The siting and design of aquaculture in the landscape: visual and ...

Planning authorities expect developers to demonstrate how they have reduced potential adverse
impacts on local landscape character and visual amenity when deciding on orientation, micro-siting
and the size and layout of aquaculture installations. This section provides information which will
help a developer analyse and take into account these landscape and visual issues.
3.1 Landscape character
Understanding the character of the landscape and how it is experienced is a first step towards
siting and planning the layout of a finfish or shellfish farm proposal. In particular, landscape
character assessment should assist in:
––
Planning the scale of the development;
––
Positioning both onshore and water-based structures;
––
Aligning the water based structures
––
Advising on the relationship between the proposed development and existing aquaculture
developments; and
––
Planning the layout and scale of both the water based structures and any necessary onshore
facilities and infrastructure
3.2 Coastal landscape character
Coastal landscape character, which is sometimes called ‘seascape’ character when it is dominated
by open water, is made up of many elements. Some of these, like the shape of the coastline, its
relief and pattern of land use, are physical. Others, such as sense of openness or enclosure and
degree of shelter or exposure, are experienced by people when they move around a place.
The process of character assessment analyses the coastal landscape and identifies which
elements and experiences of the coast are the most typical and distinctive to the area. When
assessing the potential impact of a development, it is then possible to assess how a new
or amended development might affect or relate to these key characteristics. Each place is
different, and will have characteristics that reflect that difference. However, broadly speaking,
aquaculture development is most likely to influence one or more of the generic coastal landscape
characteristics set out in Box 1.
Steep-sided enclosed lochs
Sheltered but expansive lochs
Indented coasts, bays and narrow straits
Open and expansive coasts
15