
Draft project-level design principles
To ensure that the design of East Pye Solar responds to the local context and meets community needs, we have developed a series of draft project-level design principles.
The aim of these draft project-level principles is to design a Scheme that responds to our brief, the Site and local context and the views expressed by local communities through an understanding of the area.
IGP’s overarching Design Principles provide a framework for more detailed design thinking. The draft project-level design principles align with the core ambitions outlined in the National Infrastructure Commission’s (NIC) Design Principles for National Infrastructure: Climate, People, Places and Value.
The draft project-level design principles will continue to be used to guide the iterative process of design, and the evolution of the Scheme.
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Reduce carbon emissions during all phases of the Scheme.
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Respond to the character of the Site, informed by South Norfolk Local Landscape Character Assessment and Place Making Guide Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), including the character of the River Valleys.
Retain and enhance existing vegetation, where possible, and features of value to retain the fabric of the Site and aid the integration of the Scheme within the environment and the characteristics of the surroundings, as far as practicable.
Support the objectives of Norfolk’s Green Infrastructure Strategy, creating green infrastructure for climate change resilience and enhancing biodiversity.
Create new woodland belts and native tree planting to provide screening to the Scheme, improve biodiversity and green infrastructure connectivity.
Restore key hedgerows to improve biodiversity and reinforce a sense of landscape character.
Improve soil health during the lifetime of the Scheme.
Consider the setting of heritage assets and mitigate any impact by design, where practicable.
Careful siting of infrastructure and landscape buffers to minimise impact on recreational and residential amenity, where practicable.
Consider the experience and access of people using quiet lanes, PRoW and recreational routes namely the Boudicca Way and via Beata Way.
Operational lighting and light spill to be kept to a minimum and directional in response to Norfolk County Council’s rural dark landscape.
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Deliver a quantifiable Biodiversity Net Gain of at least 10%.
Integrate the Scheme into the natural environment and strengthen habitat corridors through the farmed landscape; allowing the movement of wildlife and enhancement of biodiversity.
Incorporate initiatives set out in the Norfolk Local Nature Recovery Strategy and Norfolk Clayland Initiative, where practicable.
Support creation of field-edge/field-corner habitats such as grass margins, hedges, ditches and trees; to support rare arable weeds and farmland bird species.
Maintaining isolated ponds which are a characteristic feature of the clay plateau for their landscape and biodiversity value, particularly their populations of great crested newt.
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Flexibility for resilience and adaptation to climate change.
Flexibility for design and technological advancement to maximise energy production.
Make sure the Scheme is resilient to flooding and does not increase flooding at the Site or elsewhere.
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Provide opportunities to boost the local and regional economy.
Support opportunities for the delivery of wider community benefits and contributing to local community initiatives (in consultation with local stakeholders).
Behave as a considerate neighbour during the Scheme’s lifecycle (all phases).
Seek to route construction vehicles away from local villages, as far as practicable.
Improve connectivity and accessibility through the Site, where practicable.
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Efficient use of land and maximising grid connection capacity.
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Prioritise sustainable resource management and techniques through the Scheme’s lifecycle (all phases).
Sustainable management of woodland and hedgerows, along with meadows and other natural habitats.
Allow for dual use of land, where practicable.