Galloper Wind Farm Project - National Infrastructure Planning

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2.0 Assessment Methodology
2.1. Seascape and Visual Assessment Methodology
2.1.1. The methodology applied to this assessment follows relevant standards and
guidance principally set out in the Maritime Ireland/Wales Interreg 1994 –
1999 Guidance ‘Guide to Best Practice in Seascape Assessment’ (GSA),
published in March 2001, as agreed with Natural England (see Section 2.4).
This document sets out a clear methodology for undertaking seascape
characterisation and for the subsequent evaluation of effects. In addition, the
assessment also draws from the more Scotland specific ‘An assessment of the
sensitivity and capacity of the Scottish Seascape in relation to wind farms’,
(SNH commissioned Report 103, 2005). Other recognised guidance has been
used within this assessment, in particular the established Countryside
Agency (now Natural England) methodology (Landscape Character
Assessment Guidance, 2002), the Institute of Environmental Management
and Assessment (IEMA) and the Landscape Institute’s (LI) Guidelines for
Landscape and Visual Effect Assessment, (second edition, 2002); Visual
Representation of Wind Farms Best Practice Guidance (SNH 2006, albeit
published in 2007), the Guidance on the Assessment of the Effect of Offshore
Wind Farms (DTI 2005), and the Cumulative Effects of Wind Farms, (SNH,
2005).
2.1.2. These methodologies aim to systematically appraise the existing
landscape/seascape areas in order to identify the significant physical and
visual characteristics and to assess their sensitivity to the type of change
proposed. This information then provides a baseline against which the key
seascape and visual effects can be evaluated and their magnitude and
significance assessed in a systematic and consistent fashion. Refer to
Appendix 1 for a full summary of the assessment methodology for this report
which is derived from the above guidance documents, and also includes the
significance matrix.
2.1.3. A nationally applicable Historic Seascape Characterisation (HSC) method
was finalised in March 2008 from the England’s Historic Seascapes
Programme. The GSA seascape character methodology followed by this
assessment is principally based on views and visual aspects which is different
to the HSC method. HSC is addressed in the Archaeology Chapter of the GWF
ES.
2.2. Cumulative Assessment Methodology
2.2.1. The Landscape Institute’s Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Effect
Assessment (2nd edition, 2002) define cumulative landscape (seascape) and
visual effects as effects that ‘result from additional changes to the landscape or