Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
Landscape Character Types and Units
Landscape Character Classification System of the Study Area
9.3.19 Landscape character information is based on the relevant SNH Character Assessment (LCA)
documentation, verified on site by RPS. The 35km study area comprises the following reviews:
• ASH Consulting Group, (1998), Clackmannanshire landscape character
assessment, Scottish Natural Heritage Review No 96;
• ASH Consulting Group, (1999), Central Region landscape character assessment,
Scottish Natural Heritage Review No 123;
• David Tyldesley and Associates, (1999), Stirling to Grangemouth landscape
character assessment, Scottish Natural Heritage Review No 124;
• David Tyldesley and Associates, (1999), Fife landscape character assessment,
Scottish Natural Heritage Review No 113;
• ASH Consulting Group, (1998), The Lothians landscape character assessment,
Scottish Natural Heritage Review No 91; and
• Land Use Consultants, (1999), Glasgow and the Clyde Valley landscape
assessment, Scottish Natural Heritage Review No 116.
9.3.20 These landscape character assessments are based on a common methodology, as defined by
Landscape Character Assessment Guidance for England and Scotland, Countryside Agency in
conjunction with Scottish Natural Heritage (2002).
9.3.21 It is important to recognise that there are local variations within the regional scale Landscape
Character Types (LCT) described, and that there have been changes to the landscape since
the LCAs were published, including the construction of wind energy developments.
9.3.22 The boundaries of the landscape character types are available as GIS Datasets from SNH,
based on the published landscape character assessments. Initial assembly of this data for the
study area identified 52 different character types (LCT) which are shown on Figure 9.5.
9.3.23 The study area is covered by six landscape character assessment studies which do not
overlap completely or fit with the SNH GIS dataset. In order to obtain a baseline assessment of
landscape character that was consistent across the study area and to make it compatible with
a map of each Landscape Character Area, the landscape classification system was developed.
9.3.24 All six Landscape Character Assessments were subsequently correlated with landscape
character types of the Scottish Natural Heritage ‘Natural Heritage Zones: A National
Assessment of Scotland’s Landscapes’ using similarities within the character to correspond
with the 12 main landscape character types.
November 2010 Chapter 9 Page 23
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