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

6.624 From each of the locations where substantial or moderate effects have
been identified, the turbines would be prominent but not obstruct the view
in any direction. They would not prevent an appreciation of the underlying
and surrounding agricultural landscape.
6.625 Between 2km and 5km of the site there are many villages and larger
settlements, as well as numerous individual or isolated properties. At this
distance and where there are unobstructed views of the turbines there
would be a moderate effect on visual amenity experienced by residential
properties. It should be noted however, that there would in reality be
relatively few properties with unobstructed views of the site. For example
within the villages of Todwick, Treeton, Laughton Common, Laughton enle-Morthen,
Wickersley, Wales and Whiston, which all lie within this
distance of the site, it would be only the properties on the very edges of
these villages which experience any effect at all on visual amenity. The
majority of properties within this distance of the site have at least some
screening in the form of either topography, vegetation or built structures
and would experience no greater than a slight effect on visual amenity.
6.626 Beyond 5km from the site, there would be numerous individual properties
with distant glimpses of the turbines. However beyond this distance, the
turbines would not form a prominent component in the view and it is
considered that the development would have no greater than a slight
effect on visual amenity experienced by residential receptors at this
distance.
Visual Effects on Long Distance Trails and Public Rights of Way
6.627 The Transpennine Trail Network (incorporating National Cycle Network
Routes 6 and 67) and the Rotherham Roundwalk are the only long
distance footpaths which run within 5km of the site and, at their closest
point where they follow the same route, they pass approximately 800m to
the west of the nearest turbine.
6.628 The ZTV suggests that the Penny Hill turbines would be visible on these
routes for much of their length within 5km the site. The ZTV however does
not take account of the considerable extent of built development and
vegetation (hedgerows, trees and woodlands) within the landscape which
would screen or partially obstruct views of the turbines from much of this
length.
6.629 Although intermittently screened by field boundary vegetation, the turbines
would be prominent in the view when experienced along the Transpennine
Trail Network and the Rotherham Roundwalk between Aughton to the
south and Whiston in the southern part of Rotherham. Along this section of
these routes, they cross over the M1 motorway, and along this length
there are constant views of built structures such as pylons and the M1
motorway. As such, the Penny Hill turbines would not dominate the view or
prevent an appreciation of the underlying and surrounding landscape.
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Penny Hill Wind Farm
Environmental Statement