Hornsea Project Three Offshore Wind Farm Hornsea Project Three Offshore Wind Farm Preliminary Environmental Information Report: Chapter 10 – Seascape and Visual Resources Date: July 2017 Chapter 10 - Seascape and Visual Resources Preliminary Environmental Information Report July 2017 Environmental Impact Assessment Preliminary Environmental Information Report Liability Volume 2 Chapter 10 – Seascape and Visual Resources This report has been prepared by RPS, with all reasonable skill, care and diligence within the terms of their contracts with DONG Energy Power (UK) Ltd. Report Number: P6.2.10 Version: Final Date: July 2017 This report is also downloadable from the Hornsea Project Three offshore wind farm website at: www.dongenergy.co.uk/hornseaproject3 DONG Energy Power (UK) Ltd. 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG Prepared by: RPS © DONG Energy Power (UK) Ltd, 2017. All rights reserved Checked by: Julian Carolan, Sergio Zappulo and Kieran Bell. Front cover picture: Kite surfer near one of DONG Energy's UK offshore wind farms © DONG Energy Hornsea Accepted by: Sophie Banham Project Three (UK) Ltd., 2016. Approved by: Stuart Livesey i Chapter 10 - Seascape and Visual Resources Preliminary Environmental Information Report July 2017 Table of Contents List of Tables 10. Seascape and Visual Resources ..................................................................................................................... 1 Table 10.1: Summary of NPS EN-1 policy relevant to seascape and visual resources and consideration of the 10.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 1 Hornsea Three assessment. ................................................................................................................ 4 10.2 Purpose of this chapter ................................................................................................................................ 1 Table 10.2: Summary of NPS EN-1 on decision making with regard to seascape and visual resources and 10.3 Study area ................................................................................................................................................... 1 consideration in the Hornsea Three assessment. ................................................................................. 4 10.4 Planning policy context ................................................................................................................................ 4 Table 10.3: Summary of NPS EN-3 policy relevant to seascape and visual resources and consideration of the 10.5 Consultation ................................................................................................................................................. 6 Hornsea Three assessment. ................................................................................................................ 5 Table 10.4: Summary of NPS EN-3 policy on decision making with regard to seascape and visual resources and 10.6 Methodology to inform baseline ................................................................................................................... 8 consideration in the Hornsea Three assessment. ................................................................................. 6 10.7 Baseline environment .................................................................................................................................. 9 Table 10.5: Summary of key consultation issues raised during consultation activities undertaken for Hornsea 10.8 Key parameters for assessment ................................................................................................................ 17 Three relevant to seascape and visual resources. ............................................................................... 7 10.9 Impact assessment criteria ........................................................................................................................ 23 Table 10.6: Summary of key desktop reports. ......................................................................................................... 8 a 10.10 Measures adopted as part of Hornsea Three ............................................................................................ 30 Table 10.7: Details of the ferry crossings within the array SVIA study area . ....................................................... 17 Table 10.8: Maximum design scenario considered for the assessment of potential impacts on seascape and 10.11 Assessment of significance ....................................................................................................................... 30 visual resources.................................................................................................................................. 18 10.12 Cumulative Effect Assessment methodology ............................................................................................. 55 Table 10.9: Impacts scoped out of the assessment for seascape and visual resources a. .................................... 23 10.13 Cumulative effect assessment ................................................................................................................... 64 Table 10.10: Definition of terms relating to resource value (as expressed through designation). ............................ 26 10.14 Transboundary Effects ............................................................................................................................... 73 Table 10.11: Definition of terms relating to the sensitivity of present day seascape resource. ................................ 26 10.15 Inter-related Impacts .................................................................................................................................. 73 Table 10.12: Sensitivity of visual resource receptors. ............................................................................................. 26 Table 10.13: Definition of terms relating to the magnitude of impact – present day seascape resource. ................ 27 10.16 Conclusion and summary .......................................................................................................................... 73 Table 10.14: Definition of terms relating to the magnitude of impact - visual resources. ......................................... 27 10.17 Next Steps ................................................................................................................................................. 73 Table 10.15: Matrix used for assessment of significance of effects showing the combinations of receptor/resource 10.18 References ................................................................................................................................................ 75 sensitivity and the magnitude of impact for present day seascape assessment. ................................ 28 Table 10.16: Definition of terms relating to the significance criteria for seascape, historic seascape and visual effects. ................................................................................................................................................ 28 Table 10.17: Definition of terms to the HSC sensitivity. ........................................................................................... 29 Table 10.18: Definition of terms relating to the magnitude of impact on HSC type. ................................................. 29 Table 10.19: Matrix used for assessment of significance showing the combinations of receptor sensitivity and the magnitude of impact for historic seascape assessment. .................................................................... 29 Table 10.20: Summary of construction effects on present day seascape character areas as a result of Hornsea Three associated offshore infrastructure including Hornsea Three offshore cable corridor and offshore HVAC booster stations. ........................................................................................................ 30 Table 10.21: Summary of temporary construction effects on the visual resources as a result of Hornsea Three, offshore cable corridor and offshore HVAC booster stations. ............................................................. 34 Table 10.22: Summary of operation and maintenance effects on present day seascape character areas a result of Hornsea Three array area, offshore cable corridor and offshore HVAC booster stations. .................. 41 Table 10.23: Summary of maximum design scenario for operation and maintenance effects on visual resources as a result of Hornsea Three, offshore cable corridor and offshore HVAC booster stations.................... 48 Table 10.24: List of other projects and plans considered within the CEA. ............................................................... 58 Table 10.25: Maximum design scenario considered for the assessment of potential cumulative impacts on SVIA. 60 Table 10.26: Cumulative effects upon present day national seascape character areas. ......................................... 68 Table 10.27: Simultaneous and successive cumulative effects from permanent surface structures on receptors on ferries at sample viewpoints. .............................................................................................................. 71 ii Chapter 10 - Seascape and Visual Resources Preliminary Environmental Information Report July 2017 Table 10.28: Summary