DARC Matters – 3 – the National Park

Coast National Park

The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority (PCNPA) has been careful to reserve comment on the Ministry of Defence’s plan for a deep space radar station (DARC) on the park’s doorstep – on the disused airfield at Brawdy.

A spokesperson for the Authority told Pembrokeshire.Online: “While we acknowledge the proximity of the proposed development to the National Park, PCNPA will not be issuing any comment or statement on the project at this stage. Should a planning application be submitted, the Authority will review it and make representations as appropriate, in line with our role as a neighbouring local planning authority.”

But they did point us in the direction of what is known as “a scoping opinion”, comments given by PCNPA to Pembrokeshire County Council in 2023. Such an opinion is part of the planning process prior to an expected planning application being submitted.

The opinion document – which is publicly available – identifies key matters that will need to be addressed to enable a full consideration of the likely impacts on the Coast National Park from the proposed DARC development.

The PCNPA document says: “The proposed development may be visible from a number of locations within the National Park . . . including a number of particularly sensitive locations.”

These include what the PCNPA calls “seascape character areas”, a number of which it feels could be adversely affected: “The National Park Authority have concerns that the proposed scope for assessment does not include for seascape. Seascape visual impact assessments should be carried out in the following seascape character areas: Ramsey Island Coastal Waters, St Brides Coastal Waters North, St Brides Coastal Waters East, St Brides Bay.

The PCNPA identifies a list of “special qualities of the national park” that need to be taken into account.

These include: coastal splendour; diverse geology; diversity of landscape; distinctive settlement character; rich historic environment; richness of habitats and biodiversity; accessibility; space to breathe; remoteness, tranquillity, and wildness; and diversity of experienced and combination of individual qualities.

“For each special quality, an assessment should be carried out,” says the PCNPA. And that assessment should look at “likely changes caused by proposed development; are effects beneficial, neutral or adverse and reasoned justification?; duration of effect; are changes important?; do they conserve, enhance or harm the special quality?”

A “scoping area” of up to 5 kilometres around the proposed space radar station is queried by the PNCPA document: “Maybe a larger area is required in this instance. The conservation areas of Solva and Caerfarchell both lie over 5km away from the site, yet the development is likely to be visible from both. Whilst the views are distant in theory, the scale of the development would potentially counter that and any potential impact needs to be considered.” 

It adds: “The setting of historic assets is a material planning consideration, such including LBs [listed buildings], SAMs (scheduled ancient monuments], conservation areas, registered parks/gardens etc.” And it gives the following examples: “Caerfarchell Conservation Area including LBs; Solva Conservation Area including LBs; listed buildings in Whitchurch and Vachelich areas; listed buildings north of St Davids, including Croeswdig, Treleddyd and Rhodiad.”

Concern is expressed about “the visual impact detracting from the coastal views and general walking experience for coast path walkers. The coast path provides wide-ranging views around St Brides Bay, with the wide-open views of rolling hills interspersed with the occasional settlement or farm building, but existing built structures within this area are quite often hidden by the landscape and vegetation as you walk the coast path. The natural landscape to a large degree is free from visual disturbance in this area and contributes to the sense of remoteness and tranquility. Tranquility in the landscape contributes to health, wellbeing, and a sense of peace . . . so it would be necessary to have a better understanding of how extensive the visual impact would be. 

“The layout of the site and any mitigation could have a considerable visual impact for coast path walkers who may spend a number of days walking towards the same view.”

The PCNPA also raises an issue that has been highlighted by those opposed to the scheme: the possibility of the need for “an upgraded mains power supply connection which may need to be connected to a location within the Haverfordwest area and then either an above ground connection or an underground connection to the site . . . the National Park Authority would request details of this aspect for consideration as part of any formal application to enable the potential impact on the National Park to be carefully considered.”

Other factors for consideration include possible adverse effects on bat and bird populations (although recent pro-development noises from the Labour government seem to have now begun to downgrade concerns for wildlife in the rush to build housing and infrastructure).

As we reported earlier this month, an MoD spokesperson said: “The environmental impact assessment, which underpins the planning application, is currently underway. When all requirements of the application have been met, a submission will be made to Pembrokeshire County Council for their consideration.”

But pressed on a timescale for the completion of the assessment and the submission of an application, they added: “We have a working schedule but no set dates. Neither are expected imminently.”