Key Considerations

When considering the development potential of a site, a number of aspects require careful consideration in order to establish whether the land is suitable to accommodate the form and type of development proposed. For this development proposal the main environmental topic areas that require robust assessment as part of a future application for consent include the following:

Visual impact

Views of the site from the surrounding area are very limited and unlikely to be available from many locations.

The site is located within the Cleish Hills Local Landscape Area, but remote from any National Scenic Area or National Park. It rises gently northward but is relatively flat with vegetation reducing visibility from the A823. Nevertheless, the proposal will include screening on the roadside boundary which will reduce the visibility of the project to passing vehicles. The Site is generally well contained with visibility of it from other directions limited, due to surrounding hills to the north and west and forestry which screens the site from view on its eastern boundary.    

Transport and Access

The site will be accessed off a new junction with the A823, at a location agreed with the local highways authority following the completion of relevant baseline surveys.

A Transport Report will assess the specific access points for construction as well as the ability of the road network to accommodate construction-related traffic. Traffic generation associated with the project will be restricted almost exclusively to the construction period, which is likely to be up to 12 months. Once operational, traffic movements will be no more than a car or van visiting the site on average, 1-2 times per week.

Biodiversity

Ecological surveys of the site are ongoing and will help to inform the design process and to consider opportunities for environmental enhancement as part of the project proposals. This work will align with a peat assessment (see below) to ensure that these enhancement measures are considered as an integral part of the proposals from concept through to submission and construction.  Positive environmental impacts are anticipated from this aspect of the development which will be developed in line with relevant Scottish Government Guidance. Additional hedgerows planting alongside existing vegetation along the road frontage will be delivered as part of the project as well as further proposals to increase biodiversity across the site following the recommendations of the ecological survey work.

Peat

The Proposed Development site does not contain high quality agricultural land. The site does, however, contains pockets of peat but most of this is relatively shallow. By their very nature, solar farms are relatively non-intrusive in terms of construction. Although peat can be a sensitive environmental constraint, there are various construction techniques that can be adopted if required to minimise and mitigate effects. Nevertheless, significant impacts on peat will be avoided through site design. We will look for opportunities to enhance degraded peat where possible as part of a wider package of environmental enhancement measures.

Cultural Heritage

A desk top heritage assessment has been undertaken to highlight areas where there could be potential impacts (both above and below ground) as well as the need for any further investigative work in consultation with Fife Council and others. A cultural heritage assessment will be included as part of a planning application which will determine the impact that the proposal would have any historical assets.

Flood Risk and Hydrology

This is not considered to be a major risk to the Proposed Development given that the site has a low flood risk potential and it does not involve the creation of large areas of hardstanding.  However, a Flooding Specialist will undertake a Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) which will inform the design process. This FRA will be submitted with a future application. The assessment will evaluate the significance of potential effects on the water environment but the first principle of development will be to avoid impacts on watercourses or hydrological receptors through appropriate avoidance and separation from infrastructure.

Decommissioning

AAt the end of its expected 40-year life, the site would be fully decommissioned, and this will involve all elements; solar farm, battery storage facilities and all associated, above-ground infrastructure.

The decommissioning arrangements would be expected to be included in the list of planning conditions associated with any future planning permission.

Nearer the time of decommissioning, a decision would be made as to how much of the underground infrastructure should be removed and taken away.

Reduced emissions

Solar farms offer a low cost and safe way of delivering clean power as well as reducing the levels of carbon dioxide that are being emitted into the atmosphere by displacing electricity generation from fossil fuel power stations. There are therefore significant health benefits attributed to the displacement of C02 by the clean electricity created. Traffic generated during construction will be managed to ensure it avoids local centres of population and pinch points, thus minimising associated delays and impact on communities.