Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
Assessment of Effects on Designated Areas
9.4.53 No international/national designated landscapes are located within the study area. Apart from
the AGLV, other designated areas (RSA, NSA, SSLI) were found not to have the potential to
experience significant effects as a result of their location outwith the ZTV and therefore the
effects on these landscape resources are not significant. The relevant designated areas are
shown in Figure 9.3.
Area of Great Landscape Value (AGLV)
• The Ochils AGLV is identified as the only designated landscape directly affected by
the proposed development and therefore it has the potential to undergo a significant
effect. The potential visual effects to the Ochil Hills (the Lowland Hills landscape
character unit) are described and assessed in the previous section of Assessment of
Effects on Landscape Character Types. The static effects from the Ochil Hills’
viewpoints are described and assessed in the following section through Viewpoint
13 - Ben Cleuch and Viewpoint 16 - Dumyat.
• The Bridge of Allan is considered not to be affected by the proposal due to its
extensive areas of broadleaved woodland which restricts the potential views.
• The Wallace Monument upon the Abbey Craig is not considered to become affected
by the proposal due to the distance and the low elevation of the proposed turbines.
The static effects from the Wallace Monument are described and assessed in the
following section through the Viewpoint 5 Wallace Monument.
• The Black Devon Valley is not considered to become affected by the proposed wind
energy development due to its extensive areas of broadleaved woodland which
restricts the potential views.
• The Cleish Hills are considered not to become affected by the proposed wind
energy development due to the distance, the low location of the proposed site and
densely forested Lowland Valley Fringes which are between Lowland River Valley
and Upland Hills. The static effects from the Cleish Hills foothills are described and
assessed in the following section through the Viewpoint 17 - Saline Hill.
• The eastern end of the Touch/Campsie/Gargunnock Hills AGLV is considered to
undergo a minor change and not significant effect. The potential visual effects to the
Touch/Campsie/Gargunnock Hills AGLV (the Lowland Hills landscape character
unit) are described and assessed in the previous section of Assessment of Effects
on Landscape Character Units.
• The Pentland Hills and Bathgate Hills in the south are considered not to become
affected by the proposed wind energy development due to the distance and the low
elevation of the proposed wind energy development site.
November 2010 Chapter 9 Page 75
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