Wheelabrator Harewood Waste-to- Energy Facility Chapter 14 – Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Prepared for: WTI/EfW Holdings Ltd. AECOM Wheelabrator Harewood Waste-to- Energy Facility Table of Contents 14. Landscape and Visual ........................................................................ 14-3 Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 14-3 Legislation and planning policy context ......................................................................................... 14-3 Assessment Methodology ............................................................................................................. 14-6 Baseline Conditions ..................................................................................................................... 14-11 Design Measures and Impact Avoidance .................................................................................... 14-38 Assessment of Likely Impacts and Effects................................................................................... 14-39 Mitigation and Monitoring ............................................................................................................ 14-70 Residual effects .......................................................................................................................... 14-70 Cumulative Effects ...................................................................................................................... 14-78 Conclusion ................................................................................................................................. 14-79 References ................................................................................................................................. 14-81 Figures Figure 14-1: Zone of Theoretical Visibility – Bare Earth Figure 14-2: Topography and Watercourses Figure 14-3: Landscape Designations Figure 14-4: The Site Figure 14-5: Site Context Figure 14-6: Site Context: Topography and Hydrology Figure 14-7: Site Context: Landscape Context Figure 14-8: National Character Areas Figure 14-9: County Level Landscape Character Types Figure 14-10: County Level Landscape Character Areas Figure 14-11: District Level Landscape Character Areas Figure 14-12: Designated Landscapes Landscape Character Assessment Figure 14-13: Character of the Night Sky Figure 14-14: Zone of Theoretical Visibility – with Woodland Screening Figure 14-15: Representative Viewpoints Figure 14-16: Representative Viewpoints Inset Plan Figure 14-17: Representative Viewpoint 1 Figure 14-18: Representative Viewpoint 2 Figure 14-19: Representative Viewpoint 3 Figure 14-20: Representative Viewpoint 4 Figure 14-21: Representative Viewpoint 5 Figure 14-22: Representative Viewpoint 6 Figure 14-23: Representative Viewpoint 7 Figure 14-24: Representative Viewpoint 8 Figure 14-25: Representative Viewpoint 9 Figure 14-26: Representative Viewpoint 10 Figure 14-27: Representative Viewpoint 11 Figure 14-28: Representative Viewpoint 12 Figure 14-29: Representative Viewpoint 13 Figure 14-30: Representative Viewpoint 14 Figure 14-31: Representative Viewpoint 15 Figure 14-32: Representative Viewpoint 16 Figure 14-33: Representative Viewpoint 17 Figure 14-34: Representative Viewpoint 18 Figure 14-35: Representative Viewpoint 19 Figure 14-36: Representative Viewpoint 20 Prepared for: WTI/EfW Holdings Ltd. AECOM 14-1 Wheelabrator Harewood Waste-to- Energy Facility Figure 14-37: Representative Viewpoint 21 Figure 14-38: Representative Viewpoint 22 Figure 14-39: Representative Viewpoint 23 Figure 14-40: Representative Viewpoint 24 Figure 14-41: Representative Viewpoint 25 Figure 14-42: Representative Viewpoint 26 Figure 14-43: Representative Viewpoint 27 Figure 14-44: Representative Viewpoint 28 Figure 14-45: Representative Viewpoint 29 Figure 14-46: Representative Viewpoint 30 Figure 14-47: Representative Viewpoint 31 Figure 14-48: Representative Viewpoint 32 Figure 14-49: Representative Viewpoint 33 Figure 14-50: Representative Viewpoint 34 Figure 14-51: Representative Viewpoint 35 Figure 14-52: Representative Viewpoint 36 Figure 14-53: Representative Viewpoint 37 Figure 14-54: Representative Viewpoint 38 Figure 14-55: Representative Viewpoint 39 Figure 14-56: Representative Viewpoint 40 Figure 14-57: Representative Viewpoint 41 Figure 14-58: Representative Viewpoint 42 Figure 14-59: Representative Viewpoint 43 Figure 14-60: Representative Viewpoint 44 Figure 14-61: Representative Viewpoint 45 Figure 14-62: Representative Viewpoint 46 Figure 14-63: Representative Viewpoint 47 Figure 14-64: Representative Viewpoint 48 Figure 14-65: Representative Viewpoint 49 Figure 14-66: Representative Viewpoint 50 Figure 14-67: Representative Viewpoint 51 Figure 14-68: Representative Viewpoint 52 Figure 14-69: Representative Viewpoint 53 Figure 14-70: Representative Viewpoint 54 Figure 14-71: Representative Viewpoint 55 Figure 14-72: Representative Viewpoint 56 Figure 14-73: Representative Viewpoint 57 Tables Table 14-1 Classification Guide for the Significance of Landscape and Visual Effects .................... 14-7 Prepared for: WTI/EfW Holdings Ltd. AECOM 14-2 Wheelabrator Harewood Waste-to- Energy Facility 14.Landscape and Visual Introduction This chapter of the Preliminary Environmental Information Report (PEIR) reports the findings of an assessment of the likely significant effects on landscape and visual receptors as a result of the proposed ‘Wheelabrator Harewood Waste-to-Energy Facility’ (hereafter referred to as the ‘Proposed Development’). For more details about the Proposed Development, refer to Chapter 4: The Proposed Development of this PEIR. Landscape effects relate to the potential changes to the features or character of the landscape as a resource in its own right, including aesthetic and perceptual qualities. Visual effects relate to the potential changes to people’s views (‘visual receptors’), e.g. residents, motorists or public rights of way users from the loss or introduction of features within the view. The relevant background information for this landscape and visual impact assessment (LVIA) is set out in the following baseline sections and includes policy, published landscape character assessments, field work and a qualitative night time lighting assessment. Combined cumulative landscape and visual effects (Type 2 effects) of the Proposed Development with other development schemes are discussed at the end of this chapter. Type 1 Effects will be presented in the final ES. This PEIR chapter is supported by the following appendices which should be read in combination with this chapter: · PEIR Volume II: Appendix 14-1: Legislative and Planning Context; · PEIR Volume II: Appendix 14-2: LVIA Methodology; · PEIR Volume II: Appendix 14-3: Details of LVIA Consultation · PEIR Volume II: Appendix 14-4: Published Landscape Character Assessments; · PEIR Volume II: Appendix 14-5: Sensitivity of Landscape Receptors; · PEIR Volume II: Appendix 14-6: Sensitivity of Visual Receptors; · PEIR Volume II: Appendix 14-7: Assessment of Landscape Effects; and · PEIR Volume II: Appendix 14-8: Assessment of Visual Effects. This PEIR chapter and supporting appendices have been produced by a Chartered Landscape Architect at AECOM with experience of assessing energy from waste schemes, large scale buildings, renewable energy schemes, and other power generating facilities. Legislation and planning policy context The LVIA has been undertaken considering relevant legislation and guidance set out in national, county and local planning policy in respect of the relevant landscape and visual matters. The legislation and policy requirements have informed the preparation of this PEIR chapter and are summarised below and set out more fully in PEIR Volume II: Appendix 14-1. National legislation National Policy Statements National Policy Statement (NPS) EN-1 (2011) (Ref 14-1) sets national policy for the delivery of major energy infrastructure and applies to the Proposed Development as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP). Prepared for: WTI/EfW Holdings Ltd. AECOM 14-3 Wheelabrator Harewood Waste-to- Energy Facility NPS EN-1 emphasises that “…the principal area in which consenting new energy infrastructure in accordance with the energy NPSs is likely to lead to adverse effects which cannot always be satisfactorily mitigated is in respect of landscape and visual effects.” NPS EN-1 emphasises the requirement for good design, Paragraph 4.5.1 states that “…applying ‘good design’ to energy projects should produce sustainable infrastructure sensitive to place, efficient in the use of natural resources and energy used in their construction and operation, matched by an appearance that demonstrates good aesthetic as far as possible. It is acknowledged, however that the nature of much energy infrastructure development will often limit the extent to which it can contribute to the enhancement of the quality of the area.” Section 5.9 of NPS EN-1 provides guidance on the assessment of landscape and visual effects of NSIPs, and guidance on the decision-making process. Paragraph 5.9.5 states that a LVIA should be carried out and reported in the ES, and references in Footnote 125 the ‘Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment 2nd Edition’ (GLVIA2) which was published in 2002. Since the publication of NPS EN-1 in 2011, the ‘Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment 3rd Edition’ (GLVIA3) was published in 2013. GLVIA3