Planning for Renewable Energy in Worcestershire Research Paper

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6.10 Green belt designation covers asubstantial area of Worcestershire.Development within the green belt mustbe judged against the principles of'Planning Policy Guidance Note 2: GreenBelts', in which there is a generalpresumption against development. Anyharm to the green belt must beoutweighed by very special circumstancesif a scheme is to be approved. PPS22states that these very specialcircumstances "may include the widerenvironmental benefits associated withincreased production of energy fromrenewable sources".6.11 The sensitivity of the County'shistoric environment (historic buildings,buried archaeology and historiclandscapes) must also be consideredwhen looking to accommodate bothenergy-efficiency measures andrenewable technologies. Guidance fromEnglish Heritage 17 suggests that forlarge-scale installations, issues of visualdominance, scale, intervisibility betweenfeatures, vistas and sight lines,movement, sound or light effects, andunaltered settings must be given dueconsideration when assessing siting anddesign. English Heritage also state thatwhen considering projects or planningapplications, consideration "should extendto both designated and significantundesignated sites and areas".Proposals for renewable energy schemesshould take into account any potentialimpact upon buried archaeologicalremains. These may exist as earthworksin pasture or be completely buried andinvisible. They are a 'finite and nonrenewableresource' (PPG16, para 6).17Wind Energy and the Historic Environment (October2005); Biomass Energy and the Historic Environment,English Heritage (December 2006).The risk is of direct damage ordestruction or an effect uponenvironmental conditions below ground(i.e affecting the local water table) whichmay degrade the long term survival ofremains. Such remains are protectedunder the planning system via PPG16and local plan policies, and dependingon scale and potential impact, anyproposals may be subject to the need fora Desk-based Assessment, Evaluation ora watching brief. Advice on specificproposals can be sought from the CountyHistoric Environment and ArchaeologyService.6.12 Listed buildings are designatedbecause of their special architectural orhistoric interest, and any changes thatcould threaten this special interest areunlikely to be allowed. This couldpotentially include certain renewableenergy technologies. Similarly, buildingswithin conservation areas are subject totighter planning controls. Alterations,especially those visible from the front ofthe building, may be resisted. Sensitivedesign is necessary to achieve workablesolutions for protected historic buildings,and this includes the need to ensure thattheir setting is not compromised.Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs)and Registered Parks and Gardens willalso require a sensitive approach if theircharacter is to be maintained.6. RENEWABLE ENERGY & THE ENVIRONMENT ● Planning for Renewable Energy in WorcestershireTechnical Research Paper 17
186. RENEWABLE ENERGY & THE ENVIRONMENT ● Planning for Renewable Energy in Worcestershire6.13 At a domestic scale, the provisionsof The Town and Country Planning(General Permitted Development)(Amendment) (England) Order 2008 allowfor most types of small-scale householdermicrogeneration to be developed withoutthe need for planning permission (subjectto specified limits to maintain amenity).This amendment arose from reformsrecommended in the 2007 Planning WhitePaper, as a means of avoiding theconfusion over the need for planningpermission, and to foster greater uptakeof householder renewables. Therelaxations do not extend to listedbuildings (any material alterations willrequire listed building consent) or to someparts of buildings within conservationareas". The English Heritage publicationMicrogeneration in the HistoricEnvironment provides further guidance oninstalling small-scale renewables inhistoric buildings.18Extract from paragraph 7.24, Planning for aSustainable Future: White Paper (May 2007)19'A New Look at the Landscapes of Worcestershire' -Worcestershire Landscape Character Assessment,Environmental Policy Team, Worcestershire CountyCouncil (2004)Technical Research Paper6.14 The 2007 Planning White Paperhas considered permitted developmentrights as a whole, and not just in terms ofdomestic applications. The Governmenthas stated its intent to, wherever possible:"extend permitted development rights onmicrogeneration to other types of landuse including commercial and agriculturaldevelopment".6.15 It is envisaged that as part of thedistrict LDF process, greater attention canbe paid to minimising and resolvingpossible conflicts between the need forrenewables and the protection oflandscape and heritage assets. This couldbe achieved through the development ofclearer guidelines and criteria for differenttypes of renewable energy development.Possible means by which an assessmentmethodology may be developed includethe Worcestershire Landscape CharacterAssessment 19 , which divides the Countyinto a number of different landscapetypes, and can be used to assesssensitivity to change; and revisions toConservation Area Appraisals thatconsider the management of change.RENEWABLE ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT OFWORCESTERSHIRE: SUMMARY/SUGGESTIONS● RENEWABLE ENERGY INSTALLATIONS CAN BE APPROPRIATE ANDJUSTIFIED DEVELOPMENTS AT BOTH THE COMMERCIAL AND DOMESTICSCALE.● RENEWABLES ARE LIKELY TO BECOME MORE COMMONPLACE FEATURESAS THE NEED FOR CLEANER ENERGY ACCELERATES.● IT IS VITAL TO ENSURE THAT LANDSCAPE CHARACTER, HERITAGE,BIODIVERSITY AND AMENITY CONCERNS ARE CONSIDERED FROM THEOUTSET IN ANY RENEWABLES PROPOSALS.
Page 2 and 3: TECHNICAL RESEARCH PAPERPlanning fo
Page 4 and 5: Executive SummaryGenerating energy
Page 6 and 7: SOCIAL BENEFITS OF RENEWABLEENERGY
Page 8 and 9: 1. Purpose1.1 This working paper is
Page 10 and 11: significant positive impact. Conser
Page 12 and 13: 3.1 An Energy White Paper, 'Meeting
Page 14 and 15: Regional3.10 The West Midlands Regi
Page 16 and 17: 4. Community Strategies, Climate Ch
Page 18 and 19: As mentioned elsewhere in this pape
Page 20 and 21: 5. Worcestershire’s Vulnerability
Page 22 and 23: 6. Renewable Energy and the Environ
Page 26 and 27: 7. Social benefits of Renewable Ene
Page 28 and 29: 8.10 The economicbenefits of renewa
Page 30 and 31: Fig.1 - Responses to Questions 13(d
Page 32 and 33: 10. Baseline Data and Forecasts10.1
Page 34 and 35: 11. Technological Issues for Renewa
Page 36 and 37: 12. Infrastructure Requirements12.1
Page 38 and 39: 13.7 This research paper provides a
Page 40 and 41: Appendix A. Characteristics and App
Page 42 and 43: Domestic Micro Wind TurbinesDomesti
Page 44 and 45: Forests and WoodlandThe potential o
Page 46 and 47: acknowledged that increasing the su
Page 48 and 49: Ground/Water/Air Source HeatPumpsGr
Page 50 and 51: Biogas (Anaerobic Digestion)Biogas
Page 52 and 53: OpportunitiesFew planning obstacles
Page 54 and 55: OpportunitiesSignificant potential
Page 56 and 57: GROUND/AIR/WATER SOURCE HEAT PUMPSO
Page 58 and 59: Appendix C. Example calculations of
Page 60 and 61: Appendix D. Maps of Predicted Incre
Page 62 and 63: Appendix E. Energy Saving Trust tab
Page 64 and 65: MAP OF DELIVERABLE WIND RESOURCEIN
Page 66 and 67: SOLAR IRRADIANCE AT DIFFERENTLOCATI
Page 68 and 69: MAP OF UPTAKE OF ENERGY CROP SCHEME
Page 70 and 71: FORESTRY COMMISSION WOODLAND OPPORT
Page 72 and 73: DISTRIBUTION OF WOODLAND OF OVER 2
Page 74 and 75:
CO2 EMMISSIONS IN WORCESTERSHIRE IN
Page 76 and 77:
CHANGE IN CO2 EMISSIONS IN WORCESTE
Page 78 and 79:
TOTAL FINAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION AT L
Page 80 and 81:
Appendix H. Sources of Further Info
Page 82 and 83:
Further ReadingThe Assessment and R
Page 84 and 85:
Rural Regeneration Zone Annual Repo
Page 86:
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