Chapter 6 Landscape and Visual
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Chapter 6 Landscape and Visual www.scottishpowerrenewables.com Kilgallioch Windfarm Extension December, 2019 Environmental Impact Assessment Report Table of contents 6.9.6 Statement of Significance 41 6.10 References 43 6.1 Introduction 4 6.1.1 Background 4 List of Technical Appendices 6.1.2 The Proposed Development 4 Appendix 6.1 Landscape and Visual Methodology Appendix 6.2 Visual Assessment of Turbine Lighting 6.2 Legislation, Policy and Guidelines 4 6.2.1 Key Guidance Documents 4 6.2.2 Strategic Policy 4 List of Figures 6.2.3 Local Development Plan Policy 5 Figure 6.1a: Site Location and Study Areas 6.2.4 Supplementary Guidance (SG) 6 Figure 6.1b: Site Layout 6.2.5 South Ayrshire Local Landscape Areas (LLAs) 7 Figure 6.2: Landform 6.3 Consultation 8 Figure 6.3a: Landscape Character Figure 6.3b: Landscape Character Legend 6.4 Assessment Methodology and Significance Criteria 9 Figure 6.4: Landscape Designations 6.4.1 Study Area 9 Figure 6.5: Principal Visual Receptors 6.4.2 Desk Study 9 Figure 6.6: Local Context 6.4.3 Field Survey 9 6.4.4 Assessment Methods 10 Figure 6.7a: Blade Tip ZTV (45km) 6.4.5 Mitigation 12 Figure 6.7b: Blade Tip ZTV (20km) – A1 6.4.6 Assessment of Significance 12 Figure 6.7c: Hub Height ZTV (45km) 6.4.7 Assumptions, Limitations and Confidence 12 Figure 6.7d: Hub Height ZTV (20km) - A1 Figure 6.8a: Horizontal Angle ZTV 6.5 Baseline Conditions 13 6.5.1 Introduction 13 Figure 6.8b: Comparative Horizontal Angle ZTV 6.5.2 Landscape and Visual Baseline Overview 13 Figure 6.9: Blade Tip ZTV with Landscape Character / Designations 6.5.3 Visual Baseline Overview 14 Figure 6.10: Blade Tip ZTV with Principal Visual Receptors 6.5.4 Wind Energy Development Baseline 16 Figure 6.11: Solar Search Area ZTV with Local Context Figure 6.12a: Cumulative Windfarms (45km) 6.6 Assessment of Physical Landscape Effects 18 Figure 6.12b: Cumulative Windfarms (20km) 6.6.1 Introduction 18 6.6.2 Moorland 18 Figure 6.13a: CZTV – Kilgallioch 6.6.3 Coniferous Forestry 19 Figure 6.13b: CZTV – All Operational 6.6.5 Cumulative Physical Effects 19 Figure 6.13c: CZTV – Operational Northern Group Figure 6.13d: CZTV – Operational Southern Group 6.7 Landscape Character Assessment 19 Figure 6.13e: CZTV – Barlockhart Moor Extension 6.7.1 Introduction 19 6.7.2 Preliminary Assessment 19 Figure 6.13f: CZTV – Chirmorrie 6.7.3 Detailed Assessment of Landscape Character Effects 21 Figure 6.13g: CZTV – Stranoch1 Figure 6.13h: CZTV – Arecleoch Extension 6.8 Assessment of Effects on Views 27 Figure 6.13i: CZTV – Cluachrie 6.8.1 Introduction 27 Figure 6.13j: CZTV – Stranoch2 6.8.2 Preliminary assessment of effect on views 27 Figure 6.14a: SUW Sequential – Index Map a (Glen Trool to Glenwhan Moor) 6.8.3 Summary of Preliminary Assessment on Views 29 6.8.4 Detailed Assessment of Effects on Views 29 Figure 6.14b: SUW Sequential Map b 6.8.5 SUW sequential route assessment 38 Figure 6.14c: SUW Sequential Map c Figure 6.14d: SUW Sequential Map d 6.9 Summary and Statement of Significance 40 Figure 6.14e: SUW Sequential Map e 6.9.1 Summary of Effects 40 Figure 6.14f: SUW Sequential Map f 6.9.2 Landscape Character Effects 40 Figure 6.14g: SUW Sequential Cumulative 6.9.3 Visual Effects 40 6.9.4 Lighting Effects 40 Figure 6.15a-g Viewpoint 1 – Eldrig Fell 6.9.5 Relationship of the proposed Development to Cumulative Context 40 Figure 6.16a-g Viewpoint 2 – SUW (Knockniehourie) Landscape and Visual Page 2 Kilgallioch Windfarm Extension December, 2019 Environmental Impact Assessment Report Figure 6.17a-g Viewpoint 3 – SUW (Craig Airie Fell) Figure 6.18a-g Viewpoint 4 – SUW west of Derry Figure 6.19a-e Viewpoint 5 – B7027 Loch Maberry Figure 6.20a-e Viewpoint 6 – Minor Road near Bennylow (Culvennan Fell) Figure 6.21a-e Viewpoint 7 – Mains of Larg (New Luce) Figure 6.22a-e Viewpoint 8 – SUW (Hill of Ochitree) Figure 6.23a-d Viewpoint 9 – A75 Dergoals Figure 6.24a-d Viewpoint 10 – SUW (Glenwhan Moor) Figure 6.25a-d Viewpoint 11 – A714, Bargrennan Cottage Figure 6.26a-d Viewpoint 12 – A714 north of Newton Stewart. Figure 6.27a-b Viewpoint 13 – Mochrum Loch Figure 6.28a-b Viewpoint 14 – Bruce’s Stone Glen Trool / Dark Sky Park Figure 6.29a-b Viewpoint 15 – A77 by Cairnpat Figure 6.30a-d Viewpoint 16 – The Merrick Figure 6.31a-b Viewpoint 17 – A75, Point Nets Landscape and Visual Page 3 Kilgallioch Windfarm Extension December, 2019 Environmental Impact Assessment Report • Scottish Natural Heritage (2017) Assessing impacts on Wild Land Areas - Technical Guidance-Consultation Draft; Chapter 6 • Scottish Natural Heritage (2017) Siting and Designing Wind Farms in the Landscape Version 3a; • Scottish Natural Heritage (2017) Visual Representation of Wind Farms, Version 2.2; • Landscape Institute (2019) Technical Guidance Note 2/19 Residential Visual Amenity Assessment; and Landscape and Visual • Landscape Institute (2019) Visual representation of Development Proposals: Landscape Institute Technical Guidance Note 06/19. 6.2.2 Strategic Policy 6.1 Introduction 6.2.2.1 European Landscape Convention (ELC) 8. The ELC is devoted exclusively to the protection, management and planning of all landscapes in Europe. 6.1.1 Background Landscape is described as "an area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and 1. This landscape and visual impact assessment (LVIA) considers effects on the landscape resource - both direct interaction of natural and/or human factors" (ELC, 2000). The definition applies to all urban and peri-urban effects and effects on how the landscape is perceived - and the effect on visual amenity (views) within the Study landscapes, towns, villages, rural areas, the coast and inland areas. In addition, it applies to ordinary or even Area (See section 6.4.1 Study Area and Figure 6.1a). Cumulative effects arising from the addition of the proposed degraded landscape as well as those areas that are of outstanding value or protected. Development to other windfarms are also considered. 9. The ELC became binding in the UK from 1 March 2007. As a signatory, the UK government has therefore 2. Technical appendices to this LVIA should be read in conjunction with the chapter as follows: undertaken to adopt general policies and measures to protect, manage and plan landscapes as follows: • Technical Appendix 6.1: Landscape and Visual Assessment Methodology; and • to recognise landscapes in law as an essential component of people's surroundings, an expression of the • Technical Appendix 6.2: Visual Assessment of Turbine Lighting. diversity of their shared cultural and natural heritage, and a foundation of their identity; • to establish and implement landscape policies aimed at landscape protection, management and planning 3. This chapter is also supported by figures and visualisations provided in separate EIA Report Volumes as follows: through the adoption of the specific measures. These include awareness-raising, training and education, identification and assessment of landscapes, definition of landscape quality objectives and the • Volume 2: Plan Figures 6.1a to 6.14g; implementation of landscape policies; • Volume 3: Technical Appendix 6.2 Figures TA6.2-1 to TA6.2-9e; and • to establish procedures for the participation of the general public, local and regional authorities, and other • Volume 4: LVIA Visualisations – Viewpoints 1-17 – Figures 6.15a to 6.31b. parties with an interest in the definition and implementation of the landscape policies mentioned in the bullet above; and 6.1.2 The Proposed Development • to integrate landscape into regional and town planning policies and in cultural, environmental, agricultural, 4. The Site area and Site layout is also shown on Figure 6.1b, the Site area of the proposed Development is entirely social and economic policies, as well as in any other policies with possible direct or indirect impact on located within Dumfries and Galloway. The LVIA is based on an indicative turbine with a 105 m hub height, 150 m landscape. rotor diameter and maximum height to blade tip of up to 180 m, as shown on Figure 4.3 and described in Chapter 4: Development Description. Other elements of infrastructure (including the indicative solar arrays) of the proposed 10. The ELC provides a framework for SNH's work for Scotland's landscapes based on the following five guiding Development assessed in this chapter are also described in Chapter 4. The landscape and visual aspects of the principles: site selection and design are described in full in Chapter 3: Development Area, Selection & Design. • Our landscape - people, from all cultures and communities, lie at the heart of efforts for landscape, as we all share an interest in, and responsibility for, its well-being; • All landscapes - the landscape is important everywhere, not just in special places and whether beautiful or 6.2 Legislation, Policy and Guidelines degraded; • Changing landscapes - landscapes will continue to evolve in response to our needs, but this change needs to 6.2.1 Key Guidance Documents be managed; 5. The following legislation, policy and guidelines have been taken into consideration during the assessment of • Understanding landscapes - better awareness and understanding of our landscapes and the benefits they landscape and visual effects. provide is required; and • Tomorrow's landscapes - an inclusive, integrated and forward-looking approach to managing the landscapes 6. The LVIA follows Optimised Environments Limited’s (OPEN) methodology devised specifically for the assessment we have inherited, and in shaping new ones, is required. of windfarm developments (see Technical Appendix 6.1) and generally accords with 'Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment: Third Edition' (Landscape Institute and IEMA, 2013) ('GLVIA3'), the key source of 11.