Queen Victoria School in Dunblane is looking to install more than 2500 solar panels within the grounds of the A-listed building.
The school requested a screening opinion from Stirling Council planners asking them to assess whether an Environmental Impact Assessment would be needed as part of any future formal planning application for the panels, which would be ground mounted.
However, the planners have said that wouldn’t be required.
In their response, the planners said: “The site is located just north of Dunblane within the countryside...and is designated green belt land, within the Battle of Sheriffmuir Battlefield and is within the grounds of the category A Listed building Queen Victoria School.
“To the south of the proposed site is an area that is at risk of surface water flooding.
“Physically the site is an area of grassed land that lies to the north of the established playing fields associated with the school. The site measures approximately 2.85 hectares.”
Queen Victoria School is a boarding school predominantly for children of Scottish servicemen/women aged from 10 to 18.
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The planners said the project was part of a wider Defence Infrastructure Organisation proposal to meet environmental targets.
They added: “The proposal is to install ground mounted solar panels on the site which forms part of the DIO’s nationwide ‘Project Prometheus’ which seeks to increase the supply of renewable energy across the defence estate and support the Government’s commitment to meeting net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
“The panels will be north facing on the site, will be situated approximately three metres above ground level at a 20-degree tilt and 4.6m wide. The maximum generating capacity of the proposal is expected to be 1.978MW, after further clarification the development is expected to comprise of up to 2592 panels.”
The planners added that, despite being designated green belt and within the battlefield site, it is not considered to be a sensitive area in terms of biodiversity or landscape.
Their statement said: “It is considered that the proposed development will be of comparable scale to that of the school.
“Due to the location of the site and the nature of the development [culmination with other devevelopment] is not a concern.
“The construction of the proposed development will not cause any significant vibration, noise or light.
“The risk of accidents is considered to be low if the operation is appropriately managed.
“The magnitude and complexity of the effects arising from the proposed development are expected to be limited and confined to the local area. The duration and frequency of the potential effects are not significant and are largely reversible.
“Whilst there will be some effect from the proposal on the environment, it is considered that these can be addressed through the design process, methods of construction and compliance with the legislation of relevant regulatory bodies. Long term the site will be decommissioned and the site restored back to its former state.”
They said the applicant had undertaken an initial feasibility study to identify the site suitability and micro siting, which considered and assessed a range of environmental constraints. The studies included heritage and archaeology, transport and access, flood risk assessment, preliminary ecological appraisal, tree survey and topographical survey.
The planners added that Stirling Council would also request a detailed Design and Access Statement which includes a Landscape Visual Impact Assessment and a Glint and Glare Assessment to support any forthcoming planning application.
