Box 2: Visual Assessment This guidance on undertak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>visual</strong> assessment complements that given <strong>in</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r documents, <strong>in</strong> particular <strong>the</strong> ‘Guidance for L<strong>and</strong>scape <strong>and</strong> Visual Impact Assessment’ 12 published jo<strong>in</strong>tly by <strong>the</strong> Institute <strong>of</strong> Environmental assessment <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> L<strong>and</strong>scape Institute. When assess<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> potential <strong>visual</strong> impact <strong>of</strong> a proposal, developers should: Preparation – identify key viewpo<strong>in</strong>ts –– Identify <strong>the</strong> extent <strong>of</strong> visibility <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> proximity <strong>of</strong> viewpo<strong>in</strong>ts to <strong>the</strong> development. If necessary, this can be commissioned as a computer-generated map (called mapp<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> Zone <strong>of</strong> <strong>The</strong>oretical Visual Influence). Separate maps may be required for onshore <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> water-based structures. –– Hav<strong>in</strong>g identified <strong>the</strong> extent <strong>of</strong> potential visibility, select key viewpo<strong>in</strong>ts, <strong>in</strong> consultation with <strong>the</strong> plann<strong>in</strong>g authority. Site survey – th<strong>in</strong>k about <strong>the</strong> type <strong>of</strong> views –– Is <strong>the</strong> development seen <strong>in</strong> a glimpse view, a panorama, or a series <strong>of</strong> susta<strong>in</strong>ed views? –– Does it reappear frequently, or is it a s<strong>in</strong>gle, susta<strong>in</strong>ed view? –– From what <strong>the</strong> distance is it visible, <strong>and</strong> from how many viewpo<strong>in</strong>ts? Site survey – identify <strong>the</strong> viewpo<strong>in</strong>ts <strong>and</strong> those who will use <strong>the</strong>m –– Identify how people view all elements <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> development. Are people walk<strong>in</strong>g, with susta<strong>in</strong>ed views <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> proposal, or are <strong>the</strong>y travell<strong>in</strong>g by car, with <strong>the</strong> potential development glimpsed beh<strong>in</strong>d l<strong>and</strong>form or trees? –– Consider how views will change due to seasonal changes, such as when trees lose <strong>the</strong>ir leaves, or when <strong>the</strong> summer sun is at its highest. Will <strong>the</strong> development be lit, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>refore visible at night? –– Identify whe<strong>the</strong>r or not <strong>the</strong> proposal has a significant effect on <strong>the</strong> sequence <strong>of</strong> views experienced when travell<strong>in</strong>g along a road, footpath or established boat route. –– Identify whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> ma<strong>in</strong> views <strong>of</strong> a site are from low-level vantage po<strong>in</strong>ts or from viewpo<strong>in</strong>ts which allow residents <strong>and</strong> visitors to look down upon <strong>the</strong> site from above. Analysis – consider options for layout with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong>scape context –– Consider whe<strong>the</strong>r views are ma<strong>in</strong>ly go<strong>in</strong>g to be from a distance, with <strong>the</strong> development set aga<strong>in</strong>st a backdrop <strong>of</strong> hills, or from a nearby viewpo<strong>in</strong>t, where <strong>the</strong> development will take up more <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> foreground <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> view. Can <strong>the</strong> structure be moved to take advantage <strong>of</strong> ano<strong>the</strong>r feature, such as a woodl<strong>and</strong> backdrop? –– Look to see how it could be sited to relate to o<strong>the</strong>r features <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong>scape, such as l<strong>and</strong>scape patterns, as well as o<strong>the</strong>r exist<strong>in</strong>g <strong>aquaculture</strong> <strong>in</strong>stallations –– If you have <strong>the</strong> opportunity, use photomontages or buoys placed on <strong>the</strong> water dur<strong>in</strong>g a site visit, to experiment with different locations <strong>and</strong> configurations. For example, several larger cages may appear better scaled than a larger number <strong>of</strong> smaller cages; or shorter, but more numerous, mussel l<strong>in</strong>es may occupy less <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> perceived water space than a smaller number <strong>of</strong> longer l<strong>in</strong>es –– See if you can take advantage <strong>of</strong> foreshorten<strong>in</strong>g – does mov<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> structure fur<strong>the</strong>r from <strong>the</strong> shore by a small amount make it look much smaller for example, or does it simply make it more prom<strong>in</strong>ent from a nearby high level or o<strong>the</strong>r viewpo<strong>in</strong>t? All <strong>the</strong>se considerations can be readily presented us<strong>in</strong>g maps, photographs, photomontages or computer-generated perspectives. 12 Guidel<strong>in</strong>es for L<strong>and</strong>scape <strong>and</strong> Visual Impact Assessment, 2nd edition, 2002, Institute <strong>of</strong> Environmental Management <strong>and</strong> Assessment. (at <strong>the</strong> time <strong>of</strong> go<strong>in</strong>g to press, this version is be<strong>in</strong>g updated) 38
Section 5 Detail Design <strong>The</strong> most successful <strong>aquaculture</strong> development will be arranged <strong>and</strong> <strong>design</strong>ed to <strong>in</strong>tegrate with <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong>scape, through positively build<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong>scape characteristics <strong>and</strong> us<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> most appropriate detail <strong>design</strong>. 39
Change language