Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
• an assessment of the effects that the wind energy development will have on a series
of viewpoints that have been selected to represent visibility from around the study
area (more information is given subsequently in this Chapter).
9.4.40 Cumulative effects: cumulative effects arise where the study areas for two or more wind
energy developments overlap so that both of the wind energy developments are experienced
at proximity where they may have a greater incremental effect. This means that the addition of
the wind energy development to a situation where other wind energy developments are
apparent may result in a greater effect than where the wind energy development is seen in
isolation.
Assessment of Physical Effects
9.4.41 Those aspects of the wind energy development that will have a physical effect on the
landscape include the access road and the four turbines. The physical effects therefore relate
to the construction of the turbines and the additional road to access the turbines. This will
involve the disturbance of the ground below and around these elements.
9.4.42 Changes to landscape fabric can occur where there would be direct or indirect physical
changes to the landscape. In this instance, direct changes to the landscape fabric would only
occur within the application boundary during the construction phase. Potential Construction
Effects on Landscape were described and assessed above.
9.4.43 The principal physical effect of the wind energy development will be on the grassland that
covers most of the site. Within the setting of the proposed wind energy development, there
would be long-term, but reversible effects on the landscape fabric of the site during the
operational life of the development as a result of the loss of the ground vegetation. However
the losses would be small and fully reversible once the proposed wind energy development is
de-commissioned.
Assessment of Effects on Landscape Character Types
9.4.44 The effects of the proposed wind energy development can vary widely across such a
landscape character type. The effect of the proposed wind energy development on landscape
character largely depends on: the key characteristics of the receiving environment; the degree
to which the proposed wind energy development may be considered to be consistent with or at
odds with them; and, how the proposal would be perceived within its setting, with perceptions
being influenced by:
• distance to the site;
• weather conditions; and
• appearance and ‘fit’ of the proposed turbine.
9.4.45 It is acknowledged there is an overlap between perception of change to landscape character
and visual amenity, but it should be remembered that landscape character in its own right is
generally derived from the combination and pattern of landscape elements within the view.
November 2010 Chapter 9 Page 66
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