Biodiversity Benefits
TotalEnergies places a strong emphasis on the delivery of landscape and biodiversity enhancements. The development will deliver an overall biodiversity net gain of 31.63% in local habitats and 57.71% in surrounding hedgerows, while maintaining grazing areas on suitable areas of the site.
Our initiatives aim to preserve and enhance the local landscape, encourage wildlife, and promote sustainability. Here’s how we’re achieving these goals:
Key objectives
- Landscape preservation and enhancement: We are committed to preserving existing landscape features and supplementing them with new plantings to enhance the overall landscape. Our plans include extensive new hedgerows, hedgerow trees, and woodland plantings.
- Biodiversity enhancement: Encouraging wildlife and enhancing biodiversity is important to us. We are implementing a series of measures to ensure a rich and diverse ecosystem within the proposed site.
- Sustainable agriculture: By reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and managing nitrate levels, we aim to mitigate soil degradation. Livestock will continue to graze under the solar panels, maintaining the farm’s primary agricultural use.
- Local sustainability initiatives: Our project contributes to local sustainability goals and will improve community facilities within the site and surrounding area.
The map below shows the biodiversity enhancement landscape proposals planned for the site:
New native hedgerow field boundaries including hedgerow trees, and new native woodland and shrub planting would conserve and enhance the landscape structure within the Site, which in turn would be beneficial in terms of strengthening local landscape character taking account of the landscape management strategy for Landscape Character Area (LCA) Aii Undulating Mixed Farmlands, (identified in the 2022 Rutland Landscape Character Assessment), which the Site is located within.
Hedgerow and tree management:
Existing hedgerows and trees will be managed and enhanced with new infill planting. We will plant new native hedgerows and trees, including species like Hawthorn, Field Maple, Hazel, Holly, Blackthorn, Dog Rose, and Guelder Rose.
Wildflower grasslands:
New species-rich wildflower grasslands will be established along field margins and within designated biodiversity enhancement areas (BEAs), promoting vibrant and diverse flora. This will enable a range of species to thrive.
Vegetation retention:
We will preserve existing vegetation across the site wherever possible, except for access purposes. Mature field trees will be retained and integrated into the development.
Habitat avoidance and enhancement:
Our design will avoid impacting high-value habitats, focusing instead on enhancing field boundaries, trees, hedgerows, ditches, and ponds.
Wildflower meadows and native plantings:
Wildflower meadows will be created under proposed hedgerows and within enhanced areas. Native scrub planting and woodland cover will further enrich the area, making it a suitable habitat for species.
Tree and hedgerow planting:
We will plant 1,022 meters of new hedgerows, 95 meters of hedgerow infill, and 156 new trees, enhancing the site’s appearance. The hedgerows would provide an invertebrate food source and foraging route for bats to feed and commute.
Wildlife provisions:
- 15 bird boxes will be installed on semi-mature and mature trees to support avian populations.
- 15 bat roost boxes will be placed on suitable trees to aid bat conservation.
- 10 hedgehog boxes will be located in sheltered, undisturbed areas.
- 10 insect hotels will be erected to support invertebrate life.
- At least five hibernacula, constructed from logs and clean bricks or rubble, will provide shelter for amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, and invertebrates.
Monitoring and maintenance:
An experienced ecologist will monitor the site over time, conducting walkover surveys in years 1, 3, 5, and 10 to ensure the effectiveness of our ecological measures.
Through these initiatives, Staveley Solar Farm will not only generate renewable energy, but will also enhance the surrounding natural environment, having a positive impact on the local ecosystem and community. Careful maintenance and management of the proposed trees and hedgerows over the period of 40 years that the solar farm would be in operation and beyond would ensure they continue to thrive.
Agricultural benefits:
As approximately 95% of the Site remains available for sheep grazing, the National Farmers Union support solar schemes such as this project as it allows farms to diversify which in turn helps keeps farmers in business, allows farmers to continue to farm sustainably, employs local people and provides investments locally, whilst improving the land and soil quality for future generations to come.
Grazing sheep under and around solar panels is the most cost-effective way of maintaining the land, which has the potential to increase the level of carbon sequestered by the grassland over the 40 years of the operation of the Solar Farm. It will significantly increase the soil organic matter which will increase long-term fertility and soil workability.
Community Liaison Group
Our Community Liaison Group (CLG) plays a vital role in fostering open communication between the Staveley Solar Farm project team and the local community. The CLG provides a platform for residents, local stakeholders, and project representatives to discuss the project’s progress, address any concerns, and share updates on key developments, as well as provides access to technical specialists who can address any concerns shared by the community.
The CLG consists of a representative from the Operator of the project, a representative from Anglian Water and representatives from the communities local to the site. The membership of the CLG may vary according to how the development is progressing. It is likely that once the site is operational, the membership may be reduced to those core communities affected by these operations.
The above map outlines the Parishes in proximity to the site.
The group meets regularly to ensure transparency and maintain a strong relationship with the community. We value the input and feedback from our neighbours and are committed to ensuring the project benefits everyone involved.
You can access the minutes from our most recent meetings below:
- Notes from meeting of the Staveley Solar Farm Community Liaison Group
- Notes from the meeting of the Staveley Solar Farm Community Liaison Group held on Thursday 19th September 2024 in Wing Village Hall
- Notes from meeting of Rutland Parish Councillors
We encourage all community members to stay informed and participate in these discussions as we work together to bring sustainable energy to Rutland.
The Community Benefit Fund will also be managed by the CLG. The CLG have responsibility for agreeing:
- A clearly defined purpose for the fund that correspond to local needs and priorities
- When the fund will begin making payments
- The size and frequency of fund pay-outs
- The payments that will be made and what – if anything – the payments depend upon
- What – if any – obligations the beneficiary has to the fund such as auditing and reporting
- How disputes should be dealt with
The mechanism for administering the benefits will be decided by the Community Liaison Group. The fund’s operation is determined by construction commencing on the Staveley Solar Farm.
At that point, the CLG is expected to transition into a Community Interest Company (CIC), establishing a legal framework to manage and distribute the benefits effectively.
You can submit any ideas for discussion, or suggestions on how the CBF should be dispersed, through our project email address (solaruk@totalenergies.com).
For more information on the Community Benefit Fund, please visit our community benefit fund page.
Community Benefit Fund
A Community Benefit Fund is a voluntary commitment by a developer to pay into a fund which is then made available to finance community projects. Community benefit funds can offer an opportunity for the local community to access long-term, reliable, and flexible funding to directly enhance their local area, economy, society, and environment.
As part of our commitment to supporting the local community, the Community Benefit Fund would support initiatives that foster educational opportunities and skill development in the local area to boost job opportunities.
This vision aligns with our broader goal of contributing to social and environmental prosperity by providing reliable, long-term funding. The Community Liaison Group, responsible for managing the fund, will ensure that it addresses local needs, thereby promoting educational advancement and opening pathways to employment in sectors related to environmental and climate improvements.
Fund Value
The value of the fund will be based on £1,000 per MW (indexed linked) per year output of the Solar Farm from point of construction. Staveley Solar Farm has a maximum power output of 40MW resulting in an annual community benefit fund of £40,000. The community benefit fund will be available for the operational lifetime of the Solar Farm. The Solar Farm is expected to operate for 30 years. If the Solar Farm operates beyond this, the community benefit fund will be extended in line with the lifetime of the Solar Farm.
Fund priorities
The fund will be open to proposals from the community to promote social and environmental prosperity and will prioritise funding in the following areas:
- Climate and Environmental improvements
- Youth Inclusion and Education
- Road Safety
- Cultural Dialogue and Heritage
The Community Liaison Group will have discretion to support projects outside of these areas if the community can demonstrate a significant need.
However, the fund will not support:
- Organisations that promote any kind of discrimination
- Religious organisations, trade unions and political parties
- Organisations that target or support an individual
- Partnerships that require money to pay for salaries
Fund Management
The Community Benefit Fund will be managed by the Community Liaison Group which consists of a representative from the Operator of the project, a representative from Anglian Water and representatives from the communities local to the site.
The Community Liaison Group have responsibility for agreeing:
- A clearly defined purpose for the fund that correspond to local needs and priorities
- When the fund will begin making payments
- The size and frequency of fund pay-outs
- The payments that will be made and what – if anything – the payments depend upon
- What – if any – obligations the beneficiary has to the fund such as auditing and reporting
- How disputes should be dealt with
Timeframe for implementation
The mechanism for administering the benefits will be decided by the Community Liaison Group. The fund’s operation is determined by the beginning of construction of the Staveley Solar Farm.
You can submit any ideas through our project email address (solaruk@totalenergies.com)
For more information on the Community Liaison Group, please visit the page here.
CBF Charter
FAQs
About the Project
Solar farms are where photovoltaic (PV) panels, referred to as solar panels, are used to harvest the sun’s power on a utility scale. The PV panels convert natural sunlight into electricity.
Staveley Solar Farm would comprise the construction and operation (including maintenance) of ground mounted PV arrays and supporting infrastructure. The supporting infrastructure would include:
- Substations, comprising electrical equipment such as inverters and transformers.
- Approximately 90% of the electricity generated by the solar farm will be used by Anglian Water, the local water supplier, to decarbonise their operations, and of which 10-15% will be utilised at the Wing Water Treatment Works via a ‘direct wire’. The remaining energy generated would be exported to the National Grid.
- Access tracks for maintenance.
- Perimeter (stock proof ‘deer’) fencing and CCTV.
- Landscape planting to screen views, most likely through infilling and planting of hedgerows and trees.
- Planting within the PV array area and around the perimeter of the site to help enhance the landscape and target Biodiversity Net Gain.
Rutland County Council have set ambitious climate change targets to decarbonise the region and ensure a secure, reliable and clean source of energy for homes and businesses in the County. Staveley Solar Farm would play an important role in providing local energy whilst also contributing to the UK’s wider net zero targets.
Anglian Water has targets to achieve 45 per cent renewable energy generation by 2025 and become a net zero carbon organisation by 2030.
It takes a huge amount of electricity to pump water through the network to treatment works, and to treat water to a quality suitable to supply to customers. Therefore, finding renewable energy alternatives to the supply from National Grid is essential to achieve the carbon reduction goals. Reducing Anglian Water’s reliance on the National Grid also gives more control over operational costs.
The proposed Staveley Solar Farm would be directly connected to Anglian Water’s Wing Water Treatments Works.
The project would have a maximum power output of 40MW of renewable energy – the equivalent of powering 19,600 homes a year and cutting 14,700 tonnes of carbon emissions a year.
The site would take up approximately 80 hectares of a wider 1,565 hectares agricultural landholding.
The site is located on land to the south of Pilton, in Rutland.
The proposed Staveley Solar Farm benefits from:
- Its proximity to a suitable Point of Connection at the 33kV substation at Oakham, and Wing Water Treatment works which will benefit from a direct wire connection
- Its accessibility from the highways network
- Its history of use for quarrying and landfill means the land has already been significantly altered and degraded.
- The quality of land it will use, the majority of which has been deemed to be not ‘Best and Most Versatile Agricultural Land’: 59ha of the 80ha site area is lower quality agricultural land. 51.9 ha has been assessed to comprise Grade 4 ‘Poor Quality Land’ and 7.1ha Grade 3b ‘Moderate Quality’ land.
- No Public Rights of Way intersecting the site or in close proximity to the site
- The site has been as assessed to confirm that the site and surroundings are not subject to any ecological sensitivity.
- The site is not situated in or close to any areas designated for landscape.
- Using the site for solar farm development allows for continued pastoral agriculture under the panels. This dual use supports agricultural diversification and strengthens the resilience of the landowner’s larger 1485-hectare agricultural enterprise.
- The site is situated in Flood Risk 1 (low) flood risk.
- No designated heritage assets have been identified at the site.
Our plans for Staveley Solar Farm are still at an early stage and subject to planning permission by Rutland County Council. Should approval be granted, construction could start early 2025. We anticipate that it would take nine to twelve months to build the project, with the site potentially being fully operational and generating electricity from late 2025/early 2026.
The site is considered a ‘temporary’ development, meaning it would be decommissioned after a set period without any permanent land use change. The timeline for this decommissioning would be determined and published at a later date, but typically run up to forty years.
The site was previously a quarry, used for mining iron ore, run by Staveley, Coal and Iron Co Ltd.
As such it has low environmental and agricultural value, meaning it can only produce a low yield for arable crops which is increasingly uneconomical for the current farm to sustain.
An Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) has confirmed that the majority of the site is not Best and Most Versatile (BMV) agricultural land. Of the 80.3ha site, most of the land (59ha) is grade 3b and 4:
- 51.9ha grade 4
- 7.1ha grade 3b
- 17.7ha grade 3a
- 3.6ha grade 2
Land that is grade 3b or grade 4 is typically classified as ‘lower grade’ agricultural land. By using the former quarry site for solar the existing farm would be able to diversify its operation, supporting continued agricultural output on better quality agricultural land elsewhere on the site.
Our proposals for the solar farm have been designed using a landscape-led approach, taking advantage of natural screening, contours in the land, and existing hedgerows and woodland to ensure it has as minimal a visual impact on the surrounding area. As solar panels are low-profile compared to other forms of infrastructure they can be screened appropriately. Our screening measures will also help mitigate visual impacts through new planting of hedgerows and trees as part of the Landscape and Ecological Management Plan; this is developed as part of the planning process. For further information please see our submitted Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment and accompanying Detailed Landscape Proposal plans.
Total Energies places a strong emphasis on the delivery of landscape and biodiversity enhancements. The frames supporting the solar panels occupy less than 1% of the land within the site, while the rest of the infrastructure typically affects less than 5% of the ground. This design allows sheep to move freely underneath and between the frames, ensuring that approximately 95% of the site remains accessible for vegetation growth. This space can support ongoing agricultural activities, such as sheep grazing, as well as local wildlife throughout the project’s lifespan.
Additionally, the development will achieve a biodiversity net gain of 31.63% in local habitats and 57.71% in surrounding hedgerows, all while maintaining grazing areas on suitable parts of the site.
Other environmental benefits include the provision of 15 bird boxes, 15 bat boxes, 10 hedgehog boxes, 10 insect hotels/boxes and 5 new hibernation areas within the development proposals. These proposed enhancement measures would ensure that the resident animal populations are accommodated, while encouraging further species to move into the site.
Landscape enhancements across the site include:
- Approximately 7.63 hectares of Biodiversity Enhancement Areas (BEA) with species-rich wildflower grass mix and organic wild bird seed mix.
- Species-rich wildflower grass mix along field margins.
- Wildflower meadows under proposed hedgerows and hedgerow enhancements.
- Native scrub planting and native woodland cover.
- The creation of 1,022m of new hedgerows, 95m of new hedgerow infill, and the planting of 156 new trees.
The planning application submission includes various reports assessing the impacts of the development, such as a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, a Landscape and Ecological Management Plan, a Construction Traffic Management Plan, an Agricultural Land Classification Report, an Ecological Assessment Report, a Biodiversity Enhancement and Management Plan and more.
These assessments ensure that the development complies with planning policy requirements and effectively addresses potential environmental impacts.
Anglian Water
Community Benefit Fund – Our approach
STAVELEY SOLAR FARM
A Community Benefit Fund is a voluntary commitment by a developer to pay into a fund which is then made available to finance community projects. Community benefit funds can offer an opportunity for the local community to access long-term, reliable, and flexible funding to directly enhance their local area, economy, society, and environment.
Fund Value
The value of the fund will be based on £1,000 per MW per year output of the solar farm. Staveley Solar Farm has a maximum power output of 40MW resulting in an annual community benefit fund of £40,000. The community benefit fund will be available for the operational lifetime of the solar farm. The solar farm is expected to operate for 30 years. If the solar farm operates beyond this, the community benefit fund will be extended in line with the lifetime of the solar farm.
Fund priorities
The fund will be open to proposals from the community to promote social and environmental prosperity and will prioritise funding in the following areas:
- Climate and Environmental improvements
- Youth Inclusion and Education
- Road Safety
- Cultural Dialogue and Heritage
The Community Liaison Group will have discretion to support projects outside of these areas if the community can demonstrate a significant need.
However, the fund will not support:
- Organisations that promote any kind of discrimination
- Religious organisations, trade unions and political parties
- Organisations that target or support an individual
- Partnerships that require money to pay for salaries
Fund Management
The Community Benefit Fund will be managed by a Community Liaison Group which will consist of a representative from the Operator of the project, a representative from Anglian Water and representatives from the communities local to the site.
This Community Liaison Group will have responsibility for agreeing:
- A clearly defined purpose for the fund that correspond to local needs and priorities
- When the fund will begin making payments
- The size and frequency of fund pay-outs
- The payments that will be made and what – if anything – the payments depend upon
- What – if any – obligations the beneficiary has to the fund such as auditing and reporting
- How disputes should be dealt with
Timeframe for implementation
The mechanism for administering the benefits will be decided once the Community Liaison Group is in place. The fund’s operation is determined by the successful start-up of the Staveley Solar Farm.
You can submit any ideas through our project email address (info@staveleysolar.co.uk)
Site location/identification
Keeping the solar farm infrastructure safe form theft is an important consideration. The site will have a range of security measures such as 2.4 meter high post and mesh fencing and infrared CCTV throughout the construction and operation of the site
There is no evidence that solar farm development increases the risk of theft in the wider area.
The size of the project has been determined through a range of factors including site feasibility, grid connection including proximity and cost along with Anglian Water’s operational requirements. The energy generated by the scheme on the proposed site will also play an important role in contributing to Rutland’s local net zero and decarbonisation.
The site is not situated within any national or local landscape designations.
Bluestone instructed input from a Chartered Landscape Architect at an early stage in the process to inform the evolution of the site layout which has included desk top research, site visits, and the production of a ‘Screened Zone of Theoretical Visibility’ to inform the evolution of the site layout to date with further feedback sought at the pre-application engagement phase.
The design of the project minimises its visual impact by positioning it on higher ground behind existing hedgerows, trees, and woodland, along with additional planting that will mature over time to provide further screening.
We have removed panels from the most prominent south-facing slopes which would have been visible from parts of Morcott, reducing impact on the local landscape. Our visual mitigation measures have also been enhanced by additional hedgerow planting, including along Morcott Road. Proposed new hedgerow, tree and scrub planting have been increased further across the scheme as a whole.
We have also incorporated a range of environmental and biodiversity enhancement measures for Staveley Solar Farm as part of our principles for sustainable development on all our projects.
The solar farm has been designed to allow existing sheep grazing to continue and is an element of farm diversification that will support food production on the wider farmstead in the long term. Although it is not a formal requirement yet, we will have achieved biodiversity net gain for Staveley Solar Farm – 31.63% in local habitats and 57.71% in surrounding hedgerows.
Please visit our environmental benefits page for more information.
There will be 2.4m high deer fencing (post & mesh) surrounding the site. At the bottom of the fence would be a 10cm gap to allow passage for small animals.
We are unable to start hedgerow planting until our application is approved by Rutland County Council as the local planning authority. It also needs to be considered that the planting season for trees and hedges runs from November to March.
Cable routing
Under our proposals, the proposed cable route will run from the western side of the Application Site parallel to Wing Road and the A6003 then to Oakham Substation, with a private wire connection and smaller Substation facilitated directly to Anglian Water Wing Water Treatment Works site. The planning application also includes the submission of a Construction Traffic Method Statement which considers the impact of the cable route and propose suitable mitigation.
As raised above the planning application includes the submission of a Construction Traffic Method Statement which considers the impact of the cable route and propose suitable transport mitigation.
Environment/biodiversity
We have undertaken extensive environmental survey works to determine and plan appropriate mitigation measures for the environmental and biodiversity impact of the project.
Further information can be found in our Ecological Assessment Report, which also includes the Biodiversity Enhancement and Management Plan. As well as other accompanying technical reports such as but not limited to the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment; Flood Risk Assessment and Surface Water Drainage Strategy; Heritage Statement; Arboriculture Impact Assessment; and Phase I Geo-Environmental Assessment.
Solar farm development is temporary and reversible.
The duration of the operational phase and decommissioning and restoration of the site will be controlled via planning condition.
The development will not give rise to any permanent change of use at the site.
The use of the land during the operational phase will enable the existing agricultural activity of sheep grazing ewes to continue at the site.
The BRE ‘National Solar Centre Guidance for Solar Developments’ [1]describes that solar farms present excellent opportunity to increase biodiversity. The panels are mounted on piles and cause minimal disturbance to the ground, typically disturbing less than 5% of the site area.
Typically, 95% of the field utilized for solar farm development is still accessible for plant growth and wildlife enhancement.
The amount of ‘Biodiversity Net Gain’ delivered by the project will be quantified and using the DEFRA the DEFRA Biodiversity Metric V3.1.
The planning application will include a Biodiversity and Enhancement Management Plan which will show how the site will deliver increased biodiversity.
[1] https://www.bre.co.uk/filelibrary/nsc/Documents%20Library/NSC%20Publications/National-Solar-Centre—Biodiversity-Guidance-for-Solar-Developments–2014-.pdf
An Ecological Assessment Report has been submitted as part of the planning application which has considered the impact of the development on the local bird population. Habitats within the Site comprising arable land and modified grassland, do not provide suitable habitats for the qualifying features of the nearby statutory designated sites. The small size of fields within the Site (formed by hedgerows/trees along field boundaries) make the Site unattractive to waterbirds, due to reduced sightlines. The loss of arable land and modified grassland, which is abundant in the wider area, is considered unlikely to have an adverse effect on local non-breeding bird populations of any species. No potential for likely significant effect on Internationally, or nationally protected sites, is considered to occur as a result of the Proposed Development.
Community Benefit
We have identified several measures to ensure that members of the local community benefit from our work.
Firstly, we are allocating money through a community benefit fund, which could include investment in local projects, recreational spaces, biodiversity and in addressing social issues such as fuel poverty. The feedback we receive during our ongoing engagement will help determine the focus or scope of the fund.
It should be noted that a Community Benefit Fund is a voluntary commitment by the Applicant that sits outside the formal requirements of the planning process.
TotalEnergies also places a strong emphasis on the delivery of landscape and biodiversity enhancements. The development will deliver an overall biodiversity net gain of 31.63% in local habitats and 57.71% in surrounding hedgerows, while maintaining grazing areas on suitable areas of the site.
For more information, please visit our community benefit fund page and environmental benefits page.
Next steps
If you would like to comment on the Staveley Solar Farm planning application, please visit Rutland County Council’s website planning portal, where you will be able to sign up to make a comment – Simple Search (rutland.gov.uk)
You can access our submission documents on our application page on Rutland County Council’s website. This includes:
- Planning application forms
- Planning Statement
This report has been prepared to describe the Proposed Development in relation to the Application Site and setting, and to appraise the Proposed Development against relevant legislative and planning policy considerations, as well as any other relevant material considerations. - Design and Access Statement
This Statement demonstrates that the Applicant has fully considered the design and access issues as part of the comprehensive preparation of the scheme prior to submission of the planning application. - Statement of Community Involvement
A statutory document which sets out how Bluestone Energy have engaged with the public and affected communities on how we have engaged on the application. - Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment
The planning application is supported by a full LVIA prepared by a Chartered Landscape Architect in accordance with best practice documents and guidance, which are listed in full within the LVIA methodology. This includes the Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (3rd edition) (Landscape institute and Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (2013). The findings of the LVIA have informed the landscape mitigation strategy for the solar farm. - Landscape and Ecological Management Plan
This document has been prepared to ensure the delivery and ongoing management of the solar farm landscape proposals, to provide related ecological and landscape and visual benefits. Detailed landscape proposals have been produced, setting out the existing and proposed areas of planting within the Site. - Construction Traffic Management Plan
A Transport engineer has visited the site, undertaken traffic survey works, and liaised with the Highways Authority to inform the design of suitable means of access to the site by the vehicles required to access during the construction/decommissioning phase.The CTMP provides the detail of the access to the site, the construction traffic route, breakdown of traffic movements, the need for any temporary off-site mitigation including traffic management, and the process for agreeing a condition survey at a later date if ultimately required. Swept path assessments are included as part of the CTMP. Detail of any off-site mitigation and management measures required are provided within this report. - Construction Traffic Method Statement
A CTMS has been prepared to address the highways implications of the cable route proposed between the site and the Points of Connecting at Wing Water Treatment Works and the substation at Oakham. - Agricultural Land Classification Report
This report assesses the Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) grading of 80.3Ha, of agricultural land approximately 1 mile east of Wing in Rutland. - Agricultural Considerations Report
This report has been provided in response to Officer comments in the pre-application consultation (November 2022) and provides information and commentary on the land quality; the viability and implications of removing land of Grade 2 and 3a from the proposals; and the use of the land in the long term, including the last five years. - Ecological Assessment Report
A report which provides baseline information and an assessment of potential ecological effects of the Proposed Development. - Biodiversity Enhancement and Management Plan
The BEMP sets out habitat protection and enhancement measures as well as details ecological management practices to be adopted with the aim of developing and maintaining wildlife habitats to provide a net gain for local biodiversity. - Biodiversity Metric Calculations
In order to assess the measurable biodiversity impacts associated with the Proposed Development, Defra’s Statutory Biodiversity Metric Calculation Tool was utilised in order to provide evidence of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG). The Metric is a biodiversity accounting tool used to quantify biodiversity losses and gains using habitats as a proxy for overall biodiversity. It is recognised as an industry standard and has been developed through full and widespread consultation with stakeholders across all relevant sectors. At the time of writing, BNG is not yet mandatory in England; BNG will become mandatory on the 12th of February. - Report to Inform a Habitats Regulations Assessment
This report has been prepared to assist Rutland County Council (RCC) as the Competent Authority in the undertaking of a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA). - Great Crested Newt Species Report
This report has been prepared by Tyler Grange Group Ltd on behalf of Bluestone Energy. It sets out the findings of ecological surveys in relation to great crested newt (GCN) Triturus cristatus undertaken at parcels of land within Rutland for the development of ‘Staveley Solar Farm’. - Flood Risk Assessment and Surface Water Drainage Strategy
The site is situated in Zone 1 for flood risk (i.e. having a less than 1 in 1000 annual probability of river or sea flooding (<0.1%) in any year. Despite this low risk a Flood Risk Assessment and Surface Water Drainage Strategy has been prepared due to the area of the proposal exceeding 1ha to ensure that the flood risk is fully understood in relation to site conditions and to demonstrate that the development would not give rise to any increased flood risk elsewhere. - Heritage Statement
This Assessment provides information with regards to the significance of the historic environment to fulfil the requirement given in the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework. - Arboricultural Impact Assessment
This report summaries the tree survey undertaken relevant to a planning application at the site and provides written advice on how they inform feasibility and design options. The instruction also required an assessment of the potential impact (the Arboricultural Impact Assessment) of the proposed development on the site’s arboricultural resource to be undertaken. - Solar Photovoltaic Glint and Glare Study
This report has been prepared to assess the possible effects of glint and glare from a solar photovoltaic (PV) development located on land to the south of Pilton village, Luffenham Lane, Pilton, Rutland. This assessment pertains to the possible impact upon surrounding residential amenity, road safety and aviation activity associated with Shacklewell Lodge Farm Airfield and RAF Wittering. - Noise Assessment
This Assessment has been prepared to undertake an operational noise assessment for the proposed Staveley Solar Farm - Phase I Geo-Environmental Assessment
This Assessment was prepared to determine potential contamination risks and associated potential environmental liabilities relating to the sites’ proposed use as a solar farm in order to satisfy relevant planning requirements. In addition, anticipated foundation types and any significant geotechnical constraints are considered. - Application Plans
These accompanying plans provide detail of the scheme and equipment detailing proposed.
We are expecting Rutland County Council to make a decision on our application in 2024. We will share further information once this is confirmed.
Our plans for Staveley Solar Farm are still at an early stage and subject to planning permission by Rutland County Council. Should approval be granted, construction could start early 2025. We anticipate that it would take nine to twelve months to build the project, with the site potentially being fully operational and generating electricity from late 2025/early 2026.
The site is considered a ‘temporary’ development, meaning it would be decommissioned after 40 years from the date that electricity is first exported to the grid.
Any community benefit proposals can be sent to our project email address, info@staveleysolar.co.uk
Planning
The planning application submission includes various reports assessing the impacts of the development, such as a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, a Landscape and Ecological Management Plan, a Construction Traffic Management Plan, an Agricultural Land Classification Report, an Ecological Assessment Report, a Biodiversity Enhancement and Management Plan and more.
These assessments ensure that the development complies with planning policy requirements and effectively addresses potential environmental impacts.
About the project
Staveley Solar Farm is a new solar energy project being developed by TotalEnergies, and Anglian Water, the local water supplier.
The site is located on land to the south of Pilton and comprises approximately 80 hectares (ha) of a 1,565-ha landholding, previously used for ironstone quarrying operations.
If Staveley Solar Farm is granted consent, it would help to provide clean, sustainable energy to Rutland’s water supply and contribute to local and national net zero targets.
Approximately 90% of the electricity generated by the solar farm will be used by Anglian Water, the local water supplier, to decarbonise their operations, and of which 10-15% will be utilised at the Wing Water Treatment Works via a ‘direct wire’. The remaining energy generated would be exported to the National Grid.
Designed with the future in mind, Staveley Solar Farm would also allow sheep grazing to continue, supporting farm diversification and long-term food production.
TotalEnergies’ ambition is to be a world-class player in leading the energy transition and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, together with society.
TotalEnergies are working with Anglian Water to help achieve the latter’s ambitious target of 45% renewable energy generation by 2025 and to become a net zero organisation by 2030. Incorporating renewable energy sources such as Staveley Solar Farm will be needed to meet this challenge and bring Rutland one step closer to achieving net zero.
The site for the proposed Solar Farm is situated on brownfield land with poor soil quality. The vision for the project is to take this site of comparatively low environmental and agricultural value and enhance it to ensure biodiversity can flourish and sheep can graze on the site.
About TotalEnergies in the UK
TotalEnergies has been present in the UK for more than 60 years, employing more than 1,800 people across the energy value chain.
We are one of the country’s leading oil and gas operators, operating around 30% of the UK Continental Shelf’s gas production, with average daily equity production of 142,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d) in 2023.
We’re diversifying our energy offering to provide decarbonised and renewable energies to our customers, while continuing to provide the oil and gas they need today.
We have invested in several offshore wind developments in the UK which will have the capacity to deliver over 5GW of renewable power this decade, including Seagreen (1.1GW) which became fully operational in October 2023, West of Orkney (2GW) and Outer Dowsing (1.5 GW).
We are one of the UK’s largest suppliers of gas and electricity to businesses and the public sector. We also offer electric vehicle charging solutions and markets petroleum products including lubricants, aviation fuel, bitumen and specialty fluids.
About TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies is a global multi-energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity.
Our team of more than 100,000 employees are committed to energy that is ever more affordable, more sustainable, more reliable and accessible to as many people as possible.
Active in nearly 130 countries, TotalEnergies puts sustainable development in all its dimensions at the heart of its projects and operations to contribute to the well-being of people.
About Anglian Water
Anglian Water is the largest water and water recycling company in England and Wales by geographic area. It supplies water and water recycling services to almost seven million people in the East of England and Hartlepool. Its purpose, enshrined in the company values, is to bring environmental and social prosperity to the region.
About Pegasus Group
Pegasus Group is a leading independent development consultancy, operating throughout the UK. Pegasus Group are the Planning Agent for Staveley Solar Farm; their role involves guiding the project through the planning process, co-ordinating technical expertise and ensuring compliance with local and national regulations. Their expertise ensures that the development aligns with both community needs and environmental standards.
The Site is located on land to the south of Pilton Village, Luffenham Lane, Pilton, in Rutland, and comprises approximately 80 hectares (ha) of a 1,380ha landholding, historically used for ironstone quarrying operations. Additionally, no designated heritage assets lie within the site.
The maps above and below show the design that was submitted to Rutland County Council as part of our planning application.
The feedback we received during our public consultation in 2023 has helped shape the plans that we submitted to Rutland County Council in our planning application. This design also reflects pre-application advice we have received from Rutland County Council as the Local Planning Authority on planning policy which we are required to adhere to.
The feedback received during our public consultation, and how this has been taken into account within our final designs, is summarised in our Statement of Community Involvement and You Said, We Did document.
To view our planning application, and these documents, please click on the link here. The planning application number is 2024/0300/MAF.
We have listened to your feedback on our proposed Community Benefit Fund and have increased our monetary offering. If you would like to find out more information or wish to submit ideas, this can be found on our Community Benefit page.
The Staveley Solar Farm project enables farm diversification. Approximately 95% of the site will remain available for sheep grazing, allowing farmers to maintain their agricultural operations alongside the solar panels. This dual-use approach supports sustainable farming practices and provides farmers with a diversified and stable income stream.
The National Farmers Union support solar schemes such as this project as it allows farms to diversify which in turn helps keeps farmers in business, allows farmers to continue to farm sustainably, employs local people and provides investments locally, whilst improving the land and soil quality for future generations to come.
The project contributes to improving soil quality and fostering carbon sequestration through the establishment of diverse, flower-rich habitats that support pollinators. This integration of solar energy production with agriculture helps to ensure long-term land fertility while promoting biodiversity and enhancing local ecosystems.
The images below show viewpoints of the site from different locations, showing how they will look during the 1st and 15th year during operation. These viewpoints have been set-up to represent an open view across the site during winter and therefore a ‘worst case’.
1. Viewpoint 4 – Bridleway E279 west of North Luffenham Road.
2. Viewpoint 5 – North Luffenham Road, near residential properties, looking northwest.
3. Viewpoint 6 – Public Right of Way (PRoW) near the western edge of Morcott, looking northwest to northeast.
4. Viewpoint 7 – The central part of the Public Right of Way (PRoW) between Wing Road in the east and the A47 Morcott Road in the southwest, looking northwest to northeast.
The map below shows where there are Special Protection Areas in nearby proximity to the proposed site.
Earlier this year, we submitted our planning application to Rutland County Council.
There is still time to have your say on the plans via the Council’s website before the Planning and Licensing Committee makes a decision on the application later this year.
If you wish to comment on Staveley Solar Farm’s planning application, a link can be found here. The planning application number is 2024/0300/MAF.
Contact us
If you have any questions about Staveley Solar Farm, please don’t hesitate to get in touch:
Email us at: solaruk@totalenergies.com