Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
have an effect on the perception of the landscapes character or on views gained by sensitive
receptors.
9.9.3 As with the assessment of landscape effects, cumulative landscape effects can either be
directly on the physical fabric of the landscape, or indirectly on the character of the
landscape.
9.9.4 A comprehensive search has been undertaken to identify other wind farms that are
operational, under construction, consented or proposed, through various means of
consultation. As a result, 190 other commercial wind farms within a 60 km radius of the
proposed wind farm at the time of submission of this ES have been identified and reviewed
(see Figure 9.16). The 95 relevant wind farms, excluding those in scoping, which lie within 35
km of the proposed wind farm, have been assessed in detail. A table of these cumulative
schemes and the landscape character type in which they are located is found in Appendix
9.9.
Cumulative Effects on Landscape Character
Area of Great Landscape Value
9.9.5 The proposed wind farm would lie adjacent to the boundary of the Pentland Hills AGLV and
RSA. There are currently no operational or approved wind farms in the AGLV. Muirhall Wind
Farm is located near the boundary of the RSA, in South Lanarkshire; and its extension will
extend the wind farm closer to the designation boundary. Pates Hill Wind Farm is located
approximately 4 km from the boundary of the AGLV. These two schemes provide distinctive
elements of the Upland Fringes and Plateau Moorland character types, which provide the
context to the Pentland Hills and are visible when looking to the north west from the hills. The
schemes in planning at Fauch Hill and Beddingsgill Gamekeepers Cottage would be located
within the AGLV to the south east of the proposed wind farm. These schemes would extend
the characteristic of wind farms from the landscape type adjacent to the AGLV, into the
landscape designation. Schemes at Harburnhead, Pearie Law and Benthead Farm are
located outside of the AGLV, in the vicinity of existing wind farms at Pates Hill and Muirhall.
The five schemes in planning would create a more prominent collection of wind farms within,
adjacent and near to the AGLV, and a more developed context into which the proposed wind
farm would be placed. In this context, the introduction of the proposed wind farm in the
AGLV as a landscape of high sensitivity would result in a small magnitude of change. The
additional cumulative, indirect effect on the landscape character of the AGLV would be
Moderate, which is not significant.
9.9.6 Appendix 9.9 identifies the generic landscape character types in which the cumulative wind
farms lie. Only 18 of the 46 character types in the study area would contain at least one of
the 95 wind farms. These character types are as follows:
• Dissected Plateau Moorland – 3 wind farms;
• Fragmented Farmlands – 1 wind farm;
• Lowland Hill Fringes – 2 wind farm;
• Lowland Hills and Valleys – 4 wind farms;
• Lowland Plains 1 - wind farm;
• Lowland Plateaux – 4 wind farms;
March 2013 9-81 ES Chapter 9
Landscape and Visual
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