Planning services for a 30MW Solar Farm in Flintshire

Descriptions

Ynni Newydd Cyf (YN) and Corin Hughes Limited (CHL) are seeking to develop a 30 MW Community Solar Farm near Chester, UK, (to be referred to as Ynni Newydd Solar Farm). For PR and commercial confidentiality reasons the actual location cannot be provided at this stage. The proposed site is 47 hectares in size and divided by the national boundary with just under half in Cheshire, England and just over half in Flintshire, Wales. YN and CHL, as the co-developers, are acquiring the development rights including a 30 MW grid connection for the site, already secured.A screening opinion is being sought from each of the two LPAs, Flintshire County Council and Cheshire West and Chester Council which is expected to confirm that an EIA and ES will be required to support the applications. A scoping opinion and pre-application consultations have not yet been undertaken.The Client is seeking fee proposals from suitably qualified and experienced consultancies for the preparation, delivery and submission of two valid full planning applications (one for each side of the England-Wales border), for a 30 MW Community Solar Farm supported by an Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Statement relating to the whole site. The consultant’s services are assumed to include the following:i)To act as agent for the co-developers to undertake pre-application consultations with appropriate statutory bodies and obtain scoping opinions from the two LPAs.ii)Provide an initial report to client of site appraisal and advice on planning matters, e.g. significant matters for the Client’s consideration, how the application should be presented to each planning authority and how each should be processed.iii)Carry out all necessary surveys and desk top studies and prepare an Environmental Impact Assessment in accordance with Town & Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2011 (and the 2015 Amendment to the Regulations) and the LPAs’ scoping requirements.iv)Prepare an Environmental Statement (ES) as part of the EIA to support the planning applications. This should provide a summary of the findings of the EIA to inform decision makers reading the environmental implications of the proposed development. It should also provide appropriate information for statutory consultees, interested parties and members of the public. A draft specification of the assumed contents is set down below.v)Undertake public consultations with local communities to provide information on the proposed development and obtain comments on the proposals, and produce a report of the consultation methodology and outcomes.vi)Act as agent for the co-developers for the posting of statutory notices and submission of the planning applications to each of the planning authorities (application fees to be paid directly by the Client).vii)Provide ongoing liaison with each of the planning authorities during the determination period and response to any requests for further information/amendments.viii)Represent the co-developers at the planning committee determination meeting and any determination meetings with PINS.ix)Assist with satisfaction of post-application matters including discharge of planning conditions.NOTE: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the Sell2Wales Web Site at https://www.sell2wales.gov.wales/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=97518.