PRE-APPLICATION DISCUSSION DOCUMENT: PARC SOLAR TRAFFWLL TRAFFWLL | ANGELSEY January 2019 www.thesirusgroup.com Planning Statement: Bryn Pica Eco Park PREPARED BY REPORT NUMBER REPORT STATUS LOC1001/Pre-App FINAL REVISION REPORT DATE January 2019 Sirius Planning | Office Suite 2 | The Beacon Centre for Enterprise | Dafen | Llanelli | SA14 8LQ WRITTEN & PREPARED BY Alex Stappard CMLI | Principal Landscape Architect/Planner James Cook MRTPI I Principal Planner PREPARED FOR REVIEWED & APPROVED BY David Baker | Development Director AUTHORISED BY Sirius Planning Pre-Application Discussion Document: Parc Solar Traffwll CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 CONXTEXT ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 8 OUTLINE DESCRIPTION OF THE SITE AND SURROUNDINGS .................................................................................................................................................... 9 SITE CONSTRAINTS ............................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9 2. OUTLINE PROPOSAL AND DESIGN PROCESS ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 10 THE PROPOSAL ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 11 DESIGN PROCESS ................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 11 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT............................................................................................................................................................................................... 12 DESIGN ITERATION ............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 12 3. THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS.................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 14 OUTLINE OF PROPOSED ASSESSMENT WORKS .................................................................................................................................................................... 15 INITIAL BASELINE SURVEYS ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 16 LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 16 ECOLOGY ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 19 CULTURAL HERITAGE .......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 22 4. SCHEME DESIGN .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 24 GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS................................................................................................................................................................................................ 25 AMOUNT ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 25 SCALE, LANDSCAPING AND APPEARANCE ............................................................................................................................................................................ 26 ACCESS ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 26 5. PLANNING POLICY ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 27 Sirius Planning | 3 PLANNING POLICY CONTEXT ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 28 National Policy ................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 28 Local Policy ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 28 Development of National Significance................................................................................................................................................................................. 31 6. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 32 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 33 Pre-Application Discussion Document: Parc Solar Traffwll DRAWING SCHEDULE Drawing Number Drawing Title Scale LOC1001/1/01 Environmental Constraints 1:20,000 LOC1001/1/02 Indicative PV Plot Areas 1:20,000 - Sirius Planning | 5 Pre-Application Discussion Document: Parc Solar Traffwll 1. INTRODUCTION Sirius Planning | 6 Pre-Application Discussion Document: Parc Solar Traffwll INTRODUCTION energy in the UK2 1.1.1 On behalf of Parc Solar Traffwll Ltd this Pre-Application Discussion 1.2.3 The Welsh Government’s recently published Planning Policy Wales Document provides information to assist Isle of Anglesey County Council Edition 103 confirms that it: and Planning Inspectorate Wales in their pre-application advice on a “…is committed to delivering the outcomes set out in Energy Wales: A proposed solar farm located in west Anglesey. Low Carbon Transition. Our priorities are: 1.1.2 This document outline details of a proposal to construct and operate a reducing the amount of energy we use in Wales; 49.9MW (export capacity) solar farm and power storage units (batteries) reducing our reliance on energy generated from fossil fuels; and over seven separate parcels of land; south-west of the village Brygwran actively managing the transition to a low carbon economy.” and in the vicinity of the village Llanfihangel yn Nhowyn. 1.2.4 Solar farms are an effective and unobtrusive way of creating the 1.1.3 This document sets out information on the site, principal design features electricity we all use – with the panels having a low visual impact on the and potential environmental considerations of the proposal. To help local landscape and creating no noise, pollution, by-products or understand baseline conditions of the identified site preliminary emissions. Additionally, solar farms result in minimal disturbance to the reporting of the following key disciplines is included: ground and can enhance local biodiversity, for example through planting a range species rich wildflower mix in field margins, creating a more · Ecology; diverse habitat and creating pollen rich margins for bees and butterflies. · Landscape character and Visual amenity; and The areas in between the panels can also be used for grazing of sheep. · Cultural heritage. The introduction of native trees and hedgerows on the site can also CONXTEXT provide opportunities for nesting, roosting and foraging opportunities for birds, bats and invertebrates. 1.2.1 Solar farms are a simple and established technology providing a source of safe and clean energy which produce zero emissions when in operation. 1.2.5 It is also noted that