How does Solar PV work?
Solar photovoltaic (PV) energy works by converting sunlight into electricity. Sunlight is made of photons which are small particles of energy. These photons are absorbed by and pass through the material of a solar cell or solar photovoltaic panel. The photons agitate the electrons found in the material of the photovoltaic cell. As they begin to move, or are dislodged, they are routed into a current. This is electricity – the movement of electrons along a path. These electrons are then conducted through a wire to the grid.
Benefits of Solar PV
Our objective is always to mitigate any potential impacts on wildlife and habitats. PV developments encourage biodiversity as they are tranquil, largely undisturbed sites that do not require heavy machinery or intensive farming for maintenance over the 40-year lifetime of the development. Equipment is easily removed at the end of the project lifetime. Once installed, the land is removed from intensive agricultural use allowing the soil to regenerate. This process combined with biodiversity enhancements result in a net positive gain for local biodiversity. It is also possible for sheep grazing to take place between the panels once installed.
These enhancements expedite integration of the project into its local environment, and can reduce any potential visual impacts on the
local area by way of natural screening with trees and hedgerows.
Existing hedgerows and vegetation are retained for the most part and additional site-specific measures will be included in a Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) for the site. These measures combined enable local flora & fauna to flourish in the surrounding area thus increasing biodiversity.
The following biodiversity enhancements are proposed for Thorpe Estate Solar Farm:
Use of Agricultural Land
The proposed site is located within agricultural farmland. The current land use is for arable farming. It is classified as Grade 3b land.
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Local & National Energy Targets
Lichfield District Council’s Planning Policy and Climate Change targets align with national policy with specific reference to the target of net zero by 2050.
Lichfield District Council’s path to net zero by 2050 outlines a target of 9.5 megawatts (MW) of solar and 2MW of onshore wind to be installed by 2020. At 49.9MW in size, Thorpe Estate Solar Farm would exceed this target and make a significant contribution towards net zero. Once energised, this project will provide enough energy to supply all the homes in Lichfield City or 43% of all households in Lichfield District.
National Planning Policy
Section 14 supports the transition to a low carbon future in a changing climate, taking full account of flood risk and coastal change, and encouraging the reuse of existing resources and the use of renewable resources (for example, by the development of renewable energy) as one of its core planning principles.
Paragraph 148 states planning plays a key role in helping shape places to secure radical reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, minimising vulnerability and providing resilience to the impacts of climate change, and supporting the delivery of renewable and low carbon energy and associated infrastructure. This is central to the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.
Paragraph 154 states that when determining planning applications for renewable and low carbon energy developments, LPAs should:
Paragraph 170 states that LPAs should ‘take into account’ the economic and other benefits of the best and most versatile agricultural land. Where significant development of agricultural land is demonstrated to be necessary, LPAs should seek to use areas of poorer quality land in preference to that of a higher quality.
In summary, the NPPF expresses a strong presumption in favour of renewable energy developments.
Lichfield Local Plan Strategy 2008-2029 (adopted February 2015)
The Lichfield Local Plan Strategy (2008 – 2029) was adopted in February 2015 (‘LLPS’) together with the saved policies of the 1998 Lichfield District Local Plan (‘LP’) is the Development Plan for the purposes of Section 38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.
Core Policy 2 (Presumption in Favour of Sustainable Development) states that when considering development proposals, the Council will take a positive approach that reflects the presumption in favour of sustainable development contained in the NPPF. The policy also confirms that planning applications that accord with the policies in the Strategy will be approved without delay, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
Core Policy 3 (Delivering Sustainable Development) states that the Council will require development to contribute to the creation and maintenance of sustainable communities, mitigate and adapt to the adverse effects of climate change, make prudent use of natural resources, reduce carbon emissions, enable opportunities for renewable energy and help minimise any environmental impacts.
Paragraph 5.7, confirms that the Council has a key role to play in reducing carbon emissions, stabilising the climate and adapting to unavoidable changes in the District. This will be fundamentally addressed through locating, designing, servicing and accessing development in the most sustainable way and through focusing on the efficient use of energy and resources, as well as encouraging innovative construction and design techniques, and accommodating renewable energy and power generation.
Additionally, paragraph 5.9 states that the Council is committed to conserving natural resources which can assist in reducing carbon emissions and will support and promote the efficient use of energy and resources, including renewable energy schemes, water management and waste minimisation and recycling.
Policy SC2 (Renewable Energy) states that provision should be made for renewable energy generation within Lichfield District to maximise environmental and economic benefits whilst minimising any adverse local impacts.
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Why is there no public event as part of the consultation for this proposed development?
Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, we are unable to hold a public consultation event. As an alternative, we have created this website to share project information.
How long will this consultation take place for?
This public consultation will run until Wednesday 20 October 2021. After that time, all feedback received will be reviewed and the planning application will be finalised.
Who do I contact for more information?
You can get in touch with our project development team to request further information. Contact details can be found here.
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Site Location
The site of the proposed Thorpe Estate Solar Farm is located at Thorpe Estate, Thorpe Constantine, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B79 0AH. It is 1.5 km south west of Clifton Campville.
Size of the Site
The red line boundary is 176 acres.
Temporary Development
Planning permission is being sought for the development with an operational period of 40 years.
Site Access
Construction traffic will access the site via the public road, Clifton Lane.
Construction Period, Construction & Operational Traffic
During the construction period, which is estimated to take approximately 16 weeks, delivery vehicles and construction staff will make vehicular trips to the site. Most of the deliveries will be undertaken by HGV. It is envisaged that over the busiest construction period there will be an average of 6 HGV movements (3 arrivals and 3 departures) per day. During the 40-year operational life of the project it is envisaged that in addition to average traffic there will be, on average, 8 vehicle movements (car/van) per month related to the ongoing operation and maintenance of the installation.
Decommissioning the site
At the end of the proposed 40-year operational period, the solar farm and its ancillary equipment will be decommissioned, dismantled and removed and the site fully reinstated to the satisfaction of the local planning authority.
It is estimated that decommissioning of the proposed Thorpe Estate Solar Farm will take approximately 4 – 6 months to complete. Subject to best practice at the time, it is anticipated that decommissioning will involve:
Where possible, all of the proposed Thorpe Estate Solar Farm components will be removed and reused or recycled. Where this is not possible, any waste generated during decommissioning will be removed and transported by a certified and licensed contractor.
Generating Capacity & CO2 Savings
Once energised, Thorpe Estate Solar Farm will generate in the region of 49,900,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per annum. This is sufficient to power approximately 14,000 homes or 17,000 electric vehicles. Over its lifetime, the development will offset more than 1.2 million tonnes of CO2.
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What equipment will be used on site?
The following components are proposed for this solar farm:
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Noise
The only moving part on site is a small fan within the inverters that is similar to a domestic bathroom fan in both size & rating.
Emissions
No emissions will be emitted by the development.
Landscape and Glint & Glare
There will be minor landscape and visual impacts for the 40-year lifespan of the project. However, this is considered to be localised and appropriate boundary planting together with the retention and protection of existing trees could soften the boundaries of the site to assist its integration into the landscape. A Glint and Glare Assessment is being prepared to support the application. However, solar panels are designed to absorb, rather than reflect light, and will result in minimal impact in this regard.
Is there an increased risk of flooding around solar farm sites?
There is no increased risk of flood as little impermeable hard surfacing is required, the majority of the solar farm remains open grassland and watercourses and features are not altered in any way. The solar farm infrastructure does not affect runoff volumes. In addition, the panels are raised on a pre-fabricated framework on screw-driven legs, so only approximately 5% of the ground surface is utilised.
How does Solar PV work?
Solar photovoltaic (PV) energy works by converting sunlight into electricity. Sunlight is made of photons which are small particles of energy. These photons are absorbed by and pass through the material of a solar cell or solar photovoltaic panel. The photons agitate the electrons found in the material of the photovoltaic cell. As they begin to move, or are dislodged, they are routed into a current. This is electricity – the movement of electrons along a path. These electrons are then conducted through a wire to the grid.
Benefits of Solar PV
Our objective is always to mitigate any potential impacts on wildlife and habitats. PV developments encourage biodiversity as they are tranquil, largely undisturbed sites that do not require heavy machinery or intensive farming for maintenance over the 40-year lifetime of the development. Equipment is easily removed at the end of the project lifetime. Once installed, the land is removed from intensive agricultural use allowing the soil to regenerate. This process combined with biodiversity enhancements result in a net positive gain for local biodiversity. It is also possible for sheep grazing to take place between the panels once installed.
These enhancements expedite integration of the project into its local environment, and can reduce any potential visual impacts on the
local area by way of natural screening with trees and hedgerows.
Existing hedgerows and vegetation are retained for the most part and additional site-specific measures will be included in a Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) for the site. These measures combined enable local flora & fauna to flourish in the surrounding area thus increasing biodiversity.
The following biodiversity enhancements are proposed for Thorpe Estate Solar Farm:
Use of Agricultural Land
The proposed site is located within agricultural farmland. The current land use is for arable farming. It is classified as Grade 3b land.
CLOSE
Local & National Energy Targets
Lichfield District Council’s Planning Policy and Climate Change targets align with national policy with specific reference to the target of net zero by 2050.
Lichfield District Council’s path to net zero by 2050 outlines a target of 9.5 megawatts (MW) of solar and 2MW of onshore wind to be installed by 2020. At 49.9MW in size, Thorpe Estate Solar Farm would exceed this target and make a significant contribution towards net zero. Once energised, this project will provide enough energy to supply all the homes in Lichfield City or 43% of all households in Lichfield District.
National Planning Policy
Section 14 supports the transition to a low carbon future in a changing climate, taking full account of flood risk and coastal change, and encouraging the reuse of existing resources and the use of renewable resources (for example, by the development of renewable energy) as one of its core planning principles.
Paragraph 148 states planning plays a key role in helping shape places to secure radical reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, minimising vulnerability and providing resilience to the impacts of climate change, and supporting the delivery of renewable and low carbon energy and associated infrastructure. This is central to the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development.
Paragraph 154 states that when determining planning applications for renewable and low carbon energy developments, LPAs should:
Paragraph 170 states that LPAs should ‘take into account’ the economic and other benefits of the best and most versatile agricultural land. Where significant development of agricultural land is demonstrated to be necessary, LPAs should seek to use areas of poorer quality land in preference to that of a higher quality.
In summary, the NPPF expresses a strong presumption in favour of renewable energy developments.
Lichfield Local Plan Strategy 2008-2029 (adopted February 2015)
The Lichfield Local Plan Strategy (2008 – 2029) was adopted in February 2015 (‘LLPS’) together with the saved policies of the 1998 Lichfield District Local Plan (‘LP’) is the Development Plan for the purposes of Section 38(6) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.
Core Policy 2 (Presumption in Favour of Sustainable Development) states that when considering development proposals, the Council will take a positive approach that reflects the presumption in favour of sustainable development contained in the NPPF. The policy also confirms that planning applications that accord with the policies in the Strategy will be approved without delay, unless material considerations indicate otherwise.
Core Policy 3 (Delivering Sustainable Development) states that the Council will require development to contribute to the creation and maintenance of sustainable communities, mitigate and adapt to the adverse effects of climate change, make prudent use of natural resources, reduce carbon emissions, enable opportunities for renewable energy and help minimise any environmental impacts.
Paragraph 5.7, confirms that the Council has a key role to play in reducing carbon emissions, stabilising the climate and adapting to unavoidable changes in the District. This will be fundamentally addressed through locating, designing, servicing and accessing development in the most sustainable way and through focusing on the efficient use of energy and resources, as well as encouraging innovative construction and design techniques, and accommodating renewable energy and power generation.
Additionally, paragraph 5.9 states that the Council is committed to conserving natural resources which can assist in reducing carbon emissions and will support and promote the efficient use of energy and resources, including renewable energy schemes, water management and waste minimisation and recycling.
Policy SC2 (Renewable Energy) states that provision should be made for renewable energy generation within Lichfield District to maximise environmental and economic benefits whilst minimising any adverse local impacts.
CLOSE
Why is there no public event as part of the consultation for this proposed development?
Due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic, we are unable to hold a public consultation event. As an alternative, we have created this website to share project information.
How long will this consultation take place for?
This public consultation will run until Wednesday 20 October 2021. After that time, all feedback received will be reviewed and the planning application will be finalised.
Who do I contact for more information?
You can get in touch with our project development team to request further information. Contact details can be found here.
CLOSE
Site Location
The site of the proposed Thorpe Estate Solar Farm is located at Thorpe Estate, Thorpe Constantine, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B79 0AH. It is 1.5 km south west of Clifton Campville.
Size of the Site
The red line boundary is 176 acres.
Temporary Development
Planning permission is being sought for the development with an operational period of 40 years.
Site Access
Construction traffic will access the site via the public road, Clifton Lane.
Construction Period, Construction & Operational Traffic
During the construction period, which is estimated to take approximately 16 weeks, delivery vehicles and construction staff will make vehicular trips to the site. Most of the deliveries will be undertaken by HGV. It is envisaged that over the busiest construction period there will be an average of 6 HGV movements (3 arrivals and 3 departures) per day. During the 40-year operational life of the project it is envisaged that in addition to average traffic there will be, on average, 8 vehicle movements (car/van) per month related to the ongoing operation and maintenance of the installation.
Decommissioning the site
At the end of the proposed 40-year operational period, the solar farm and its ancillary equipment will be decommissioned, dismantled and removed and the site fully reinstated to the satisfaction of the local planning authority.
It is estimated that decommissioning of the proposed Thorpe Estate Solar Farm will take approximately 4 – 6 months to complete. Subject to best practice at the time, it is anticipated that decommissioning will involve:
Where possible, all of the proposed Thorpe Estate Solar Farm components will be removed and reused or recycled. Where this is not possible, any waste generated during decommissioning will be removed and transported by a certified and licensed contractor.
Generating Capacity & CO2 Savings
Once energised, Thorpe Estate Solar Farm will generate in the region of 49,900,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity per annum. This is sufficient to power approximately 14,000 homes or 17,000 electric vehicles. Over its lifetime, the development will offset more than 1.2 million tonnes of CO2.
CLOSE
What equipment will be used on site?
The following components are proposed for this solar farm:
CLOSE
Noise
The only moving part on site is a small fan within the inverters that is similar to a domestic bathroom fan in both size & rating.
Emissions
No emissions will be emitted by the development.
Landscape and Glint & Glare
There will be minor landscape and visual impacts for the 40-year lifespan of the project. However, this is considered to be localised and appropriate boundary planting together with the retention and protection of existing trees could soften the boundaries of the site to assist its integration into the landscape. A Glint and Glare Assessment is being prepared to support the application. However, solar panels are designed to absorb, rather than reflect light, and will result in minimal impact in this regard.
Is there an increased risk of flooding around solar farm sites?
There is no increased risk of flood as little impermeable hard surfacing is required, the majority of the solar farm remains open grassland and watercourses and features are not altered in any way. The solar farm infrastructure does not affect runoff volumes. In addition, the panels are raised on a pre-fabricated framework on screw-driven legs, so only approximately 5% of the ground surface is utilised.