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

prevent an appreciation of the underlying and surrounding landscape.
There would be a high magnitude of change in the baseline view along
these public rights of way resulting in a substantial effect on visual
amenity experienced from them.
6.636 There would also be intermittent views of the turbines from several other
public rights of way within the study area. With distance from the site, the
effects on visual amenity would incrementally reduce. At locations where
there would be unobstructed views of the turbines from public rights of way
beyond approximately 2km of the site there would be no greater than a
slight effect on visual amenity.
Visual Effects on Major Roads
6.637 The site is located immediately to the southwest of the M1 Junction 32
where it meets with the M18 motorway. Junction 32 consists of a triangular
shaped interchange between the two motorways with their associated
connecting sliproads covering an area approximately 1km². From Junction
32 the two motorways run in three different directions. The M18 runs in a
north easterly direction away from the site towards Doncaster. The M1
changes direction at Junction 32, running in a north-south direction to the
south of the junction and an east-west direction to the north.
6.638 As has been discussed within the assessment of effects on Viewpoints 7
and 8, there is a considerable amount of roadside vegetation and urban
development along both sides of the motorways which would greatly
restrict or obstruct the view of the turbines from much of their length.
Furthermore there are sections where the motorways run in cuttings which
also restrict the available views.
6.639 Driving southwards on the M1, the turbines would first become visible on
the approach to Junction 33 but only be prominent in the view for the short
section of the motorway at Junction 32 where it passes the site. Although
the ZTV suggests that the turbines would be visible further north along the
M1, in reality the buildings and vegetation alongside the motorway as it
skirts around Sheffield would obstruct any view of the turbines.
6.640 Driving northwards on the M1, views of the development would first be
gained as the motorway crosses over high land near Woodall Services.
Between Woodall services and Wales Bar there are several locations
along the M1 where there would be uninterrupted views towards the
development. At this point however, the turbines would be sufficiently
distant so that they would not be prominent in the view considering that
there is a considerable amount of roadside infrastructure which would be
far more prominent in the view along the motorway.
6.641 Continuing northwards between Wales Bar and the development there are
also locations where there would be uninterrupted views towards the
development. However, the majority of views in the direction of the
development would be limited due to roadside vegetation along the
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Penny Hill Wind Farm
Environmental Statement