Planning for Renewable Energy in Worcestershire Research Paper

acknowledged that increasing the supplyof biomass will have implications for landuse, biodiversity, the environment and thelandscape." (Extract from page 6, UKBiomass Strategy, 2007). It should berecognised that whilst land is being usedfor the growing of energy crops, foodcrops cannot be grown; and the growingof energy crops can be water-intensive,which could have implications in thecontext of water shortages. Conversely,saturation from flooding could destroy anyenergy crops within a flood plain, and thiswill also need to be considered at theplanning stages.Regional encouragement for the use ofSRC is found in the West MidlandsRegional Spatial Strategy (RPG11) ofJune 2004, which includes PolicyQE8.A(vii), stating that:"Development plans, other strategies andprogrammes should encourage tree coverin the region to be increased, where it isappropriate to the character of the area,taking account of the Regional ForestryFramework, and in ways that reinforceand support the Spatial Strategy by:[inter alia]vii) promoting, where appropriate,opportunities for short rotation coppiceas a raw material and where this canprovide a renewable energy resource".The 2001 Halcrow study referred to atpage 27 indicates the potential capacityfrom energy crops throughout the region,based on a network of approximately5x5km grid-squares. Relevant extractsare reproduced at Appendix F.Defra released mapping in May 2007 toprovide a broad indication of the ability ofdifferent areas to support the growth ofenergy crops 35 . The mapping is at aregional scale, and shows the probableyield of energy crops in terms of beinghigh, medium, or low. Defra has alsocarried out landscape modelling of thelikely impact of energy crops, in terms oftheir effect on the landscape. This studyprovides a rating of locations, at aregional scale, as either neutral;potentially beneficial; or potentiallyadverse. As discussed elsewherelandscape impact at the regional andlocal level will be an importantconsideration when looking to developenergy crops. Certain types of biomasswill be inappropriate in certain landscapeswithin the County, and the WorcestershireLandscape Character Assessment shouldbe used to help inform decision-making.It is worth noting that the root systems ofenergy crops can be deep. This can bepositive in terms of enhancing soil quality,and requiring relatively less ploughingthan conventional food crops. However,there may also be negative effects, suchas the disturbance of archaeologicalremains. 36Some locations within Worcestershire aredesignated 'smoke-free zones', and withinthese zones biomass boilers that are noton the register of 'exempt appliances' willnot be permitted. For more informationseehttp://www.uksmokecontrolareas.co.ukAPPENDIX A ● Planning for Renewable Energy in Worcestershire3536See http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/crops/industrial/energy/opportunities/jca/106.htm for further information.Biomass Energy and the Historic Environment,English Heritage (2006)Technical Research Paper 39