Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
Viewpoint 5: Wallace Monument
Figure Number: VP-5 a Existing View; VP-5b Wireframe; VP5-c Photomontage
Grid Reference NS 809 957 Elevation 159m AOD
Bearing 120º Direction of View: south east
LCT: Lowland River Valley LCA: Carse of Forth
Distance to nearest
Turbine:
8.99km Cumulative visibility: Craigengelt WF
Earlsburn WF
Braes of Doune WF
4 Number of turbines with 4
blades theoretically visible:
Number of Hubs
theoretically visible:
Visual Effects:
This is a medium range view. All four turbines are visible in their full length on a background of the Devilla Forest. It is
not easy to distinguish the Alloa Works white chimneys and pylons in the view. The visual appearance of turbines
would be slightly stronger than that of the Alloa Works white chimneys.
Cumulative Effects:
The Wallace Monument affords 360 degree views to the surrounding landscape and therefore Craigengelt, Earlsburn
and Braes of Doune wind energy developments are coming in to the view when walking around the monument’s
platform. The high level position of these cumulative wind energy developments together with the high level of the
viewpoint, which brings the wind energy developments visually close to the higher level receptor and gives them more
of a visual prominence in comparison with the Forthbank wind energy development which sits in a low river valley.
Magnitude of Change: Low
Wallace Monument affords 360 degree views to the surrounding landscape therefore the variety of directions of the
views reduces the single value of the River Forth floodplain view to the south. The views towards the Ochil Hills to the
east, to the Gargunnock Hills to the west and to the Highlands to the north are more attractive in nature than the River
Forth floodplain view.
From a range of 9km the turbines will be seen as relatively small objects within a wider landscape setting. The
location of the turbines in the low-lying valley reduces their prominence as the hills establish the scale of the view at a
height well above the turbine tips. In addition to this the turbines are set below the horizon which reduces the visible
height of the towers. The turbines will not form a conspicuous addition to the view.
The closeness of the A91 in the foreground and the larger scale warehouses in the middle ground will reduce the
impact of the Forthbank wind energy development. There is a limited horizontal extent of the wind energy
development which means it will only occupy a limited section of the wider 360 degree view.
The turbines will appear well below the skyline when seen from this elevated viewpoint. From this range the turbines
will appear as small scale elements and their blade movements will be noticeable. Although the vertical form of the
turbines will not be pronounced due to the partial or complete containment below the skyline, they will have some
vertical impact in contrast to the horizontal landscape in which they are seen.
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.
Nature of impact
Significance of Effect
Indirect/Neutral
Moderate to minor
November 2010 Chapter 9 Page 85
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