Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables
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Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

pfr.co.uk
07.02.2014 Views

Camilty Wind Farm settings; however, it does lie adjacent to the setting of the Pentland Hills Uplands landmark landscape feature. Step Four 9.3.45 The key ‘gateway’ or tourist routes of high amenity value in West Lothian were identified as part of this step including 14 roads, four footpaths and two cycleways. The most relevant principle sensitive routes identified within the vicinity of the proposal site include two sections of the A70 to the north and south of the site: • A70 ‘Lang Whang’ at the southern West Lothian boundary, with views northwards across Cobbinshaw Reservoir towards the Bathgate Hills; • A70 ‘Lang Whang’ between Harperrig Reservoir and the eastern West Lothian boundary, with views southwards and eastwards to the Pentland Hills. Step Five 9.3.46 This step involved the identification of ‘iconic’ viewpoints. The viewpoints should satisfy two criteria: • ‘the viewpoint should be a major ‘destination’ in its own right, not merely a viewpoint where passers-by may stop to enjoy a view; • the viewpoint should be representative of the West Lothian or Lothian landscape, a ‘post-card’ type view. 9.3.47 Field validation included the identification of visual cones or compartments for each viewpoint. Nine viewpoints were identified including West Cairn Hill ‘representing the highest point within the Pentland Hills in West Lothian and readily accessible from the footpath route through the Cauldstane Slap from a parking area off the A70 at Little Vantage’. The maximum radius of 10km was identified around the viewpoint, within which the proposal site is located. The study states that ‘the distance is considered appropriate within which wind energy development would create significant adverse visual effects and would impair the visual experience having climbed to the summit via the Cauldstane Slap footpath route or other routes from within the Pentland Hills Regional Park’. Step Six 9.3.48 The final step of the assessment brings together all the previous steps to identify areas potentially suitable in landscape and visual terms for wind energy development. The study identifies two areas that are considered to have potential for wind energy developments in landscape unit 2(ii). These are a small extension to the western side of the Pates Hill Wind Farm and an area in the Woodmuir Plantation which is only considered to have potential if the adjacent Tormywheel wind farm is not constructed. Several further potential development areas are shown in the band of settled landscape, which extends across the centre of the West Lothian area. Baseline Conditions Landscape Character 9.3.49 As mentioned in the Methodology section, the landscape character of the study area was assessed as part of a national programme of landscape character assessment, carried out by SNH in partnership with local authorities and other agencies. March 2013 9-27 ES Chapter 9 Landscape and Visual Copyright Partnerships for Renewables Development Co. Ltd 2013 ©

Camilty Wind Farm 9.3.50 In order that the baseline assessment of landscape character is consistent across the study area, and is considered at a level of detail appropriate to the location and scale of the proposed wind farm, a degree of synthesis has been necessary. This process, undertaken by RPS, has been informed by SNH, the local authority and other agencies as well as field study over a number of months. 9.3.51 The 35 km radius study area for the development is covered by the following assessments: • ASH Consulting Group, (1998), The Lothians Landscape Character Assessment, Scottish Natural Heritage Review No. 91; • ASH Consulting Group, (1998), The Borders landscape assessment, Scottish Natural Heritage Review No 112; • David Tyldesley and Associates, (1995), Dunfermline District Landscape Assessment: a landscape assessment of Dunfermline District, including part of Kirkcaldy District lying in the West Fife Woodlands Initiative Area, Natural Heritage Review No 19; • Ironside Farrar, (Nov 2010), South Lanarkshire Landscape Character Assessment; • Land Use Consultants, (1999), Glasgow and the Clyde Valley landscape assessment, Scottish Natural Heritage Review No 116; • ASH Consulting Group, (1998), Clackmannanshire Landscape Character Assessment, Scottish Natural Heritage Review No. 96; • ASH Consulting Group, (1999), Central Region Landscape Character Assessment, Scottish Natural Heritage Review No. 123; and • David Tyldesley and Associates, (1999), Stirling to Grangemouth Landscape Character Assessment, Scottish Natural Heritage Review No. 124. 9.3.52 At a more detailed scale, the differences within each of these character areas become apparent during research of the baseline conditions. The areas have been identified, located and described based on desk study and field observation by RPS. 9.3.53 The SNH Landscape Character Assessments identify 68 generic character types within the 35 km radius area of search. Following a review of the descriptions within the text by RPS, it is considered that some of the character types within different SNH assessments are equivalent. As the site lies within West Lothian, the landscape character types within The Lothians Landscape Character Assessment have been used as the basis for all character types within the eight districts of the study area. These were subsequently correlated using similarities within the character to correspond with a manageable assessment of 8 character types designed by RPS under the following titles: • Upland Fringes • Upland • Lowland Plateaux • Lowland Plains • Lowland Hills • River Valley • Coastal March 2013 9-28 ES Chapter 9 Landscape and Visual Copyright Partnerships for Renewables Development Co. Ltd 2013 ©

<strong>Camilty</strong> <strong>Wind</strong> <strong>Farm</strong><br />

9.3.50 In order that the baseline assessment of landscape character is consistent across the study<br />

area, and is considered at a level of detail appropriate to the location and scale of the<br />

proposed wind farm, a degree of synthesis has been necessary. This process, undertaken by<br />

RPS, has been in<strong>for</strong>med by SNH, the local authority and other agencies as well as field study<br />

over a number of months.<br />

9.3.51 The 35 km radius study area <strong>for</strong> the development is covered by the following assessments:<br />

• ASH Consulting Group, (1998), The Lothians Landscape Character Assessment,<br />

Scottish Natural Heritage Review No. 91;<br />

• ASH Consulting Group, (1998), The Borders landscape assessment, Scottish Natural<br />

Heritage Review No 112;<br />

• David Tyldesley and Associates, (1995), Dunfermline District Landscape Assessment:<br />

a landscape assessment of Dunfermline District, including part of Kirkcaldy District<br />

lying in the West Fife Woodlands Initiative Area, Natural Heritage Review No 19;<br />

• Ironside Farrar, (Nov 2010), South Lanarkshire Landscape Character Assessment;<br />

• Land Use Consultants, (1999), Glasgow and the Clyde Valley landscape assessment,<br />

Scottish Natural Heritage Review No 116;<br />

• ASH Consulting Group, (1998), Clackmannanshire Landscape Character<br />

Assessment, Scottish Natural Heritage Review No. 96;<br />

• ASH Consulting Group, (1999), Central Region Landscape Character Assessment,<br />

Scottish Natural Heritage Review No. 123; and<br />

• David Tyldesley and Associates, (1999), Stirling to Grangemouth Landscape<br />

Character Assessment, Scottish Natural Heritage Review No. 124.<br />

9.3.52 At a more detailed scale, the differences within each of these character areas become<br />

apparent during research of the baseline conditions. The areas have been identified, located<br />

and described based on desk study and field observation by RPS.<br />

9.3.53 The SNH Landscape Character Assessments identify 68 generic character types within the<br />

35 km radius area of search. Following a review of the descriptions within the text by RPS, it<br />

is considered that some of the character types within different SNH assessments are<br />

equivalent. As the site lies within West Lothian, the landscape character types within The<br />

Lothians Landscape Character Assessment have been used as the basis <strong>for</strong> all character<br />

types within the eight districts of the study area. These were subsequently correlated using<br />

similarities within the character to correspond with a manageable assessment of 8 character<br />

types designed by RPS under the following titles:<br />

• Upland Fringes<br />

• Upland<br />

• Lowland Plateaux<br />

• Lowland Plains<br />

• Lowland Hills<br />

• River Valley<br />

• Coastal<br />

March 2013 9-28 ES Chapter 9<br />

Landscape and Visual<br />

Copyright <strong>Partnerships</strong> <strong>for</strong> <strong>Renewables</strong> Development Co. Ltd 2013 ©

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