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ENERGY WORKING FOR BRITAIN FOR WORKING ENERGY Wylfa Newydd Project 6.4.10 ES Volume D - WNDA Development D10 - Landscape and visual PINS Reference Number: EN010007 Application Reference Number: 6.4.10 June 2018 Revision 1.0 Regulation Number: 5(2)(a) Planning Act 2008 Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009 Horizon Internal DCRM Number: WN0902-JAC-PAC-CHT-00042 [This page is intentionally blank] Contents 10 Landscape and visual ....................................................................................... 1 10.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 1 10.2 Study area ........................................................................................................ 1 Basis of assessment points used for ZTVs ....................................................... 4 10.3 Baseline environment ....................................................................................... 6 Landscape ........................................................................................................ 7 Visual .............................................................................................................. 26 Night-time views ............................................................................................. 45 Evolution of the baseline ................................................................................. 48 10.4 Design basis and activities ............................................................................. 48 Construction.................................................................................................... 50 Operation ........................................................................................................ 58 Decommissioning ........................................................................................... 61 10.5 Assessment of effects ..................................................................................... 63 Construction.................................................................................................... 72 Operation ...................................................................................................... 120 Decommissioning ......................................................................................... 161 Transboundary effects .................................................................................. 161 Example of other permitted infrastructure with a similar magnitude of impact on sensitive receptors ................................................................................... 161 10.6 Additional mitigation ...................................................................................... 163 Construction.................................................................................................. 163 Operation ...................................................................................................... 171 Decommissioning ......................................................................................... 177 10.7 Residual effects ............................................................................................ 178 WNDA Development ..................................................................................... 178 Ecological Compensation Sites .................................................................... 178 10.8 References ................................................................................................... 215 Page i [This page is intentionally blank] Page ii Wylfa Newydd Power Station Chapter D10 Landscape and visual Development Consent Order 10 Landscape and visual 10.1 Introduction 10.1.1 This chapter describes the assessment of potential landscape and visual effects resulting from the construction, operation and decommissioning of the Power Station, other on-site development (as described in chapter A1, introduction, Application Reference Number: 6.1.1), Marine Works and the Site Campus within the Wylfa Newydd Development Area. 10.1.2 The chapter also includes a summary of significant residual landscape and visual effects from construction and operation of three Ecological Compensation Sites on Anglesey, that are proposed as an ecology mitigation measure to offset the potential adverse effect on Tre’r Gof SSSI. Further detail is provided in appendix D1-2 (Ecological Compensation Sites: Assessment of Environmental Effects) (Application Reference Number: 6.4.18). 10.1.3 Please refer to chapter B10 (landscape and visual) (Application Reference Number: 6.2.10) for the technical basis for the assessment including a summary of legislation, policy and guidance; key points arising in consultation that have guided the landscape and visual assessment; and assessment methodologies and criteria. 10.2 Study area 10.2.1 This section describes the study areas relevant to the landscape and visual assessment for Wylfa Newydd Development Area. The rationale for the study areas for the assessment of the three Ecological Compensation Sites is described in appendix D1-2 (Application Reference Number: 6.4.18). 10.2.2 The study area for definition of the baseline landscape and visual conditions has been determined by the extent to which the construction activities, including the tallest cranes and construction of the largest Power Station buildings, would be likely to be visible from the surrounding landscape. This area, known as the Zone of Theoretical Visibility (ZTV), indicates the maximum extent to which there is the potential for landscape and visual effects to occur on Anglesey, the mainland and the adjacent offshore area, since it is during construction that the tallest elements, such as cranes, would be present. 10.2.3 A series of ZTVs have been prepared as explained in the following paragraphs. The ZTVs have been determined by computer-generated mapping based upon bare earth ground models, in accordance with the methodology set out in chapter B10 (Application Reference Number: 6.2.10), which explains the use of assessment points. The main assessment points used to define the study area, which have been positioned to represent a worst case, are the following: • very heavy lift cranes (up to 270m high above platform level/292 metres Above Ordnance Datum (mAOD); location of assessment point is indicative only); Page D10–1 Wylfa Newydd Power Station Chapter D10 Landscape and visual Development Consent Order • mobile very heavy lift crane (up to 220m high above platform/construction landform level/between 234mAOD and 265mAOD; locations of assessment points are indicative only); • tower cranes (up to 192m high above platform level/construction landform level/between 202mAOD and 237mAOD; locations of assessment points are indicative only); and • main stacks (98 and 95mAOD). 10.2.4 Figure D10-1 (Application Reference Number: 6.4.101) indicates that theoretical visibility of the main stacks within Anglesey is principally concentrated within 6km of these permanent features, although pockets of theoretical visibility extend further, principally up to approximately 15km. The theoretical visibility of temporary tower cranes, the mobile very heavy lift crane and very heavy lift cranes, within Anglesey is more extensive than that of the main stacks, as indicated on figure D10-1 (Application Reference Number: 6.4.101). Beyond Anglesey, theoretical visibility of the assessment points, including the main stacks and different types of cranes, extends to higher ground on the mainland, including the 1,085mAOD peak of Snowdon, approximately 45km from the Wylfa Newydd Development Area. However, landscape and visual effects beyond 15km have not been assessed because no significant effects are anticipated beyond 15km, for the reasons explained below. 10.2.5 The Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, Third Edition (GLVIA3) [RD1] advocates a proportionate approach to Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA), with emphasis placed on focusing on the potential for significant effects. The likelihood of significant landscape and visual effects diminishes with increasing distance from a proposed development. Site appraisal has confirmed that effects at a distance beyond 15km are likely to be negligible. Given the large extent of theoretical visibility, a two-tier study area, as set out in the Stage Two Preliminary Environmental Information Report, has therefore been adopted as follows: • an overarching study area based on a 15km offset from the centre of the Power Station; and • a detailed study area which extends up to 6km from the centre of the Power Station, where the theoretical visibility of the Power Station is principally concentrated and where site appraisal has indicated that there is greatest potential for significant landscape and visual effects. 10.2.6 The two study areas are illustrated on figure D10-1 (Application Reference Number: 6.4.101). Both the Isle of Anglesey County Council (IACC) and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) have confirmed their agreement with the coverage of the overarching and detailed study areas (Scoping Opinion for Wylfa Newydd Project [RD2]). 10.2.7 ZTVs indicating further detail relating to the extent of theoretical visibility of the different assessment points within the overarching study area, for the different assessment stages described in section 10.4, are presented on the following figures listed below. Where a number of different related Page D10–2 Wylfa