Planning Committee 13th November 2014 Application Reference: 14/00836/FUL Reference: Site: 14/00836/FUL South Ockendon Quarry And Landfill Site Medebridge Road South Ockendon Essex Ward: Proposal: Ockendon Erection of solar Photovoltaic (PV) arrays with associated infrastructure (ancillary equipment includes inverters, transformers and substations), access tracks, fencing, security including pole mounted CCTV on Ockendon Landfill Site. Plan Number(s): Reference Name Received OC002 Site boundary 29.07.14 OC003 Site constraints and opportunities 29.07.14 OC004 Site Design Plan 29.07.14 OC005 Mitigation and Enhancements Plan 29.07.14 PL005 Technical details – invert transformer station 29.07.14 PL006 DNO Switchstation 29.07.14 PL006.1 Client side switchstation 29.07.14 PL007 Gate, fence and construction road detail 29.07.14 PL008 Racking system 29.07.14 PL009 Indicative 132Kv compound 29.07.14 The application is also accompanied by: Planning Statement, July 2014 (revised version rec 17.10.14) Planning Statement Addendum on Flood Risk, 15th October 2014 Agricultural Land Assessment of Need, 19th September 2014 Design and Access Statement, July 2014 Environmental Statement Vol 1 – Non-technical summary, July 2014 Environmental Statement Vol 2 – Text and drawings, July 2014 Environmental Statement Vol 3 – Technical Appendices, July 2014 Community Involvement Report, July 2014 Transport and Access Appraisal Flood Risk Assessment, October 2014 Geophysical Survey, September 2014 Scheduled Monument Management Plan rec 29.09.14 Planning Committee 13th November 2014 Application Reference: 14/00836/FUL Applicant: Validated: Veolia Environmental Services Ltd & Reg 29 July 2014 Solarpower Date of expiry: 18 November 2014 Recommendation: Approve, subject to conditions and s.106 Agreement. 1.0 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSAL 1.1 The application proposes the installation of solar PV arrays comprising rows of fixed Photovoltaic (PV) panels and associated ancillary infrastructure. The purpose is to generate renewable electricity which can be fed into the local distribution network. Agriculture will continue in the form of sheep grazing under the panels. 1.2 The application site area is 98.44 ha. Approximately 30% of the operational area will be ‘developed’ with the remaining 70% comprising grassed spaces between rows, field margins, shaded areas and/or areas for landscape enhancement. 1.3 The applicant advises ‘The solar PV will generate up to around 38 MWp of renewable electricity. Over the course of a year, a solar farm of this capacity is expected to produce 34.9 GWh, sufficient electricity to meet the annual electricity demand of approximately 8,200 homes and save around 15,000 tonnes of CO2 per year (planning statement, para 3.5). 1.4 Planning permission is sought for a temporary period of 27 years. This includes up to 1 year for construction, a 25 year operational period and 1 year for decommissioning. The proposed landscaping, Public Rights of Way and habitat enhancements are to be retained. The various elements of the proposal are further described below; 1.5 Solar Panels The solar PV panels are proposed to be mounted onto galvanized metal frames set on to the ground by concrete blocks. These are non-penetrative, sitting on top of the restored ground of this formal landfill. The solar panels are organised into arrays and laid out in east-west rows. Each individual panel is proposed to be tilted southwards at approximately 20 degrees from the horizontal. The proposal is a static design with no moving parts. 1.6 The solar panels would be around 2.6 metres from ground level to the top of the panel frame. The lowest edge of the panels will be around 1 metre above the ground. The ground under the panels areas between rows will remain as grassed spaces. Planning Committee 13th November 2014 Application Reference: 14/00836/FUL 1.7 Inverter-transformer stations The installation of inverter-transformer stations are required to convert the direct current (DC) electricity output of the solar array into alternating current (AC) power for compatibility with the electricity distribution network. There are 19 proposed inverter-transformer stations proposed across the various land parcels. These are proposed to be housed in containers measuring 3 metres high, 2.5 metres wide and 6 metres long. 1.8 Switching stations The proposal contains four switching stations. Two switching stations to be adopted by the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) and another two switching stations to be adopted by the applicant. These comprise cabinets mounted on a concrete plinth. DNO switch stations measure 3.5 metres high, 2.4 metres wide and 9.7 metres long and client switch stations measure approximately 3.5 metres high, 3.5 metres wide and 10 metres long. Access will be made available to the two switching stations for occasional operation, maintenance and security. 1.9 132kV substation This is proposed within Area ‘A’ (described below) to ‘collect’ the electricity generated by the solar PV and transmit this electricity along an underground cable into the existing Warley 275kV substation. The substation will be unmanned. The substation comprises two compounds and an adjoining custom built, brick or steel clad single storey substation control building measuring 5.5m in height with a footprint of 18m by 9m. The substation is proposed to be enclosed by a 2.7m high steel palisade security fence. The applicant advises that whilst the substation will not generally be illuminated during the hours of darkness, there is a requirement for floodlighting to enable personnel to work safely should emergency maintenance be required. 1.10 Security and fencing Two metre high fences are proposed to be constructed around each land parcel (described below). This is proposed to be deer proof stock fencing fixed to the ground with by either gabions or concrete blocks. These are non-penetrative, sitting on top of the restored ground, in order to protect the integrity of the landfill cap and underground gas extraction pipes. The perimeter security fence is proposed to incorporate gaps every 50 metres to facilitate the passage of small mammals. Vehicle gates are proposed to be incorporated into the fencing system to allow vehicle and pedestrian access to the inverters-transformer stations for operation and maintenance activities. The gates will be approximately 3 meters wide. Safety signage is proposed to be displayed on the fencing and gates. Planning Committee 13th November 2014 Application Reference: 14/00836/FUL 1.11 Infra-red and/or thermal imaging security cameras are proposed to be located along the fence line, attached to 3 metre tall posts or the fence itself. 1.12 Lighting No external lighting will be required generally, other than temporarily during construction, but the switching stations will be provided with ‘passive infrared sensor’ activated external lights. 1.13 Cabling On-site cabling above the landfill areas is proposed within cable trays attached to the galvanised metal racking systems or installed within semi-buried concrete cable troughs to avoid any potential conflict with existing pipework and prevent penetrating the capping layer on the former landfill. On-site cabling in areas where there is no landfill will be buried underground at a typical depth of between 600mm and 800mm. 1.14 The applicant advises that the distribution network connection will be the responsibility of the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) and does not form part of this planning application. The applicant advises that ‘the connection is anticipated to be via underground cables minimising any visual impact or impact on the openness of the Green Belt’ (ES, 2.3.1). 1.15 Hardstanding Construction and access roads will be required for each land parcel, and will generally extend from the vehicle gate to the centre of the site. The roads are proposed to be a maximum of 5.5 metres wide, comprising compacted stone 300mm road base and sub base, and geotextile layer. 1.16 Temporary construction compound Five temporary construction compounds are proposed to be created, varying in size from around 700sq. metres to 2,400 sq. metres. These are shown on the site design plan OC004. The compounds will accommodate temporary portacabin-type buildings in addition to an area for material storage and for construction delivery vehicles to turn around. Some of the portacabins will be used for offices, toilets, canteen and storage. The compounds will contain temporary parking spaces for staff. At the end of the construction period, the compound and all equipment will be removed. 1.17 The site and nature of proposals Planning Committee 13th November 2014 Application Reference: 14/00836/FUL The site is owned and operated by Veolia. Most of the Veolia site has a history of clay quarrying and landfilling although these activities are either complete or mothballed. Some of the Veolia site is however undisturbed by landfilling. 1.18 The total site area of 98.44 ha is made of seven areas as shown on Drawing OC004 and described below; Area A comprises a single arable field which remains undisturbed by minerals extraction and landfill. This is located in the north-eastern corner of the site, to the east of the mothballed extraction area. There are existing mature trees to the east and south. New planting is proposed along the northern and western boundaries of Area A in the form of a new hedgerow allowed to grow to a height above the solar panels. Next to and to the west of Area A is Area A+, which is a small arable field. This area is undisturbed by landfill and clay quarrying. The landscaping proposals include filling the gaps in the existing hedgerow along the northern boundary of field A+ and allowing it to grow to a height above the solar panels. To the immediate west of this area and outside the application site is a clay extraction pit and landfill area neither of which is proposed to be developed with solar PV.