environmental statement - Rotherham's Online Application for ...

6.507 The view towards the site from this location is across the urban fringe of
Sheffield and the lower lying land beyond. In the foreground the view is of
moorland and sheep grazing is common as within much of the Peak
District. As the landform drops away, isolated farmsteads and individual
properties become denser towards the outskirts of Sheffield. The city of
Sheffield is prominent in the direction of the site and sprawls over several
hills. Several tall buildings are visible in the city centre including the Arts
Tower at Sheffield University, Hallam hospital and many new buildings
which are popping up in the city centre. Beyond Sheffield the hills on which
the Penny Hill site is located are visible.
6.508 As this viewpoint is representative of the views from a National Park which
is experienced by numerous tourists, it is considered to be of high
sensitivity to a change in the view.
Nature and Magnitude of Construction Impacts
6.509 At this distance, none of the construction impacts would be visible.
Therefore there would be no impact on the view during construction.
Significance of Construction Effects on View
6.510 There would be no effect on the viewpoint during construction.
Nature and Magnitude of Operational Impacts
6.511 A visual representation of the predicted view from this location is
presented in Figure 6.23.
6.512 From this viewpoint, the hubs and blade tips of all six turbines would be
just visible on the horizon in a far north easterly direction. The nearest
turbine would be visible some 19.7km away beyond Sheffield. At this
distance, the meteorological mast, access tracks, substation and the
control building would not be visible.
6.513 From any location within the Peak District National Park there would be no
greater than a distant glimpse of the turbines.
6.514 The clearest views of the development would be obtained from a very
small number of locations on the National Park boundary and the A621
near Owler Bar, in the vicinity of where the baseline photograph for this
viewpoint has been taken. From this location the Penny Hill turbines would
be seen in the context of the greater part of the urban area of Sheffield
which is prominent in the middle distance.
6.515 Although the turbines would be visible, they would be barely perceptible on
the horizon of the view, and in the context of the existing urban
environment they would not form a prominent feature in the view.
6.516 The development would result in no change in the baseline view.
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Penny Hill Wind Farm
Environmental Statement