Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
without creating uncomfortable comparisons of scale or introducing new patterns which conflict
with existing patterns in the landscape.
9.6.6 It is considered that the landscape within the immediate and surrounding area (within
approximately 3km), which face the Carse of Forth LCU on which the wind energy
development is sited, there would be a significant effect on the landscape character and how
this is perceived by people.
Visual Effects
9.6.7 The Forthbank wind energy development is located on the floodplain of the River Forth, the
shores of which are populated by industrial developments.
9.6.8 Often the places most valued for their landscape qualities are those with ‘unspoilt’ qualities,
valued precisely because they are undeveloped. However at the site-specific level of a
Landscape and Visual Assessment as part of an Environmental Impact Assessment, a much
greater degree of understanding can emerge regarding the existing visual character of the
landscape and the effect from the proposals on that character.
9.6.9 The ZTV (Figure 9.8) for the proposal suggests that it would be visible from the majority of the
settled valley floor. The ZTV for existing wind energy developments suggest a lower level of
visibility. During the site specific survey the experience in the landscape was not one of
constantly viewing wind turbines.
9.6.10 The magnitude of change within the Ochil Hills LCU and Carse of Forth LCU changes from
negligible to medium and to high within the Carse of Forth. These are the LCUs which make
available close and medium range views of the proposed wind energy development. Both LCU
are rated as medium to high sensitive. The Ochil Hills are also designated as the AGLV (Figure
9.3) and the Carseland of the River Forth is sensitive to change due to openness, heritage
significance, and large viewing population. The magnitude of visual effects is reduced due to
views from both landscape units experiencing a large number of manmade structures:
chimneys, stacks, flues, flares, buildings and clutter of large scale industrial installations such
as warehouses.
9.6.11 The installed and operating wind energy developments do not set a precedent for wind energy
development as a component of the character of the Carse of Forth and Ochil Hills or reduce
the sensitivity of the landscape to wind energy development, but they do ensure that wind
energy development characteristics are not an entirely new external influence.
9.6.12 The location of four turbines within the Carse of Forth LCU means that they will still be seen as
large-scale, vertical elements. The proximity of the turbines to existing small scale features will
give rise to some uncomfortable comparisons of scale, which may in some instances increase
the perceived scale of the turbines. The towers will be readily visible and further increase the
prominence of the turbines in the landscape.
9.6.13 As with the effects on landscape character, it tends to be those locations within three
kilometres of the proposed wind energy development site that are likely to experience
November 2010 Chapter 9 Page 124
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