Smith Hall Farm Solar Farm, Hulland Ward Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment 2B Landscape Consultancy Ltd T 01430 423204 CLIENT: REFERENCE: 12 Everthorpe Lane E [email protected] Sun and Soil Ltd 2014-263 North Cave W www.2bconsultancy.co.uk East Yorkshire DATE: HU15 2LF May 2014 Smith Hall Farm Solar CONTENTS Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment REPORT Pages KEY FINDINGS 1 1 INTRODUCTION 4 2 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSAL 10 3 LANDSCAPE EFFECTS 14 Table LV1 - Landscape Effects Summary of Effects on Landscape 22 4 VISUAL EFFECTS 24 Table LV2 - Visual Effects Summary of Visual Effects 27 5 ASH DIEBACK 31 6 CUMULATIVE EFFECTS 32 APPENDICES Appendix METHODOLOGY 1 GLOSSARY 2 ZTV METHODOLOGY 3 2014-263-SmithHallFarmSolar-Contents.wpd May 2014 Contents: Page 1 of 3 Smith Hall Farm Solar CONTENTS Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment FIGURES Figure Zone of Theoretical Visibility - ‘Bare Earth’ - 1:100,000 01 Zone of Theoretical Visibility - ‘with obstructions’ - 1:100,000 02 Zone of Theoretical Visibility - ‘Bare Earth’ - 1:50,000 03 Zone of Theoretical Visibility - ‘with obstructions’ - 1:50,000 04 Topography 05 Context 06 Landscape Character / Cumulative 07 Landscape Designations 08 Heritage Designations 09 Viewpoint Locations 10 Viewpoints assessed with Photomontage Viewpoint 01 - Existing 11.1 Viewpoint 01 - Wireframe 11.2 Viewpoint 01 - Photomontage at 0 years 11.3 Viewpoint 01 - Photomontage at 10 years 11.4 Viewpoint 02 - Existing 12.1 Viewpoint 02 - Wireframe 12.2 2014-263-SmithHallFarmSolar-Contents.wpd May 2014 Contents: Page 2 of 3 Smith Hall Farm Solar CONTENTS Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment FIGURES (continued) Figure Viewpoint 02 - Photomontage at 0 years 12.3 Viewpoint 02 - Photomontage at 10 years 12.4 Viewpoints assessed with Outlines Viewpoint 03 - Existing 13.1 Viewpoint 03 - Outline 13.2 Viewpoint 04 - Existing 14.1 Viewpoint 04 - Outline 14.2 Viewpoint 05 - Existing 15.1 Viewpoint 05 - Outline 15.2 Viewpoint 06 - Existing 16.1 Viewpoint 06 - Outline 16.2 Viewpoint 07 - Existing 17.1 Viewpoint 07 - Outline 17.2 Viewpoints Assessed without graphical representation Viewpoint 08 - Existing 18 Viewpoint 09 - Existing 19 2014-263-SmithHallFarmSolar-Contents.wpd May 2014 Contents: Page 3 of 3 Smith Hall Farm Solar Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment KEY FINDINGS Landscape Effects (See Table LV1 and Section 3) The proposed solar farm is considered to have Low magnitude effects Introduction on landscape character, due to its minor scale within its landscape context. The landscape character, as described by published 2B Landscape Consultancy Ltd (2B) is a Registered Practice of the documents and observed on site, is assessed as having a Medium Landscape Institute. 2B was appointed by OST Energy Ltd, on behalf sensitivity to this form of development, which results in an overall of Sun and Soil Ltd, to carry out a Landscape and Visual Impact Moderate to Slight adverse degree of effect on Landscape Character. Assessment (LVIA) of the proposed Photovoltaic (PV) solar farm at Smith Hall Farm on the outskirts of Hulland Ward in Derbyshire. The Slight to Minimal adverse effects are anticipated upon landscape site is around 17 hectares and the PV arrays will not exceed 2.0m features such as land use, built forms, landscape pattern, land form, above ground level. tree cover and field boundaries. The potential to maintain the field as pasture and convert to sheep grazing, and improve the hedgerow and This LVIA should be read in conjunction with the Planning Statement tree cover on boundaries, could be viewed as having a Slight which provides information on the range of Environmental and Planning beneficial effect on these landscape features. issues associated with the proposal. The degree of effect on the cultural and social landscape is considered to be Slight to Minimal adverse. The LVIA These, generally, Moderate-Slight through to Slight-Minimal effects The Assessment methodology follows the Guidelines for Landscape indicate a proposal which affects an area of recognised landscape and Visual Impact Assessment 3rd Edition (2013), produced by the character, but results in little or no change to that character through the Landscape Institute and the Institute of Environmental Management & scale, landform and pattern of the landscape; or its cultural and social Assessment. features, therefore having minimal effect on the landscape as a whole. The LVIA process involved desktop assessment and field work, including recording and assessment of nine viewpoints. Effects on both the Landscape resource and upon Visual amenity were considered, together with potential Cumulative effects arising from the interaction of the proposed solar farm and other solar farms proposed within the planning system. 2014-263-SmithHallFarmSolar-Landscape_Visual_Assessment.wpd May 2014 LVIA: Page 1 of 35 Smith Hall Farm Solar Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Visual Effects (See Table LV2 and Section 4) have lower sensitivity to the development, and so experience a lesser degree of effect. The ZTV Figures 01-04 show that there is limited visibility of the site generally due to the screening effect of local topography, vegetation Recreational visitors may also be visiting specific nearby cultural and and built form. recreational destinations, including Carsington Water, Brailsford Activity Centre, Ecclesbourne Valley Railway, and the Peak District / Derwent Due to topography and visual obstructions, there is little or no visibility Valley Mills. There are either no views from these locations, or there has from locations west of the site, and the development’s effect on views been found to be a Slight-Minimal effect due to their distance from the from the north is less than its effect on views from the south, due to the development. orientation of the site, and the orientation of the panels themselves. The views from public highways are, in general, screened by topography Residential receptors are amongst those most susceptible to change, and their associated hedgerow boundaries. Effects will be Slight to and therefore with the highest sensitivity. The closest residential Minimal for highway users. Effects for commuters will be in the same properties that may have a view are individual properties, as detailed at range as for highway users. 4.3.2. Those residential receptors with views from the south may experience up to a Moderate degree of effect, if they have a view of the For all receptors, the degree of effect reduces with distance from site. development. In each instance, the effect may be reduced, but probably not entirely Local residents may also experience the development in their capacity mitigated, by mitigation planting, including infilling of gaps in existing as recreational receptors making use of the local footpath/bridleway hedgerows, the addition of individual trees and increased height of network. existing hedgerows along the site boundaries and within the site. Recreational receptors with potential views were mainly users of public In summary, at closer locations to the south for recreational and rights of way. No evidence of intensive use of the network of local residential receptors, with the existing baseline, there will be a footpaths and bridleways was noted when on site. Representative Moderate degree of effect. This reduces to a Slight to Minimal effect viewpoints consider the degree of the effects on the recreational for all receptors to the north, or with distance of more than 3km. receptors to be mostly Slight-Minimal, with a Moderate degree of effect at Viewpoint 05, directly south of the site. Taking into account the intended mitigation strategy of hedgerow improvements and reinforcement, there is a reduction in degree of effect Farm workers, and workers at small businesses and the Aggregates for all receptors. These mitigation strategies have more potential to Industries site, are considered to be represented by the same reduce the degree of effect for viewpoints closer to the site. viewpoints as those on footpaths, and residences, respectively - but 2014-263-SmithHallFarmSolar-Landscape_Visual_Assessment.wpd May 2014 LVIA: Page 2 of 35 Smith Hall Farm Solar Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Cumulative Effects The cumulative assessment is concerned with the additional cumulative effect of the proposed solar farm with other nearby solar farm developments in the planning system. It is also noted, however, that other structures exist within this landscape, including low level electricity lines, quarries, road infrastructure, distant wind turbines, and radio mast that contribute to the cumulative effect of man-made elements. The subject of this assessment, the solar farm at Smith Hall Farm, will not, of itself, combine with other approved planning applications for solar farm sites to create more than a Slight cumulative effect upon Landscape Character. Due to the positioning and spacing of the proposed solar farm, relative to the other, smaller, approved planning applications for solar farm sites within 15km, no combined cumulative effects would be experienced by residential properties; whilst recreational users, highway users and workers could experience Slight to Minimal sequential effects. Overall, the cumulative effects are anticipated to be Slight to Minimal. 2014-263-SmithHallFarmSolar-Landscape_Visual_Assessment.wpd May 2014 LVIA: Page 3 of 35 Smith Hall Farm Solar Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment INTRODUCTION 1.2 GUIDANCE 1.2.1 The Assessment methodology used for this LVIA follows the 1.1 BACKGROUND Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment 3rd Edition (2013), produced by the Landscape Institute and the 1.1.1 2B Landscape Consultancy Ltd (2B) is a Registered Practice of Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment. It also the Landscape Institute. 2B was appointed by OST Energy Ltd, draws upon other guidance, including Landscape Institute Advice on behalf of Sun and Soil Ltd, to carry out a Landscape and Note - 'Use of photography and photomontage in landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) of the proposed Photovoltaic visual assessment' 2011. (PV) solar farm at Smith Hall Farm on the outskirts of Hulland Ward in Derbyshire.