BRYN HENLLYS EXTENSION PROPOSED SOLAR FARM ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT PREPARED BY PEGASUS GROUP | AUGUST 2019 P18-2622 | LIGHTSOURCE BP Pegasus Group Project Directory Statement of Competence The following competent experts have been involved in the preparation of this Environmental Statement on behalf of Lightsource BP. EIA Coordination Pegasus Group is a Member of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) and one of the founding members of the IEMA Quality Mark. Competent experts involved in the co- ordination of the Environmental Statement include Chartered members of the Royal Town Planning Institute and IEMA. Landscape and Visual Pegasus Group is a Registered Practice with the Landscape Institute. Our Landscape Architects regularly prepare Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments (LVIA) as part of EIA. The LVIA has been prepared by a Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute to ensure compliance with appropriate guidance. Cultural Heritage The Heritage team at Pegasus Group specialises in archaeology, built heritage and the historic landscape. The team holds individual memberships of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), the Institute of Historic Buildings Conservation (IHBC) and the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA). The Archaeology and Cultural Heritage chapter was authored and reviewed by members of the CIfA. Biodiversity This chapter has been prepared and separately reviewed by Avian Ecology professional ecologists who are full members of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM) and are experienced in the field of ecological impact assessment. Transport & Access Competent experts involved in the assessment, preparation and checking of the Traffic and Transport chapter variously have Chartered membership of the Institute of Logistics & Transport (CMILT), Membership of the Chartered Institute of Highways & Transportation (MCIHT) or Membership of the Institution of Civil Engineers (MICE). Hydrology & Flood Risk Competent experts involved in the assessment, preparation and checking of the Hydrology and Flood Risk chapter variously have full membership of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (MCIWEM) and are Chartered Water and Environmental Managers (C.WEM) and Chartered Environmentalists (CEnv) or are Chartered Engineers registered with the Engineering Council). Ground Conditions Competent experts involved in the assessment and preparation of the Ground Conditions and Contamination chapter have Chartered membership of the Geological Society (CGeol), Science Council (CSci), Society for the Environment (CEnv), and Institution of Water and Environmental Management (C.WEM). ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT Contents CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION Figure 1.1 Site Location Plan 2. ASSESSMENT SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY No Figures Appendix 2.1 Scoping Opinion 3. THE APPLICATION SITE AND PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT Figure 3.1 Application Site Boundary Figure 3.2 Layout Plan 4. ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED No Figures 5. LANDSCAPE & VISUAL Figure 5.1 Topography Plan Figures 5.2 – LANDMAP aspect areas 5.6 Figure 5.7 Designations, Policies and Visual Receptors Plan Figure 5.8 ZTV with Viewpoint Locations Figure 5.9 Photoviews Figure 5.10 Photomontages Figure 5.11 Cumulative ZTV Figure 5.12 Cumulative Photomontages Figure 5.13 Planting Plan Appendix 5.1 LVIA Methodology Appendix 5.2 Arboricultural Survey, Impact Assessment and Protection Plan 6. BIODIVERSITY Figure 6.1a Habitat Management Plan Map 1 Figure 6.1b Habitat Management Plan Map 2 Figure 6.2 Statutory Designated Sites Figure 6.3 Non-Statutory Designated Sites Figure 6.4a BBS Survey Results Map 1 Figure 6.4b BBS Survey Results Map 2 Figure 6.5 Pond Location Plan Appendix 6.1 Ecological Impact Assessment Methodology Appendix 6.2 Biodiversity Management Plan 7. CULTURAL HERITAGE AND ARCHAEOLOGY Figure 7.1 Site Location Plan AUGUST 2019 BRYN HENLLYS EXTENSION ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT Contents Figure 7.2 Designated Assets Figure 7.3 Non-Designated Assets Appendix 7.1 Desk Based Assessment 8. TRANSPORT AND ACCESS No Figures Appendix 8.1 Construction Traffic Management Plan 9. HYDROLOGY, FLOOD RISK AND SURFACE WATER DRAINAGE No Figures Appendix 9.1 Flood Consequences Assessment 10. GROUND CONDITIONS AND CONTAMINATION Figure 10.1 Site Location Plan 1:25000 Figure 10.2 Site Location Plan 1:5000 Appendix 10.1 Legislation, Policy and Guidance Appendix 10.2 Desk Based Assessment Appendix 10.3 Conceptual Site Model Appendix 10.4 Relevant Correspondence Appendix 10.5 Assessment Methodologies Appendix 10.6 Groundwater Reports Appendix 10.7 Explosive Ordnance Assessment 11. SUMMARY 12. GLOSSARY, ACRONYMS AND REFERENCE LIST AUGUST 2019 BRYN HENLLYS EXTENSION BRYN HENLLYS EXTENSION PROPOSED SOLAR FARM www.pegasusgroup.co.uk PREPARED BY PEGASUS GROUP | AUGUST 2019 P18-2622 | LIGHTSOURCE BP Pegasus Group Pegasus House Querns Business Centre Whitworth Road Cirencester Glos GL7 1RT Telephone: 01285 641717 COPYRIGHT The contents of this document must not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of Pegasus Planning Group. Crown copyright. All rights reserved, Licence number 100042093. Pegasus Group ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT INTRODUCTION 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 INTRODUCTION 1.1.1 This Environmental Statement (ES) has been prepared on behalf of Lightsource BP (the “Applicant”) in support of a planning application for the construction, operation and decommissioning of the Bryn Henllys Extension Solar Farm on Land at Waunlwyd Farm, Ystradowen, Swansea (the “Application Site”). The Application Site is situated within the administrative area of Powys County Council (PCC). The Application Site location is shown on Figure 1.1. 1.1.2 The proposed solar farm would have an installed capacity of up to 9.9 MW, and act as an extension to the approved, but not yet constructed 20 MW Bryn Henllys solar farm to the immediate east of the Application Site (Planning Reference P/2015/0176). 1.2 EIA REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES 1.2.1 An Environmental Statement (“ES”) is a document that sets out the findings of an Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA"). An EIA is a process for identifying the “likely significance of environmental effects” (beneficial or adverse) arising from a proposed development, by comparing the existing environmental conditions prior to development (the baseline) with the environmental conditions during/following the construction, operational and, where relevant, the decommissioning phases of a development should it proceed. The EIA is carried out prior to the submission of a planning application. 1.2.2 The statutory requirements for carrying out an EIA, the content of the ES and the procedures for determining planning applications for ‘EIA Development’ are set out within the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Wales) Regulations 20171 (as amended) (the ”EIA Regulations”). 1.2.3 Where an application is made for planning permission for EIA Development, the local planning authority ("LPA") is not permitted under the EIA Regulations to grant planning permission unless it has first taken the relevant environmental information into consideration. 1.2.4 In order to determine if it is necessary to undertake an EIA to accompany a planning application, Regulation 6 of the EIA Regulations makes provision for an applicant to apply to a Local Planning Authority (LPA) for a ‘Screening Opinion’ as to whether an EIA is required. Screening Opinion 1.2.5 The EIA Regulations require that any proposed development falling within the categories set out within Schedule 2 should be considered as ‘EIA Development’ where the development is considered likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue of such factors as its nature, size or location (Regulation 2). 1.2.6 The Proposed Development falls within the category of “Industrial installations for the production of electricity, steam and hot water” under Schedule 2, paragraph 3(a) and accordingly the Applicant has prepared an ES. 1 The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment (Wales) Regulations 2017 (Amended 2019, SI 2019 No.299 (W.76). AUGUST 2019 BRYN HENLLYS EXTENSION ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT INTRODUCTION Scoping 1.2.7 In order to determine the scope of an EIA, the EIA Regulations make provision for an applicant to request that the LPA provide a written opinion as to the information to be provided within the ES. This ES addresses those environmental issues which are considered pertinent and that could potentially result in “likely significant effects” as stated in the EIA Regulations. The Applicant submitted a request for scoping opinion to PCC on 6th June 2019 (Ref 19/0966/SC), with a response received on 1st August 2019. Details of the scoping exercise carried out with regards the Proposed Development is set out in Chapter 2: Assessment Scope and Methodology. 1.3 STRUCTURE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT 1.3.1 This ES comprises studies on each of the aspects of the environment identified as likely to be significantly affected by the Proposed Development (the ‘technical chapters’), which are supported with figures and technical appendices where appropriate. 1.3.2 This ES is structured as follows: • Environmental Statement Volume 1: Main Text - Comprises the main text of the ES, including ‘general chapters’ that describe the EIA context, provide a description of the Application Site and Proposed Development, and set out the scope of the ES. This is followed by the ‘technical chapters’ for each environmental theme with the associated