Gwelfor Castlemorris Pembrokeshire, Wales SA62 5XA Telephone: 07942 896755 email: [email protected] Appendix 6 Planning Application Supplementary Report Seascape Assessment Site Location Castle Cenlas, Mathry Pembrokeshire SA62 5JD Easting: 186686 Northing: 229906 Endurance 50 kw Wind Turbine This report has been prepared by WinDS Limited in support of the submitted Design and Access Statement. WinDS cannot accept any responsibility for any use of or dependence on the information within this report by any third party. All reasonable efforts have been made to verify the accuracy of the contents of the report. Results produced within this report were derived using Windfarmer 5.1. Windfarmer 5.1 is an industry standard modular software suite used for the design and planning of both single wind turbine sites and wind farms. Welsh seascapes and their sensitivity to offshore developments No: 33 Regional Seascape Unit Strumble Head to St David’s Head Name: Aber Mawr (bay) near Granston Treopert (All Photos on this page © Dave Maclachlan, PCNPA) Carn Penberry from the east Cliffs and stacks near Abercastle (Ynys Deullyn) 1 Welsh seascapes and their sensitivity to offshore developments No: 33 Regional Seascape Unit Strumble Head to St David’s Head Name: Seascape Types: THMR Key Characteristics Highly indented rugged coast of sheer cliffs of Silurian or Ordivician rocks, some very high, with numerous small headlands and a few sandy coves. Rolling rural pastoral coastal plateau with valleys, some noticeable hills such as Garn Fawr and Carn Lidi with semi-natural vegetation. The coast suffers little light pollution. Sea is tidal and exposed. Long views along the coast with headlands as main foci. Key cultural associations: Sparse settlement with a few small coastal settlements in valleys. Principal cultural association is with tourism, with the small coastal villages (owing their existence largely to 19th century slate quarrying) now catering for holidaymakers. A varied geology of Silurian or Ordivician rocks in a series of east-west bands including the Physical Geology extrusive igneous [volcanic] rock of Strumble Head. Cambrian rocks also meet the coast. Characteristics Sandstone lithology lies in part to the north as does an isolated patch of boulder clay. Coastal landform A highly indented rugged eroding coast of sheer cliffs with numerous small headlands and a few sandy coves generally facing north west and west. The cliffs display various rock types reaching up to 50m AOD generally and up to 75m AOD at St Davids Head with coastal rocks with varied and interesting form. Small steep sided valleys run to the coast with small streams. Coastal quarrying has created further indentations and rock cut lagoons. Coastal landcover The coast is rural dominated by pasture and rough grazing although arable has come in recently. A swathe of wildland forms a coastal strip varying in width and greatest in extent around St Davids Head/Carn Lidi and Strumble Head. Scattered settlement lies on the coast with a few small villages either in valley bottoms/coves such as Abercastle or on hillsides back from the coast such as Trefin. There is evidence of mining and quarrying on the coast, now disused eg Abereiddy and Porthgain. There is very limited access to the coast by car. Intertidal area The intertidal area is dominated by rocks displaying a range of types and bedding angle at the foot of cliffs. There are a few small coves with sand. Characteristics of sea The sea has normal tidal characteristics with apparent good water quality. There are a few large rocks just off the coast and Bais Bank is noticeable at low tide. Hinterland landform Gently undulating plateau around 50m AOD with highpoints often on the coast, e.g. Carn Llidi 181m AOD /Carn Ffraid, Strumble Head and Garn Fawr which act as sentinels along the coast. The plateau is incised with small valleys. Hinterland landcover The coast is rural dominated by pasture and rough grazing in parts although arable has come in recently. St Davids lies inland hidden from the sea, but the area is dominated by scattered, not clustered settlement. St Davids airfield lies inland but aircraft noise is very infrequent. Lighting Lighting is limited to St Davids and Fishguard (neither visible from the sea in this unit) and surrounds , it is limited elsewhere. A lighthouse is located at Strumble Head. The coast is used for agriculture, limited scattered residential with some holiday lets, some Use Land/coast uses limited caravan and camping sites, informal recreation- the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. Very limited surfing and some swimming. Sea uses Some sailing/fishing, ferry from Fishguard to Rosslare. Pembrokeshire Coast Path; small coves; scattered settlement such as at Trefin. Visual and How the seascape unit sensory qualities is experienced Degree of intervisibility There is limited visibility from the land because of its plateau character and the fact that of land and sea higher ground tends to be on the coast, shielding large areas to the south. Most visibility is from this higher land form such as Carn Llidi. Key views to sea and Key views are from the Pembrokeshire Coast Path especially around Carn Llidi, St David’s along the coast Head and Strumble Head; from settlements where there is access to/near the coast such as Trefin, or Porthgain and Abercastle- on the adjacent cliffs. Key views to land Views from the ferry and occasional yachts. 2 Welsh seascapes and their sensitivity to offshore developments Tranquillity/rem- Tranquil/remote/wild oteness/wildness Sense of scale Medium- the coast is of medium scale due to the intricate nature of the coastline and scale of cliffs Openness/ Open enclosure Diversity Diverse - diverse elements consistently along the coast Exposure Very exposed The coastal area lying between Strumble Head and St Davids Head (see seascape units 32 Key cultural and 34) is now dominated culturally by small scale tourist-related activity, with pubs, associations restaurants, art and craft galleries at Porthgain, Trefin, Llanrian and Abercastle. There is a modest incidence of leisure sailing. Slate and stone quarrying was the principal industry in the 19th century, leading to the creation of the small harbour at the picturesque village and port of Porthgain with its massive brick-built hoppers for storing aggregates before export. Such activity ceased in the first half of the 20th century. Ramsey and St David’s Peninsula SPA; St David’s pSAC. Recreation pressure on the coastal path. Forces for change Land/coast Increasing visitor-related enterprises. Trampling of cliff top vegetation. Coastal erosion leading to cliff falls. Farming economics on agricultural land. Sea - Designations and National Park Pembrokeshire Coast sensitive features AONB - Heritage Coast - Long-distance coastal Pembrokeshire Coast Path footpath/National Trail Outstanding and special St Davids Peninsula and Ramsey Island; Pen Caer: Garn Fawr and Strumble Head historic landscapes Historic gardens and - parks Key scheduled ancient Garn Fawr Hillfort SM8938 monuments St Davids Head Promontory Fort SM 7227 Country Parks - Open access land Registered common land on St Davids Head/Carn Lidi, near Strumble Head and inland in patches mainly on hilltops. 3 Welsh seascapes and their sensitivity to offshore developments No: 33 Regional Seascape Unit Strumble Head to St David’s Head Name: Headline Sub-criteria Increases sensitivity Decreases sensitivity criteria Overall Summary of key • Highly indented rocky coast with cliffs, coves • The large scale of open sea views character factors and headlands, • The plateau character which limits and • Higher land and panoramic view points, such views from inland qualities as Carn Llidi which are natural foci in • The existing built form (lighthouse) at themselves Strumble Head. • The area’s rural, tranquil and remote qualities • Only a few small harbour related settlements such as Abercastle and Porthgain • Very limited numbers of rural dwellings on this exposed coast • Very limited movement with no major roads and no ferries • The Pembrokeshire Coast Path. Seascape sensitivity levels for different forms of offshore development Modelled scenario Generic form of Sensitivity Comments development Tall structures 13km High Tall objects would detract from the wild remote tranquil Offshore wind offshore qualities and lack of existing development. sensitivity Wave energy units Broad flat structures on Moderate - High Broad flat objects out to sea would be noticeable from the sensitivity the sea surface elevated viewpoints such as Carn Llidi. Tidal energy units Developments placed High There is potential for development to not be widely visible sensitivity only a short distance if tucked into a bay. However, any development would offshore. detract from the wild remote tranquil qualities. 4 .