Bodelith Isaf Wind Farm Non Technical Summary

Transcription

1 1 Bodelith Isaf Wind Farm Non Technical Summary 1.1 Introduction This document is the Non Technical Summary (NTS) prepared to accompany the submission of the planning application for the proposed Bodelith Isaf Wind Farm near Bala, Gwynedd. 1.2 The Wind Farm Site The Bodelith Isaf Wind Farm site is located approximately 6.5 km north-east Bala, Gwynedd. The development site is wholly within the county of Gwynedd. The proposed turbines would be sited on higher ground within the development site, which is currently open land used for grazing of livestock. The development site rises to a maximum height of approximately 374 m AOD, with the higher ground of Mynydd Mynyllod further to the north-east. Access to the site will be via the B4402, off the A494 at Bethel.

2 2 1.3 Proposed Development A summary description of the proposed development is given below: Two wind turbines, with a maximum hub height of 70 m and height to blade tip of 115 m are proposed; Associated ancillary development including unit transformers at each turbine, access routes, electricity sub-station, and temporary site compound also form part of the application for consent; The electrical output of the proposed wind farm is anticipated to be up to a maximum of 5 MW. This would be sufficient on average to supply the equivalent of the domestic electricity needs of approximately 2,870 homes; The proposed wind farm is designed with an operational life of 25 years and permission is sought for this period of operation only. After this period the site can be fully restored or future generations can decide how they want to secure their energy needs; Construction of the wind farm is anticipated to take about 9 to 12 months, depending upon weather conditions; The applicant, Pennant Walters (BI) Ltd, are a Welsh wind farm operator based within Rhondda Cynon Taff who develop wind energy projects solely within Wales.

3 3 1.4 Onshore Wind Power and the Policy Context The cabinet foreword to The Welsh Government Energy Policy Statement, 2010 summarises the current severe situation regarding climate change: Climate change is the greatest environmental, economic and social challenge facing the planet. Unless the global emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases from energy generation and other human activities peak by around 2015 and then rapidly diminish, the world will probably see a global temperature rise of 4 C by around 2060 resulting in famine and droughts in many parts of the world, significant sea level rises, and an increasing risk of further catastrophic climate changes. The impact of climate change in Wales is also set out within the Climate Change Strategy for Wales It summarises the position thus: Our climate is changing and the scientific case for human induced climate change is clear; No matter how effective policies are at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, we will experience some degree of climate change; Urgent and sustained action to cut emissions is needed globally to avoid the worst impacts of climate change in the future. Renewable energy produces energy without burning fossil fuels that release CO 2 and contribute to climate change. Renewable energy also provides a new and alternative energy source to tackle energy security issues. Increased use of renewable energy is therefore a key part of European, UK and Welsh energy strategy. Wind power is one of the few renewable energy technologies that can also be delivered quickly, affordably and is domestically secure thereby addressing the key energy security challenges. It is this critical ability to address both issues that makes wind power a central feature in both UK and Welsh Energy policy. Planning Policy Wales (PPW) (Edition 5) sets out the land use planning policies of the Welsh Government and was adopted in November Chapter 12 sets out the objectives for land use planning for Infrastructure and Services, with Paragraph stating that the Welsh Government will aim: to promote the generation and use of energy from renewable and low carbon sources at all scales and promote energy efficiency, especially as a means to secure zero or low carbon developments and to tackle the causes of climate change. Technical Advice Note 8 (TAN8) was published in July 2005 to provide technical advice to supplement policy set out in the Planning Policy Wales (PPW). This sets out the Welsh Government target of 800MW of installed onshore wind energy capacity by 2010, and identified seven specific Strategic Search Areas ( SSAs ) where large wind farms could be located in order to secure much of this capacity. TAN8 also specifically provides for the development of smaller scale ( generally less than 5MW ) wind farms elsewhere in Wales i.e. outside the SSAs. At the end of 2010, only 21% of the TAN8 target had been installed. Despite this the Welsh Government plans for Wales to contribute to higher UK targets beyond 2010 as set out in its Energy Policy Statement published in March 2010 and re-confirmed within PPW The Welsh Government s aim is to have 20% of daily consumption, supplied by installed onshore wind generation capacity by 2015/2017. This equates to an increase in the target for onshore wind from 800MW to 2000MW, of which 1700MW will be within SSAs and 300MW

4 4 outside. However, despite this higher target, there have been no new or extended SSAs. The implication is that alongside use of larger and more efficient turbines, the contribution from smaller scale sites, as identified in TAN8 (and described in PPW as being of a sub-local authority scale), is increasingly important. The proposed Bodelith Isaf Wind Farm therefore contributes to this 300MW target. 1.5 Environmental Impact Assessment Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process by which information about the environmental effects of a project is collected, evaluated, and taken into account in its design. If the project is given consent, the EIA process provides a consideration of the most appropriate methods for its construction, operation and decommission. The developer presents the information on the project and its environmental effects are considered and reported within an Environmental Statement (ES). This NTS summarises the findings of the ES in non technical language. 1.6 Potential Environmental Effects The following sections provide a brief summary of the main findings of the EIA as set out in the technical sections within the ES. Landscape and Visual The assessment has considered the potential for significant landscape and visual effects to arise as a result of the proposed development. Landscape effects can occur as a result of changes in fabric, character and values attached to the landscape arising from the construction and operation of the proposed development. This may include changes to the landscape elements and patterns within the development site and effects upon landscape character (as defined nationally by the LANDMAP system) and landscape designations such as the Snowdonia National Park and the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the variety of local landscape designations that exist in this part of north Wales. The landscape assessment considered the potential for effects on landscape features and elements, landscape designations and LANDMAP aspect areas. It concluded that there will be significant landscape effects to just two of these receptors, all of which are local to the development site: Visual and sensory aspect areas DNBGHVS097 Mynydd Mynyllod; and Visual and sensory aspect areas SNPVS092 Bethel (up to c.1.5km from turbines). The effects upon the landscape elements within the site would not be significant. Its construction and operation would result in the limited loss of some of the pasture grassland within the site and of some short lengths of post and wire fencing. The majority of the grassland would be unaffected by the development. There will be no significant effects upon the Snowdonia National Park or the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB, or any other landscape designation.

5 5 The assessment of visual effects is concerned with changes to views available to people and to their visual amenity. These include views from residential properties and public areas such as local communities, transportation routes (including A and B roads, key local routes and cycle routes), and areas used for outdoor formal and informal recreational activities ranging from public rights of way or open access areas, country parks, or golf courses. It is widely recognised that wind energy development will inevitably result in some significant visual effects due to the height and movement of turbines. Of the twenty-four viewpoints included in the assessment, visual receptors located at or close to five viewpoints would experience significant visual effects. These five viewpoints are all located close to the development site (within 1.2 km) and visual receptors would have unencumbered views of the proposed turbines at short-range. Significant effects would be experienced by users of public rights of way on the summits of Mynydd Mynyllod and Cefn Caer Euni, and on those footpaths and bridleways on the western and northern slopes of Mynydd Mynyllod in and around Bethel. Similarly significant effects would also occur for north-eastbound travellers on the A494 between Sarnau and the site, and for northbound travellers on the B4402 (the section due west of the site). From these locations, clear views towards the proposed turbines would be available at short-range. Effects upon other visual receptors, including long-distance walking and cycle routes, settlements and tourist/recreation locations would not be significant. The reasons for this include the screening effects of landform and/or vegetation, distance from the turbines and the focus of available views in other directions. The visual assessment concludes that residents in 14 of the 26 properties located within approximately 1.5 km of either of the proposed turbines would experience significant effects on views. However more importantly, a detailed review of potential effects upon residential visual amenity at these properties has also been undertaken. This is a separate exercise as it considers the full range of views likely to be available to residents in the closest properties, including from inside and from gardens. This takes into account changes to views for residents, and how these may affect how they will use and enjoy their property. It concludes that none of these 26 properties would sustain effects upon their residential visual amenity such that the two proposed turbines could be considered to be unbearing or to surround the property or otherwise to affect living conditions at these properties to make them widely regarded as an unattractive and thus unsatisfactory place in which to live. A cumulative assessment has also been completed in order to evaluate the effects that could be generated were the Bodelith Isaf Wind Farm to become operational along with some or all of the other wind farms that are either already operational, have been consented or are proposed i.e. within the planning system, in an extended 60 km radius cumulative study area. Whilst there are a number of other operational, consented and proposed wind energy developments and therefore turbines in the cumulative study area, most of these are/ will/ would be too distant for there to be potential for the interaction of these turbines with the two proposed Bodelith Isaf turbines to result in significant cumulative landscape or visual effects. The operational, consented and proposed wind energy developments with which the incremental change resulting from the Bodelith Isaf turbines presence could result in increased levels of landscape and visual change would be restricted to those at Braich Ddu and Mynydd Mynyllod. However, the Bodelith Isaf turbines would comprise only two out of 29 turbines in this combined array and the vast majority of the landscape and visual effects would occur regardless of their presence/ absence. The specific cumulative effects of the

6 6 Bodelith Isaf turbines would be to increase the influence of wind turbines immediately west and north-west of the development site. Ornithology Considerable data gathering and a range of surveys were undertaken in 2012 and 2013 to assess the level and ways that the proposed Bodelith Isaf Wind Farm site is used by birds. The site supports a typical breeding bird community of upland pasture and rough grazing, scattered gorse scrub and flushed or boggy ground. The most abundant species at the site are birds such as meadow pipit and wheatear. No waders were recorded breeding within the site boundary; however two species - curlew and lapwing - were recorded within 600 m of the site. Curlew successfully bred to the north of the site in 2012, however breeding was deemed unsuccessful during the 2013 survey season. The lapwing recorded near the site were also found to not have successfully bred. Red kite were recorded on six occasions during the surveys. Whilst there may be some temporary disturbance caused to these species during the construction period evidence shows that it is unlikely that there will be any longterm change in breeding bird populations. The construction and operation of the wind farm is considered to have a minor impact upon these birds. Recorded use of the site by other protected raptor species was low. The habitat management strategy for the site would seek to improve the habitat quality for important breeding waders such as curlew. No significant effects are predicted in respect of protected bird species as a result of the proposed development. Ecology The ecological assessment was carried out over two years by gathering relevant existing data about the site and then surveying the site using standard methodologies, in an effort to find the location of interesting and protected habitats and mammals. The site is dominated by semi-improved acid grassland. Wetland habitats including marsh/marshy grassland, acid/neutral flush and valley mire are also present on-site. The turbines and access tracks have been located to avoid these key wetland habitats. Deposits of peat have also been avoided and no impacts on peat are therefore predicted. An area extending beyond the footprint of the proposed development has been surveyed for the presence of protected species and the results of this work confirm that the survey area is used relatively little. Bats use the site and surrounding area for foraging and commuting, although not in significant numbers, and they were mainly recorded in more sheltered areas towards the site margins, such as field boundaries, hedgerows, scrub and areas of acid neutral flush away from the location of the turbines. The applicant is committed to the implementation of a habitat management plan, the outline details of which have been provided as an Outline Habitat Management Strategy in the planning application documents. The management plan would seek to maintain and enhance flush/mire habitats and off-site measures (where the developer has influence over the land), which will in many cases also deliver enhancements for curlew.

7 7 No significant effects are predicted in respect of either designated sites or protected species as a result of the proposed development. Noise The noise assessment considered noise from construction, operation and decommissioning of the wind farm. Operational noise was assessed in accordance with the ETSU-R-97 Guidance for the daytime period, as recommended by the Welsh Assembly Government in their Technical Advice Note 8 (TAN8), and a lower fixed night-time noise limit as requested by Gwynedd Council s Public Protection Department. The assessment modelled the predicted noise levels at 15 residential properties (receptors) in the area surrounding the site of the proposed wind turbines. The design of the proposed development is such that the operational noise levels from the wind farm would lie within the noise limits prescribed by both the ETSU Guidance and Gwynedd Council s Public Protection Department. A cumulative assessment of the proposed development and the existing Braich Ddu Wind Farm demonstrated that both projects can operate at the same time without creating a significant noise impact at the nearest receptors. It is concluded that the relatively high separation distances between the turbines and receptors is sufficient to ensure that any construction or decommissioning noise effects at receptors will be minimised. It has therefore been concluded that no significant effects are anticipated in terms of Noise as a result of the proposed development. Hydrology The site area drains into two rivers, the River Dee between Bala and Corwen towards the south of the site, and the Nant Ffrauar, which itself flows into a Dee tributary, towards the north of the site. There are also a number of small streams on site that are unnamed. The site overlies the Penstrowed Grits geological formation which is designated as a Secondary B aquifer, which is defined as low permeability rock, which therefore stores and yields only limited amounts of groundwater. Many of the properties in a 2 km radius of the proposed wind farm site rely on private water supplies (PWS) rather than a mains supply. The construction and operation of the proposed Bodelith Isaf Wind Farm is not expected to lead to any significant effects on the water environment, provided that recommended mitigation measures are put in place. These will include measures to manage water run-off and to prevent pollution entering watercourses as a result of construction. Successful mitigation will be achieved through incorporation of the mitigation requirements into contractors method statements and operational measures into the site s Environmental Management Plan.

8 8 Historic Environment There are no designated features on site. The nearest such feature is the enclosure on Mynydd Mynyllod, a scheduled monument, located approximately 615 m to the north-east of the site. A site walkover identified 20 agricultural clearance cairns as a result of the construction of access tracks, of which seven would be lost or disturbed as a result of the proposed development. It has been judged that this would not be significant in EIA terms. A detailed survey and evaluation of the clearance cairns likely to be affected will be undertaken prior to construction. No further significant effects on the historic environment have been identified. The potential for unrecorded remains will be addressed by the archaeological monitoring during the initial phase of construction. This will allow any archaeology affected to be identified and treated appropriately. Given the limited ground disturbance and the potential to avoid direct effects on any important remains identified, it is not predicted that there will be any significant effect on buried archaeology. Traffic and Transport It is proposed that the development site will be reached via the B4402 from the A494 at Bethel. An assessment has been completed of the likely effects of construction traffic on the local transport network and on road users. This has included a calculation of the likely number of movements of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) in and out of the development site over the anticipated nine month construction period. This has been compared to the forecast background traffic numbers for the anticipated opening year of construction 2014, based on traffic counts undertaken in The maximum traffic impact associated with the construction of the wind farm is predicted to occur in the sixth month of the construction programme. On two days in this month 64 two-way HGV trips are predicted to be generated on each of these days (32 vehicles into the site and 32 out). This equates to a maximum increase of approximately 1.5% in total traffic flows and 35% in HGV traffic flows. However this is based on a worst case scenario of all construction stone being imported onto site. In practice it is anticipated that construction stone will be won from the on-site excavations. Taking account of the key environmental considerations of severance, driver and pedestrian delay, pedestrian amenity and intimidation, this increase in traffic during construction will not result in a significant effect. However, it is appropriate to consider some additional management in the form of a Traffic Management Plan (TMP) to reduce the potential for effects as far as reasonably possible. A TMP has therefore been provided as part of the planning application documents to Gwynedd Council. People and Business (Socio-economics) The wind farm provides direct benefit to the local rural economy by the provision of a steady income stream from an alternative revenue source to the existing landowner who currently uses the site for agricultural purposes. The development also constitutes a large investment in the region by the developer and as such provides opportunities

9 9 for both direct and indirect job opportunities, mostly associated with the construction phase, but also in relation to the long term maintenance and operation of the site. The applicant has a company policy of establishing locally run community funds to distribute a proportion of the annual revenue generated by the wind farm to fund local community initiatives. It is anticipated that public rights of way will remain open during construction of the wind farm and that permissive paths will be made available so as to allow continued use by the public. The passage of walkers and equestrians will be safeguarded by site staff and advanced warning signage. All footpaths and bridleways will remain open during the operational phase of the wind farm. Telecommunications, Aviation and Shadow Flicker A full range of telecommunication, broadcasting and aviation consultees have been consulted on the proposal. Only one response raised an objection due to potential interference with a microwave link from Turbine 2. This turbine was subsequently moved to a location where it will not interfere with the link. The final location of the turbines has been designed such that the wind farm should not have any impact on existing infrastructure, telecommunications and television broadcasting during its operational life. The site is within an area identified by the MOD as a Low priority low flying zone less likely to cause concern and is entirely outside any MoD Tactical Training Areas. The National Air Traffic Service s NATS on-line self-assessment tool indicates that the Bodelith Isaf Wind Farm is not in an area where a significant impact is expected on any radar infrastructure. A study has been undertaken to identify whether shadow flicker is likely to occur at residential properties in the vicinity of the proposed development. Modelling has been carried out to predict the duration of potential shadow flicker effects and the times of day and year when it could occur. Fourteen properties located within 950 m and 130 degrees north of the proposed turbines have been modelled. The model shows that based on a worst-case scenario there is the potential for some level of shadow flicker to occur at 13 properties as a result of the operation of the wind farm. The effect of shadow flicker can be resolved using standard mitigations such as a turbine shut down system. The applicant will commit to installing a shadow flicker impact module, prior to operation, to both turbines in order to fully mitigate any unacceptable shadow flicker on nearby properties. 1.7 Conclusion The EIA has addressed a wide range of likely significant effects on the environment from the proposed two turbine wind farm. The EIA process has materially influenced the design of the wind farm and a number of mitigation measures (including for shadow flicker) are proposed, which, if implemented, will address, reduce and in certain instances avoid the significant effects identified.

10 10 The proposed development the wind farm will contribute up to 5MW toward the target of the Welsh Government to have 300MW of onshore wind generation capacity outside of the SSAs by 2015/17. The social and economic benefits that derive from this development will be indirect and will include the strengthening of the nation s security of electricity supply and mitigation of the effects arising from climate change. Further details concerning the potential effects which could arise from the changes to the scheme are contained within the Environmental Statement. Copies of this document are available for inspection at the following address: Gwynedd Council, Planning Service, Regulatory Department, Cae Penarlâg, Dolgellau: Monday-Friday 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.