Landscape and visual appraisal for Crow Orchard Solar Farm
- Client Name
- MSP Crow Orchard Limited
- Location
- Wigan
Challenge
MS Crow Orchard Limited commissioned SLR’s Place team to undertake a Landscape and Visual Appraisal (LVA) to supplement a planning application to Wigan Metropolitan Borough Council in relation to a proposed ground mounted solar farm located at Crow Orchard Farm. In the Screening Report, the local planning authority recommended that a LVA of the photovoltaic panels should be undertaken, due to their size and associated infrastructure.
The Development is situated within a semi-rural, 8 ha site in area adjacent to road infrastructure and the edge of a settlement. It consists of a series of Photo-voltaic (PV) panels, mounted in double rows approximately 2.5m above ground level, with a capacity of up to 5MW. The panels are orientated south across the site alongside associated transformation enclosures and grid connection enclosures. Several PRoWs are located near the site and one bisects the site along an existing field boundary.
Solution
Through a combination of desk based research, ZTV analysis, site visits and 3D modelling, SLR assessed that most of the main effects of the Solar Farm were likely to be in the immediate surroundings of the proposed site due to the low lying nature of the site and the degree of natural screening from surrounding vegetation and landform features. 3D visualisations assisted in the prediction and illustration of effects and the design of mitigation planting proposals.
Impact
The site is situated across two large fields, and is sheltered to the north and east by a large engineered road embankment. Further road infrastructure includes the M6 motorway which passes to the west. Motorists in cars were found to be one of the main receptors, although there were also views from nearby settlement edge despite screening from tall roadside hedging. Mitigation planting followed guidelines in the Wigan Landscape Character Assessment to enhance and infill hedgerows. Mixed native hedgerows were proposed along the PRoW bisecting the site, enhancing the characteristic field boundary pattern.
