Aston Grange Solar and Energy Storage Project

Innova are proposing to develop, a solar and energy storage project at Aston Grange Farm, Aston, Cheshire. The site would be able to generate  20MW (Megawatts) of electricity and could, power around 5,700 homes and save approximately 4,150 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. 

The proposal would support the UKs transition to net zero and increased use of renewable energy through supporting the availability of energy to the National Grid. Renewable energy is characterised by its intermittent generation profile. For example, solar energy is produced during daylight hours, and wind generation fluctuates between seasons and during windy/less windy periods.    Energy storage developments like the one proposed at Hall Farm provide a solution to this, by storing electricity from the grid at times of peak generation and releasing electricity back into the grid at times of peak demand. The proposal would provide a significant amount of energy storage capacity which is needed to balance the supply and demand for energy in the UK. It also facilitates the continued deployment of renewable energy onto the electricity network. 

 The site has been carefully selected and designed through a detailed assessment process considering grid availability, heritage, landscape & amenity, ecology & environmental designations, access, and agricultural land quality.  We have engaged a team of expert consultants to undertake site specific assessment which are currently in progress. 

Following a Public Consultation event in Nov 2022, the site design was revised to incorporate the feedback received. These updates will be reflected in the upcoming Planning application. 

The UK has committed to becoming Net Zero by 2050 and a target to decarbonise the electricity grid by 2030. Aston Grange Solar and Energy Storage Project would support the UK’s transition to Net Zero and increase the use of renewable energy through supporting the availability of energy to the National Grid.

There is widespread awareness of the need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and an encouragement to increase the generation and use of renewable energy.

Cheshire West and Chester Council has declared a climate emergency on 21^st May 2019. The Council is committed to meeting the target of making the Council and the borough as a whole carbon neural by 2045.

The Cheshire West and Chester Emergency Response Plan (2022) highlights the need for 300MW of installed solar power is required by 2025 and 800MW by 2050. The proposed Aston Grange solar farm will assist Cheshire West and Chester in meeting approximately 10% of this target.

The UK has committed to becoming Net Zero by 2050 and a target to decarbonise the electricity grid by 2035. This requires an extra 3GW of solar to be built each year. Renewable energy developments like Aston Grange Farm Solar & Storage Project are a key part of addressing the Climate Emergency. The development at Aston Grange Farm will serve a key role in this vital transition to renewable energy.

Site Design

The iterative design process has informed a layout which has selected the land which benefits from established screening and includes a buffer from residential properties and local public rights of way. Additional planting of hedgerow and woodland is proposed at the site boundaries to further screen the site. 

The Hatton’s Hey Wood, Whittle’s Corner and Bank Rough Site of Special Scientific Interest (‘SSSI’) is located on the site’s west boundary. The proposal will include a suitable buffer from this designation and seek to provide enhancement measures for local flora and fauna associated with the SSSI. 

The proposal includes landscape planting on the east boundary, adjacent to the railway line, and on the south and west boundary to enhance screening of the site and add to the SSSI. 

The solar farm will be made suitable for sheep grazing within the fenced area and seeded with an appropriate grassland mix. The margins of the site outside the fence can be used for other habitat enhancements such as wildflower seeding which will boost the biodiversity both on and off site. 

Site Access

Construction Access will be from Aston Lane via a new track. The lane will be enhanced to ensure construction vehicles can utilise this safely.

Traffic management measures will be employed to ensure safe entry and exit from Aston Lane. This would be agreed in consultation with the Local Highway Authority and controlled through a detailed Construction Traffic Management Plan, secured by planning conditions. Advanced notification will be provided for road users and residents ahead of the construction period. 

There will be minimal traffic during the operational period with maintenance only requiring a site visit roughly once per month. Operational visits are usually carried out by one or two personnel, in a light goods vehicle, to undertake routine maintenance and project checks. We would also make occasional trips to site as part of our ongoing planning and environmental management compliance checks. For example, to check on our ongoing landscaping and ecological management measures, and to identify opportunities for additional enhancements. 

Internal access tracks will use existing tracks and extend these where required. Any new access tracks will be sufficiently wide and will likely be built of crushed stone over a geo-textile membrane. Where possible, tracks will be allowed to grass over once construction is finished.  The site would be operational for a period of 40 years. Once the project ceases operation it will be restored to its original condition. 

A range of specialist consultants have undertaken surveys to be submitted with the planning application to aid in the design process and ensure the site is appropriate for the proposed solar farm.

Landscape & Visual: The site extends across three fields which benefit from existing landscape screening, within an extensive network of bounding hedges and woodland. We are planning to enhance and reinforce screening on the north, east and south boundaries. A Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment is currently underway and will inform the detailed landscaping plan.

Agricultural Land Quality: According to the Natural England Agricultural Land Maps, the site is located on Grade 3 agricultural land. We are currently undertaking a site-specific Agricultural Land Classification survey which will provide an up-to-date result.

Cultural Heritage and Archaeology:  We will be undertaking cultural heritage assessments, considering the potential for both buried archaeology on site and inter- relationships with nearby above ground heritage assets in the local area.

Ecology – A bespoke biodiversity strategy is being prepared that ensures existing and new habitats are enhanced or created to benefit local wildlife.  Ecology studies have been undertaken to identify the impact of current proposals and we will use this information to design and develop our long-term management plan for the site.

Biodiversity Net Gain (‘BNG’) – All of our sites deliver significant BNG, and we will wherever possible exceed the statutory requirements set out for this. We will provide site specific management and ecological mitigation measures to ensure on-site BNG. These will be confirmed and consulted on as part of the planning application process.

Hydrology – A flood risk assessment will form part of the planning application to ensure the proposed development or the surrounding area is not at risk from surface water or river flooding due to the proposal and to employ mitigations if necessary.

Noise – Modelling is underway to assess the potential noise impacts during construction or because of electrical infrastructure during operation. There is expected to be low to negligible impact. Mitigation measures can be applied if necessary.

Glint & Glare: Due to the sites proximity to the railway, an assessment will be undertaken to see if there are any effects of glint and glare. Suitable mitigation measures will be implemented where required.

Why are you using Green Belt Land?

We have undertaken a thorough sequential exercise during site selection, which has explored opportunities to locate the solar project on previously developed land and land outside the Green Belt as a priority. However, given the extent of the Green Belt in this area and the need to connect into the local distribution network, this site is considered to be the most suitable. The proposed development site benefits from established screening from existing vegetation and due to topography has a small number of visual receptors. The benefits of the solar farm, being its low-lying nature, significant biodiversity enhancements, green spaces between the panels and around field boundaries will seek to be screened from viewpoints and blend into the land.

What will the construction traffic route be?

It is our intention that construction traffic will come from the M56, A533 and Aston Lane.

How will the solar farm impact food security?

An Agricultural Land Classification survey is currently underway. The land used for the solar farm forms only part of the landowners available farming land. The rent for the land of the solar farm allows financial security for the landowner to continue farming the remaining farmland. The proposal also includes planting which will form suitable grazing land for sheep, therefore enabling a duel use of the site and continuation of its agricultural use.