Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
Mitigation Measures
9.4.33 Mitigation measures have been outlined in the technical assessments in this ES. The majority
of mitigation has been “built in” to the design of the proposed wind energy development. Other
mitigation measures will involve use of “best practice” in construction and site management.
9.4.34 The layout and individual siting of the turbines has been considered as part of the design
iteration to reduce landscape and visual effects. Landscape and visual assessment has been
a key issue during design of the project, to ensure layout design relates well to landscape
character and achieves a sympathetic, balanced composition in views from the surrounding
areas. Consideration has been given to the appropriate number of turbines on-site as well as
to a number of alternative layout options based on a range of turbine specifications.
9.4.35 The number of turbines and the site layout has been determined by the size and shape of the
plot available. The high voltage powerline in close proximity to the proposal site sets limits on
the distance to the turbine location from the power lines. Landscape mitigation is limited on this
particular site from these reasons.
Potential Effects on the Landscape and Visual Resource
9.4.36 For the purpose of assessment, the potential effects on the landscape and visual resource are
grouped into four categories: physical effects, effects on landscape character, effects on
views, and cumulative effects, each of which is briefly described below.
9.4.37 Physical effects: physical effects are restricted to the area within the site boundary, and are
the direct effects on the fabric of the site, such as the removal or addition of trees and
alteration to ground cover. This category of effects is made up of landscape elements, which
are the components of the landscape such as vegetation that may be physically affected by the
development of the site.
9.4.38 Effects on landscape character: landscape character is the distinct and recognisable pattern
of elements that occurs consistently in a particular type of landscape, and the way that this
pattern is perceived. Effects on landscape character arise either through the introduction of
new elements, or removal of existing elements, that physically alter this pattern of elements, or
through visibility of the wind energy development, which may alter the way in which the pattern
of elements is perceived.
9.4.39 Effects on views: the assessment of effects on views is an assessment of how the
introduction of the proposed wind energy development will affect views throughout the study
area. The assessment of effects on views is carried out in two parts;
• an assessment of the effects that the proposed wind energy development will have
on views from principal visual receptors, which are the designated areas,
settlements and routes found throughout the study area (as ascertained through the
baseline study, described subsequently in this section); and
November 2010 Chapter 9 Page 65
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