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Partnerships for Renewables

Louth Canal Wind Energy Development

Non-Technical Summary (NTS)

4-50

Draft 1 | 8 March 2012

This report takes into account the particular

instructions and requirements of our client.

It is not intended for and should not be relied

upon by any third party and no responsibility is

undertaken to any third party.

Job number 215222-00

Ove Arup & Partners Ltd

4 Pierhead Street

Capital Waterside

Cardiff

CF10 4QP

Wales

United Kingdom

www.arup.com

4-50 | Draft 1 | 8 March 2012

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Partnerships for Renewables Louth Canal Wind Energy Development


4-50 | Draft 1 | 8 March 2012

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SUMMARY FIRST DRAFT 080312.DOCX

Contents

Page

1 In Context 1

2 Background 2

3 Developer and Project Team 3

4 The Development Proposals 4

5 Environmental Impact Assessment 5

5.1 Consultation 5

5.2 Environmental Effects 6

5.3 The Environmental Statement 6

6 Further Information 15



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Page 1

1 In Context

This Non Technical Summary (NTS) forms part of the Environmental Statement (ES) that has been prepared by Ove Arup & Partners Ltd (Arup) on behalf of the Partnerships for Renewables Development Company (PfR) to accompany a planning application for a wind energy development and associated works at Louth Canal. The site consists of land owned by the Environment Agency, currently used as flood reservoir, and adjacent third party land. The ES presents the findings of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and is designed to identify potentially significant effects and to propose suitable mitigation where appropriate. This document is a ‘non technical’ summary of the main findings of the ES.



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2 Background

The UK Government is strongly encouraging the generation of energy from renewable sources and the reduction of the emission of gases that contribute to climate change. This support forms a key element of the UK Climate Change programme and is outlined in the Energy White Paper, the Energy Review and Planning Policy Statement 22: Renewable Energy. The formation of the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) in October 2008 reflects the importance of tackling climate change and the need to secure clean, safe, and affordable energy.

The Climate Change Act 2008 set a legally binding target of at least an 80% cut in UK greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. In the shorter term it sets a target reduction in emissions of at least 34% by 2020. In addition as part of EU-wide actions to increase the use of renewable energy, the UK has a legally-binding commitment, the Renewable Energy Strategy (July 2009) set under the EU Renewable Energy Directive, to source 15% of its energy from renewable sources by 2020. These targets form the basis of the UK Renewable Energy Strategy, which specifically includes the aspiration to generate 30% of the UK’s electricity from renewable sources by 2020. In order to achieve national and regional targets for renewable energy generation to transform the UK to a low carbon economy, a range of large and small scale renewable energy installations will be required, particularly from short-term onshore wind generation as the UK has one of the windiest climates in Europe. As such, the proposed development will contribute to the attainment of these goals.

Onshore wind is the most well-established and currently the most economically viable source of renewable electricity available for future large-scale deployment in the UK Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy (EN-1 2011) sets out the Government’s policy for delivering of major energy infrastructure. The Planning Act 2008 empowers the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) to examine applications and make decisions on nationally significant energy infrastructure projects, including renewable energy generation both onshore and offshore, notably Renewable Energy Infrastructure National Policy Statement (EN-3 2011). The UK Renewable Energy Roadmap (2011) sets out a comprehensive suite of targeted, practical actions to accelerate renewable energy in the UK – driving innovation and the deployment of a wide range of renewables.

The threat of climate change is recognised and addressed throughout English Planning Policy framework through its Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 22: Renewable Energy, and PPS 1a: Planning and Climate Change – Supplement to PPS1. PPS1a sets out how planning should help shape places by encouraging development associated with lowering carbon emissions, which are resilient to climate change. PPS22 advocates the increasing provision of renewable energy to meet the Government’s commitments on climate change and renewable energy.

The Draft National Planning Policy Framework – Planning, Building and the Environment (July 2011) sets out the Government’s economic, environmental and social planning policies for England. These policies articulate the Government’s vision of sustainable development. Planning has a key role in securing a sustainable future.



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3 Developer and Project Team

In 2006 the Carbon Trust recognised that the public sector, despite owning more than 10% of the land in the UK, had built very little renewable generation capacity. PfR was set up by the Carbon Trust in 2006 to fill this gap and develop, construct and operate renewable energy projects primarily on public sector land or land that is held for public benefit. PfR manages the development of projects through the site selection, assessment of site feasibility, layout design process, construction and operation and has set up PfR (Louth Canal) Limited, a subsidiary development company, to progress this project at Louth Canal. In partnership with The Environment Agency (EA) it has established the viability of a site adjacent to Louth Canal for a wind energy development.

The EIA has been undertaken and co-ordinated by Arup, an EIA quality mark registered consultancy under an accreditation scheme run by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA), the principal body for EIA in the UK. Further specialist input came from Hoare Lee who undertook the noise assessment and Kevin Shepherd Consultant Ornithologist who undertook the data gathering for the ornithology assessment.



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4 The Development Proposals

Working in partnership with Environment Agency, PfR have established the concept of a wind project on land adjacent to Louth Canal and, after conducting a full EIA, believe the site to be suitable for three wind turbines, with a maximum blade-tip height of 113.5m. The final choice of turbine will follow a competitive tendering exercise, however if the proposed development was constructed it is estimated that the turbines could generate approximately up to 16.4 Gigawatt hours (GWh) of renewable electricity per year, which is equivalent to the amount of electricity used annually by approximately 3680 average households in Great Britain. In addition, the proposed turbines could also displace approximately 7062 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year

1. The Site Location Plan (Figure 1) and Site

Layout of the proposed development (Figure 2) are reproduced at the end of this NTS, along with a diagram of the candidate turbine (Figure 3).

The proposed Development is defined by the Louth Canal and EA Flood Reservoir, surrounded by typical Lincolnshire coast agricultural land. One of the three wind turbines would be located in the Environment Agency flood reservoir and the remaining two turbines would be on adjacent third party land. The planning application is for:

The erection, 25 year operation and subsequent decommissioning of three wind turbines up to 113.5m tall to the tip of a blade in a vertical position, control/substation building, installation of underground electrical cables, formation of access tracks and upgraded access from the A1031 Fen Lane, meteorological monitoring mast of up to 78m height, crane hard standing areas, re-design of vehicular access into the Environment Agency’s flood reservoir, and a temporary construction/storage compound together with other works ancillary to the main development including a public footpath diversion.

1 The Digest of UK Energy Statistics (November 2011) gives 2010 domestic electricity

consumption as 118,681 gigawatt-hours (GWh) (Shown in table as 118.68TWh)

(http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/statistics/source/electricity/dukes5_1_2.xls) which, when

divided by the number of households in the UK – 26,591,600

(http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/statistics/publications/ecuk/269-ecuk-domestic-2010.xls)

(table 3.3) – gives an average electricity usage of 4,463 kWh per year per household in the UK

(118,681,000,000 ÷ 26,591,600 = 4,463). Taking into account the candidate turbine for the site, it

is expected that three turbines with a total installed capacity of 7.5 MW could generate up to 16.4

GWh of renewable electricity per year (based on a capacity factor of 25% – for onshore wind the

five year average capacity factor (2006–2010 is 26.16% (Table 7.4 –

http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/stats/publications/dukes/2309-dukes-2011-chapter-7-

renewable-sources.pdf). These figures are derived as follows in the following example (using a

25% capacity factor): 7,500 kW (3 × 2.5 MW turbine) × 8,760 hours/year × 0.25 (capacity factor)

= 16,425,000 kWh. Based on the 4,463 kWh household figures, and the predicted electricity

generation of up to 16.4 GWh, it is estimated that the yearly output from the wind turbines will be

equivalent to the approximate domestic electricity needs of 3680 average households in Britain

(e.g. 16,425,000 ÷ 4463 = 3680). In September 2008, the Advertising Standards Authority

endorsed a figure of 430 gCO2/kWh, based on the assumption that the energy generated by the

wind turbines displaces Combined Cycle Gas Turbines and an average mix generation

(430gCO2/kWh). On this basis, and on the assumption that the wind turbines annual output is 16.4

GWh, a wind energy development of this scale is expected to displace around 7062 tonnes of CO2

equivalent emissions per year. These figures are derived as follows (using an output of 16.4 GWh

as an example): 16,425,000 kW (output) × 430 gCO2/kWh ÷ 1,000,000 = 7062 tonnes CO2.

http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/statistics/source/electricity/dukes5_1_2.xls

http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/statistics/publications/ecuk/269-ecuk-domestic-2010.xls

http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/stats/publications/dukes/2309-dukes-2011-chapter-7-renewable-sources.pdf

http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/11/stats/publications/dukes/2309-dukes-2011-chapter-7-renewable-sources.pdf



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5 Environmental Impact Assessment

EIA is a process that collects information about potential environmental effects of a proposed development and evaluates and presents this information in a way that both assists consultation and enables decision makers to take account of these effects when determining whether or not a project should proceed. If the project does proceed, the EIA also helps identify mitigation measures or controls over the construction or operation that might be required.

The scope and content of the EIA was agreed through a scoping exercise in March 2011 with the Local Planning Authority, East Lindsey District Council (ELDC).

The EIA has identified the likely effects of the proposals on the environment and an assessment has been made as to whether any of these could be significant. In general terms, establishing whether an identified effect is significant is determined by the importance of the receptor (e.g. a particular listed building, ecological designated site or landscape character area) and the magnitude of change that will occur as a result of the construction, operation and decommissioning of the development. Chapter 2 of the ES sets out the EIA methodology employed in more detail. A number of mitigation measures to reduce potentially significant effects have been incorporated into the design of the scheme or are proposed as part of the construction process or its operational management.

The Environmental Statement (ES) reports findings of the EIA completed in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999. The ES comprises this NTS and three volumes: Volume 1 – Written Statement, Volume 2 – Figures, and Volume 3 – Appendices.

The assessment of effects is undertaken in an impartial manner and the findings are presented in a systematic way in the ES, which will be used by ELDC to help inform its decision about whether or not the development should be allowed to proceed.

5.1 Consultation

A vital aspect of the EIA process is consultation, both to agree which environmental topics need most attention and to understand public perception of the development in order to help in the design process. Consultation with statutory and non-statutory bodies was undertaken through a formal scoping opinion with responses received from (among others) the Environment Agency, English Heritage and Natural England.

PfR has also undertaken public consultation involving exhibitions. Presentations to local community groups were held in September 2010 and July 2011. PfR held community wind energy drop-ins on 23 November 2010, 2 March 2011 and 21 September 2011. Presentations to local parish councils were held on 11 November 2010 (Tetney Parish Council), 8 September 2011 (Tetney Parish Council) and 12 September 2011 (North Cotes Parish Council).

Upon submission of the planning application, a further drop-in event will be publicised and is likely to be held at Tetney, North Cotes or North Thoresby.



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5.2 Environmental Effects

The scoping exercise identified a range of potential significant environmental effects. These were subjected to detailed assessments using methodologies specific to the relevant environmental topic. Those considered in this ES are listed as follows:

Traffic, Access and Transport – Chapter 7

Noise – Chapter 8

Landscape and Visual Change – Chapter 9

Cultural Heritage – Chapter 10

Ecology – Chapter 11

Ornithology – Chapter 12

Hydrology, Hydrogeology and Ground Conditions – Chapter 13

Shadow Flicker – Chapter 14

Socio-economic and other Community Effects – Chapter 15

Environmental Management Plan and Summary – Chapter 16

The findings of the assessments listed are intended to assist ELDC to make a decision as to whether the proposed wind turbines be granted planning permission.

5.3 The Environmental Statement

The ES, which forms part of the planning application to ELDC, provides an

assessment of any significant effects of the proposed Louth Canal Wind Energy

Development. The following sections provide a brief, non-technical summary of

the main findings of the EIA which are described in detail within the individual

chapters of the full ES.

5.3.1 Traffic, Access and Transport

The transport and access assessment focused upon the effects during construction when abnormal loads and Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) would need to access the site. Once operational, infrequent visits would be required approximately twice a year for maintenance in a 4x4 type vehicle for which it is not considered necessary to assess the environmental effects.

The assessment was based on a six month construction programme. The assessment primarily focuses on the implications of vehicular movements into and out of the site during the construction phase. Trip generation by construction workers has also been estimated.

Access tracks and hard standing areas at each of the turbine locations would be constructed. A two month period is expected for this phase of construction. Depending upon construction depths of the roads, and therefore the volume of material required to be moved, between 10 and 15 two-way journeys would be required per day during the two month construction period.



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A total of around 1,989 construction vehicle movements will be required to complete the foundations of for the turbines and associated infrastructure. These exclude staff travel, which could involve up to 10 personnel arriving independently resulting in an additional 20 vehicle movements.

In addition, there will be approximately two abnormal load movements per day during the fourth and five month of construction.

Suitable routes for the abnormal loads to get to the site were assessed. Site inspections and computer generated ‘swept path assessments’ were used to model how the abnormal loads would negotiate the roads. This modelling is used to identify ‘pinch points’ where the road width, bends or vegetation may make it difficult to pass.

Site access routes have been assessed from the A1031 Fen Lane. The assessment found that only minor changes to the highway would be required such as the access track leading from the A1031 Fen Lane up to the site. This will be upgraded to ensure it suitable for use by construction vehicles.

Consultation with the Highways Authority, County Council representatives and other interested parties have been carried out as part of the assessment and would be repeated before any works were started.

For standard HGV vehicle movements, a variety of routes would be used to reduce effects on particular highway networks. The assessment identified two junctions where potential overrunning of the kerb would require modifications to the highway layout to be implemented for the abnormal load deliveries. These were:

North Moss Lane/Kiln Lane roundabout (Immingham); and

A16 Louth Road/B1201 High Street priority junction (North Thoresby).

If the project secures planning permission details regarding access would be discussed and agreed with the Highways Authority and presented in a Traffic Management Plan. This plan will also include measures to reduce negative effects on local residents, limits on working hours and avoidance of delivery at school opening and closing times.

The assessment identified no significant effects on road users or residential properties as a result of the abnormal loads and HGV access to the site during any stage of construction, operation or decommissioning. The maximum predicted increase in HGV’s during construction is estimated to be 4%.

Any potential effects on pedestrian disturbance or road safety would be managed through the implementation or a Traffic Management Plan.

5.3.2 Noise

Two types of noise are emitted from wind turbines. Aerodynamic noise is produced by the movement of the blades through the air, often characterized as a ‘swish’ and mechanical noise can come from the components within the turbine itself such as gearboxes and mechanisms to change the direction of the turbine. Recent progress in reducing the noise from turbines has been considerable, particularly in relation to mechanical noise.



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The noise assessment established the difference between wind turbine noise and the naturally occurring noise level at the residential dwellings nearest to the proposed development and measured these against the accepted standards. Government guidance for this assessment procedure is called ETSU-R-97, The Assessment and Rating of Noise from Wind Farms and specifies that noise limits should be set relative to existing background noise levels and reflect a variation in wind speeds.

The distribution of the turbines on the site has been carefully chosen. As a result, the shortest distance between the nearest property and a turbine is 530m. The exact model of turbine has not been chosen for the potential site; however a Nordex N80 wind turbine has been used to model the noise data which is considered to be representative of the upper range of noise levels that would be produced by any potential turbines of the same class.

During construction there may be noise that at times would be audible at some residential properties. In response, working hours and HGV deliveries would be limited, and any turbine deliveries outside of this time would be agreed with East Lindsey District Council and the Police. All construction activities would adhere to good practice set out in BS: 5228.

Results of the noise modeling demonstrate that noise levels from the wind turbines would meet the limits as specified under the ETSU-R-97 under all wind conditions, specifically the most stringent noise limits specified. The assessment shows that at all the noise sensitive receptors from the turbines would be well within government guidelines of background plus 5 decibel and the fixed 43 decibel night time limit.

Noise emission at de-commissioning are considered to be less than during construction.

It is therefore concluded that, the overall effect of noise emissions at construction, operation and de-commissioning would have no significant effects.

5.3.3 Landscape and Visual Change

Landscape effects are defined by the Landscape Institute as “changes to landscape elements, characteristics, character, and qualities of the landscape as a result of development”, whereas visual effects are concerned wholly with the effect of the proposed development on views, and the general visual amenity.

The methodology for the Landscape and Visual Assessment (LVIA) follows standard guidance documents. Consultation was carried out with statutory consultees to agree the basis for assessment and the relevant viewpoints. 16 viewpoints were agreed and used to generate ‘photomontages’ showing how the turbines are likely to appear.

The study area for the assessment of the Louth Canal project was defined by a 35km radius from the nearest turbine. Cumulative effects of two or more wind farms have been assessed to a distance of 35km. These study areas are in line with ‘Visual Representation of Windfarms’, Good Practice Guidance, Scottish Natural Heritage (2007).



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The site of the proposed development lies on a series of flat, arable fields located within the coastal plains of Lincolnshire. Arable farming dominates the deep and clayey soils of the coastal plains with large fields, frequently bound by ditches and hedgerows, allowing distant views across the landscape. Landscape effects were assessed in relation to landscape and townscape character areas. Visual receptors were identified by determining areas from which the turbines could theoretically be seen.

During construction it has been assessed that landscape effects are likely to be localised and limited to the area needed for construction with only significant effects on the Public Right of Way (PRoW) in the immediate area around the proposed Development. It appears from the effects on Landscape Character that again these are localised and short lived due to the short duration of the works. Significant visual effects during construction arise mainly in areas immediately surrounding the site, including the southern edges of the settlements of Tetney to the north, North Cotes to the east, occasional properties located in close proximity to the site and the footpaths that traverse the coastal plains close to the site.

During operation there are no predicted significant effects on Landscape Designations, and only locally significant Moderate Adverse effects on the Lincolnshire Coast and Marshes National Character Area and the local landscape character area of Tetney Lock to Skegness Coastal Outmarsh LCA.

Of the sixteen principal viewpoints considered as part of the visual assessment, seven are assessed as significant, with one assessed as experiencing a major adverse effect at Eastfield Outholme Lane. Significant visual effects on residential receptors during operation arise mainly within an area less than 1.4km from the proposed Development with only two of those properties exhibiting a significant visual effect as they are less than 900m to the closest proposed turbine.

In terms of landscape and visual effects during both the construction and operational phases there is a certain capacity in the wider landscape for the nature, scale and location of the proposed Development. It is considered that the Louth Canal Development does not significantly contribute to any adverse cumulative landscape or visual effects.

5.3.4 Cultural Heritage and Archaeology

Extensive background historical and archaeological data was compiled as well as a site walkover survey in order to inform the assessment. This work was undertaken in consultation with ELDC, Lincolnshire County Council, English Heritage, and in accordance with relevant English planning policies.

As part of the assessment an Archaeological Technical Appraisal was carried out to identify previous land uses at the development site. The appraisal identified that whilst activity is evidenced from the prehistoric period to the present day, there has been very little activity and change within the proposed development site. Indeed, with the exception of some historic agricultural activity, there is no recorded archaeology within the site. As further evidence, a geophysical survey (used to determine the presence of any underground archaeological remains) was carried out on site within 1ha of the turbine locations. No anomalies characteristic of archaeological features were detected, however there were indications of some agricultural practices, such as field drains and ploughing.



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Effects on designated heritage assets (including: Scheduled Monuments, Registered Parks and Garden, Conservation Areas, and Listed Buildings) within 10km were assessed. Designated heritage assets within 2km of the development site were visited in order to assess the possible effect on their setting.

The size and appearance of the turbines means that there will be an effect on the setting of a variety of heritage assets in the surrounding area, however these are generally considered to be of minor or moderate significance.

5.3.5 Ecology

Ecology surveys were conducted on the site and surrounding area including a habitats survey and protected species surveys for amphibians, reptiles, bats, otters, water voles, and badgers. A desk-study, including consultation with a range of consultees, provided an initial investigation of baseline conditions. The Louth Canal site is not covered by any international and national ecological designations. The Tetney Flood Local Wildlife Site (LWS) is within the development site boundary which is designated for its rich wetland and swamp flora. All ecological studies were carried out by qualified and experienced ecologists in accordance with best practice and using policy guidance. These studies found a number of species including common pipistrelle, common toad within on-site water bodies and evidence of badgers moving through the site.

Mitigation measures primarily involve carrying out construction in accordance with a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) that would be developed prior to construction and include measures to avoid adverse ecological effects. Unnecessary effects such as vehicle use outside a defined working boundary are also to be avoided. It is specified that temporary construction areas would be restored to their original condition.

At the construction stage potential effects include habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, habitat damage, temporary disturbance or loss of species, introduction of new substrate and pollution of land and watercourses. During operation the only potential effects would be disturbance of sensitive species during maintenance works and a potential for bat collision with moving wind turbine blades. The potential for bat collision will not be a significant issue. Decommissioning would present the same potential effects as during construction.

The only effects anticipated are of minor adverse significance as a result of permanent habitat loss. These are not considered significant in EIA terms. All other effects were considered to be of neutral significance as a result of the design of the proposal and through the committed mitigation measures. A Habitat Management Plan has been produced for the site. wider management objectives of the HMP are to:

Ensure no net loss of habitat through the proposed Development;

Increase the diversity and abundance of invertebrate species at the site;

Sustain and enhance the existing aquatic/marginal habitats within the ditch system;

Introduce better grazing management to create a varied structural and species diversity within the ditch swamp habitat;

Maintain the ecosystem services associated with the flood reservoir; and

Maintain and enhance ditch habitats for water vole.



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5.3.6 Ornithology

The assessment was based upon guidance from the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (IEEM). Consultation was carried with Natural England and Lincolnshire Biodiversity Partnership concerning the studies required and the appropriate issues to be addressed in the assessment.

In order to determine the ornithological baseline, a desk study and site surveys were conducted. The desk study included a review of existing statutory sites of ornithological interest and records of bird species were received from Lincolnshire Biodiversity Partnership for a search area of up to 2km around the proposed development. Surveys included a wintering survey, breeding survey and vantage point survey.

In general terms, turbines can affect birds in four particular ways- habitat loss, disturbance, displacement and collision. These surveys revealed several species of conservation importance including 19 protected or notable species within the site boundary. Mitigation measures to reduce any potential construction effects primarily involve incorporation of measure into the CEMP in order to avoid adverse effects where possible. This includes carrying out construction outside of the breeding season and, if required, nest location surveys would be agreed with Natural England and comply with legislation.

During construction of the development loss of habitat and disturbance has potential to cause significant effects. Habitat loss by the side of tracks or at storage areas would be temporary and re-instated after construction. It would therefore be a short term negative effect of low magnitude and small extent. Disturbance from noise and activity of construction can affect the long term behavior of bird species. In this case however, disturbance from noise and construction activity would not have a significant effect.

During operation, permanent habitat loss would result from access tracks, the control/substation building and the turbine foundations. Specific positioning of these features means that only small areas of foraging habitat are lost, and would be considered neutral and not significant. Surveys demonstrated very limited flight activity of protected bird species at collision risk height

2. Significance of

this risk is therefore considered to be low and not significant.

Disturbance from noise and human activity during operation is likely to be less than that at construction. Visits primarily for intermittent maintenance work would not exceed those currently experienced and is therefore not considered significant. Displacement of wintering birds from suitable habitat due to wind turbine presence was also investigated, however in relation to the surrounding area the degree of habitat loss was not considered significant.

Breeding birds were assessed separately under the same criteria however no significant effects were determined for either loss of habitat, collision risk, disturbance or displacement.

Effects at decommissioning would be no greater than at construction stage and no significant effects are expected.

2 Species listed on Annex 1 of EC Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds 1979

and/or breeding birds listed on Schedule 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981



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5.3.7 Hydrology, Hydrogeology, and Ground Conditions

The assessment was undertaken in accordance with relevant guidance and legislation. The information was collected from the Environment Agency, the British Geological Survey, Lindsey Marsh Internal Drainage Board and Ordnance Survey. Consultations with the Environment Agency and Lindsey Marsh Internal Drainage Board supplemented the data collected.

The EA flood maps show the site to be within Flood Zone 3, with one portion of the site being within a flood storage reservoir and hence in Flood Zone 3b, “functional floodplain”. The remainder of the site falls into Flood Zone 3a. The main area of the site in Flood Zone 3 is assessed as having a 1 in 100 or greater annual probability of river flooding in any year.

A Flood Risk Assessment has been carried out for the proposed development. This confirms the development does not increase the risk of flooding and is appropriate in Flood Risk terms. In addition part of the site currently operates as a flood storage area. The design of the Development means that the volume of the flood storage is not diminished during the construction and operation of the wind turbines.

The construction of the scheme will require the construction of access gates and ramps within the flood storage reservoir. The placing of material and excavation may temporarily result in the change of storage volume in this area, leading to the impact of flood risk elsewhere being increased during this period. Once complete, however, the flood storage volume will remain unchanged. Construction methods for the access gates and ramps will follow the Environment Agency’s recommended approach.

Water quality in the surrounding area is considered to be of high quality and potentially vulnerable during the construction phase due to the possibility of contamination of local watercourses from a pollution incident. A CEMP will be prepared and agreed with ELDC before commencement of works and would mitigate for potential adverse affects on surface water quality during construction. Response to potential spills during operation would be included within the Maintenance Plan. Therefore impacts on water quality are not significant from the proposed Development.

Effects on surface water and flood risk are an increase in run-off rates and drainage patterns to affect flood risk as a result of an increase in impermeable area created on site. Tracks on site are designed to avoid vulnerable areas and drainage channel crossings would prevent any constriction to the flow of water.

As a result of the measures put in place in the CEMP there is only a potential for a slight, short term temporary negative effect on water quality due to the risk of pollutants or sediments entering watercourses. Measures put in place as part of the Construction Environmental Management Plan result in there being no significant effects predicted during operation.



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5.3.8 Shadow Flicker

Shadow flicker may occur, under certain combinations of geographical position in relation to turbines and the time of the day and year, when the sun passes behind the rotors of a wind turbine and casts a shadow over neighboring properties. As the blades rotates, the shadow flicks on and off, producing the effect known as shadow flicker. The effect only occurs in buildings where the flicker appears through a window opening. Only properties located within 10 rotor diameters, 800m in this case, and 130ᵒ either side of north of the turbines have the potential to experience shadow flicker effects.

Shadows on the ground are not considered to affect residential amenity and the frequency of the flicker is much lower than that which is considered to trigger photosensitivity epilepsy.

Under worse-case conditions (sufficient daylight, correct alignment of the blades and no obstacles between the window and the turbine) potential shadow flicker effects were predicted at 5 residential properties. The assessment found that under worst case scenario and with no mitigation effects may last for up to 30 minutes at any one time and occur up to 16 hours throughout the course of the year.

The principal method of mitigation available for shadow flicker effects is to close down the particular turbine responsible for causing the effects at a particular property at times when the wind turbine has been predicted or demonstrated to cause shadow flicker effects.

A system is available which uses a device to measure the intensity of sunlight occurring at a particular moment and uses this, together with time and date information programmed into the device to calculate whether shadow flicker will occur. If the intensity of sunlight is above that which is required to cause a shadow flicker effect, the automatic system will shut down that particular wind turbine instantaneously, until the timer period when shadow flicker may occur has passed. Following adoption of this mitigation it is unlikely that any property within a distance of 10 rotor diameters (800m) would experience shadow flicker effects. Shadow flicker is therefore not considered significant.

A programme of monitoring will ensure the effectiveness of the proposed mitigation and allow for it to be adapted to allow for any inaccuracies in the calculation.

5.3.9 Socioeconomic

The potential effects of the proposed development on social and economic activity and the local community have been assessed. The assessment was carried out taking into account scoping responses, relevant advice/ guidance and research documents. Baseline data included several national statistics such as populations, economic activity, labour market, tourism and local authority data.

In economic terms, the development is considered to have a minor beneficial effect due to employment provision, primarily in the construction stage and potentially during de-commissioning. Operational effects are considered negligible.



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A number of Public Rights of Way (PRoW) run close to the proposed Development. The closest is the PRoW footpath which runs from Thoresby Bridge on the A1031, Fen Lane, to Church Lane in Tetney. This footpath follows the left (west) bank of the Louth Canal before turning inland along the embankment surrounding the flood storage area before crossing the agricultural land to the south of Tetney and passing the Tetney Blow Wells.

The construction of the proposed Development will require the installation of a new flood gate in the existing flood embankment to allow access for construction vehicles to the flood reservoir area. It will therefore be necessary to implement a permanent diversion to the PRoW footpath which runs along the top of the flood embankment in order to maintain access along the route.

The permanent diversion would broadly follow the route of the existing footpath but would require users of the footpath to come down from the top of the embankment, cross behind the flood gate and then return to the crest of the embankment to continue. New access ramps would be installed to facilitate this diversion. The exact design of the permanent diversion would be established in agreement with the Rights of Way Officer following the grant of planning consent.

During the construction and decommissioning phase, there is a slight adverse effect on users of local public rights of way. However, this effect would be reduced to negligible during the operation phase.

Tourism is an important part of Lincolnshire’s economy with over 17 million tourists visiting the county in 2008. While visitors to the area may notice the proposed Development there is limited evidence to indicate it will affect visitor numbers within the surrounding area. As such it is concluded that the operation of the proposed Development will result in a negligible effect on the numbers of tourists visiting the immediate area, East Lindsey and Lincolnshire



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6 Further Information

Printed copies of the Non-Technical Summary and Environmental Statement (including figures and appendices) may be obtained from Partnerships for Renewables, 12 Melcombe Place, Station House, London NW1 6JJ. The non-technical summary is available free of charge, and a limited number of hard copies of the Environmental Statement are available for £500 per copy.

A limited number of CDs containing PDF files of the Environmental Statement are available for £15 per CD.

Alternatively, these electronic files can be downloaded from our website at:

http://www.pfr.co.uk/LouthCanal

Copies of the Environmental Statement may be consulted at East Lindsey District Council offices during opening hours:

East Lindsey District Council Planning Division Tedder Hall, Manby Park, Louth, Lincolnshire, LN118UP

http://www.pfr.co.uk/LouthCanal

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