Dataset Overview
This dataset presents a parcel-based land suitability analysis and generation potential for ground installation of solar photovoltaic (PV). The suitability is based on several constraint parameters that influence the overall feasibility such through land availability, risks and planning restrictions.
Key Assumptions
For England and Wales, the land parcels shown in the dataset are sourced from the HM Land Registry Index Polygons Spatial Data (INSPIRE). For Scotland, the land parcels shown are sourced from The Register of Scotland (RoS) Cadastral Parcels (INSPIRE). Some land parcels from the original Inspire dataset have been filtered out where relevant, for example: to remove dense urban areas, highly developed land parcels and areas smaller than 0.5 hectares. Please note, in some locations, the original Inspire dataset contains 1km2 squares instead of organic shaped parcels - this is a part of the original HM Land Registry Inspire polygons dataset.
Each land parcel shown has been assessed against the parameters shown below. Parameters are divided into firm-constraints where installation of renewable technologies are not possible due to physical or regulatory limitations (such as flood zones and urban areas) and soft-constraints where installations might be possible (such as certain types of agricultural areas). If a firm constraint is present, overall suitability is ‘False’ whereas a soft constraint alone would lead to an overcall suitability of ‘Maybe’. If no firm or soft constraints are present a parcel’s overall suitability is marked as ‘True’. Where an intersection is very small in area, the constraint is not considered.
The Generation potential (kWh/kWp) of a parcel is approximated as the average of the PVOUT dataset within the parcel boundary.
Parameter | Constraint Level |
| Source |
Motorways, A & B Roads | Firm | Yes - the parcel directly intersects with a road or road tunnels No - the parcel does not intersect any road constraints | OS VectorMap® District - Road, Road and Tunnel |
Railways | Firm | Yes - the parcel intersects with a railway or railway tunnels No - the parcel does not intersect any railway constraints | OS VectorMap® District - Railway tracks, Railway tunnel |
Rivers, Canals, Lakes & Reservoirs | Firm and Soft | Yes - the parcel intersects with an area <within 300 m away from nearest Lakes & Reservoirs No - the parcel does not intersect any river and waterbodies constraints | OS VectorMap® District - Surface water area |
Managed Woodland | Firm | Yes - the parcel intersects with managed woodland No - the parcel does not not intersect with managed woodland | Forestry Commission |
Ancient Woodland | Firm | Yes - the parcel intersects with an ancient woodland area No - the parcel does not intersect with an ancient woodland area |
|
Green Belt | Soft | Yes - the parcel intersects with a green belt area No - the parcel does not intersect with any green belt area |
|
National Parks | Firm | Yes - the parcel intersects with a national parks area No - the parcel does not intersect with any national parks area | National Parks are run by National Park Authorities for the purpose of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage and to provide opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the Park by the public. |
Registered Parks & Gardens | Firm | Yes - the parcel intersects with a registered parks area No - the parcel does not intersect with any registered parks area | The 'Register’ of Historic Parks and Gardens was established in 1983, with the emphasis placed on protecting 'designed' landscapes rather than those with botanical importance. The Register safeguards a broad range of planned open spaces, including public parks, cemeteries, the grounds of private houses, and town squares. Like Listed Buildings, Parks and Gardens are assigned one of three grades to indicate their significance. |
SPAs, SACs, RAMSARs | Firm | Yes - the parcel intersects with a Special Protection Areas (SPAs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) or Ramsar sites No - the parcel does not intersect with any aforementioned area
| A Ramsar site is the land listed as a Wetland of International Importance under the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (the Ramsar Convention) 1973.
A Special Protection Area (SPA) is the land classified under Directive 79/409 on the Conservation of Wild Birds. SPAs are strictly protected sites classified in accordance with Article 4 of the EC Birds Directive, which came into force in April 1979.
A Special Area of Conservation (SAC) is the land designated under Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora. |
SSSIs, NNRs, LNRS | Firm | Yes - the parcel intersects with a Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), National Nature Reserves (NNRs) or Local Natural Resources (LNRs) area No - the parcel does not intersect with any aforementioned area | Sites of Special Scientific Interest (England) © Natural England - A Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is the land notified as an SSSI under the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981).
National Nature Reserves (England) - A National Nature Reserve (NNR) is the land declared under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 or Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981).
Local Natural Resources (England) - Local Natural Resources (LNRs) are a statutory designation made under Section 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 by principal local authorities. |
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty | Firm | Yes - the parcel intersects with an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty No - the parcel does not intersect with any Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty | Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) are designated areas where protection is afforded to protect and manage the areas for visitors and local residents. |
Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea | Firm and soft | Yes - the parcel is either in medium or high flooding risk area No - the parcel does not intersect with flooding risk area | This dataset is produced using the Risk of Flooding from Rivers and Sea data which shows the chance of flooding from rivers and/or the sea, based on cells of 50m. Each cell is allocated one of four flood risk categories, taking into account flood defences and their condition. |
Population Weighted Centroids | Firm | Yes - the parcel is less than 500 m away from a population centre No - the parcel is at least 500 m away from a population centre | Digital population weighted centroids for Output Areas in England and Wales as at 31 December 2021 |
Open Greenspace | Soft | Yes - the parcel overlaps an open greenspace area No - the parcel does not overlap any open greenspace area | Covering a range of greenspaces in urban and rural areas including playing fields, sports’ facilities, play areas and allotments. |
Agricultural Land Classification | Firm and soft | Yes - the parcel overlaps with a Agricultural Land Grade 1 and 2 or 3a No - the parcel is in Grade 3b, 4 or 5 | Agricultural Land Classification Grade and Job number for post-1988 ALC surveys for England Only. Polygons showing 5 classes of agricultural land plus classifications for urban and non-agricultural land. Grade one is best quality and grade five is poorest quality. |
Airports | Soft | Yes - the parcel overlaps with area less than 500 m from an airport No - the parcel is at least 500 m away from any airports | UK Airport Locations |
Monuments & Heritage Sites | Firm | Yes - the parcel overlaps with a heritage sites No - the parcel does not overlaps any heritage sites | The National Heritage List for England (NHLE) is the only official, up to date, register of all nationally protected historic buildings and sites in England - listed buildings, scheduled monuments, protected wrecks, registered parks and gardens, and battlefields. |
Slopes | Firm and soft | Yes - the parcel overlaps an area with slope > 10 degrees No - the overall slopes of the parcel is < 10 degrees | OS Terrain® 50 |
Built Up Areas | Firm | Yes - the parcel overlaps an a built up area No - the parcel does not overlap with a built up area | OS Open Built Up Areas represent the built-up areas of Great Britain equal to or greater than 200,000m² or 20 hectares and they include unique names, alternative language names and GSS codes. |
Table 1: Parameters used to assess overall suitability of a land parcel for ground mount photovoltaics.
Sources
BRE Planning Guidance: https://files.bregroup.com/solar/KN5524_Planning_Guidance_reduced.pdf
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