Appendix G Visual Assessment Baseline and Evaluation © Entec UK Limited SA-C1XXX-XX-XXX-EN-X-0211 © Entec UK Limited SA-C1XXX-XX-XXX-EN-X-0211 G1 Introduction Purpose of this Report Entec has been commissioned to undertake a landscape and visual assessment of the proposed development at St. Athan. A full scheme description is given in Chapter 3. The purpose of this appendix is to set out the Visual Effects baseline, by listing receptors that will potentially experience changes to existing views as a result of the development proposals. Only those receptors which could potentially be subject to significant effects are included in the Assessment of Visual Effects at Chapter 8 of the main report. Following a description of the Visual Effects study area and data sources, the remainder of this appendix first explains the approach to establishing ‘Zones of Theoretical Visibility’ around the development proposals and then describes the general visual context and the visual receptors within the study area. Within the study area described below, existing views from public rights of way, settlements, individual properties and road users are then described, including commentary on night time views. A more detailed description of 14 key viewpoints agreed at scoping stage is then provided. The appendix concludes by summarising those locations from which significant visual effects are considered likely and consequently are reported in chapter 8 of the main report. Methods Study Area The following study areas have been adopted, taking account of the location and scale of development: • A 3km study area has been adopted surrounding the ‘main site’, which includes the Defence Technical College, Service Families Accommodation, Aerospace Business Park, Northern and Southern access roads, in and immediately surrounding the site of the MoD base. However, the exception to this is ‘viewpoint 14’, agreed with the West Glamorgan Planning Team, which is some 3.5km from the main site boundary; • To enable assessment of the waste water pipeline, a 1km area either side of its route has been adopted as whilst construction activity associated with the new pipeline will temporarily be visible, the scale of the activity has not been judged sufficient to require a broader study area. Topography and vegetation also limit views from beyond 1 km; • The 3km study area also encompasses the proposed upgrades to the St.Athan junction and Gileston to Oldmill Road improvements. However, given the scale and extent of the works (which correspond to the existing carriageway) a 1km study area has been adopted; © Entec UK Limited SA-C1XXX-XX-XXX-EN-X-0211 G2 • A separate 1km study area has been adopted surrounding the Waycock Roundabout, where a new roundabout some 38 metres in diameter, plus approximately 200metres of new carriageway to the east connecting the roundabout with Port Road West. Desk Study The following data sources were reviewed to assist in locating potentially sensitive visual receptors: • LANDMAP data for Vale of Glamorgan (CCW website http://landmap.ccw.gov.uk) • Vale of Glamorgan Unitary Development Plan adopted 2005 • Landscapes Working for the Vale of Glamorgan January 1999 • 1:25,000 digital mapping for the Vale of Glamorgan and surrounding area; • Aerial photography from Maps Live/Google Maps (http://maps.live.com); • Updated baseline surveys: Landscape and visual Amenity, MOD St. Athan January 2008 • Promap (www.promap.co.uk) to identify the location and names of individual properties In line with established guidance1 the location of the following residencies was noted as part of the desk study, and the nature of views from each noted within the site visits: • Occupiers of residential properties with views affected by the development proposals; • Users of all outdoor recreational facilities including public rights of way, whose attention or interest may be focussed on the landscape; and • Communities where the development proposals will result in changes in the landscape setting or valued views within the community. Site Visits Field surveys were undertaken between June 2008 and January 2009. Comprehensive field notes and photographs were taken in accordance with the recommendations set out in the second edition of the GLVIA. In addition a night time assessment was completed on the 28th February 2009. The landscape immediately surrounding the site was visited between the hours of 18.30 and 21.00 to assess the sources of night time lighting from the site and also from the surrounding area. In the case of the pipeline route, site visits were undertaken to gain an understanding of the visual context. However, a detailed assessment of the potential for views to be experienced from each of the surrounding residential properties and Public Right of Ways was not made. However, good quality aerial photography is available for this landscape (http://mapslive.com) and this provided a detailed resource for assessing the likely existing views experienced from these locations. 1 Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment second edition, The Landscape Institute, Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment 2002 © Entec UK Limited SA-C1XXX-XX-XXX-EN-X-0211 G3 Visual Context Zones of Theoretical Visibility Two Zones of Theoretical Visibility (ZTV) were established as the start point for further site surveys. OS Landform Panorama data was used as a basis for their creation. The data has a 50 metre resolution and a height accuracy of +/- 5m. Large scale features and woodland (which is attributed a 12 metre height in the terrain model) therefore influence the ZTV results. However, due to the ZTV height accuracy other features such as hedgerows, individual properties and small settlements that may also provide screening of development are excluded from the ZTV model. The ZTVs are used only as a preliminary tool and field assessments were undertaken on three occasions to verify the findings of the ZTV modelling. The two ZTVs are as follows: • Combined ZTV for DTA, ABP, SFA and New Roads (refer Figure 8.1); • ZTV of Theoretical visibility of the DSG Hangar (which is an existing large military hangar on the MoD St.Athan site) in relation to the ZTV of the proposed development. (refer Figure 8.2). this ZTV was run to gain a baseline undertstanding of the theoretical visibility of the two existing largest scale buildings on the MoD St.Athan site. ZTV Analysis The ZTV diagrams demonstrate that the proposed development will be visible from the majority of the study area with the exception of: • The Lower Thaw Valley and valley sides; • The coastline of the Glamorgan Heritage Coast; and • Parts of the study area to the west of Llantwit Major. • The majority of the landscape to the north and north west of Siginstone. However, Figure 8.2 demonstrates that these DSG Hangar structure is already visually prominent skyline feature and that the development proposals will increase the visibility of the site from only a small section of the eastern River Thaw Valley sides, and from within an area of Glamorgan Heritage Coast to the southwest, south and southeast of Gileston. However, the ZTV models do not always accurately portray the visibility of either the existing features of the MoD St.Athan site (the DSG Hangar and the Twin Peaks) or the development proposals. Site visits indicate the following discrepancies and these have been taken into account in the Assessment of Visual Effects: • Site visits were undertaken within the settlements of Llanbethery and Llancadle and the surrounding landscape and this indicated that the DSG Hangar was not visible as a result of the dense screen provided by the wooded valley sides of the River Thaw; and • Views of the DSG hangar, or into the ABP, DTC, SFA sites were not possible from within the centre of the settlements of Llantwit Major, St.Mary’s Church, St.Athan, © Entec UK Limited SA-C1XXX-XX-XXX-EN-X-0211 G4 Flemingston, Llanmaes, Siginstone and East Aberthaw, although views are possible from points on the edges of the settlement. General Visual Context Surrounding Receptors The landscape surrounding the site slopes from north to south. From positions to the north and south, this sloping topography has a marked influence upon its visibility. Locations to the north of the ‘main site’, such as sections of St. Athan Road and from some individual farmsteads north of Llanmaes, experience wide views across the local landscape. The existing DSG hangar on the St Athan site is a distinctive feature in these views, which are facilitated by the southwards drop in elevation and the absence of woodland blocks. Where hedgerow is planted along the rural roads to the north, this can screen views of the site. However, where there are gaps in the hedgerow or where the orientation of the roads faces southwards (such as on St. Athan Road) views are panoramic. To the south of the B4265 which forms the southern site boundary, the landform drops away in a southerly and south easterly direction towards the coast. The landform drops away more abruptly in a south easterly direction falling by approximately 20 metres within 400 metres south of the B4265. In a south westerly direction the landform levels out at an elevation of approximately 45metres A.O.D for approximately 700metres to the south of the B4265 before also dropping away more steeply. The plateau in topography allows more distant views to the site from the south than from the south east. For example, receptors within Gileston, a settlement approximately 500metres south east of the proposed ABP site do not experience views northwards towards the main section of the site. However, receptors on the road leading to Boverton Mill Farm, experience views north eastwards across the flat fields towards the B4265 and the ABP site. In addition to the sloping landform, views from Gileston are also screened by a band of mature woodland around the north western edge of the village.