Agenda Item 8 Report PC 77/13 Appendix 2 SDNPA Landscape Architect response to Planning Consultation Application ref: 13/00844/FUL Description: Erection of 6 wind turbines with a maximum height of 130.5m and associated development for a period of 25 years, including meteorological mast, control building, electricity transformers, underground cabling, access tracks, crane hardstandings and vehicular access Address: Land At Woodmancott, Grid Ref: 457347 143175, Popham, Micheldever, Hampshire LPA Basingstoke and Deane District Council Summary response: Objection, The proposed development would have an adverse impact on the landscape, setting and special qualities of South Downs National Park, which the statutory National Park purposes, and other local, regional and national policies seek to protect. The proposal would affect views out of and into the National Park owing to the size, scale and extent of the proposed wind turbines in the landscape within the visual envelope of the National Park boundary. This would erode the quality of the breathtaking views which are noted as Special Qualities of the National Park. The likely cumulative impacts of a further potential windfarm at Bullington Cross, 7km to the west of the proposed site also forms part of the objection. Landscape Character Assessment The site is within the National Character Area (NCA) of the Hampshire Downs (JCA130). This character area extends from approximately Andover in the west to Alton in the east and includes a sizeable section of the National Park to the east of Winchester. The NCA describes one of the key characteristics of the Hampshire Downs as : ‘Strongly rolling downland with scarps, hilltops, and valleys which have an overall open and exposed character.’ Landscape character is considered to be continuous at the national scale between the proposed windfarm site and the National Park. There are extensive views over the Hampshire Downs NCA from elevated viewpoint locations within the National Park. The National Park boundary is not apparent to the viewer of the landscape. Views which include landscape beyond the National Park boundary (of which there are many) include this ‘borrowed’ landscape as a continuous feature and are likewise affected by changes to landscape character and quality. It is noted that the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) prepared by the applicant does not refer to the South Downs Integrated Landscape Character Assessment (SDILCA) of the National Park. The following baseline information is however considered to be relevant to the consideration of the impacts of the proposed windfarm and is taken directly from the SDILCA’ The Hampshire Downs NCA is included within the landscape assessed as Landscape Type A: Open Downland within the SDILCA, it is described as follows: ‘The open downland landscape comprises a distinctive narrow spine of open chalk upland landscape on the south facing dipslope of the South Downs, mostly located to the east of the Arun Valley (with an outlier close to 35 W13/00800/FUL – Landscape Winchester), meeting the sea at the Seven Sisters. This is Kipling’s ‘Blunt, bow-headed, whale-backed Downs (Sussex 1902)’ The area to the east of Winchester which is closest to the proposed windfarm, and contains significant viewpoints is identified in the SDILCA as being within Landscape Area A5: East Winchester Open Downs. The Integrated key characteristics of area A5 are described as: ‘Open rolling upland chalk landscape rolling Downs reaching 176m at Cheesefoot Head.’ ‘Due to the open character of the East Winchester Open Downs there are expansive views over Winchester and the Itchen Valley’ ‘Large open skies ensure that weather conditions are a dominant influence creating a dynamic, moody landscape, particularly on higher ground – eg at Cheesefoot Head.’ ‘A strong sense of remoteness and tranquillity away from the major transport routes (M3, A31, A272) which cross the landscape.’ ‘Panoramic views from Cheesefoot Head and from St Catherine’s hill across the Itchen Valley’ The South Downs Integrated Character Assessment is considered to provide key information about the nature of the landscape character of the National Park. It should therefore be considered in the LVIA landscape baseline in order to inform the LVIA assessment of impacts process. The following Key Sensitivities of this landscape character area are considered relevant to this application: ’The elevated landform typical of this landscape type means there is little inter-visibilityof adjacent landscape types, except on it’s edges (although it should be noted that tall structures could be visible over long distances). For example, the downland that forms the crest of the escarpment permits long views to and from a wider area beyond the South Downs. The Landscape is also visually sensitive to changes beyond the South Downs boundary, for example within the adjacent urban areas.’ pg 67 Impact on views and Landscape Character The views to the north from the South Downs Way and the north-west facing slopes of the downs would be affected by the proposed windfarm turbines. The existing views are extensive and are unaffected by industrial infrastructure, being a well wooded undulating pastoral and agricultural landscape. There is minimal visible movement in the landscape despite the proximity of transport routes which are not broadly visible. The proposed windfarm would introduce a large scale industrial feature into the views which due to rotational movement would be likely to attract the eye and become a point of visual focus. Variable weather conditions and sun direction would have an impact on the degree to which the proposed turbines would impose on the views. Reflected sunlight will make them more visible when viewed from a southerly direction. The views of the proposed development from the South Downs Way are possible for some distance to the east and west of Cheesefoot Head. This is a well used public car park and view point in the National Park in close proximity to Winchester and it’s population. It also provides access to the South Downs Way. Views are intermittent as tree cover and topography allows. There would a cumulative impact from this proposal on these views from the further proposed windfarm at Bullington Cross. The two proposed windfarms are only 7km apart and would be viewed mostly in succession by users of the South Downs Way in the vicinity of Cheesefoot Head. Whilst cumulative impact is identified in the applicant’s Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, it does not appear to be 36 W13/00800/FUL – Landscape addressed in sufficient detail in the study in relation to the Special Qualities of the National Park or the South Downs Integrated Landscape Character Assessment. Identification of the ‘Special Qualities of the South Downs National Park’ is a requirement of the National Park Authority which is set out in the 1949 Act and DEFRA Circular 2010 English National Parks and the Broads Government Vision and Circular. The report identifies ‘Diverse, inspirational landscapes and breathtaking views’ as the first special quality of the SDNP. It is considered that the breathtaking views from Cheesefoot Head and various points along the South Downs Way in the vicinity would be detrimentally affected by the proposed windfarm for the reasons stated above. It is accepted that the proposed wind farm would be a distant influence within wide panoramic views. Variations in weather and sun direction would alter the degree of impact and intrusion by the proposed turbines into the otherwise rural distant view. However, breathtaking views are noted as a special quality of the National Park (Ref Government Circular & Vision for the English National Parks and the Broads 2010) for which the Authority is tasked with protecting. The wide panoramic views are noted as a landscape character feature in the South Downs Integrated Landscape Character Assessment. These views are also noted as a key sensitivity to change of this landscape character area which at a national level includes the proposed site and the noted viewpoints within the National park as noted above. Veronica Craddock Landscape Officer South Downs National Park Authority Rosemary's Parlour, North Street, Midhurst West Sussex, GU29 9SB Tel 01730 811759 x 271 email: [email protected] 37 .