Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
Landscape Sensitivity Criteria
Undesignated countryside and landscape features;
absence of distinctive landscape characteristics;
presence of landscape detractors; with poorly defined
character, often fragmented; and/or featuring
significant atypical or discordant features.
Bland or degraded landscapes that have no local
associations and very few or no locally valued
features.
These landscapes are likely to have a strong sense
of enclosure that reduces visual sensitivity, are likely
to be already affected by man-made features, have
reduced tranquillity, are likely to have little intervisibility
with adjacent landscapes and exhibit a low
density of sensitive landscape features.
Degrees of Sensitivity for Visual Receptors to
this type of development
footpaths;
Private views from: Commercial properties;
Industrial properties; Agricultural land.
Views from work places, main roads and
undesignated countryside/landscape features.
Observer’s attention not focused on landscape,
observers in vehicles or people involved in daily
activities.
Magnitude of Change
9.2.66 The magnitude of change is an expression of the scale of the change that will result from the
addition of the wind energy development to a view. The magnitude of change has been
assessed according to these parameters, which are largely quantifiable. The following
considerations relating to the appearance of the wind energy development and its relationship
with the landscape are relevant when evaluating the magnitude of change.
Distance
9.2.67 The distance between the receptor and the development. Generally, the greater the distance,
the lower the magnitude of change as the wind energy development will constitute a less
apparent component of the view.
Extent
9.2.68 The extent of the proposal, which is visible. Visibility may range from one blade tip to all of the
turbines. Generally, the more of the wind energy development that can be seen, the higher the
magnitude of change will be.
Unity
9.2.69 The relationship of the turbines to each other affects whether the wind energy development
reads as a cohesive entity or appears to be fragmented. Turbines overlapping can also
produce a distracting and uncomfortable visual effect. It is virtually inevitable that from some
angles this will occur, but the extent to which this happens, and the importance of the views
from where this takes place has an influence on the significance of the effect. Other vertical
elements, such as pylons, can also detract from the unity of the proposal and add to a sense of
visual confusion.
Proportion
9.2.70 The arc of view occupied by the wind energy development in proportion to the overall field of
view. A panoramic view, where the wind energy development takes up a small part of it, will
November 2010 Chapter 9 Page 14
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