South Lanarkshire Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Energy
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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 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ IronsideFarrar Contents 7948/ Feb 2016 South Lanarkshire Council Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Energy __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 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 __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ IronsideFarrar Contents 7948/ Feb 2016 South Lanarkshire Council Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Energy __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 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