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DOCUMENT 5.8 Environmental Statement Chapter 8 Visual Assessment National Grid (North Wales Connection Project) Regulation 5(2)(a) including (l) and (m) of the Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009 Application Reference EN020015 September 2018 Environmental Statement Chapter 8 Visual Assessment Document 5.8 i North Wales Connection Project Volume 5 Document 5.8 Chapter 8 Visual Assessment January 2018 National Grid National Grid House Warwick Technology Park Gallows Hill Warwick CV34 6DA Final September 2018 North Wales Connection Project Environmental Statement Chapter 8 Visual Assessment Document 5.8 ii Page intentionally blank North Wales Connection Project Environmental Statement Chapter 8 Visual Assessment Document 5.8 iii Document Control Document Properties Organisation Gillespies Author Helen Johnson Approved by Sarah Gibson Title Environmental Statement Chapter 8 Document Reference Document 5.8 Version History Date Version Status Description/Changes September Rev A Final Final for Submission 2018 North Wales Connection Project Environmental Statement Chapter 8 Visual Assessment Document 5.8 iv Page intentionally blank North Wales Connection Project Environmental Statement Chapter 8 Visual Assessment Document 5.8 v Contents 1 Introduction 1 2 Legislation and Planning Policy 3 2.1 Introduction 3 2.2 Legislation 3 2.3 National Policy 4 2.4 Local Planning Policy 14 3 Scope of Assessment and Consultation 16 3.1 Introduction 16 3.2 Secretary of State’s Scoping Opinion 16 3.3 Consultation 23 3.4 Updates Since Scoping 24 3.5 Scope of Assessment 24 4 Methodology 25 4.1 Introduction 25 4.2 Guidance Specific to Visual Assessment 25 4.3 Baseline Data Gathering and Forecasting Methods 27 4.4 Technical Analysis 30 4.5 Assessment Criteria 34 4.6 Residential Visual Amenity Assessment (Private Views) 45 4.7 Assumptions and Limitations 49 5 Basis of Assessment 52 5.1 Introduction 52 5.2 Flexibility Assumptions 52 5.4 Sensitivity Tests 56 6 Study Area 58 6.1 Introduction 58 6.2 Visual Assessment 58 7 Baseline Conditions 61 7.1 Introduction 61 7.2 Visibility Overview 61 7.3 Future Baseline Predictions 62 7.4 Communities 62 7.5 Private Views 104 7.6 Recreational Receptors 105 7.7 Road & Rail Receptors 117 8 Potential Effects 126 North Wales Connection Project Environmental Statement Chapter 8 Visual Assessment Document 5.8 vi 8.1 Introduction 126 9 Mitigation and Residual Effects 130 9.1 Introduction 130 9.2 Mitigation 130 9.3 Communities & Private Views 137 9.4 Recreational Receptors 207 9.5 Effects of Flexibility on Visual Assessment 244 10 Cumulative Effects 246 10.1 Introduction 246 10.2 Intra Project Cumulative Effects 246 10.3 Inter Project Cumulative Effects 246 11 Summary 269 11.1 Introduction 269 11.2 Communties 269 11.3 Private Views 271 11.4 Recreational Receptors 275 11.5 Roads & Rail 278 12 References 295 FIGURES Figure 8.1 Visual Receptors Document 5.8.1.1 Figure 8.2 ZTV Overhead Line Document 5.8.1.2 Figure 8.3 ZTV Braint CSEC & THH Document 5.8.1.3 Figure 8.4 ZTV Tŷ Fodol CSEC & THH Document 5.8.1.4 Figure 8.5 ZTV Wylfa Document 5.8.1.5 Figure 8.6 ZTV Pentir Document 5.8.1.6 Figure 8.7 Effects on Communities during Document 5.8.1.7 Construction Figure 8.8 Effects on Communities during Document 5.8.1.8 Operation Figure 8.9 Effects on Residential Receptors Document 5.8.1.9 during Construction Figure 8.10 Effects on Residential Receptors Document 5.8.1.10 during Operation North Wales Connection Project Environmental Statement Chapter 8 Visual Assessment Document 5.8 vii Figure 8.11 Effects on Recreational Document 5.8.1.11 Receptors during Construction Figure 8.12 Effects on Recreational Document 5.8.1.12 Receptors during Operation Figure 8.13 Effects on Road & Rail Document 5.8.1.13 Receptors during Construction Figure 8.14 Effects on Road & Rail Document 5.8.1.14 Receptors during Operation North Wales Connection Project Environmental Statement Chapter 8 Visual Assessment Document 5.8 viii Page intentionally blank North Wales Connection Project Environmental Statement Chapter 8 Visual Assessment Document 5.8 Page 1 1 Introduction 1.1 INTRODUCTION 1.1.1 This chapter presents information about the likely visual effects that could result from the Proposed Development (as described in Chapter 3, Description of the Proposed Development (Document 5.3) and Chapter 4, Construction, Operation, Maintenance and Decommissioning (Document 5.4). 1.1.2 This chapter is supported by a number of Appendices as listed below: Appendix 8.1 Local Planning Policy (Document 5.8.2.1) Appendix 8.2 Viewpoint Assessment (Document 5.8.2.2) Appendix 8.3 Residential Visual Amenity Assessment (Document 5.8.2.3) Appendix 8.4 Views from Roads Assessment (Document 5.8.2.4) Appendix 8.5 Views from Public Rights of Way Assessment (Document 5.8.2.5) 1.1.3 Other chapters that are useful to review in association with this chapter are Chapter 7, Landscape (Document 5.7) for effects on landscape character, Chapter 9, Ecology & Nature Conservation (Document 5.9) for further information on existing vegetation and species, Chapter 10, Historic Environment (Document 5.10) for further information on Registered Parks and Gardens and Chapter 17, Socio-Economic and Tourism (Document 5.17) for further information on tourist attractions. 1.1.4 Cumulative effects on receptors are identified in Chapter 19, Intra-project Cumulative Effects (Document 5.19) and cumulative visual effects with other developments are presented in Chapter 20, Inter-Project Cumulative Effects (Document 5.20) as well as section 10 of this chapter. Control and management visual mitigation measures are reported in the Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) (Document 7.4). A series of photomontages are provided in Document 5.29. North Wales Connection Project Environmental Statement Chapter 8 Visual Assessment Document 5.8 Page 2 1.1.5 Additional information on existing trees including size, species and condition can be found in the Arboricultural Impact Report (Document 5.30). 1.1.6 All technical terms and abbreviations used within this chapter are defined in the Glossary (Document 1.4). North Wales Connection Project Environmental Statement Chapter 8 Visual Assessment Document 5.8 Page 3 2 Legislation and Planning Policy 2.1 INTRODUCTION 2.1.1 This section sets out the legislation and planning policy framework that is relevant to the visual assessment. A full review of compliance with national and local planning policy is provided in the Planning Statement (Document 7.14) and a Legislation Compliance Audit is set out in Document 5.28.2.1. 2.2 LEGISLATION 2.2.1 There is no relevant legislation to visual assessment or the receptors identified in this chapter. References have been made designations and therefore relevant legislation is listed below. European Landscape Convention 2.2.2 The European Landscape Convention (Ref 8.1), is a Treaty and not an EU Directive which was ratified in the UK in 2006. It defines landscape as: 'an area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/ or human factors'. The European Landscape Convention promotes an ‘all-landscapes approach’, founded on the recognition of value in all landscapes. It recognises that the landscape is important as a component of the environment and of people’s surroundings in both town and country and whether it is ordinary landscape or outstanding. 2.2.3 The issues of effects on landscape and visual receptors are closely linked and therefore this treaty is relevant to this chapter. National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 2.2.4 In England and Wales National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) are designated under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. Visitors to these designations are considered receptors within this chapter. 2.2.5 The Environment Act 1995 revised the original legislation and set out two statutory purposes for national parks in England and Wales: ‘Conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage; and North Wales Connection Project Environmental Statement Chapter 8 Visual Assessment Document 5.8 Page 4 Promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of national parks by the public.’ 2.2.6 When national parks carry out these purposes they also have the duty to: ‘Seek to foster the economic and social well-being of local communities within the national parks (Section 62 of the Environment Act 1995)’ 2.3 NATIONAL POLICY National Policy Statements 2.3.1 National Policy Statements set out the primary policy test against which the application for a DCO for the Proposed Development will be considered. Tables 8.1 and 8.2 below provides details of the elements of National Planning Statement for Energy (EN-1) (Ref 8.2) and National Planning Statement for Electricity Networks Infrastructure (EN-5) (Ref 8.3) that are relevant to this chapter, and how and where they are covered in the ES. Table 8.1 Compliance with NPS (EN-1) Requirements NPS EN-1 Section Where this is covered in the ES 4.5.3 (part)...Whilst the applicant may The design of the route of the 400 kV not have any or very limited choice in overhead line (OHL) and the siting of the physical appearance of some associated infrastructure has been energy infrastructure, there may be developed within the underlying opportunities for the applicant to principle of ‘good design’. demonstrate good design in terms of siting relative to existing landscape Details of this are included in the character, landform and vegetation… Design Report (Document 7.17).