Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
the time of this assessment. The cumulative ZTVs help build up a picture of the potential or
theoretical extent of visibility, but do not take into account vegetation and built form that would
otherwise screen the development from view.
9.5.29 The Combined Visibility of all wind energy developments within 35km indicates there are
substantial areas from which one or more wind energy developments could be visible.
Correspondingly, there are areas where views of wind energy developments may be
insignificant due to the distance involved, as stated in PAN 45 that wind energy developments
between ‘15-30km away will only be seen in very clear visibility as a minor element within the
landscape.’
9.5.30 In Table 9.11 cumulative wind energy developments are listed as installed, approved and on
application. The cumulative assessment assumes that all the wind energy developments listed
in Table 9.11 will be present in the landscape alongside the proposed Forthbank wind energy
development and therefore the cumulative wind energy developments are grouped in the Table
9.14 by the landscape character types to which they belong.
9.5.31 Grouping the cumulative wind energy developments by landscape character types in Table
9.14 below gives a reference to their locations with regard to the directions of the proposed
wind energy development site. Distributing the wind energy developments by the point of the
compass gives a number of wind energy developments and concurrently how many turbines
should be expected to be seen in a certain direction.
9.5.32 The grouping of wind energy developments provides for several initial explicit conclusions for
the further assessment. From Table 9.14, it is apparent that Group 2, Group 4, Group 6 and
Group 7 remain at a far range distance. Whilst it is evident that visibility varies according to
weather conditions, the season, the time of day, the direction of view, the number of turbines
and their compositional qualities, the distance provides a useful initial guide. The direction
provides the second key variable.
Table 9.14 Wind Energy Development Groups Within 35km
No. Wind energy development Status Direction
from the
Distance to
Forthbank
(approx.)
No. of
turbines
Forthbank
Group 1 - Lowland Hills: Ochil Hills
2 Greenknowes Installed North 17km 18 95
8 Burnfoot Hill Installed North 11km 13 102
9 Lochelbank Approved North-East 31km 24 91
Group 2 – Lowland Hills: Knaik Hills
1 Braes of Doune Installed North-West 25km 35 100
21 Standingfauld (formerly Greenbog) Application North 21km 8 100
Group 3 - Lowland Hills: Fintry, Gargunnock and Touch Hills
4 Earlsburn Installed West 20km 14 115
7 Craigengelt Installed West 18km 8 125
13 Earlsburn North Approved West 21km 9 115
16 Muirpark Application West 16km 11 127
Group 4 - Lowland Plateaux
3 Greendykeside Installed South-West 23km 2 100
6 Braiden Hill Installed South-West 30km 1 100
14 AG Barr Factory, Lanarkshire Approved South-West 27km 1 126
18 Hartwood Application South-West 33km 14 139
19 Bracco Application South-West 27km 29 125
20 Greengairs Application South-West 25km 9 125
22 Birnie Hill Application South-West 33km 3 120
Group 5 - Lowland River Valleys: Denny/Falkirk Urban Fringe
5 ASDA depot, New Bankside Ind' Estate Installed South 11km 1 120
Height
to tip
(m)
November 2010 Chapter 9 Page 102
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