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Environmental Appraisal for a Single Wind Turbine at Manor Farm, Newton, Staffordshire

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Environmental Appraisal for a Single Wind Turbine at Manor Farm, Newton, Staffordshire Environmental Appraisal for a Single Wind Turbine at Manor Farm, Newton, Staffordshire Report by: Adam Shepherd Chec ked by: Alison Parker Date: February 2013 Prepared for: Prepared by: Caddick Renewables ADAS UK Ltd 4205 Park Approach Thorpe Park Leeds LS15 8GB Copyright The proposed approach and methodology is protected by copyright and no part of this document may be copied or dis closed to any third party, either before or after the contract is awarded, without the written consent of ADAS. 0936648 4001349 NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY Introduction This Environmental Appraisal has been prepared by ADAS UK Ltd. on behalf of Caddick Renewables Ltd. to accompany the planning application for a proposed single turbine of maximum blade tip height of 74m at Manor Farm, Newton, Staffordshire, WS15 3PE. Project Description The application site lies in a rural setting approximately 10km to the east of Stafford on land used for agricultural purposes. This application does not specify a particular make and model of turbine as this will depend on the availability of models when the turbine is purchased. However, for the purposes of the assessments the Enercon 48 (E48) has been used as the candidate turbine. The E48 is the turbine which is most likely to be used, subject to availability at the time of order. The turbine would have a capacity of 500kW. Supporting infrastructure would include: • construction of a hardstanding area for cranes and parking; • construction of a hardcore access track; • construction of a collector substation and equipment housing cabinet; and • grid connection works. A temporary plant and equipment storage compound would be required during the duration of the construction works. The application also seeks permission for a temporary anemometry mast which may be installed temporarily in the proposed turbine location if more detailed wind data is required. However, given that current modelling shows the wind speed to be viable on the site, this may well not be developed. Ecology A desk study, a site ecological constraints survey, a review of habitats for birds and a bird survey have been undertaken by ADAS ecologists. The site does not lie within any areas that have statutory or nonstatutory designations for nature conservation. There are two international designations and three national designations within 5km of the site. The ecological constraints survey identified the site to be of some value at a parish/ neighbourhood level due to the presence of a species-rich hedgerow and mature trees. The mature trees will not be affected by the development and the hedgerows will be retained. The field that the turbine is to be located in comprise species-poor improved grassland. A bird survey, including a site survey of habitats for birds and vantage point surveys were carried out to provide further information of the potential impacts on birds, particularly wildfowl present at Blithfield Reservoir Site of Special Scientific Interest. The survey was carried out in autumn, because this is the period when the target species are likely to migrate. However, very few target species were recorded on the site and given the scale of the development and the flight patterns of birds recorded during the survey, the risk of collision is thought to be low, and the displacement or exclusion of birds would be negligible. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds was consulted on the survey findings and confirmed that they were happy both the survey methodology and the conclusion. The hedgerows bordering the field provide suitable habitat for a range of common bird nesting species. Minor pruning of hedgerows is likely to be required where the access road enters the side and, depending on the level of vegetation at the time of construction, trimming may be required at other points along the access road. Trimming works shrubs would be undertaken outside the main bird nesting season (considered to be March to August inclusive) or be preceded by an inspection for active nests. The small amount of relatively low quality habitat that will be directly lost as a result of the development is considered to be insignificant. The application field is of low value for Great Crested Newts and the turbine would be located over 250m from the nearest pond. Therefore, negative impacts on newts are considered unlikely. There are no features within 50m suitable for a bat roost or foraging routes and no significant impacts are predicted on bats. Hydrology An assessment of the impact on hydrology has been undertaken through a desk study and a review of the proposed development. The closest watercourses to the site are approximately 500m to the south east, west and north of the site although there are a few waterbodies, field ponds, within 500m. The nearest field pond is located 260m to the south west. The site is not located within a groundwater source protection zone and it is located in a minor aquifer high vulnerability groundwater area. The closest borehole is 254m to the south. The site is in a low risk area of river or sea flooding (Flood Zone 1). Due to the relatively small footprint of the total development, the effects associated with its construction are considered to be minor. To mitigate against the pollution of water resources the construction will adhere to the Pollution Prevention Guidance Notes published by the Environment Agency. All construction waste will be dealt with in accordance with best available techniques to ensure the risk of contamination to ground and surface waters is kept to a minimum. Construction activities will be scheduled to minimise the area and period of time that soil will be exposed, particularly if construction occurs on surface wetness soils during the winter months. The turbine is not likely to require significant maintenance during its operation and best practice measures implemented during construction will continue to be followed. The potential effects on the water environment during decommissioning are likely to be very similar to those during the construction phase and similar protection/ mitigation measures will be used. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment The assessment of the potential impact of the development on landscape character and visual amenity was carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines. Impacts of the proposed development have been identified and given a significance weighting. The proposed erection of a single wind turbine at Manor Farm is in accordance with all national and local policy guidelines on landscape. There are no landscape designations within the 5km study area, although Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is located 5.1km south west of the proposed site and so was included in the assessment. At the closest points, visibility from the AONB would be predominantly screened by topography. From higher ground within the AONB further south, the turbine would be seen as a minor component of wide elevated landscape views and would not affect the key characteristics of the landscape. Up to distances of approximately 1.7km, the turbine would become an additional characterising element of the landscape character. Direct effects on the landscape fabric will be limited in extent and fully reversible on decommissioning. With regards to visual amenity, there would be some major and major/moderate effects with respect of the visual amenity of a limited number of farmsteads and scattered dwellings and on the periphery of settlements at distances of up to approximately 3km from the proposal. The potential for visual effects on settlements of a major and major/moderate level would be limited and subject to the level of screening by landform and tree cover. There are no currently constructed wind turbines of a similar scale in the area, and so the addition of a turbine at Manor Farm would not result in any significant cumulative effects. If the two single turbines in planning gain permission there would still be no significant cumulative landscape effects arising from the addition of Manor Farm. The proposed design optimisation measures will go some way to minimising the impacts that the turbine and associated development will have upon the landscape character of the local area and ensure that residual impacts are kept to a minimum. When the proposed turbine reaches the end of its lifespan, it can be removed along with the substation and access track to leave no deviation from the baseline landscape and visual conditions. Cultural Heritage A cultural heritage baseline assessment at Manor Farm was prepared by Headland Archaeology (UK) Ltd to inform the assessment of cultural heritage impacts associated with the development of a wind turbine upon the site. There is one Schedule Monument and several Listed Buildings within 2km. The proposed turbine is not considered to affect the setting of any designated heritage assets. The assessment identified one previously recorded cultural heritage asset, a 19th century out farm no longer visible on the ground, within the north-east corner of the application field. The access track has been located to avoid the location of the undesignated asset as recorded in the Historic Environment Record. There is a possibility that previously existing field boundaries or cultivation remains of post- medieval date, considered to be of negligible significance, could be locally affected by earth works associated with constructing the development. However the works are unlikely to destroy or seriously degrade the overall system of such remains. There is also a low possibility of remains predating the post-medieval period to occur within the development area. Any earlier previously unknown archaeological remains would be directly affected where covered by the footprint of any earthworks. It is concluded that the overall development footprint is likely to be relatively small and therefore any previously unknown heritage assets present will be affected in only a small area.
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