Development Management Planning and Regeneration Service STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE 28 APRIL 2011 Application number: PA11/00560 Site address: Land at Trekenning Farm, Trekenning, Newquay TR8 4JA Proposal: The development of a 5MW solar photovoltaic farm on land close to St Columb, along with attendant equipment and infrastructure Parish: St Columb Applicant: Mr Mike Rutgers Target date for decision: 28 April 2011 Reason for application The scale of this proposal requires the application to be being called to determined by the Strategic Planning Committee Committee: Departure: No Electoral Division: St Columb Electoral Division Councillor Pat Harvey Member: Case Officer Miss Michelle Billing Link to view documents: http://planning.cornwall.gov.uk/online- applications/simpleSearchResults.do;jsessionid=04C11B BDC456D39EAA105594C4C09907?action=firstPage RECOMMENDATION: Approve with conditions 1. Summary: 1.1 On balance, the proposed development, subject to the imposed conditions, is considered acceptable with regard to design and sitting, its impact on the historic and landscape character of the area, with regard to the setting of listed buildings and in terms of its impact on historic assets, ecology and wildlife, highway safety, flooding and drainage. Concerns were raised regarding the impact of the proposal on the amenity of the nearby residents and the impact upon the character of the area; it is considered that whilst the proposal would change the outlook from primary windows of the nearby property this would not have a significant impact upon their amenity. It is therefore considered that on balance the proposal would be acceptable in terms of residential amenity. The positive contribution of the scheme to renewable energy targets on land that is not considered to be the best and most versatile agricultural land is considered to outweigh any limited harm that may arise as a result of the development as conditioned. While permanent development of such a nature may not ordinarily be appropriate within the open countryside the current application seeks consent for a temporary period of twenty five years and this can be conditioned within any planning permission. Therefore, on balance it is considered that the development would accord with the relevant national and local policy guidance referred to in this report. 2. Site description: 2.1 The application site is located at land at Trekenning Farm, Trekenning, on land to the South East of St. Columb Major and is located to the east of the A39. 2.2 The closest settlements to the site are St. Columb Major which is approximately 1 km to the northwest of the site; the settlement of Ruthvoes is approximately 1.5km to the southeast of the site and Indian Queens which lies 2.8km to the south. Other smaller settlements include Gluvian 1.8km to the north and Lanhainworth 1.5km to the north. The closest properties to the site are Quoit Cottage and Quoit Farm which are 20 metres to the south. Little Quoit Farm 100m to the south and Roserrans Farm 250 metres to the north east. 2.3 The whole site is made up of five fields with development taking place in three agricultural fields currently used primarily for grazing livestock and arable farming (ALC grade 3) with a total area of 16.1 hectares. 2.4 In respect of topography, drainage and landcover, the site lies on the top/south facing valley side. The site slopes to the southwest. Fields sizes are medium; these fields are divided by established Cornish hedgerows. The topography of the land rises to the north. There are three designated areas within the study area – the AGLV that includes Castle Downs 1.2km to the east of the site, the AGLV which runs along the Vale of St. Mawgan 2.5 km to the north west of the site. The site lies within flood zone 1. 2.5 The fields are anciently enclosed land. In landscape terms, the site is with the Landscape Character Area 14 – Newlyn Downs, approximately 1km to the east of east of the site is landscape character Area 20 – Mid Cornwall Moors. The site is not located within any landscape designations; the nearest designation is the Area of Great Landscape Value which is 1.2 km to the east. 2.6 The nearest public rights of way lie to the south west of the site. 2.7 The application site would be accessed from the A30 on to the A39 to south west of the site heading towards St. Columb Major then exit at the Trekenning roundabout heading towards Bodmin then access to the site would be via an unclassified road where there is an existing entrance. 3. Proposal: 3.1 The application seeks permission for a 5MW solar farm consisting of 15,720 solar photovoltaic panels. The panels will be arranged in rays set out in rows running north-south across the site. Each array would be mounted on a single axis tracker which would have a maximum height of 2.5metres above the highest point of ground beneath each array. Each structure would be fixed to the ground by a driven peir. 3.2 The photovoltaic panels would generate direct current (DC) electricity and in order for this to be fed into the electricity grid it must be converted to alternating current (AC) electricity. The application therefore also includes the installation of 6 inverter modules. The inverter housing structures would measure 2.53metres high X 6.65 metres long x 2 metres deep. These structures would be set on small concrete foundations. 3.3 When connected to the grid an electricity sub station would be required on the site. It is proposed to be located to the south eastern corner of the site next to the main entrance. The details of this building are to be finalised but would not exceed 5.8metres in height by 6metres by 8.5metres. 3.4 Security fencing is proposed to a height of 2 metres, a security gate is proposed at the entrance of the same construction as the fencing. It is also proposed to install up to a maximum of 20 thermal imaging security cameras at various point for security. 3.5 The proposal would take advantage of the ‘feed in tariff’ (FiT) being offered by the government. The FiT is designed to encourage the uptake of renewable energy technologies with the intention of reducing carbon emissions. This will primarily encourage small scale renewable energy proposals but also applies to more industrial scale proposals such as this, where development up to 5MW of declared net capacity can receive the tariff. The electricity generating capacity for the proposed development, and the number of relevant properties equivalent, is shown in the table below. Installed capacity Capacity Estimated annual Number of (MW) 1 factor 2 production residential (MWh p.a.) 3 properties electricity equivalent 4 5 18.7% ~5,719 1007 (average Restormel Borough Council equivalent homes) Notes: 1 Installed capacity is the full-load, continuous rating of generating equipment under specific conditions as designated by the manufacturer. In other words, this is the power generated when the equipment is working at full capacity. 2 Capacity factor is the calculated factor which compares the plant's actual production over a given period of time with the amount of power the plant would have produced if it had run at full capacity for the same amount of time. The capacity factor should take account of the specific equipment and the specific location. It is expressed as a percentage. 3 Estimated annual production of electricity based upon the installed capacity and the capacity factor. 4 Number of residential properties that would be powered by the estimated annual production based upon the U.K. average household consumption of 4,100 KWh/year (OFGEM). Note: average consumption in Cornwall is currently greater than the U.K. average at approx. 5,789 KWh/year (DECC 2007) and so the number of typical residential properties in Cornwall powered by a particular source would be lower. 4. Duration of planning permission 4.1 While permanent development of such a nature may not ordinarily be appropriate on agricultural land within the open countryside the applicant is seeking planning permission for a temporary period of twenty five years. This would allow the facility to be operational for the twenty five year duration of the Feed in Tariff. The proposed facility has been designed so that it can be removed with relative ease following the expiry of this time period or within six months of the cessation of electricity generation, whichever is the sooner, and the site restored to full agricultural use. This can be conditioned within any planning permission. 4.2 Member Training Members will recall receiving training on large scale solar PV development at the special meeting of the Strategic Committee which took place on 20 th September 2010. This application has been brought before the Strategic Committee on the grounds that the proposals have a strategic importance. 5. Relevant constraints: 5.1 Agricultural Land Classification Classification: GRADE 3 6. Relevant planning/enforcement history: 6.1 No relevant planning history 7. Relevant local/national/regional policy/guidance: 7.1 Development Plan Cornwall Structure Plan- 2004 Policy 1 Principles for sustainable development Policy 2 Character Areas, design and environmental protection Policy 3 Use of resources Policy 7 Renewable Energy Resources Policy 26 Rural areas Policy 28 Accessibility Restormel Borough Local Plan – 2001 1 and 2 Plan Strategy Policies 6 Development and Design Principles 10 Energy Supply 11 and 12 Protecting the Boroughs Heritage 15 Sites of Special Scientific Interest 16 Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation 17 Conservation