Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
Viewpoint 4: Alloa Tower
Figure Number: VP-4 a Existing View; VP-4b Wireframe; VP4-c Photomontage
Grid Reference NS 889 925 Elevation 40m AOD
Bearing 164º Direction of View: South west
LCT: Lowland River Valley LCA: Carse of Forth
Distance to nearest 1.02km Cumulative visibility: Craigengelt WF
Turbine:
Earlsburn WF
Number of Hubs
4 Number of turbines with 4
theoretically visible:
blades theoretically visible:
Visual Effects:
All four turbines will be readily visible from the relatively close range distance of 1km. The turbines are seen at their
full height. They are alternating with pylons which break the skyline above the flat River Forth floodplain. Turbines will
appear as large scale elements within the flat river valley landscape.
Cumulative Effects:
In a 90 degree view Craigengelt wind energy development is clearly visible on Hart Hill rising between Cowie Works
and Alloa works chimneys. Earlsburn wind energy development’s blades are hardly perceivable to the eye above the
Lowland Hills.
The cumulative effect with the pylons is prevailing in this view.
Magnitude of Change: High
The hubs and blades of the Forthbank wind energy development will be seen above the skyline and the movement of
their blades will add to their prominence.
The perceived scale of the turbines will be less than their actual size in this view. This is on account of the turbines
appearing to be located at a similar range to the pylons, while in fact they are located slightly further away. Only the
turbine no.1 which is closest to the viewpoint and at a distance of 800m from the group of three others, offers the focal
point for the view extending above the close skyline. As a result this layout makes the scale of the turbines appear
comparable with the scale of the chimney stacks and pylons, when in actual fact the turbines are bigger. This
reduction in perceived scale and the number of pylons in the view reduces the prominence of the turbines.
The presence of the chimney stacks and pylons ensures that the turbines are seen in a context where large-scale,
man-made vertical elements are an established feature of the baseline situation. These existing elements surround
the turbines on either side, so that the turbines are not extending the influence of this type of development in any
direction. In this view the above named industrial elements are located close to the viewpoint and therefore their
presence dominates.
The positive visual effect is seen by the turbines breaking the monotonous appearance of pylons by appearing as new
vertical architectural structures.
Nature of impact
Direct
Significance of Effect
Major to moderate
November 2010 Chapter 9 Page 84
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