Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
Settlements/Roads
Other Features
Experience
Internal/External
visibility
Scale
Diversity
Visual detractors
Designations
Key Landscape
Issues
LCA Sensitivity
lies an area of flat coastal farmland of mainly arable cultivation in large scale rectilinear fields
with few hedges and several steadings linked by minor roads.
The flats at Kinneil I Bo'ness are on land claimed from the saltmarsh of the Forth and
dominated by the extensive landraising operation north of East Kerse Mains and by the
petrochemical works to the west.
Grangemouth is on the Firth of Forth, 3 miles east of Falkirk.
Dense transport route network
Several extensive wooded estates have a major influence on the landscape character,
through an abundance of deciduous and mixed woodlands, shelterbelts, and mature parkland
trees.
Dominance of urban development, docks and major industrial installations.
Wide-reaching views of the coast
LARGE scale, open and exposed.
Low
Views locally dominated by power stations and stacks, flues, flares, buildings and clutter;
Motorways and busy, noisy roads on perimeter;
Large scale of industrial installations;
Intense glow, flares and lights over Grangemouth at night and on dark days;
A few prominent remaining oil-shale bings.
This landscape is not covered by any scenic landscape designations and it has few unique
qualities that merit special protection.
Urban and industrial expansion.
Further land claim from Firth of Forth;
Major infrastructural projects - pipelines, overhead lines, roads, bridges, engineering works.
Reduce impacts of major industrial developments with structural planting, retain remaining
open character and sustain ecological and landscape values of the mudflats.
North of the River Carron, seek to avoid the spread of further development and sustain the
distinct edge to the urban area
Low
The tranquil, wide-reaching views of the coast are almost always dominated by the striking
structures of the road and rail bridges.
Landscape Character Type: COASTAL MARGINS
Landscape Character Area: Kincardine Coastal Flats
Extent within the LCT extends to a 5-7km radius in an east direction within the study area.
study area
From the Coastal Braes and Hills, the Flats are seen as encroachments into the estuary.
Representative VP2 – Kennet Pans (PFP, NCR).
viewpoints
Wind energy
None identified
developments
Key Characteristics/ Flat, low-lying, open, large-scale, exposed coastal landscapes at sea level.
Landform
Water
The Coastal Flats generally do not rise above 10m AOD, and are drained by a series of small
burns or straight man-made drainage ditches.
Land Cover/Use Protected by flood banks the areas are dominated by industrial or dock or port related
development, power stations and associated lagoons or arable farmland with large,
geometric field patterns divided by fences.
Settlements/Roads Historically, settlements on the south coast have been located at the foot of the Coastal
Braes, on the wave cut platforms and raised beaches.
Other Features Often straight or slightly curving or angular roads, with fences, overhead wires and, in places,
drystone dykes, are characteristic and noticeable features.
Experience
Where the Coastal Flats are more confined, either by buildings or vegetation, experiences
tend to be of a smaller-scale landscape that is more diverse, rough and discordant, busier
and more disturbed .
Internal/External A coastal landscape where the character is always influenced by the River Forth estuary and
visibility
can be particularly affected by the weather conditions and views of the sky and the estuary.
Scale
LARGE scale, open and exposed.
Diversity
Low
Visual detractors All buildings and other structures are prominent in views across the Flats and from the Firth
and the intertidal areas.
The power stations at Kincardine and the dock yards at Rosyth are prominent features across
the Firth of Forth.
High voltage power lines are dominant features in the Kincardine area radiating from the
power stations and even crossing the Firth itself.
Noticeable features tend to be the chimneys, stacks, towers and cranes of the power
stations, factories and docks on the industrial areas. On the agricultural land the steadings
are conspicuous features, so too are the few remaining trees.
Designations This landscape is not covered by any scenic landscape designations and it has few unique
qualities that merit special protection.
November 2010 Chapter 9 Page 30
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