The Wrexham (Gas Fired Power Station) Order 6.2.10 Volume 2: Environmental Statement Chapter 10: Landscape and visual impact assessment Planning Act 2008 The Infrastructure Planning (Applications: Prescribed Forms and Procedure) Regulations 2009 PINS Reference Number: EN010055 Document Reference Number: 6.2.10 Regulation Number: 5(2) (a) Lead Author: Atkins Revision: Date: Description: 0 March 2016 Submission version SEC6-ES Vol1_A4 chapterTabs.indd 11 15/03/2016 10:49 WREXHAM ENERGY CENTRE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT Chapter 10 Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment INTRODUCTION 10.1 This chapter presents the findings of a landscape and visual assessment (LVIA) of the proposed Scheme as described Chapter 4. Such an assessment was confirmed to be necessary in the EIA scoping opinion published by the Secretary of State in March 2014 (Appendix 5.1), in view of the potential for the project to exert significant effects on the existing landscape resource and visual receptors within a defined study area. The potential for significant effects relates to the change in land use associated with the Scheme, the visibility of a new Power Station Complex, and the scale and mass of the new built form within existing views. 10.2 The LVIA has helped to inform the design development process of the Scheme including: the design and layout; the retention of existing boundary vegetation; and the new landscape features and planting of the Power Station Complex. 10.3 This chapter should be read with Appendix 10, which contains additional assessment information, drawings, photographs and photomontages of the Scheme. 10.4 The layout of the Scheme is shown on the indicative landscape and ecological mitigation masterplan (Document ref: 2.9.1 to 2.9.7). Design principles and alternative building finishes, including the choice of colour and materials are considered in the Design and Access Statement to inform detail design requirements included in the DCO. Legislative and policy context European Landscape Convention 10.5 The UK signed and ratified the European Landscape Convention (ELC) in 2007 that recognises landscape not just in terms of appearance and visual amenity but as providing a spatial framework for understanding the interaction between the natural, cultural and perceptual elements, embedding landscape or ‘place’ into policy whilst managing and protecting the landscape as a resource in its own right. ‘ELC implementation in England aims to encourage a move towards multifunctional landscapes that provide a variety of benefits while protecting and managing those aspects of the landscape that are valued by society, and managing change positively in the planning and creation of new landscapes’. 10.6 The ELC definition of ‘landscape’, being ‘an area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors’ supports the need to deal with the landscape as a resource and to consider the 10-1 WREXHAM ENERGY CENTRE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT landscape character. The applicant has sought to apply the principles of the ELC in the consideration of the landscape resource in the LVIA as required by the Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment – 3rd Edition (GLVIA3). 10.7 Landscape features that contribute to the landscape character such as existing planting, including individual and groups of trees and hedgerows, are considered in the LVIA. 10.8 In addition to the landscape resource the LVIA identifies sensitive visual receptors including, but not limited to, users of Public Rights of Way (PRoW) and open land with right of access83 under the provision of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (2000). National Policy Statements 10.9 Section 5.9 of the Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy (EN-1) 84 sets out the general requirements for an LVIA, and identifies the assessment principles that are reflected in the assessment methodology section below. 10.10 These include consideration of: relevant policies based on landscape character assessment studies included in planning documents and plans (EN-1 para 5.9.5); existing landscape quality, how much it is valued and the capacity to accommodate change; nationally designated landscapes (EN-1 para 5.9.9) and local landscapes that may be highly valued locally and protected by local designation (EN-1 para 5.9.14); effect on landscape character and components during construction and operation (EN-1 para 5.9.6); and visual effects on sensitive receptors, including visibility and conspicuousness of the project during construction and operation on views and visual amenity, including the effects of light pollution on local amenity and nature conservation (EN-1 para 5.9.7). 10.11 Para. 1.7.11 of EN-1 acknowledges that ‘the principal area in which consenting new energy infrastructure in accordance with the energy NPSs is likely to lead to adverse effects which cannot always be satisfactorily mitigated is in respect of landscape and visual effects’. Nonetheless, within the functional constraints of what a CCGT power station is, the applicant has sought to carefully site and design the proposed Power 83 http://www.ccgc.gov.uk/enjoying-the-country/open-access-land/open-access-maps.aspx 84 Overarching National Policy Statement for Energy (EN-1), https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/47854/1938-overarching-nps- for-energy-en1.pdf, accessed on-line 2014. 10-2 WREXHAM ENERGY CENTRE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT Station Complex in a way that responds to the landscape context and takes into account environmental effects to minimise harm. 10.12 The National Policy Statement for Gas Supply Infrastructure and Gas and Oil Pipelines (EN-4) 85 states an LVIA should be undertaken due to negative effects as a result of above ground infrastructure (EN-4 para. 1.7.2) and the constraints of planting above buried pipelines (EN-4 para. 2.21.2). 10.13 Other national planning policy and guidance relevant to this assessment include: Chapter 5 of Planning Policy Wales (Edition 8, 2016); Technical Advice Note (TAN) 5: Nature Conservation and Planning (2009); TAN 10: Tree Preservation Orders (1997); TAN 12: Design (2014)86; Planning Practice Guidance on the Natural Environment – Landscape (England, April 2014) and Light Pollution (England, April 2014); Welsh Office Circular 5/93: Public Rights of Way; and Welsh Office Circular 64/78: Trees and Forestry. Wrexham Unitary Development Plan (UDP) 1996 – 2011 10.14 The Wrexham Unitary Development Plan (UDP) 1996 – 2011 (adopted 2005) contains relevant policies: Policy PS2, PS3, Policy EC5 Special Landscape Area and Policy EC7 Conservation Areas that remain in place while Wrexham County Borough Council (WCBC) is preparing the Local Development Plan (LDP) which will replace the UDP when completed. 10.15 Policy PS2 states that development must not materially detrimentally affect countryside, landscape/townscape character, open space or the quality of the natural environment. This applies to the mitigation measures proposed which seek to mitigate the physical loss of environmental features within the Site. 10.16 Policy PS3 states that development should use brownfield land in preference to the use of greenfield land. 10.17 Policy EC5 requires development within Special Landscape Areas to minimise its visual impact. This applies to an underground section of the proposed Gas Connection Route which passes through a Special Landscape Area. 85 National Planning Policy Statement for Gas Supply Infrastructure and Gas and Oil Pipelines, 86 http://wales.gov.uk/topics/planning/policy/tans/?lang=en 10-3 WREXHAM ENERGY CENTRE ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT 10.18 Policy EC7 states the priority will be to preserve views which contribute to the unique character of the area. Additional Guidance 10.19 The following additional policies and guidance have also been considered: 10.20 The boundary of the Cheshire West & Chester Council administrative area lies approximately 2km from the Order Land at its closest point. Consideration has been given to the Cheshire West & Chester Council Local Plan (Part One) Strategic Policies (adopted 2015). This contains relevant policies: Strategic Objectives SO9 and SO11, and environmental policies ENV2 Landscape and ENV3 Green Infrastructure. 10.21 The guidance for this LVIA and in accordance with EN-1 is: Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (GLVIA)87; Landscape Character Assessment (LCA)88; and LANDMAP89. 10.22 References to published landscape character information and associated studies are included within the data sources in the following assessment methodology section. Assessment of realistic worst case 10.23 The LVIA has been undertaken based on the realistic worst case of a 2 + 1 layout with two stacks, built to the largest building dimensions set out in Chapter 4. The 2 + 1 layout with two stacks at the largest dimensions represents: the largest extents of the Scheme layout based on the height, built mass and footprint, of the stacks and Power Station Complex buildings; and the maximum likely significant effects that the Scheme could have on the landscape resource, views and visual amenity taking into account the change in land use at the Site and significance of change in landscape character, the visibility of a new Power Station Complex and the scale and mass of the new built form within existing views. 87 Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, Third Edition, Landscape Institute and Institute of Environmental Management Assessment,