Landscape Wind Capacity Study
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East Ayrshire Council East Ayrshire Local Development Plan Non-statutory Planning Guidance East Ayrshire Landscape Wind Capacity Study 2018 East Ayrshire Landscape Wind Capacity Study Carol Anderson Landscape Associates June 2018 East Ayrshire Landscape Wind Energy Capacity Study June 2018 Carol Anderson Landscape Associates Summary This study revises and updates the 2013 East Ayrshire Landscape Wind Capacity study. It aims to inform strategic planning for wind energy development in line with Scottish Planning Policy and to also provide guidance on the appraisal of individual wind farm and wind turbine proposals in East Ayrshire. The study considers the landscape and visual sensitivity of 12 landscape character types within East Ayrshire to a range of wind turbine developments; these principally categorised on the basis of turbine height. This study also considers scope for repowering existing wind farms using larger wind turbines. Potential cumulative issues associated with operational and consented wind farm developments are additionally considered. Guidance on the constraints and opportunities for wind energy development within each landscape character type is set out in the study. Key findings of the study Operational wind farms are largely located in upland landscapes and while these generally have relatively limited landscape and visual effects on the settled lowlands in the northern part of East Ayrshire, some developments have significant effects on parts of the Doon and upper Nith Valleys. Recently consented wind farms in East Ayrshire and neighbouring Dumfries and Galloway will significantly increase landscape and visual effects, particularly in the Loch Doon, Doon Valley and Upper Nith Valley areas. There is some scope to site additional wind farm development with turbines above 70m height within upland areas of East Ayrshire although this will be limited by potential cumulative and other landscape and visual constraints including effects on adjacent smaller scale settled valleys and lowland landscapes. There is no scope to accommodate turbines above 50m height within the smaller scale, well-settled lowlands and valleys due to their increased landscape sensitivity to tall turbines, including potential cumulative effects with wind farm development in adjacent upland areas. The narrow, incised and diverse valleys of the Doon, Ayr and Lugar and the rugged uplands, lochs and forest of the Carrick Forest and Loch Doon area are highly sensitive to turbines over 30m high. Larger turbines replacing operational and consented turbines in wind farm ‘repowering’ schemes could only be accommodated in very few locations in East Ayrshire. CONTENTS 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Policy context .............................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Background to the study ............................................................................................. 1 1.3 Study objectives .......................................................................................................... 2 1.4 Structure of the report ................................................................................................. 2 2 Study Methodology ................................................................................................... 3 2.1 Background to landscape capacity ............................................................................. 3 2.2 Definition of terms ....................................................................................................... 4 2.3 General approach to the study .................................................................................... 4 2.4 Operational and consented wind farms and turbines ................................................. 5 2.5 Baseline landscape character ..................................................................................... 6 2.6 Development typologies .............................................................................................. 6 2.7 The sensitivity assessment ......................................................................................... 7 2.8 Sensitivity ratings ........................................................................................................ 8 2.9 Repowering of existing wind farms ............................................................................. 9 2.10 Cumulative issues and overall capacity assessment ................................................. 9 2.11 Overall sensitivity ratings .......................................................................................... 10 2.12 The significance of landscape and visual effects ..................................................... 11 2.13 Guidance for siting smaller turbines .......................................................................... 11 3 Summary of Findings and Recommendations ..................................................... 12 3.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 12 3.2 Key findings of the sensitivity assessment ............................................................... 12 3.3 Strategic Landscape Issues ...................................................................................... 14 3.4 Key cumulative issues ...............................................................................................16 3.5 A recommended landscape strategy ........................................................................ 16 4 Introduction to the Sensitivity Assessment ......................................................... 18 5 Character Type 7c: East Ayrshire Lowlands ........................................................ 20 5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 20 5.2 Summary of sensitivity .............................................................................................. 29 5.3 Guidance for development ........................................................................................ 31 6 Character Type 9: Lowland River Valleys ............................................................. 33 6.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 33 6.2 Summary of sensitivity .............................................................................................. 40 6.3 Guidance for development ........................................................................................ 41 7 Character Type 10: Upland River Valleys ............................................................. 43 7.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 43 7.2 Summary of sensitivity .............................................................................................. 50 7.3 Guidance for development ........................................................................................ 52 8 Character Type 14: Upland Glen ............................................................................ 54 8.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 54 8.2 Summary of sensitivity .............................................................................................. 62 8.3 Guidance for development ........................................................................................ 63 9 Character Type 15: Upland Basin .......................................................................... 65 9.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 65 9.2 Summary of sensitivity .............................................................................................. 72 9.3 Guidance for development ........................................................................................ 73 10 Character Type 17A: Foothills with Forestry and Open Cast Mining .................. 75 10.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 75 10.2 Summary of sensitivity .............................................................................................. 79 10.3 Guidance for development ........................................................................................ 80 11 Character Type 17b: Foothills West of the Doon Valley ..................................... 83 11.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 83 11.2 Summary of sensitivity .............................................................................................. 87 11.3 Guidance for development ........................................................................................ 88 12 Character Type 18a: East Ayrshire Plateau Moorlands ...................................... 91 12.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 91 12.2 Summary of sensitivity .............................................................................................. 95 12.3 Guidance for development