Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Farm ... - North Ayrshire Council

existing Wardlaw Wood wind farm could potentially be accommodated on the
less sensitive lower eastern uplands which are already characterised by
turbine development and forestry. Medium to high sensitivity
Perceptual qualities
4.20 The presence of existing wind farm development (Wardlaw Wood and
Kelburn), transmission lines, hill tracks and reservoirs reduces the perception
of wildness and naturalness in this area. Additional wind farm development
forming an extension to the existing Wardlaw Wood wind farm (5) would be
unlikely to have a noticeable effect on the perceptual qualities associated with
this landscape character area. The location and increased elevation of Kaim
Hill on the western periphery of this upland area provides an association with
the wider landscape of the Firth of Clyde and islands. Wind farm development
which encroached on the openness of Kaim hill would adversely affect the
experience of walking in this area and diminish this association. Medium
sensitivity
Views and visibility
4.21 This is not an extensive upland area and larger typologies (1+2) would be
visible from the settled lowlands to the east and from the Firth of Clyde and
islands to the west, although they would be seen in the context of existing
wind farm development which reduces sensitivity. Developments sited on the
western periphery of this character area would have a potentially far more
significant effect in this respect and would also impact on views from the
settled ‘Raised Beach Coast’ character area where the existing wind farm of
Wardlaw Wood and consented wind farm of Kelburn are not widely visible at
present. (This is demonstrated by Figure 7 which shows the relative
prominence of the Kaim Hill wind farm proposal). Windfarm development
located on the Crosbie Hills would be highly visible from the B781 and would
breach the containment and separation they offer to existing windfarms.
Similarly, turbines located on the slightly higher ridge of ground on the
northern periphery of this character area between Cocklaw and Blaeloch Hill
would dominate views from the A760 in the Muirhead and Camphill Reservoir
area. The consented Kelburn windfarm will be partially visible from the A760
development although the visual dominance of turbines will be restricted by
views of only two turbine tips throughout much of this valley. Medium to high
sensitivity
Overall sensitivity
4.22 The western peripheral hills, of which Kaim Hill is the most prominent, play a
key role in providing the immediate backdrop and setting to the settled
‘Raised Beach Coast’. The Crosbie Hills to the south are also important in
separating and partially containing existing wind farm developments as is the
slightly higher rim of ground between Cocklaw and Blaeloch Hill to the north.
There is a need to retain the open and undeveloped character of these hills in
order to protect adjacent character areas and views and to avoid significant
25