CA19: Trevose Head and Coastal Plateau
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CA19: Trevose Head and Coastal Plateau Key Landscape Characteristics1 • Gently rolling, low lying, exposed coastal plateau. • Coastline of cliffs with heads and some stacks, including Bedruthan Steps and Trevose Head. • Strong medieval field pattern of medium sized fields with Cornish hedges, slate walls and hedgerows with few trees except in valleys. • Coastal Sand Dunes at Constantine Bay. • Limited riparian woodland cover in valley bottoms. • Rural settlement pattern of small farms and farm hamlets with a number of twentieth- century nucleated settlements focused on tourism. 1 Taken from Cornwall Council (2007) Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Landscape Character Study [http://www.cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=20139 accessed January 2011] Land Use Consultants CA19: Trevose Head and Coastal Plateau Landscape Sensitivity Assessment for Wind Turbines Criteria Lower sensitivity Higher sensitivity An open and windswept, gently rolling and low lying coastal plateau, with large scale Landform and rocky cliffs and some areas of harder greenstone that give rise to the higher scale headlands of Trevose Head, Park Head and Stepper Point. Between the headlands, softer slates create shallow stream valleys behind sandy bays such as Harlyn, Trevone and the dunes at Constantine. This landscape is dominated by simple landcover of pastoral fields (with some arable Land cover pattern interspersed) – these are generally medium scale and of medieval origin bounded by and presence of low, turf covered hedges or slate walls, although there are some areas of larger post human scale medieval fields. There are very few trees except in sheltered folds in the land and in features the narrow stream valleys. Coastal sand dunes and areas of heath, rough ground and scrub along the coast add to the variety of landcover. Human scale features include the occasional tree and scattered dwellings. Tracks/transport Apart from the A389, B3276 and B3274 is a fairly even network of narrow winding pattern lanes bounded by Cornish hedges or stone walls predominantly of slate except where lanes cut into the solid bedrock. Although the LCA description does not refer specifically to skylines, it notes the headlands of Trevose Head, Park Head and Stepper Point, as well as the many prehistoric features along the coast including important clusters of Bronze Age barrows at Park Head and Cataclews Point, spectacular cliff castles at Winecove Skylines Point and Redcliffe Castle, Iron Age and Roman period defended farmsteads, defensive prehistoric sites at St Eval and near Bogee Farm, and a 19th century lighthouse at Trevose Head, daymark at Stepper Point and the St Eval Church tower (“St Eval Church tower stands out in this rather flat landscape”). The rocky coastline, with its prominent headlands and stacks (particularly the spectacular Bedruthan Steps), is an important natural skyline feature in its own right. A transmitter station with a series of masts on the old airfield at St Eval is visible on the skyline. This is a relatively remote rural landscape with dispersed settlement and a remoter Perceptual coastline (away from the tourism-related development). The most dramatic and qualities uplifting elements are at the coast - Bedruthan Steps being the highlight, but also the other headlands and gentle coves. Quarrying activity at St Eval, disused airfields at St Merryn and St Eval, the transmitter station, caravan / camping sites and a golf course along the coast are occasional human influences. Cornwall Council’s HLC Sensitivity Mapping for wind turbines assesses the HLC types of ‘Coastal Rough Ground’, which also extends inland along the stream valleys, as of ‘high’ sensitivity to wind turbines. Large areas of ‘Medieval’ land, which make up Historic landscape much of the landscape, are assessed as of moderate-high vulnerability, whilst areas of character lower sensitivity are associated with locations of ‘Post-Medieval (Intakes)’, particularly backing the coast, and ’Modern Enclosures (Intakes)’ as of ‘moderate-low’ and ‘low’ vulnerability respectively. The LCA’s areas of modern development and disused airfields are also assessed as of ‘moderate-low’ and ‘low’ vulnerability respectively. Distinctive landscape features The LCA describes the rocky coastline such as at Trevose Head and Bedruthan Steps, the use of slate in buildings and walls and Cornish hedges and St Eval Church Land Use Consultants CA19: Trevose Head and Coastal Plateau Criteria Lower sensitivity Higher sensitivity tower as distinctive features of this landscape. Most of the LCA’s coastline falls within the ‘Trevose Head to Stepper Point’ part of the Cornwall AONB (40% of the LCA is AONB). Part is also defined as Heritage Coast (Trevose Head). Qualities that may particularly be affected by wind energy development are the large scale of the cliffs, panoramic views along the Camel Scenic quality Estuary, sense of ‘wildness’ near the coast, prominence of visible prehistoric features, and the narrow winding lanes bounded by slate hedges. The southern fringes of the LCA fall within the Watergate and Lanherne AGLV – special qualities include the dominance of the headlands of Beryls Point, Griffins Point and Trenance Point, the marshes and trees in the Vale of Lanherne, and the woodland at old Carnanton Estate. Although the large scale and simple landcover, the presence of some existing human influence and its accessibility could lower sensitivity to wind energy development, the spectacular coastline, coastal landmark features, relatively remote character and high Overall sensitivity scenic quality heighten levels of sensitivity to turbines such that overall this LCA is assessment considered to have a moderate-high sensitivity to wind energy development. The landscape’s dramatic and highly scenic coastline and its immediate hinterland would be particularly sensitive. Sensitivities to different turbine heights The large scale, simple inland plateau would be particularly sensitive to ‘large’ turbines whilst the rugged and highly visible coastline would be sensitive to all sizes Very small: 18-25m of wind turbines. Small: 26-60m Medium: 61-99m Large: 100-150m Sensitivities to different cluster sizes and distribution The inland plateau, with its predominantly medieval field patterns, would be particularly sensitive to ‘medium’, ‘large’ and ‘very large’ clusters of wind turbines. Single turbine The rugged and highly visible coastline would be sensitive to all scales of wind energy Small (<5 turbines) development. Medium (6-10) Large (11-25) Very large (>25) Landscape strategy and Guidance for Wind Turbines The landscape strategy is for a landscape with occasional single turbines and possibly small clusters of turbines, comprising turbines that may be up to and including medium scale with no turbines along the coastal edge/coastal headlands. Within the rest of the AONB a landscape without wind energy development Landscape strategy (except for occasional very small scale single turbines linked to existing buildings eg farm buildings).. There may be several wind energy developments in the LCA, but these should be clearly separated so that, although each wind energy development influences the perception of the landscape at close proximity, collectively they do not have a defining influence on the overall experience of the landscape. See Annex 2 of the Technical Report for generic siting and design guidance. In Siting Guidance addition, the following guidance should apply to any wind energy developments within this LCA: Land Use Consultants CA19: Trevose Head and Coastal Plateau • Locate wind energy development away from the rugged and highly visible coastline, particularly its prominent headlands and stacks (e.g. Bedruthan Steps, Trevose Head, Park Head and Stepper Point). • Explore the opportunity to link development to existing brownfield or industrial land, such as the disused airfields. • Locate very small turbines next to existing buildings. • Avoid damage and alterations to the narrow lanes and slate-faced Cornish hedges. • Ensure any ancillary development is in character with the local vernacular (especially use of slate in buildings and walls). • Ensure wind energy development does not dominate, or prevent the understanding and appreciation of, landmarks on the skyline including the lighthouse at Trevose Point, St Eval church tower, Bronze Age barrows and cliff castles along the coast. • Avoid siting turbines within the HLC Type ‘Coastal Rough Ground’ – assessed by Cornwall Council as being highly vulnerable to wind energy development. • Consider views from local viewpoints and popular routes (e.g. the South West Coastal Path) when considering the siting and design of wind energy development in the landscape – if development will be visible, aim for a balanced composition. • Ensure wind energy development does not adversely affect the rocky coastline, such as at Trevose Head and Bedruthan Steps, or St Eval Church tower as distinctive features of this landscape. • Protect the factors which contribute to the scenic quality of the Cornwall AONB (particularly the large scale of the cliffs, panoramic views along the Camel Estuary, sense of ‘wildness’ near the coast, prominence of visible prehistoric features, and the narrow winding lanes bounded by slate hedges) – ensure choice of site and scale of development does not detract from these. • Protect the factors which contribute to the scenic quality of the Watergate and Lanherne AGLV (particularly the dominance of the headlands of Beryls Point, Griffins Point