Planning, Design and Access Statement
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Wentlooge Farmers' Solar Scheme Limited July 2020 Planning, Design and Access Statement Proposed Renewable Energy Hub On behalf of Wentlooge Farmers’ Solar Scheme Ltd www.savills.co.uk Project: Wentlooge Farmers’ Renewable Energy Hub Client: Wentlooge Farmers' Solar Scheme Limited Job Number: TRP 1768 File Origin: Internal Document Checking: Prepared by: Nick Beddoe & Peter Grubb Signed: : Checked by: Peter Grubb Signed: Verified by: Peter Grubb Signed: i Contents 1.0 Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................... 9 2.0 The Site and Designations ...................................................................................................................... 13 2.1 The Site .......................................................................................................................................... 13 2.2 Ecological Designations ................................................................................................................. 14 2.3 Gwent Levels Historic Landscape ................................................................................................. 16 2.4 Severn Estuary Designations ........................................................................................................ 17 2.5 Public Rights of Way ...................................................................................................................... 19 2.6 Heritage and Archaeological Assets .............................................................................................. 20 2.7 Flood Risk ...................................................................................................................................... 20 3.0 The Proposed Development ................................................................................................................... 22 3.1 The Development Composition ..................................................................................................... 22 3.2 Materials ........................................................................................................................................ 24 4.0 Key Benefits from the Scheme ............................................................................................................... 26 4.1 Environmental Benefits .................................................................................................................. 26 4.2 Social Benefits ............................................................................................................................... 29 4.3 Economic Benefits ......................................................................................................................... 31 5.0 Planning Policy Assessment .................................................................................................................. 32 5.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 32 5.2 National Policy ............................................................................................................................... 32 5.3 Energy Wales: A Low Carbon Transition (2012) ........................................................................... 33 5.4 Well-being of Future Generations Act ............................................................................................ 34 5.5 Planning Policy Wales (Edition 10, 2018) ...................................................................................... 35 5.6 Technical Advice Notes ................................................................................................................. 37 5.7 Emerging National Planning Policy ................................................................................................ 38 5.8 Practice Guidance: Planning for Renewable and Low Carbon Energy - A Toolkit for Planners ... 40 5.9 Newport Local Development Plan 2011 - 2026 ............................................................................. 42 ii 5.10 Renewable and Low Carbon Energy Assessment: Torfaen County Borough Council and Newport City Council ................................................................................................................................................ 48 5.11 Capacity ......................................................................................................................................... 49 5.12 Targets ........................................................................................................................................... 49 5.13 Identified Opportunities .................................................................................................................. 50 6.0 Assessment of proposals against planning policy .............................................................................. 52 6.1 Principle of Development ............................................................................................................... 52 6.2 Site Designations ........................................................................................................................... 53 6.3 Project Ownership .......................................................................................................................... 60 7.0 Assessment of Environmental Impacts ................................................................................................ 61 7.1 Overview ........................................................................................................................................ 61 7.2 Traffic and Transport ...................................................................................................................... 61 7.3 Cultural Heritage ............................................................................................................................ 64 7.4 Landscape and Visual Effects ....................................................................................................... 66 7.5 Ecology .......................................................................................................................................... 68 7.6 Ornithology ..................................................................................................................................... 70 7.7 Flood Risk and Water Resources .................................................................................................. 71 7.8 Glint and Glare ............................................................................................................................... 73 7.9 Noise .............................................................................................................................................. 74 8.0 Additional Assessments ......................................................................................................................... 76 8.1 Agricultural Land Quality ................................................................................................................ 76 8.2 Tree Survey ................................................................................................................................... 76 9.0 Sustainability Credentials ....................................................................................................................... 78 9.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 78 9.2 Economic Sustainability ................................................................................................................. 78 9.3 Social Sustainability ....................................................................................................................... 80 9.4 Environmental Sustainability .......................................................................................................... 81 10.0 Conclusions ............................................................................................................................................. 84 10.1 Summary ........................................................................................................................................ 84 iii x 1.0 Executive Summary This Planning, Design and Access Statement has been prepared by Savills UK Ltd on behalf of the Wentlooge Farmers’ Solar Scheme Ltd. to support a DNS application for the Erection of a Renewable Energy Hub comprising ground mounted solar panels, battery storage units (160 units) with a combined installed generating capacity of up to 125MW, underground cabling, grid connection hub, associated infrastructure, landscaping and environmental enhancements, for a temporary period of 40 years. The site is located at land on the Wentlooge Levels to the west of Hawse Lane, between the villages of St Brides and Peterstone. The grid connection hub is located within a central area of the site and would be well-screened by existing vegetation. It will sit alongside the battery storage area adjacent a large electricity pylon (132 KV pylon). The proposals will be temporary for a period of 40 years after which the site could be returned to its current condition, with a positive legacy of planting and landscape management retained for the benefit of the area. Sheep would be grazed between the panels while providing