11/00713/F - Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk

oads that cross the area. The village of Docking centres on the church with a landmark
tower and village pond, Docking Hall and its associated mature parkland landscape. Typical
of the area are a series of roads (some of them fairly busy e.g. the B1454) radiating out from
the villages. Farmland comprises generally large, regular shaped fields (separated by low to
medium mature hedgerows), which are interspersed by small patches of woodland,
plantations and tree belts, which punctuate the skyline. The patches of woodland provide
some localised sense of enclosure. Few tracks and footpaths cross the area other than the
Peddar’s Way and Norfolk Coastal Path. A strong sense of tranquillity, isolation and
exposure is apparent throughout the open sparsely populated area. Long distance,
panoramic and open views across farmland are characteristic of the area, contributing to the
generally large-scale nature of this landscape character area”.
The CBA report then highlights the following landscape sensitivities of the area:
� Intact mature landscape structure including belts and copses of (plantation)
woodland, mature (parkland) trees and patches of intact hedgerow network.
� Landscape setting of Docking.
� Coherent and recognisable small-scale settlement density and pattern.
� Relatively strong sense of tranquillity throughout the area.
It concludes that development in this area should, amongst other things:-
� Seek to conserve the largely undisturbed and tranquil nature of the area; and
� Seek to conserve the panoramic views across the area and adjacent areas.
Moving on to the assessment of the impact of the proposed development, the submitted
Environmental Statement (ES) concludes that the character of the area in the immediate
locality of the site, including CBA landscape character type J1 (Docking) and parts of North
Norfolk, would experience localised significant effects. However, it then goes on to state that
the effects would not be significant in terms of the overall character of the area.
Based in the viewpoint analysis carried out, the applicant concludes that high sensitivity
receptors (such as residents) will experience effects of ‘Major’ significance at distances up to
2km away. Beyond this, the effects would reduce to ‘Negligible’ at around 11-15km. It is the
applicant’s view that within 5km of the site, screening features and topography will largely
mitigate the visual impact and concludes by stating ‘Both Major and Moderate visual effects
within these distances are to be expected for any windfarm development of this size and
should not be regarded as intrinsically unacceptable’.
To help with assessing the applicant’s case, independent consultants (Shiels Flynn) were
commissioned to review the material. Shiels Flynn (SF) reviewed the currency of
background documentation, the LVIA for this application (and that at Chiplow) and the
cumulative impact upon the landscape of this application and the Chiplow proposals.
With regard to the LUC report, SF comment that the analysis stands up well despite the
considerable experience amassed since it was produced. However, they recognise that it
was prepared in the absence of detailed work on visual representation and cumulative
impact undertaken by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). SF also point to the reports
limitations as follows:-
� It is a strategic study, which deals with issues at a relatively broad brush scale;
� The landscape characterisation focuses on generic landscape types, rather than site
specific local character areas;
� The summary statements and maps for capacity to accommodate wind turbine
development specifically exclude cumulative impacts; and
10/01419/FM Development Control Board
25 July 2011
54