The Project

Environmental Impact Assessment

Lime Down Solar Park is classified as an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) development. This requires us to assess the potential significant environmental impacts of our proposed development, as mandated by the Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017.

EIA is the iterative process in which the assessment of environmental impacts is carried out in parallel with the development design process. We will use EIA as a tool to identify the potential effects Lime Down might have on the environment – benefits as well as negative impacts.  

The purpose of the EIA process is to make sure that where we identify any significant effects, we put in place measures to reduce any negative impacts, while also seeking to enhance positive effects.  

Our initial work has identified a number of environmental considerations which will inform the development of our detailed design for Lime Down Solar Park. A summary of these topics can be found on this webpage below.

EIA is broken down into many topics that we need to assess. These include:  

  • Ecology and biodiversity

  • Landscape and visual

  • Cultural heritage 

  • Transport and access 

  • Soils and agriculture  

  • Hydrology flood risk and drainage 

  • Socio-economics, tourism and recreation  

  • Noise and vibration 

  • Climate change 

  • Air quality 

  • Health 

  • Waste 

For each of these topics we will assess the impact of the project on them throughout its lifecycle from construction through to operation and decommissioning.  

The results of the EIA will be set out in the Environmental Statement (ES) which will be included in our final DCO application.  

The local environment

We have been getting to know the local environment through site visits, early-stage environmental surveys and desk-based information gathering. The results of this work will help to shape our project design. 

Because we are at an early stage of the project development process, the information below provides a summary of the assessments we plan to carry out and the work we have done so far. We will be able to provide more information on the likely environmental impacts associated with our proposed development and how these will be managed at the next stage of consultation.  

In the meantime further information on this is also available in the EIA Scoping Report we submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in July 2024. Please see the EIA Scoping section at the top of this webpage for more details, including a link to view the Scoping Report documents.

Stage 1: EIA Scoping  

  • On 16 July 2024 we submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Scoping Report to the Planning Inspectorate (PINS). This is available on the PINS webpage for Lime Down Solar Park, linked here.

  • The purpose of EIA is to comprehensively identify and evaluate the likely significant effects of a proposed development on the environment so we can then determine measures to reduce or manage any likely significant adverse effects.  

  • Production of a Scoping Report is the initial stage of the EIA process. It sets out the proposed scope of the EIA, and our submission of this Report to PINS formed a formal request for a Scoping Opinion under Regulation 10(1) of the EIA Regulations.   

  • Our Scoping Report for Lime Down Solar Park included:  

    • A description of the proposed development, including its location and technical capacity 

    • A description of baseline information and further data to be obtained 

    • The methodologies we will use to assess environmental factors 

    • The proposed scope of the assessments we will carry out   

    • Potential impacts of the Project and associated mitigation 

    • An explanation of the likely significant effects of the development on the environment,  

    • The approach to cumulative assessment.  

  • Over a 42-day period, PINS consulted with various organisations, including the local authority, Statutory Environmental Bodies (SEBs) and other stakeholders with specific expertise and responsibilities related to environmental protection, to gather their views on the scope of the environmental assessment.  

  • PINS then compiled the feedback received and on 22 July 2024 published its ‘Scoping Opinion’. This sets out comments on our proposed approach to EIA,  and the topics we need to address in the Environmental Statement (ES) that will be submitted as part of our application for development consent.  

  • A copy of the Scoping Opinion PINS provided us with can be found on the PINS website here.

Stage 2: Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) 

  • We are required by the Planning Act 2008 to prepare a PEIR 

  • A core technical document, the PEIR will set out the initial findings of the EIA and identify the measures we are proposing to reduce, enhance and improve the effects our proposed development may have on the environment. 

  • The PEIR will be presented at statutory consultation so technical stakeholders, local communities, individuals and interested parties can develop an informed view of the potential impacts Lime Down may have on the local environment and provide us with their views and feedback.  

Stage 3: Environmental Statement (ES) 

  • After statutory consultation we will produce the ES.

  • This will be prepared based on the Scoping Opinion and will advance the content of the PEIR, incorporating feedback received during statutory consultation and the public and the outcomes of our assessments undertaken.  

  • The ES will describe any changes to the project and the measures we are proposing to implement to reduce, improve or enhance the impacts of the project 

  • The ES, along with a Non-Technical Summary (NTS) will form part of the DCO application we submit to PINS. 

Public footpath sign in front of solar panels.

  • Detailed survey work will be carried out to understand where and what wildlife is currently found across the site so we can identify the potential impacts of our proposals on local species, as well as ways we can protect, promote and enhance wildlife habitats in our plans. These will include:

    • Breeding bird surveys

    • Bat surveys

    • Badger surveys

    • Great Crested Newt Surveys

    • Water vole and otter surveys

  • A full Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment will be produced so we can identify any potential visual impacts associated with the development we’re proposing and put in place appropriate measures to reduce them. For example, views of equipment could be screened by enhancing existing hedgerows and planting new ones.

    We are also committed to going beyond the requirements and plan to undertake a Residential Visual Amenity Assessment which seeks to mitigate potential impacts on private views and amenity. Where appropriate, we will propose bespoke measures to visually reduce the potential impacts of the development for each of the properties that may be impacted.

  • We recognise the cultural and historical importance of this area of Wiltshire, and are carrying out studies to fully understand the significance of heritage assets in the surrounding area, such as Listed Buildings, Conservation Areas and Scheduled Monuments.

    We have undertaken site visits and desk-based assessment to understand the heritage value of the site, and will carry out detailed ground investigation and archaeological surveys to ensure that any assets are protected and avoided during the construction phase of the project. We will also be undertaking field walking and a geo-physical survey of the entire project area to get a better understanding of the potential for buried archaeology.

  • We are evaluating traffic and access considerations, and have undertaken initial site visits to identify the existing access points into Lime Down Solar Park. We will assess the potential impact of our proposals on traffic, and produce a Construction Traffic Management Plan to outline how we will minimise impact on local traffic during construction and operation.

  • We will carry out surveys of the agricultural land within the site to identify its agricultural value, and seek to locate infrastructure on land of the lowest agricultural value. A Site Selection report included in our application for development consent will explain how the areas of land proposed for Lime Down Solar farm were identified and selected.

  • Emerging flood risk findings from initial research we have carried out indicate that the majority of the project area is located within Flood Zone 1 which is classified as having a ‘low’ risk to flooding. Parts of the Lime Down sites (D and E) are located within Flood Zones 2 and 3, so we will prepare a Flood Risk Assessment in line with the requirements of National Policy Statement for Energy guidance.

    Further, we have also identified land between parts of Lime Down sites (B and C) located within Flood Zones and 3.

    Additionally, we will conduct a drainage assessment that describes baseline land drainage conditions and existing site runoff rates, also producing a concept strategy for managing site runoff during the operational lifetime of the development, inclusive of resilience to climate change.

  • We recognise the need to deliver Lime Down Solar Park sensitively and make sure we have considered local communities in designing the Scheme. We are therefore seeking to design the project in a way which will maintain amenity and provide continued access to recreational benefits in the local area.

    We are committed to keeping Public Rights of Way in place and open to the public. There may be temporary diversions during the construction period for safety reasons.

  • We will carry out baseline noise monitoring at those residential properties closest to the site area to understand the noise levels currently experienced.

    Solar developments do not tend to produce a significant amount of noise during operation. However, we will model noise which could arise from the electrical transformers across the site and the cooling equipment associated with the battery storage facility, which has potential to be a source of noise from the development. This is so we can assess any potential impact at the nearest properties and then determine appropriate mitigation to include as part of the design.

  • As part of the EIA, we will be undertaking baseline surveys, modelling and assessment of a range of other issues including, but not limited to:

    • Climate Change

    • Air Quality

    • Human Health

    • Waste

    • Arboriculture

    • Ground Conditions

    We would welcome your views on our proposed approach and would be happy to discuss with you any environmental ideas, local initiatives or environmental information you may hold for the project area that could assist with the evolution of the project, our understanding of the baseline environment and assessment of the effects of the proposal on the environment.

    For information on how to submit your feedback, please visit our webpage How to Provide Feedback.