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Changing the Visual Impact of Existing Wirescape (VIEW) December 2016 Stage 1 & 2 Report - Appendices

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Changing the VIEW Reducing the visual impact of existing electricity transmission infrastructure in Scotland’s National Parks & National Scenic Areas Stage 1 & 2 Report - Appendices Prepared by LUC on behalf of ScottishPower Energy Networks December 2016 Project Title: Changing the VIEW (Visual Impact of Existing Wirescape) Reducing the visual impact of existing electricity transmission infrastructure in Scotland’s National Parks & National Scenic Areas Document Title: Stage 1 & 2 - Appendices Client: ScottishPower Energy Networks (SPEN) Version Date Version Details Prepared by Checked by Approved by V1.0 12th August 2015 Internal draft report LUC LUC LUC V2.0 15th December 2016 Final draft report LUC LUC LUC Changing the VIEW (Visual Impact of Existing Wirescape) Reducing the visual impact of existing electricity transmission infrastructure in Scotland’s National Parks & National Scenic Areas Stage 1 & 2 - Appendices Prepared by LUC on behalf of ScottishPower Energy Networks December 2016 Planning & EIA LUC EDINBURGH Offices also in: Land Use Consultants Ltd Registered in England Design 28 Stafford Street London Registered number: 2549296 Landscape Planning Edinburgh Bristol Registered Office: Landscape Management EH3 7BD Glasgow 43 Chalton Street Ecology T +44 (0)131 202 1616 London NW1 1JD Mapping & Visualisation [email protected] FS 566056 EMS 566057 LUC uses 100% recycled paper Appendix 1 Detailed LVIA Methodology Appendix 2 Detailed LVIA Survey Sheets Appendix 3 Stage 1 – Summary of Stakeholder Engagement Appendix 4 Stage 2 – Summary of Stakeholder Engagement Appendix 5 Stage 2 – Stakeholder Consultation Information Boards Appendix 6 Stage 2 – Stakeholder Consultation Worksheets Changing the Visual Impact of Existing Wirescape (VIEW) December 2016 Stage 1 & 2 Report - Appendices Appendix 1 Detailed LVIA Methodology Changing the Visual Impact of Existing Wirescape (VIEW) December 2016 Stage 1 & 2 Report - Appendices Detailed LVIA Methodology Assessment of Impacts on the Landscape Following the methods set out in GLVIA31, the value and susceptibility of the landscape was determined, based on the application of agreed criteria. The size/scale and geographic extent of the impact on the landscape was also determined. A judgement of the relative importance of the impact was then made based on these assessments. Sensitivity of the Landscape Receptor In accordance with GLVIA3, the sensitivity (nature of the landscape receptor) is considered with reference to individual judgements of both susceptibility and value, based on the criteria provided below. Susceptibility of the Landscape Receptor The susceptibility of a landscape receptor is defined in GLVIA3 as: ‘the ability of the landscape receptor (whether it be the overall character or quality/condition of a particular type or area, or an individual element and/or feature, or a particular aesthetic and perceptual aspect) to accommodate the proposed development without undue consequences for the maintenance of the baseline situation.’ (GLVIA3, Page 88, Paragraph 5.40) The project analyses the impact of transmission infrastructure which is already present, rather than a ‘proposed development’. For the purposes of this project, the evaluation of susceptibility focuses on how well the landscape accommodates the existing transmission infrastructure. Appendix Table 1 sets out the criteria which will be applied to the landscape around each assessment section, up to 5km from the line, to arrive at a judgement on its susceptibility to the transmission line. Appendix Table 1 includes a note as to which of the criteria are relevant to consideration of the Holford Rules2 and Horlock Rules3, which form the principal guidance on routeing transmission lines and siting and substation infrastructure. The last criterion includes consideration of wildness and wild land, including the Wild Land Areas as identified in SPP4, and the contribution they make to the landscape character in each relevant location along the route of the transmission lines. 1 Guidelines to Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment – Third Edition (GLVIA3). (2013) Landscape Institute & Institute for Environmental Management and Assessment. 2 Holford Rules, (1959) Lord Holford, with subsequent updates NGC 1992, SHETL 2003 3 Horlock Rules, (2003). NGC with subsequent update 2006 4 Scottish Government, (2014), ‘Scottish Planning Policy’, Available [online] at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/0045/00453827.pdf Changing the Visual Impact of Existing Wirescape (VIEW) December 2016 Stage 1 & 2 Report - Appendices Appendix Table 1: Criteria for judging susceptibility of landscape receptors Criterion Definition Lower susceptibility Higher susceptibility Landform Landforms that are smooth, regular and convex, or flat and uniform, are likely to be less susceptible to transmission infrastructure than a dramatic or rugged (Holford Rules 4 and 5) landform with strong topographical variety. This is because the latter are more (Horlock Rule 4) prominent and distinctive in character. Broad valleys and low rolling hills have greater potential to provide back clothing and enclosure, limiting the perceptibility of transmission infrastructure. The transmission infrastructure is The transmission infrastructure accommodated within the conflicts with prominent or landform distinctive landforms Land cover Simple, uncluttered landscapes with sweeping lines and extensive areas of consistent ground cover are likely to be less susceptible to transmission (Holford Rules 5 and 6) infrastructure than areas with more complex, irregular or intimate landscape (Horlock Rules 6 and 8) patterns (for example, historic field systems), where pylons will be more prominent. Trees, woodlands and hedgerows, although adding to complexity, may help to screen views. The transmission infrastructure is The transmission infrastructure accommodated within the land interrupts distinctive land cover cover patterns Size/scale A large size/scale landscape, where tall pylons and other transmission infrastructure may appear more in proportion, is likely to be of lower susceptibility than a small size/scale landscape, where the pylons are likely to be more dominant. Size/scale may relate to landform, e.g. an extensive plateau, or land cover, e.g. Size/scale of field boundary patterns. Comparison of pylons with ‘human- scale’ landscape features such as individual trees and buildings may also emphasise the size of the pylons. The transmission infrastructure is The transmission infrastructure accommodated within the scale appears out of scale within the of the landscape landscape Skylines Landscapes that do not form a distinctive skyline or backdrop are typically less susceptible to transmission infrastructure than those in which open, (Holford Rule 4) uninterrupted skylines are a distinctive feature. Pylons may be prominent on such skylines, and may interrupt the relationship between settlements and their landscape settings. The transmission infrastructure The transmission infrastructure does not affect skylines or affects prominent skyline(s) settings and/or interrupt important settings Prominent landscape features Landscapes with strong visual features and focal points, such as distinctive landforms or man-made landmarks such as hilltop monuments or church spires, will be more susceptible to transmission infrastructure than landscapes which have fewer visual foci. Pylons may detract from or conflict with these prominent landscape features. Changing the Visual Impact of Existing Wirescape (VIEW) December 2016 Stage 1 & 2 Report - Appendices Criterion Definition Lower susceptibility Higher susceptibility The transmission infrastructure The transmission infrastructure does not conflict with prominent overwhelms the prominent features of this landscape features of this landscape Human influence The amount of human influence on the landscape (including nature of settlement and land use) may influence its susceptibility to transmission infrastructure. Pylons and/or associated infrastructure are likely to be less intrusive in landscapes that are characterised by overt man-made structures or land use and/or by the presence of road or rail infrastructure. Commercial forestry may be seen as a more recent land use in upland landscapes that would otherwise seem more natural. The presence of transmission infrastructure may be in conflict with more traditional settled and farmed landscapes and erode their rural character. The landscape includes overt The landscape does not include man-made structures or land use overt and the transmission and the transmission infrastructure forms a infrastructure is relatively substantial intrusion unobtrusive Vertical infrastructure Landscapes which are already affected by vertical built structures such as communications masts, other pylons, wind turbines, prominent chimneys, etc., may be less susceptible to the impacts of transmission infrastructure, and specifically pylons. However, where these vertical structures are seen in close proximity to each other and to the pylons, there may be visual clutter. Other visual conflicts, resulting from the creation of a ‘wirescape’, may also result where multiple transmission lines converge. The transmission infrastructure is The transmission infrastructure seen in the context of other is the only vertical infrastructure vertical infrastructure, but in this landscape or creates without visual clutter or visual visual conflicts conflicts Perceptual aspects and Landscapes that provide opportunities to
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