Planning Committee: 21.11 2013 Application Reference: 13/00543/FUL Reference: Site: 13/00543/FUL Fairwind Farm Lower Dunton Road Laindon Essex Ward: Proposal: Orsett This installation, 30 year operation (and subsequent decommissioning) of a series of ground mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays together with control/transformation enclosures, underground cabling, security fencing, CCTV poles, cameras and other associated development (e.g. additional hedgerow planting) for the purpose of producing up to 10 megawatt peak of renewable electricity. Plan Number(s): Reference Name Received OS 1:25,000 Site Location Plan 13 June 2013 978/FW 001 A PV Site Layout Plan 30 September 2013 978/FW 002 Site Location Plan 13 June 2013 FAIR002 02 PV Layout – Ground Installation Mounting 13 June 2013 Details Fixed Tilt System FAIR003 01 CCTV Camera Installation 13 June 2013 FAIR004 01 Transformation Enclosure 13 June 2013 FAIR005 02 Boundary Fence Details 9 August 2013 The application is also accompanied by: Environmental Statement Volume 1 Environmental Statement Volume 2 Technical Appendices Environmental Statement Non-Technical Summary Planning Statement Incorporating Design and Access Statement Phase 1 Flood Risk Assessment Report Applicant: Validated: MS Power Projects Ltd 10 June 2013 Date of expiry: 30 September 2013 Recommendation: Grant planning permission subject to conditions Planning Committee: 21.11 2013 Application Reference: 13/00543/FUL 1.0 DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSAL 1.1 The application proposes the development and operation of a PV (photovoltaic) ‘solar farm’ installation, providing up to 10MWp of electricity which is to be supplied to the local electricity network. The application suggests that the farm would generate enough electricity for 2,300 homes. Planning permission is sought for an operational period of 30 years, after which it is proposed to remove the PV installation and restore the land to its current state. 1.2 The development involves the installation of a series of PV arrays. This process would follow detailed topographical and geotechnical survey work to confirm site levels, ground conditions and design maximum exposure to solar radiation. Each PV panel would typically measure 1.665m x 0.99m wide x 0.043m in depth. Panels would be mounted on an aluminium framework which would be assembled on site. There would not be a set number of panels per row but a single circuit is usually 20 panels. Blocks of panels would be mounted in an east-west direction and set away from hedgerows and site boundaries. The submitted Planning Statement states that the number of individual PV panels on the site will be determined at the detailed design stage, taking account of mitigation measures, site access and shading issues. However, for the purposes of assessment, the accompanying Environmental Statement (ES) states that a total of 40,000 panels will occupy the site. 1.3 The maximum height of each PV assembly would be approximately 2.5m above ground level. The faces of the PV panels would be angled at 30 degrees from horizontal and would the oriented to face due south. The lowest part of the panels would be positioned some 0.75m above ground level. Rows of panels would be are approximately 6.5m apart in order to prevent the overshadowing of adjacent panels, although this distance is increased where changes in topography dictate. Approximately 29% of the total site area will be covered by panels, equating to 8.7 hectares. Cabling would be routed underground to a depth of between 0.7m – 1m below ground level. Columns supporting the frames which hold the panels will be sunk some 1.5m into the ground to provide stability against wind resistance. 1.4 The PV arrays would be arranged to maintain a 5m wide clear corridor to the site boundaries, increasing to 10m adjacent to the eastern boundary. A similar 5m clear corridor would also be maintained to hedgerows running across the site. A 20m wide corridor would be maintained along the alignment of overhead electricity transmission cable which pass through the site and a 16m wide corridor would maintain an easement for an underground gas pipeline which crosses the site. 1.5 In addition to the panels and frames, up to 8no. transformation enclosures Planning Committee: 21.11 2013 Application Reference: 13/00543/FUL would be required. These would be up to 3m in height, 7.5m in length and 3m wide. These enclosures would be flat roofed structures and their purpose would be to contain the equipment necessary to convert the output from the PV modules into mains AC. The output voltage would be increased to 33kV for transfer into the distribution network. 1.6 A grid connection cabin would also be required of the same dimensions as the transformation enclosures. This cabinet is shown on plan at the north-eastern corner of the site, close to an existing National Grid substation. 1.7 The site boundary would be secured by a 2m high security mesh fence and an infra-red CCTV system. These items would be coloured green. The CCTV cameras would be mounted on top of galvanised steel poles, with each pole 2.5m in height. Poles and cameras would be placed at 35m centres along the site boundaries and would face into the site. 1.8 During the construction phase, a construction compound with wheel wash facility would be formed on-site with an area of 1 hectare. The Planning Statement notes that construction access would be from the south in order to avoid the use of the railway bridge close to the site which has a height restriction. No details of alterations to the site access or the boundary hedges have been provided though the supporting text mentions a wider access at 6m and a bellmouth. The non-technical summary states that hedgerow would be removed to improve the access and it would be reinstated. However, no further details have been provided. During operation of the development, there are no proposals for staff to be based on-site although staff would visit the site periodically for maintenance and security checks. 1.9 The ES states that the land beneath the arrays, between each row of panels and on the edges of the site, would be seeded with a grass and wildflower mix ‘’in strategic locations’’. A definition of what comprises a “strategic location” has not been provided. The ES non-technical summary states this grass and wildflower meadow would be managed and mown biannually and that this would have wildlife and run-off benefits. Elsewhere, it is suggested there is potential for use of the land beneath the arrays for the grazing of sheep. The non-technical summary says the land beneath the panels would be in pastoral use; however no further information is provided. 1.10 In the accompanying Planning Statement it is said that the existing hedgerows located at the edges of, and within the site would be maintained and allowed to grow to a height of 3.5m to reduce impact. The ES suggests that a section of hedgerow would be removed to provide a suitable construction access at the south-eastern corner of the site. Additional hedgerow planting is proposed to fill current gaps in the hedge along the eastern boundary of the site. 2.0 SITE DESCRIPTION Planning Committee: 21.11 2013 Application Reference: 13/00543/FUL 2.1 The site extends to 29.99 hectares in area and is located to the western side of Lower Dunton Road and at the boundary of Thurrock with the administrative areas of Basildon and Brentwood. To the north of the site is the London- Southend railway line (Basildon to West Horndon section) on an embankment. The site is irregular in shape, but essentially comprises three open arable fields bordered by hedgerows and other planting. It is understood that the site has historically been used for the cultivation of oilseed rape and wheat crops. The majority of the site consists of two rectangular fields located west of Lower Dunton Road, whilst a third field forms the north-western part of the site. The site has a frontage to Lower Dunton Road of approximately 255m and a maximum depth, measured east to west, of approximately 1,055m. Adjacent to the north-eastern corner of the site is an existing electricity sub-station which fronts Lower Dunton Road. Overhead electricity lines (132kV) cross the site from the sub-station in an east-west direction and also from north to south. Additional electricity generation infrastructure associated with pylons is located within the site. A high pressure underground gas pipeline crosses through the centre of the site in a north-south direction. 2.2 Within the site is a concrete access track which runs roughly east to west from the electricity sub-station to the additional infrastructure within the site. A watercourse, which is a tributary of the Mardyke, crosses the site in an east- west direction. The site is located within the low risk flood zone (Zone 1). As noted above, the site has been used as arable farmland and is classified as Grade 3 (good to moderate) by the National Agricultural Land Classification. 2.3 Open agricultural land adjoins the site to the west and to the south. Opposite the site on the eastern side of Lower Dunton Road is the Langdon Nature Reserve and Visitor Centre site, operated by the Essex Wildlife Trust. The site is located within the Metropolitan Green Belt. Ground levels across the site fall gently to the north-west away from Lower Dunton Road and towards the watercourse. However, levels rise at the north-western part of the site, beyond the watercourse and adjacent to the railway embankment.