the amenity of a built or cultural heritage site adjacent to a wind energy development.
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Any number of wind turbines or ancillary developments that may result in:
• A relatively small removal, and/or alteration to small, peripheral and/or unimportant elements/features, but not affect the historic integrity of the site or the quality of the surviving evidence; and/or • An introduction of elements that could be visible but not intrusive in views, Negligible and the overall quality of the setting or visual amenity of the site would not be affected both to and from. Where the noise intrusion (mechanical or aerodynamic) from any number of wind turbines (or from other neighbouring wind energy developments) would not have any noticeable effect on the amenity of a built or cultural heritage site adjacent to a wind energy development.
*Whilst it is recognised that these criterion were formulated by a Scottish Authority, they are used within the context of this report merely as a reference tool in order to judge the sensitivity and importance of, and potential impacts upon, heritage assets in England. Assessment criterion such as these do not presently exist in any guidance published by English Authorities or English Heritage and their use in this report is not intended as a definitive means of assessing built environmental heritage assets.
a. Historic Environment Search
The following sites and records were analysed through this chapter of the report
Historic Environment The Historic Environment Record should, as a minimum, be consulted Records (HERs) for each application to assess any potential impacts of the development on sensitive heritage assets, as per the National Planning Policy Framework, 2012. These are stored online at the Heritage Gateway or with local council sources amongst others. World Heritage Sites The 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention was ratified by the UK in (WHS) 1984. The Convention provides for the identification, protection, conservation and presentation of cultural and natural sites of “outstanding universal value.” The UK currently has 28 WHS. Scheduled Ancient Monuments of national importance given protection under the Ancient Monuments (SAMs) Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 by Ministers. Listed Buildings Listed buildings are structures of special architectural or historic interest protected under The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1997. Cartographic Sources OS 1st and 2nd Edition 6” maps, historical maps, and aerial records where
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available.
Other Designated Industrial Heritage Sites, Conservation Areas and Gardens and Designed sites Landscapes.
Development Plans These will be consulted to analyse their policies towards cultural heritage.
Research Local Library services and reference books will be consulted where necessary.
iv. Historic Environment Record (HER) Search (within 1km of turbine12)
TABLE 7.3:HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT RECORD RESULTS
HER Name Details Type of Record Number
Normanton is first mentioned in the Settlement of Doomsday book. It is probably the 35392 Monument Normanton English name given to an isolated settlement of Norwegians
Site of Roman Walls of a romano-british building were 30297 Building, SE of exposed when laying a water-pipe in Monument Normanton Wood 1954.
An early Anglo- During a watching brief, human bone Saxon inhumation fragments were found, prompting a full 35401 Monument cemetery, west of excavation, which revealed an early Normanton village Anglo-Saxon inhumation cemetery
Medieval deposits comprise two pits. The Medieval features larger of the two perhaps originated as a to the rear of The 'borrow' or quarry pit to obtain material 36498 Cottage, Lower Monument for the construction of the motte, which Road, Hough on the accords well with the 12th to 13th Hill century pottery retrieved from its basal fills. This feature probably survived as an
12 HER Search results on Heritage Gateway; http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Application.aspx?resourceID=1006
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earthwork for a considerable amount to time as evidenced by post-medieval pottery in its upper fills. The smaller pit contained a single sherd of late medieval or early post-medieval pottery and probably served as a refuse pit
Anglo-Saxon Unsubstantiated report of 30-40 cemetery, north- skeletons being found at this location 30380 Monument west of Carlton 'some years ago' W Sargeant, Scroop Hall Stragglethorpe
Undated features and deposits to the Comprise a series of mounded layers, 36497 rear of the Cottage, Monument dumped deposits, a pit and a post-hole Lower Road, Hough on the Hill
The recorded barns broadly form a U- shaped arrangement of farm Eastfield Barns, outbuildings. During the recording of the 36709 Freiston Road, Building farm buildings at least four phases of Hough on the Hill development were noted, all in the 19th century
Post-medieval features to the rear Post-medieval deposits include subsoils 36499 of The Cottage, Monument and dumped deposits Lower Road, Hough on the Hill
During a site visit, north/south aligned earthwork ridge and furrow was Ridge and furrow, observed at SK9377 4582 (centred). 35390 west of Normanton During a watching brief, earthwork ridge Monument village and furrow was identified centred on SK9485 4615. Medieval pottery was recovered
A sherd of 11th/12th century A sherd of 11th/12th century Stamford 39232 Stamford ware, Find Spot ware was found during a watching brief Lower Road, Hough on the Hill
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Post medieval pottery scatter, Eight sherds of post-medieval pottery 39231 Monument Lower Road, Hough were found during a watching brief on the Hill
A sherd of Roman pottery, Lower A sherd of unidentified Roman pottery 39233 Find Spot Road, Hough on the was recorded during a watching brief Hill
A single north-south orientated post Ditch on land medieval ditch was observed during trial adjacent to trenching. The ditch contained a large 36772 Monument Milestones, Hough- amount of animal bone and appeared to on-the-Hill have also been used for disposal of dead livestock and butchery/food waste
Worked flint, west During a watching brief, four worked 35396 Find Spot of Carlton Road flints were recovered
A medieval jar or During a watching brief, a medieval jar or 35399 pipkinsherd, west of Find Spot pipkinsherd was recovered Carlton Road
Post-medieval During a watching brief, a post-medieval 35398 potsherd, west of Find Spot potsherd was recovered Carlton Road
Medieval potsherd, During a watching brief, a 13th century 35397 west of Carlton Find Spot potsherd was recovered Road
A park recorded on the first edition Carlton Scroop Hall c.1880 and c.1905 Ordnance Survey 37149 Monument park, Carlton Scroop maps at Carlton Scroop Hall, Carlton Scroop
An Iron Age ditch, During an excavation, a ditch containing 35400 west of Normanton three sherds of probable Iron Age pottery Monument village was recorded
Cropmark undated Cropmark undated double-ditched linear double-ditched feature, Hough on the Hill. Seen on 36952 Monument linear feature, Google Maps (web site) aerial Hough on the Hill photograph layer
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Cropmark undated Cropmark undated double-ditched linear double-ditched feature, Hough on the Hill. Seen on 36951 Monument linear feature, Google Maps (web site) aerial Hough on the Hill photograph layer
Post medieval open 36420 cast mine, Carlton Post medieval open cast ironstone mine Monument Scroop
Ridge and furrow at Ridge and furrow at Eastfield Farm was 35202 Monument Eastfield Farm observed by Tony Hurley in 1992.
Analysis of HER
A search within 1km of the turbine site was conducted on the Heritage Gateway website for the local HER records and returned 23 results. These are concentrated within and around the settlements of Normanton, Carlton Scroop and Hough-on-the-Hill. From the locations given of the HERs, none are found within the field in which the turbine is proposed, meaning there will be no physical impact on any record.
Due to the proximity of 1km relative to the size of the turbine, all would be located within the zone of theoretical visibility; however, this is unlikely to cause significant impacts on any of the sites due to intervening hedgerows and the presence of existing development such as power lines.
The HER also lists 5 previous archaeological digs from the Archaeological Data Service13 (ADS) which have taken place within 1km of the site; these are given in the map below:
13 ADS; http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/archsearch/record.jsf
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FIGURE 7.1:MAP OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG SITES WITHIN 1KM OF PROPOSED TURBINE SITE
As can be seen from the map, no digs have taken place of any record within the turbine field, with the closest site around 740m northeast. This is not to say that archaeological features do not exist at the site, and if not necessary a suitably qualified archaeologist can be deployed during excavations in a watching brief in order to ensure all necessary steps are taken to preserve whatever features may be present.
v. Designated Siteswithin 5km of Bellevue Farm
a. Scheduled Ancient Monuments
TABLE 7.3: SCHEDULED ANCIENT MONUMENTS (SAMS) WITHIN 5KM OF THE PROPOSED TURBINE
Index Distance Name Description Sensitivity Magnitude No. (~km) Former Motte-and-Bailey 10035 castle system, replaced by Castle Hill 1.4 High Low 71 Church of All Saints at a later date.
Roman 10049 Marching 4.1 No information available High Low 58 Camp
The monument includes a medieval churchyard cross located in the churchyard of St Mary's Church, Marston, approximately 4m south of Churchyard the southeast corner of the 10092 Cross, 4.6 south porch. The cross is High Negligible 09 St.Mary’s medieval in origin with post- Church medieval additions. The monument includes the base, comprising two steps, a socket-stone and plinth, and the shaft and head.
10049 Pump and 1.6 No information available High Low 29 Milestone
10049 Iron Age 1.6 No information available High Low 39 Settlement
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10050 Honington 3.6 No information available High Low 19 Camp
The monument includes a Listed Grade II standing stone cross located in the churchyard of St Vincent's Church, Caythorpe, approximately 5m south east of the south porch. The cross Churchyard is of stepped form and is 10092 Cross, St. medieval and modern in 3.1 High Low 25 Vincent’s date. The monument Church includes the foundation and base, consisting of a plinth and three steps, which are early 20th century in date; a medieval socket- stone; and a shaft and ornamented head, also of early 20th- century date.
The monument includes Gelston village cross, a Grade II Listed standing stone cross, located on the village green. The cross is of 10092 Gelston stepped form, constructed of 2.2 High Low 17 Village Cross limestone and is medieval in date. The monument includes the base, comprising three steps, a plinth and a socket-stone, and a fragment of the shaft.
Impacts (only SAMs within the ZTV are included in analysis)
Castle Hill
Although no information is available through the National Heritage List on the English Heritage website, Google Earth imaging indicates Castle Hill to be a small mound located to the east of the school in the village of Hough-on-the-Hill, north of the turbine site. Elevation of the hill is difficult to ascertain; Google Earth indicates it to be the same as the surrounding areas and
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street level imagery is blocked by trees. The hill was originally a Motte-and-Bailey Castle system, however the Church of All Saints was later built on the site. From street view imaging, it appears as though the views towards the turbine from the monument are likely to be heavily screened by tall trees which line High Road, running east to west south of the site. Visual impact is deemed to be low.
Roman Marching Camp
Again no information is available through English Heritage for this site; from GIS data it appears on the map as a field system just outside the village of Ancaster, 4.1km east of the turbine. Housing developments already exist to the west of the SAM, intervening between the site and the turbine at Bellevue Farm. Coupled with the distance and the lack of elevation, the impact of the turbine on the monument is deemed to be low.
Pump and Milestone
The pump and milestone appears from GIS data to be located within a farmstead or small clutter of housing on the outskirts of the village of Normanton-on-Cliffe. Whilst the monument is relatively close to the turbine at 1.6km, it is likely to be screened from any visual impact from the buildings and houses which surround it. Trees also line the fields to the immediate west, offering an intervening screening feature, and as such impact is again deemed to be low.
Iron Age Settlement
The Iron Age Settlement is located 1.6km southeast of the turbine development and exists today as pasture land next to a golf course. Views of the turbine are likely to be screened by intervening trees which line the southern edge of the turbine field; however there will be a small amount of visual intrusion due to the turbine height and its elevation of some 30m AOD above the monument (circa 49m compared to 75m). Visual impact is deemed to be low based on the screening of trees and current practices close to the monument such as the golf course.
Honington Camp
This monument is located just outside the village of Honington and is visible today as a small mound with a track leading towards it. The site is at an elevation of around 120m AOD, compared with 75m for the turbine, which will result in some mitigation of the turbine views from the site. Along with the distance and tree coverage, this should mean the monument is not impacted too severely, and impact is deemed as low.
Churchyard Cross, St. Vincent’s Church
The Cross at St. Vincent’s Church is located in the small village of Caythorpe, around 3km north of the turbine. The Cross is located in the churchyard at the northern edge of the village, and as such will be screened by the intervening buildings in the village as well as the distance. Impact is deemed to be low.
Gelston Village Cross
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The village cross at Gelston is similarly screened by the built up area between the turbine site and the monument. The cross is situated at the western edge of Gelston meaning views towards the turbine site will be obscured and are unlikely to have any effect on the cross. Impact is again deemed to be low.
b. Listed Buildings
TABLE 7.4: LISTED BUILDINGS WITHIN 2KM OF THE PROPOSED TURBINE
Listing Magnit Distance Reference Name Description Sensitivity ude of (~km) Number Impact Post office and Shop with house attached to 1146610 1.5 High Low attached east House
II Farmhouse. Late C17, C20. Coursed ironstone rubble, ashlar dressings, some brick patching, with pantile roof with stone coped gables and stone Manor 1062375 1.5 coped gable stacks. 2 storey 3 High Low Farmhouse bay front with plinth and central doorway with plain stone lintel, panelled door with single glazed light and brick patched surround.
House. Early C19. Red brick, coursed ironstone rubble, The Red concrete tiled roof with gable House, 1.5 stacks. 3 storey, 3 bay front 1062415 Farmhouse High Low with 2 brick bands and decorated eaves.
House. C17, c.1860. Coursed ironstone and limestone rubble, ironstone and Manor limestone dressings, plaintile 1.5 House roofs with lead fleshings, 3 1146537 stone coped gables with finials High Low and single C19 stone coped gable stack to east, 2 large C17 projecting wall stacks on west
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wall with quoins and stepped ashlar coping towards top.
Public house. 1852. Coursed ironstone rubble, limestone Brownlow 1062377 and ironstone ashlar dressings, High Low Arms Public 1.5 plaintiled roofs with coped House gables with finials with single central ridge stack with coping.
1867. Coursed ironstone rubble, ashlar School and dressings,fishscale slate roofs Attached with iron ridge with small 1308909 1.6 High Low Schoolhous ventilators 3 stacks. T-plan. e Single storey school runs to the north at right angles from schoolhouse.
Small country house. 1624, C18, C19, C20. Limestone ashlar, coursed ironstone rubble with limestone 1062376 Hough High Low 1.5 dressings, pantile roofs with House central ridge stack on west range and 2 ridge stacks on south range. L-plan. 2 storey and garret.
Pigeon cote, C17. Coursed ironstone rubble with limestone ashlar dressings. 1360304 Pigeon Pantile hipped roof. High Low Cote at the 1.4 Rectangular plan. Single storey Old Rectory with stone band at high level. Doorway, central to east end, with reused flat lintel and plain stone surround.
Barn; C17 with C19 alterations. Coursed ironstone and
Barn at the limestone rubble with ashlar 1.8 1317403 Paddocks quoins and stone coped gables High Low with finials to pantiled roof. Single storey, 3 bay front. 2 doors, that on right is C19
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planked in plain wood frame, to left is a 3 light window.
Parish Church now vested in Redundant Churches Fund. 1146921 C11, C12, C13, C14, C15 and High Low Parish alterations and additions of Church of 1.6 1849. Ashlar, coursed St Nicholas limestone and iron- stone rubble with ashlar dressings. Lead, plain tiled and slate roofs.
Milestone and water pump; Early C19; Ashlar; An inscribed obelisk on a splayed base with a rectangular trough with splayed corners set in front. Behind is a well and iron pull Pump and handle. Trough and base are 1062378 1.6 High Low Milestone panelled and from front panel of base, which is raised in a semicircle, protrudes a copper spout. Inscription in Roman capitals reads, 'From Lincoln 18 miles, From Grantham 7 miles, From London 117 miles.
Impacts
GIS datasets indicate there are 11 listed buildings of various grades within a 2km radius of the Bellevue Farm turbine site. Of these, 10 are Grade II and one is II*. Six of these are located within the village of Hough-on-the-Hill around 1.6km north of the turbine site. These listings are within close proximity of one another and accordingly the magnitude of impact of the turbine upon them can be judged in a similar manner.
Five of the six listings within Hough-on-the-Hill are located towards the northern edge of the village, which will mean their magnitude can be judged as low. The intervening buildings of the village coupled with some areas of small woodland will likely mean impact is low.
The one listing south of the village, The Redhouse, Farmhouse, is more likely to be in danger of impact from the turbine at Bellevue Farm. However this should still be deemed as low, despite its position away from the built up area. There is a small area of tree coverage behind the farmhouse, which should block most of the views towards the turbine, and despite it being only
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1.5km from the site, it is still unlikely to be severely affected by the adding of a wind turbine of 49m to tip height.
Of the remaining listed buildings, three are located in Carlton Scroop and two in Normanton-on- Cliffe. Pigeon Cote at the Old Rectory and the actual Old Rectory are situated within the village of Carlton Scroop. These two listings are around 1.4km from the turbine site, but due to the village setting, which includes several houses adjacent, views northwest towards the turbine are likely to be of low magnitude.
The Barn at the Paddocks in Carlton Scroop is located slightly further northeast from the Pigeon Cote and Old Rectory, and there appears to a clearer view towards the turbine without the views obscured by buildings. The views are, however, obscured by tall trees within the yard of the building, which has again lead to our opinion of a low magnitude.
The two listings in Normanton-on-Cliffe are slightly north of Carlton Scroop; the Pump and Milestone is the same structure as the SAM mentioned in the previous section and will therefore have the same magnitude, being low.
The Church of St. Nicholas is a Grade II*listing, the only one of that calibre within the study zone. As such, this building is deemed to be of higher significance than any Grade II listing in the area. The church is situated on the main road between Normanton and Carlton Scroop, circa 1.5km NE of the turbine site. As with the other sites, there is natural screening from the high trees in the churchyard which should block out the majority of the views to the turbine. This should mean the building is considered to be of low risk of impact.
c. Gardens andDesigned Landscapes
Caythorpe Court
Impacts
This Stately Home is situated circa 3.6km northeast of the turbine site, and is located within the ZTV. Such estates are, by design, open spaces with long ranging views and can be sensitive to new developments such as wind turbines. The house was originally built in 1901, and after falling into disrepair was acquired by activity group PGL, who now operate the site as a children’s activity centre.
Due to its present use, there is little historical significance still attached to the area, and the site is now primarily used as the site of the children’s activity facilities. The southern and western borders of the gardens which would be the perspective looking towards the turbine are lined by tall trees, and as such the views are again unlikely to be impacted to any great extent.
There is another Garden and Designed Landscape within the 5km study zone for this turbine; Marston Hall, which is situated around 4.5km southwest of the turbine. However, this does not appear within the ZTV and was therefore not analysed as no impact is anticipated.
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d. Belton House
A photomontage and assessment of the potential impact of the turbine on nearby Belton House was requested as part of a heritage assessment for this report. Using a photomontage from the roof of Belton House produced by VG Energy alongside the Belton House Study14 commissioned by South Kesteven Council and the National Trust, a short analysis of the potential impacts of the turbine upon Belton House has been undertaken.
Belton House lies around 6.2km south of the Belle Vue Farm Wind Turbine site within the grounds of Belton House Park. The following description is given in the Belton House study;
Belton House and most of its Park are owned by The National Trust and bound the urban area of Grantham to its north east. The house is Grade I Listed with a number of Listed Buildings and structures associated with the house, among which are the stables and South Lodge (both Grade I) and buildings around the western court and Bellmount Tower (Grade II*). The surrounding parkland is a Grade I Registered Historic Park and Garden of Special Historic Interest. Belton village, to the north, is a Conservation Area.
Within the Belton House report, the views from the roof of the house and fromBellmount Tower to the east of the groundsare identified as offering the greatest views of the countryside outside of the park boundary; it is due to this analysis that both locations were chosen to produce photomontages.
Belton House Roof Viewpoint
The viewing platform on the roof of the house offers excellent views of the landscape outside of the park which are not visible from ground level due to heavy tree coverage. The key views from the viewing platform extend from the north-northeast to south southwest axis within which the Bellevue turbine proposal falls.
Within section 3.1 of the report, acknowledgement is made of the sensitivity to new development outside the garden boundaries.Sensitivity of the setting of the Park to the following types of development is assessed:
Smaller scale development Medium sized developments, (e.g. groups of 50 houses or more or large building complexes); Major Development (e.g. large urban extensions, and developments that trigger the Environmental Impact Assessment regulations); and Tall Structures (such as wind turbines, tall power plant/ manufacturing plant chimneys)
The sensitivity of areas of land outside of the Belton Park boundary to these types of development is grouped into elements ranging from 1-5, given below;
14 Belton House Study; http://www.southkesteven.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=3810
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Element 1: Ground visible from Belton House Roof, Bellmount Tower and points D, H, and L; Element 2: Urban development visible from Belton House Roof, Bellmount Tower and points D, H, and L; Element 3: Areas visible from the key approach points I J K and M and routes (1-9); Element 4: Areas where the ground is not visible between the park boundary and the containing ridgelines and tree screens that prevent far reaching views; and Element 5: Areas beyond the ridge lines and tree screens that contain the significant views.
For the purposes of analysing the impact of the turbine upon views from Belton House roof, it is deemed that the land at Belle Vue farm where the turbine is located is classified under Element 4 level sensitivity from new tall structures such as wind turbines. The ground at the turbine base is not visible and is screened by Deepdale Plantation to the south of the turbine, which is demonstrated in the photomontage below:
Proposed Turbine view from Belton House
From this viewpoint the turbine is visible as a new element above the horizon with the turbine blades visible above Deepdale Plantation to the left of the photo. The tower is not visible due to the screening nature of the trees. However, the blades are not dominant in the landscape and against grey/white skies the white blades are barely perceptible. It is interesting to note that the turbine appears as a very similar structure in terms of scale to the spires of Barkston and Caythorpe Churches which are also visible in this image. It is much easier to ascertain the scale
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of a new structure with reference points available in the present environment and these two church spires offer some perspective from this viewpoint.
A wireframe image was also created from this viewpoint, which visualises the turbine against the landscape withoutfeatures such as trees and buildings;
This image shows the turbine is it appears upon the ridge of the landscape and forms a new element on the horizon. From a distance of 6.2km the views of the turbine are minimized and with screening from the plantation, it is deemed that the impact upon Belton House viewpoints from the roof will be of low magnitude.
Bellmount Tower Viewpoint
As with Belton House roof, the view from the gallery at Bellmount Tower elicits a high sensitivity due to its nature as a viewpoint, especially those towards the house. However, due to the aspect of the tower facing in a westerly direction, views towards the turbine site are at an oblique angle and the tower is not technically within the ZTV as can be seen from appendix 2 of this report. However, in the interests of thoroughness and to warrant a full analysis given the potential impacts upon the tower a photomontage has been produced and is given on the next page;
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As can be seen from the image, the turbine is not visible from the tower due to intervening screening from the trees and farther afield from the woodland on the horizon. Even if the turbine were visible, the angle at which a receptor visiting the tower would have to view the turbine site would be extremely oblique as the aspect of the tower is west facing, towards Belton House. A wireframe has again been produced for this viewpoint;
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The wireframe represents the view of the turbine without the trees and buildings offering screening; it is evident the majority of the structure is hidden beyond the horizon, with only the top half of the blades visible as a new element in the landscape. With the nature of Bellmount tower facing west towards the Belton House views towards the turbine are virtually non- existent and as such the impact is deemed negligible.
e. Views Relative to the Churches of Normanton and Carlton Scroop
Alongside the viewpoints requested within Belton House and its grounds, photomontages were also requested as part of the analysis of the proposed turbine at Belle Vue Farm and how it would interact in the landscape alongside Normanton Church and Carlton Scroop Church.
We were unable to produce photomontages from any viewpoints which captured all 3 elements in the same photo. This was due to the topography of the area as well as the numerous areas of small woodland and plantations which obscured any potential viewpoints. Photos were taken from 3 locations in an attempt to capture the turbine alongside the two churches; one east of the turbine at Grantham Road south of Bleak House, one on Caythorpe Heath to the northeast and another at the cross roads between Hough Lane and Frinkley Lane to the southwest. None of these viewpoints provided a comprehensive representation of the turbines interaction with these two structures.
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However, we were able to produce a visualization of the interaction of the turbine with Normanton Church which was taken from Howdale Lane to the west of the site. There were no viewpoints in which we captured the turbine and Carlton Scroop Church, although if required another attempt with suggested viewpoints from the council’s heritage officer can be arranged.
Normanton Church
This visualization is taken from Howdale Lane southwest of the turbine site, with Normanton Church visible in the background of the photo. From this location the turbine is much larger in scale than the church due to the proximity of the viewpoint to the turbine and the position of the Church within the landscape. Normanton lies around 20m AOD lower than the turbine site at around 55m AOD before rising to over 100m AOD to the east, which is demonstrated in the background of this photo. This position in the naturally lower lying ground of the church results in the turbine appearing much more dominant in the landscape than the church tower.
Normanton Church
Viewpoints from this direction but further away from the turbine, such as the minor roads to the west, would likely not show the church at all due to the elevation at these locations dropping to around 45m AOD. The turbine is naturally taller than the church in this visualization; however, it should not be judged on its visual impact based on the comparison to a structure which lies at an elevation roughly 20m below its own position.
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vi. Physical Impacts
There will be no direct physical impact on any site of cultural significance due to a lack of heritage sites within the vicinity of the turbine location. It is therefore perceived that construction relating to site access, groundworks, drainage or turbine installation will not have any physical effects on any sites of archaeological importance. vii. Overall Impact on Historic Environment
The ZTV included in the Appendices of this report indicates that the historic environment in this area should be largelyunaffected by siting a medium sized turbine at the proposed location. It should also be considered that the ZTV does not take into account vegetation or buildings which may also reduce the visibility of the turbine at this location. None of the SAMs, listed buildings or gardens and designed landscapes are anticipated to suffer any visual impact above ‘low’ magnitude, for which screening from trees/buildings or distance from the turbine were the primary reason for this. viii. Mitigation Measures
It is perceived that the proposed wind turbine will have a potential impact upon the area’s cultural heritage if the turbine is not sited correctly in the landscape. The historic landscape has therefore been considered with utmost importance when designing this development.
It is also important to consider that this development is of a temporary nature and is presumed to only exist in the landscape for 25 years. At this point the turbine will be removed from the site and tracks will be reinstated through the use of topsoil, and underground cables cut.
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8. ECOLOGY
i. Methodology
Digital datasets have been consulted to identify the designated environmental sites within the region and to analyse if these will be impacted by the proposed development.
a. Main Policy and Guidance15
Birds and bats are the main classes of fauna perceived which are potentially vulnerable to wind energy developments, through risk of collision with turbine blades. The relevant policy and guidance to wind turbine developments such as the one proposed here therefore centres on the protection of these. Nevertheless, other protected habitats and species must also be taken into consideration, such as the potential for the disturbance posed to badgers through habitat disturbance or loss, which are protected by the Protection of Badgers Act 1992.
Birds
The EU Birds Directive (2009/149/EC) creates a comprehensive scheme of protection for all wild bird species naturally occurring in the EU. Initially established in 1979, the Directive recognises that habitat loss and degradation are the most serious threats to the conservation of wild birds. It is also recognised that wild birds (many of which are migratory) are a shared heritage of the Member States and that their effective conservation required international co-operation throughout the EU.
Great emphasis is placed on the protection of habitats for endangered or migratory species (listed in Annex I) through the establishment of a coherent network of Special Protection Areas (SPAs). Since 1994, all SPAs form an integral part of the EU wide Natura2000 ecological network.
Bats
Following best practice guidance produced by Natural England on bats (TIN051), turbines are to be sited at least 50m away from any linear features such as trees, walls, hedges, buildings and water bodies; so as to ensure there will be no impact on bat populations that could utilise the area.The majority of bat species are known to use echolocation calls which are only useful within a couple of metres;therefore they tend to fly closer to these habitats.Consequently, at the minimum 50m distance, they are less likely to collide with a turbine.Natural England research also suggests that the further away the turbine is positioned from linear habitats, the larger the decline in activity.
The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) has identified through their research that a bat survey should normally be recommended for turbines located within 50m of linear habitats orbuildings, or within sites designed for bats (Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or Special
15 http://www.snh.gov.uk/planning-and-development/renewable-energy/onshore-wind/
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Areas of Conservation (SACs)).16 Since this turbine has been located in open farmland away from any structures or woodland, this should not be an issue and bat surveys will not be required.
17 FIGURE 8.1: TURBINE DISTANCE ADVICE FOR BATS
Protected Habitats
The 1992 Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) affords protection to certain habitats and species identified in the Directive, including those requiring strict protection (European protected species). These areas are known as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC). The Habitats Directive combines with the Birds Directive to form the foundation of Europe’s nature conservation policy – the Natura 2000 network. This protects over 1,000 animal and plant species, in addition to 200 ‘habitat types,’ such as special types of forests or wetlands that are of European importance.
The aim of the network is to assure the long-term survival of Europe's most valuable and threatened habitats and species. The Natura 2000 network is not a collection of explicitly nature only preserves - where all human activities are forbidden. The network will certainly include land likely to be privately owned. The emphasis in this case will be on ensuring that future management is sustainable, both economically as well as ecologically. The establishment of this network of protected areas also fulfils a member state obligation under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.
16 Natural England,:www.naturalengland.org.uk 17 PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS DIAGRAM IS NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THIS PROJECT:http://www.snh.gov.uk/docs/C245244.pdf
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In order to comply with the legislation outlined, this assessment aims to determine whether any adverse impact is likely to be caused to protected species and areas through the proposed wind turbine development.
f. Designated Environmental Sites
The legislation described above has led to the formation of the following protected areas of nature conservation:
Sites of Special Areas of land that represent a wide range of natural features, from Scientific Interest vulnerable plants or animals, to high-quality habitat examples, such as (SSSI) wetlands or meadows. Legally protected through a number of Acts including the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Special Protection European designated sites, protected under the Wild Birds Directive Areas (SPA) (Council Directive 2009/149/EC on the conservation of wild birds; previously Directive 79/409/EEC). These sites have been identified as being of international importance to rare or vulnerable bird species. Special Areas of European designated sites, protected under the 1992 Habitats Directive Conservation (SAC) (92/43/EEC) are intended to form a European Community-wide network of protected areas (Natura 2000) for those habitats and species which are endangered, vulnerable, rare, or otherwise require special attention.
Royal Society for the Maintain a number of reserves in places ranging from cliffs to urban Protection of Birds areas for birds and other wildlife (RSPB) Reserves
However, after studying GIS datasets provided by Natural England, DEFRA and JNCC, it was found that there are no designated environmental sites within the study zones for Bellevue Farm. There are no SPAs within 20km, SACs or RPSB reserves within 5km or SSSIs within 2km. therefore no desktop analysis has been carried out nor is it anticipated to be required.
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9. HYDROLOGICAL ASSESSMENT
Flood Risk
The site location is situated at a height of75mabove sea level, in an area deemed not flood risk area by the Environmental Agency.Flood risk areas are defined as areas at risk of flooding from rivers and/or the sea. The nearest area at risk of flooding from a river is the area within the centre of Carlton Scroop, approximately 1.5km southeast of the turbine site. As there is little risk of flooding at the proposed turbine location, the potential impacts on hydrology in the vicinity of the development are considerably lowered. This is especially significant during the construction phase of the development.
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10. NOISEASSESSMENT i. Wind Turbine Noise Characteristics
Noise is generated by wind turbines as they rotate to generate power. This only occurs above the ‘cut-in’ wind speed and below the ‘cut-out’ wind speed. Below the cut-in wind speed there is insufficient strength in the wind to generate efficiently and above the cut-out wind speed the turbine is automatically shut down to prevent any malfunctions from occurring. The cut-in speed at turbine hub height is normally between 3 and 5 metres per second (m/s) and the cut out wind speed is normally around 25 m/s.
The principal sources of noise are from the blades rotating in the air (aerodynamic noise), the internal machinery (normally the gearbox) and, to a lesser extent, the generator (mechanical noise). The blades are carefully designed to minimise noise whilst optimising power transfer from the wind. The nacelle at the top of the tower is insulated to minimise noise radiation from the gearbox, generator and other components, which are also isolated from the tower and the blade assembly to prevent structure borne noise. ii. Noise in the Environment
Although the noise levels are of a benign nature, wind turbines and farms are usually situated in rural environments where there are few other sources of noise. When wind speeds are high this is not a problem since any noise is normally masked by wind induced noise effects, particularly that of the trees being blown. On the other hand, at lower wind speeds, or in particularly sheltered locations, the wind induced background noise may not be sufficient to mask any noise from the turbines. However, under these conditions, the generated noise levels may be so low as to create very little impact.
Noise levels are normally expressed in decibels (dB). Noise in the environment is measured using the dB(A) scale, which includes a correction for the response of the human ear to noises with different frequency content. PAN 1/2011, Planning and Noise, states that “For noise of a similar character, a change of 3 dB(A) is the minimum perceptible under normal conditions, and a change of 10 dB(A) corresponds roughly to halving or doubling the loudness of a sound.”18
Since the early 1990s there has been significant reduction in the mechanical noise generated by wind turbines, it is now usually less than, or of a similar level to, aerodynamic noise. Aerodynamic noise from wind turbines is generally unobtrusive; it is broad band in nature and in this respect similar to, for example, the noise of wind in trees.
Wind generated background noise increases with wind speed at a faster rate than wind turbine noise increases with wind speed. The difference between the noise of the wind turbine and background noise is therefore liable to be greatest at low wind speeds. Varying the speed of the turbines in such conditions can, if necessary, reduce the sound output from modern turbines.
18 Scottish Government, PAN1/2011: Planning and Noise, http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/343210/0114180.pdf
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iii. Guidelines for Wind Turbine Noise
"The Assessment and Rating of Noise from Wind Farms" (ETSU-R-97) is the guidance report used for all wind energy developments in the UK. It presents a framework to measure the noise from wind turbines and to derive suitable noise limits which offer reasonable protection to neighbours. The main findings are set out below:
Noise limits should be applied to external locations and should apply only to those areas frequently used for relaxation or activities for which a quiet environment is highly desirable;
A fixed limit of 43dB(A) is recommended for night-time. This is based on a sleep disturbance criteria of 35dB(A) with an allowance of 10dB(A) for attenuation through an
open window (free field to internal) and 2dB(A) subtracted to account for the use of LA90, 19 10min rather than L Aeq, 10min;
Both day- and night-time lower fixed limits can be increased to 49dB(A) to increase the permissible margin above background where the occupier of the property has some financial interest in the wind farm;
In low noise environments the day-time level of the LA90, 10min of the wind farm noise should be limited to an absolute level within the range of 35-40 dB(A). The actual value chosen within this range should depend upon: The number of dwellings in the neighbourhood of the wind farm; the effect of noise limits on the number of kWh generated; and the duration of the level of exposure;
For single turbines or wind farms with very large separation distances between the turbines and the nearest properties, a simplified noise condition may be suitable. If the
noise is limited to an LA90,10min of 35dB(A) up to wind speeds of 10m/s at 10m height, then this condition alone would offer sufficient protection of amenity, and background noise surveys would be unnecessary.
Local Planning Authorities will usually consider this simplified noise condition (previous bullet point) sufficient to protect neighbouring residents. However, a detailed background noise assessment has been conducted at this site and, as stated above, the results are presented in the Appendices.
Table 10.1 comparestypical levels of noise in the environment.
19 LA90, 10min is the dB(A) level exceeded 90% of the time over a 10 minute period, as opposed to LAeq, 10 min, which is the continuous sound pressure levels, in dB(A), over a 10 minute period.
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20 TABLE 10.1:INDICATIVE NOISE LEVELS
Source / Activity Indicative noise level dB(A) Threshold of pain 140 Jet aircraft at 250m 105 Pneumatic drill at 7m 95 Truck at 30mph at 100m 65 Busy general office 60 Car at 40mph at 100m 55 Quiet bedroom 35 Rural night-time background 20-40 Threshold of hearing 0
In regards to the development proposed in this document, various measures have been put in place to avoid noise nuisance. Through desk based and site surveys the turbine has been positioned at such a distance to create the appropriate separation between the development and any noise sensitive areas. Where possible, terrain shielding and noise barriers have been established to any reduce noise impacts further.
Below is the formula which is used to calculate the decibel level at the nearest noise sensitive receptors. This formula should ascertain how loud the turbine is at the nearest receptors; and if a full background noise assessment is needed.
LR = LWd,k+P-10log(2πR2) - ∆La
Where,
LR is the sound pressure level from a singleturbine at 1.2m to 1.5m above local ground level in dB(A) at a distance R
LWd,kis the apparent sound power level at the wind speed k (m/s)
P is the noise penalty of the turbine
R is the distance between the source and the receiver in metres
∆La = αaR
αa is the attenuation of sound due to air absorption, in dB(A)/m for broad band sound which is typically 0.005 dB(A) (refer ISO 9613-1). This value is dependent upon the spectral character of the sound and the atmospheric conditions.
20 Adapted from PAN1/2011
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11. SHADOW FLICKER
A recent study, published in March 2011 by the Department of Energy and Climate Change, shows the effects of shadow flicker from wind turbines. Research undertaken by Parsons Brinckerhoff concluded that21:
There have not been extensive issues with shadow flicker in the UK;
The frequency of the flickering caused by the wind turbine rotation is such that it should not cause a significant risk to health. In the few cases where problems have arisen, they have been resolved effectively using mitigation measures, in particular, turbine shut down systems.;
The Government has reviewed the report findings and concluded that the existing planning guidance on shadow flicker is fit for purpose and no changes to it are required.
The following is the definition of Shadow Flicker in according to Scottish Government guidelines:22
“Under certain combinations of geographical position, time of day and time of year, the sun may pass behind the rotor and cast a shadow over neighbouring properties. When the blades rotate, the shadow flicks on and off; the effect is known as "shadow flicker". It occurs only within buildings where the flicker appears through a narrow window opening.”
It is suggested that in general, a separation distance of 10 times the rotor diameter (in the case of this model 291m) is required between the wind turbine and any properties potentially affected. This shall ensure that the any issues regarding shadow flicker are mitigated.The nearest property is around 600m northwest of the turbine site; as such, it is not anticipated that shadow flicker be a problem. However if required a shadow flicker analysis can be produced using the ResoftWindfarm software previously used to create our ZTV and photomontages.
21 Dept. Energy and Climate Change.http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn11_025/pn11_025.aspx 22 Scottish Government Planning Policy Special Advice Note on Onshore Wind: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0039/00392419.pdf
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12. AVIATION EFFECTS
Wind turbines can at times interfere with Air Traffic Control Radar. The blade movement can cause intermittent detection by radars whilst in operation. This problem occurs when the wind turbine blades are in line of sight the radar antenna. Due to their height, they can also impact upon airports and airfields if they project into the safeguarding surface above and around them.
VG Energy has a suite of GIS based maps for MOD, NATS en-route and ATC line of sight. These maps show that the turbine development shouldnot be in the line of sight to any of these installations, although we understand that consultation with the relevant parties will also be required.
Should an objection be raised on safeguarding grounds VG Energy would like the opportunity, where suitable, to submit an independent third party assessment of any potential impact on radar installations. This assessment will provide clear modelling and analysis of the effect of the proposed turbine upon the radar installation. VG Energy request that Local Authorities allow us, as developers, sufficient time to commission this report, should it be required, in order to avoid needlessly withdrawing this application.
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13. TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORT
Construction of the turbine is expected to occur over a four week period. The volume of vehicle traffic is expected to be light overall with a few days of heavy unloading. At this stage the following gives the best indication the main traffic volumes:
Average/Typical Traffic: 1-2 trucks per day and 2 light vehicles per day;
800tonnes of type 1 for the access track material in 40 deliveries over 3-6 days;
Roughly 11 concrete deliveries all on the same day;
120 tonne crane, which will generally remain on site during construction;
A single turbine installation should require only four trips to site for component delivery.
The four deliveries to site for turbine components include: a tower base section, a tower top section, a set of blades in cradles, a nacelle and electrical cabinet. The 120 tonne crane required for assembly of the turbine will be delivered as a permitted load under Roads Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 (C&U).
The size and weight of the components of the Norwin 225 are detailed in the following table.
TABLE 13.1:SIZE AND WEIGHT OF NORWIN COMPONENTS
Net weight Turbine Component Length (m) Width (m) Height (m) (tonnes) Nacelle in transport 3.87 2.13 2.14 6.5 frame Hub in transport 2.37 2.30 1.99 1.32 frame Three blades in 13.4 0.67 0.67 0.76 (each) cradles Tower top section 15.80 1.79 1.79 4.5 (34.45 m tower) Tower base section 17.29 2.61 2.61 8.5 (34.45 m tower)
Turbine components such as blades, motors and tower sections will be transported on a 14m long articulated flatbed lorry which is extendable to 21m. Since the longest component of the turbine is the tower base section at 17.29m the lorry trailer will not be extended more than 18m which is permitted under Roads Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) (General) Order 2003 (AofST) with Police notification and attendance.
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The heaviest load transported to site will be the tower base at 8.5 tonnes. This is under the maximum authorised weight for vehicle combinations as set out in Road Vehicles (Authorised Weight) Regulations 1998.
For a single turbine installation (after construction of the track), it is anticipated that the following truck visits to the site would be required over the construction period:
Delivery of excavator;
Delivery of shuttering and foundation reinforcing steel (may require two trucks);
Delivery of concrete for foundation. An 81m3 foundation would require 14 truck movements (assuming a capacity of 6m3 per truck). The number of truck movements will vary with capacity and volume of concrete required;
Removal of shuttering;
Removal of excavator;
Crane on site for the duration of the construction period;
Delivery of tower base section;
Delivery of tower top section;
Delivery of pair of blades in cradles;
Delivery of nacelle electrical cabinet;
Removal of equipment and transport frames.
More visits may be required due to site conditions, weather restrictions,etc., and these numbers should be treated as a guideline only for planning purposes. The delivery of additional materials for road construction / upgrade is not included in this estimate.
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14. DELIVERY AND CONSTRUCTION ACCESS ROUTE
The site will be accessed via the public road network, then by a new access track as an extension from existing tracks at Bellevue Farm. A detailed transportation assessment will be compiled and submitted to the relevant roads department at least two months before any deliveries take place.
A desk top study of the route has been done and no upgrades to the existing road network are necessary for it to be negotiated by the artic lorry which will deliver the components.
It may be necessary to control the traffic using this route when delivering the larger components of the turbine at this turn. The oncoming vehicles will be controlled by appropriately qualified staff within the attendant vehicle travelling with the truck warning on- coming traffic to slow down and stop until the manoeuvre has been completed.
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15. EXISTING INFRASTRUCTURE
Wind farms have the potential to interfere with electro-magnetic signals passing above ground or existing infrastructure below ground. Consultation with relevant telecommunication and utilities providers is a routine part of wind farm development. Consultees will include:
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA);
Defence Estates, MoD;
NATS;
OFCOM;
Television and telecommunications providers as appropriate;
Water, gas and electricity utilities providers.
Information obtained from the consultees will be taken into account and incorporated into the design of the development.
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16. GENERAL SAFETY
Construction Projects have a potential to create hazards for the general public and contractors. The greatest hazards occur during the construction, repair works and decommissioning of the turbines but the risks will be minimised by ensuring work complies with the following regulations:
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974;
Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999;
Work at Height Regulations 2005;
Lifting Operations & Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998;
Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations;
SEPA Regulations.
All work will be planned to be completed within normal working hours, with noise levels limited where possible. A site traffic management plan will ensure works traffic does not endanger the public whilst entering or leaving the site.
Working at height shall be mitigated where possible, but because of the nature of the project will at times be essential. All working at height will comply with Work at Height Regulations 2005.
All works will be done be suitably trained and competent staff, to established methodologies, which have been risk assessed in advance. During the construction period, public access will be prevented and the site supervisor will ensure that safety is paramount.
The wind turbine being considered for use at Bellevue Farm is designed and manufactured to high standards and will withstand the weather extremes which arise in the United Kingdom.
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APPENDICES
Figure 1: Bellevue Farm Site Layout Figure 2: ZTV of Bellevue Farm turbine proposal over a 15km Radius Figure 3: Detailed Site Drawing 1:2500 Figure 4: Detailed Site Drawing 1:1000 Figure 5: Detailed Site Drawing 1:500 Figure 6: Turbine elevation Figure 7: Map of Local Historic Environment Figure 8: Norwin Noise Report
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