Forthbank Wind Energy Development - Partnerships for Renewables

Forthbank Wind Energy Development
• Planning Advice Note (PAN) 42: Archaeology, The Planning Process and Scheduled
Monument Procedures (1994) provides advice on the handling of archaeological
matters within the planning process.
• Planning Advice Note (PAN) 45: Renewable Energy Technologies (rev. 2002)
provides advice on the likely visibility of wind farms in the wider area.
Baseline Studies
Approach
10.2.10 For buried archaeological sites that are recorded on the Sites and Monuments Record but not
otherwise designated, the study area is a 1.5km buffer zone around the application area (as
defined by the black line boundary on Figure 10.1). This forms the Core Study Area. Whilst
there is no potential for direct effects on cultural heritage features outside this study area, it is
considered that information from the study area may inform the assessment of the sensitivity of
the application site and the archaeological resources within it.
10.2.11 For designated historic environment resources of regional and local significance the study area
is a circle of 3km radius centred on the application area (as defined by the red line boundary
on Figure 10.5). This forms the Inner Study Area. The study area has regard to the advice on
the perception of turbines in Figure 8 of PAN 45, to the nature and extent of the proposed
development. It is not considered that the potential for likely significant environmental effects
on a cultural heritage resource of regional or local importance would exist beyond 3km. Only
those receptors that fall within the ZTV have been identified and described.
10.2.12 For designated cultural heritage resources of international and national significance the study
area is primarily a circle of 10km radius centred on the application area (as defined by the blue
line boundary on Figure 10.6). This forms the Outer Study Area. A precautionary approach is
employed where more distant cultural heritage features of international and national
significance are included in the initial stages of assessment, these only being discounted after
a detailed assessment of their setting has been made. The study area is demonstrably robust
to ensure that any likely significant environmental effects can be identified. Furthermore, the
study area is consistent with the advice given in Figure 8 of PAN 45, which advises on the
general perception of turbines within the landscape at certain distances. Given these
distances, and having regard to the nature and scale of the proposed wind energy
development, and experience it is considered that the potential for likely significant adverse
effects will be confined to resources within 10km.
Desk Assessment
10.2.13 The desk assessment was based on a preliminary, office-based, assessment of the likelihood
of the application area to contain archaeological remains and to provide an indication of what,
if any, further work would be required with regard to archaeology.
10.2.14 The primary information resource was the Sites and Monuments Records (SMRs),
supplemented by relevant published documentary and cartographic material, as appropriate.
November 2010 Chapter 10 Page 4
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