SE3 Task 2: Carry out further analysis and testing of feasibility and viability

Overview of task

The purpose of this task is to carry out any further analysis that might be required before you can allocate a particular site for renewable or low carbon energy generation. Our assumption is that any site of this sort is likely to be on public land, or regeneration sites of some description, to avoid the risk of opposition from landowners, or landowners holding developers to “ransom” over sites if they are allocated in a DPD.

The specific issues that you would need to consider will depend on the technology involved, but they could include, for example, the following:

• an assessment of whether there would be any conflict with potential strategic housing land, based on the analysis set out in your SHLAAs;
• for biomass, an assessment of suitability of access for fuel deliveries, grid capacity and air quality issues;
• for wind power, you may wish to consider the following issues (and this is not meant to be an exhaustive list) that would not have been considered as part of the regional evidence base:
  
  • engage with MoD and Civil Aviation Authority to see whether there are any issues that could prevent the site being suitable for wind power
  • capacity and proximity of local grid
  • potential impacts on flora and fauna, from discussion with RSPB, Natural England, and local wildlife groups
  • site terrain and topography
  • assessment of landscape sensitivity to wind turbines

You may wish to factor in consideration of these sites into any infrastructure studies that you commission to satisfy PPS12.

For large scale renewable energy schemes, many of these issues will need to be assessed by the developer anyway, as part of preparing an Environmental Impact Assessment (assuming that you would require one). Therefore you may wish to leave much, if not all, of this analysis to developers to address as part of submitting proposals. However, to avoid a potential “backlash” from consultees during the consultation on the DPD, you may wish to explore some of these issues in advance.