The human version (we wrote this, not the council)
This policy sets detailed requirements for different types of large renewable energy scheme. Solar farms on brownfield land are supported where contamination is addressed and impacts such as glint, glare and noise are avoided. On greenfield land, developers must justify the site, avoid prominent ridgelines and high-value habitats, keep hedgerows and show the best farmland is not needed for food production. Solar is also supported on former quarries, capped landfill, marginal land, transport corridors and car park canopies. Wind energy should go on brownfield or lower-grade agricultural land.
An unofficial plain English summary. The official wording below is
what counts at examination; check it before you rely on anything here.
The text below is extracted automatically from the official PDF and may
contain artefacts; the PDF is authoritative.
Policy ID.22
Large-scale Renewable Energy Generation and Storage Requirements
A. Solar Energy Development on Brownfield Land
Solar development on brownfield and previously developed land will be supported
where it:
1. Makes efficient use of maximising the renewable energy potential of the land.
2. Demonstrates that contamination, ground conditions, or structural constraints
have been appropriately addressed.
3. Incorporates landscape led design, including screening, boundary treatments
and integration with surrounding character.
4. Avoids unacceptable impacts on neighbouring uses including glint, and glare,
noise and visual intrusion.
B. Solar Energy Development on Greenfield Land
Solar development on greenfield land must demonstrate:
1. Site selection justification showing preferences for lower grade land and clear
evidence that Best and Most Versatile (BMV) agricultural land is not required for
food production
2. Avoids visually prominent ridgelines and land with high ecological value or
irreplaceable habitats
3. Landscape mitigation including:
a. Retention and enhancement of hedgerows;
b. Native planting to screen large scale renewable energy systems and to
integrate development into the landscape;
c. layouts that follow field pattern and avoid visually prominent ridgelines.
4. Biodiversity enhancements, glint and glare assessments where relevant to
highways, aviation or residential receptors and cumulative impact assessments
where multiple solar schemes exist or are proposed in the area.
C. Solar Energy Development on Other Land
Solar development may also be supported on:
• Mineral sites including restored or worked out quarries
• Landfill sites capped or restored where engineering constraints are addressed.
• Low grade grassland or marginal land with limited ecological or agricultural
value.
• Transport corridors such as rail sidings or highway verges where safety and
operational requirements are met.
• Car parks including solar canopies, where visual and amenity impacts are
acceptable.
D. Wind Energy Development
Wind energy proposals will be supported where they are located on:
• brownfield or previously developed land;