Direct landscape impacts on the site

Direct landscape impacts on the site – for example loss of landscape features or change in the character of the site resulting from construction activity or the presence of storage tanks, ground disturbances and lighting.

Indirect impacts on the landscape character of the surrounding area and setting to NT properties – for example change in the character of adjacent landscapes as a result of the change in outlook from those landscapes.

Indirect impacts on the landscape character of the surrounding area and setting to National Trust properties

Indirect impacts on the landscape character of the surrounding area and setting to NT properties – for example change in the character of adjacent landscapes as a result of the change in outlook from those landscapes.

Direct impacts on views

Direct impacts on views – for example changes in views to and from NT properties and NT key views and vistas as a result of the introduction of industrial structures, storage tanks.

Cumulative landscape impact on landscape character types

Cumulative landscape impact (of more than one AD plant) on landscape character types (including combined visibility from a single viewpoint and sequential effects on routes within the setting and context of NT properties).

Direct landscape impacts on the site

Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA). Effects on the special qualities, sensitivities and significance of the landscape/property, considering the landscape value provided to NT properties and to their setting.

Analysis to be based on desk study, baseline assessment of site, field study and photography.

Use existing documents including Statement of Significance, Management Plans and other landscape evidence including Landscape Character Assessment.

Indirect impacts on the landscape character of the surrounding area and setting to National Trust properties

Effects on the character and quality of the landscape and of the value provided to NT properties and their setting. Analysis to be based on desk study, baseline assessment of the surrounding landscape, field study and photography.

Consideration of NT properties in proximity to the site and their contribution and significance within the surrounding landscape.

Use existing documents including Statement of Significance, Management Plans and other landscape evidence including Landscape Character Assessment.

Direct impacts on views

Effects on views, considering size/scale, geographical extent, and duration of the effect. Analysis to be based on desk study, ZTV, and may include photomontages of agreed viewpoints, field study and photography.

Effects on key views and designed vistas as identified by the NT, considering the contribution of the site and surrounding landscape to the setting of any NT properties.

Potential receptors to assess include; visitors/tourists to NT properties including those travelling on routes to/from NT properties, residential receptors living within or in proximity to NT properties, recreational receptors on long distance walking or cycling routes within or in proximity to NT properties.

Cumulative landscape impact on landscape character types

Effects on views, considering size/scale, geographical extent, and duration of the effect. Analysis to be based on CZTV, potential photomontages of agreed viewpoints, field study and photography.

Capacity of the landscape to absorb new AD plants, considering the character of the existing landscape and setting to NT properties.
Effects on key views and designed vistas as identified by the NT, considering the contribution of the site and surrounding landscape to the setting of any NT properties.

Direct landscape impacts on the site

The initial site selection and layout should consider the capacity of the landscape to absorb an AD plant, taking into account landscape scale and character. Selected sites should carefully consider proximity to sensitive landscapes, including from NT properties and settlements. Consideration should be given to the significance of the property, including key views and vistas, and the contribution of the setting to significance, as outlined in NT documents.

Take opportunities to integrate AD plants into existing structures, minimising visibility within the surrounding area and maintaining local vernacular where possible. Any new buildings or structures should be in character with the locality, using appropriate materials and colours.

Undertake landscape restoration works at the end of the construction period, ensuring any new plantings or interventions are in character with the site and surrounding context.

Consider opportunities for landscape enhancements in-line with long term plans as defined by NT Management Plans. A landscape management plan or construction management plan should be developed jointly with an established landscape professional (and to be agreed on with relevant consultees, including NT, where necessary). The management plan should be in effect for the duration of the development.

Indirect impacts on the landscape character of the surrounding area and setting to National Trust properties

Ensure careful site layout design and siting of plant (i.e. where appropriate digesters can be partially buried to minimise visual impacts).

Incorporate screening measures to minimise potential adverse impact of the plant. Any fencing or vegetation is to be in character with surrounding landscape and relevant NT Management Plans.

Minimise visibility within the surrounding area of vehicular movement associated with the plant, using vegetation or fencing in character with the setting.

Direct impacts on views

Ensure careful design of site layout and location, minimising impact on views to and from NT properties, and considering scale within the landscape.

Incorporate perimeter and off-site screen planting in key locations to screen the storage tanks and plant, using species appropriate for the context.

Consider opportunities for landscape enhancements in-line with long term plans as defined by NT Management Plans.

Use appropriate colour coating for the plant and any vertical elements within.

Cumulative landscape impact on landscape character types

Ensure careful site layout design and siting of plant.

Consider scale in relation to other existing schemes.

All impacts

For non – EIA development:

Appraisal of impact of proposal on landscape character and visual amenity.

For EIA developments:

LVIA chapter within Environmental Statement as set out in the Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Third Edition (GLVIA3). Assessment of impacts on visual receptors to be agreed in consultation with NT and relevant consultees. Key viewpoints to be agreed with Council, Natural England and Trust (where appropriate) at EIA Scoping stage.

Residential Visual Amenity Assessment (RVAA) where necessary – Assessment of impact from residential properties within 2km of development (to establish if infrastructure breachs ‘residential visual amenity threshold’).

Night-time lighting assessment where necessary (in addition to LVIA). Night time lighting to consider effect on overall character (e.g. in remote landscapes, dark sky reserves) as well as visual receptors.

Cumulative Landscape and Visual Amenity Assessment – assessment of additional cumulative effects that would arise when adding the Development to a baseline containing other existing large-scale developments (including wind and solar) or those that are the subject of a valid planning application within the 33 km search area (these equate to ‘Tier 1’ projects as set out in the Planning Inspectorate Advice Note 17).

Site selection and design chapter within Environmental Statement. Setting out the rationale behind the site selection, design objectives, the design evolution in response to different sensitivities and constraints, and any potential mitigation strategies.

‘Construction Method Statement’ and ‘Construction Environmental Management Plan’ (CEMP) which should include arrangements for implementation of various aspects of the works. The statement should also set out restoration of landscape earthworks, soils and surface vegetation e.g. alongside tracks, around borrow pits, and along cable routes once the construction phase is complete.

All impacts

Monitoring by Environmental Clerk of Works (ECoW) or other relevant landscape professionals to ensure restoration efforts are implemented as outlined in the CEMP. A landscape management plan should be agreed upon post-consent, providing further detail and guidance for the implementation and guidance of the CEMP. The landscape management plan should be in effect for the duration of the development, and appropriate monitoring is to be expected throughout along with any necessary remedial/additional works which will be identified and implemented.

Any vegetation that is planted for screening purposes, and as part of the CEMP or other landscape management plan is to be monitored for health, and replaced where necessary. Fencing to be maintained and in character with the surrounds. Signage to be clear and defined, particularly around any recreational assets and paths to be maintained.

Regen SW (2010) Planning for Solar Parks in the South West of England.

Cornwall Council (2010) The Development of Large Scale Solar Arrays in Cornwall: Draft 6.

LUC for Cornwall Council (2010) An Assessment of the Landscape Sensitivity to On-Shore Wind & Large-Scale Photovoltaic Development in Cornwall: Methodological Report.

CADW, The siting and design of micro-generation systems for historic area and landscapes: DRAFT.

Countryside Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage (2002) Landscape Character Assessment Guidance.

Landscape Institute and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (2013) Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, Third Edition.

Landscape Institute (2023) Notes and Clarifications on aspects of the 3rd Edition Guidelines on Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (GLVIA3).

Landscape Institute (2019) Visual Representation of Development Proposals – Technical Guidance Note 06/19.

Countryside Council for Wales (2007) Guide to Good Practice on using the Registers of Landscapes of Historic Interest in Wales in the Planning and Development Process.

Direct impact of plant construction on loss/displacement of ecological receptors

Direct impact of plant construction on loss/displacement of ecological receptors (e.g. habitat loss and/or loss of plant or animal species, disturbance, fragmentation or loss of nature focused management regime e.g.: cattle grazing).

Direct and indirect impacts of plant operation on ecological receptors

Direct and indirect impact of plant operation on ecological receptors (e.g. from noise, airborne and waterborne pollutants).

Direct impact of plant construction on loss/displacement of ecological receptors

Phase 1 (or UK Habs) Habitat Survey.

Preliminary Ecological Appraisal (PEA) and Protected Species surveys (where recommended in PEA).

Habitat Regulations Assessment may be required if European Wildlife Sites (SPAs, SACs) are impacted.

Direct and indirect impacts of plant operation on ecological receptors

Issues may relate to air or water pollution: should be covered in PEA (and HRA if required, see above).

Direct impact of plant construction on loss/displacement of ecological receptors

Avoid locating biomass AD plants in sensitive wildlife locations.

Construction Environment Management Plan (CEMP) measures.

Restore habitat edges adjacent to infrastructure.

Contain works to minimise disturbance footprint.

Erect exclusion fencing and implement translocation programme in construction areas.

Species specific mitigation measures (e.g. cover excavation works or provide escape ramps for mammals, implement of speed limits onsite, avoid in-stream works during fish spawning season etc.).

Direct and indirect impacts of plant operation on ecological receptors

Pollution control measures.

Direct impact of plant construction on loss/displacement of ecological receptors

For non EIA development:

Preliminary Ecological Appraisal.

For EIA development:

An Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) should be prepared, either alone or as part of the Ecology Chapter of an ES. Details of methodology and results of any protected species surveys and data search should be included.

Further documents include:
– Biodiversity Net Gain report (England) or Net Biodiversity Benefit report (Wales).
– HRA (if required).
– Ecological Mitigation and Management Plan.

Direct and indirect impacts of plant operation on ecological receptors

CEMP

All impacts

Ecological Monitoring Strategy

CIEEM (2018) Guidelines for Ecological Impact Assessment in the UK and Ireland.

CIEEM (2018) Guidelines for Preliminary Ecological Appraisal.

UK Habitat Classification System.

DEFRA (2023) Collection of Documents regarding Biodiversity Net Gain in England.

CIEEM (2022) Welsh Government’s Approach to Net Benefits for Biodiversity and the DECCA Framework in the Terrestrial Planning System.

Welsh Government (2023) Targeted policy changes to Planning Policy Wales on net benefit biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.

Disturbance to breeding birds

Disturbance to breeding birds due to construction activity and loss of open grassland habitat.

Direct habitat loss due to plant operation

Direct habitat loss due to plant operation.

All impacts

As for Ecology above

Disturbance to breeding birds

Undertake any vegetation and ground clearance outside the breeding season (March-August) in combination with habitat re-creation elsewhere within the development site.

Monitoring of works during breeding season by Environmental Clerk of Works.

Direct habitat loss due to plant operation

Undertake habitat re-creation elsewhere within the development site (depending of scale of proposal).

All impacts

As for Ecology above.

All impacts

Ecological Monitoring Strategy

CIEEM (2018) Guidelines for Ecological Impact Assessment in the UK and Ireland.

CIEEM (2018) Guidelines for Preliminary Ecological Appraisal.

UK Habitat Classification System.

DEFRA (2023) Collection of Documents regarding Biodiversity Net Gain in England.

CIEEM (2022) Welsh Government’s Approach to Net Benefits for Biodiversity and the DECCA Framework in the Terrestrial Planning System.

Welsh Government (2023) Targeted policy changes to Planning Policy Wales on net benefit biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.

Physical impacts to above-ground heritage assets and buried heritage assets

Physical impacts (loss or truncation) to above-ground heritage assets (buildings, landscape components) and buried heritage assets (archaeological deposits and features, including undiscovered archaeology and paleoenvironmental remains).

Harm to the significance of assets arising from change in their setting

Harm (negative impact) to the significance of assets arising from change in their setting (e.g. interruption of visual, functional, symbolic or historic relationships; effects as a consequence of noise, vibration).

NB. Effects as a consequence of setting change are direct, as they directly affect the heritage significance of the asset.

Impacts on the heritage significance of assets arising from change in their setting

Impacts on the heritage significance of assets arising from change in their setting (e.g. interruption of visual, functional, symbolic or historic relationships; effects as a consequence of noise, vibration)

NB. Effects as a consequence of setting change are direct, as they directly affect the heritage significance of the asset.

Harm to historic landscape character.

All impacts

Understanding of significance of assets potentially affected is vital prior to determining impacts/potential impacts. Historic environment desk-based assessment (HEA), in line with associated CIfA Standard and Guidance, informing ES chapter or as a standalone supporting document for the application (non-EIA cases) or other appropriate document (e.g. in Wales a Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) following associated Cadw guidance is to be produced in the scenario that the application directly affects (i.e. is in) a historic asset).

HEA/HIA to include walkover survey of construction footprint and micrositing allowance, and prospection for assets potentially affected within the redline boundary. Designated assets to be assessed for sensitivity to the proposed change within the ZTV, along with non-designated assets of high importance. The potential for views of the development in combination with assets also need to be considered with the assistance of the ZTV.
Depending on the nature and location of the site, local authority archaeologists may require pre-consent evaluation field work (non-intrusive such as geophysical survey or intrusive trial trenches) to fully understand significance of assets subject to potential direct physical effects, fulfil information requirements for determination and provide the basis for an appropriate mitigation strategy (including redesign of proposals where assets are to be preserved in situ). This work is to be undertaken in line with relevant guidance (e.g. CIfA, HE).

Assessment methodology is to be in line with 2021 ‘Principles of Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment in the UK’, as industry-standard guidance developed and promoted by the relevant professional institutes for the historic environment and EIS. It is to meet relevant Historic England or Cadw guidance. Assessment of heritage significance should be transparently articulated (i.e. in line with Historic England or Cadw ‘Conservation Principles’, or equivalent heritage values set out in national planning polices (e.g. NPPF)). The assessment is to use a transparent articulation of impacts and effects, making it clear what effects are significant effects in EIA terms and why, to enable consistent judgement across topics. In England, these are to be expressed in terms of whether and what level of harm arises so the tests in NPPF can be applied by the decision maker.

Clear evidence of the design process and solutions explored to avoid/minimise effects are to be provided in the ES and DAS.

All impacts

Design main structures (digester tank) and associated infrastructure (ancillary storage buildings), including the path and surface integration of proposed infrastructure links (trenched and below ground services for example) to avoid physical impacts on identified heritage assets. (NB. Physical effects to scheduled monuments would require separate Scheduled Monument Consent. This is very unlikely to be granted for this type of project, as direct physical effects to a scheduled monument would generally be considered a ‘showstopper’ and lead to a scheme redesign to avoid such an effect). Layout is to be informed by the use of ZTVs and appropriate visualisations (wireframes, and photomontages for the final ES) to enable design to minimise effects to heritage assets arising from change in their setting.

Where assessment suggests that archaeological potential is high, mitigation strategy is to be informed by field evaluation – geophysical survey (where ground/tide conditions allow and such survey is warranted by the level of likely archaeological potential) and/or trial trenching, in line with an approved WSI.

Where physical impacts to non-designated assets cannot be avoided, preservation by record can be acceptable, but must be undertaken in line with a Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI), approved by the LPA archaeological adviser, and by appropriately qualified and accredited archaeological professionals. The programme of fieldwork is to be secured by condition, and the necessary funding from the developer for analysis of excavation outcomes, analysis of environmental samples, finds etc., deposition of archive material and processed finds, and publication in a periodical commensurate with the significance of the evidence recovered, must be secured by legal agreement.

Mitigation through screening and/or surface treatment measures may be possible for effects due to setting change and historic landscape issues. Such measures are to ensure that they are well-blended into the landscape grain and character so as not to introduce a different kind of harm than that which they seek to address (e.g. uncharacteristic woodland planting/species).

All impacts

For non EIA development :

Input on effects to historic assets prepared by historic environment specialist in Design and Access Statement.

Appropriate historic environment reports explaining baseline and effects to assets (e.g. HEA (incl. setting assessment), geophysical survey report, trial trenching report, geoarchaeological assessment, historic buildings assessment, HIA, WSI).

For EIA development:

-Input on effects to historic assets prepared by historic environment specialist in Design and Access Statement.

– ES Historic Environment chapter.

– Appropriate supporting technical appendices (e.g. HEA (incl. setting assessment), geophysical survey report, trial trenching report, geoarchaeological assessment, historic buildings assessment, HIA, WSI).

All impacts

Monitoring by relevant curatorial authority (e.g. LPA archaeological advisor, conservation officer; HE/Cadw officer, HED Division) to ensure agreed mitigation works are being undertaken in line with the approved WSI and archaeological excavation license if required (for works in Northern Ireland). This process may take several years where archaeological investigation is required as any specialist analyses and post-excavation works must be concluded before reporting can be completed and published, at which point the monitor certify that they have been completed in line with the WSI.

Chartered Institute for Archaeologists (CIfA) (2020) Standard and Guidance for historic environment desk-based assessment.

IEMA, IHBC & CIfA (2021) Principles of Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment in the UK.

CIfA (2020) Standard and guidance for archaeological geophysical survey.

CIfA (2020) Standard and guidance for archaeological field evaluation.

Historic England (2015) Managing Significance in Decision-Taking in the Historic Environment: Good Practice Advice in Planning Note 2.

Historic England (2021) Commercial Renewable Energy Development and the Historic Environment in Planning Note 15.

Historic England (2017) The Setting of Heritage Assets: Historic Environment: Good Practice Advice in Planning Note 3.

Historic England (2019) Statements of Heritage Significance: Analysing Significance in Heritage Assets Historic England Advice Note 12.

Cadw (2017) Heritage Impact Assessment in Wales.

Cadw, Countryside Council for Wales & ICOMOS (2007) Guide to Good Practice on Using the Register of Landscapes of Historic Interest in Wales in the Planning and Development Process Second Edition.

Cadw (2017) Setting of Historic Assets in Wales.

Welsh Government (2017) Technical Advice Note 24: The Historic Environment.

Department for Communities (2018) Guidance on Setting and the Historic Environment for Northern Ireland.

Department for Communities (2019) Guidance on making changes to Listed Buildings: Making a better application for listed building consent for Northern Ireland.

Department for Infrastructure (2019) Best Practice Guidance to PPS 23 ‘Assessing Enabling Development for the Conservation of Significant Places in Northern Ireland.

Department for Infrastructure (2019) Best Practice Guidance to PPS 18 ‘Renewable Energy’ in Northern Ireland.

Department of the Environment (2009) Best Practice Guidance to Planning Policy Statement 18 ‘Renewable Energy’.

Risk to local watercourses/ groundwater from operational procedures (e.g. pollution from spill of waste water).

Assessment of effects on the water environment .

Environmental Management Plan (e.g. including use of silt traps, buffer zones from watercourses etc. and water quality and flow monitoring plans.)

Ensure EA requirements are applied (e.g. all tanks and digesters are surrounded by containment bundling of either concrete or clay).

Implement good pollution prevention practices based on Natural Resources Wales’ guidelines and CIRIA documents.

For non EIA development:

Surface Water Management Plan

For EIA development:

A Geology, Hydrology and Hydrogeology Chapter will be required in the ES.

There may be a need for water quality monitoring and groundwater monitoring post consent, with surveys and site assessments to make sure the conditions do not change too much over the lifetime of the project.

If a diversion or replacement of a PWS (public water supply) or pipework is required ongoing monitoring will be needed to ensure suitable continuation and quality of supply.

DCLG (2004) Planning for Waste Management Facilities: A Research Study.

UK Government (2021) Understanding effective flood and coastal erosion risk governance in England and Wales.

Welsh Government (2004) Technical Advice Note 15: Development and Flood Risk.

CIRIA (2002) Control of Water Pollution from Construction Sites – Guide to Good Practice on Site.

Increase in noise levels at nearby sensitive receptors during construction

Increase in noise levels at nearby sensitive receptors during construction (e.g. from construction activity).

Increase in noise levels at nearby sensitive receptors during operation

Increase in noise levels at nearby sensitive receptors during operation (e.g. from deliveries, including loading and unloading, and plant operation).

All impacts

An assessment of construction noise should be undertaken in accordance with British Standard (BS 5228-1) which provides guidance on a range of considerations relating to construction noise including the legislative framework, general control measures, example methods for estimating construction noise levels and example criteria which may be considered when assessing the significance of any effects. Similarly, part 2 (BS 5228-2) provides general guidance on legislation, prediction, control and assessment criteria for construction vibration.

Operational noise should be assessed in accordance with ETSU-R-97. Good practice in the application of the ETSU-R-97 methodology is set out in Institute of Acoustics Good Practice Guide to the Application of ETSU-R-97 (IOA GPG).

Increase in noise levels at nearby sensitive receptors during construction

Restrict working hours during construction.

Adopt good practice measures for reducing noise in line with British Standards guidance.

Increase in noise levels at nearby sensitive receptors during operation

Appropriate site layout design and siting of particularly noisy pieces of plant (e.g. located away from sensitive site boundaries).

Set noise limits at site boundaries or at sensitive receptors.

Incorporate noise attenuation features (e.g. within roof and walls) to reduce noise break-out.

All impacts

For EIA Development:

A noise and vibration chapter would be included within an ES and set out if the development accords with the relevance guidance. Additionally, a Noise Impact Risk Assessment and Noise Management Plan may be required.

All impacts

It is likely that any proposed development that is granted planning permission will have noise conditions attached to the consent.

DCLG (2004) Planning for Waste Management Facilities: A Research Study.

The British Standards (2014) Code of practice for noise and vibration control on construction and Open Sites, Part 1 Noise and Part 2 Vibration.

Environment Agency (2002) Horizontal Guidance for Noise Part 2 – Noise Assessment and Control.

Welsh Government (1997) Technical Advice Note 11: Noise.

Odour deriving from the storage of feedstock and the digestion process

Odour deriving from the storage of feedstock and the digestion process (e.g. sorting, mixing and digestion) and the continuous transporting of the waste product to the AD facility. Centralised digestion facilities handling large quantities of agricultural wastes, sewage sludge or municipal solid waste have more potential to raise siting concerns.

Emissions from construction and operation vehicles

Emissions from construction and operation vehicles (e.g. dust generation during loading and unloading operations).

Emission from operational procedures

Emissions from operational procedures (e.g. emissions from gas vents, engine exhausts and flare stacks).

All impacts

Air Quality Assessment (within Environmental Statement) will be required.

Odour deriving from the storage of feedstock and the digestion process

Appropriate siting of the facility along with effective site and plant management to minimise odour impacts.

Incorporate negative ventilation systems fitted with biofilters to control and contain odours within buildings.

Appropriate siting of facility alongside transport routes to prevent experience of odour from residential communities.

Emissions from construction and operation vehicles

Switch off engines when not in use.

Minimise delivery movements.

Implement best practice dust mitigation measures (e.g. Ensuring appropriate transport of materials, enclosure of stockpiles, restriction of vehicle speeds on site, use of wheel wash facilities etc.).

Emission from operational procedures

Incorporate proprietary air pollution control systems into scheme design.

Integrated Pollution Control regulations are applied by the EA to larger plant to control emissions (this applies to larger on-farm schemes as well as CAD
plants).

All impacts

For EIA Development:

An air quality assessment may take the form of a scoping report, a screening assessment or a detailed air quality impact assessment, presented as either a standalone report or as a technical chapter within an ES.

Further documents include:
– Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP)
– Odour Management Plan
– Flare and GEU General Arrangement
– Gas Upgrader and General Arrangement

All impacts

If post consent monitoring is required it is likely to be through enforcement of planning conditions related to odour management plans.

DCLG (2004) Planning for Waste Management Facilities: A Research Study.

DCLG (2004) Planning for Renewable Energy: A Companion Guide to PPS22.

Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure (Updated 2019) Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance on AD for Northern Ireland.

Increase in vehicle movements to and from the site during construction

Increase in vehicle movements to and from the site during construction.

Significant transport movements as part of operation to bring in waste materials

Significant transport movements as part of operation to bring in waste materials – heavy goods vehicle (HGV) (particularly for CAD plants). There will also be residues which will need to be regularly transported off site.

Accidents and safety on local roads

Accidents and safety on local roads.

All impacts

Transport and Traffic Impact Assessment will be required.

Increase in vehicle movements to and from the site during construction

Prepare Traffic Management Plan in conjunction with local transport authority to determine most appropriate times and routes for HGV traffic and include measures for vehicle sharing, avoidance of HGV deliveries during peak periods etc.

Significant transport movements as part of operation to bring in waste materials

Locate new biomass or waste combustion generating stations in the vicinity of existing transport routes wherever possible.

Multi-modal transport should be encouraged and so links to rail network should be explored, including incorporating suitable access leading from the main highway network and train network.

Consideration of fuel supply logistics will also help minimise the distances travelled between the feedstocks, storage tanks, digester and distribution markets.

Accidents and safety on local roads

Introduce temporary traffic management systems for site access (e.g. use of temporary traffic signals).

Reduce speed limits on all identified routes.

All impacts

For EIA development:

An Access, Traffic and Transport chapter within the ES would be required. This would typically include a Transport assessment (TA) as an appendix.

Additional documents that may be needed include:
– Traffic Management Plan
– Abnormal Load Management Plans

All impacts

Site entrance roads should be well maintained and monitored during the operational life of the proposed development.

Regular maintenance would be undertaken to keep the site access track drainage systems operational and ensure there are no run-off issues into the public road networks.

Adherence to the Traffic Management Plan.

DCLG (2004) Planning for Waste Management Facilities: A Research Study.

Institute of Environmental Assessment (1993) Guidelines for the Environmental Assessment of Road Traffic.

The Highways Agency (2006) Design Manual for Roads and Bridge.

Institution of Highways and Transportation (1994) Guidelines for Traffic Impact Assessment.

Risk of negative carbon impact if biomass source comes from land with a high biodiversity or carbon stock value or alternatively if it has a poor GHG profile because, for example, it has been imported a long distance.

Report to Smart Export Guarantee tariff mechanism.

Ensure energy providers can prove their sustainability criteria against land, GHG and waste credentials.

For non EIA development:

Potential feedstock scenarios.

For EIA development:

This could be covered within the Climate change chapter of the ES.

Not typically required.

Ofgem (2019) Guidance for Anaerobic Digestion generators: SEG s sustainability criteria and reporting requirements.

Disruption to and/or loss of public footpaths – disrupting tourism and general access.

An Outdoor access management plan could be prepared.

Avoid re-routing or loss of Public Rights of Way.

For Non EIA development:

– Recreation and Access Management Plan
– Application to divert or extinguish public right of way (if relevant).

For EIA development:

A socio-economics chapter of an ES could be prepared if required. These are often included as standalone reports separate from the ES.

It is not anticipated that monitoring measures would be required to address any socio-economic impacts.

Welsh Government (2005) Technical Advice Note 8: Planning for Renewable Energy.

Welsh Government (2016) Guidance for Local Authorities on Public Rights of Way.

Impact on local waste prevention efforts – negative incentive to reduce waste generation.

An assessment of the proposed waste combustion generating station examining the conformity of the scheme with the waste hierarchy and the effect of the scheme on the relevant Waste Local Plans or plans where a proposal is likely to involve more than one local authority.

The proposed scheme should be considered in line with local plans to limit waste production/prevention, re-use and recycling.

Applicants should set out the extent to which the generating station and capacity proposed is compatible with, and supports long-term recycling targets, taking into account existing residual waste treatment capacity and that already in development.

Annual Monitoring Reports (waste management capacity and needs locally).

Potential feedstock scenarios

None likely required.

Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure (Updated 2019) Draft Supplementary Planning Guidance on AD for Northern Ireland.