South Lanarkshire Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Energy

Report by

IronsideFarrar

7948 / February 2016

South Lanarkshire Council Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Energy ______CONTENTS 3.3 Landscape Designations 11 3.3.1 National Designations 11 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Page No 3.3.2 Local and Regional Designations 11 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1 3.4 Other Designations 12 1.1 Background 1 3.4.1 Natural Heritage designations 12 1.2 National and Local Policy 2 3.4.2 Historic and cultural designations 12 1.3 The Capacity Study 2 3.4.3 Tourism and recreational interests 12 1.4 Landscape Capacity and Cumulative Impacts 2 4.0 VISUAL BASELINE 13 2.0 CUMULATIVE IMPACT AND CAPACITY METHODOLOGY 3 4.1 Visual Receptors 13 2.1 Purpose of Methodology 3 4.2 Visibility Analysis 15 2.2 Study Stages 3 4.2.1 Settlements 15 2.3 Scope of Assessment 4 4.2.2 Routes 15 2.3.1 Area Covered 4 4.2.3 Viewpoints 15 2.3.2 Wind Energy Development Types 4 4.2.4 Analysis of Visibility 15 2.3.3 Use of Geographical Information Systems 4 5.0 WIND TURBINES IN THE STUDY AREA 17 2.4 Landscape and Visual Baseline 4 5.1 Turbine Numbers and Distribution 17 2.5 Method for Determining Landscape Sensitivity and Capacity 4 5.1.1 Operating and Consented Wind Turbines 17 2.6 Defining Landscape Change and Cumulative Capacity 5 5.1.2 Proposed Windfarms and Turbines (at March 2015) 18 2.6.1 Cumulative Change 5 5.1.3 Pattern of development 18 2.6.2 Determining Acceptable Levels of Change 6 5.2 Landscape Character of Turbine Locations 18 2.7 Presentation of Assessment and Findings 6 6.0 ASSESSMENT OF LANDSCAPE CAPACITY AND CUMULATIVE CHANGE 21 2.8 Detailed Guidance 7 6.1 Assessment Purpose and Process 21 2.9 Potential Opportunities and Constraints 7 6.2 Guidance 21 3.0 LANDSCAPE BASELINE 9 6.2.1 Turbine Size 22 3.1 Study Area 9 6.2.2 Turbine Group Size 22 3.2 Baseline Landscape Character Assessment 9 6.2.3 Separation between Turbine Groups 22 3.2.1 Landscape Context 9 6.2.4 Other Factors which Influence Guidance 22 3.2.2 Landscape Character 9 ______

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6.3 Landscape Capacity and Cumulative Landscape Effects 55 FIGURES

6.3.1 Summary of Capacity and Cumulative Development in the Clyde Basin Farmlands and 1.1 Extract from Scottish Planning Policy 2014 on Spatial Frameworks for Windfarms Inner Clyde Valley 55 2.1 Cumulative Impact and Landscape Capacity Methodology Flowchart 6.3.2 Summary of Capacity and Cumulative Development in the Moorlands (Clyde & 3.1 Study Area Ayrshire Basin Moorlands and Central Plateau Moorlands) 55 3.2 Topography 6.3.3 Summary of Capacity and Cumulative Development in the Southern Uplands Foothills56 3.3 Regional Landscape Character Areas

6.3.4 Summary of Capacity and Cumulative Development in the Pentland Hills 56 3.4 Landscape Character Areas 3.5 Landscape-Related Designations 6.3.5 Summary of Capacity and Cumulative Development in the Southern Uplands 57 3.6 Natural and Cultural Heritage Designations 6.4 Overall Assessment of Capacity and Cumulative Development 57 3.7 Relative Wildness and Wild Land Areas 6.4.1 Summary of Landscape Character, Sensitivity and Capacity 57 4.1 Transport Routes, Settlements and Viewpoints 6.4.2 Areas with the Highest Underlying Landscape Capacity 58 4.2-4.4 Visibility from Settlements, Transport Corridors and Viewpoints (See Appdx. 3)

6.4.3 Areas with Limited Underlying Landscape Capacity 58 5.1 Operational, Consented & Proposed Wind Turbines in South Lanarkshire (March 2015) 6.4.4 Areas with Little or No Underlying Landscape Capacity 59 5.2 Operational, Consented & Proposed Wind Turbines in Study Area (March 2015) 6.4.5 Areas of Significant Cumulative Development 59 6.1 (a-e) Underlying Landscape Capacity for Wind Turbines 6.4.6 Southern Upland Foothills and Pentland Hills 63 6.2 Current Wind Turbine Landscape Typology: Operational and Consented Wind Turbines (March 2015) 6.5 Capacity for Further Development 63 6.3 Wind Turbine Landscape Typology: Proposed Maximum Development Capacity 6.5.1 Areas with Most Remaining Capacity 63 6.4 Wind Turbine Development Constraints and Opportunities 6.5.2 Areas with Limited Remaining Capacity 64 6.5.3 Other Landscape Areas and Urban Areas 64 APPENDICES

6.6 Existing Developments: Extensions and Repowering 64 Appendix 1: Local and Development Plan Policy Appendix 2: Cumulative Assessment Methodology 6.7 Guidance for Single/Small Turbine Developments 64 Appendix 3: Visibility Analysis for Wind Turbines in South Lanarkshire (Figs 4.2 – 4.4)

Appendix 4: Factors Affecting Landscape and Visual Effects of Turbines TABLES Appendix 5: Windfarm Database 2.1 Description of Levels of Cumulative Wind Turbine Development 5 Appendix 6: Assessment of Landscape Capacity for South Lanarkshire Landscape Character 4.1 Visual Receptors: Settlements 13 Types 4.2 Visual Receptors: Transport Routes 14 4.3 Visual Receptors: Viewpoints 14 6.1(a-k) Summary of Landscape Capacity, Cumulative Effects and Guidance for Future Wind Energy Development 27 6.2 Description and Guidance for Areas of Significant Cumulative Development 60 ______

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY South Lanarkshire and is reinforced by a number of existing and proposed windfarms and extensions beyond the boundaries. This landscape capacity study supports South Lanarkshire Council’s Supplementary Guidance for wind energy. An essential requirement for this is the Central and lowland areas, largely undeveloped five years ago, are now assessment of cumulative landscape capacity. This study considers the capacity accommodating a very significant number of smaller scale developments, of the South Lanarkshire landscape to accommodate increasing levels of wind generally with smaller turbines, singly or in small groups. Many further proposals energy development. The study is based on an assessment of landscape are at planning application stage. There are also consents and proposals for a sensitivity and value of the different landscape character types and areas in South number of small or small/medium developments with large turbines in the Lanarkshire. This has involved a staged process: farmlands around East Kilbride, Hamilton, Larkhall and Rigside, as well as scoping proposals in the northeast.  Firstly identifying the underlying capacity of the South Lanarkshire landscape to accommodate wind turbine development; The landscape capacity assessment has determined that the upland areas have the greatest inherent capacity for windfarm development, with more limited  Secondly, assessing the degree of cumulative change resulting from capacity for smaller scale developments in the lowland areas, specifically the operating and consented wind turbines in the study area and in specific farmland landscapes. Valleys and prominent isolated hills are considered to have landscape areas of South Lanarkshire; little or no capacity for wind energy development.

 Thirdly, assessing the level of further development that could acceptably be The assessment of cumulative effects of operational and consented development accommodated within the landscape areas of South Lanarkshire thereby indicates that much of the development capacity in the upland areas is already identifying remaining capacity. occupied by extensive operational/consented medium, large and very large windfarms. Parts of the lowland farmlands are also becoming characterised by a The study is based on the premise that, given current renewable energy targets, it proliferation of turbines in smaller and single turbine developments. is accepted there will be continuing landscape change and effects on visual amenity resulting from wind energy development. However SPP recognises that in Eight areas with future capacity limited by significant cumulative development are meeting renewable energy targets due regard has to be given to environmental, identified, with key development guidance given. The Southern Uplands Foothills community and cumulative effects and that local authorities require a strategy in and Pentland Hills are identified as an area of currently limited development order to keep change within acceptable limits. In applying the assessment separating a number of the cumulative areas and it is recommended that process, the study has addressed concepts and issues that affect the perceived development in this area is strictly limited so as to avoid physical or visual significance and acceptability of cumulative changes caused by multiple wind coalescence of wind energy schemes in cumulative areas and to maintain energy developments in the landscape. landscape distinctiveness across the local authority area.

The landscape of South Lanarkshire is highly varied, with extensive urban areas in Nevertheless, limited landscape capacity for further development to an acceptable the northwest giving way to farmland and moorland to the south and north east cumulative level is identified in upland and lowland landscape types. Principally and rising to the rolling hills of the Southern Uplands in the south of the local this comprises the potential for discrete medium scale developments in the authority area and beyond. Topography and drainage is structured around the Rolling Moorlands on the western fringes of South Lanarkshire and a smaller River Clyde which flows centrally from south to north west. Extensive peripheral development (up to 5 turbines) in the Southern Uplands. Further capacity for upland areas lie on the boundaries of South Lanarkshire to the north, east and smaller scale development lies in lowland/ upland fringe landscapes, but scope is west and these mainly drain into the Clyde catchment which forms a broad central strictly limited without incurring a significant change in character, significant valley and farmland area surrounded by the higher hills. cumulative impacts between developments and with the established upland windfarms. At March 2015 there were 745 operational or consented turbines in South Lanarkshire, with a further 939 within a 15km offset from the local authority Detailed guidance on appropriate types and extents of future development is boundary. The main concentrations of operational and consented wind energy given for each landscape character type. This includes parameters for suitable development are in the upland landscapes. These mainly comprise very large, turbine size, group size and separation between turbine groups. Areas where large and medium scale developments, with larger size turbines, located along the particular issues or constraints override other landscape capacity factors are also boundary of the local authority area, in the west, north east and south east. This identified. The principal areas of constraint due to cumulative development and development trend has continued since the start of wind energy development in areas with potential for development are detailed in the report.

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1.0 INTRODUCTION Table 1 of the document. Figure 1.1 below is an extract of Table 1 from SPP, showing the specific designations and other key factors to be mapped and considered in the spatial 1.1 Background framework. Development plans are also required to indicate the minimum scale of onshore wind development that their spatial framework is intended to apply to. Supplementary Guidance and Capacity Studies in South Lanarkshire Figure 1.1: Extract from Scottish Planning Policy 2014 on Spatial Frameworks for This landscape capacity study for wind energy in South Lanarkshire has been prepared in Windfarms the light of policy changes detailed in the June 2014 Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) and to address the continuing development pressure for wind energy in the local authority area. It informs supplementary guidance for renewable energy and supersedes two earlier capacity studies informing earlier supplementary guidance:

 The first capacity study carried out in 20101 informed the 2010 Renewable Energy Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG). This study included a three-stage spatial framework assessment based on guidance current at the time. It also determined the capacity for larger types of wind energy development across South Lanarkshire, based on analysis of landscape character, sensitivity and value and an assessment of significance of landscape change resulting from different potential scales of development. The study identified areas where cumulative factors limit the potential for further development and Broad Areas of Search for windfarms over 20MW, as required by the then current guidance.

 The 2010 study was updated as a draft for consultation in 20132 to take account of continuing pressure for wind energy development across South Lanarkshire and the introduction of significant numbers of smaller scale developments including single and smaller size turbines. The study focused on all scales of development and provided significantly more detail than the 2010 spatial framework.

However this study is prepared in line with the requirements of SPP 2014 and draft guidance provided by SNH3.

Changes to SPP

SPP 2014 continues to emphasise the importance of accommodating renewable energy development. Paragraph 155 states that.

‘Development plans should seek to ensure an area’s full potential for electricity and heat from renewable sources is achieved, in line with national climate change targets, giving

due regard to relevant environmental, community and cumulative impact considerations’. Paragraph 162 of SPP states that both strategic and local planning authorities should identify where there is strategic capacity for windfarms, and areas with greatest potential Paragraph 161 states that planning authorities should set out in the development plan a for wind development, considering cross-boundary constraints and opportunities. spatial framework identifying those areas that are likely to be most appropriate for onshore Development plans are also required to set out the criteria that will be considered in wind farms as a guide for developers and communities, following the approach set out in deciding all applications for wind farms of different scales – including extensions and re-

powering – taking account of detailed considerations. 1 Ironside Farrar (2010) South Lanarkshire Spatial Framework and Landscape Capacity for Windfarms 2 Ironside Farrar (2013) South Lanarkshire Spatial Framework and Landscape Capacity for Wind Turbines Update 3 SNH (June 2015) Spatial Planning for Onshore Wind Turbines – natural heritage considerations Guidance

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Paragraph 169 sets out a list of considerations for wind energy developments to be and ongoing consents and construction of schemes will continue to add to cumulative assessed against, which includes cumulative impacts and landscape and visual impacts: pressures.

 ‘cumulative impacts – planning authorities should be clear about likely cumulative impacts arising from all of the considerations below, recognising that in some areas the cumulative impact of existing and consented energy development may limit the 1.4 Landscape Capacity and Cumulative Impacts capacity for further development;’ and This study informs the Council on the issues of landscape capacity and cumulative impact. Accordingly it comprises three main themes:  ‘landscape and visual impacts including effects on wild land,’4.  A strategic landscape capacity study, investigating the underlying capacity of

landscapes within South Lanarkshire to accommodate wind energy development of all 1.2 National and Local Policy but the smallest domestic scale;

National and local planning policies in Scotland are well disposed towards the  A cumulative assessment examining the level of cumulative wind energy development development of onshore wind energy. However it is accepted that there are limitations in South Lanarkshire, based on a March 2015 database of operating, consented and imposed by environmental sensitivities and the capacity of areas to accept cumulative proposed wind turbines and wind farms; development. Therefore the acceptability of multiple windfarms and turbines and the  Guidance on remaining development capacity and on the size and types of wind cumulative landscape and visual impacts of development has to be considered in the light turbine development throughout South Lanarkshire that would be acceptable in of national and development plan policy. Appendix 1 reviews current national and South landscape terms, taking into account the first two considerations. Lanarkshire development plan policy and guidance, including SPP 2014, SLC Supplementary Guidance and a capacity study carried out for the Glasgow and Clyde This study specifically assesses landscape capacity and the impact of cumulative wind 5 Valley area in which South Lanarkshire lies. energy development in order to determine where there is existing capacity and where significant protection from further development may be required through the development

management process. The study addresses these requirements through a staged 1.3 The Capacity Study assessment process described in sections 2.0 to 6.0 of this report.

In the light of the current SPP this landscape capacity study does not assess, but makes It is emphasised that this is a strategic level landscape and visual study, providing a reference to, the specific designations and interests highlighted in Groups 1 and 2 of the context for considering the capacity for, and the cumulative effects of, existing and Spatial Framework, mapping of which is a separate process. The study concentrates on potential future wind turbine developments in South Lanarkshire. No site specific landscape and visual capacity through assessing: conclusions should be drawn from it in relation to current, proposed or future wind turbines and windfarms.  the capacity of the landscape and visual environment of South Lanarkshire to accommodate all scales of wind energy development; and As a strategic landscape and visual study this does not address specific localised impacts such as effects on individual residential receptors or other sensitive  cumulative impacts of existing and consented wind energy development in the light of receptors. All wind energy proposals should be considered on their own unique the capacity assessment. locational and design characteristics as well as their strategic context. All proposals should be subject to landscape, visual and cumulative impact As detailed in 1.1 above, these issues are highlighted by paragraph 169 of SPP and are assessment including (if required) a full environmental assessment. applicable to all areas of South Lanarkshire, including areas lying within Groups 1 and 2 of the Spatial Framework, where they occur.

Critical to the current assessment is the fact that South Lanarkshire already has a large number of operating and consented wind energy developments including several large commercial windfarms and a considerable number of smaller, mainly non-commercial developments. This has created extensive areas of cumulative wind turbine development

4 SNH 2015 Strategic guidance provides guidance on landscape capacity studies - refer to pp.9 and 10

5 LUC (2014) Landscape Capacity Study for Wind turbine Development in Glasgow and the Clyde Valley

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2.0 CUMULATIVE IMPACT AND CAPACITY METHODOLOGY  cumulative consented development limits landscape capacity for further wind energy development. 2.1 Purpose of Methodology  there is remaining landscape capacity for wind energy development.

The purpose of the following assessment is to determine the capacity of the South The assessment process is summarised as a flow chart in Figure 2.1 below. Lanarkshire landscape to accommodate wind energy development and to determine the Figure 2.1. Cumulative Impact and Landscape Capacity Methodology Flowchart levels of cumulative development that would be acceptable across the local authority area. The assessment takes into account existing cumulative development within and around Project Brief/ South Lanarkshire and that future change resulting from onshore wind energy Purpose of Study development will require careful management. S C Define Study Area The key objectives of the study are outlined in section 1.2 above. The methodology serves - Regional Wind Farm Scenario O these objectives through a clear assessment of sensitivity, value and capacity of - Local - existing P - Landscape - consented I Character Area landscapes across South Lanarkshire, together with an assessment of the cumulative N effects of current consented wind energy development and the potential for G accommodating further development in the future. G A Nevertheless, it is recognised in published guidance that the assessment of landscape Landscape Numbers T Visual Receptors D Landscape Value Receptors Locations H capacity and cumulative impacts is not a straightforward exercise. The background - Settlements A - Designations - Sites Turbine Height - Routes E - Qualitative - Landscape Turbine Numbers T considerations and detailed methodology for this process are detailed in Appendix 2 of - Viewpoints R - Cultural Character Layout A this report. The following is a summary of the methodology, key considerations and guide - Perceptual - Landscape Types I - Landscape Areas N to the presentation of findings and recommendations. G

A Effects Landscape N - Physical Sensitivity A - Visibility - Physical - Proximity L 2.2 Study Stages - Character - Intervisibility Y - Visual - Visual Contrast S The assessment is a staged process comprising: I S 1) Define study area and characterise landscape and visual baseline and scope of wind energy types to be included in the strategic study. Underlying Level of Impact A Landscape - Landscape Change 2) Assess landscape sensitivity based on landscape character types (LCTs) and Capacity - Visual Experience S S landscape character areas (LCAs) in South Lanarkshire. This assessment considers E landscape character sensitivity, visual sensitivity and landscape value. S Windfarm S Landscape M 3) Assess the capacity of the South Lanarkshire landscape to acceptably accommodate Typology E (see Table 2.1) wind energy development of different types and scales based on the assessment of N sensitivity and value of the LCAs and LCTs. This is an assessment of the underlying T Determine landscape without taking the effects of existing wind turbines into account. Acceptability of Cumulative Change 4) Record the current type and extent of operational and consented wind energy development in South Lanarkshire and the surrounding local authorities. Determine if C Capacity is O 5) Determine the extent to which cumulative consented development has occupied the Reached N underlying capacity of the landscape to accommodate wind energy developments. C L U 6) Further to the assessment of landscape capacity and cumulative development, identify Areas with Areas with Areas with S Capacity Limited Capacity No Capacity areas in which: I O  there is no underlying landscape capacity for wind energy development; N

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The assessment and spatial strategy is followed by guidance on appropriate types and 3.1 of this report6. Further landscape character types in neighbouring areas are also levels of wind energy development for the areas in which there is remaining capacity. identified. These are detailed in the above publication and others in the national landscape character assessment series.

Landscape value is determined partly through landscape designations. There are local 2.3 Scope of Assessment landscape designations in South Lanarkshire and a national designation in neighbouring Scottish Borders. Related designations that can contribute to landscape value and 2.3.1 Area Covered character are recorded. These include natural and cultural heritage designations, The study focuses primarily on the local authority area of South Lanarkshire. However, an recreational/ visitor facilities and core paths. Other factors affecting perceptions of value area of a minimum 15km beyond the boundary is considered, because of the potential include wildness which has recently been assessed across Scotland, with two Wild Land landscape and visual effects on South Lanarkshire of wind energy developments in Areas within the 15km study area (but not within South Lanarkshire). neighbouring landscape areas. The visual baseline assessment involves a computer-based intervisibility assessment 2.3.2 Wind Energy Development Types based on different turbine heights and receptor types. Whilst a simplistic approach, this helps to identify the areas that are most likely to be sensitive to visibility and areas in which The study considers all sizes of turbines and developments operating, consented or wind turbines might be least visible. proposed, as well as potential future scenarios where appropriate. This extends the assessment in the original 2010 assessment which concentrated on commercial scale developments. 2.5 Method for Determining Landscape Sensitivity and Capacity The height categories of wind turbines reflect those used in the LUC Strategic Landscape The method for determining landscape sensitivity and capacity is detailed in . Capacity study for Glasgow and the Clyde Valley: Appendix 2 This involves consideration of the two main elements discussed in 2.4 above: Under 15m 1) The sensitivity of the landscape fabric and character to turbine development, which 15m - <30m includes landscape features, elements and characteristics and its visual sensitivity, 30m - <50m including intervisibility and affected receptor types. 50m - <80m 80m - <120m 2) The value of the landscape as determined by stakeholders. This may include national Over 120m or local recognition by landscape designation or cultural association, or value to a community of interest such as local residents or an interest group. Turbines less than 15m to blade tip are not considered to have the same qualities of scale, prominence and widespread visibility that lead to the wider cumulative impacts of larger Appendix 2 describes a breakdown of the physical and perceptual characteristics that turbines with a blade tip higher than 15m. Assessment and guidance for turbines less than contribute to landscape character, visual sensitivity and value. Each criterion is described 15m to blade tip is limited to localised generic siting and design considerations. and evaluated in terms of its sensitivity to wind energy development. An overall assessment of high, medium or low is derived from a composite of all the criteria. There 2.3.3 Use of Geographical Information Systems is no consistent relative weighting of criteria as, in the case of each landscape type or area, different criteria are likely to be critical in the sensitivity assessment. The study has used the GIS application; Arcview 10.2. It is emphasised that this application is used only as a tool to manage, map and illustrate spatial data. The capacity Following the above assessment, an overall professional judgement on capacity for assessment process is not based on GIS and is described in the following sections. developments of different types is made on the basis of sensitivity and value. Landscape capacity is rated according to the degree to which wind turbines may be accommodated

without significant and/or adverse effects on sensitivity and value. The descriptive criteria 2.4 Landscape and Visual Baseline below for high, medium and low describe the main thresholds on a continuum between no capacity and high capacity: The landscape baseline assessment includes a description and classification of landscape character and record of designations and features that contribute to landscape value. The landscape character assessment is based on landscape character types (LCTs) and landscape character areas (LCAs) in South Lanarkshire described in section 3.2 and Table 6 From Ironside Farrar ( 2010) South Lanarkshire Landscape Character Assessment

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Low Capacity: A landscape that is both sensitive to wind turbine development and  the way in which the landscape is experienced. has a high value, where only a slight level of change can be accommodated without significantly affecting any of the key defining In determining an acceptable level of development, it is necessary to clearly define what criteria differing levels of development actually entail. The methodology therefore sets out, in Table 2.1 below, defined levels of change to the landscape and visual environment that Medium Capacity: A landscape that has some sensitivity to wind turbine development might occur or be experienced depending on the size, number and location of turbines to and has some aspects of value, where a moderate level of change be built within an area. can be accommodated which may significantly affect some of the defining criteria Table 2.1: Description of Levels of Cumulative Wind Turbine Development

High Capacity: A landscape that has low sensitivity to wind turbine development and Landscape Landscape Character Visual Experience has low value, and can accommodate change that significantly affects Type most of the key defining criteria Landscape A landscape type or area in which no, There would be no, or negligible, effects on Broadly speaking there is an inverse relationship between landscape sensitivity/value and with no Wind or a minimal number/size of wind visual receptors. Turbines turbines is present, or clearly visible capacity. However, this is not a simple relationship that can be expressed in a matrix: a from neighbouring areas. balance of judgement is made in each case as landscape value may be a more important factor than sensitivity in some cases; and vice versa in others. Landscape A landscape type or area in which Visual receptors would experience very with windfarms or wind turbines are located occasional close-quarters views of a windfarm Turbine height and the size and layout of types of turbine development may relate better to Occasional and/or are close to and visible. or turbines and more frequent background some LCTs than others and the geographical extent of LCAs within some otherwise Wind Turbines Turbines are not of such a size, views of windfarms or turbines. Some of the number, extent or contrast in character turbines would not be perceived as being suitable LCTs may limit capacity for development. that they become one of the defining located in the landscape character type or characteristics of the landscape’s area. No overall perception of wind turbines character. being a defining feature of the landscape.

2.6 Defining Landscape Change and Cumulative Capacity Landscape A landscape type or area in which a Visual receptors would experience frequent with Wind windfarm, windfarms or wind turbines views of windfarms or wind turbines as An understanding of cumulative impacts and change in the landscape is key to determining Turbines are located and/or visible to such an foreground, mid-ground or background acceptable levels of development and whether or not areas have reached cumulative extent that they become one of the features, affecting their perception of the

capacity. This is discussed below and in further detail in Appendix 2. defining characteristics of the landscape character. However there would be landscape character. However, they sufficient separation between windfarms and 2.6.1 Cumulative Change are clearly separated and not the single turbines and sufficient areas from which wind most dominant characteristic of the turbines are not visible such that they would Appendix 2, section 2.7 discusses in detail the issues involved in determining cumulative landscape. not be seen as dominating the landscape over all other landscape features. change thresholds and the acceptability of these changes. It refers to SNH siting and design guidance7 and cumulative guidance for onshore wind energy developments8. Key Wind Turbine A landscape type or area in which Visual receptors would experience views of factors that affect the perception of cumulative change include: Landscape windfarms or wind turbines are windfarms and wind turbines as foreground, extensive, frequent and nearly always mid-ground and background features, to the

 the distance between individual windfarms and/or turbines; visible. They become the dominant, extent that they are seen as the most dominant defining characteristic of the landscape. aspect of landscape character. Few areas  the distance over which they are visible; Nevertheless there is a clearly defined would be free of views of wind turbines, separation between the principal although the principal groupings would appear  the overall character of the landscape and its sensitivity to windfarms; developments. separated.

 the siting and design of the windfarms and/or turbines themselves (particularly turbine Windfarm Landscape fully developed as a Visual receptors would always be close to and windfarm with no clear separation nearly always in full view of wind turbines, with

height and windfarm size); and between groups of turbines. Few if any no clear separation between groups of areas where turbines not visible. turbines. 7 SNH (2014). Siting and Designing Windfarms in the Landscape

8 SNH (2012) Assessing the cumulative impact of onshore wind energy developments: March 2012

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The descriptions in Table 2.1 set out a gradated landscape typology that defines 2.7 Presentation of Assessment and Findings increasing levels of cumulative landscape and visual impact of turbines by describing their effect on landscape character and the experience of those living in or travelling through the The study assessment and findings are presented in the following chapters: landscape. These descriptions are used without prejudice as a tool to illustrate cumulative Chapter 3: Landscape Baseline landscape change to all parties involved in planning wind energy development. This chapter defines and describes the study area, including the geographical extent and Further generic illustration of the concept is provided in Section 4 of the SNH siting and landscape character of South Lanarkshire and its surroundings. It also reviews other designing windfarms in the landscape guidance 2014 (see paragraphs 4.5 and 4.6 and relevant information including landscape-related constraints, such as wildness, natural illustrative sketches, shown below in Figure 2.2). The extent of current and potential future heritage and cultural heritage designations. wind turbine landscape types in South Lanarkshire is described in detail in chapter 6 and illustrated in Figures 6.2 and 6.3. The assessment of landscape capacity and cumulative landscape change is based on the fourteen South Lanarkshire Landscape Character Types (LCTs) in the South Lanarkshire Figure 2.2: Illustrative Sketches of Wind Turbine Development (from SNH) Landscape Character Assessment. These are divided into further Landscape Character Areas (LCAs) based on the published assessment.

The information in chapter 3 informs the assessment of the sensitivity and value of each landscape character type and areas detailed in chapter 6.

Chapter 4: Visual Baseline

This chapter details the analysis carried out to establish the relative visibility and visual sensitivity of different parts of South Lanarkshire. This involves a computer-based intervisibility assessment, carried out by Central Environmental Surveys, based on different

turbine heights and receptor types. The resulting maps are shown in Appendix 3.

The information in chapter 4 informs the assessment of landscape sensitivity as detailed in 2.6.2 Determining Acceptable Levels of Change Chapter 6.

The SNH siting and design guidance identifies three broad levels of cumulative change in Chapter 5: Wind Turbines in the Study Area the landscape that may be set by local authorities depending on landscape sensitivity and This chapter describes the operating, consented and proposed wind turbine developments value and local policy objectives: in South Lanarkshire at March 2015, and the wider study area at January 2015. There is a  Landscape Protection: Maintain existing landscape character. detailed breakdown of numbers and sizes of turbines and windfarms in South Lanarkshire and the surrounding study area. Locations of turbines are illustrated in Figures 5.1 and  Landscape Accommodation: Accept a degree of change providing this does not 5.2. There is also an analysis of turbine size ranges and distribution in relation to fundamentally alter key landscape characteristics and visual resources. landscape character.

 Landscape Change: Accept large amounts of change that may fundamentally alter Appendix 4 reviews the factors involved in wind turbine location, size, design and key landscape characteristics and visual resources. distribution that affect landscape, visual and cumulative impacts.

The descriptions in Table 2.1 provide a basis on which to understand and determine levels Details of individual developments are given in Appendix 5 of change. However it is the collective decision of stakeholders including local authorities Chapter 6: Assessment of Landscape Capacity and Cumulative Change and their population that ultimately determines the levels of cumulative landscape change, that are acceptable across their area, and thereby the capacity. This chapter analyses and assesses the information in the previous chapters to determine the landscape and visual impacts of, and capacity for, wind energy development across

South Lanarkshire. The assessment is summarised in Table 6.1 and Figures 6.1 to 6.3. The capacity assessment is informed by the detailed assessment of landscape sensitivity and value in Appendix 6. A desk and field based assessment was carried out. The assessment informs the subsequent spatial strategy and includes guidance on turbine size

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and distribution. Further details of how to use Table 6.1 together with the figures are given at the start of Chapter 6.

The assessment is carried out for each of the fourteen LCTs in South Lanarkshire. The capacity assessment and current cumulative change for each of the LCTs is then combined to come to an assessment of capacity and cumulative effects for the whole local authority area, and for the main regional landscape areas of South Lanarkshire.

2.8 Detailed Guidance

Chapter 6 also gives guidance on turbine sizes, cluster sizes and separation between groups of turbines for each landscape type and/or area that would limit cumulative development to the proposed acceptable level. This relates to turbines of 15m and taller. As highlighted in 2.3.2, guidance on small turbines below 15m to blade tip applies at a local level and is generic.

Appendix 4 of this report contains detailed discussion of how turbine size, group size and group separation affects perceptions of wind energy and landscape character. Further guidance is given in SNH’s siting and designing guidance9. Chapter 6 also briefly outlines the main considerations in developing the specific guidance.

2.9 Potential Opportunities and Constraints

The main spatial findings of the detailed assessment are summarised on a map in Figure 6.4. This shows the distribution of the following areas:

 Areas with the highest underlying landscape capacity

 Areas with some underlying landscape capacity

 Areas with little or no underlying landscape capacity

 Areas of significant cumulative development (which may overlap with parts of some or all of the above areas)

Finally it is emphasised that this assessment is focused on landscape and visual issues. Areas which have been identified as suitable on this basis may be restricted by other unrelated factors such as impacts on wildlife, impact on residential amenity, tourism and recreation, aviation restrictions or effects on the water environment. These issues are not the subject of this assessment and guidance is provided in the Council’s Renewable Energy Supplementary Guidance.

9 SNH (2014). Siting and Designing Windfarms in the Landscape

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3.0 LANDSCAPE BASELINE from its source at Watermeetings in the south, to Cambuslang, at the edge of the Glasgow conurbation, in the north. The river valley forms one of the distinctive features of the area. The following section defines and describes the study area, including the geographical Running through or near much of the Clyde Valley are the M74 motorway and West Coast extent and landscape character of South Lanarkshire and its surroundings. It also reviews Main Line, the main transport links through the area, which connect Glasgow with north- other relevant information including landscape-related designations, and SNH natural western England. heritage constraints. The middle and lower Clyde Basin and its tributaries are surrounded by extensive areas of farmland. This is relatively rolling and sheltered in lower areas of the Clyde valley but grades into a more plateau-like and exposed form with lower tree cover as it extends to the 3.1 Study Area upland areas in the north and west. Closer to the settlements in the north the farmland becomes influenced by urban fringe uses and the visual effects of settlements. A number The study area for this assessment is shown in Figure 3.1. It focuses on the local authority of deeply incised river valleys, including the Clyde itself, cut through the farmlands. area of South Lanarkshire for the purposes of determining landscape capacity. Nevertheless, given the fact that there are many existing, consented and proposed Along the western boundary of the area is an extensive area of moorlands, which separate windfarms in neighbouring local authority areas, consideration has been given to these, Lanarkshire from Ayrshire to the west. This band of hills runs south-east from Whitelee due to the extensive visual influence exerted by most windfarms. The study area therefore Moor, above the new town of East Kilbride, merging into the Southern Uplands at the covers South Lanarkshire, plus a 15km buffer around its boundary. Lowther Hills around Leadhills. Across the M74 corridor, the Southern Uplands continue past Culter Fell into the Scottish Borders. North of these hills is the town of Biggar, at the South Lanarkshire is landlocked, with its landscape merging into those of seven south edge of an area of farmland which stretches to the western end of the Pentlands. neighbouring council areas: North-west are the towns of Lanark and Carluke, with a moorland plateau beyond  To the north, the largely urban landscape continues into Glasgow with urban areas extending into North Lanarkshire and West Lothian. of South Lanarkshire forming part of the greater Glasgow conurbation and, across Tinto is an isolated hill, forming a significant landmark in the Clyde Valley, and is located the shared boundary of the Clyde, into North Lanarkshire. centrally in South Lanarkshire. The Clyde Valley becomes more enclosed to the north,  To the east, the Pentland Hills are divided between South Lanarkshire, West particularly around New Lanark and the Falls of Clyde. The valley and the M74 corridor Lothian and the Scottish Borders. become increasingly urban as they converge around Larkhall, and pass between Motherwell and Lanark. The Clyde here becomes a green corridor, linking parks and  The southern part of South Lanarkshire is within the Southern Uplands, which historic features through Hamilton, Blantyre, Cambuslang and Rutherglen, the latter two continue east into the Scottish Borders, and south-west into Dumfries and being suburbs of Glasgow. Galloway. 3.2.2 Landscape Character  To the west, the upland landscape continues into East Ayrshire, becoming more The landscape character assessment of South Lanarkshire has been updated in the South lowland in character to the north, where South Lanarkshire borders East Lanarkshire Landscape Character Assessment. The original 1999 SNH assessment10 Renfrewshire. previously described and analysed the South Lanarkshire landscape but covered a wider area than needed for the study, and is outdated in places due to changes in the landscape, including windfarm development. It is also provided a broad scale assessment identifying 3.2 Baseline Landscape Character Assessment large regional landscape types and character areas. The landscape character assessment has therefore been updated through a process of site survey and desk analysis, to identify: 3.2.1 Landscape Context  Changes to the landscape which have taken place since 1999, such as urban The local authority area of South Lanarkshire is located in south-central Scotland, to the expansion, major road schemes and wind farms; south-east of Glasgow, and is centred on the valley of the River Clyde. It is bounded by the Scottish Borders to the east, Dumfries and Galloway to the south, East Ayrshire to the  Potential refinements to the broad-scale assessment, which may pick up local west, and West Lothian to the north-east. It has a total area of 1,772 km² and a population variations in the landscape of South Lanarkshire. of approximately 314,850.

The landscape of South Lanarkshire represents a transition from the urban area of greater

Glasgow, and its neighbouring large towns, through a largely rural landscape, to the 10 LUC (1999)Glasgow and Clyde Valley Landscape Character Assessment remote hills of the Southern Uplands. The River Clyde flows through South Lanarkshire

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The revised assessment within South Lanarkshire broadly reflects the 1999 assessment Table 3.1. Landscape Character Areas in South Lanarkshire (based on revised but divides the area into 14 landscape character types, three more than recognised by the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Landscape Character Assessment) 1999 assessment. It also recognises subdivisions within the basic types based on land use considerations such as the predominance of windfarms or forestry. Regional Landscape Character Principal Landscape Units Character Areas Types The 1999 assessment identifies a total of 11 regional landscape character areas, seven of which are wholly or partly within the boundaries of South Lanarkshire (see Figure 3.3). LOWLAND

East Kilbride /Hamilton/Cambuslang;  Clyde and Ayrshire Basin Moorlands Clyde Basin 1. Urban Fringe Farmland Farmlands Larkhall/ Ferniegair; Carluke  Central Plateau Moorlands 2. Incised River Valley River Clyde: Bothwell/ Blantyre; Rotten Calder; Avon Water; River Nethan; Mouse Water  Southern Uplands 3. Broad Urban Valley River Clyde: Hamilton – Bothwell; Kylepark – Carmyle; Carmyle – Dalmarnock  Clyde Basin Farmlands 4. Rolling Farmland North/ East of Lanark; West of Lanark and Clyde Valley; South of Strathaven; Biggar and Dunsyre  Inner Clyde Valley 5. Plateau Farmland Central Plateau: Carnwath/ Forth Western Plateau: Lesmahagow/ Strathaven  Southern Uplands Foothills Inner Clyde Valley 2. Incised River Valley Mid Clyde Valley; Avon Water  Pentland Hills UPLAND/ UPLAND FRINGE

These regional character areas are primarily determined by elevation, landform and Central Plateau 6. Plateau Moorland Black Law/ Forth landuse. The landscape character types lie within these areas and the revised assessment Moorlands falls into much the same areas, reflecting the predominant effect of topography over landscape character. For the purposes of this assessment, these areas have been further Clyde & Ayrshire 6. Plateau Moorland Whitelee Moor, Coalburn, Douglas Water, Basins Moorlands Crawfordjohn agglomerated between upland and lowland types, as set out in Table 3.1 below. Landscape character areas are shown in Figure 3.4. 7. Rolling Moorland Hagshaw/ Dungavel Crawfordjohn/ Cairn Table The principal differences between the 1999 assessment and the current assessment are 8. Upland River Valley Avon Water; River Nethan; Douglas Water; as follows: Duneaton Water Southern Upland 4. Rolling Farmland Biggar 1) A significant reduction in the area of Plateau Moorland with a proportion of the area Foothills being reassigned as Rolling Moorland, reflecting the distinction between moorland 9. Broad Valley Upland Upper Clyde: Abington-Thankerton; Thankerton- areas with extensive undulating plateau, and areas where the landscape is more rolling Bonnington Linn; Biggar; Medwin Water; with defined hill shapes, higher elevations and more remote character. Douglas Water 10. Foothills Carmichael/ Roberton; Biggar Common; Broomy 2) An increase in the area of Rolling Farmland at the expense of Plateau Farmland, Law where topography is considered more distinctively undulating and the scale of the 11. Prominent Isolated Tinto; Black Mount; Dungavel Hill Foothills landscape smaller with more trees, shelter and settlement.

Western Pentland Hills 3) A reduction in the area of Foothills to north of Biggar in the east. With the exception of Pentland Hills 12. Old Red Sandstone Hills certain prominent hills, the landscape here is considered to reflect the lower smaller scale and shelter of the Plateau and Rolling Farmlands, which extend north into the Southern Uplands 8. Upland River Valley Duneaton Water Scottish Borders. 13. Southern Uplands Lowther Hills; Southern Uplands east of 4) The identification of the Prominent Isolated Foothills of Tinto, Black Mount and Abington and the Clyde Dungavel Hill in areas formerly identified as Foothills to the Southern Uplands. These 14.Upland Glen Glengonnar Water; Elvan Water; Daer and hills are considered to be of sufficient scale to be distinguished from the general Potrail Waters; Clydes Burn and Evan Water; Midlock Water; Camps Water; Foothills LCT and are isolated from the masses of the Southern Upland and Pentland Culter Water and Cow Gill. hills, making them prominent landmarks – especially so in the case of Tinto.

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5) The identification of Urban Fringe Farmland around the larger settlements in the conurbation and the towns of Strathaven, Lesmahagow and Lanark in the west and northwest. This type replaces Plateau and Rolling Farmland in these areas, as the south. The SLA includes the Hamilton High Parks, the New Lanark World Heritage site farmland close to towns is considered to show urban fringe influences and land uses and the Falls of Clyde. relating to leisure activities. 3) Upper Clyde Valley and Tinto SLA is contiguous with the above and covers the 6) More extensive characterisation of river valley types and glens in the farmland and meandering course of the River Clyde above the Falls of Clyde, between the upland areas. confluence of the Douglas Water and Abington in the Southern Uplands. The SLA includes the broad upland valley setting of the river, including Tinto Hill and the hills These changes are important in distinguishing subtle variations in topography, scale and along the northern edge of the Southern Uplands Fault, including the highest point in character that are important in determining landscape sensitivity and capacity and factors South Lanarkshire at Culter Fell. The SLA includes the historic burgh of Biggar to the that may contribute to the definition of local landscape designations. east. The designation is contiguous with a local landscape designation in Scottish Borders covering the course of the Tweed.

4) Douglas Valley SLA covers the middle part of the Douglas Water valley, between 3.3 Landscape Designations Rigside in the northeast and Glespin in the northwest. This includes the historic village Landscape designations are an indication of landscape value as determined by society. of Douglas and associated estate landscape as well as the hills to the north and south Landscape designations form part of the baseline for both the assessment of landscape forming the setting to the river and town. capacity, and the preparation of the spatial framework. Landscape designations within the 5) The Pentland Hills and Black Mount SLA is based around the southwestern end of study area are noted below, and are shown in Figures 3.5 and 3.6. the Pentland Hills in South Lanarkshire. The hills and moorland lie to the east of the 3.3.1 National Designations A70 but the SLA includes the village of Tarbrax to the west, the pastoral valley of the South Medwin and the prominent outlier hill of Black Mount in the east. The There are no areas of national landscape designation, i.e. National Scenic Areas (NSA) or designation is contiguous with local landscape designations in Scottish Borders and National Parks within South Lanarkshire. There is one NSA within the study area; the West Lothian to the north. Upper Tweeddale NSA in the Scottish Borders, which is 4km east of the South Lanarkshire boundary at its closest. 6) Leadhills and The Lowther Hills SLA covers the Southern Upland hills and glens east of the River Clyde, M74 and Anglo-Scottish Interconnector and is contiguous with There is no nationally important wild land in South Lanarkshire, as shown on the 2014 the Dumfries & Galloway border to the west and south. To the north it includes part of SNH map of wild land areas. The nearest area is in the Scottish Borders, approximately the Duneaton Water valley and the village of Crawfordjohn. The SLA includes the 5km south-east. historic village of Leadhills with its associated legacy of mining as well as the Lowther Hills and Daer Reservoir. The SLA is contiguous with a local landscape designation in National Scenic Areas are in Group 1 of the spatial framework. Wild land is in Group 2 of Dumfries & Galloway. the spatial framework. There are a number of local landscape designations within the surrounding areas,

including the large Special Landscape Area which surrounds the Upper Tweeddale NSA, 3.3.2 Local and Regional Designations RSAs in Dumfries and Galloway, Sensitive Landscape Character Areas in East Ayrshire, and Sites of Special Landscape Importance, covering parks and green corridors in Local landscape designations within South Lanarkshire are extensive. There are 6 Special Glasgow. Some of these areas merge with the landscape designations in South Landscape Areas (SLAs) described in the 2010 study11: Lanarkshire.

1) Lower Clyde & Calderglen SLA includes the Clyde within the Glasgow conurbation Local landscape designations are not included in the spatial framework. and Calder Glen on the east side of East Kilbride. This reflects the importance of the river corridors in contributing to the setting and cultural heritage of the urban areas as There are a number of Historic Gardens and Designed Landscapes (HGDLs) within the well as their importance in informal and easily accessible recreation. study area. Whilst this is not a statutory landscape designation it is a landscape factor that contributes to the assessment of landscape character and value. These are taken into 2) Middle Clyde Valley SLA is contiguous with the above, being focused around the account in the assessment. HGDLs are included in Group 2 of the Spatial Framework. incised river valleys of the Clyde and Avon, between Hamilton in the Glasgow There are also three country parks in South Lanarkshire, Strathclyde Country Park,

Calderglen Country Park, and Chatelherault Country Park. 11 Ironside Farrar (2010) South Lanarkshire: Validating Local Landscape Designations

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3.4 Other Designations 3.4.3 Tourism and recreational interests

There are a number of designations that feed into the landscape capacity assessment Country parks are noted in 3.3.2 above. The Pentland Hills Regional Park lies close to process outlined in section 2.1. These include natural heritage and cultural heritage South Lanarkshire to the north-east. The Southern Upland Way is a coast-to-coast long designations and are shown on Figures 3.5 and 3.6. Many of these fall into Group 2 of the distance route, which passes through the southern tip of South Lanarkshire. The Clyde spatial framework but their description here is for background information only. Walkway is a walking route which follows the River Clyde from Glasgow to New Lanark. National Cycle Routes 74 and 75 run through the area. The Clyde Valley National Tourist 3.4.1 Natural Heritage designations Route runs along the A72, A73 and A702 form Abington via Bigger and Lanark to Hamilton and the M74. The areas around designated landscapes and SAMs are often popular visitor The South Lanarkshire Local Plan (Adopted 2009) lists the following internationally locations (e.g. Leadhills). Tinto Hill is a popular viewpoint and hillwalking route. designated sites:

 Braehead Moss SAC

 Clyde Valley Woodlands SAC

 Coalburn Moss Craigengar SAC

 Cranley Moss SAC

 Red Moss SAC

 Waukenway Moss SAC

 Muirkirk and North Lowther Uplands SPA

The local plan also lists 45 SSSIs, and one national Nature Reserve; Clyde Valley Woodlands.. As noted above there are no NSAs or National Parks within South Lanarkshire.

SPA, SAC, SSSI and NNR are included in Group 2 of the spatial framework.

Besides the landscape designations already noted in 3.3 above, there are Local Nature Reserves at Langlands Moss (East Kilbride) and Morgan Glen (Larkhall), and numerous areas of Ancient Woodland and Tree Preservation Orders (TPO).

3.4.2 Historic and cultural designations

New Lanark World Heritage site lies on the River Clyde near the centre of South Lanarkshire. The World Heritage Site covers approximately 1km2, and its buffer covers a further 8km2, and comprises a collection of sites, monuments, buildings woodland, waterfalls and open space. Large numbers of listed buildings and Scheduled Ancient Monuments occur across the study area, and there are conservation areas covering parts of Hamilton, Bothwell, Strathaven, Uddingston, Cambuslang, Biggar, and several other villages and towns. There are Historic Battlefield designations at Bothwell Bridge and Drumclog. The largest designated areas are the two HGDLs at Falls of Clyde and Hamilton, the historic battlefield at Drumclog and the SAM in the mines around Leadhills.

World Heritage Sites, HGDLs and Historic Battlefields are included in Group 2 of the spatial framework.

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West Dunbartonshire Falkirk East Dunbartonshire

City of Edinburgh South Lanarkshire Landscape Capacity Study

West Lothian for Wind Energy Glasgow City Renfrewshire North Lanarkshire February 2016 7948 GIS 101

Legend Midlothian SLC Boundary Study Area 15km buffer Scottish Local Authority Boundaries

East Renfrewshire North Ayrshire

South Lanarkshire

Scottish Borders

East Ayrshire

South Ayrshire

Figure 3.1

Study Area Dumfries & Galloway

Km ± 0 4.75 9.5 19

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Legend

SLC Boundary Study Area 15km buffer Scottish Local Authority Boundaries

Settlements Elevation 800 - 850mAOD Contours

750 - 800mAOD Contours

700 - 750mAOD Contours

650 - 700mAOD Contours

600 - 650mAOD Contours

550 - 600mAOD Contours

500 - 550mAOD Contours

450 - 500mAOD Contours

400 - 450mAOD Contours

350 - 400mAOD Contours

300 - 350mAOD Contours

250 - 300mAOD Contours

200 - 250mAOD Contours

150 - 200mAOD Contours

100 - 150mAOD Contours

50 - 100mAOD Contours

0 - 50mAOD Contours

Figure 3.2

Topography

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iv February 2016 7948 GIS 103

xi Legend SLC Boundary Study Area 15km buffer viii Scottish Local Authority Boundaries vii Regional Landscape Areas (from 1999 Glasgow and Clyde Valley LCA) iii - Clyde and Ayrshire Basins Moorlands iv - Central Plateau Moorlands vi - Southern Uplands vii - Clyde Basin Farmlands viii - Inner Clyde Valley x - Southern Uplands Foothills xi - Pentland Hills iii x

vi

Figure 3.3 Regional Landscape Character Areas

Km ± 0 2.5 5 10

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STC7 URBAN STC7 LTH6 URBAN STC7 STC9 STC8 STC8 3 STC8 STC7 STC7 LTH5 STC11 STC18 STC3 3 STC11 STC7 STC3 URBAN 3 URBAN U LTH2 STC11 U LTH1 STC9 STC7 STC5 LTH3 STC12 STC5 STC7 STC11 STC8 South Lanarkshire 3 URBAN STC8 2 LTH2 LTH2 Landscape Capacity Study STC7 STC5 6A 6 STC6 STC7 U 6 for Wind Energy BDR1 STC5 1 iv 5B U 6C 5 February 2016 7948 GIS 104 6C 6A STC8 5A 1 1 5 6A 1 Legend 5A xi BDR8 5 12 6 SLC Boundary U U 1 2 6 2A 6 Study Area 15km buffer

STC18 viii 6A Scottish Local Authority Boundaries vii 6 6 4A Landscape Character 5 5C BDR3 1 - Urban Fringe Farmland 4 5 6B 5 9 11 2 - Incised River Valley 2A - Incised River Valley Broad Valley Floor 2 10 3 - Broad Urban Valley U BDR22 AYS20 6 5A 4 BDR11 4 - Rolling Farmland 5 6A 4 4 6A 4 5 4A - Rolling Farmland Forestry 8 5 - Plateau Farmland U BDR3 5A - Plateau Farmland Forestry 10 AYS7 7 5B - Plateau Farmland Opencast Mining

AYS9 AYS10 5C - Plateau Farmland Windfarm iii 8 6D 5 x 9 7 BDR25 6 - Plateau Moorland 7A 7 6 6A - Plateau Moorland Forestry 10A 11 7 6B - Plateau Moorland Forestry Windfarm 5B BDR22 7A 6C - Plateau Moorland Windfarm

7 9 6D - Plateau Moorland Opencast Mining 8B AYS19 BDR22 8 7 - Rolling Moorland 7B 11 14 7 7A - Rolling Moorland Forestry AYS7 10 7B - Rolling Moorland Windfarm 7 8A 8 - Upland River Valley 13 13B 8A - Upland River Valley Incised AYS10 8B 7 AYS9 6 8B - Upland River Valley Opencast Mining 13A 7A BDR4 9 - Broad Valley Upland 7A 7 13 13 10 - Foothills AYS7 13A 10A - Foothills Forestry 13A 14 8 13A AYS19 11 - Prominent Isolated Hills AYS10 7 AYS9 12 - Old Red Sandstone Hills 14 14 13 13 - Southern Uplands

AYS7 13A - Southern Uplands Forestry AYS20 13 13B - Southern Uplands Windfarm 14 13B 13C - Southern Uplands Leadhills 14 DGW22 13C 14 - Upland Glen vi 13A U - Urban AYS10 AYS15 14 14 Landscape Character Areas in Neighbouring Authorities AYS18 13B (SNH, 1999) 13 Regional Landscape Character Areas (see Fig 3.3 for details) DGW22 DGW11 DGW11 13A Figure 3.4 AYS23 DGW11 BDR5 DGW10 13A AYS23 Landscape DGW11 Character Areas AYS14 13 DGW21 AYS24 DGW22 13 DGW23 DGW22 Km ± 0 2.5 5 10 DGW8 DGW23 DGW23 DGW22 This map is reproduced from Ordinance Survey material with the permission of Ordinance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationary AYS17 DGW11 DGW20 DGW20 Office © Crown Copyright 2016. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown DGW22 DGW22 DGW17 DGW5 DGW20 DGW17 copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. AL 100017966

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Legend 1 SLC Boundary Study Area 15km buffer Scottish Local Authority Boundaries South Lanarkshire Special Landscape Areas: 1. Lower Clyde and Calderglen 2. Middle Clyde Valley 3. Upper Clyde Valley & Tinto 4. Douglas Valley 5. Pentland Hills & Blackmount 6. Leadhills & Lowther Hills 5 National Scenic Areas 2 Greenbelt Historic Gardens and Designed Landscapes Local Landscape Designations Outside South Lanarkshire

3

4

6

Figure 3.5 Landscape Related Designations

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Legend

SLC Boundary Study Area 15km buffer Scottish Local Authority Boundaries Natural Heritage Areas Special Areas of Conservation Special Protection Areas National Nature Reserves Sites of Special Scientific Interest Ancient Woodland Local Nature Reserves Cultural Heritage Areas Listed Buildings Scheduled Ancient Monuments Conservation Areas World Heritage Sites Other Country Parks

Figure 3.6 Natural and Cultural Heritage Designations

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3 3 3 Legend U U SLC Boundary Study Area 15km buffer 3 2 6A 6 Scottish Local Authority Boundaries U 6 Landscape Character Areas 1 5B U 6C 5 6C 6A Wild Land Areas: 5A 1 1 5 6A 1 1. Merrick 5A 2. Talla-Hart Fell 6 5 12 U U 1 2 2A 6 6 2014 Relative wildness 6A 6 Value 4A 6 High : 256 5 5C 4 5 6B 5 9 11 2 Low : 1 U 6 5A 4 10 6A 4 4 5 6A 4 5 8 U 10 7

8 6D 5 9 7 7 7A 6 10A 11 7 7A 5B

7 8B 9 8 7B 11 14 7 10

7 13 13B 7 8B 6 13A 8A 7A 7A 7 13 13 13A 8 13A 14 13A 7 14 14 13

13 14 13B 14 13C 13A 2

14 14 13B 13 13A

13A

13 13

Figure 3.7 Relative Wildness and Wild Land Areas

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4.0 VISUAL BASELINE near settlements. When considering individual proposals, a suitable separation distance within this maximum would be applied following detailed consideration of the scheme The following section details the analysis that was carried out to establish the relative landscape and visual criteria12. visibility of different parts of South Lanarkshire. Table 4.1 Visual Receptors: Settlements 4.1 Visual Receptors 1 Abington 32 Dillarburn 63 Nerston In a study of landscape capacity and cumulative landscape impacts, it is important to 2 Ashgill 33 Dolphinton 64 Netherburn consider visibility, and the effects of cumulative impact on visual receptors. This not only 3 Auchengray 34 Douglas Water 65 New Lanark feeds into the assessment of landscape sensitivity and capacity (see Section 2.2), but also 4 Auchenheath 35 Douglas 66 New Trows builds up a picture of how visual receptors in and around South Lanarkshire would perceive windfarms within the South Lanarkshire landscape. 5 Auldhouse 36 Drumclog 67 Newbigging 6 Biggar 37 Dunsyre 68 Pettinain The types of potentially sensitive visual receptors within South Lanarkshire are broadly 7 Blackwood/Kirkmuirhill 38 East Kilbride 69 Ponfeigh categorised into three groups, represented by the locations in brackets: 8 Blantyre 39 Elsrickle 70 Quarter  Residents (dwellings and settlements) 9 Boghead 40 Elvanfoot 71 Quothquan 10 Bothwell 41 Ferniegair 72 Ravenstruther  Travellers (roads, railway, paths and cycle routes) 11 Braehead 42 Garrion 73 Rosebank  Visitors (visitor destinations and viewpoints) 12 Lower Braidwood 43 Gilmourton 74 Rigside While there are many working receptors in South Lanarkshire, these have not been 13 Upper Braidwood 44 Forth 75 Roberton included as sensitive visual receptors, as in common practice in LVIA. 14 Brocketsbrae 45 Glassford 76 Rutherglen 15 Cambuslang 46 Glespin 77 Sandford Based on desk study and site analysis, three groups of receptors were identified as follows: 16 Candy Mill 47 Hamilton 78 Shawsburn 17 Carmichael 48 Hawksland 79 Stonehouse  Settlements, representing concentrations of residential receptors, based on the 18 Carluke 49 Hazelbank 80 Strathaven settlements defined in the South Lanarkshire Local Development Plan (LDP) 19 Carnwath 50 Hyndfordbridge 81 Symington (Adopted June 2015); 20 Carstairs 51 Kerswell 82 Tanhill  Routes, representing travelling receptors, and including the motorway, “A” roads, 21 Carstairs Junction 52 Kilncadzow 83 Tarbrax selected “B” roads, railways, and long-distance footpaths and cycleways; 22 Cartland 53 Kirkfieldbank 84 Thankerton  Viewpoints, representing visitors, selected from popular walking destinations, visitor 23 Chapelton 54 Kittochside 85 Thorntonhall attractions, and viewpoints identified on OS maps, including several viewpoints just 24 Cleghorn 55 Lamington 86 Tillietudlem outside South Lanarkshire. 25 Coalburn 56 Lanark 87 Uddingston The settlements, routes, and viewpoints are listed in Tables 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3 below, and all 26 Covington 57 Larkhall 88 Walston the receptors are illustrated on Figure 4.1. 27 Newtown of Covington 58 Law 89 West End 28 Coulter 59 Leadhills 90 Wilsontown In accordance with the SPP spatial framework, a community separation area for consideration of visual impacts has been drawn around all settlements in South 29 Crawfordjohn 60 Lesmahagow 91 Wiston Lanarkshire. The list of settlements to which the area is applied was determined by 30 Crossford 61 Libberton 92 Woolfords reference to the LDP. 31 Crawford 62 Nemphlar 93 Yieldshields

The LDP map indicates settlement boundaries. The settlements are shown on Figure 4.1 with an indicative 2km community separation area around them. These areas form part of group 2 of the spatial framework (see Figure 1 of this report). The 2km area shown is the 12 SPP states in Table 1: ‘The extent of the area will be determined by the planning authority based on indicative maximum distance of separation for consideration of wind energy developments landform and other features which restrict views out from the settlement’

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Table 4.2 Visual Receptors: Routes Table 4.3 Visual Receptors: Viewpoints

Route From - to Type No. Viewpoint Type Location

M74 Uddingston to Moffat Motorway 1 Cathkin Braes Hilltop, Country Park NS 618 587

A724 Rutherglen to Hamilton “A” Road 2 Morrisons, East Kilbride Shop, Settlement NS 620 558

A749 Rutherglen to East Kilbride “A” Road 3 Chatelherault Country Country Park, Designed NS 736 540 Park Landscape A725 East Kilbride to Bellshill “A” Road 4 Motherwell Heritage Museum, Settlement NS 750 570 Centre A726 Eaglesham to Strathaven “A” Road 5 West Forth Community Footpaths NS 938 531 Woodland A723 Hamilton to Strathaven “A” Road 6 West Cairn Hill Hilltop, Pentlands NT 107 584 Regional Park A71 Loudoun Hill to Garrion Bridge “A” Road 7 Black Law Covenanter’s Hilltop, historical feature NT 078 522 Grave A721 Carluke to A72 “A” Road 8 Little Sparta Designed Landscape NT 053 488

A73 Newmains to Abington “A” Road 9 Black Hill Hilltop NS 832 435

A70 Parish Holm to Tarbrax “A” Road 10 Footpath crossing A73 Footpath NS 862 460 near Lanark A702 Abington to Dolphinton “A” Road 11 Hyndford Bridge Road, historical feature NS 915 415

A702 Elvanfoot to the Dalveen Pass “A” Road 12 Loudoun Hill Hilltop NS 608 379

B797 Abington to Wanlockhead “B” Road 13 Trumpeter’s Well Historical feature on A71 NS 660 417

National Cycle Lesmahagow to Moffat (Uddingston to Cycle route 14 Tinto Hill Hilltop, SSSI NS 953 344 Network Route 74 Lesmahagow proposed) 15 Biggar Common Footpath NT 020 395 National Cycle Cambuslang to Uddingston Cycle route 16 Douglas Castle Castle, Designed NS 842 318 Network Route 75 Landscape 17 Culter Fell Hilltop NT 052 290 Southern Upland Way Wanlockhead to Moffat Walking route

18 Cairn Table Hilltop NS 724 243 Clyde Walkway Cambuslang to New Lanark Walking route

19 Red Moss B Road, National Cycle NT 884 270 West Coast Main Line Glasgow to Carlisle Rail route Route 20 Abington Services Motorway Services NS 930 249 Argyle Line Rutherglen to Lanark Rail route 21 Crawford Footbridge Footpath, Settlement NS 954 209 Glasgow to Edinburgh Carstairs to Edinburgh Rail route via Carstairs Line 22 Leadhills Settlement, museum NS 886 150

23 Green Lowther Hilltop, Southern Upland NS 900 120 Way 24 Devil’s Beef Tub Viewpoint, AGLV NT 062 126

25 Queensberry Hilltop NX 989 998

26 Pykestone Hill Hilltop, Upper Tweeddale NT 173 313 National Scenic Area

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4.2 Visibility Analysis 4.2.2 Routes

An assessment of visibility was made from the settlements, routes and viewpoints listed in The routes tell a similar story but with a more diffuse visibility than the settlements (Figures Tables 4.1 to 4.3. The extent of the visibility assessment was limited to a 15km radius from 4.3 a-d). This relates to the more pervasive nature of routes and the fact that some roads the receptors. This is considered to be the distance within which potentially significant and walking routes cover high ground in which settlements are not normally located. In this impacts from a wind farm are likely occur. Whilst it is recognised that impacts occur assessment there is a more extensive visibility across the centre of South Lanarkshire and beyond this distance, up to 35km and beyond, as recognised by EIA best practice, this is up into the north eastern part. The M74/ WCML corridor cutting north/ south through the not an EIA assessment and the results are considered to adequately distinguish between area is also a notable corridor of visibility. In particular it is notable that hilltops and locations of potentially greater or lesser sensitivity. ridgelines are visually sensitive, with summits of Tinto and some of the Southern Upland hills particularly visible. Each receptor type was assessed at four different heights of object in order to distinguish between the potential visibility of windfarm infrastructure and turbines of differing height at The most visible landscape types are the Urban Fringe Farmlands, Plateau Farmlands and hub and blade tip height: Rolling Farmlands. Tinto Hill, in its pivotal position, is also highly visible. The least visible areas are the western fringes of the Rolling Moorland and the eastern fringes of the  1m representing objects at or near existing ground levels; Southern Upland type. The Foothills area between Tinto and the M74 continues to have a relatively low visibility.  45m representing hub height of smaller commercial turbines; 4.2.3 Viewpoints  75m representing hub height of larger turbines or blade tip of smaller commercial turbines; The viewpoints tell a slightly different story (Figures 4.4 a-d). This is because they relate less to centres of population and more to available views. On the basis of the viewpoints  125m representing blade tip of larger turbines. selected, the most visible areas are in the centre and northeast of South Lanarkshire, A receptor height of 1.5m was assumed. particularly between Douglas, Lanark, Biggar and Carnwath. The least sensitive areas lie along the eastern edge of the Southern Uplands, the north eastern urban areas and the Results of the visibility analysis are illustrated in Figures 4.2 to 4.4 (in Appendix 3), and Plateau Moorland to the north of Forth. show that the northern part of South Lanarkshire is significantly more visible from a larger number of receptors and that few areas would be able to accommodate wind turbines The most visible landscape types are Rolling Farmlands, Plateau Farmlands and parts of without some significant degree of visibility from the receptors. the Foothills and Broad Valley Upland of the Upper Clyde. Again the Foothills area between Tinto and the M74 has a relatively low visibility. 4.2.1 Settlements 4.2.4 Analysis of Visibility Figures 4.2 a-d show that the areas most likely to be seen from settlements are located in the north western part of South Lanarkshire: including the Glasgow conurbation, East The visibility analysis confirms perceptions that the most visually sensitive areas in terms Kilbride and Hamilton and around the Middle and Lower Clyde valley. The areas with of numbers of potential receptors are those close to population and transport routes. These lowest visibility lie along the south western and south eastern upland fringes, with some are concentrated in the urban fringes of Glasgow and the Clyde Basin farmlands. In areas at the southern end of South Lanarkshire theoretically able to accommodate 125m contrast the least visible areas are in the upland fringes of the Moorlands and Southern high structures without visibility from a settlement. These figures are indicative for Uplands. This, in combination with the greater suitability of the upland landscape types and populations within settlements as a whole. Consideration of individual settlements in greater wind resource, underlines why the bulk of development is focused on the upland respect of the community separation distance (see 4.1 above) would require a specific areas. Nevertheless, more detailed further analysis allows smaller and more subtle visibility assessment for each settlement in question. variations in visibility to be identified which may assist in determining which areas are most suitable for development from the point of view of visibility. In terms of landscape character types the Urban Fringe Farmland and Plateau Farmland are the most visible, and the Rolling Moorland and Southern Upland the least visible. The Plateau Moorland, whilst not highly visible itself is visually sensitive to tall structures, particularly where it is located close to substantial settlements. Valleys are often visually sensitive due to containing settlements. The Foothills and Plateau Moorland areas south of Tinto and either side of the M74 have a low visibility, particularly for smaller structures.

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IronsideFarrar 16 7948/ Feb 2016 A81 A891 B8023

B822 B757 B8039 A809 A8006 B8048 A80

A807 B8046 A810 A879 A80 B8028 A82 A808 A73 A801 B819 B757 A81 B802 B803 A899 A8014 B812 A800 M8 South Lanarkshire B8046 B765 B8084 A82 A739 M73 B792 A752 A899 B804 A8 A741 B808 M80 B708 Landscape Capacity Study A73 A705 B7031 A739 A89 A877 B803 B825 A779 M80 B804 B718 A801 A705 A804 B806 A7066 B7031 A736 A814 A804 A8010 for Wind Energy M8 M8 M8 A752 A71 A741 A736 A804 M8 A801 M8 A8 A89 B792 A8 B8058 A8 M8 M8 B7015 February 2016 7948 GIS 108 A761 A761 M8 A725 B802 A761 B768 A74 M8 M8 A8 M8 A728 A8 M74 M8 B7010 B762 A8 B774 B762 A725 A730 A763 M74 B7015 A736 B758 Legend A725 A723 M77 B7066 B717 1 B7008 B759 A766 B775 B7010 A704 6 SLC Boundary A727 (! A724 B799 B7029 B766 ! A727 B759 A725 ( A749 4 B715 Study Area 15km buffer A727 A73 A701 A736 B758 A725 (! 2 A725 Scottish Local Authority Boundaries A727 (! A72 A721 A71 B776 B755 B767 A703 B761 A725 A721 A726 3 A726 5 Settlements (! B754 A721 (! A703 B769 Settlements B764 A72 B7019 7 A723 B7011 B7056 B7059 A71 A70 (! Settlements 2km Buffer A77 B7016 A721 8 M77 (! Routes A726 B7056 A706 Railways

B7056 10 A706 (! A70 A721 Motorway A719 M74 A701 B7059 B778 B7086 A723 9 A743 A721 Primary Road (! A706 B7086 B7016 A Road 13 B7018 11 A77 B7078 (! (! A72 B Road 15 B743 (! A72 Cycleroutes 12 B7073 B745 (! B7016 A71 B712 Long Distance Footpaths B7073 A71 A719 A72 Viewpoints B744 14 B7078 (! (! B7055 Viewpoints A719 B7037 16 A73 26 (! (! Ref: Name 1 Cathkin Braes 17 2 East Kilbride M74 A702 (! 3 Chatelherault Country Park A76 B743 19 B705 4 Motherwell Heritage Centre B743 (! B7078 B743 B713 12 Loudoun Hill 20 B713 9 Black Hill 18 (! (! A702 16 Douglas Castle 10 A73 B7036 B7036 11 Hyndford Bridge 21 B797 5 Forth A70 B7083 (! A76 B740 8 Little Sparta 15 Biggar Common B7046 14 Tinto B7040 B7076 17 Culter Fell 22 20 Abington Services A702 (! 19 Red Moss A74(M) 21 Crawford Footbridge B741 24 23 ! A708 22 Leadhills (! ( B719 A701 23 Green Lowther 6 West Cairn Hill 7 Blacklaw A74(M) 13 Trumpeter's Well 18 Cairn Table A76 24 Devil's Beef Tub B7076 25 Queensberry 26 Pykestone Hill

A701

25 (! Figure 4.1 A702

A74(M)

B732 Visual Receptors B731 A701

A702

B7020 Km ± 0 5 10 20

This map is reproduced from Ordinance Survey material with the permission of Ordinance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationary Office © Crown Copyright 2016. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. AL 100017966

South Lanarkshire Council Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Energy ______

5.0 WIND TURBINES IN THE STUDY AREA

The following section lists and describes the operating, consented and proposed wind In the applications the vast majority (95 or 70%) of proposed turbines are in the >120m to turbine developments in South Lanarkshire at March 2015 and the rest of the study area at blade tip range, as the following chart shows: January 2015 (refer to Appendix 5 and Figure 5.1 and 5.2 for details and location).

5.1 Turbine Numbers and Distribution

The study area, for the purposes of the assessment of visibility and landscape and visual impacts of turbines, includes South Lanarkshire plus a 15km buffer around its boundary taking in: Glasgow, most of Dunbartonshire, North Lanarkshire and West Lothian; western parts of Edinburgh and Midlothian; western Scottish Borders; northern Dumfries and Galloway; the northeast part of East Ayrshire most of East Renfrewshire and eastern parts of Renfrewshire and West Dunbartonshire.

Consented and proposed wind energy developments of 4 or more turbines over 50m in height within the study area are listed in Appendix 5, together with details (where available) of location, number and height of turbines, status and landscape character type. The locations of all turbines (including those in groups of three or fewer and 15-50m) are shown in Figure 5.1 (South Lanarkshire) and 5.2 (whole study area). Turbines under 15m are not included in strategic guidance.

At March 2015 there were within South Lanarkshire a total of 745 turbines of 15m or There are also significant numbers of operational, consented and proposed wind turbines greater that are operational or consented and 136 that are in planning or S36 applications in the 15km buffer (Approximately 939 existing/consented and 270 proposed). This is pending a decision. particularly due to parts of the Whitelee cluster extending into East Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire; Black Law and extension extending into North Lanarkshire and West Of those turbines consented, the majority (483 or 65%) are 80m or more to blade tip, and Lothian and significant developments in Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway. some 14% are in the smallest 15-<30m category. The following chart shows the distribution of sizes. 5.1.1 Operating and Consented Wind Turbines

South Lanarkshire and the study area have a relatively large number of turbines when compared to most other areas in Scotland. This is particularly the case with larger turbines in windfarms.

There have been very significant changes to the baseline of operating and consented turbines over the five years to March 2015. The main changes are as follows:

 Whitelee extensions (75x140m in East Ayrshire) are now operational

 Calder Water (13x147m) and West Browncastle (12x136.5m), southeast of Whitelee, are now operational

 Blantyre Muir (6x115m) between Hamilton and East Kilbride is operational

 The single 125m turbine at Cathkin Braes above Glasgow is now operational

 Black Law Extension (23x126m) in West Lothian and North Lanarkshire is consented

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 Muirhall (6x125m) is now operational and has two further operational147m turbines  Harrow’s Law (17x115m), and Fauch Hill (23x125m) in the Pentland Hills have been and three more consented. dismissed at appeal

 Pearie Law (6x125m) and Harburnhead (22x126m) in West Lothian are consented  Windfarms at Calla and Crofthill near Carnwath have been refused by South Lanarkshire Council  Nutberry (6x125m), northwest of Hagshaw Hill is operational There are many applications for smaller non-commercial/FiT developments of single and  Galawhistle (22x125m) west of Hagshaw Hill is consented paired turbines of varying sizes across the northern part of the area. There are also scoping requests for significant sized windfarms including Heathlands near Black Law and  Dalquhandy (15x126.5m) north of Hagshaw Hill is consented Cumberhead, extension of Nutberry Windfarm.  Bankend Rig (11x76m), south of Drumclog, is operational 5.1.3 Pattern of development  Dungavel (13 x 120m), south of Drumclog is now under construction The vast majority of the operating and consented turbines are located in the upland areas;  Kype Muir (26x132m) and Auchrobert (12x132m), northeast of Dungavel are now particularly the Plateau Moorlands, Rolling Moorlands and Southern Uplands. This pattern consented has not changed in last five years and is further reinforced by the applications. However what is noticeable is the appearance of a sizeable number of consents and applications for  Andershaw (14x125m) and Middle Muir (15x125m) south of the Douglas Water valley FiT turbines and groups of 1-3 in the lowland areas. These turbines range between 15m to are consented over 100m in height to blade tip.

 Clyde (152x125m) is now operational

 Clyde Extension 54x142m turbine extension to the north and east of Clyde, with 3 5.2 Landscape Character of Turbine Locations turbines extending into Scottish Borders, is now consented At March 2015 there were 745 turbines over 15m tall operating, under construction or  Harestanes (71x125m in Dumfries and Galloway) is now operational consented in South Lanarkshire. If all the proposed turbines in South Lanarkshire were constructed as well this would amount to a total of 881 wind turbines. Another 1209  Glenkerie in Scottish Borders (11x120m) is now operational operational, consented, and proposed turbines lie within 15km of the South Lanarkshire boundary.  Crookedstane (4x125m) that extends Clyde Windfarm is consented A clear pattern of wind power development emerges: a chain of consented and operational A significant number of smaller non-commercial/FiT developments, single, 2 or 3 turbine windfarms on upland areas stretching from Whitelee in the north-west, to Clyde in the developments have also become operational or are consented. south-east. Beyond South Lanarkshire, several developments along the East Ayrshire/ 5.1.2 Proposed Windfarms and Turbines (at March 2015) East Renfrewshire border extend the chain northwest, and Harestanes continues it to the south. This chain has been reinforced by the consents of Calder Water, West Browncastle, There are many further proposals in South Lanarkshire that are at the application stage. In Dungavel, Kype Muir, Auchrobert, Middle Muir and Andershaw which reduce gaps the last five years the main changes to applications in the study area are: between the main clusters of Whitelee, Hagshaw Hill and Clyde.

 Kennoxhead (26x126.5m) between Galawhistle and Penbreck A second area of concentration in the northeast corner includes Black Law, Muirhall. Pate’s Hill and Tormywheel. This has been added to by the Black Law and Muirhall  Broken Cross (7x126.5m) near Coalburn extensions. The dismissal of Harrows Law and Fauch Hill indicates there is unlikely to be eastward extension beyond the A70 into the Pentland Hills, although the consents for  Glentaggart (6x135m) west of Andershaw Pearie Law and Harburnhead indicate a potential concentration extending well into West  Leadhills (12x137m) to the southwest of Crawfordjohn Lothian west of the Pentlands.

 Lion Hill (4x125m) that would extend Clyde windfarm The existing and continuing pattern of development reflects the prevalence of larger size windfarms in upland locations around the periphery of South Lanarkshire.  Kype Extension (10x132m and 8x152m) to south-west of consented Kype Muir The central South Lanarkshire area along the Clyde Valley, around Biggar and into the Windfarm Glasgow conurbation had few existing or proposed windfarms and turbines five years ago. Though this situation has now changed, with a significant number of consents and

IronsideFarrar 18 7948/ Feb 2016 South Lanarkshire Council Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Energy ______

applications for smaller scale projects for single, 2 or 3 turbine developments ranging from 15m to 100m or greater height to tip, as well as proposals for windfarms with several turbines. Nevertheless a significant part of the area around the Clyde and Biggar still has no significant scale of development, with consented turbines largely under 30m in height. This links areas of minimal turbine development in the Pentland Hills to the north with the foothills around Tinto to the south.

The main concentrations of larger operational and consented turbines within lowland and upland fringe areas include:

 6x115m turbines at Blantyre Muir between East Kilbride and Hamilton;

 5x100m turbines at Lochhead and other larger turbines between Larkhall and Kirkmuirhill;

 15x126.5m turbines at Dalquhandy near Coalburn, of which 10 are in a restored opencast site, originally Plateau Farmland;

 Several consented turbines between 50m and 120m height around the M74 at Broken Cross;

 Many further consented turbines between 30 and 80m tall distributed widely across the Plateau Farmlands and Rolling Farmlands in the northern part of South Lanarkshire, with particular concentrations within 5km of Lesmahagow and to the north east of Lanark.

Current applications for windfarms and turbines in the lowlands and upland fringes are also located in or adjacent to the Plateau Farmland and Rolling Farmland in the north. The most notable proposal is the 7 turbines at Broken Cross a small area of Plateau Moorland surrounded by Plateau Farmland with several smaller turbines consented or at application. There have been applications for windfarms with smaller numbers of turbines at Croft Hill and Hill Rig northeast of Lanark.

The overall pattern of development reflects the divide between lowlands and uplands in South Lanarkshire, in that the largest developments with turbines mostly taller than 80m are located in the uplands. However the distinction is more blurred than five years ago as many turbines between 50m and 120m tall are now located in the lowlands.

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(!4 #* 13A (!(! 6 Plateau Moorland Operational, Consented & 14 6A Plateau Moorland Forestry 13 6B Plateau Moorland Forestry Windfarm 6C Plateau Moorland Windfarm Proposed Wind Turbines 13A 6D Plateau Moorland Opencast Mining 7 Rolling Moorland Foothills 7A Rolling Moorland Forestry in South Lanarkshire 7B Rolling Morrland Windfarm 8 Upland River Valley 13 8A Upland River Valley Incised (March 2015) 8B Upland River Valley Opencast Mining 9 Broad Valley Upland 10 Foothills Km 10A Foothills Forestry 0 2.25 4.5 9 11 Prominant Isolated Hills ± 12 Old Red Sandstone Hills 13 Southern Uplands 13A Southern Uplands Forestry This map is reproduced from Ordinance Survey material with the permission 13B Southern Uplands Windfarm of Ordinance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationary 13C Southern Uplands Leadhills 14 Upland Glen Office © Crown Copyright 2016. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. AL 100017966

$+ #* $+ $+$+ $+ $+$+$+ #*1 $+ *# #* #*1 $+ #* #* #* $+ #* #* *# 1 #* #* 1 1 *#1 *# $+ #* (! (! $+*# #* South Lanarkshire 2 1 #* (! (!(!! $+ #* $+(! 2 *# (!(!(!((!(!(!(!(!(! $+33 *# 1 #* $+ (! $+ $+(!1 $+ (! (!$+ (! (! #* #* $+ $+ $+ 1$+1 #*1 #* 1 $+ #* $+ $+ $+$+#* *# 2 2 1 (! 1 #*#*$+ $+ *# Landscape Capacity Study *# $+1 *# $+ #* $+(! *##*1*#23 1 *# $+ *#$+#*1 $+ 1 #1 #3 $+ #* $+ $+ *#$+2 $+ (!1$+1 * * 1 1 1 2 1 #* $+ #* $+ (!$+#* #* for Wind Energy *#*# *# 1 # #* #*1 $+ *#1 *#1 2* 2 3 (! 1*# #* *# #* *# *# 1 *# $+$+$+ $+$+#* *#2 1 $+ $+ $+ #*$+$+ $+ $+#*2 #*$+ $+ #*$+ $+ $+#1#*1 $+ $+ $+1 *#2 $+$+ (! #* (!1 *# #* February 2016 7948 GIS 110 3 1 $+ (! (! #*1 #1 $+*# $+ $+(!(!!(! (! *# * $+ $+(!(!(!(!(!(! (!2 3 (!$+(! (! (! (! (!$+ 2 3 $+ (! (!(! (! $+1$+ #*#*2 11 #* (! 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(! #*#*#*#*#*#* ! 13 13 #* #*#*! $+ (!14!( #* #*#*#*( (!(! #* #* #*#* $+ Scoping, 80m to <120m 9 (!(! #* #* #*#* 13 #* (! (! 13 #*#*#*#*#*#* #* (! #* #*#*#*#*#*#*#*#* #* #* (!(! (! 14 #*13B#*#*#*#*#* #* (!(! #*#*#*#*#*#* #* (! $+ Scoping, Over 120m (! #*#* #*#*#*#*#*#*#* (! ! 1 39 ! 14 #* #* #* (!(! ((! (! $+ ! (!(! ( #* ! (!(!(! ((! (! 13A ( (!(!(! #* (!(!(!(! #*#* 22(! (!(! #* (! (!(! #*#*#* 152 (!(!(!(! 2 (! (!!#*#*#*#* *# (!(!(! #1 (! (! (#* #* #*#* * 13C (!(!4 #* #* #* (!#*#* #*#* 14 #*#*#*#*#* #* 13 #*#*13B#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#*#* 1 #*#* #*#*#*#*#* (! (!(! #*#*#* #*#*#*#* (!(!(! (!(! #* (! #*#*#*#*#* (!(!(!(!(!(!(! 13A (! (!4 #* (!(!(!(! (! (!( (! 20 #* (!(! (!!((!(! 14 *##*#*#*#* ( #*#*#*#*#*#* #*#*#*#* #*#* *#39#*#*#*#*#*#* 13A #*#*#*#*#* #* #* Landscape Character Types #*#*#* #*#*#* Code Type #*#*#*#* 13 (! 13 1 Urban Fringe Farmland (!(!(!(! 2 Incised River Valley #* #*(!(!(! #* #*(!#*(!(! #* 2A Incised River Valley Broad Valley Floor (! 3 Broad Urban Valley (!(! (! (! 4 Rolling Farmland (!(! (!(! 4A Plateau Farmland Forestry (! 5 Plateau Farmland (! 5A Plateau Farmland Forestry (!(! Figure 5.2 (!(! (! 5B Plateau Farmland Opencast Mining 5C Plateau Farmland Windfarm #*#* #*#* #*#* 6 Plateau Moorland #* #* 6A Plateau Moorland Forestry Operational, Consented & #*#* #* #*#* #*#* #*#* 6B Plateau Moorland Forestry Windfarm #* #* 6C Plateau Moorland Windfarm #*#* #* #* #* Proposed Wind Turbines #* #* #* #* #*#* 6D Plateau Moorland Opencast Mining #* #*#* #* #* #* #* #* #* #* #* #*#*#* 7 Rolling Moorland Foothills #* #* #*#* #* #*#* #* #*#* #*#* 7A Rolling Moorland Forestry in Study Area #* #*#* #* 7B Rolling Morrland Windfarm #*#*#* #*#*#* #*#* #* #* 8 Upland River Valley #*#* #* #*#* #* #* 8A Upland River Valley Incised (! #* (March 2015) (! (! 8B Upland River Valley Opencast Mining (!(! (! 9 Broad Valley Upland (!(!! 10 Foothills Km (!(! 10A Foothills Forestry #* #* (! 0 5 10 20 #*#*#* 11 Prominant Isolated Hills ± #*#* (! #*#*#*#* 12 Old Red Sandstone Hills (!(!#*#*#*#*#* (!(! 13 Southern Uplands 13A Southern Uplands Forestry This map is reproduced from Ordinance Survey material with the permission 13B Southern Uplands Windfarm of Ordinance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationary 13C Southern Uplands Leadhills 14 Upland Glen Office © Crown Copyright 2016. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. AL 100017966

South Lanarkshire Council Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Energy ______

6.0 ASSESSMENT OF LANDSCAPE CAPACITY AND CUMULATIVE An assessment is then made of the current level of cumulative change based on the CHANGE distribution of operational and consented onshore wind energy developments, as listed in Table 5.1 and illustrated in Figures 5.1 and 5.2. The landscape character types are shown 6.1 Assessment Purpose and Process in Figure 6.2 as a map of current wind turbine landscape typologies.

The purpose of the following assessment is to determine the capacity of the South The proposed acceptable landscape capacity for development is detailed in Table 6.1 and Lanarkshire landscape to accommodate wind turbine development and to determine, in illustrated in Figure 6.3 as a map of proposed wind turbine landscape typologies, landscape terms, what levels of cumulative development would be acceptable across (incorporating the current typologies illustrated in Figure 6.2). South Lanarkshire. The assessment also takes into account the level of cumulative Guidance on wind turbine sizes, numbers and distribution is given in the right hand side of development that already exists within and around South Lanarkshire and is based on the Table 6.1(a)-(k), for managing development to the appropriate level within each landscape premise that current renewable energy policies have and will lead to an inevitable level of type. Analysis of landscape character and guidance on landscape capacity are detailed in landscape change within South Lanarkshire. SPP highlights that cumulative impacts may the right hand column. present a limit to the extent of onshore wind development and the need to consider cumulative impacts in the decision making process. The capacity assessment and current cumulative change for each of the landscape character types is then combined to come to an assessment of capacity and cumulative This capacity assessment resolves landscape capacity with levels of cumulative effects on the main regional landscape areas of South Lanarkshire (refer to section 6.3 and development and involves three stages: to Figure 3.3 and 3.4 for a map of the areas):

1) Firstly identifying the underlying capacity of the South Lanarkshire landscape to 1) Clyde Basin Farmlands and Inner Clyde Valley; accommodate wind turbine development; 2) Moorlands; 2) Secondly, assessing the degree of cumulative change that has resulted from operating and consented wind turbines in the study area and across specific areas of South 3) Southern Upland Foothills; Lanarkshire; 4) Pentland Hills; and 3) Thirdly, assessing the level of further development that could acceptably be accommodated within areas of South Lanarkshire thereby identifying remaining 5) Southern Uplands. capacity. The assessment concludes with a summary for the whole local authority area (refer to An assessment methodology is given in chapter 2.0 and further detailed in Appendix 2. section 6.4). Spatial guidance regarding areas with residual capacity for further The conclusion of the assessment is set out in Table 6.1(a)-(k) and illustrated in Figures development is given at the end of this chapter (refer to section 6.5) and schematically 6.1 to 6.4, which show landscape capacity, landscape typology and opportunities and illustrated in Figure 6.4. constraints for wind energy development.

The assessment of landscape capacity and cumulative landscape change is based on the 6.2 Guidance fourteen South Lanarkshire landscape character types (LCTs) in the South Lanarkshire Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) 2010. These are divided into further landscape Table 6.1(a)-(k) also gives guidance on turbine sizes, cluster sizes and separation between character areas (LCAs), as detailed in the LCA 2010 report. The location and extent of groups of turbines for each landscape type that would limit cumulative development to the each LCT and the component LCAs is illustrated in maps in the following pages. proposed acceptable level. This relates to turbines of 15m to blade tip and greater (refer to Table 5.2). Further detail, with location maps for individual landscape character areas, is Detailed assessment of the sensitivity and value of each landscape character type is provided within Table 6.1(a)-(k). As highlighted in section 2.7 guidance on small turbines, shown in a tabulated form in Appendix 6 and summarised in left hand columns of Tables below 15m to blade tip, applies at a local level. 6.1(a)-(k) which are interleaved with the relevant LCT maps. This information is used to determine the capacity for accepting different turbine sizes, detailed in Table 6.1(a)-(k) and Appendix 4 of this report contains detailed discussion of how turbine size, group size and as maps in Figures 6.1a – e. group separation affects perceptions of wind energy and landscape character. Further guidance is given in SNH’s Siting and Designing Windfarms in the landscape 2014. The This assessment accounts for the great range of turbine sizes and variations between following briefly outlines the main considerations in developing the specific guidance for areas of the same landscape character type as well as the underlying and remaining this assessment given in Table 6.1(a)-(k). capacities. This is discussed further in 6.2.4 below.

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6.2.1 Turbine Size 3) Group Size: larger groups of turbines require a greater separation distance to achieve the same landscape typology. The guidance on turbine sizes generally relates most clearly to the horizontal and vertical scale of the landscape; complexity of landscape pattern and the presence or absence of 4) Landscape character type: this has an effect on all the above criteria. In terms of smaller scale features and elements such as trees and houses. visibility, more open landscapes with modest landforms are likely to require greater separation distances, whereas landscapes with significant topography and woodland Smaller size turbines are most able to be accommodated in smaller scale landscapes with cover give the potential to reduce visibility if the woodland is not due to be felled as part more complex patterns and smaller scale reference features. Larger turbines are generally of a forestry cycle. Factors such as scale and pattern can have a more subjective restricted to larger scale landscapes with simpler landforms and fewer small scale effect. The presence of other tall objects, such as electricity pylons, and of built references. Smaller turbine sizes may also be accommodated in such landscape types development also affects the perception of turbine development. although their proximity to any larger size turbines would need to be carefully controlled and large groups of such turbines would not be appropriate. The distances given are approximate, relating primarily to all the above factors. Landscape character including topography is often important: where landforms are capable of visually The largest scale upland landscapes in South Lanarkshire are extensive and separating turbine groups the distance between landforms is a consideration in setting accommodate extensive developments with larger scale turbines. However many of the distances. For example: lowland types are of medium to large scale with a simple landform and pattern and could in places accommodate larger turbines but in much smaller numbers.  In the Rolling Moorlands, the separation distances are designed to ensure a degree of separation between windfarms to maintain a Landscape with Wind Turbines. A 6.2.2 Turbine Group Size distance of 5-10km is the separation required to ensure that the windfarms relate to Turbine group sizes relate to scale and complexity of the landscape, particularly to significant hill and valley landforms; either providing screening or a physical separation landform and pattern. In general larger scale more simple landscapes with gentle between ridges. landforms and simpler patterns can accommodate larger groups of turbines, subject to  In contrast Rolling Farmlands, which is a proposed Landscape with Occasional having the physical capacity (i.e. available area). In the case of South Lanarkshire there Turbines, has lower landforms and smaller turbines in smaller groups and the are extensive areas with large scale and simple landform and pattern comparable to the separation distance of 8-12km is required to ensure that small groupings of larger uplands across Scotland which accommodate the largest windfarms. There are also small turbines are sufficiently separated. scale areas of restricted extent with very limited capacity for development of only the smaller turbines. In the case of geographically small landscape character areas the separation distances for larger turbines could mean that potentially only one grouping would be comfortably 6.2.3 Separation between Turbine Groups accommodated within the area. The separation may then apply between a development in Turbine size and group size can be generically related to landscape character when that landscape character area and one in an adjacent area. applied to a single turbine or windfarm, or across a number of windfarms. However, As the recommended distances are an approximate range it is emphasised that separation between groups of turbines is the single most important factor in controlling separation distances between specific proposals should be considered in more cumulative effects. This is because of the high prominence and extensive visibility of most detail on a case by case basis. turbines leading to effects on landscape character well beyond the turbines, as discussed in detail in Appendix 4. 6.2.4 Other Factors which Influence Guidance

The guidance in Table 6.1 therefore gives approximate separation distances that should be The generic capacity assessment for some landscape types does not cover the variation applied between turbine groupings (including single turbines) in order to achieve the found between, or even within, individual areas of that type. This is usually because of one desired turbine landscape typology. The main factors controlling the proposed separation or two key landscape factors which override the characteristics including: distance are:  All or part of the landscape character area is much more prominent and visible than is 1) Proposed Turbine Landscape Typology: each proposed typology detailed in Table 2.2 typical for the landscape character type; requires a different separation distance to achieve the landscape and visual criteria described.  A particularly small area is covered by the character area compared with the main areas of the landscape character type; 2) Turbine Size: larger turbines require a greater separation than smaller turbines to achieve the same landscape typology.  Some or all of the area lies in an area designated to protect a landscape or setting of a settlement (e.g. Special Landscape Area);

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 Close proximity to other more sensitive areas which would be significantly affected by wind energy proposals otherwise suitable for the type;

 Close proximity to other landscape types, settlements or industry which reduce the sensitivity of a landscape character area, compared to what is typical for the landscape character type.

A combination of any of these factors may limit or enhance the ability of a specific landscape character area, or part thereof, to accommodate a level of development otherwise acceptable to the type. The main areas are identified in Figures 6.1 to 6.4 with more detailed guidance on individual landscape character types and areas in Table 6.1(a)- (k). Nevertheless, any specific development should be considered in more detail and assessed against local factors where appropriate.

Finally it is emphasised that this assessment is focused on landscape and visual issues. Areas which have been identified as suitable on this basis may be restricted by other unrelated factors such as impacts on wildlife, impact on residential amenity, tourism and recreation, aviation restrictions or effects on the water environment. These issues are not the subject of this assessment and guidance is provided in the Council’s Renewable Energy Supplementary Guidance.

IronsideFarrar 23 7948/ Feb 2016 South Lanarkshire Council Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Energy ______

Explanation of Table 6.1

Key: No Capacity Low Capacity Medium Capacity High Capacity

UNDERLYING LANDSCAPE CAPACITY (i.e. not CURRENT CONSENTED PROPOSED LIMITS TO FUTURE DEVELOPMENT (i.e. proposed acceptable level of wind energy taking account of current wind energy development) DEVELOPMENT development) Landscape Sensitivity to Landscape Capacity Existing/ Consented Current Wind Future Wind Energy Remaining Analysis & Guidelines Wind Energy Development (Related to turbine Developments Energy Landscape Landscape Type(s) Landscape Capacity size) Type(s) (Relt’d to turbine size)

<30m <50m <80m <120m <30m <50m <80m <120m ------Landscape Character Sensitivity Visual Sensitivity Landscape Sensitivity Landscape Value 15 30 50 80 Over 120m 15 30 50 80 Over 120m

Landscape Character Area: Name of Landscape Character Area/ Sub-Area

Med/ Med/ Med/ Med/ Brief description of Wind Turbine Proposed limits to Landscape Analysis: High High High High consented wind energy Landscape Type(s) future Wind Energy Brief description of key qualities and characteristics of the landscape character area/ developments (at time of within the area resulting development expressed sub-area affecting its capacity to accommodate different types of wind turbine report), including from current consented as a Wind Turbine Residual landscape development. numbers size range, levels of development Landscape Type (refer capacity for development distribution, with key (refer to Table 2.1 for to Table 2.1 for of different turbine size Development Capacity: developments named. description of type and description of type and categories. This is Brief comment on landscape capacity and on the effects of current developments and map in Figure 6.2 for Figure 6.3 for proposed derived from the potential future proposals in relation to landscape capacity. distribution of types distribution of types underlying landscape

across study area) across the study area) capacity and the proposed limits to future development by considering the extent to which current wind energy development already occupies the underlying landscape capacity

Assessment of landscape Assessment of landscape Max. Numbers in Group 1- 1- 3 3 sensitivity and value of the capacity for different Suggested range/ landscape character area or sub- turbine sizes derived from maximum number of area (from detailed assessment in the sensitivity and value turbines in groupings to Appendix 5) assessment and mapped ensure capacity is not exceeded in Figures 6.1a-e. This represents the ‘underlying’ capacity of Min Group Separation 2- 3- the landscape and does Distances (km) 4 5 not take into account the Suggested separation cumulative effects of distance between existing/ consented wind turbine groupings to energy development. ensure capacity is not exceeded

IronsideFarrar 24 7948/ Feb 2016 South Lanarkshire Council Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Energy ______

IronsideFarrar 25 7948/ Feb 2016 South Lanarkshire Council Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Energy ______

1. URBAN FRINGE FARMLAND

The Urban Fringe Farmlands are a lowland character type, located in the north and west of the study area, surrounding East Kilbride and Hamilton with smaller areas around Carluke and Larkhall. They mainly merge into Plateau Farmland areas on the upper edges (with which they bear many similarities) and Incised River Valleys and urban areas on the lower edges. The type is distributed across the northern part of South Lanarkshire, in the Clyde Basin Farmlands. There are three landscape character areas: (i) East Kilbride and Hamilton; (ii) Carluke; (iii) Larkhall/ Ferniegair and Calderglen.

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Table 6.1(a) Summary of Landscape Capacity, Cumulative Effects and Guidance for Future Wind Energy Development in Urban Fringe Farmland (see also Figures 6.1 to 6.4 for maps)

Key: No Capacity Low Capacity Medium Capacity High Capacity

UNDERLYING LANDSCAPE CAPACITY (i.e. not CURRENT CONSENTED PROPOSED LIMITS TO FUTURE DEVELOPMENT (i.e. proposed acceptable level of wind energy taking account of current wind energy development) DEVELOPMENT development) Landscape Sensitivity to Landscape Capacity Existing/ Consented Current Wind Future Wind Energy Remaining Analysis & Guidelines Wind Energy Development (Related to turbine Developments Energy Landscape Landscape Type(s) Landscape Capacity (Refer to Detailed Guidance for Further Information on Siting and Design ) size) (March 2015) Type(s) (Relt’d to turbine size)

<30m <50m <80m <120m <30m <50m <80m <120m ------Landscape Character Sensitivity Visual Sensitivity Landscape Sensitivity Landscape Value 15 30 50 80 Over 120m 15 30 50 80 Over 120m

1. Urban Fringe Farmland: (i) East Kilbride and Hamilton

Med High Med/ Med/ Blantyre Muir has Urban Fringe Urban Fringe Landscape Analysis: Most UFF have scale, landform and development characteristics High High 6x115m turbines Farmland with Wind Farmland with Wind suitable for turbine development. However they are relatively limited in area and close between East Kilbride Turbines/ with Occ. Turbines/ with Occ. to urban areas so visually sensitive. Proximity to settlements and residential properties and Hamilton. One125m Wind Turbines/ with Wind Turbines may be an issue for larger turbines. There are several large scale electricity turbine at Cathkin Braes No Wind Turbines transmission lines crossing this area, which have potential for cumulative effects. N of East Kilbride is adjacent to the LCA. 7 or Max. Numbers in 3 3 3 1 Group Development Capacity: Significant capacity between Hamilton and East Kilbride is 8 other smaller single occupied by Blantyre Muir and nearby single turbines creating an area of UFF With turbines (15-80m) in/ 1-2 2-3 3-4 5-8 Min Group Separation Wind Turbines. Any further significant development of larger (80m+) turbines should adjacent to southern Distances (km) maintain a minimum 5km separation. Whilst there is capacity for smaller turbines, they edge of LCA. should be sufficiently separated from Blantyre Muir to avoid creating a confusing visual appearance. Avoid proximity to areas with concentrations of electricity lines and give consideration to the potential for effects on nearby settlements and residential properties.

1. Urban Fringe Farmland: (ii) Carluke

Med High Med/ Med/ Two operational turbines. Urban Fringe Urban Fringe Landscape Analysis: See above. This area is significantly smaller than area (i) and High High One operational 49.2m Farmland with no Farmland with Wind closer to built up areas. turbine N of Carluke and Wind Turbines/ with Turbines/ with Occ. one operational 24.5m Occ. Wind Turbines Wind Turbines Development Capacity: With only one 30-50m turbine, there is potential capacity for turbine near Braidwood. Max. Numbers in 3 3 3 further turbines below 80m height. Turbines of 80m or greater are not recommended. Black Law operational Group turbines are a prominent backdrop on skyline to Min Group Separation 1-2 2-3 3-4 NW at 2-3km distance. Distances (km)

1. Urban Fringe Farmland: (iii) Larkhall/Ferniegair and Calderglen

Urban Fringe Med High Med/ High None within, although a Urban Fringe Landscape Analysis: These areas are focused around Chatelherault and Calderglen Farmland with no High 50-80m turbine lies 1km Farmland with no country parks which are popular visitor locations and have two or more environmental SW of Calderglen. Wind Turbines Wind Turbines designations including Lower and Middle Clyde SLAs and Chatelherault HGDL. Max. Numbers in 1 Group Development Capacity: Not recommended for turbine development greater than single 30m, well separated, due to designations and recreational use. Min Group Separation 2-4 Distances (km)

IronsideFarrar 27 7948/ Feb 2016 South Lanarkshire Council Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Energy ______

2. INCISED RIVER VALLEYS

The Incised River Valleys are a lowland character type. They encompass the main river systems of the Clyde and its tributaries located in the Clyde Basin Farmlands and are incised into the Plateau, Rolling and Urban Fringe Farmlands. They are characterised by steep, densely wooded sides, enclosure and smaller scale, with small settlements located in the wider areas of the Clyde valley. The lower parts of the valleys pass between the main urban areas in the north of the local authority area. Six landscape character areas are identified: (i) River Clyde (Hamilton-Bothwell); (ii) Mid Clyde Valley; (iii) Rotten Calder; (iv) Avon Water; (v) River Nethan; (vi) Mouse Water.

IronsideFarrar 28 7948/ Feb 2016 South Lanarkshire Council Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Energy ______

3. BROAD URBAN VALLEY

Broad Urban Valley is a lowland character type in the north of South Lanarkshire, encompassing the lower reaches of the Clyde in the Clyde Basin Farmlands as they merge into the Glasgow Conurbation. They are characterised by the meandering river and surrounding urban fringe farmland, housing and industry. The single landscape character area, comprising three fragments set between Hamilton, Motherwell, Cambuslang and Glasgow, is the Lower River Clyde.

IronsideFarrar 29 7948/ Feb 2016 South Lanarkshire Council Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Energy ______

Table 6.1(b). Summary of Landscape Capacity, Cumulative Effects and Guidance for Future Wind Energy Development in Incised River Valleys and Broad Urban Valley (see also Figures 6.1 to 6.4 for maps)

Key: No Capacity Low Capacity Medium Capacity High Capacity

UNDERLYING LANDSCAPE CAPACITY (i.e. not CURRENT CONSENTED PROPOSED LIMITS TO FUTURE DEVELOPMENT (i.e. proposed acceptable level of wind energy taking account of current wind energy development) DEVELOPMENT development) Landscape Sensitivity to Landscape Capacity Existing/ Consented Current Wind Future Wind Energy Remaining Analysis & Guidelines Wind Energy Development (Related to turbine Developments Energy Landscape Landscape Type(s) Landscape Capacity (Refer to Detailed Guidance for Further Information on Siting and Design ) size) (March 2015) Type(s) (Relt’d to turbine size)

<30m <50m <80m <120m <30m <50m <80m <120m ------Landscape Character Sensitivity Visual Sensitivity Landscape Sensitivity Landscape Value 15 30 50 80 Over 120m 15 30 50 80 Over 120m

2. Incised River Valley: (i) River Clyde (Hamilton-Bothwell); (ii)Mid-Clyde Valley; (iii) Rotten Calder; (iv) Avon Water; (v) River Nethan; (vi) Mouse Water

High Med/ High Med/ Currently only one 30- Incised River Valley Incised River Valley Landscape Analysis: These areas are generally unsuited to larger turbine High High 50m height turbine within with no Wind with no Wind development due to deep, incised topography and small/medium scale but also due to this type. Some visual Turbines/ Occasional Turbines/ Occasional sheltered nature. influence on Calder Glen Wind Turbines Wind Turbines from Blantyre Muir Development Capacity: Development currently well within capacity. Potential exists for turbines and one 50-80m smaller single turbines associated with development in wider valley bottoms such as the turbine in East Kilbride. Clyde valley between Hamilton and Crossford. Any taller than 40-50m would adversely The LCT is mainly Max. Numbers in 1 1 affect perceptions of valley scale. Larger turbines in adjacent areas may also adversely unaffected. Group affect Incised River Valleys. Min Group Separation 2-3 3-5 Distances (km)

3. Broad Urban Valley: Lower River Clyde

Med/ Med/ Med Med/ None Broad Urban Valley Broad Urban Valley Landscape Analysis: This type covers a limited area between Hamilton, Cambuslang Low High High with no Wind with Occasional Wind and Glasgow and is heavily influenced by the surrounding urban development. Turbines Turbines Overlooked by a significant residential and travelling population.

Max. Numbers in 1-3 1 1 Development Capacity: Suitable for limited development of turbines below 50m tall Group and very limited development of turbines up to 80m tall in the more industrial/ commercial locations. Min Group Separation 2-3 3-5 4-6

Distances (km)

IronsideFarrar 30 7948/ Feb 2016 South Lanarkshire Council Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Energy ______

4. ROLLING FARMLAND

The Rolling Farmland is a lowland landscape type primarily located in the Clyde Basin Farmlands either side of the Clyde Valley but also on the eastern edge of the Southern Upland Foothills north of Biggar. It is of a medium, sometimes smaller, scale with a rolling, often complex topography and smaller fields with more tree belts and hedges than the Plateau Farmland, giving it a greater sense of enclosure and shelter. Typically it is a more settled landscape more closely associated with settlements. Four landscape character areas are identified: (i) North and East of Lanark; (ii) West of Lanark/ Clyde Valley; (iii) South of Strathaven/ Sandford; (iv) Biggar and Dunsyre.

IronsideFarrar 31 7948/ Feb 2016 South Lanarkshire Council Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Energy ______

Table 6.1(c). Summary of Landscape Capacity, Cumulative Effects and Guidance for Future Wind Energy Development in Rolling Farmland (see also Figures 6.1 to 6.4 for maps)

Key: No Capacity Low Capacity Medium Capacity High Capacity

UNDERLYING LANDSCAPE CAPACITY (i.e. not CURRENT CONSENTED PROPOSED LIMITS TO FUTURE DEVELOPMENT (i.e. proposed acceptable level of wind energy taking account of current wind energy development) DEVELOPMENT development) Landscape Sensitivity to Landscape Capacity Existing/ Consented Current Wind Future Wind Energy Remaining Analysis & Guidelines Wind Energy Development (Related to turbine Developments Energy Landscape Landscape Type(s) Landscape Capacity (Refer to Detailed Guidance for Further Information on Siting and Design ) size) (March 2015) Type(s) (Relt’d to turbine size)

120m <30m <50m <80m <120m <30m <50m <80m <120m ------Landscape Character Sensitivity Visual Sensitivity Landscape Sensitivity Landscape Value 15 30 50 80 Over 120m 15 30 50 80 Over

4. Rolling Farmland: (i) North and East of Lanark; (ii) West of Lanark/ Clyde Valley

Med/ Med/ Med/ Med/ Current development Rolling Farmland with Rolling Farmland with Landscape Analysis: This type is generally not suitable for the largest turbines due to High High High High limited to occasional Wind Turbines/ with Occasional Wind the smaller scale, complex landform and detail of the landscape with smaller fields, tree single/ small groups of Occ. Wind Turbines/ Turbines/ with Wind groups and settlement. turbines mainly between with No Wind Turbines 15 and 50m tall. There Turbines Development Capacity: There is capacity for occasional turbines up to 50m and very are notable concentra- Max. Numbers in 1-3 1-3 1 occasional turbines up to 80m tall. Further significant numbers of larger turbines added tions around Hawksland Group to current consented development would exceed capacity in localised areas such as and Carstairs/ Carnwath. 1-2 2-5 5- Min Group Separation around Carstairs and near Hawksland by creating areas of Wind Turbine Landscape. Near the latter there are Distances (km) 10 several 50-80m turbines.

4. Rolling Farmland: (iii) South of Strathaven/ Sandford

Med/ Med/ Med/ Med/ 4x 30-50m turbines and Rolling Farmland with Rolling Farmland with Landscape Analysis: This LCA is the smallest of the type and lies between the Avon High High High High 2x 50-80m turbines within Wind Turbines Wind Turbines Valley to the north and Rolling Moorland with significant consented windfarm or adjacent. Kype Muir development to the south. The area grades into both and could be easily dominated by (26nr turbines at 132m) 1 1 larger wind turbines. within 1km of LCA. Development Capacity: Current consented development together with the influence of 1-2 3-4 adjacent Kype Muir windfarm is close to capacity. Further proposals for larger turbines would exceed capacity

4. Rolling Farmland: (iv) Biggar and Dunsyre

Med/ Med/ Med/ Med/ Current development Rolling Farmland with Rolling Farmland with Landscape Analysis: This Rolling Farmland LCA is the most sensitive due to its close High High High High limited to several single Occasional Wind Occasional Wind proximity to the Pentland Hills and Biggar and location within the Pentland Hills and turbines under 30m. Turbines/ No Wind Turbines Black Mount SLA. It lies within an extensive area of currently very limited wind energy Turbines development.

Max. Numbers in 1 Group Development Capacity: Not suitable for turbines larger than 30m. Current turbine Min Group Separation 1-3 development is within capacity. Distances (km)

IronsideFarrar 32 7948/ Feb 2016 South Lanarkshire Council Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Energy ______

5. PLATEAU FARMLAND

The Plateau Farmland landscape character type occurs on the lower slopes of the Plateau Moorland and Rolling Moorland areas. Plateau Farmlands are characterised by their transitional location between the more sheltered landscapes of Rolling Farmlands and Broad Valley Upland, and exposed uplands and moorlands. The type is distributed across much of the northern part of South Lanarkshire, with six areas identified for the purposes of this study: (i) Western Plateau: East Kilbride/ Strathaven/ Drumclog; (ii) Western Plateau Larkhall/ Lesmahagow/ Coalburn; (iii) Central Plateau: Carluke/ Forth/ Carnwath; (iv) Central Plateau: Tarbrax; (v) Southern Uplands Foothills: Libberton/ Elsrickle; (vi) Central Plateau: Newbigging/ Weston.

IronsideFarrar 33 7948/ Feb 2016 South Lanarkshire Council Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Energy ______

Table 6.1(d) Summary of Landscape Capacity, Cumulative Effects and Guidance for Future Wind Energy Development in Plateau Farmland (see also Figures 6.1 to 6.4 for maps)

Key: No Capacity Low Capacity Medium Capacity High Capacity

UNDERLYING LANDSCAPE CAPACITY (i.e. not CURRENT CONSENTED PROPOSED LIMITS TO FUTURE DEVELOPMENT (i.e. proposed acceptable level of wind energy taking account of current wind energy development) DEVELOPMENT development) Landscape Sensitivity to Landscape Capacity Existing/ Consented Current Wind Future Wind Energy Remaining Analysis & Guidelines Wind Energy Development (Related to turbine Developments Energy Landscape Landscape Type(s) Landscape Capacity (Refer to Detailed Guidance for Further Information on Siting and Design ) size) (March 2015) Type(s) (Relt’d to turbine size)

<30m <50m <80m <120m <30m <50m <80m <120m ------Landscape Character Sensitivity Visual Sensitivity Landscape Sensitivity Landscape Value 15 30 50 80 Over 120m 15 30 50 80 Over 120m

5. Plateau Farmland: (i) Western Plateau: East Kilbride/ Strathaven/ Drumclog

Med Med Med Med Current development Plateau Farmland Plateau Farmland Landscape Analysis: Plateau Farmland is the most extensive lowland landscape type. /High within this LCA includes with No Wind with Occasional Wind Generally suitable for most turbines, including well separated smaller groups of larger over 20 single or paired turbines/Occasional Turbines/ with Wind turbines, due to the simple large scale landforms and large rectilinear field patterns. turbines between 15m Wind Turbines/ with Turbines/ Wind Nevertheless larger groups would overwhelm other key elements of the character. Most and 80m height. Small Wind Turbines/ Wind Turbines in Plateau of the LCAs are affected by proximity to Plateau Moorland and Rolling Moorland areas areas of concentrated Turbines in Plateau Farmland with significant windfarm development. This LCA is typical of the type. development lie near Farmland Max. Numbers in 1-5 1-5 1-5 1-5 Chapelton, Glassford and Group Drumclog. Close Development Capacity: Turbines within LCA are mainly within capacity, but adjacent proximity of extensive Min Group Separation 2-3 3-5 5- 5- windfarms significantly affect the area around Drumclog. Smaller turbines should be Whitelee/ Calder Water Distances (km) 10 10 consented singly or in clusters with significant gaps between. Applications for larger clusters and Blantyre turbines should be carefully reviewed where close to sensitive areas (eg, settlements, Muir windfarm affects the smaller scale valleys, viewpoints) and to avoid visual coalescence with windfarms in N and W edges. adjacent moorland areas.

5. Plateau Farmland: (ii) Western Plateau: Larkhall/ Lesmahagow/ Coalburn

Med Med Med Med Concentration of larger Plateau Farmland Plateau Farmland Landscape Analysis: This LCA is focused around the M74 corridor. It is characterised /High (80-120m) turbines with Wind turbines/ with Wind turbines/ by proximity of settlements, significant areas of industry and coal extraction, although between Larkhall and with No Wind with Occasional Wind has a more open character to the W as it rises to Rolling Moorland. To the east it abuts Blackwood in the N and Turbines Turbines the middle Clyde Valley and an area of Rolling Farmland. a cluster to the S at Broken Cross. Many Max. Numbers in 1-5 1-5 1-5 1 Group Development Capacity: Existing turbines create an area of Plateau Farmland with other (>40) single or Wind Turbines over much of the area. A significant further number of turbines could paired turbines 2-3 3-5 5- 5- Min Group Separation create areas of Wind Turbines in Plateau Farmland, which would exceed capacity. throughout this area. Distances (km) 10 10 Consented Auchrobert and Kype Muir on Rolling Moorland to the W.

IronsideFarrar 34 7948/ Feb 2016 South Lanarkshire Council Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Energy ______

Key: No Capacity Low Capacity Medium Capacity High Capacity

UNDERLYING LANDSCAPE CAPACITY (i.e. not CURRENT CONSENTED PROPOSED LIMITS TO FUTURE DEVELOPMENT (i.e. proposed acceptable level of wind energy taking account of current wind energy development) DEVELOPMENT development) Landscape Sensitivity to Landscape Capacity Existing/ Consented Current Wind Future Wind Energy Remaining Analysis & Guidelines Wind Energy Development (Related to turbine Developments Energy Landscape Landscape Type(s) Landscape Capacity (Refer to Detailed Guidance for Further Information on Siting and Design ) size) (March 2015) Type(s) (Relt’d to turbine size)

<30m <50m <80m <120m <30m <50m <80m <120m ------Landscape Character Sensitivity Visual Sensitivity Landscape Sensitivity Landscape Value 15 30 50 80 Over 120m 15 30 50 80 Over 120m

5. Plateau Farmland: (iii) Central Plateau: Carluke/ Forth/ Carnwath

Med Med Med Med Over 30 single/ small Plateau Farmland Plateau Farmland Landscape Analysis: This LCA rises to the NE, lying between Plateau Moorland to the /High group turbines between with Wind turbines/ with Wind turbines/ N and the Pentland Hills to the E. It is fragmented by areas of unimproved plateau 15m and 80m in height with Occasional Wind with Occasional Wind moorland/ blanket bog. There is a significant backdrop of existing windfarm located in or near this Turbines Turbines development to the north and east. LCA with Black Law and Max. Numbers in 1-5 1-5 1-5 Muirhall windfarms in Group Development Capacity: There is limited scope for further wind turbines of up to close proximity affecting approximately 80m height singly or in small groups. Further significant development N and E edges. Min Group Separation 2-3 3-5 5- Distances (km) 10 could potentially lead to visual coalescence between existing developments in the Plateau Farmland with windfarms and turbines in the adjacent Plateau Moorland, or create areas of Wind Turbine landscape in the Plateau and Rolling Farmlands.

5. Plateau Farmland: (iv) Central Plateau: Tarbrax

Med/ Med/ Med/ Med/ No turbines located in Plateau Farmland Plateau Farmland Landscape Analysis: This is a small area of improved farmland between an area of High High High High this area. Muirhall and with no Wind with no Wind Plateau Moorland and the Pentland Hills. It lies within the Pentland Hills and Black extension lies within 1km Turbines/ With Wind Turbines/ With Wind Mount SLA. Visual influence of Muirhall and extension, Harburnhead and to a lesser W and Harburnhead Turbines Turbines extent Pates Hill, significantly affects the character of the LCA. 2.5km north. Max. Numbers in 1-3 Group Development Capacity: Due to existing effects from nearby windfarms and presence of Tarbrax Village at N end of the area it is recommended that no turbines over 30m Min Group Separation 2-3 Distances (km) should be developed and none near the village.

5. Plateau Farmland: (v) Southern Uplands Foothills: Libberton/ Elsrickle

Med/ Med/ Med/ Med/ Current development Plateau Farmland Plateau Farmland Landscape Analysis: This LCA has a more unspoiled rural character than much of the High High High High includes 19 single or with Occasional Wind with Occasional Wind Plateau Farmland type. It is located between the Pentland Hills, the Southern Uplands paired turbines at 15-30m Turbines Turbines and the River Clyde and between two prominent foothills (Black Mount and Biggar height. Tree belts reduce Common). intervisibility between the Max. Numbers in 1 turbines Group Development Capacity: Very limited capacity for further development due to a Min Group Separation 2-3 significant concentration of existing turbines under 30m height. No turbines over 30m Distances (km) should be developed due to the prevailing development type.

IronsideFarrar 35 7948/ Feb 2016 South Lanarkshire Council Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Energy ______

Key: No Capacity Low Capacity Medium Capacity High Capacity

UNDERLYING LANDSCAPE CAPACITY (i.e. not CURRENT CONSENTED PROPOSED LIMITS TO FUTURE DEVELOPMENT (i.e. proposed acceptable level of wind energy taking account of current wind energy development) DEVELOPMENT development) Landscape Sensitivity to Landscape Capacity Existing/ Consented Current Wind Future Wind Energy Remaining Analysis & Guidelines Wind Energy Development (Related to turbine Developments Energy Landscape Landscape Type(s) Landscape Capacity (Refer to Detailed Guidance for Further Information on Siting and Design ) size) (March 2015) Type(s) (Relt’d to turbine size)

<30m <50m <80m <120m <30m <50m <80m <120m ------Landscape Character Sensitivity Visual Sensitivity Landscape Sensitivity Landscape Value 15 30 50 80 Over 120m 15 30 50 80 Over 120m

5. Plateau Farmland: (vi) Central Plateau: Newbigging/ Weston

Med/ Med/ Med/ Med/ Current development Plateau Farmland Plateau Farmland Landscape Analysis: This LCA has a more unspoiled rural character than much of the High High High High includes one consented with Wind Turbines/ with Wind Turbines/ Plateau Farmland type, lying at the foot of the Pentland Hills. It lies largely within the 84m turbine and two No Wind Turbines Occasional Wind Pentland Hills and Black Mount SLA. single turbines below Turbines

15m. Max. Numbers in 1 Development Capacity: The area appears currently wind turbine free. The 84m Group Greens Farm turbine will dominate the NW part of this LCA, limiting further scope for all Min Group Separation 2-3 but the smallest turbines west of the North Medwin. No further turbines over 30m should Distances (km) be developed.

IronsideFarrar 36 7948/ Feb 2016 South Lanarkshire Council Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Energy ______

6. PLATEAU MOORLAND

Plateau Moorland is a large scale, undulating upland landscape covering areas on the northern and western fringes of South Lanarkshire and extending into neighbouring local authority areas. It comprises large unenclosed areas of moorland with extensive areas of commercial forestry plantation. More recently very large scale windfarms have become characteristic over much of this type. Its lower slopes merge predominantly with the Plateau Farmlands. There are two main areas; the Western Plateau (Clyde and Ayrshire Basin Moorlands) and the Central Plateau. Smaller fragments of Plateau Moorland are scattered across Plateau Farmland areas in the north and further small areas are located in the centre of the local authority area. Plateau Moorland is distinguished from the similar Rolling Moorland to the south due to its lower elevation and less dissected nature with fewer distinguishable hill landforms. Five landscape character areas are identified: (i) Western Plateau: Whitelee Moor/ Calder Water (ii) Central Plateau: Black Law (iii) Central Plateau, Forth/ Tarbrax/ West End; (iv) Western Plateau, Broken Cross/ Coalburn; (v) Western Plateau, Red Moss/Middle Muir

IronsideFarrar 37 7948/ Feb 2016 South Lanarkshire Council Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Energy ______

Table 6.1(e) Summary of Landscape Capacity, Cumulative Effects and Guidance for Future Wind Energy Development in Plateau Moorland (see also Figures 6.1 to 6.4 for maps)

Key: No Capacity Low Capacity Medium Capacity High Capacity

UNDERLYING LANDSCAPE CAPACITY (i.e. not CURRENT CONSENTED PROPOSED LIMITS TO FUTURE DEVELOPMENT (i.e. proposed acceptable level of wind energy taking account of current wind energy development) DEVELOPMENT development) Landscape Sensitivity to Landscape Capacity Existing/ Consented Current Wind Future Wind Energy Remaining Analysis & Guidelines Wind Energy Development (Related to turbine Developments Energy Landscape Landscape Type(s) Landscape Capacity (Refer to Detailed Guidance for Further Information on Siting and Design ) size) (March 2015) Type(s) (Relt’d to turbine size)

<30m <50m <80m <120m <30m <50m <80m <120m ------Landscape Character Sensitivity Visual Sensitivity Landscape Sensitivity Landscape Value 15 30 50 80 Over 120m 15 30 50 80 Over 120m

6. Plateau Moorland: (i) Western Plateau: Whitelee Moor/ Calder Water (ii) Central Plateau: Black Law

Med/ Med/ Med/ Med/ Several very large/ large Wind Turbines on Wind Turbines on Landscape Analysis: These are the largest areas of Plateau Moorland, with a large Low Low Low Low windfarms and some Plateau Moorland/ Plateau Moorland/ scale undulating landform and commercial forestry, capable of accommodating single larger turbines Plateau Moorland Plateau Moorland extensive wind energy development. Individual commercial windfarm developments currently consented with Wind Turbines with Wind Turbines have coalesced to create areas characterised primarily by wind turbines, creating a within these LCAs. backdrop to adjacent Plateau Farmland. Max. Numbers in 1-5 1-5 1-5 10 10 Group + + Development Capacity: Much of the high underlying capacity has been utilised by Min Group Separation 1-2 3-5 3-5 0-1 0-1 extensive development. However, further limited and carefully located development of Distances (km) turbines added to either of these areas would not significantly alter the landscape. In the Black Law area gaps should be left between windfarm clusters to the east of Black Law windfarm. Effects of proximity to settlements and other more sensitive LCTs should be considered. Extensive groups of smaller turbines would not be appropriate to this larger scale landscape: these should be separated from the main windfarms, restricted in number and located in lower more contained areas near farms and enclosure land.

6. Plateau Moorland: (iii) Central Plateau, Forth/ Tarbrax/ West End

Med Med Med Med/ Currently two small/ Plateau Moorland Plateau Moorland Landscape Analysis: These LCAs have a higher landscape and visual sensitivity than Low medium windfarms with Wind Turbines/ with Wind Turbines/ the more extensive areas in (i) and (ii). They are smaller fragments of unimproved land (Muirhall, Pates Hill) and Occasional Wind Occasional Wind set within a wider area of Plateau Farmland. They are closer to roads and small a few turbines of varied Turbines Turbines settlements, and are physically less able to accommodate extensive development. size within or adjacent to these areas. Max. Numbers in 1-5 1-5 1-5 Group Development Capacity: most of the underlying capacity has been utilised: Muirhall, Harburnhead (22nr Pates Hill, Pearie Law, Harburnhead, Tormywheel and Black Law with other single turbines) and Pearie Law 1-2 2-5 3-5 Min Group Separation turbines create an area of Landscape with Wind Turbines across Plateau Moorland and nearby in W.Lothian have Distances (km) intervening Plateau Farmland. Further significant development in the moorland areas been consented. would extend this effect, blurring the distinction between the two landscape types. The largest Plateau Moorland area in (iii) is largely occupied by Muirhall windfarm. Other areas are smaller and/or close to settlements, with the Hill Rig area close to Black Law. Turbine height and group size within remaining areas should be limited to approximately 80m.

IronsideFarrar 38 7948/ Feb 2016 South Lanarkshire Council Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Energy ______

Key: No Capacity Low Capacity Medium Capacity High Capacity

UNDERLYING LANDSCAPE CAPACITY (i.e. not CURRENT CONSENTED PROPOSED LIMITS TO FUTURE DEVELOPMENT (i.e. proposed acceptable level of wind energy taking account of current wind energy development) DEVELOPMENT development) Landscape Sensitivity to Landscape Capacity Existing/ Consented Current Wind Future Wind Energy Remaining Analysis & Guidelines Wind Energy Development (Related to turbine Developments Energy Landscape Landscape Type(s) Landscape Capacity (Refer to Detailed Guidance for Further Information on Siting and Design ) size) (March 2015) Type(s) (Relt’d to turbine size)

<30m <50m <80m <120m <30m <50m <80m <120m ------Landscape Character Sensitivity Visual Sensitivity Landscape Sensitivity Landscape Value 15 30 50 80 Over 120m 15 30 50 80 Over 120m

6. Plateau Moorland: (iv) Western Plateau, Broken Cross/ Coalburn

Med Med Med Med/ Currently up to 9 turbines Plateau Moorland Plateau Moorland Landscape Analysis: These LCAs are small in extent and close to settlements, roads Low between 50m and 120m with Wind Turbines/ with Wind Turbines/ and river valleys. Any wind energy development with 3 or more 80-120m turbines would consented within or close No Wind Turbines Occasional Wind dominate them and affect surrounding Plateau Farmland and valley landscapes. to Broken Cross area. Turbines Dalquhandy development Development Capacity: Both areas have limited further capacity. The Broken Cross (15x126.5m) adjacent to Max. Numbers in 1-5 1-5 1-5 1-3 Group area already accommodates several turbines in or adjacent to the southwest and would Coalburn is consented. become a wind turbine landscape if a significant development were consented within it. 1-2 2-5 3-5 6- Min Group Separation The Coalburn area is indirectly affected by the adjacent Dalquhandy development and Distances (km) 12 the proximity of Coalburn village limits scope for further significant development.

6. Plateau Moorland: (v) Western Plateau, Red Moss/ Middle Muir

Med Med/ Med/ Med/ Consented Andershaw Plateau Moorland Plateau Moorland Landscape Analysis: This area is fairly limited in extent, but appears larger in scale Low Low Low and Middle Muir with Wind Turbines/ with Wind Turbines as it is particularly featureless and merges with the more distinctive but large scale windfarms adjacent, no Wind Turbines landforms of Rolling Moorland to the north and west. occupying Rolling Moorland to the west and Development Capacity: Middle Muir turbines together with Andershaw make most of the western part of this Max. Numbers in 1-3 1-3 1 Group this area Plateau Moorland with Wind Turbines, limiting capacity for further LCA development. Smaller single turbines may be located close to the boundary with the 1-2 2-5 3-5 Min Group Separation Upland River Valley of the Duneaton Water subject to the assessment of effects on Distances (km) residential receptors.

IronsideFarrar 39 7948/ Feb 2016 South Lanarkshire Council Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Energy ______

7. ROLLING MOORLAND

Rolling Moorland is an upland type that extends across a large part of western South Lanarkshire, being located in the Clyde and Ayrshire Basins Moorlands between the Avon valley and the Southern Uplands. This type is similar to the Plateau Moorlands but is a more dissected plateau, with greater elevation and more rolling topography, without being of such high elevation and steepness as the Southern Uplands to the south. Prominent hills include Cairn Table and Hagshaw Hill. This type is currently less developed with windfarms than the Plateau Moorland. The type extends extensively westwards into East Ayrshire. Two landscape character areas are identified for the purposes of this study: (i) Hagshaw/ Dungavel (North of Douglas Water); (ii) Crawfordjohn/ Cairn Table (South of Douglas Water).

IronsideFarrar 40 7948/ Feb 2016 South Lanarkshire Council Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Energy ______

Table 6.1(f) Summary of Landscape Capacity, Cumulative Effects and Guidance for Future Wind Energy Development in Rolling Moorland (see also Figures 6.1 to 6.4 for maps)

Key: No Capacity Low Capacity Medium Capacity High Capacity

UNDERLYING LANDSCAPE CAPACITY (i.e. not CURRENT CONSENTED PROPOSED LIMITS TO FUTURE DEVELOPMENT (i.e. proposed acceptable level of wind energy taking account of current wind energy development) DEVELOPMENT development) Landscape Sensitivity to Landscape Capacity Existing/ Consented Current Wind Future Wind Energy Remaining Analysis & Guidelines Wind Energy Development (Related to turbine Developments Energy Landscape Landscape Type(s) Landscape Capacity (Refer to Detailed Guidance for Further Information on Siting and Design ) size) (March 2015) Type(s) (Relt’d to turbine size)

<30m <50m <80m <120m <30m <50m <80m <120m ------Landscape Character Sensitivity Visual Sensitivity Landscape Sensitivity Landscape Value 15 30 50 80 Over 120m 15 30 50 80 Over 120m

7. Rolling Moorland: (i) Hagshaw/ Dungavel (North of Douglas Water)

Med Med Med Med 4 windfarms south of Wind Turbines on Wind Turbines on Landscape Analysis: Rolling landform, simple landscape pattern of moorland and Strathaven (Bankend Rolling Moorland / Rolling Moorland / forestry and low settlement density, extending west into Ayrshire. This LCT is similar to Rig, Dungavel, Kype Muir with Wind Turbines/ with Wind Turbines/ Plateau Moorland but more distinctive landforms are less suited to blanket coverage by and Auchrobert). 3 No Wind Turbines No Wind Turbines wind turbines. They form the skyline for more settled Upland River Valleys and merge windfarms coalescing to into Plateau Farmland to the E. form a large cluster of 74 Max. Numbers in 1-3 1-3 1 5- 5- Group 20 20 turbines between 55 and Development Capacity: This landscape area has the underlying capacity to 125m tall, west of 1-2 2-5 3-5 5- 5- Min Group Separation accommodate medium to large clusters of larger turbines. However consented Douglas (Hagshaw Hill, Distances (km) 10 10 developments have utilised much of the capacity and exceed capacity in some areas. Nutberry, Galawhistle), There is some scope for further discrete developments in peripheral locations, well with 15 Dalquhandy separated from existing windfarms. Careful consideration should be given to limiting turbines close to the turbine size in locations with more modest distinctions in landform. northeast. Several smaller single turbines (up to 80m height) located on lower edges of the LCT.

7. Rolling Moorland: (ii) Crawfordjohn/ Cairn Table (South of Douglas Water)

Med Med Med Med Two adjacent consented Rolling Moorland with Rolling Moorland with Landscape Analysis: Similar characteristics and capacity to the area north of Douglas medium/large windfarms Wind Turbines/ No Wind Turbines/ Water but less inhabited. More limited in area. Cairn Table on border with Ayrshire is an at Andershaw and Wind Turbines Occasional Wind important panoramic viewpoint. Middlemuir, forming one Turbines large windfarm. One Development Capacity: Underlying capacity is partially utilised by the three consented small/medium windfarm Max. Numbers in 1-3 1-3 1 5- 5- Group 20 20 windfarms. There may be capacity for discrete developments of limited size in areas at Penbreck on the well separated from these locations. The area around the key viewpoint of Cairn Table western edge. No single 1-2 2-5 3-5 5- 5- Min Group Separation should remain free of turbines. turbines. Distances (km) 10 10

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8. UPLAND RIVER VALLEY

Upland River Valley is an upland fringe type located in the west of South Lanarkshire, predominantly in the Clyde and Ayrshire Basins Moorlands. The type comprises river valleys draining north- eastwards from the Rolling Moorlands, Plateau Farmlands and Southern Uplands into the River Clyde. Four landscape character areas are identified: (i) Avon Water; (ii) River Nethan (east of M74); (iii) Douglas Water; (iv) Duneaton Water

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9. BROAD VALLEY UPLAND

Broad Valley Upland is an upland fringe type located in the middle and east of South Lanarkshire, predominantly in the Southern Uplands Foothills. The type comprises broad meandering river valleys of the Clyde and its tributaries, draining northwards from the Southern Uplands, Pentland Hills and Clyde & Ayrshire Basin Moorlands into the Clyde Basin Farmlands. Three landscape character areas are identified: (i) Upper Clyde; (ii) Medwin Water; (iii) Douglas Water

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Table 6.1(g) Summary of Landscape Capacity, Cumulative Effects and Guidance for Future Wind Energy Development in Upland River Valley and Broad Valley Upland (see also Figures 6.1 to 6.4 for maps)

Key: No Capacity Low Capacity Medium Capacity High Capacity

UNDERLYING LANDSCAPE CAPACITY (i.e. not CURRENT CONSENTED PROPOSED LIMITS TO FUTURE DEVELOPMENT (i.e. proposed acceptable level of wind energy taking account of current wind energy development) DEVELOPMENT development) Landscape Sensitivity to Landscape Capacity Existing/ Consented Current Wind Future Wind Energy Remaining Analysis & Guidelines Wind Energy Development (Related to turbine Developments Energy Landscape Landscape Type(s) Landscape Capacity (Refer to Detailed Guidance for Further Information on Siting and Design ) size) (March 2015) Type(s) (Relt’d to turbine size)

<30m <50m <80m <120m <30m <50m <80m <120m ------Landscape Character Sensitivity Visual Sensitivity Landscape Sensitivity Landscape Value 15 30 50 80 Over 120m 15 30 50 80 Over 120m

8. Upland River Valley: (i) Avon Water; (ii) River Nethan (east of M74); (iii) Douglas Water; (iv) Duneaton Water

Med/ Med/ Med/ Med/ Currently limited Upland River Valley Upland River Valley Landscape Analysis: Relatively modest scale of valley sides and settled valley floors High High High High development of single with no Wind with no Wind limits the scope for larger scale developments. Need to maintain difference between turbines (between 15 and Turbines/ Occasional Turbines/ Occasional valley floors and surrounding upland areas which have underlying capacity for extensive 80m tall) within or close Wind Turbines/ With Wind Turbines/ With development. to the LCT, but not in Wind Turbines Wind Turbines Duneaton valley. All 4 Development Capacity: Capacity limited to occasional smaller turbines in small valleys affected to Max. Numbers in 1-3 1-3 groups. Areas surrounded by/ containing a significant number of turbines (Upper Avon, varying extent by turbines Group Nethan and Douglas Waters) have limited remaining capacity.. Development around in surrounding moorland Min Group Separation 2-3 3-5 Douglas and the designed landscape around the Douglas Water should be strictly and farmland LCAs. Distances (km) limited.

9. Broad Valley Upland: (i) Upper Clyde; (ii) Medwin Water; (iii) Douglas Water

Med/ Med/ Med/ Med/ Currently limited Broad Valley Upland Broad Valley Upland Landscape Analysis: Settled valley floors of medium-large scale with improved High High High High development of a few with no Wind with Occasional Wind farmland; contrasting with surrounding uplands and foothills. All of the Clyde to single/ paired mainly Turbines/ Occasional Turbines Abington and the upper Medwin lies within SLAs. Upper Clyde from Abington to smaller turbines within or Wind Turbines Elvanfoot affected by backdrop of Clyde turbines. close to the LCT. Clyde Max. Numbers in 1-3 1-3 turbines lie above Upper Group Development Capacity: Development should be limited to single/ small group smaller Clyde from Abington to Min Group Separation 2-3 4-5 turbines in scale with landscape and keeping contrast with adjacent developed areas in Elvanfoot. Distances (km) Plateau Farmland and Southern Uplands. The area lying between the Southern Upland Foothills and Pentland Hills should be limited to turbines of up to 30m height.

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10. FOOTHILLS

Foothills is an upland fringe type located in the centre and east of South Lanarkshire, predominantly in the Southern Uplands Foothills, with the main area surrounded on three sides by the upper River Clyde. The type comprises lower hills transitioning between the Clyde Basin Farmlands and the Southern Uplands which lie south of the Clyde. The type comprises mixed moorland and improved upland fringe farmland character, with areas of forestry. Three larger Prominent Isolated Foothills have been distinguished from these lower hills. Three landscape character areas are identified: (i) Carmichael/ Roberton (ii) Biggar Common/ Quothquan Law (iii) Broomy Law

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Table 6.1(h) Summary of Landscape Capacity, Cumulative Effects and Guidance for Future Wind Energy Development in Foothills (see also Figures 6.1 to 6.4 for maps)

Key: No Capacity Low Capacity Medium Capacity High Capacity

UNDERLYING LANDSCAPE CAPACITY (i.e. not CURRENT CONSENTED PROPOSED LIMITS TO FUTURE DEVELOPMENT (i.e. proposed acceptable level of wind energy taking account of current wind energy development) DEVELOPMENT development) Landscape Sensitivity to Landscape Capacity Existing/ Consented Current Wind Future Wind Energy Remaining Analysis & Guidelines Wind Energy Development (Related to turbine Developments Energy Landscape Landscape Type(s) Landscape Capacity (Refer to Detailed Guidance for Further Information on Siting and Design ) size) (March 2015) Type(s) (Relt’d to turbine size)

<30m <50m <80m <120m <30m <50m <80m <120m ------Landscape Character Sensitivity Visual Sensitivity Landscape Sensitivity Landscape Value 15 30 50 80 Over 120m 15 30 50 80 Over 120m

10. Foothills: (i) Carmichael/Roberton

Med Med/ Med Med/ Current development Foothills with no Foothills with no Landscape Analysis: The Foothills LCT comprises lower undulating hills north of the High High comprises 4x 15-30m Wind Turbines/ Occasional Wind Southern Uplands with varied land use; from moorland to improved farmland and turbines on periphery of Occasional Wind Turbines forestry. This extensive LCA lies between Clyde/ Douglas Water Valleys and Tinto Hill, LCA. Turbines a key local viewpoint. The northern part and area west of Rigside lie respectively within Max. Numbers in 1-3 1-3 the Upper Clyde Valley and Tinto and Douglas Valley SLAs. Areas to the north, west

Group and south all have extensive cumulative wind energy development. Min Group Separation 2-3 4-5 Distances (km) Development Capacity: This is part of a larger area of minimal development in the Southern Upland Foothills and Pentland Hills lying between areas of significant cumulative development in which commercial scale development should be discouraged. Smaller turbines should be closely associated with buildings and/ or backclothed by higher ground/ trees.

10. Foothills: (ii) Biggar Common/ Quothquan Law

Med Med/ Med/ Med/ 2x 15-30m turbines on Foothills with no Foothills with no Landscape Analysis: This is a low Foothill area north of Biggar, providing a setting to High High High western periphery of Wind Turbines Wind Turbines/ the town and part of the Clyde. It lies within an SLA. Quothquan Law is small but LCA. Occasional Wind prominent hill above the Clyde, with a hillfort located on its summit. Turbines

Max. Numbers in 1-3 Development Capacity: As with the other Foothill LCAs, this is part of a wider area Group with minimal development between areas of significant cumulative wind energy development. Significant commercial development should be discouraged, with turbines Min Group Separation 2-3 <30m only, associated with lower slopes and buildings. There is no capacity for Distances (km) development on the upper parts of the two hills.

10. Foothills: (iii) Broomy Law

Med/ Med/ Med/ Med 3x 15-30m turbines on/ Foothills with no Foothills with no Landscape Analysis: A small but prominent foothill lying within South Lanarkshire, but High High High close to periphery of Wind Turbines/ Wind Turbines/ part of a bigger area of similar landscape type (Grassland with Hills) lying to the west LCA. Occasional Wind Occasional Wind within Scottish Borders. Prominent phone masts on top of the hill. Turbines Turbines

Max. Numbers in 1-3 Development Capacity: As other areas within this type. There is no capacity for Group turbines close to the prominent hill top and communication mast cluster.

Min Group Separation 2-3 Distances (km)

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11. PROMINENT ISOLATED HILLS

Prominent Isolated Hills is an upland type located in the centre and east of South Lanarkshire, within the Southern Uplands Foothills, intermingled with lower Foothills, Plateau and Rolling Farmland and lying above the Broad Valley Uplands of the Upper Clyde or the Medwin Water. The type comprises three prominent hills in the area transitioning between the Clyde Basin Farmlands and the Southern Uplands. These larger Prominent Isolated Foothills have been distinguished from the lower hills and farmland due to their scale and steep conical landforms and include Tinto Hill, one of the most distinctive features within South Lanarkshire. Three landscape character areas are identified: (i) Tinto; (ii) Black Mount; (iii) Dungavel Hill

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12. OLD RED SANDSTONE HILLS

Old Red Sandstone Hills is an upland type in the northeast of South Lanarkshire, represented by the southwestern end of the Pentland Hills. It is surrounded by Plateau and Rolling Farmland. The type comprises undulating and rolling moorland hills that are lower and less steep than the Pentland Hills lying to the north; but form part of an unbroken chain of hills stretching northeast 30km to Edinburgh. . The single landscape character area is the Western Pentland Hills.

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Table 6.1(i) Summary of Landscape Capacity, Cumulative Effects and Guidance for Future Wind Energy Development for Prominent Isolated Foothills and Old Red Sandstone Hills (see also Figures 6.1 to 6.4 for maps)

Key: No Capacity Low Capacity Medium Capacity High Capacity

UNDERLYING LANDSCAPE CAPACITY (i.e. not CURRENT CONSENTED PROPOSED LIMITS TO FUTURE DEVELOPMENT (i.e. proposed acceptable level of wind energy taking account of current wind energy development) DEVELOPMENT development) Landscape Sensitivity to Landscape Capacity Existing/ Consented Current Wind Future Wind Energy Remaining Analysis & Guidelines Wind Energy Development (Related to turbine Developments Energy Landscape Landscape Type(s) Landscape Capacity (Refer to Detailed Guidance for Further Information on Siting and Design ) size) (March 2015) Type(s) (Relt’d to turbine size)

<30m <50m <80m <120m <30m <50m <80m <120m ------Landscape Character Sensitivity Visual Sensitivity Landscape Sensitivity Landscape Value 15 30 50 80 Over 120m 15 30 50 80 Over 120m

11. Prominent Isolated Hills: (i) Tinto; (ii) Black Mount; (iii) Dungavel Hill

Med/ High Med/ High Currently a few 15-30m Prominent Isolated Prominent Isolated Landscape Analysis: These LCAs comprise the three largest foothills north of the High High turbines close to or at Foothills with no Foothills with no Southern Uplands, set within a wider area of foothills and farmland around the Clyde. base of hills. Wind Turbines Wind Turbines/ These hills are very prominent and widely visible; particularly Tinto which is a key Occasional Wind panoramic viewpoint and recreational destination. All lie within SLAs

Turbines

Max. Numbers in 1-3 Development Capacity: These prominent areas are visually sensitive and should Group remain substantially free of wind energy development. Capacity only for turbines <30m located at the foot of hills, where clearly associated with built development/ enclosed Min Group Separation 2-3 fields and backclothed against trees and/or slopes. Distances (km)

12. Old Red Sandstone Hills: Western Pentland Hills

Med/ Med/ Med/ Med/ One 84m and 5x 15-30m Old Red Sandstone Old Red Sandstone Landscape Analysis: A landscape of open, undulating moorland and rolling hills with High High High High turbines on periphery/ Hills with No Wind Hills with No Wind peripheral enclosures and forestry, forming the southwestern end of a much more close to LCA. Muirhall Turbines/ with Wind Turbines/ with Wind extensive range of hills. Lies within the wider Pentland Hills and Blackmount SLA. This windfarm (8 turbines 125- Turbines Turbines LCA forms the northern extent of an area without significant wind energy development 147.5m) lies 1-2km W but lies just southwest of significant operational/ consented commercial developments Max. Numbers in 1-3 at Muirhall and Harburnhead (W. Lothian) which form part of a wider area of cumulative

Group development and have an indirect effect on the NW edge of this LCA. Min Group Separation 2-3 Distances (km) Development Capacity: Two significant windfarm proposals east of the A70 have been refused at appeal. Any further development in this LCA should be limited to peripherally located, well-separated small turbines associated with residential/ agricultural development in areas backclothed by higher ground and/or trees.

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South Lanarkshire Council Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Energy ______

13. SOUTHERN UPLANDS

Southern Uplands is an upland type located in the south of South Lanarkshire. The type comprises ranges of large scale steep rounded hills separated by deep Upland Glens and the Broad Valley Upland of the Clyde. Eastern areas are extensively affected by forestry, the M74 communications corridor and latterly by extensive windfarm development. Western and southern areas are much less developed and less afforested, having some aspects of wildness in their character, but also with extensive evidence of past mining around Leadhills. Three landscape character areas are identified: (i) East of Clyde/ Daer; (ii) Lowther Hills (Around Daer Water); (iii) Lowther Hills (West of Clyde/ Daer)

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Table 6.1(j) Summary of Landscape Capacity, Cumulative Effects and Guidance for Future Wind Energy Development in Southern Uplands (see also Figures 6.1 to 6.4 for maps)

Key: No Capacity Low Capacity Medium Capacity High Capacity

UNDERLYING LANDSCAPE CAPACITY (i.e. not CURRENT CONSENTED PROPOSED LIMITS TO FUTURE DEVELOPMENT (i.e. proposed acceptable level of wind energy taking account of current wind energy development) DEVELOPMENT development) Landscape Sensitivity to Landscape Capacity Existing/ Consented Current Wind Future Wind Energy Remaining Analysis & Guidelines Wind Energy Development (Related to turbine Developments Energy Landscape Landscape Type(s) Landscape Capacity (Refer to Detailed Guidance for Further Information on Siting and Design ) size) (March 2015) Type(s) (Relt’d to turbine size)

<30m <50m <80m <120m <30m <50m <80m <120m ------Landscape Character Sensitivity Visual Sensitivity Landscape Sensitivity Landscape Value 15 30 50 80 Over 120m 15 30 50 80 Over 120m

13. Southern Uplands (i) East of Clyde/ Daer

Med Med/ Med Med Extensive Clyde Wind Turbines in Wind Turbines in Landscape Analysis: A large scale landscape with rolling hills separated in places by High windfarm development Southern Uplands/ Southern Uplands/ Upland Glens, which has been significantly affected by forestry and communications (over 200 turbines at Southern Uplands Southern Uplands along the Clyde corridor. Now substantially developed by Clyde windfarm and extension 125m and 142m) with Wind Turbines/ with Wind Turbines/ with only the northern edge remaining relatively undeveloped (this is the Southern occupies most of the Southern Uplands Occ. Wind Turbines/ Upland Fault and includes Culter Fell, the highest point in South Lanarkshire, and is LCA. Glenkerie in with No Wind Southern Uplands part of the Upper Clyde Valley and Tinto SLA). Scottish Borders lies ca. Turbines with No Wind 3km E of the border. Turbines Development Capacity: Clyde windfarm dominates most of this LCA. Very limited Harestanes (78x 125m) scope for further development without adversely affecting peripheral landscapes or in Dumfries and Galloway Max. Numbers in 1-3 1-3 1 1-5 1-5 Culter Fell. Turbines on higher ground should correspond closely with existing turbine is within 10km S of Group scale and location and not extend the windfarm landscape to low ground. Turbines on Clyde. Min Group Separation 1-2 2-5 3-5 Adj Adj lower ground should be significantly smaller and well-separated by distance and Distances (km) landform and associated with built development. There is no capacity for development on Culter Fell and environs.

13. Southern Uplands (ii) Lowther Hills (Around Daer Water)

Med Med/ Med Med/ No turbine development Southern Uplands Southern Uplands Landscape Analysis: This LCA is characterised by large scale rolling hills surrounding High High within LCA but Clyde with No Wind with No Wind the Daer Reservoir and bordering Dumfries and Galloway. The area lies between two windfarm is adjacent to Turbines/ with Wind Turbines/ Occ. Wind very large windfarm developments (Clyde to the north and Harestanes to the south in the NE part and Turbines Turbines/ with Wind Dumfries & Galloway). The hills are largely unforested, are relatively remote and Harestane is within 3km Turbines undeveloped and lie entirely within the Lowther Hills SLA. The Southern Upland Way of the southern tip. passes through this area. Max. Numbers in 1-3 1-3 1

Group Development Capacity: Further development should be strictly limited to maintain Min Group Separation 1-2 2-5 3-5 differences in character from the much more developed area (i) around Clyde windfarm Distances (km) to the north and maintain a gap between Clyde windfarm and Harestanes windfarm to the south in Dumfries & Galloway. Developments lying between these two extensive schemes would reduce their separation, increasing the potential for visual coalescence of cumulative clusters.

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Key: No Capacity Low Capacity Medium Capacity High Capacity

UNDERLYING LANDSCAPE CAPACITY (i.e. not CURRENT CONSENTED PROPOSED LIMITS TO FUTURE DEVELOPMENT (i.e. proposed acceptable level of wind energy taking account of current wind energy development) DEVELOPMENT development) Landscape Sensitivity to Landscape Capacity Existing/ Consented Current Wind Future Wind Energy Remaining Analysis & Guidelines Wind Energy Development (Related to turbine Developments Energy Landscape Landscape Type(s) Landscape Capacity (Refer to Detailed Guidance for Further Information on Siting and Design ) size) (March 2015) Type(s) (Relt’d to turbine size)

<30m <50m <80m <120m <30m <50m <80m <120m ------Landscape Character Sensitivity Visual Sensitivity Landscape Sensitivity Landscape Value 15 30 50 80 Over 120m 15 30 50 80 Over 120m

13. Southern Uplands (iii) Lowther Hills (West of Clyde/ Daer)

Med Med/ Med Med/ This western area Southern Uplands Southern Uplands Landscape Analysis: This LCA is characterised by large scale rolling hills and the High High currently has no turbine with No Wind with No Wind historic mining industry around Leadhills/ Wanlockhead. The hills are largely unforested development. This is Turbines Turbines/ Occasional and include a significant viewpoint and small ski area at Lowther Hill. It lies almost reflected across the Wind Turbines entirely within the Lowther Hills SLA. The Southern Upland Way passes through this border in Dumfries and area. Galloway where there are Max. Numbers in 1-3 1-3 1 5- 5- 10 10 no turbines on the Group Development Capacity: Further development should be strictly limited to maintain northeast side of Min Group Separation 1-2 2-5 3-5 10 10 differences in character from the much more developed area (i) to the east and maintain Nithsdale. Distances (km) a gap between Clyde windfarm and windfarms in East Ayrshire/ Dumfries & Galloway southwest of Nith valley. A significant windfarm would be likely to exceed recommended capacity.

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14. UPLAND GLEN

Upland Glen is an upland type located in the south of South Lanarkshire, entirely within the Southern Uplands. The type comprises deep, steep sided valleys lying between ranges of large scale steep rounded hills. Western glens have main roads into Dumfries and Galloway but others are more isolated. There are reservoirs in some of the glens. Eight landscape character areas are identified: (i) Glengonnar Water; (ii) Elvan Water; (iii) Daer & Potrail Waters; (iv) Clydes Burn/ Evan Water; (v) Midlock Water; (vi) Camps Water; (vii) Culter Water (viii) Cow Gill

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Table 6.1(k) Summary of Landscape Capacity, Cumulative Effects and Guidance for Future Wind Energy Development in Upland Glens (see also Figures 6.1 to 6.4 for maps)

Key: No Capacity Low Capacity Medium Capacity High Capacity

UNDERLYING LANDSCAPE CAPACITY (i.e. not CURRENT CONSENTED PROPOSED LIMITS TO FUTURE DEVELOPMENT (i.e. proposed acceptable level of wind energy taking account of current wind energy development) DEVELOPMENT development) Landscape Sensitivity to Landscape Capacity Existing/ Consented Current Wind Future Wind Energy Remaining Analysis & Guidelines Wind Energy Development (Related to turbine Developments Energy Landscape Landscape Type(s) Landscape Capacity (Refer to Detailed Guidance for Further Information on Siting and Design ) size) (March 2015) Type(s) (Relt’d to turbine size)

<30m <50m <80m <120m <30m <50m <80m <120m ------Landscape Character Sensitivity Visual Sensitivity Landscape Sensitivity Landscape Value 15 30 50 80 Over 120m 15 30 50 80 Over 120m

14. Upland Glen: (i) Glengonnar Water; (ii) Elvan Water; (iii) Daer & Potrail Waters; (iv) Clydes Burn/ Evan Water; (v) Midlock Water; (vi) Camps Water; (vii) Culter Water (viii) Cow Gill

Med/ Med Med/ Med/ No wind turbines located Upland Glen with no Upland Glen with Landscape Analysis: Narrow valleys with steep sides surrounded by Southern High High High in Upland Glens. Wind Turbines/ with Wind Turbines/ Uplands Hills. Limited settlement and minor roads except for access to Leadhills and However some areas in Wind Turbines Occasional Wind Dalveen Pass in the W. Improved land and occasional houses except in upper reaches the east (eg. Midlock, Turbines/ no Wind which grade into the hills and/or have reservoirs. Glens to the west and north lie mainly Clyde) are adjacent to Turbines in the Upper Clyde Valley & Tinto and the Leadhills & Lowther Hills SLAs. Clyde windfarm and extension. Max. Numbers in 1-3 Group Development Capacity: Upland Glens are only suitable for occasional smaller turbines associated with farms or other developments. Avoid more sensitive upland fringe Min Group Separation 2-3 locations in the west. Groupings of 1-3 turbines of 15-30m may be appropriate in some Distances (km) locations. Some areas in the east (Midlock, Clyde) are affected by proximity of Clyde windfarm and extension. Consideration should be given to the effects on Upland Glens of turbines in the neighbouring upland LCAs.

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6.3 Landscape Capacity and Cumulative Landscape Effects Areas remaining as a Landscape with no Wind Turbines include the River Valley landscapes of the Lower and Middle Clyde and its tributaries and areas of Urban Fringe, This section summarises capacity and cumulative effects for the main regional Plateau and Rolling Farmland either side of the Clyde Valley. landscape areas of South Lanarkshire shown in Figure 3.3. Refer to Figure 6.2 for a map of current cumulative wind turbine landscape types and Figure 6.3 for a map Given the extensive development of a Wind Turbine Landscape in the adjacent moorlands illustrating the proposed future limit to wind turbine landscape types, as described to the north and west the strategic objective is to maintain a distinction between the in Table 6.1 and summarised in the sections below. farmland and moorland areas. This should be achieved by retaining substantial areas of Landscape with Occasional Wind Turbines and Landscape with No Wind Turbines in the 6.3.1 Summary of Capacity and Cumulative Development in the Clyde Basin Farmlands Clyde Basin Farmlands and Inner Clyde Valley and avoiding visual coalescence with and Inner Clyde Valley moorland windfarm-dominated landscapes.

The Clyde Basin Farmlands and Inner Clyde Valley comprise 5 main LCTs: Urban Fringe Remaining capacity is limited by cumulative consented development. The maximum size of Farmland; Incised River Valley; Broad Urban Valley; Rolling Farmland and Plateau windfarm that could be accommodated is small or small/medium – preferably a maximum Farmland, with a part of the Avon Valley (Upland River Valley) in the south east. of 5 turbines with turbines no more than ca. 100m height. A significant distance (5-10km) between each such development and from the moorland windfarms would be required to Most of the landscape types in the Clyde Basin Farmlands and Inner Clyde Valley have achieve the landscape typology. This would allow intervening landform such as incised limited underlying capacity for wind turbine development. This is because they are either of valleys; settlements such as East Kilbride and woodlands where possible to reduce unsuitable form and character that would also be technically less suited to larger scale significant cumulative impacts. Further considerations should include consideration of wind energy development (river valleys and Rolling Farmland) or because of proximity to effects on settlements and on areas of particular landscape value such as the middle significant settlements (Urban Fringe Farmland). The Plateau Farmland has the highest Clyde Valley. The most suitable type to locate wind energy development is the Plateau underlying capacity for development. This is due to its simpler landform, larger scale and in Farmland. Development should be more limited in the Urban Fringe Farmland and Rolling places sparser population. Farmland for reasons explained in Table 6.1. There is limited potential for 15-50m turbines Currently there are two windfarms of six and five turbines (Blantyre Muir and Lochhead) in the widest parts of the Incised River Valleys and the Upland River Valley of the Avon; consented within this regional character area, but also very significant numbers of single or but potentially the landscape could accommodate single larger turbines in the Broad Urban paired turbines of varying scale up to 120m. There are also extensive areas of existing and Valley section of the Clyde within the Glasgow conurbation. consented windfarms in upland areas bordering the Plateau Farmland (including the two 6.3.2 Summary of Capacity and Cumulative Development in the Moorlands (Clyde & very large scale developments at Whitelee and Black Law). Currently there are several Ayrshire Basin Moorlands and Central Plateau Moorlands) main areas in which wind turbines have become a key feature of the landscape, i.e. a Landscape with Wind Turbines and in some cases close to a Wind Turbine Landscape: The two moorland regional character areas lie on the western and north eastern edges of South Lanarkshire. They primarily comprise two LCTs: Plateau Moorland and Rolling  Urban Fringe Farmland and Plateau Farmland between Hamilton, East Kilbride and Moorland, with four Upland River Valleys penetrating the higher ground in the west and Strathaven due to the influence of Blantyre Muir windfarm and several smaller single small areas of Plateau Farmland around the edges of the moorlands. turbines; The two moorland landscape types have the highest underlying capacity for windfarm  Plateau Farmland near the Whitelee and Black Law clusters which are influenced by development. This is because they are extensive areas of larger scale landscape with these windfarms in combination with scattered single turbines; simple landforms and open character with few human scale references. The Upland River  In Plateau and Rolling Farmland around Carstairs where there is a concentration of Valley type has a much lower capacity for development due to its valley form, smaller smaller single and paired turbines; scale and concentration of smaller domestic scale landscape references. The valleys are also likely to be less technically suited to large scale wind energy generation due to lower  The Plateau Farmlands either side of the M74 between Larkhall and Rigside along the elevation and windspeeds. M74 corridor where there are concentrations of single and paired turbines of larger sizes. Currently the majority of operational wind turbines in and adjacent to South Lanarkshire are located in the moorland areas, including the two very large scale clusters of The main areas of Landscape with Occasional Wind Turbines include areas of Urban developments around Whitelee and Black Law and the cluster of developments around Fringe Farmland south of Cambuslang and around Carluke; Plateau Farmland and Upland Hagshaw Hill. With the consent of several further windfarms, further concentrations are River Valley north and east of Strathaven; Rolling Farmland around Lanark; Plateau appearing between Whitelee and Hagshaw Hill and south of Hagshaw Hill. Farmland and small areas of Plateau Moorland south and east of Forth and areas of Plateau and Rolling Farmland north of Biggar. Considering operational and consented turbines, much of the moorlands are characterised by wind turbines:

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 Plateau Moorland areas around Whitelee and Black Law windfarms are a Wind Rolling Farmland, Plateau Farmland, Broad Valley Upland and Foothills character types Turbine Landscape; have some underlying capacity for wind turbine development. Currently there are no existing or consented windfarms within this area. The closest operational windfarms are at  Most of the Rolling Moorland between the Avon Valley and the Douglas Valley is a Middle Muir just over 2km south west; Hagshaw Hill and Nutberry some 5km to the west Landscape with Wind Turbines, with the area around Hagshaw Hill, Nutberry, and Black Law and Muirhall some 10km distant in the north, with Clyde windfarm within Galawhistle and Dalquhandy and the Kype Muir/Auchrobert area Wind Turbine 4km to the south. Currently the Southern Uplands Foothills are mainly a Landscape with Landscapes; no Wind Turbines. There are a few consented smaller turbines, mainly within the Plateau Farmland area creating areas of Plateau Farmland with Occasional Wind Turbines.  South of the Douglas Water the Rolling Moorland areas and small area of Plateau Moorland, where three windfarms (Penbreck, Middle Muir and Andershaw) are The Southern Uplands Foothills (SUF) is the most extensive regional landscape area consented, there are areas of Landscape with Wind Turbines. remaining substantially undeveloped. A significant area comprises types that have little or no capacity for windfarm development, although the Farmlands and the Foothills have The strategic objective for the moorlands should be to ensure that further extension of the some capacity. The SUF creates a buffer between surrounding ‘hotspot’ areas where Wind Turbine Landscape type is limited and that further developments in the Rolling cumulative change is high (i.e. areas around Whitelee, Black Law, Kype Muir/ Auchrobert, Moorlands are sufficiently separated for the type not to exceed a Landscape with Wind Hagshaw Hill/ Galawhistle and Clyde), and currently helps to conserve distinctiveness in Turbines. the South Lanarkshire landscape. The importance of maintaining and enhancing such 13 Remaining capacity is limited by the current extent of consented development. Remaining areas is underlined in SPP , and SNH has developed guidance which recognises this as 14 undeveloped areas are mainly in the Rolling Moorland type which has a landscape an objective in areas where there are cumulative development issues . In practical terms character less suited to larger developments than Plateau Moorlands. The most suitable limiting cumulative visual coalescence across this area with turbine development in the windfarm typology that could be accommodated is no larger than medium – preferably north, south and west, means limiting development to turbines under 30m in height and with no more than 15-20 turbines. Furthermore there should be a significant distance (5- limiting the numbers and group sizes of these. 10km) between each such development cluster including existing windfarms. This 6.3.4 Summary of Capacity and Cumulative Development in the Pentland Hills distance reflects the horizontal scale of the main ridges and separating valleys, allowing intervening landform and forestry where possible to reduce significant cumulative impacts The extent of this area in South Lanarkshire is limited, with most of the Pentland Hills and for windfarms to follow the ‘rhythm’ of the landscape. extending into the Lothians and the Borders. It is mainly one LCT, Old Red Sandstone Hills, with small peripheral areas of Plateau Farmland and Plateau Moorland. Further considerations limiting development should include the avoidance of an overdeveloped skyline effect on adjacent lower areas such as the Upland River Valleys Currently there are a handful of smaller turbines located on the periphery of this area, and Plateau Farmlands, keeping a distinct distance from areas of particular landscape or although the western edge is affected by the presence of Muirhall windfarm which lies recreational value such as key viewpoints. within 1-2km, to the west of the A70. Most of the area is a Landscape with No Wind Turbines. In West Lothian the consented 22 turbine Harburnhead windfarm, also to the Current operational and consented windfarms lie broadly within the preferred typology, west of the A70 will extend the influence of turbines along the western edge of this area. although developments in the Rolling Moorlands are closer together and/or larger clusters than is envisaged by the strategy, and some valley locations are beginning to be affected. Wind turbine development within this limited area of hills could lead to significant landscape change and cumulative impacts with windfarms and turbines to the west as well The design and location of small scale developments relative to the main windfarms as affecting views of the Pentland Hills from the Central Belt. It is recommended that no requires careful consideration so as not to lead to an extension of cumulative effects, wind turbines greater than 30m are permitted, particularly on the more sensitive south blurring landscape character boundaries and leading to areas of Wind Turbine Landscape eastern side of the hills; and that the hilltops and ridges are kept free of turbines. This extending beyond the moorlands. would help conserve the distinctive landscape and skyline of the Pentland Hills and protect 6.3.3 Summary of Capacity and Cumulative Development in the Southern Uplands sensitive landscape and visual receptors (see SPP and SNH references below). This area Foothills merges with the Southern Uplands Foothills area to the south and west (see 6.3.3 above).

The Southern Uplands Foothills is a transitional area lying between the Clyde Basin Farmlands and the Southern Uplands. It comprises 5 main LCTs: Foothills, Broad Valley Upland, Prominent Isolated Foothills, Plateau Farmland and Rolling Farmland. 13 SPP para 194

The Prominent Isolated Foothills have little or no underlying capacity for wind turbine 14 SNH (June 2015) Spatial Planning for Onshore Wind Turbines – natural heritage considerations guidance development without significant compromise to their existing distinctive character. The para 1.2.1

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6.3.5 Summary of Capacity and Cumulative Development in the Southern Uplands scale rolling hills with a wild, open aspect and little settlement. There is a highly varied underlying capacity for wind energy development throughout the area and, in areas This regional area covers the southern part of South Lanarkshire and comprises principally suitable for wind energy development, the differing landscape characters would the Southern Uplands LCT, an extensive range of large scale rolling hills that extends well accommodate different wind energy development types ranging from single turbines to beyond the boundary of South Lanarkshire into Scottish Borders and Dumfries & Galloway. very large scale windfarms. The other types within the area include the southern end of the Broad Valley Upland (Upper Clyde Valley) and a number of narrow Upland Glens lying between the hills. An The landscape character types with the greatest capacity for development are the upland area of Upland River Valley (Duneaton Water) borders the northwestern edge. areas in the north eastern, western and south eastern edges of South Lanarkshire; principally the Plateau Moorlands, Rolling Moorlands and Southern Uplands. These The Southern Uplands type has underlying capacity for wind energy development. This is landscapes are of a larger scale and have a simple form and landcover, with fewer because it comprises extensive areas of larger scale landscape with simple landforms and reference features of human scale such as houses and groups of trees. There are fewer open character with few human scale references. The Upland Glen type has little capacity visual receptors and some areas have a lower visibility due to intervening topography. The for development due to its tight enclosure. The other two valley landscapes have similarly uplands are generally suited to larger scale turbines and windfarm developments. lower capacity. Differences in capacity within these areas are dependent on topography and landscape value. Some areas have a more defined hill topography, unsuited to the largest scale of Currently the very large Clyde windfarm dominates the Southern Uplands to the east of blanket windfarm development, such as seen at Whitelee. Other areas have a high the Clyde and Daer, with cumulative effects extending beyond South Lanarkshire with the medium size Glenkerie windfarm in Scottish Borders to the east and the very large landscape value due to designations, scenic qualities, higher wildness values or their Harestanes windfarm in Dumfries & Galloway to the south. Fundamental landscape popularity for recreation. change in this area has been accepted, creating an extensive Landscape with Wind As described in 6.3 above, the upland landscape types have been extensively developed Turbines, with areas either side of the M74 effectively a Wind Turbine Landscape. Clyde or are consented for development, and their capacity for further development is thus Extension to the northeast of Clyde has been consented, extending eastwards into limited. Scottish Borders and will significantly extend the areas of Wind Turbine Landscape and Landscape with Wind Turbines. In contrast with the upland landscapes, the upland fringe landscapes of the Southern Upland Foothills have a very limited capacity for development due to their transitional Areas to the west of the Clyde and surrounding the Daer Water currently remain largely as character, more settled nature and key feature of Prominent Isolated Foothills including Landscape with no Wind Turbines. The strategic objective should be to ensure that the Tinto Hill, a key prominent landscape feature and panoramic viewpoint. cumulative effect of further development in or close to the Southern Uplands does not lead to cumulative effects across the area and into Dumfries & Galloway or East Ayrshire, The lowland landscapes have a lower capacity than the uplands due to their smaller scale, creating a much more extensive Landscape with Wind Turbines. There should be a more varied and patterned landscape and presence of human scale references such as significant distance, preferably in excess of 10km between upland windfarms. This settlements, farmhouses, hedges and tree belts. They are also more visually sensitive, distance represents the separation between two ridges and valleys in this landscape type, being closer to settlements and main transport routes. They are better suited to smaller or between two main hill groups, using intervening landform where possible to reduce scale developments and smaller turbines. significant cumulative impacts. The western and southern parts of the Southern Uplands should become no more than a Landscape with Occasional Wind Turbines. The following sections summarise the underlying landscape capacity for wind energy development throughout South Lanarkshire and cumulative issues associated with current Further considerations should include the avoidance of an overdeveloped skyline on (March 2015) levels of development. Four categories of area are discussed, providing a adjacent lower areas such as the Upland Glens, Broad Valley Uplands and Upland River analysis of landscape resource and current capacity: Valleys. Furthermore a visual separation should be kept from areas of particular landscape or recreational value such as the Leadhills valley, Culter Fell area and 1) Areas with Highest Underlying Landscape Capacity: landscapes whose Southern Uplands Fault on the northern edge of the range, above the Clyde Valley. characteristics would most easily accommodate extensive, large scale wind energy development without unacceptably adverse effects.

2) Areas with Limited Underlying Landscape Capacity: landscapes whose 6.4 Overall Assessment of Capacity and Cumulative Development characteristics would accommodate a more modest and less extensive scale of wind energy development without incurring unacceptably adverse effects. 6.4.1 Summary of Landscape Character, Sensitivity and Capacity 3) Areas with Little or No Underlying Landscape Capacity: landscapes which, due The landscape of South Lanarkshire is highly varied: from intimate enclosed wooded river to their sensitive characteristics and value, can accommodate only the smallest valleys and farmlands on the urban fringe, through extensive farmlands to ranges of large scale of wind energy development, or none at all.

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4) Areas of Significant Cumulative Development: areas overlapping all of the The higher capacity is due to a number of landscape and visual factors including: larger above categories in which there is a significant level of operational or consented scale of landscape and fewer scale references; simple landforms and landuse patterns; development relative to capacity, which limits future capacity for development lack of settlements and transport routes and lower landscape value. However it should be noted that there are distinctive landscape features within these broad areas e.g. Culter Reference should be made to the summary diagram in Figure 6.4 in which the four types of Fell/ Southern Upland Fault and Cairn Table. Most of these areas are extensively forested area are shown. Further detailed analysis of LCTs and LCAs within these areas and and have been exploited in places for coal or other minerals. Areas 1, 2 and 5 have guidance for proposed developments is given in Table 6.1 above. already been extensively developed for wind energy, supporting very large commercial windfarms (principally Whitelee, Black Law and Clyde). There are increasing numbers of 6.4.2 Areas with the Highest Underlying Landscape Capacity existing or consented windfarm developments within areas 3 and 4. This is discussed There are five areas identified in Figure 6.4 which have the highest underlying landscape further in section 6.4.5 below covering areas of significant cumulative development. capacity for wind energy development. These areas are capable of accommodating the largest scale of wind energy development both in the extent of windfarm and the height of 6.4.3 Areas with Limited Underlying Landscape Capacity turbine. These are concentrated in upland areas on the borders of South Lanarkshire: Limited Underlying Landscape Capacity denotes areas that have underlying capacity for a modest scale of wind energy development including occasional well-separated smaller 1) Whitelee Moor, the eastern part of an extensive area of Plateau Moorland, fringed with Plateau Farmland located in the northwest, on the boundary with East Renfrewshire scale wind farms and single/ paired turbine developments of varied turbine size. and East Ayrshire between East Kilbride and the Avon valley. This category covers the majority of South Lanarkshire. These are predominantly lowland or upland fringe areas but also include some significant upland areas. There is 2) Black Law and Worm Law, the southern part of an extensive area of Plateau Moorland fringed with Plateau Farmland located in the northeast, on the boundary with North nevertheless variation across the areas covered, in terms of capacity and the type of wind Lanarkshire and West Lothian. energy development that could be accommodated, depending on particular characteristics and sensitivities of LCTs and individual LCAs. 3) Dungavel Hill, Kype Muir, Nutberry Hill and Hagshaw Hill: Rolling Moorland on the western boundary with East Ayrshire lying between the Avon Water in the north and The Plateau Farmlands concentrated in the Clyde Basin Farmlands to the north are both Douglas Water in the south. the most extensive LCT and, within the Areas with Limited Underlying Landscape Capacity, the Plateau Farmlands LCT broadly has the greatest underlying capacity across 4) Cairn Table to Crawfordjohn: Rolling Moorland and Plateau Moorland between the M74 the range of development types including wind farms up to 5 turbines. Other associated corridor and the western boundary with East Ayrshire and Dumfries & Galloway, lying types include Urban Fringe Farmland, Rolling Farmland both of which have slightly lower mainly between the Douglas Water in the north and the Duneaton Water in the south. underlying capacity due to factors including a higher landscape character sensitivity and visual sensitivity. 5) Southern Uplands east of the Clyde and Daer; an extensive area of Southern Upland hills and Upland Glens on the boundary with Scottish Borders.

Photograph: Part of Calder Water and Whitelee windfarms on the large scale, simple Plateau Moorland landscape Photograph: The Blantyre Muir Turbines seen across Urban Fringe Farmland

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Other areas in this category include Incised River Valley and Broad Urban Valley. As valley 6.4.4 Areas with Little or No Underlying Landscape Capacity landscapes they have limited underlying capacity for wind turbines, with the Incised River Valley having the more limited capacity due to its small scale, steep sides and higher There are a number of locations which have no underlying capacity, or capacity only for landscape value (almost all being covered by the Lower Clyde & Calderglen and Middle the smallest scale of wind energy development. This is due to high landscape sensitivity, Clyde SLAs). The steepest and narrowest sections of river valley are considered to have high value and/ or limited extent. no capacity (see 6.4.4 below). Broad Urban Valley is limited in area but has higher The areas are relatively limited but include all of the Prominent Isolated Hills and some of underlying capacity due to its urban fringe, often industrial, character. the narrower or more sensitive valley landscapes. In the former, which includes Tinto Hill, The Foothills LCT is a transitional type lying between the Clyde Basin Farmlands, the wind energy development would affect key valued landscape features and be highly Western Plateau and the Southern Uplands. This type is in a sensitive location, visible. The tops of two prominent Foothill areas; Biggar Common/ Quothquan Law and surrounded by key transport corridors and prominent landscape features such as Tinto Hill Broomy Law, have no capacity for similar reasons. In the valleys the landscape character and the Southern Uplands Fault. and terrain is generally unsuited to wind energy developments and woodland cover is often covered by conservation designations. There are five main upland LCTs within limited underlying capacity: Other prominent hilltops within wider areas of hills also fall into this category: Cairn Table 1) Plateau Moorland: smaller areas of this LCT are separated from the two main areas at the western boundary with East Ayrshire and Culter Fell on the eastern boundary with described in 6.4.2 above by intervening areas of Plateau Farmland. The areas are Scottish Borders. Both are significantly higher than the surrounding hilltops, extensively also lower in elevation and merge visually with more settled landscapes. This reduces visible and are key panoramic viewpoints. their capacity for development to a level similar to that in the Plateau Farmlands. The most extensive area with little or no underlying capacity is the Old Red Sandstone 2) Upland River Valleys lie between the Plateau Moorlands, Rolling Moorlands and the Hills, Pentland Hills LCA. Parts of this LCA have the large scale and simple landform northern edge of the Southern Uplands. They are a smaller scale landscape and vary suitable for wind energy development but also have minimal levels of development, good from being relatively open in their lower reaches to a more confined form in their upper recreational access and form a characteristic skyline. It is the context of these hills as part reaches. There are settlements and transport routes in all of the LCAs. Due to their of a larger unbroken range of hills, some 30km long, with landscape designation in all local smaller scale, settled nature and transitional location between the uplands and authority areas that particularly underpins its value. Draft SNH guidance on spatial lowlands they have higher landscape sensitivity and value which reduces capacity for planning15 underlines the importance of gaps between areas of cumulative development larger scale development such as windfarms or larger turbines. The Upland River and key landscape features which cross the border between planning authorities. Valleys are affected to some extent by large scale wind energy development in the surrounding hills. Section 6.4.6 below discusses the Pentland Hills and adjacent Southern Uplands Foothills in the context of its position as an area with no significant development lying between 3) Broad Valley Uplands cover the upper section of the River Clyde and its main areas of significant cumulative development described in 6.4.5. tributaries. There are similarities with the Upland River Valley LCT, but the location of the Clyde is central to South Lanarkshire. The upper section descends from the 6.4.5 Areas of Significant Cumulative Development Southern Uplands, weaving between the Foothills, Prominent Isolated Hills and the SPP recommends that planning authorities are clear about likely cumulative impacts Southern Upland Fault. Major transport routes; including the M74, West Coast arising from the considerations set out at paragraph 169, which may limit the capacity for Railway, A702 and A73 follow the route. Capacity is low due to elevated landscape further development. One of the development management considerations at paragraph sensitivity and value. 169 is cumulative landscape and visual impacts. 4) Southern Uplands in the Lowther Hills around Leadhills and the Daer Reservoir are Figure 6.4 identifies areas where, in March 2015, there is significant cumulative the same type as the Southern Uplands in which Clyde windfarm is located, but have operational and consented wind turbine development. The cumulative areas overlap with a lower capacity. This is due particularly to their landscape value, being less forested, landscapes with varied underlying capacity for development, and simply reflect that there is higher, with a higher scenic quality and more remote qualities. There is capacity for significant cumulative development relative to the underlying capacity of the landscape. the occasional smaller scale windfarm in the hills or smaller single/ paired turbines in lower areas. The boundaries shown in Figure 6.4 are indicative. Development proposals require to address detailed criteria in Table 6.2 to demonstrate that landscape capacity within, or 5) Upland Glens, which lie between the hills of the Southern Uplands are smaller in scale and relatively confined, with notable settlement and transport routes in some. They do not have capacity for larger scale development such as windfarms or larger turbines 15 SNH (March 2015) Spatial Planning for Onshore Wind Turbines – natural heritage considerations Nevertheless they are affected to some extent by development in the surrounding hills. guidance (Consultation Draft) para 1.6.3

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adjacent to, these areas would not be exceeded as a result of adding a proposed turbine proposals as well as larger wind farms, and will continue to change in future. Areas development to existing and consented cumulative development. of Significant Cumulative Impact are therefore likely to extend, or occur outwith the areas shown in the report, as new developments come forward. It is therefore possible that in Eight cumulative areas are identified. These areas in themselves do not specify capacity future other areas not currently detailed in Figure 6.4 and Table 6.2 could meet the or a limit to development. Table 6.2 below describes the areas and key criteria for locating definition of Areas of Significant Cumulative Development. further developments and assessing cumulative effects. Capacity and guidance is also detailed for the coincident LCTs and LCAs in Table 6.1. This should be taken into The capacity study therefore represents a ‘snapshot’ in time at March 2015. As is the case consideration when assessing residual capacity for further wind energy development within with all cumulative assessments, proposed schemes will require to be assessed on the the areas shown, or in adjacent landscapes. basis of available up-to-date information on consented and operational schemes at the time of application. The Areas of Significant Cumulative Development detailed in Figure 6.4 and Table 6.2 are based on the most up to date information on operational and consented schemes at the time this study was completed for consultation (i.e. March 2015). However the database has changed in the intervening period between the start of consultation and final publication, with the addition of newly consented schemes including small scale and single

Table 6.2. Description and Guidance for Areas of Significant Cumulative Development (see Figure 6.4 for locations)

Cumulative Description Key Development Guidance/Criteria Area

1 The Plateau Moorland and Plateau Farmland of Whitelee Moor on the 1. Avoid extension of a Wind Turbine Landscape into the surrounding Plateau Farmland and Upland River Valley border with East Ayrshire and East Renfrewshire, between East Kilbride areas and avoid significant increase in visual effects on Strathaven and East Kilbride by ensuring that there is and the Avon Water on which 66 turbines of Whitelee windfarm and sufficient setback/ screening of the main area of turbines, including use of landforms and trees, from these associated developments including Calder Water and West Browncastle landscape character types and from single turbine developments located within them. are located, with many more Whitelee turbines across the boundary to the 2. Avoid visual coalescence with cumulative areas 2 and 6 by limiting the extent of the main area of cumulative west. This creates an extensive area of Wind Turbine Landscape, development and by limiting development of single turbine/ small scale developments to retain a Landscape with surrounded by a Landscape with Wind Turbines. Occasional Wind Turbines in the intervening areas of Plateau Farmland, Rolling Farmland and Upland River Valley. 2 An area of Urban Fringe Farmland and Plateau Farmland between East 1. Maintain separation of turbines to ensure there is no development of areas of Wind Turbine Landscape. Kilbride, Hamilton and Strathaven in which the six 115m turbines of 2. Give careful consideration to the position, scale and cumulative effects of developments close to the surrounding Blantyre Muir and 14 other single or paired turbines between15m and 80m settlements including East Kilbride, Hamilton, Chapelton, Glassford and Strathaven. tall are located, creating a Landscape with Wind Turbines, separated from area 1 by a Landscape with Occasional Wind Turbines. 3. Avoid visual coalescence with cumulative area 1 by limiting development and maintaining a Landscape with Occasional Wind Turbines in the Plateau Farmland and Urban Fringe Farmland between the two cumulative areas. 3 The Plateau Moorland and Plateau Farmland between Carluke and the 1. Maintain separation between windfarms and turbines within the Plateau Moorland to prevent extension of a Wind Pentland Hills on the northeast border with North Lanarkshire and West Turbine Landscape east of Climpy. Lothian, containing most of Black Law windfarm, together with several other 2. Maintain setback of main areas of turbines to avoid extension of a Wind Turbine Landscape into the surrounding consented windfarms and turbines located either within South Lanarkshire Plateau Farmland and prevent further significant effects on the settlements of Carluke and Forth. or within the other local authorities but close to the boundary (Tormywheel, Pates Hill, Harburnhead, Pearie Law and Muirhall). This is separated from 3. Avoid visual coalescence with cumulative area 4 by limiting development in the Plateau Farmland, Rolling cumulative area 4 by an area of Landscape with Occasional Wind Turbines. Farmland and Plateau Moorland between the two areas to a Landscape with Occasional Wind Turbines. 4. Prevent further extension of the Landscape with Wind Turbines into the Pentland Hills.

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Cumulative Description Key Development Guidance/Criteria Area

4 The Plateau Farmland and Rolling Farmland (together with small fragments 1. Maintain separation of turbines to ensure there is no development of areas of Wind Turbine Landscape. of Plateau Moorland) surrounding Carstairs and Carnwath in which nearly 2. New turbines should relate well to form and height of existing turbines in closest proximity. 30 single or paired turbines of varied height between 15m and 80m are located, creating an area of Landscape with Wind Turbines. 3. Avoid visual coalescence with cumulative area 3 by limiting development to a Landscape with Occasional Wind Turbines in the Plateau Farmland, Rolling Farmland and Plateau Moorland between the two areas of Landscape with Wind Turbines. 4. Give careful consideration to the position, scale and cumulative effects of developments close to the surrounding settlements including Carstairs, Carstairs Junction and Carnwath. 5 A small area of Plateau Farmland north of Biggar, between Black Mount 1. Avoid confused/ cluttered visual images with existing turbines by limiting turbine size to 30m. and Biggar Common, in which some 15 turbines under 30m are located. 2. Limit development level to a Landscape with Occasional Wind Turbines. Due to the small size of the turbines this remains a Landscape with Occasional Wind Turbines. 6 A very extensive area south of the Avon Valley and either side of the M74 1. Maintain separation between windfarms and turbines to avoid creating further areas of Wind Turbine Landscape. between Larkhall and Rigside including two distinct areas of landscape 2. Avoid visual coalescence with cumulative area 1 by limiting single turbine/ small scale developments in the character and development type: intervening area of Rolling Farmland, Plateau Farmland and Upland River Valley (Avon Water).  Rolling Moorland with several operational or consented windfarms 3. Avoid physical or visual coalescence with cumulative area 7 by limiting developments in the intervening areas of (Bankend Rig, Dungavel, Kype Muir and Auchrobert); Upland River Valley (River Nethan) and Rolling Moorland.  Plateau Farmland and Rolling Farmland with dozens of single or 4. Give careful consideration to the position, scale and cumulative effects of developments close to the surrounding paired turbines and small windfarms, all with turbine heights varying settlements including Larkhall, Stonehouse, Blackwood/Kirkmuirhill and Lesmahagow. from between 15m and 120m height. 5. Give careful consideration to the setting of Lanark, New Lanark world heritage site and the Falls of Clyde by These developments create an extensive area of Landscape with Wind limiting the eastward extension of the Landscape with Wind Turbines to its current location on the crest of the Turbines crossing from upland fringe into upland. This includes an area of Rolling Farmland. Wind Turbine Landscape around Kype Muir and Auchrobert. 7 An area of Rolling Moorland and Plateau Farmland between Douglas Water 1. Avoid physical or visual coalescence with cumulative area 6 by limiting developments in the intervening areas of and the Nethan valley with over 85 turbines in four windfarms: the Upland River Valley (River Nethan), Rolling Moorland, Plateau Farmland and Plateau Moorland. operational Hagshaw Hill and Nutberry windfarms together with the 2. Limit further significant extension of the cumulative area into adjacent Upland River Valley (Douglas Water) consented Galawhistle and Dalquhandy windfarms. These windfarms landscape to the south and southeast. create an area of Wind Turbine Landscape. 3. Give careful consideration to the position, scale and cumulative effects of developments close to the surrounding settlements including Coalburn and Douglas. 8 The Southern Uplands and Upland Glens east of the Clyde and Daer and 1. Other windfarms should be clearly separated from Clyde windfarm adjacent to Scottish Borders, in which the 206 turbines of Clyde windfarm 2. Limit further significant northward wind turbine development to avoid extension of Landscape with Wind Turbines and its consented extension are located. This creates a mixture of Wind into the Southern Upland Fault area or onto Culter Fell and to avoid visual coalescence with Glenkerie windfarm Turbine Landscape and Landscape with Wind Turbines, depending on to the northeast in Scottish Borders. topography and the degree of separation of turbine groups. 3. Limit further significant southward development to maintain clear visual and physical separation from Harestanes windfarm in Dumfries and Galloway. 4. Any proposed windfarm to the west of Clyde windfarm should be separated from the latter by at least 10km, or two ridges and valleys. 5. Avoid further extension of the Landscape with Wind Turbines/ Wind Turbine Landscape of Clyde windfarm down slopes into Upland Glen areas.

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Photograph: Wind Turbines near Carstairs in Cumulative Area 4

Photograph: Clyde Windfarm in the Southern Uplands (Cumulative Area 8) seen from near Leadhills

Photograph: Wind Turbines in Cumulative Area 6 in the foreground and Whitelee windfarm (Cumulative Area 1) on the horizon, seen from Black Hill near Lesmahagow

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6.4.6 Southern Upland Foothills and Pentland Hills It is proposed that there should be no significant windfarm development in the area shown in Figure 6.4. The reasons for this are threefold: In strategic terms the established and evolving pattern of development should be taken into consideration as it reflects a clear rationale driven partly by landscape, visual and 1) Limited capacity for wind turbine development in key landscape types amenity issues (sensitive or valuable landscapes, proximity to settlements and recreational areas) and partly by technical and economic issues (available land, available grid capacity, 2) The desire to maintain distinctiveness of landscape character across South wind speed). The strategy for number, size and distribution of further developments should Lanarkshire by ensuring differences between areas are not blurred or overwhelmed by be considered very carefully in this context in order in to maintain differences in character wind energy development. between the uplands and the lowlands. 3) The strategic objective of avoiding visual or physical coalescence of cumulative In addressing SPP’s reference to potential limits posed by areas of cumulative development by maintaining a large gap between the most significant areas of development, consideration should be given to preserving areas in which no or minimal cumulative wind energy development. development is yet located or consented when such areas provide significant gaps These reasons are supported by SPP and SNH’s spatial planning guidance as discussed between cumulative clusters of wind turbines. This approach will reinforce distinctiveness in 6.3.3 above. This specific area is reiterated in the Glasgow and Clyde Valley capacity between landscapes. Currently the area focused around the Southern Upland Foothills and study16. the Pentlands provides separation between several large cumulative clusters. Only single or small groups of turbines below 30m in height will be acceptable in this area, The Southern Uplands Foothills and Pentland Hills between the M74, A70 and A702, and some areas such as prominent hilltops should be kept free of all turbines. together with the northern edge of the Southern Uplands Fault just south of the A702, lies between areas of cumulative development 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8 and three of the areas of highest underlying capacity. It includes the key landmarks of Tinto Hill and Black Mount, the loop of the upper Clyde and the southwestern terminus of the Pentland Hills, which 6.5 Capacity for Further Development extend in an unbroken chain 30km northeast to the city of Edinburgh. The area currently There is limited remaining capacity for wind energy development in South Lanarkshire. has no windfarms although there are over 30 consented turbines, predominantly under This is due to the following factors: 30m tall with 15 concentrated in cumulative area 5. 1) Most of the landscape areas with the highest underlying capacity have already been This area comprises a mix of LCTs: Foothills, Rolling Farmland, Plateau Farmland, Broad substantially developed or consented; Valley Upland, Prominent Isolated Foothills and Old Red Sandstone Hills,. Many of these are of higher value and sensitivity and include extensive areas of local landscape 2) Other landscape areas have more limited capacity for development without the designations (Pentland Hills and Black Mount SLA and Upper Clyde Valley and Tinto SLA) potential for an unacceptable level of landscape change, due to combined with very limited capacity for development. consideration of landscape character, visual sensitivity and landscape value as well as the potential for cumulative effects with neighbouring cumulative clusters;

3) Some areas have little or no scope for development due to their sensitive characteristics and higher landscape value.

This section summarises guidance for acceptable future landscape change due to wind energy development across South Lanarkshire. This is based on landscape and visual factors only, which must also be considered along with other opportunities and constraints in the Spatial Framework and Supplementary Guidance. The potential for further development is described with reference to the detailed assessment described previously.

6.5.1 Areas with Most Remaining Capacity

The greatest scope for further development lies within the Rolling Moorlands on the western side of South Lanarkshire, although this has become more limited by recent consents. Here development comprising clearly separated small/medium or medium scale

Photograph: The prominent Tinto Hill, the Foothills and the northern edge of Southern 16 LUC (2014) Landscape Capacity Study for Wind turbine Development in Glasgow and the Clyde Valley Uplands seen from near Lesmahagow

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windfarms could be accommodated as a Landscape with Wind Turbines. It would be to existing windfarms. Implicit in this is the need to ensure at the outset that sites are important to ensure that proposed windfarms have sufficient separation from one another suitable for development and that windfarms are sited and designed to minimise impacts and from consented or operational adjacent developments in the Rolling Moorlands, and to protect amenity. Para 161 states: Plateau Moorlands, Southern Uplands and adjacent farmlands and valleys, such that they do not coalesce to form a wider Windfarm Landscape as prevails in the parts of the ‘Development plans should also set out the criteria that will be considered in deciding all Plateau Moorlands and Rolling Moorlands. Siting, design and topographic separation will applications for wind farms of different scales – including extensions and re-powering – also be important in reinforcing the effects of distance in achieving visual separation. taking account of the considerations set out at paragraph 169’.

There is scope for a smaller windfarm in the Southern Uplands Lowther Hills LCA, or for This guidance addresses the landscape, visual and cumulative criteria listed in para 169 of occasional single turbines in the fringes of this area. SPP. It should be applied as equally to extensions to, and repowering of, existing windfarm sites as it is to newly proposed wind energy developments; taking into account 6.5.2 Areas with Limited Remaining Capacity the scale of the proposed development once repowered or with the addition of an extension in the context of existing wind energy development. In the Clyde Basin Farmlands, limited further development could be accommodated in the Plateau Farmlands and to a lesser extent the Rolling Farmlands, making these areas a mixture of Landscapes with Occasional Wind Turbines and Landscape with Wind Turbines. Windfarm typology should be restricted to small or small/medium developments of no more 6.7 Guidance for Single/Small Turbine Developments than 5 turbines, or smaller single/ paired turbines. These should be widely separated from This cumulative assessment and capacity study has detailed the current distribution of all one another and from large windfarms in neighbouring uplands, also utilising topography, sizes of wind turbines of 15m or above when determining capacity for further development. woodlands and settlements as visual separation. Limited further smaller developments can This is because the smallest turbines (less than 15m), being of a similar height to built be accommodated in the Urban Fringe Farmlands surrounding East Kilbride and Carluke, structures and trees found commonly throughout the landscape, do not have the same that are currently largely undeveloped. eye-catching prominence and extensive visibility of larger turbines. They do not therefore There may be limited scope for extension of larger operational windfarms in upland areas have the same issues of wide scale cumulative effects across extensive landscape areas. as an alternative to locating new smaller windfarms in lowland or upland fringe areas. The issues relating to design and siting of small turbines concern mainly their localised However the siting of additional turbines must avoid physical or visual coalescence with effects on the area in which they are sited rather than wider cumulative effects on windfarms and concentrations of turbines in neighbouring landscapes, or the crossing of landscape character. Small wind turbines should be judged on their own merits, assessed boundaries blurring the distinction between landscape types. against the criteria that apply to most other domestic or farm scale built structures. 6.5.3 Other Landscape Areas and Urban Areas Landscape and visual considerations may include the following:

Within the remaining landscape types and areas of South Lanarkshire there is very limited  Effects on designations including landscape quality designations, Scheduled Ancient capacity for wind energy development of a modest scale. Currently there are significant Monuments, listed buildings, conservation areas; numbers of existing, consented and proposed smaller scale developments (mainly single  Location in relation to scenic viewpoints; and paired turbines between 15m and 80m tall). Guidance in Table 6.1 is intended to guide proposals to an acceptable level of wind turbine development in these areas.  Relationship to skylines and seascapes;

Whilst it is recognised that some parts of urban areas may be able to accommodate wind  Relationship to other structures and buildings; turbines, and indeed do, this study does not assess the capacity of urban areas. Consequently urban areas have not been included in the maps in 6.1 - 6.4 and the  Location in relation to approaches to and setting of settlements; guidance in Table 6.1. Factors specific to townscape and urban planning are likely to guide location; however the effects of larger turbines on adjacent rural LCTs and cumulative  Proximity to residential properties; areas should be taken into account.  Localised cumulative effects including potential for visual confusion or cluttering areas with significant numbers of small turbines and/or close proximity to other similar larger structures including taller wind turbines and electricity pylons. 6.6 Existing Developments: Extensions and Repowering Larger wind turbines are more often than not seen against the sky. The approach to SPP para 170 states that ‘Areas identified for wind farms should be suitable for use in colouring has been to adopt a neutral light grey colour relating to the sky colour most likely perpetuity’ and refers in paras 161 and 174 to repowering of existing sites and extensions to be encountered as a backdrop. Small wind turbines are often fully or partially

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backclothed against landforms and/or trees, giving a closer relationship to the ground than the larger structures. It may therefore be appropriate to consider colouring small wind turbines a darker grey, green or brown to reduce their visibility when seen against backdrops, or close to buildings.

Further guidance on the siting of smaller wind turbines is given by SNH17 .

17 SNH (March 2012) Siting and Design of Small Scale Wind Turbines of between 15 and 50 metres in height

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3

3 3 U U South Lanarkshire

3 2 Landscape Capacity Study 6A 6 U 6 for Wind Energy

1 5B U 6C 5 February 2016 7948 GIS 111 6C 6A 5A 1 1 5 6A 1 Legend 5A 12 5 6 SLC Boundary U U 1 2 2A 6 6 Study Area 15km buffer 6A 6 Scottish Local Authority Boundaries 6 4A Landscape Character Areas 5 5C 4 5 Landscape Capacity (15 to <30m) 6B 5 9 11 High

2 Medium U 10 Low 6 5A 4 None 5 6A 4 4 6A 4 5 8 Note: Refer to Table 6.1 for more detail on background U assessment and capacity for specific turbine sizes. 10 7

8 6D 5 9 7 7 7A 6 10A 11 7 7A 5B

Landscape Character Types 7 9 8B Code Type 8 1 Urban Fringe Farmland 7B 11 14 2 Incised River Valley 7 10 2A Incised River Valley Broad Valley Floor 3 Broad Urban Valley 7 4 Rolling Farmland 8A 4A Plateau Farmland Forestry 13 5 Plateau Farmland 8B 13B 5A Plateau Farmland Forestry 7 6 5B Plateau Farmland Opencast Mining 13A 5C Plateau Farmland Windfarm 7A 6 Plateau Moorland 6A Plateau Moorland Forestry 7A 7 13 13 6B Plateau Moorland Forestry Windfarm 13A 6C Plateau Moorland Windfarm 13A 14 6D Plateau Moorland Opencast Mining 8 13A 7 Rolling Moorland Foothills 7 7A Rolling Moorland Forestry 7B Rolling Morrland Windfarm 14 14 8 Upland River Valley 13 8A Upland River Valley Incised 8B Upland River Valley Opencast Mining 9 Broad Valley Upland 13 14 13B 10 Foothills 10A Foothills Forestry 14 11 Prominant Isolated Hills 13C 12 Old Red Sandstone Hills 13A 13 Southern Uplands 13A Southern Uplands Forestry 13B Southern Uplands Windfarm 14 14 13C Southern Uplands Leadhills 13B 14 Upland Glen 13

13A Figure 6.1a

13A Underlying Landscape Capacity for Wind Turbines

13 (15 to <30m) 13 Km ± 0 2.5 5 10

This map is reproduced from Ordinance Survey material with the permission of Ordinance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationary Office © Crown Copyright 2016. Unauthorised reproduction infringes Crown copyright and may lead to prosecution or civil proceedings. AL 100017966