Midlothian Landscape Wind Energy Capacity Study September 2014 Carol Anderson Landscape Associates CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................... 2 1.1 POLICY CONTEXT ......................................................................................................................................... 2 1.2 LANDSCAPE CAPACITY STUDY FOR WIND TURBINE DEVELOPMENT IN MIDLOTHIAN (2007) ...................................... 2 1.3 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY ......................................................................................................................... 2 1.4 STUDY OBJECTIVES ...................................................................................................................................... 3 1.5 STRUCTURE OF THE REPORT........................................................................................................................... 3 1.6 HOW TO USE THE STUDY ............................................................................................................................... 3 2 STUDY METHODOLOGY ........................................................................................................................... 5 2.1 BACKGROUND TO LANDSCAPE CAPACITY .......................................................................................................... 5 2.2 DEFINITION OF TERMS .................................................................................................................................. 5 2.3 GENERAL APPROACH TO THE STUDY ................................................................................................................ 6 2.4 OPERATIONAL AND CONSENTED WIND FARMS AND TURBINES ............................................................................... 6 2.5 BASELINE LANDSCAPE CHARACTER .................................................................................................................. 7 2.6 DEVELOPMENT TYPOLOGIES .......................................................................................................................... 7 2.7 THE SENSITIVITY ASSESSMENT ........................................................................................................................ 8 2.8 SENSITIVITY LEVELS .................................................................................................................................... 11 2.9 CUMULATIVE ISSUES AND OVERALL CAPACITY ASSESSMENT ................................................................................ 12 2.10 OVERALL SENSITIVITY RATINGS AND POTENTIAL AREAS FOR DEVELOPMENT ............................................................ 13 3 INTRODUCTION TO THE SENSITIVITY ASSESSMENT ................................................................................ 14 4 NORTH ESK AND LOWER SOUTH ESK VALLEYS ....................................................................................... 15 4.1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 15 4.2 SUMMARY OF SENSITIVITY........................................................................................................................... 15 4.3 GUIDANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................................................... 16 5 UPPER SOUTH ESK AND TYNE VALLEYS .................................................................................................. 17 5.1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 17 5.2 SUMMARY OF SENSITIVITY........................................................................................................................... 17 5.3 GUIDANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................................................... 18 6 MAYFIELD/TRANENT RIDGE ................................................................................................................... 19 6.1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 19 6.2 SUMMARY OF SENSITIVITY........................................................................................................................... 19 6.3 GUIDANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................................................... 20 7 MUSSELBURGH/PRESTONPANS FRINGE................................................................................................. 21 7.1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 21 7.2 SUMMARY OF SENSITIVITY........................................................................................................................... 21 7.3 GUIDANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................................................... 21 8 AGRICULTURAL PLAIN ............................................................................................................................ 23 8.1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 23 8.2 SUMMARY OF SENSITIVITY........................................................................................................................... 23 8.3 GUIDANCE ............................................................................................................................................... 24 9 ROSEWELL/CARRINGTON SPUR ............................................................................................................. 25 9.1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 25 9.2 SUMMARY OF SENSITIVITY........................................................................................................................... 25 9.3 GUIDANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................................................... 26 10 NORTH LAMMERMUIR PLATFORM .................................................................................................... 27 10.1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 27 10.2 SUMMARY OF SENSITIVITY........................................................................................................................... 27 10.3 GUIDANCE ON DEVELOPMENT ..................................................................................................................... 28 11 MOORLAND FRINGES ......................................................................................................................... 30 11.1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 30 11.2 SUMMARY OF SENSITIVITY........................................................................................................................... 30 11.3 GUIDANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................................................... 31 12 LOWLAND MOORLAND ...................................................................................................................... 33 12.1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 33 12.2 SUMMARY OF SENSITIVITY........................................................................................................................... 33 12.3 GUIDANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................................................... 34 13 PLATEAU GRASSLAND ........................................................................................................................ 35 13.1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 35 13.2 SUMMARY OF SENSITIVITY........................................................................................................................... 35 13.3 GUIDANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................................................... 37 14 MOORFOOT HILLS .............................................................................................................................. 38 14.1 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 38 14.2 SUMMARY OF SENSITIVITY........................................................................................................................... 38 14.3 GUIDANCE FOR DEVELOPMENT .................................................................................................................... 39 15 THE PENTLAND HILLS ........................................................................................................................