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

6.724 It is the professional opinion of the Landscape Architects who undertook
this assessment, that where substantial effects on residential properties
have been identified, these effects are likely to be considered to be
significant in terms of the EIA Regulations. Where moderate effects on
residential properties have been identified, these effects are not likely to
be considered significant in terms of the EIA Regulations.
6.725 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 be prominent 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.
6.726 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.
6.727 Although intermittently screened by field boundary vegetation, the turbines
would be prominent in the view when experienced along these routes as
they pass between Aughton to the south and Whiston in the southern part
of Rotherham. Therefore there would be a high magnitude of change and
consequently a substantial effect on the visual amenity experienced by
people using the short section of the Transpennine Trail Network and the
Rotherham Roundwalk between Aughton and Rotherham but no greater
than a slight effect on the remainder of these routes.
6.728 There would be no greater than a slight effect on the visual amenity
experienced along the Cuckoo Way, Robin Hood Way, Sheffield Country
Walk and Dearne Way/Barnsley Boundary Walk which all pass through the
20km study area.
6.729 There are two Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council Doorstep Walks
(numbers 6 and 7) which pass through or immediately adjacent to the site.
From these routes there would be largely unrestricted views of the Penny
Hill turbines which would be prominent in the view. However, at no point
would the development obstruct or prevent an appreciation of the
underlying and surrounding landscape. There would be a high magnitude
of change in the baseline view along these Doorstep walks resulting in a
substantial effect on visual amenity experienced from them.
6.730 There are also a small number of other public rights of way in the
immediate vicinity of the site (including footpaths, bridleways and minor
roads) from which there would be largely unrestricted views of the Penny
Hill turbines. 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.
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Penny Hill Wind Farm
Environmental Statement