Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
the form of lighting is still to be agreed, visible lighting has been assumed for the purposes of
this assessment, to present a worst case scenario. However, if infrared lighting is adopted,
which is not visible to the human eye at distances of more than 500 m, the proposals would
not result in any effects on visual receptors or landscape character.
9.5.33 The appearance of the turbines will vary according to wind direction, meteorological
conditions and distance. The paragraphs below have taken into account the effects of these
variables on the views available to visual receptors, although the photomontages all show
turbines facing the viewer and blade tips rotated to show above intervening vegetation and
landform as the worse case scenario.
Effects on Landscape Resources During the Operation of the Wind Farm
Methodology
9.5.34 The detailed methodology used in assessing the significance of effects is as set out in
section 2, and is the same as that used in assessing the construction effects. The value of
the landscape resource (based on designations) and its sensitivity to the proposed
development is considered in relation to the magnitude of the proposed change. The
importance of the change to the landscape resource can then be assessed. Unlike the
temporary nature of the construction phase, the effects of the operational phase are
considered (for the purposes of this assessment) to be permanent. Consideration has been
given as to whether the proposed wind farm would become the key landscape characteristic:
that is, whether the wind farm would establish a ‘wind farm landscape type’ and further away
from the site, a ‘wind farm landscape sub-type’; or whether it would be perceived only as a
landscape element within another landscape type or sub-type. The effects on the landscape
fabric and character during the operation of the wind farm are set out in detail at Appendix
9.7.
Effects on Designated Landscapes
9.5.35 Landscape character types which coincide with the landscape designations are illustrated on
Figure 9.9. An assessment of effects on their character can be found at Appendix 9.7.
Areas of Great Landscape Value
9.5.36 The site is located adjacent to the Pentland Hills AGLV, which extends over an area of
uplands to the south east of the site. The alignment of the A70 forms the edge of the
designation and forms the south east boundary of the proposal site. The area is designated
for it scenic quality and protected at a local level. The proposed wind farm would form a
prominent development in the immediate context of the AGLV, and would have an influence
over the character of this upland landscape. The proposal would form the closest of a linear
group of other wind farms extending away from the AGLV, and sits within a commercial
forestry setting. The proposal would result in an indirect effect on a landscape of high
sensitivity, leading to a small magnitude of change and a Moderate effect, which is not
significant. The Moderate effects are particularly localised within the AGLV, extending to
approximately 5 km from the site. The majority of the AGLV, which extends north east
towards Edinburgh, is located up to 18 km from the application site and would be significantly
less influenced by the proposal. Effects on the character of this part of the AGLV would range
from Slight to Negligible. Viewpoints 4, Crosswood reservoir (Figure 9.14/4), 11, Harperrig
Reservoir (Figure 9.14/11), 12 West Cairn Hill (Figure 9.14/12), 13 Craigengar (Figure
9.14/13), 17 Black Hill (Figure 9.14/17), 18 Thriepmuir Reservoir (Figure 9.14/18)and 19
March 2013 9-57 ES Chapter 9
Landscape and Visual
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