Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
9.5.59 The existing 132kV overhead power line appears in the view of assessment viewpoint 5 (VP5)
- Wallace Monument as running parallel with the A91 across the foreground. When the existing
pylons would be replaced with higher ones the magnitude of the visual impact of the lines and
pylons will consequently rise. The magnitude of the visual effect is evaluated to be low from the
viewpoint. The 400kV pylons would appear more conspicuous vertical features from the
viewpoint as they will be within 1km of the Wallace Monument but the proposed wind energy
development remains at a distance of 9km. Even 66m high pylons will remain below the
skyline as viewed from this location. The cumulative magnitude added by the replacement
Beauly-Denny transmission line is considered to increase to medium. The visual sensitivity is
high at the Wallace Monument viewpoint and therefore the cumulative effect is major to
moderate which indicates that the effect would be significant.
9.5.60 The replacement pylon line is altered from its original route when crossing the River Forth to its
southern shore. Instead of running to the west of Cowie and Plean the new route turns close to
Fallin to the east and runs to the south, passing Cowie and Plean on the east side.
9.5.61 The described change of the route would add an additional cumulative effect from assessment
viewpoint 18 (VP18 – Cowie). The 66m tall 400kV pylons close to the settlement would be
seen rising over the rooftops of Cowie and the proposed wind energy development would be
seen beyond in the background. Due to the close distance to Cowie the pylons would be seen
as being the same height as the proposed turbines.
9.5.62 The magnitude of the visual effect of the proposed wind energy development is evaluated as
medium from assessment viewpoint 18 (VP18 – Cowie). Therefore the cumulative effect added
by the Beauly-Denny transmission line is considered to have a high magnitude. The landscape
sensitivity from this viewpoint was evaluated as low. The cumulative effect is considered to be
moderate and therefore not significant.
9.5.63 The Beauly-Denny transmission line would be seen potentially from the viewpoint 14 (VP14
Falkirk Wheel) where it would appear in front of the row of eight turbines of Craigengelt wind
energy development. The top fractions of the existing 132kV pylons are possible to see at
present. The added 20m height to the replacement 400kV pylons would make them high
vertical structures in the view but still not breaking the skyline. This view would be possible for
the receptor turning in a north-west direction. The proposed wind energy development will be
seen in the north east direction. The predicted cumulative effect would be sequential as the
400k transmission line and the proposed wind energy development will not be visible in direct
combined view.
9.5.64 The magnitude of the visual effect of the proposed wind energy development is evaluated as
low from assessment viewpoint 14 (VP14 – Tomtain Hill). The cumulative effect added by the
Beauly-Denny transmission line is considered to increase this to a medium magnitude. The
landscape sensitivity from this viewpoint was evaluated as medium. The cumulative effect is
considered to be moderate and therefore not significant.
9.5.65 The view from the viewpoint 22 (VP22 – Tomtain Hill) from the Tomtain Hill is orientated
towards the proposal site and to the Beauly-Denny transmission line which would run between
Cowie and Denny. By the representative view in Figure VP22 the conclusion is made that the
transmission line would be not perceivable at the distance of 12km.
November 2010 Chapter 9 Page 121
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