The Development

Location Considerations

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When choosing the location for a solar farm, the most important technical consideration is the availability of a viable grid connection into the electrical distribution network. Notwithstanding this, there are a host of other material considerations that are appraised, including, but not limited to:

• Ecology & Landscape Designations (e.g. SSSIs and RAMSAR sites).
• Heritage Assets such as listed buildings, monuments, and gardens.
• Flood Zones avoiding areas in Flood Zone 2 or 3
• Cumulative Impacts regarding proximity to other consented schemes.
• Neighbouring Residential Amenity & Public Rights of Ways.
• Suitable Access for both construction and operational phases.

A Site Selection Report has been completed, which provides further detail around the alternative sites that were considered for the proposed development, and why these were subsequently discounted in favour of the Application Site. The report concludes that there are no sites of a more suitable nature, within a viable distance of the overhead line (3km), that are more suitable than the chosen Site. This report will be submitted in support of the forthcoming Planning Application, at which time it will be available for viewing by the general public.

The Application Site is comprised of two agricultural field parcels approx. 2.5 km to the northwest of Redditch and directly adjacent to HM Prison Hewell. The land is currently used for arable purposes and is comprised of flat, open land which is suitable for solar generation.  

There are no ecology or landscape designations on the site, and EA mapping confirms that site is located wholly within Flood Zone 1 (the lowest end of flood risk). There are no heritage assets located within the site and there are existing agricultural access points, which would accommodate construction traffic without extensive upgrades.

The site will be connected to the National Grid via the existing overhead line between Redditch and Upton Warren, which is due south of the proposal site and has capacity for a solar scheme of this scale.

Environmental Considerations

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The proposed layout has been informed by the Site’s opportunities and constraints and draws on the Pre-application Advice from Herefordshire Council and the technical consultants instructed by REPD to support with the project.

The proposals are temporary and would have a 40-year lifespan. Due to advancements in technology, and the unintrusive nature of the development, the infrastructure can be efficiently removed and recycled without a harmful effect to the quality of the soil on site. At this stage, the land can return to arable use, having been rested from continual erosion and leeching, over the operational lifespan of the facility.

The layout will include the following features:

• Species rich wildflower meadows to support pollinators.
• New hedgerow planting and retention of existing hedgerows and tree to ensure consistent visual screening from sensitive receptors.
• Native tree planting to contribute to local green infrastructure.
• The installation of bird and bat boxes.
• Potential grazing areas for livestock beneath the solar panels.
• The proposal will retain and enhance the existing hedgerow and mature trees along the site boundaries, and within the site. This will help to filter views of the solar farm from the surrounding area whilst also retaining the existing field pattern. This will also protect ecological habitats which are concentrated around the hedgerow and trees on the field boundaries.

The layout will include large buffers from key boundaries to mitigate sensitive views and deliver net gains in biodiversity through species rich grassland.  

The final design will be refined to ensure that any impacts are thoroughly mitigated and opportunities for positive enhancement are maximised across the site.

Planning Application Documents

RE Projects Development Ltd have commissioned a technical team to undertake a suite of surveys and assessments, which will be submitted to the Council in support of the forthcoming Planning Application. This has been informed by the LPA’s Pre-application Advice, as well as the council’s online validation checklist. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

Landscape & Visual Impact Assessment

This will be used to inform and assess the effects of change resulting from development on both the landscape as an environmental resource and on people’s views and visual amenity. The conclusions drawn through this process will inform a landscape mitigation scheme.

Transport Statement & Construction Traffic Management Plan (CTMP)

This statement describes the effects that the construction phase of the solar farm is likely to have on traffic flows within the local area. The measures outlined in the Transport Statement will also be supported by a CTMP accompanying this document.

Arboricultural Planning Statement

The purpose of this document is to provide reference and clarification on aspects of tree protection and any necessary tree management works for the proposed development. It is proposed to achieve this by setting out a methodology for all proposed works that may affect trees which are to be retained on and adjacent to site.

Flood Risk Assessment (FRA)

The purpose of the FRA is to establish the risk associated with the proposed development and to propose suitable mitigation, if required, to reduce the flood risk to a more acceptable level. The FRA must demonstrate that the development will be safe for its lifetime (in this case 40 years) taking account of the vulnerability of its users, without increasing flood risk elsewhere.

Preliminary Ecological Appraisal

The aim of the preliminary ecological appraisal and ground level tree assessment is to identify ecological constraints to the proposed works and make recommendations for mitigation or opportunities for enhancement that can be incorporated into the design.

• Add any specialist surveys

Built Heritage Statement

This statement provides conclusions with respect to the significance of the immediate historic environment and the resulting impact of locating the development in this location on said heritage assets and their setting.

Archaeology Desk Based Assessment

The purpose of this report is to describe and assess the significance of potential archaeological remains within the proposed development area. It then provides an assessment of the likely impact of the proposed development, in order to identify potential historic environmental planning constraints.

Agricultural Land Classification Study

This report summarises the findings of an on-site survey in respect to the soil types and agricultural quality of the site, having regard to Natural England’s ALC scale.

The above suite of documents will be available for public viewing on the council’s website, following issue and validation of the forthcoming planning application.