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Galloper Wind Farm Project - National Infrastructure Planning

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2842_SLVIA<br />

Appendix 1: Seascape, Landscape and Visual Assessment (SLVIA)<br />

Methodology<br />

1) Introduction<br />

LDA Design has an established methodology for carrying out Seascape and<br />

Visual Impact Assessments (SVIAs) for proposed offshore wind farm<br />

developments. The methodology may be varied slightly to address site or<br />

development / context specific situations, and the terms used to describe<br />

particular levels of effect may be varied (e.g. the use of the word Substantial<br />

instead of Major - see below) at the request of the EIA coordinator in order to<br />

correlate with other assessments in an ES. The standard methodology,<br />

including likely variations, is described below along with any variations<br />

specific to this particular assessment. Additional supporting information is<br />

also provided within appendices.<br />

2) Overview<br />

The methodology employed has 4 key stages, which are described in more<br />

detail in subsequent sections, as follows:<br />

� Baseline - includes the gathering of documented information; scoping of<br />

the assessment and agreement of that scope with the client, EIA<br />

coordinator and local planning authority; site visits; and, initial reports<br />

to client and/or EIA coordinator of any issues that may need to be<br />

addressed within the design.<br />

� Design - where appropriate, review of initial layout/ options, WTG<br />

choice(s), and mitigation options.<br />

� Assessment - includes an assessment of the seascape, landscape and<br />

visual effects of the full scheme, requiring site based work and the<br />

completion of a full report and supporting graphics.<br />

� Cumulative Assessment - assesses the effects of the proposal in<br />

combination with other wind farm developments.<br />

The general assessment methodology draws upon the established<br />

Countryside Agency methodology (Landscape Character Assessment<br />

Guidance, 2002) and other recognised guidelines, in particular the Institute of<br />

Environmental Assessment and the Landscape Institute's Guidelines for<br />

Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, second edition 2002; Scottish<br />

Natural Heritage's 'Visual representation of <strong>Wind</strong> <strong>Farm</strong>s Best Practice<br />

Guidance' (2006, albeit published in May 2007); the Guidance on the<br />

Assessment of the Impact of Offshore <strong>Wind</strong> <strong>Farm</strong>s (DTI, 2005); and, the

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