Soay Solar & Greener Grid Park August 2022
2 Soay Solar & Greener Grid Grid&SoayIntroducingParkSolarGreenerPark Page 3 Community & wider benefits Page 16 proposalsOur Page 6 Timeline Page 20 considerationsEnvironmental Page 11 Contact information41 52 3 Contents Contents
SoayIntroducingSolar & Greener Grid Park 1 Contents
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Statkraft has submitted a planning application for a new solar energy farm and Greener Grid Park on land between the villages of Allerthorpe and Thornton. There are two elements of the plans: Solar energy farm: Up to 49.99 Megawatts (MW) of renewable energy.
Introducing Soay Solar & Greener Grid Park
Greener Grid Park: A collection of buildings, containing zero carbon technology which stabilise the grid, allowing more renewable energy to be transmitted through the network. Our proposals have been drawn up following consultation with the local community.
5 Soay Solar & Greener Grid Park Contents Site location
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7 Soay Solar & Greener Grid Park This site is suited for: Solar: Greener Grid Park: Why this site? Contents • Relatively flat landscape • Moderate quality of agricultural land • Low risk of flooding • Good solar irradiation • Next to electricity transmission network • Site does not lie within any nature conservation sites • Proximity to the current substation at Thornton • 400kV grid connection which enhances the effectiveness of the technology • Low risk of flooding • Identified as an area requiring a stability service by National Grid Electricity System Operator (NGESO) • Existing trees provide visual screening • Existing road infrastructure for access
8 Soay Solar & Greener Grid Park Contents A copy of this plan can be downloaded from the project website siteRevisedhere.layout Existing Use to Continue ExistingContinueUse Habitat Enhancement Area AllerthorpeWoods WarrenWood WarrenPlantationBrickpitHouse PlantationTank CommonLane NationalSubstationGrid Thornton ExistingContinueUse KEY Planning Application Boundary Existing Track Be Retained Existing Drainage Ditch Proposed Track Proposed Fence Proposed Half Solar Panel Proposed Full Solar Panel Proposed Entrance Gate Existing Trees/ Hedgerows To Retained Proposed Native Species Tree Existing Public Rights Way Proposed Inverter Transformer Proposed Native Speceies Grass and Meadow Mix Suitable for Sheep Grazing required (located around and under solar panels) Proposed Native Species Grass and Wildflower Meadow Mix Existing Overhead 66kV Powerline 9m Buffer Existing Overhead 66kVExistingPowerlineOverhead 400kV Powerline Proposed Native Species Woodland Mix 14m Buffer Existing Overhead 400kV ProposedPowerline Mixed Native Scrub Planting within Tucksock Grassland Mix Proposed Tussock Grassland Existing Grass Verge To Be Retained Proposed Native Species Hedgerow Proposed Scrape Proposed Native Species Shrub Planting Proposed Hibernacula Proposed Bird Crop Cover Strips Proposed Tree Sparrow Box Location Proposed Starling Box Location Proposed Boxes for Hole Nesting Species Location Existing Trees/ Hedgerows To Removed Existing Trees/ Hedgerows RPA Proposed SuDS Pond Proposed Bat Box Location Proposed Mammal Gate Location Habitat Enhancement Area Existing ProposedPondCCTV THIS DRAWING TO READ CONJUNCTION WITH ALL OTHER RELEVANT ALL DIMENSIONS CHANGES, LEVELS AND COORDINATES ARE IN METERS SAFETY FILE FOR ANY IDENTIFIED POTENTIAL RISKS. PROJECT:TITLE: Soay Solar Farm and Greener Grid Park Landscape and Ecology Mitigation and Enhancement Plan GRID REFERENCE: 764464 BASE: Reproduced from Ordinance Survey digital map data Crown copyright 2022. All rights reserved. Licence number 100048606 STATUS: DRAFTREVISION SCHEDULE Rev Date05.07.22 RevisedDescriptionHEA boundary (WM) NOTES: locations proposed bird bat boxes and mammal gates to be micro sited on site by qualified ecologist. For detail of BESS refer drawing 4259-DR-P-0001.
Scheme revisions
The proposed access route for construction and operation has been amended, as requested by local residents, so it will not pass close to properties at Warren Farm. Vehicles associated with the Development will no longer travel along the section of the Public Right of Way closest to Warren Farm. Removal of equipment close to power lines
At the request of National Grid, no above-ground infrastructure is now proposed within the maximum swing distance of overhead powerlines on the site, to ensure there are no barriers to maintenance.
Moving of construction compound
Removal of panels near Warren Farm Cottages
Amendment of construction access route
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As requested by residents, we have removed panels from field N2, which will remain available for agricultural use. This will further preserve the wellbeing of local residents in and around Warren Farm.
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The temporary construction compound for the solar farm has been moved 135m north, even further away from Warren Farm. This will now be more than 340m from the nearest residential property, minimising any disturbance to local people.
10 Soay Solar & Greener Grid Park Contents • Located on land suitable for solar development, not of the highest agricultural quality. • Proposed installed capacity of up to 49.99MW, estimated to power approximately 18,500 homes every year.1 • Access to the site will be from the northeast via the A1079/York Road and Back Lane/Melbourne Road. • Generating business rates of approximately £134,000 per year as well as opportunities for community funding and local supply contracts. Soay Solar [1] Calculated by dividing the annual power output (66.58 GWh) by average UK annual household consumption of 3,578 kWh (BEIS, Dec 2020).
A pioneering project to help achieve zero carbon emissions: Keeping the power network stable has become more challenging as more renewable energy is generated. has meant National Grid has at times been forced to pause renewable technologies and run gas power stationseven when there is enough renewable energy to meet demand. These large machines with built-in flywheels can provide grid stability without emitting any carbon - decarbonising the grid and saving consumers money.
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Greener Grid Park Artists impression of consented Greener Grid Park Lister Drive, Liverpool
3considerationsEnvironmental Contents
13 Soay Solar & Greener Grid Park Landscape and visual impact Contents • Solar farms are among the least visually intrusive renewable energy developments and do not create any noise disturbance. • However, to ensure the visual impact is minimised, we propose to plant new native hedgerow and trees to provide visual screening. • A full Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment has been submitted alongside the planning application and is available to download from the project website here.
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Preserving local walking routes Landscape enhancements are proposed along the Public Right of Way within the site In the northwestern part of the site, the path from Common Lane to Allerthorpe Road is not suitable for construction vehicles. To keep this part of the Public Right of Way open through construction and avoid any impact to trees and hedges, an access track would be installed alongside this section of footpath. In response to pre-application feedback, the separation distance between the Public Right of Way running through the site and the solar panels has been increased from 5 metres to 20 metres. This will allow for increased planting in the buffer zone and minimise the visual impact of the panels on footpath users.
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15 Soay Solar & Greener Grid Park Biodiversity Benefits Contents Information contained in planning application, January 2022
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This project is named after the Soay breed, classified as “At Risk” on the sheep watchlist.
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The Bumblebee Conservation Trust has provided us with feedback on habitat, ground preparation techniques, and plant species to ensure our proposals are beneficial to bumblebees. We will continue to work closely with the Trust.
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Perfectly adapted to our landscapes, they can help restore degraded habitats and improve our soils. Our support recognises the importance of farming traditions, demonstrating how new and old can work together.
Supporting diversity in farming Managing habitats to support bumblebees
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In the last 100 years bumblebee populations have crashed, with two species becoming extinct in the UK.
The land selected for solar and greener grid park projects has typically been dominated by intensive agriculture, yet they have the potential to provide an ideal environment for bee habitats.
Through this project we are supporting the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, who fight for a healthier and more diverse natural environment by ensuring that native and rare breeds of farmed animals such as sheep, cattle and pigs survive and thrive.
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Community & wider benefits 4 Contents
18 Soay Solar & Greener Grid Park Bringing Local Benefits Contents
• Additionally, the project will enhance biodiversity by over 10 times its current value, including by providing new bird and bat boxes, 12 hectares of native grass and meadow flowers, and 4.1km of mixed native hedgerow.
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Community Benefits
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• We welcome feedback from local people on what we could do to support local community and environmental projects.
• Improvements have been made to the community benefits package which was initially submitted. In addition to the first-year sum of £65,000 for community projects, an ongoing fund of £20,000 per annum throughout the life of the project and will be made available starting from the second year of operation.
20 Soay Solar & Greener Grid Park Investment and wider benefits Contents • Solar and Greener Grid Parks are helping to secure the UK’s green energy future by reducing our reliance on imported fossil fuels. • Local businesses are encouraged to register as a supplier to the project here. • If consented, the solar project would contribute business rates of approximately £134,000 to the Local Authority each year. • We have already invested around £350,000 in the pre-planning stages of the project with companies in East Yorkshire.
Project Timeline 5 Contents
22 Soay Solar & Greener Grid Park Site Selection & Surveys JanuaryApplicationSubmit2022 2023–2024(ifConstructionconsented) 2021ConsultationPre-Application SummerDecisionPlanning2022 2024/5Operation Project Timeline Contents 1 2 3 4 5 6
Contact us You can get in touch with us if you have any questions on the plans: Online: www.statkraft.co.uk/soay Email: ukprojects@statkraft.com Phone: 0800 772 0668 Post: Freepost Statkraft (no stamp required)
