Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
9.4.64 The assessment was carried out through a desktop study and site survey which examines the
visibility of the wind energy development from the landscape character types around the study
area, using the ZTV and wirelines. As expected, there is a divergence in the patterns of
potential visibility illustrated by the ZTV map and the real landscape situation.
9.4.65 Visibility from a settlement is not uniform across the settlement. This is because views of the
surrounding landscape from within the settlement are inevitably obscured by the buildings,
structures, trees and vegetation of the settlement itself. The reality is that the outer edges of
these settlements potentially have views, but that views from within the areas would not be
available or would be very limited, as they would be screened by these ‘outer’ properties.
Similarly residences may be screened by vegetation between the receptor and the proposed
wind energy development. Where the ZTV indicates theoretical visibility within settlements,
upper storey windows of buildings are more likely to have views than locations at ground level.
9.4.66 The sensitivity of views from settlements is judged to be high because of the high numbers of
resident and visitor viewers. Although settlements are not generally identified as locations for
viewing the wider landscape, they are places where people congregate and spend time.
9.4.67 There is the potential for significant effects on individual properties, or small groups of
properties, which lie within the ZTV at closer range. Of those settlements and individual
properties within a 3km radius from the proposed wind energy development have the potential
to be significantly affected in LVIA terms.
9.4.68 It is considered that major effects would occur on the settings of Dunmore village due to the
proximity of the turbines to what is perceived as their tranquil and rural setting.
9.4.69 The high magnitude of change would occur on the closest farms such as Park Farm, Arns farm
and Inch of Ferryton Farm. The view is orientated to the Gargunnock Hills, not the Ochil Hills,
and the turbines are viewed amongst the many pylons.
9.4.70 The assessment of visual impacts on settlements has found that moderate/major effects
would occur at Clackmannan and Alloa which are located within 2km of the site. The turbines
would introduce four dominant, man made and moving elements to the landscape which would
relate to existing industrial landscape of pylons in views from both settlements.
9.4.71 Due to the low elevation of the proposed wind energy development site, the vegetation and/or
built form close to the receptors would afford an efficient level of screening. Therefore the
magnitude of the effect is medium in the close proximity villages such as South Alloa and
Airth village from where the view of the proposed wind energy development would be
achieved only on its northern edge.
9.4.72 The effect on Cowie was considered to be moderate as the view to the proposed wind energy
development would be achieved only from a small number of areas of north east facing higher
ground within the village.
9.4.73 The visual effect in all other settlements within the ZTV coverage in the study area is
considered to be not significant. All the other settlements which sit on a low level on the river
valley have restricted views due to the screening of vegetation or built forms. All the other
November 2010 Chapter 9 Page 78
Copyright Partnerships for Renewables Development Co. Ltd 2010 ©