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

6.682 From these isolated locations, it is acknowledged that there would be a
marginally greater impact on visual amenity than if either Penny Hill or
Loscar wind farm were developed in isolation. However it is considered
that as one or the other of these two sites would be at least 3.5km away
from these locations, the cumulative effect would not be considerably
greater than the moderate effect on visual amenity in these locations
which would occur as a result of developing Penny Hill in isolation.
Certainly it would not increase the significance of the effect to substantial.
Sequential Effects
M1 Motorway
6.683 The main trunk road through the study area is the M1 motorway which
passes almost directly adjacent to the Penny Hill site. It has already been
assessed that the Penny Hill site would have no greater than a slight effect
on the visual amenity of users of the M1. The same users of the M1
motorway would also experience views of the proposed development at
Loscar as they pass approximately 2km to its west and for just a brief
moment the turbines at the AMRC which are approximately 1km to the
south of the motorway.
6.684 Although the theoretical cumulative ZTVs suggest that there would be long
sections of the motorway where more than one of these sites would be
visible at the same time, in reality views from the motorway of the
surrounding landscape are greatly restricted by roadside vegetation and
motorway embankments.
6.685 Essentially, driving southwards along the M1 there would be glimpses of
the AMRC and views of the Penny Hill turbines for a few brief moments
either side of junction 33 of the motorway. The motorway then goes into a
cutting and then the Penny Hill turbines would be visible on their own
when passing the site. There would then be a short stretch of motorway
south of the Penny Hill site where no turbines would be visible before the
turbines at Loscar come into view. The same would apply in reverse
travelling northwards along the motorway.
6.686 It is noted that the M1 is one of the primary transport corridors in the UK
and driving in either direction in this area that there are numerous large
urban developments, particularly Sheffield and Rotherham, which
surround the motorway. This section of the motorway is not particularly
noted for its scenic qualities and the attention of most users of the
motorway is on the road ahead. The sequence of turbines along the
motorway will be noted by frequent users of the motorway but not result in
a greater than a slight effect on visual amenity whilst driving along the
route.
A1/A1(M) Motorway and M18
156
Penny Hill Wind Farm
Environmental Statement