Research and Development Series 10/01 Wind Energy Development in Northern Ireland's Landscapes Supplementary Planning Guidance to Accompany Planning Policy Statement 18 'Renewable Energy' August 2010 Image: Catherine Snijder _____________________________________________________________________ Wind Energy Development in Northern Ireland’s Landscapes: SPG to accompany PPS18 Research and Development Series 10/01 A report commissioned by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency WIND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT IN NORTHERN IRELAND’S LANDSCAPES: Supplementary Planning Guidance to accompany Planning Policy Statement 18 ‘Renewable Energy’ This report should be cited as follows: Northern Ireland Environment Agency (2010), Wind Energy Development in Northern Ireland’s Landscapes: Supplementary Planning Guidance to accompany Planning Policy Statement 18 ‘Renewable Energy’. NIEA Research and Development Series No 10/01, Belfast. Contractors: Julie Martin Associates in association with Alison Farmer Associates, Minogue & Associates and ERA-Maptec Ltd. Authors: Principal Author – Julie Martin with contributions by Alison Farmer and Ruth Minogue. Editors: Joyce McCormick, Mark Hammond, Susanna Allen and Stephen Hamilton. For further information on this report please contact: Joyce McCormick or Mark Hammond Address: Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Department of the Environment Northern Ireland, Klondyke Building, Cromac Avenue, Gasworks Business Park, Lower Ormeau Road, BELFAST, BT7 2JA Email: [email protected] Telephone: 00 44 (0)28 90569579 Fax: 00 44 (0)28 90569624 Textphone: 00 44 (0)28 90540642 Website address: http://www.ni-environment.gov.uk/ This document may be made available in alternative formats, please contact us to discuss your requirements. _____________________________________________________________________ 3 Wind Energy Development in Northern Ireland’s Landscapes: SPG to accompany PPS18 _____________________________________________________________________ 4 Wind Energy Development in Northern Ireland’s Landscapes: SPG to accompany PPS18 Preamble The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) is an agency of the Department of the Environment. The aim of NIEA is to protect, conserve and promote our natural environment and built heritage and to contribute to the protection and improvement of human health for the benefit of present and future generations. The Department’s responsibilities include the protection, conservation and enhancement of the landscape assets of Northern Ireland. In carrying out these responsibilities the Department designates areas of special landscape value, recognises the importance of local variations in landscape character, and advises others on matters relating to landscape conservation and enjoyment. The Department, through the planning authority, also has responsibilities to plan and manage development in ways which balance the development needs of the region with the protection of the environment. The Department’s Planning Policy Statement 18: Renewable Energy (PPS18) and the Best Practice Guidance to Planning Policy Statement 18: Renewable Energy aim to facilitate the siting of renewable energy generating facilities in appropriate locations within the built and natural environment in order to achieve Northern Ireland’s renewable energy targets and to realise the benefits of renewable energy. To complement PPS18 NIEA commissioned the independent consultancy firm Julie Martin Associates, in association with Alison Farmer Associates, Minogue & Associates and ERA-Maptec Ltd, to prepare landscape guidance for wind energy development for the whole of Northern Ireland based on landscape character variations throughout the region. Landscape Character Areas (LCAs) were previously identified and described in the Northern Ireland Landscape Character Assessment 2000. The resulting draft guidance document was published by the Department for public consultation in February 2008. Taking into account representations made during the public consultation NIEA has revised this guidance and published it to accompany PPS18 and the Best Practice Guidance. It is important to note the purpose and scope of the guidance which is set out in Section 1. It is intended to provide broad, strategic guidance in relation to the landscape and visual impacts of wind energy development. Every development proposal is unique, and there remains a need for detailed consideration of the landscape and visual impacts of individual applications on a case by case basis, as well as for consideration of other issues referred to in PPS18 and other regional policy. This guidance promotes the protection, management and planning of landscapes as advocated in the European Landscape Convention (2000) and contributes to commitments in the Northern Ireland Sustainable Development Strategy. _____________________________________________________________________ 5 Wind Energy Development in Northern Ireland’s Landscapes: SPG to accompany PPS18 Contents Preamble…………………………………………………………..................... 5 Abbreviations………………………………………………………………...… 8 1 Wind Energy Development in the Landscape……………………….. 9 1.1 Purpose and Scope of the Guidance…………………………………… 9 1.2 Wind Energy Development in Northern Ireland………………………. 11 1.3 Northern Ireland’s Landscapes………………………………………… 17 2 Approach and Methodology……………………………………………. 19 2.1 Introduction to the Approach and Methodology……………………….. 19 2.2 Key Terms and Definitions…………………………………………...….. 21 2.3 Sensitivity Assessment…………………………………………………... 21 2.4 Location, Siting, Layout and Design Considerations for each LCA…. 25 2.5 Using the Landscape Assessment Sheets…………………………….. 26 2.5.1 Key Landscape and Visual Characteristics and Values………….. 26 2.5.2 Assessment for Wind Energy Development……………………….. 27 3 Principles…………………………………………………………………... 28 3.1 Principals Affecting Wind Energy Developments in the Landscape… 28 3.2 Cumulative Wind Energy Impacts………………………………………. 38 3.3 Broad Strategic Impacts of Wind Energy Developments in Northern Ireland’s Distinctive Landscapes………………………………………... 39 3.3.1 The Antrim Plateau……………………………………………………. 39 3.3.2 The North West………………………………………….…………….. 40 3.3.3 Fermanagh…………………………………………………………….. 41 3.3.4 Down…………………………………………………………….……… 42 3.3.5 Lough Neagh Basin…………………………………………………… 43 3.3.6 The Mournes and South Armagh……………………………………. 44 4 Guidance on Preparing Wind Energy Proposals……………………. 46 4.1 Introduction……………………………………………………….……… 46 4.2 Initial Scheme Planning…………………………………………………. 46 4.3 Siting, Layout and Design………………………………………………. 47 4.4 Assessment of Landscape and Visual Impacts…………………….... 52 4.5 Checklists…………………………………………………………………. 56 Annex 1. Sources of Further Technical Advice…………...………….….. 59 Annex 2. Terms and Definitions…………………………………….………. 60 Annex 3. Landscape Assessment Sheets………………………............... 62 _____________________________________________________________________ 6 Wind Energy Development in Northern Ireland’s Landscapes: SPG to accompany PPS18 Figures Figure 1: Northern Ireland’s Landscape Character Areas…………………. 12 Figure 2: Mean Wind Speeds at 75m Above Ground Level……………..... 14 Figure 3: Existing and Proposed Wind Farms October 2007……………... 15 Figure 4: Northern Ireland’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty……….. 19 Tables Table 1: Principle Landscape, Natural and Cultural Heritage Designations and Recreational Resources Consulted……………………… 20 Table 2: Criteria for Assessing Landscape Sensitivity to Wind Energy Development…………………………………………………………………….. 22 Table 3: General Principles: Wind Energy Development and Landscape.. 28 Table 4: General Principles: Sensitivity, Opportunities and Challenges in Different Landscapes…………………………………………………………… 33 Table 5: Key Principles of Good Siting, Layout and Design……………….. 48 Table 6: Good Practice Requirements for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment …………………………………………………………………….. 52 Table 7: Checklist of Presentation Material that Should be Provided…….. 56 Table 8: Checklist of Questions………………………………………………. 58 Photographs Photo 1: Simple strong horizontal landform accommodates larger turbine groupings………………………………………………………………………………… 31 Photo 2: More complex landform could be ‘flattened’ by larger turbine groupings……………………………………………………………………………….... 31 Photo 3: Turbines seen with electricity pylons may create visual clutter………… 32 Photo 4: Relationship between turbine and farm buildings and trees reduces impact…………………………………………………………………………………….. 32 Photo 5: Prominence of turbines on scarp can be reduced by setback from edge………………………………………………………………………………………. 35 Photo 6: Proximity to scale comparators can increase apparent turbine height… 35 Photo 7: Forestry may provide temporary screening………………………………. 36 Photo 8: Turbines on drumlins should avoid tops and not exceed drumlin height……………………………………………………………………………………... 36 Photo 9: Valleys between upland wind farms are best kept free of commercial turbines…………………………………………………………………………………… 37 Photo 10: Landmark coastal features and their settings are very sensitive to turbines…………………………………………………………………………………... 37 Photo 11: Respect settings of areas designated for their scenic quality…………. 50 Photo 12: Ensure that turbines read as a coherent group – this group is too disparate…………………………………………………………………………………. 50 Photo 13: Try to avoid creating views of blades that can be distracting…………. 51 Photo 14: Steep, highly engineered access tracks should be avoided where possible…………………………………………………………………………………... 51 _____________________________________________________________________ 7 Wind Energy