Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
Condition
9.2.51 The evaluation of condition is based on judgements about the physical state of the landscape
resource. It reflects the state of repair of individual features and elements, as indicated by the
categories within the scale below, or can be applied to the intactness of the resource as a
whole outlined by the corresponding descriptions:
Table 9.2 Landscape Condition
Condition
Very Good
Good
Ordinary
Poor
Example
Strong structure; very attractive with distinct features worthy of conservation; strong
sense of place; no detracting features.
Recognisable structure; attractive with many features worthy of conservation;
occasional detracting features.
Distinguishable structure; common place with limited distinctiveness and features
worthy of conservation; some detracting features.
Weak structure; evidence of degradation; lacks distinctiveness and sense of place;
frequent detracting features.
Very Poor Damaged structure; evidence of severe disturbance or dereliction; no
distinctiveness; detracting features dominate.
9.2.52 With respect to the assessment of effects, it is necessary to establish in the first instance,
whether, and to what extent, the proposed change would exert a locally characterising effect.
In essence, it asks the question “would the introduced element become the principal
element/feature which determines landscape character?” In these circumstances, the
element would be dominant with the surrounding landscape elements being sub-dominant or
incidental in comparison. Moving outwards and away from the proposed introduction, the
element would exert a lessening effect on landscape character with the surrounding context
increasing in influence and becoming co-dominant in a mixed landscape sub-type. Farther
afield, the introduced element would become a noticed, then increasingly incidental element,
with the original balance of elements reasserting their original dominance.
9.2.53 Appendix 9.4 sets out a series of examples illustrating the potential landscape effects arising
from wind farm development and, at the same time, illustrates part of the relationship
between landscape effects and visual effects.
9.2.54 Significance in landscape character terms is defined as the extent to which new landscape
types/character areas and/or sub-types/areas would be established. This will be determined
by considering the key characteristics of the receiving landscape in combination with the
magnitude of change arising and the extent to which the key characteristics are felt to be
affected locally and over the broader landscape character area/type.
9.2.55 With respect to sensitivity, the GLVIA states that:
‘The sensitivity of the landscape to change is reflected in the degree to which a
landscape is able to accommodate change (due to a particular development or land use
change) without adverse effects on its character. This may be influenced by the extent of
existing or new landform and/or existing vegetation or new planting. These and other
factors determine the visibility of the proposed development and therefore influence the
extent of its effect on the perceived character and visual amenity of the surrounding
March 2013 9-10 ES Chapter 9
Landscape and Visual
Copyright Partnerships for Renewables Development Co. Ltd 2013 ©