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

MITIGATION MEASURES
6.691 As discussed in best practice guidance for EIA, mitigation measures may
include: avoidance of impacts, reduction in magnitude of impacts,
compensation for impacts and remediation. The landscape and visual
mitigation measures for the Penny Hill wind farm are ostensibly embedded
within the design of the scheme and do not rely heavily on compensation
or remediation. Mitigation adopted primarily relates to the consideration
that was given to avoiding and minimising landscape and visual effects at
the site selection stage and during the evolution of the turbine layout.
6.692 At the site selection stage potential landscape impacts were given equal
consideration alongside other engineering and environmental issues. The
site was selected, amongst other reasons, because there are no national
or regional landscape designations covering the site or the immediately
surrounding area. The Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire & Yorkshire Coalfields
character area was noted to have a low sensitivity to wind energy
development as detailed in the Planning for Renewable Energy Targets in
Yorkshire and Humber Final Report.
6.693 The current use of the site for agriculture meant that there were large open
fields in which turbines could be accommodated with minimal effect on
sensitive landscape features such as hedgerows, woodlands and other
vegetation of ecological and landscape value. The ground cover on site is
primarily of commercial agricultural value and not of any particular
landscape value. The location of the M1/M18 junction directly adjacent to
the site also meant that the landscape character was of lower sensitivity
than elsewhere within the same character area.
6.694 The access tracks within the site were also designed with consideration
given to the effects on landscape features and character. The tracks have
been designed to minimise the number of breaks required in the
hedgerows. They have also been designed, as far as possible to follow
field boundaries to minimise the effect on field patterns. A number of
options were considered for the access tracks before arriving at the final
layout.
6.695 Similarly, the control building and substation were specifically positioned to
minimise their landscape and visual impact. The final position of the
building and substation was selected as they would be adjacent to a
section of mature dense hedgerow which would screen them from the
north and west and provide a backdrop when viewed from the south and
east. Mitigation planting is proposed around the southern and eastern side
of the control building and substation to help integrate them into the
landscape.
6.696 Cabling between the turbines has been designed to run underground,
hence minimising visual clutter on the site.
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Penny Hill Wind Farm
Environmental Statement