Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
9.2.43 In assessing the cumulative effects of wind farms within 35 and 60 km (Figure 9.15), the
assessment has focused on proposals relating to geographic distribution and their interaction
with the proposed wind farm, particularly from popular hill top destinations in the study area.
Combined and successive views and sequential views from transport routes have also been
assessed.
Relevant Considerations
9.2.44 There are a number of relevant considerations relating to the appearance of the proposed
wind farm and its relationship with the landscape, which also inform the assessment. These
include:
• Backdrop: turbines seen against a single backdrop, e.g. sky or moorland, will
generally be more coherent than those viewed against a variety of backdrops. Where
one particular backdrop predominates, the selection of an appropriate colour and
texture for the turbines can help mitigate the effects by reducing their visibility against
this backdrop;
• Scale: the scale of the receiving landscape has an effect on its ability to
accommodate particular proposals. In general, the large scale of the turbines tends to
be better accommodated in a large scale and relatively simple landscape. In addition,
uncomfortable comparisons of scale can be created where the turbines are seen in
the context of elements of a more domestic scale such as housing;
• Focus: specific viewpoints may focus in a particular direction. The location of the
proposed development site in relation to this focus can affect the significance of the
effect, particularly as individual turbines and wind farms can form vertical focal points
within the landscape;
• Unity: the relationship of the turbines to each other affects whether the wind farm
reads as a cohesive entity or as fragmented. Turbines overlapping can also produce a
distracting and uncomfortable visual effect. It is inevitable that from some angles this
will occur, but the extent to which this happens, and the importance of the views from
where this takes place has an influence on the significance of the effect. Other
vertical elements, such as pylons, can also detract from the unity of the proposal and
add to a sense of visual confusion;
• Movement: the movement of an object in a landscape that provides distraction or
interest including the rotation of a turbine’s blades. This can relate to landscapes
which are relatively still and static and landscapes which contain other movements
and are constantly changing and transient; and
• Setting: the combination of landform, foreground, background and features within a
view, which provide the landscape setting, influences the nature of the effect of a wind
farm. Setting also relates to the complexity or simplicity of the landscape or view and
the sense of remoteness or development, which provide the context for the proposal.
Visualisations
9.2.45 Photomontages of the proposed wind farm were prepared for selected viewpoints with
reference to methodology recommended in Visual Representation of Wind Farms; Best
Practice Guidance, Scottish Natural Heritage (2007), and as set out at Appendix 9.3. The
March 2013 9-8 ES Chapter 9
Landscape and Visual
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