Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
Viewpoint 6: Stirling Castle
Figure Number: VP-6 a Existing View; VP-6b Wireframe; VP6-c Photomontage
Grid Reference NS 791 941 Elevation 105m AOD
Bearing 107º Direction of View: south east
LCT: Lowland River Valley LCA: Carse of Forth
Distance to nearest
Turbine:
10.1km 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 long range view. All four turbines are visible and the tips of their blades break the skyline above the Devilla
Forest. It is not easy to distinguish the Alloa Works white chimneys and pylons in the view. It is considered that the
visual appearance of turbines would be slightly more obvious than the Alloa Works white chimneys.
Cumulative Effects:
Stirling Castle affords 360 degree views to the surrounding landscape and therefore Craigengelt, Earlsburn and Braes
of Doune wind energy developments come in to the view when walking around the Castle platform. The high level
position of these cumulative wind energy developments together with the high elevation of the viewpoint, 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. The difference in the visual
effect is noticeable in comparison with Craigengelt wind energy development which is almost at the same distance as
the Forthbank wind energy development from the viewpoint.
Magnitude of Change: Low
Stirling Castle 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 10km 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 determine the scale of the view at a
height well above that of the turbine tips. The turbines will not form a conspicuous addition to the view.
The built up density of the foreground of the viewpoint where Stirling expands will reduce the impact of the Forthbank
wind energy development. There is a limited horizontal extent to the wind energy development which means it will
occupy only a minimal section of the wider view
From this range the turbines will appear as noticeable vertical elements and their blade movements will be seen.
Although the vertical form of the turbines will not be pronounced due to their 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 already established feature of the baseline situation
Nature of impact
Significance of Effect
Indirect/Neutral
Moderate to minor
Viewpoint 7: Fallin Village
Figure Number: VP-7 a Existing View; VP-7b Wireframe
Grid Reference NS 841 914 Elevation 20m AOD
Bearing 94º Direction of View: East
LCT: Lowland River Valley LCA: Carse of Forth
Distance to nearest 4.77km Cumulative visibility: None
Turbine:
Number of Hubs
4 Number of turbines with 4
theoretically visible:
blades theoretically visible:
Visual Effects:
Medium range view. Only the tips of the blade of turbine no.1 would be visible over the dark vegetation line. Existing
woodland further conceals the three turbines on the right so that only the blades are visible.
This viewpoint represents views from the roads which run on the River Forth floodplain, which are well screened by
existing vegetation and slight undulations of the landform.
Cumulative Effects: None
The cumulative visibility is restricted due to the low elevation of the viewpoint which allows containment of views to the
outside. Slight undulation of the landform, vegetation and buildings have sufficient height so as to restrict views to the
outside.
Magnitude of Change: Negligible
While the ZTV and wireline show that all four turbines are theoretically visible from this viewpoint, screening by
localised landform and tree cover contains the visibility.
Nature of impact
Indirect/Neutral
Significance of Effect
Negligible
November 2010 Chapter 9 Page 86
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