Land at Blaenhiraeth Farm, Penderi, Llangennech, Llanelli, SA14 8PX

1. Development proposal overview • The development site comprises approximately 78 hectares of agricultural land located approximately 5km north of Llanelli in open countryside. The site lies to the east of the A476 and is split into three distinct land parcels which form part of a wider single agricultural holding. The planning application boundary extends to cover the three land parcels and a section of adopted highway which links the three land parcels • The proposal seeks to install ground mounted photovoltaic solar arrays to provide circa 36 MW generation capacity together with power inverter systems; transformer stations; internal access track; landscaping &ecological enhancement; cable trench, security measures, deer fencing, access gates, temporary construction compounds, laying of cables through masonry arch bridge at Cilddewi Bridge (Grade II), and associated infrastructure. • Listed Building Consent is sought for the element of the application proposal which relates to the laying of cables along Cilddewi Bridge, a Grade II listed masonry bridge [the invasive works is limited to the concrete saddle, fil material and tarmac road surface]. • Following a site visit with the LPA’s Planning Officer Paul Roberts and Steve Welchmann, Landscape Officer on 10.06.2015, the proposed solar site layout area was reduced in accordance with the requests made by the two Officers (See site layouts). 2. Publicity activity to date • As the application site crosses the administrative boundaries of three community councils, namely Llannon (56%), Llangennech (24%) and Llanelli Rural (20%) community council meetings for all three areas were attended and presentations held to inform them of the proposed development. Additionally, a separate meeting took place with Llannon and Llanelli Rural community council members on 15 May 2015. • Public consultation events on 15.01. & 16.01.2015 at Tumble Hall, Llanelli, and Llangennech Community Centre respectively. • Meeting with Keith Davies, Assembly Member for Llanelii, 19.04.2015 • Meeting with Nia Griffith, Member of Parliament for Llanelli on 15.05.2015. • Meeting with Simon Thomas, Assembly Member for Mid-and West Wales. 17.06.2015. 3. EIA overview • Screening opinion from Carmarthenshire Council 24.11.2014: EIA not required • 2nd Screening opinion from CC 28.01.2015: EIA now required, “based on the nature, scale and location of the proposal and its potential significant visual impact upon the character and appearance of the wider landscape”. • Advised that any prospective application should be accompanied by a tightly scoped EIA which should provide a thorough landscape and visual impact assessment as well as assessing its potential ecological impacts. 4. EIA highlights/assesments/studies completed • Draft EIA with technical chapters on landscape and visual impact assessment and Ecology & Nature Conservation • Desk based heritage assessment • Flood Consequence Assessment • Phase 1 habitat assessment • Breeding bird and wintering bird surveys • Dormouse nut search • Landscape and ecological management plan • Construction Traffic Management Plan • Agricultural Land Classification Survey • Alternatives Site Search Survey • Tree survey • Planning Statement