Landscape Susceptibility in relation to Energy Generation, Storage and Transmission - SPD
The district of South Norfolk is increasingly finding itself the host of many energy-related nationally significant infrastructure projects (NSIPs) and being asked to determine energy-related planning applications. This increased pressure is due to a number of factors including: changes in the way energy is generated, changes in national policy, the availability of large areas of agricultural land, and the number of sunshine hours in the district.
The district encompasses a number of different types of landscape, including river valleys, farmland plateau, settled plateau parkland, and urban fringe, as well as transitional areas, for example between the plateau and the river valleys. These landscapes are described in the South Norfolk Landscape Character Assessment. 2012.
Since different landscapes are defined by different physical and perceived qualities and attributes, it is likely that they will have differing resilience to a particular form of development. For example, a rural landscape could more readily accommodate a traditional barn, without changing the character of the area, whereas other types of development such as a distribution warehouse could potentially result in a significant change to the character of the landscape.
In 2024, South Norfolk Council commissioned The Landscape Partnership to undertake a study to assess the sensitivities and capacities of these various landscapes of South Norfolk district to accommodate energy-related NSIP and non-NSIP projects.
The aim of the study is to provide guidance for those seeking to identify suitable sites for the location of energy generation, storage and transmission projects. It will also be used to inform the council's responses to such proposals in the context of national and local planning policies and the need to reasonably minimise any adverse effects on the landscape and communities of South Norfolk.
The SPD plans positively for energy-related infrastructure but there is also high regard for the intrinsic beauty of the district and to safeguard it for generations to come. The study is written as an evidence document for protecting South Norfolk landscapes from inappropriate development that would harm that intrinsic beauty and character.
Applicants for energy-related projects should not underestimate the importance of landscape-related considerations when making a planning application. Development proposals in landscapes with a high susceptibility and vulnerability to change will be considered less favourably, unless they provide significant and appropriate mitigations that reduce the harm.
The study has three main objectives:
- To assess the landscape susceptibility of different types and scales of energy development/infrastructure in relation to the seven generic landscape types identified in the district (A: Rural River Valley, B: Tributary Farmland, C: Tributary Farmland with Parkland, D: Settled Plateau Farmland, and E: Plateau Farmland, F: Valley Urban Fringe and G: Fringe Farmland)) as defined in the South Norfolk Landscape Character Assessment , along with the 20 geographically discrete landscape character areas identified in the assessment.
- To provide guidance to assist the site-specific design of the various energy-related development and infrastructure projects, including the appropriate approach to layout, siting and landscape proposals within the district and its different landscape types.
- To help formulate specific planning guidance that can be used when assessing energy-related development and infrastructure proposals within the different landscapes of South Norfolk.
The energy-related development scenarios considered in this study are:
- solar photovoltaic panels (small scale up to 5MW, medium-field scale up to 15MW, and larger-scale 15to 50MW);
- anaerobic digestion (AD) plants (farm scale up to 1ha in size and larger installations up to 5ha)
- battery storage facilities
- overhead powerlines (132kV lines that utilise smaller pylons) and 400kV lines that utilise the largest pylons
- underground cable routes
- substations
South Norfolk Council has previously published a similar study regarding wind turbine developments: South Norfolk District, Wind Turbine Landscape Sensitivity Study, dated April 2006.
The study also includes:
- a more detailed local landscape character assessment to identify the special qualities and characteristics of the landscape surrounding the Norwich Main and how they might be affected by energy-related projects,
- consideration of South Norfolk Local Plan 2015 Policy DM4.6, which seeks to protect the landscape setting of the A47 Norwich Southern Bypass as it passes to the south of Norwich, and how that might inform energy-related projects.
The findings of the study are summarised in this report, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying appendices that provide a more detailed analysis of the assessment.
