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

the containment provided by the uplands to the east. However, the steep
slopes and western most hills of the upland area are seen from open
stretches of the A78 and from promontories, coastal esplanades and
harbours within this character area and all development typologies would be
highly intrusive if sited in these areas. Views to this character area are largely
from the Firth and islands to the west. The tall chimney of Inverkip Power
station and the Ardrossan wind farm are key features in these views. All
development typologies sited on the flat coastal edge or on the steep hill
slopes at the transition with the uplands would be highly visible from within
the character area and in views from the west and could conflict with existing
tall structures if sited close-by. There would be cumulative effects with
existing and consented windfarm development in the adjacent uplands of the
CMRP. Medium to high sensitivity
Overall sensitivity
4.31 There is no scope to sensitively accommodate larger wind farm typologies
within this character area due to the conflict that would occur with the scale of
settlement, the diverse land cover pattern and the containment and setting
provided by the backdrop of hills. Cumulative impacts may arise where wind
farm development visually interacts with existing tall vertical structures such
as the Inverkip power station chimney and the Ardrossan wind farm, which
although located in an adjacent character area of low hills tapering down from
the uplands to the south, is a key component of wider views towards this area
from the west. There may be limited scope to site smaller typologies (4) close
to more modified coastal areas and marinas although it will be important to
conserve key views out from this character area to the Firth of Clyde and its
islands. Medium to high overall sensitivity
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