Freasdail Wind Farm RES 6.2 ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY AND SIGNIFICANCE CRITERIA 6 LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL 6.2.1 Methodology 6.1 INTRODUCTION 6. The LVIA has been based on guidelines provided in: 1. This chapter of the Environmental Statement (ES) evaluates the effects of the proposed Freasdail Wind Farm (hereafter referred to as "the Development") on the landscape and visual amenity of the Site (as A guide to the assessment of cumulative effect of wind farm developments (ETSU/DTI, 2000)1; shown in Figure 4.1 of this ES and hereafter referred to as ‘the Site’) and surrounding area. This Guidelines on the Environmental Effect of Wind Farms and Small Hydroelectric schemes (Scottish chapter has been prepared by SLR Consulting Ltd. Natural Heritage 2001)- (GLVIA)2; 3 2. The Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) takes account of the effect of the Development on Landscape Character Assessment (The Countryside Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage 2002) ; the landscape both within and beyond the Site since the landscape character and visual amenity Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Effect Assessment (Landscape Institute and Institute of effects are likely to occur at locations at a considerable distance beyond the Site boundary. In Environmental Management and Assessment, Second Edition, 2002)4; and consultation with Argyll & Bute Council (ABC) a Study Area of 35km radius from the outer turbines of Assessing the Cumulative Impact of Onshore Wind Energy Developments, (Scottish Natural Heritage, the Development was selected. This was agreed in consultation with statutory and non-statutory March, 2012)5. agencies during an initial Scoping exercise held in November 2011. 7. The landscape and visual assessment has involved a desk study, field work, data processing and 3. The assessment considers the entire period of the Development, including construction, operation and analysis, as well as interpretation using professional judgement. decommissioning of the Development. 6.2.2 Consultation 4. The assessment is described in the following sections: 8. An initial Scoping request was submitted to ABC in November 2011. Responses relevant to the LVIA are Assessment Methodology and Significance Criteria - A brief explanation of the assessment criteria listed below in Table 6.1 along with details of how these have been addressed. is provided together with the means by which the assessment has been carried out with reference Table 6.1: Consultation Responses to consultations undertaken and standard methodologies and guidelines. Baseline Conditions - This section comprises a description, classification and evaluation of the existing landscape and visual characteristics of the Study Area and establishes the baseline against Consultee Comment LVIA Response which the effects of the Development are assessed. Argyll and Bute Cumulative impact: Council (ABC) Project Description and Development Design Mitigation - This section comprises a description of ABC requested that the cumulative Initially, wind farms at distances of up Scoping response impact assessment consider not only to 60 km were considered. However, the key aspects of the Development which have potential to cause landscape and/or visual effect, th as well as measures that have been incorporated into the project design to mitigate these effects. dated the 5 the intervisibility and visibility of the those with potential to contribute to December 2011 multiple wind farms, but also the significant cumulative effects were Assessment of Landscape and Visual Effects - This section comprises a description of the consequences of travelling through the judged to be located within 35 km of predicted visibility of the Development from key receptor locations, the effects of the Development landscape and sequential views. the Development. These schemes taking into account embedded mitigation measures, and an assessment of the magnitude of change were included in the detailed LVIA. arising from the Development and the significance of effects. The assessment is accompanied by a ABC asked for detailed consideration of Effects on receptors travelling series of illustrative figures comprising plans, wirelines and photomontages, contained in Volume II cumulative developments up to 30km. through the landscape have been of this ES. This section also presents an assessment of cumulative effects. assessed in terms of effects at representative viewpoints, but also Summary of Landscape and Visual Effects and Their Significance - The final sections comprises a through sequential analysis. summary of the assessment results and their significance and is accompanied by conclusions on the effect of the Development in landscape and visual terms. ABC also requested ZTVs for the The LVIA is accompanied by a blade Development and also for cumulative tip ZTV and blade tip/hub height 5. This Chapter is supported by the following Technical Appendices: sites based on a 30 km radius. comparison drawing and cumulative ZTVs for all of the existing, consented A6.1 - A Glossary; and proposed wind farms within 35km of the Development. A6.2 – Viewpoint selection and alteration; A6.3 – Methodology for visualisations and zone of theoretical visibility (ZTV) drawings; 1 ETSU/DTI 2000. A guide to assessing the cumulative effects of wind energy development, W/14/000538/REP, ETSU 2000. A6.4 - Route Analysis Tables; and 2 SNH 2001. Guidelines on the Environmental Effect of Wind Farms and Small Hydroelectric schemes . Available online at: http://www.snh.org.uk/pdfs/publications/heritagemanagement/Guidelines%20Windfarms%20Hydroelectric%20Schemes.pdf A6.5 – Effects on landscape character types. 3 Countryside Agency and SNH 2002. Landscape Character Assessment. Guidance for England and Scotland. Available online at: http://www.snh.org.uk/wwo/sharinggoodpractice/CCI/cci/guidance/Downloads/LCAfull.pdf 4 LI/IEMA 2002. Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Effect Assessment. Second Edition. Taylor and Francis Group. 5 SNH 2012. Assessing the Cumulative Impact of Onshore Wind Energy Developments. Available online at: http://www.snh.gov.uk/docs/A675503.pdf Volume I: Main Report 6-1 Chapter 6: Landscape and Visual Freasdail Wind Farm RES 13. The findings of the assessment at each of these receptor locations was verified and extrapolated from Consultee Comment LVIA Response a viewpoint analysis undertaken in respect of a series of representative viewpoints. The viewpoints ABC set out their required standards in The LVIA is consistent with these were chosen in consultation with SNH and ABC and were selected to indicate the effect of the respect of the assessment of impacts standards. Development upon receptors at different distances and directions from the Site and also different on landscape character. Subsequent to the initial scoping elevations. report submitted by the applicant a description of the detailed 14. This analysis has involved the production of computer generated wireframes and photomontages to methodology was circulated to A&B assist in the prediction of views of the proposed turbines from each of the agreed viewpoints. The and SNH by SLR Consulting Ltd (who produced the LVIA) in April 2011 – no existing and predicted views from each of these viewpoints have been analysed to identify the comment or revisions to the stated magnitude of the effect on the landscape and visual amenity at each viewpoint location. It should be methodology were requested. noted that although the viewpoint assessment includes an assessment of predicted effect on landscape In their scoping response ABC also The viewpoints in the LVIA were character, this relates to the effect predicted at the viewpoint itself and does not necessarily relate required that a series of representative selected in consultation with ABC and to the whole of the landscape character type in which the viewpoint is located. viewpoints would be selected in SNH. However, during the design consultation with ABC and SNH. optimisation process some reduction 6.2.5 Cumulative Assessment in visibility of the Development occurred and so a number of 15. An assessment of the potential cumulative landscape and visual effect of the Development in viewpoints needed to be relocated conjunction with the other operational, consented and/or in planning (with the exception of Blary Hill, and some omitted. Details of these which is in scoping) wind farms within 35 km has also been undertaken. Data in respect of the other changes are given in Appendix A6.2. wind farms are based on available information which is listed in Table 6.2, below. It is considered ABC also requested that potential There is no intention to win aggregate important to distinguish the status of the different wind farm projects included in the cumulative visual and landscape impacts arising at the Site, and so there is no assessment in relation to the degree of certainty about their contribution to any cumulative scenario. from any borrow pits at the site be assessment of borrow pits in the LVIA. addressed in the LVIA. 16. The location of each of the cumulative developments is shown in Figure 6.6. It is apparent from this image that there is a concentration of existing and consented wind farms in the central region of the 9. Subsequent consultations were made with SNH and ABC concerning the viewpoints to be utilised in the Kintyre peninsula, between Campbeltown and Deucheran Hill. Whilst Beinn an Tuirc and Deucheran assessment and the outcomes incorporated into the LVIA. It should be noted that a small number of turbines are positioned towards the central ‘spine’ of the peninsula, Tangy is located close to the viewpoints were altered in response to actual visibility on the ground and in the case of the Port Ellen western edge of the peninsula. Outwith the peninsula there are a small number of wind farm to Kennacraig Ferry route, omitted altogether as the ferry route and port were not operational at time developments present, one of the most conspicuous of which is the Isle of Gigha development which of the assessment. contrasts with the peninsula developments in scale and its low lying position. Current proposals for 6.2.3 Assessment Process: Landscape and Visual Baseline wind farms (e.g.