Appendix E Interrelationship of Regional Landscape Character Areas, Local Aspect Areas (All Five Aspects) and Existing Slas

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EIA Scoping Report Appendix E Interrelationship of Regional Landscape Character Areas, Local Aspect Areas (all five aspects) and existing SLAs

1.1.5 The following table explains the spatial relationship between relevant regional landscape character areas and local Landmap aspect areas (generally to Level 3) covering all five aspects. The table also identifies the relationship of these areas to existing and proposed SLA designations. Analysis of this information has informed the identification of preliminary project landscape character areas.

EIA Scoping Report

Interrelationship of Landscape Areas within Scoping Study Area

Regional Sensory and Visual Geological LANDMAP Landscape Habitat Historical LANDMAP Cultural LANDMAP Special Landscape Landscape LANDMAP Aspect Aspect Areas LANDMAP Aspect Aspect Areas Aspect Area Areas Character Areas Areas Area

Cambrian  Llanpumsaint Basin  Mynydd Rhos‐wen ‐  Frenni Fawr‐Moelfre  Mynydd Llanllwni  Brechfa Forest Mountains  Brechfa Forest Banc Melen  Brechfa Forest  Trelech  Rural Carmarthenshire  Cothi Valley (rLCA21)  Gwernogle  Brechfa Forest cwms  Brechfa Valleys  Mynydd Tre‐Beddau  Mid Cothi Valley  Maesygroes‐  Cothi South of Brechfa  Brechfa  Mynydd Figyn Gwernogle cwms  Llanfynydd Common  Banc‐Y‐Daren  Lower Cothi Valley  Afon Gorlech cwms  Abergwili‐Llanegwad  Llanllawddog Valley  Lan Ddu Cilwenau Parish  Afon Twrch ‐ Morais  Llanfynydd – Cothi  Banc Maes‐Yr‐Haidd  Gilfachgoch  Allt Bwlch‐Y‐Rhyd  Allt Llystyn  Fforest Brechfa  Banc‐y‐Darren  Rhos Blaen‐Gorlech  Cothi cwms (S)  Nant Hafren cwms

Gwendraeth  LLansaint Coastal  Iscoed – Ferryside  Llansaint North  Croesyceilog‐  Rural Carmarthenshire  Towy Valley Vales Hills  Llanddarog –  Nantycaws Cwmffrwd (rLCA33)  Gwendraeth Fach Banycoed  Morlais Valley  Middleton Hills  Capel Dewi (1)  Llandyfaelog,  Bwlchymynydd Llangyndeyrn  Mynydd Cyfor, Pant‐ Y‐Parchell

Tywi Valley  Middleton Hills  Bwlchymynydd  Llansaint North  Croesyceilog‐  Tywi Valley RHL  Towy Valley (rLCA41)  Dyffryn Tywi Valley  Cwmffrwd  Nantycaws Cwmffrwd  Rural Carmarthenshire sides south  Nant Pibr  CRMRTLH048  Mynydd Cyfor, Pant‐  Dyffryn Tywi flood  Pen‐sorn Y‐Parchell plain  Llangunnor  Llangunnor  Carmarthen  Lower Towy  Morfa Melyn

EIA Scoping Report  Dyffryn Tyrwi valley  River Towy  Ystrad Tywi: sides north  Afon Gwili ‐ Afon Carmarthen‐ Duad Llandeilo  Afon Gwili

Pembroke  Dyffryn Tyrwi valley  Afon Gwili ‐ Afon  Carmarthen West  Afon Gwili  Rural Carmarthenshire  Cothi Valley and sides north Duad  Llanpumsaint  Abergwili‐Llanegwad Carmarthen  Tywi slopes northern  Nant Pencnwc  Frenni Fawr‐Moelfre Parish Foothills  Llanpumsaint hills  Rhydargaeau –  Brechfa Forest  Trelech (rLCA42)  Llanpumsaint Basin Peniel  Cothi South of Brechfa  Pant‐Y‐Llyn

 Lower Cothi Valley  Llanpumsaint  Llanfynydd North  Llanfynydd  Mynydd Figyn  Bwlch Bychann ‐ Pe ‐  Llanfynydd Common  Banc Maes‐Yr‐Haidd  Mid Cothi Valley hill  Pen y Garn  Brechfa  Lower Gwili valley  Brechfa Forest  Brechfa Valleys  Nant‐y‐boncath  Mynydd Rhos‐wen ‐ Banc Melen  Cothi cwms (S)  Darren‐fawr  Afon Twrch ‐ Morais – Cothi  Upton Hall  Graig‐ddu  Pen‐y‐garn

Taf, Tywi  LLansaint Coastal  Llanddarog –  Llansaint North  Croesyceilog‐  Tywi Valley RHL  Towy Valley and Hills Banycoed Cwmffrwd  Rural Carmarthenshire Gwendraeth  Middleton Hills  Cwmffrwd  Llandyfaelog, Esturies Llangyndeyrn (rLCA45)  Mynydd Cyfor, Pant‐ Y‐Parchell

EIA Scoping Report

Appendix F Proposed Special Landscape Areas

Special Landscape Areas

1.1.6 The proposed Development is likely to pass through a number of existing and proposed Special Landscape Areas (SLAs).

1.1.7 Carmarthenshire County Council is currently in the process of preparing a Local Development Plan (LDP) in accordance with the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and Local Development Plan Regulations 2005. Once adopted, the LDP will supersede the existing Unitary Development Plan (UDP). A review of the existing Special Landscape Areas (SLAs) identified within the UDP has been undertaken as part of the preparation of the Local Development Plan in line with completed Landmap survey data sets and guidance notes for the designation of SLAs. As a result of the review process, amendments to the existing SLAs have been recommended. These were submitted as part of Carmarthenshire’s Local Development Plan to the Welsh Government for Public Examination in 2013.

1.1.8 In order to provide a rigorous investigation into the likely effects of the proposals, this scoping report takes into consideration both the adopted SLAs outlined within the UDP and the as yet un-adopted SLAs outlined within the proposed LDP.

1.1.9 It is acknowledged that should the LDP be adopted during the landscape and visual impact assessment process, it will no longer be appropriate to consider the impact upon SLAs outlined within the UDP.

1.1.10 CCC’s review of its SLAs (2011 – not, to date, formally adopted) provides a description of the proposed new SLAs and a statement of their value. Some difficulty has been encountered in identifying the precise boundaries of the areas described (text is available but supporting plans have not been identified). Of nineteen proposed SLAs the following are understood to be those that may

EIA Scoping Report potentially be affected by the proposed Development:

. TYWI VALLEY – this consists of three distinct landscapes: CRMRTVS311 Tywi Valley Flood Plain; CRMRTVS970 Northern Slopes of the Tywi valley flood plain and CRMRTVS Southern Slopes of the Tywi valley flood plain. The statement of value for the whole area reads: The entire Tywi valley from the source of the river to its mouth lies within a contiguous series of SLAs. While the valley consists of several different landscapes, all share a strong sense of integrity and there is little disruption to this. Many of these landscapes are of outstanding scenic quality and very varied, from the rugged upland river valley in the north east to the estuary south of Carmarthen. The valley is also unique in a Carmarthenshire context as it includes the planned historic parkland landscapes located mostly between Llandovery and Carmarthen, as well as the castles of Dryslwyn and Dinefwr. These landscapes are identified within the ICOMOS/CCW/CADW Register of Landscapes of Outstanding Historic Interest in Wales 1998 (namely the Twyi Valley and the Tywi and Taf Estuaries). In addition some of the parklands are registered in the CADW Register of Landscapes, Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in Wales 2002. There are the historic lines of communication within the valley, highlighting further its importance in terms of its historic environment, and it is a landscape that has been painted and written about, and as such is of considerable cultural importance. The river itself is designated as an SSSI and SAC.

. CRMRTVS737 Mid Cothi Valley: A river valley in its middle reaches, with high and steep wooded slopes, some of which are in adjoining aspect areas. The valley appears as a mosaic of woodland and pasture with significant tree cover. There remain some pockets of unimproved land which add texture to the landscape – e.g. marshy grassland. There are few views of the river itself as its banks are frequently tree lined. The B road runs through the area and it includes the small settlements of Abergorlech and Brechfa. Abergorlech is designated as a Conservation Area. See statement of value for combined Cothi valley below.

EIA Scoping Report

. CRMRTVS 153 Lower Cothi valley: Although this is the lower course of the Cothi Valley, this section of the valley is narrower and more V shaped than the Mid Cothi valley as the river changed its course, having previously followed what is now the Gwili valley to the west of Brechfa. The Cothi valley rises steeply, and dramatically, to the hills on either side. The valley slopes are a mix of woodland and farmland with bracken areas. There are views of the river along its length at a number of places, particularly where the road runs close to it. Farmland and woodland dominate the lower lying land. This area provides a clear contrast with the Mid Cothi valley to the north and the Dyffryn Tywi to the south, in that it is on a smaller scale and is more secluded. It is sparsely settled with narrow hedges lanes. The course of the river is varied, and includes open and shallow areas as well as cuttings through dark rocks. The statement of value for the whole Cothi Valley area reads: Together with the Twyi, Teifi, Taf and Lwchwr, the Cothi is one of Carmarthenshire’s longer rivers, and it passes through a sequence of extremely varied landscapes of high and outstanding scenic quality as it flows from its head waters in the North Eastern Uplands SLA to its mouth in the Tywi Valley SLA. The upper reaches of the river are considered to be outstanding for their geological landscapes, and also for their historic environment, largely due to the presence of the Romans in this area. The valley has strong cultural associations from the arrival of the Celtic saints in the 6th century and the well documented Medieval forests of Glyn Cothi, to the Basque Camps in the valley established following the Spanish Civil War. The valley supports a variety of habitats and species associated with agricultural and wooded landscapes and displays an attractive balance between these two land uses.

Historic Landscapes

1.1.11 The Towy Valley is designated as a Historic Landscape. The valley is considered to be of significance as the setting for a group of planned parks and gardens, along with its historic and artistic associations with the picturesque. There is a widespread popular sense of the Towy valley as a cherished landscape.

EIA Scoping Report

Appendix G Proposed Representative Viewpoints

The following table provides a preliminary schedule of proposed representative viewpoints. The proposed viewpoints cover all alignment options under consideration during Stage 3b of the project (alignment options). Some viewpoints will therefore become redundant once the final preferred alignment has been identified.

The proposed viewpoints to be used in the landscape and visual chapter of the ES will be discussed and agreed with CCC and NRW in parallel with the formal scoping process and as the design of the development evolves. Substantial refinement of the preliminary viewpoint list is therefore anticipated as the project progresses towards the identification of the final preferred alignment. A final viewpoint list will be agreed with CCC and NRW following the identification of the preferred final alignment and before the detailed landscape and visual impact assessment begins. At this stage two additional related matters will be agreed:

. Confirmation that the agreed viewpoint locations will provide sufficient information regarding any significant areas of tree removal anticipated along the final preferred alignment (subject to public access being possible); and

. Confirmation of those viewpoints to be taken forward to fully rendered photomontage images of the appearance of the development.

The preliminary viewpoint locations are included on Figures G-1 to G-6 (NB: Nos. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33 not used).

No. Location Grid Reference Rationale for Selection

E 239853 Site and southern connection point Lane to the west N 211347 viewed in context of highway on the 1 of Llandyfaelog edge of the route corridor in close proximity to residential properties.

2 A484 junction to E 241326 Site viewed to north from A484.

EIA Scoping Report

Crugan Fawr N 212489

Lane off the A484 E 240646 Site viewed in context from a minor road 3 to the west of the N 212937 in close proximity residential properties Upland Arms within the route corridor.

Site viewed to south from A484 on the A484 to the south E 241213 edge of the route corridor in close 4 of the Petrol N 212849 proximity to residential and workplace Station properties.

Lane off the A484 Site viewed in context from a minor road E 241776 between within the route corridor. View 5 N 213595 Llwyncelyn and incorporates a ridgeline.

Bwlch-y-gwynt

Lane off the A484 Site viewed in context from a minor road E 241555 west of Lan on the edge of the route corridor, in 6 N 214835 House and north close proximity to residential properties.

of Bryncoch

E 242843 Site viewed in context from a minor road 7 Bancycapel N 215021 on the edge of the route corridor, on edge of village.

Site viewed in context from a minor road Lane off the A484 E 244341 on the edge of the route corridor in 8 south of N 216293 proximity to residential properties. Bryngorse Isaf Elevated view incorporates a ridgeline.

E 244843 Site viewed in context from a minor road Lane to the west 9 N 217350 from within the route corridor, in close of Oaklands Farm proximity to residential properties.

E 242165 Site viewed in context from residential 10 North Cwmffrwd N 217742 properties within the route corridor on edge of village.

Site viewed in context from a main E 243935 highway from within the route corridor in 11 Heol Llangynnwr N 218644 close proximity to residential properties. Elevated panoramic view incorporates a ridgeline.

E 242677 Site viewed in context from a public PRoW south of 12 N 218633 footpath outside the route corridor. Llangunnor Elevated panorama.

E 243939 Site viewed in context from residential 13 Tyllwyd mawr N 219192 properties on the edge of the route corridor.

E 243638 Site viewed in context from residential Towy View Park, 14 N 220096 properties on the edge of the route Heol Capel Dewi corridor. B4300 on southern edge of

EIA Scoping Report

Towy valley.

E 242988 Site viewed in context from an elevated Llangunnor 15 N 220287 public position outside the route corridor. Church View along Towy valley.

Confluence of the Site viewed in context from a public E 243173 Rivers Towy and footpath on the edge of the route 16 N 220518 Gwili, PRoW corridor.

Llangunnor/32

E 243675 Site viewed in context from residential 17 Lloyd’s Terrace N 221097 properties on the edge of the route corridor. Edge of settlement.

E 243214 Site viewed in context from residential 18 Cnwc Y Gwili N 221154 properties on the edge of the route corridor.

E 243152 Site viewed in context from a main A485, Dolgwili 19 N 221955 highway within the route corridor. Road

E 242908 Site viewed in context from a minor road 20 Rhydfwyalchen N 223772 from within the route corridor, in close proximity to residential properties.

E 244413 Site viewed in context from Church east 21 Capel Y Groes N 224315 of Peniel in close proximity to the route corridor boundary.

E 243726 Site viewed in context from a main 22 A485 N 225786 highway, adjacent to residential properties within the route corridor.

E 243560 Site viewed in context from a minor road 23 Lane off B4301 N 227716 from within the route corridor. Elevated view over low lying valley to the north.

Site viewed in context from a public Pontarsais, E 244162 footpath within the route corridor, in 24 PRoW N 228327 close proximity to residential properties Llanllawddog/14 and A485.

Site viewed in context from a minor road E 243862 Lane south of Allt on steeply sloping ground in close 25 N 229102 Nant-y-boncath proximity to the route corridor. Views

over valley to the south.

E 244353 Site viewed in context from a main A485, near Toed- 26 N 229269 highway, in close proximity to residential Y-rhiw-cefn properties within the route corridor.

PROW E 245074 Site viewed in context from a public 27 Llanllawddog/5 N 231109 footpath within the route corridor. Near Glynadda Elevated position.

EIA Scoping Report

Site viewed in context from a minor road E 252868 in close proximity to residential 34 Gwernogle N 233971 properties within the route corridor.

Edge of small settlement.

Site viewed in context from a minor road E 254033 Lane to the east on the edge of the route corridor. 35 N 234030 of Pant- y-coubal Elevated position with views to the

north.

Site viewed in context from a minor road E 254946 Church at Pant- in close proximity to residential 36 N 234692 Yr-Eglwys properties outside the route corridor.

Vicinity of Church.

E 256659 Site viewed in context from a byway PRoW 37 N 235609 open to all traffic outside the route Llanybydder /31 corridor. Isolated location.

E 250149 Lane south of Site viewed in context from a minor road 38 N 230038 Cerbynau Farm on the edge of the route corridor.

E 252006 Site viewed in context from a minor road Lane north of 39 N 230746 within the route corridor. Views along Brechfa valley to west.

Site viewed in context from a bus stop E 253506 B4310, Brechfa on a secondary road within the route 40 N 230583 Bwlchgwyn bus corridor. Towy valley location with views

stop to Cwm Cothi to south.

E 255655 Site viewed in context from a road along 41 B4310, Nant-y-ffin N 232203 Towy valley near to residential properties, within the route corridor.

Site viewed in context from a main road E 257726 B4310, Disgwylfa in close proximity to residential 42 N 233532 House properties, within the route corridor.

Western edge of Abergorlech.

E 252628 Site viewed in context from a minor road Lane south of 43 N 229078 within the route corridor. Elevated Brechfa position with views over Cothi valley.

Lane adjacent to E 253283 Site viewed in context from a minor road 44 Ty-Ilwyd Farm, N 228194 adjacent to a farm property within the south of Brechfa route corridor. Cothi valley.

Other Route with Public Access E 255231 Site viewed in context from an Other 45 south of Carreg N 229605 Route with Public Access outside the Castell-y-Gwynt route corridor. Elevated position. Burial Chamber

27 "

238000 239000 240000 241000 242000 243000 244000 245000 246000 VP08 Legend: Proposed Viewpoint

Onsite substations included with planning applications for Brechfa " Forest West and Brechfa Forest 216000 East wind farms Brechfa Forest West and Brechfa Forest East wind farms Scoping Boundary

VP07

215000 VP06 214000

VP05

VP03

213000 VP04

Coordinate System: British National Grid Projection: Transverse Mercator Datum: OSGB 1936 VP02 Units: Metre

Source: Global Land Cover Facility, www.landcover.org. 212000

VP01

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Rev Date Description Drn Chk App

Brechfa Forest Connection 211000

TITLE: Figure G-1 Proposed Viewpoints

0 250 500 210000 Metres / SCALE: 1:25,000 @ A3 REV 00 Document Path: P:\EIA\110000 EPD - South Projects\110516 Brechfa- Forest\01 GIS\Proposed Viewpoints Figure G-1 July 2014.mxd © Crown copyright and database rights 2014 Ordnance Survey 0100031673 Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2014 "

239000 240000 241000 242000 243000 244000 245000 246000 247000

Legend: Proposed Viewpoint

Onsite substations included with planning applications for Brechfa " Forest West and Brechfa Forest East wind farms Brechfa Forest West VP19 and Brechfa Forest East

222000 wind farms Scoping Boundary

VP18 VP17 221000

VP16

VP15 VP14 220000

VP13

Coordinate System: British National Grid Projection: Transverse Mercator Datum: OSGB 1936 219000 Units: Metre VP12 VP11

Source: Global Land Cover Facility, www.landcover.org. 218000 VP10

00 08/07/2014 First Draft JG ED VR VP09 Rev Date Description Drn Chk App Brechfa Forest Connection 217000

TITLE: Figure G-2 Proposed Viewpoints VP08 0 250 500

Metres / SCALE: 1:25,000 @ A3 REV 00 Document Path: P:\EIA\110000 EPD - South Projects\110516 Brechfa- Forest\01 GIS\Proposed Viewpoints Figure G-2 July 2014.mxd

216000 © Crown copyright and database rights 2014 Ordnance Survey 0100031673 Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2014 "

239000 240000 241000 242000 243000 244000 245000 246000 247000

Legend: Proposed Viewpoint VP24 Onsite substations included with planning applications for Brechfa " Forest West and Brechfa Forest East wind farms Brechfa Forest West and Brechfa Forest East

228000 wind farms VP23 Scoping Boundary 227000

226000 VP22

Coordinate System: British National Grid Projection: Transverse Mercator

225000 Datum: OSGB 1936 Units: Metre

VP21

Source: Global Land Cover Facility, www.landcover.org.

224000 VP20

00 08/07/2014 First Draft JG ED VR

Rev Date Description Drn Chk App

Brechfa Forest Connection 223000

TITLE: Figure G-3 Proposed Viewpoints

0 250 500

Metres / SCALE: 1:25,000 @ A3 VP19 REV 00 Document Path: P:\EIA\110000 EPD - South Projects\110516 Brechfa- Forest\01 GIS\Proposed Viewpoints Figure G-3 July 2014.mxd

241000 242000 243000 244000 245000 246000 247000 248000

Legend: Proposed Viewpoint

Onsite substations included with planning applications for Brechfa " Forest West and Brechfa Forest East wind farms Brechfa Forest West and Brechfa Forest East 234000 wind farms Scoping Boundary 233000 232000

VP27 "

Coordinate System: British National Grid Projection: Transverse Mercator 231000 Datum: OSGB 1936 Units: Metre

Source: Global Land Cover Facility, www.landcover.org. 230000

00 08/07/2014 First Draft JG ED VR

Rev Date Description Drn Chk App VP26 Brechfa Forest Connection VP25 229000

TITLE: Figure G-4 Proposed Viewpoints VP24

0 250 500

Metres / SCALE: 1:25,000 @ A3 REV 00 Document Path: P:\EIA\110000 EPD - South Projects\110516 Brechfa- Forest\01 GIS\Proposed Viewpoints Figure G-4 July 2014.mxd 228000 © Crown copyright and database rights 2014 Ordnance Survey 0100031673 Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2014 "

248000 249000 250000 251000 252000 253000 254000 255000 256000

Legend: Proposed Viewpoint

Onsite substations included with planning applications for Brechfa " Forest West and Brechfa Forest East wind farms Brechfa Forest West

233000 and Brechfa Forest East wind farms Scoping Boundary

VP41 232000

" 231000 VP39 VP40

VP38

Coordinate System: British National Grid

230000 Projection: Transverse Mercator Datum: OSGB 1936 Units: Metre VP45

VP43 Source: Global Land Cover Facility, www.landcover.org. 229000

00 08/07/2014 First Draft JG ED VR

Rev Date Description Drn Chk App VP44 Brechfa Forest Connection 228000

TITLE: Figure G-5 Proposed Viewpoints

0 250 500

Metres / SCALE: 1:25,000 @ A3 REV 00 227000 Document Path: P:\EIA\110000 EPD - South Projects\110516 Brechfa- Forest\01 GIS\Proposed Viewpoints Figure G-5 July 2014.mxd © Crown copyright and database rights 2014 Ordnance Survey 0100031673 Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2014 252000 253000 254000 255000 256000 257000 258000 259000 260000

Legend: Proposed Viewpoint

Onsite substations included with planning applications for Brechfa " Forest West and Brechfa Forest East wind farms Brechfa Forest West 236000 and Brechfa Forest East wind farms VP37 Scoping Boundary

" 235000 VP36

VP35 VP34 234000

VP42

233000 Coordinate System: British National Grid Projection: Transverse Mercator Datum: OSGB 1936 Units: Metre

VP41

Source: Global Land Cover Facility, www.landcover.org. 232000

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Rev Date Description Drn Chk App

Brechfa Forest Connection " 231000 VP39 VP40 TITLE: Figure G-6 Proposed Viewpoints

0 250 500

Metres / SCALE: 1:25,000 @ A3

230000 REV 00 Document Path: P:\EIA\110000 EPD - South Projects\110516 Brechfa- Forest\01 GIS\Proposed Viewpoints Figure G-6 July 2014.mxd © Crown copyright and database rights 2014 Ordnance Survey 0100031673 Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2014