Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
context. The extent of the pylon lines and the effect of perspective, result in the turbines
appearing comparable in scale from much of the surrounding area. This is true also of the
higher lattice towers, the ‘Forth Crossing’ pylons.
9.7.5 In the majority of views the turbines are seen in the River Forth Floodplain alongside the ‘Forth
Crossing’ pylons. This lowers the overall perception of the height of the turbines allowing the
Lowland Hills to the west and the Ochil Hills to the east and distant southern highlands to the
north, to dominate. The proposed wind energy development is viewed as a compact and
unified composition from the wider landscape.
9.7.6 It is concluded that the wind energy development can be accommodated within the existing
scale and character of the landscape resulting in an acceptable change or evolution to the
landscape character and views.
9.7.7 The proposed wind energy development will have an effect on landscape character units such
as the Carse of Forth and the Ochil Hills. However, the views from these landscapes are
already characterised by large scale industrial developments.
9.7.8 The prominence of the turbines is further reduced by the scale of the setting against the
Lowland hills which form a strong sense of enclosure to the Lowland River Valley. The key
association of this landscape is its contrasting relationship with the surrounding hills. These
greatly contribute to the character and identity of the Lowland River Valley by creating
enclosure and providing a focus for views. The valley location of the proposed wind energy
development means that it will have no direct effect on this relationship and that it will not
appear as a prominent feature, when viewed from much of this Lowland River Valley.
9.7.9 The closest range views will be gained from the River Forth shoreline in which the turbines will
be seen as relatively large scale elements. Without the enclosure of the surrounding hills the
turbines will break the skyline when seen from low elevations in most views on the River Forth
floodplain, and well below the skyline when seen from more elevated areas. They will
generally all be at least partly visible, with their towers increasingly screened by the intervening
vegetation and undulations in the landform.
9.7.10 The consequences of this are that from the immediate area 0.5-2km there are anticipated to be
some significant visual effects, where the proposal is visible. These effects tend to be limited
to individual farmsteads and local roads and the settlements of Alloa, Clackmann, Fallin, Airth,
Cowie, South Alloa and Dunmore. The limited area, which experiences significant effects from
the proposal in the wider area also mean that there are limited significant cumulative effects,
anticipated with existing and proposed wind energy developments.
9.7.11 From a minimum distance of around 3km away, the turbines will appear as apparent vertical
elements. The movement of the blades serves to draw attention towards the proposed wind
energy development in close views. However, the low level of the proposed wind energy
development will reduce the overall perception of scale. Any visibility will be experienced in a
context in which large scale pylons and chimneys are already apparent features. This is a
landscape that already contains vertical structures and the presence of these elements helps
to reduce the perceived scale of the proposed turbines.
November 2010 Chapter 9 Page 127
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