6.2.10 MEC ES Chapter 10 Landscape and Visual Effects
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The Meaford Energy 6.2.10 Volume 2: Environmental Statement Planning Act 2008 PINS Reference Number: EN010064 Document Reference Number: 6.2.10 5(2) (a) Lead Author: Atkins Revision: Date: 0 March 2015 Submission version MEAFORD ENERGY CENTRE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT Chapter Ten u Landscape and Visual Effects INTRODUCTION 10.1 This Chapter presents the findings of a landscape and visual assessment (LVIA) which has been undertaken for the Scheme. The assessment was confirmed to be necessary in the EIA scoping opinion published by the Secretary of State in April 2014 in view of the potential for the Scheme to have a likely significant effects on the existing landscape resource and visual receptors within a defined study area. The potential for significant effects relates to the change in land use at the MEC Site, the visibility of a new Power Station Complex and the scale and mass of the new built form within existing views. 10.2 The LVIA has helped to inform the design development process of the Scheme, including influencing the siting options within the MBP, the retention of existing boundary vegetation, new landscape works and planting and the layout, materials and finishes of the Power Station Complex. 10.3 This Chapter should be read with Appendix 10, which contains additional assessment information, drawings, photographs and photomontages of the scheme. 10.4 The layout of the Scheme is shown on the indicative landscape masterplan. Design principles and alternative building finishes, including the choice of colour and materials are considered in the Design and Access Statement to inform detail design requirements included in the Order. Legislative and policy context European Landscape Convention 10.5 The UK signed and ratified the European Landscape Convention (ELC) in 2007 that recognises landscape not just in terms of appearance and visual amenity but as providing a spatial framework for understanding the interaction between the natural, cultural and perceptual elements, embedding landscape or ‘place’ into policy whilst managing and protecting the landscape as a resource in its own right. ‘ELC implementation in England aims to encourage a move towards multifunctional landscapes that provide a variety of benefits while protecting and managing those aspects of the landscape that are valued by society, and managing change positively in the planning and creation of new landscapes’. 10 -1 MEAFORD ENERGY CENTRE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT 10.6 The ELC definition of ‘landscape’, being ‘an area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors’ supports the need to deal with the landscape as a resource and to consider the landscape character. The applicant has sought to apply the principles of the ELC in the consideration of the landscape resource in the LVIA as required by the GLVIA3. 10.7 Landscape features that contribute to the landscape character such as existing planting including individual and groups are considered in the LVIA. 10.8 In addition to the landscape resource the LVIA identifies sensitive receptors including footpath users and open land with right of access under the provision of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. National Policy Statements 10.9 Section 5.9 of the Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy (EN-1)1 sets out the general requirements for a LVIA, and identifies the assessment principles that are reflected in the assessment methodology section below. 10.10 These include consideration of: • Relevant policies based on landscape character assessment studies included in planning documents and plans (EN-1 para 5.9.5); • Existing landscape quality, how much it is valued and the capacity to accommodate change; • Nationally designated landscapes (EN-1 para 5.9.9) and local landscapes that may be highly valued locally and protected by local designation (EN-1 para 5.9.14); • Effect on landscape character and components during construction and operation (EN-1 para 5.9.6); • Visual effects on sensitive receptors, including visibility and conspicuousness of the scheme during construction and operation on views and visual amenity, including the effects of light pollution on local amenity and nature conservation (EN-1 para 5.9.7). 10.11 Para. 1.7.11 of EN-1 acknowledges that ‘the principal area in which consenting new energy infrastructure in accordance with the energy NPSs is likely to lead to adverse effects which cannot always be satisfactorily mitigated is in respect of landscape and visual effects’. Nonetheless, within the functional constraints of what a CCGT power station is, and in accordance EN-1, section 5.9 MEL has sought 1 Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy (EN-1), https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/47854/1938-overarching-nps-for-energy-en1.pdf, accessed on-line 2014. 10 - 2 MEAFORD ENERGY CENTRE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT to carefully site and design the proposed Scheme in a way that responds to the landscape context and takes into account environmental effects to minimise harm. 10.12 The National Policy Statement for Gas Supply Infrastructure and Gas and Oil Pipelines (EN-4)2 states an LVIA should be undertaken due to negative effects as a result of above ground infrastructure (EN-4 para. 1.7.2) and the constraints of planting above buried pipelines (EN-4 para. 2.21.2). 10.13 The National Policy Statement for Electricity Networks Infrastructure (EN-5)3 advises likewise that an LVIA should be undertaken due to the potential negative effects of electrical network infrastructure (EN-5 section 1.7.2). The Plan for Stafford Borough 2014 10.14 The following policies of the adopted Plan for Stafford Borough (2014) are relevant: • Policy E5 Major Developed Sites in the Green Belt, related to the openness of the Green Belt4; • Policy N1 Design4 states that all new design within Stafford Borough must be of a high design standard to enhance the quality of the built environment that reflects and respects the character, setting and local context, including those features that contribute to the local distinctiveness of the area; • Policy N4 The Natural Environment and Green Infrastructure4 to protect, enhance and improve the natural environment; and • Policy N8 Landscape Character4, states that development should demonstrate that proposals with landscape and visual implications, should protect, conserve and, where appropriate, enhance the landscape character. Development proposals must be informed by and be sympathetic to landscape character and quality. Additional Guidance 10.15 The following additional policies and guidance have also been considered: 10.16 Planning for Landscape Change (PLC), Supplementary Planning Guidance, Staffordshire County Council (SCC)5. The landscape of Staffordshire has been sub divided into similar character types and the quality of the landscapes assessed. The Scheme sits within NCA61 Shropshire, Cheshire and Staffordshire Plain and is 2 National Planning Policy Statement for Gas Supply Infrastructure and Gas and Oil Pipelines. 3 National Planning Policy Statement for Electricity Networks Infrastructure 4 The Plan for Stafford Borough, 2011-2031, Adopted 9 June 2014, http://www.staffordbc.gov.uk/live/Documents/Planning%20Policy/Plan%20for%20Stafford%20Borough/PFSB-Adoption.pdf, accessed on- line 2015. 5 Planning for Landscape Change, Staffordshire County Council, http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Resources/Documents/s/st/StaffordshireSPGVolume3.pdf, accessed on-line 2015. 10 -3 MEAFORD ENERGY CENTRE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT bordered by NCA 64 Potteries and Churnet Valley and NCA 68 Needwood and South Derbyshire. 10.17 The guidance for this LVIA and Landscape Character Assessment have been prepared in accordance with EN-1 is: • Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (GLVIA)6; and • Landscape Character Assessment (LCA)7 . 10.18 References to published landscape character information, associated studies are included within the data sources in the following assessment methodology section. Assessment of realistic worst case 10.19 The LVIA has been undertaken based on the realistic worst case of a 2 + 1 layout with two Stacks, built to the largest building dimensions set out in Chapter 4. 10.20 The 2 + 1 layout with two Stacks at the largest dimensions represents: • the largest extents of the Scheme layout based on the height, built mass and footprint, of the Stacks and Power Station Complex buildings; • the maximum likely significant effects that the Scheme could have on the landscape resource, views and visual amenity taking into account the change in land use at the Site and significance of change in landscape character, the visibility of a new Power Station Complex and the scale and mass of the new built form within existing views. 10.21 The LVIA also assumes that, as a worst case assessment: • the built form facades of the Power Station Complex will have a standard and generic grey finish - a more sympathetic finish will be considered as secondary mitigation during the detail design process; • the finished floor level of the Power Station Complex is 99m AOD although it is likely that the final level will be lower (97 metres AOD); • construction activity will be undertaken up to Order Limits boundary, although in reality, most of the works will be restricted to the main working areas of the Gas Connection, Electrical Connection and Power Station Complex and will exclude those areas of woodland to be retained and enhanced (such as the minimum