Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
Plantation, would form prominent new developments in the view. Fauch Hill would be located
to the south west on the slopes of the Pentland Hills, extending wind farms from the plateau
and upland fringes landscapes into the open moorland of the uplands. The Fauch Hill
scheme would be particularly prominent and uncharacteristic in this context. The established
pattern of wind farms in the landscape of West Lothian would be disrupted by the relatively
large schemes at Harburnhead and Fauch Hill. Wind farms would occupy approximately 60º
of the view. Other planned wind farms to the west and north west are more distant and are
likely to be largely obscured by intervening forestry planting. The proposed wind farm would
form the closest visible scheme, sitting in front of the Harburnhead Wind Farm and forming
an intensification of development in a distinct cluster with Pates Hill and Pearie Law. The
horizontal spread of cumulative schemes within the view would not be significantly increased
through the addition of the proposed wind farm. The magnitude of change would be small
and the additional effect of the proposed wind farm would be Slight, which is not significant.
Viewpoint 3. A70 South West of Site
9.9.40 At this second viewpoint on the A70, near views gained whilst travelling would include the
existing wind farm at Pates Hill to the west as the most prominent scheme beyond forestry.
Black Law would be potentially visible in the distance and only the blade tips of Muirhall
would be visible on the horizon to the south west. Consented schemes at the Black Law
Extension, Tormywheel and Muirhall Extension would also be potentially visible on the
horizon between blocks of conifer plantation to the west. These schemes would occupy
approximately 55º of the view. Schemes in planning would include Harburnhead beyond
forestry planting to the north west. This would form a prominent, large scale development
near to the viewpoint. Fauch Hill would also be prominent in the view to the east rising up the
slopes of the Pentland Hills in a relatively open landscape, visible against the backdrop of the
distinctive ridge. These two proposals would significantly increase the influence of wind farms
in the landscape and unbalance the established pattern, scale and spacing of wind farms in
the landscape. Other distant schemes in planning to the south west would be obscured
beyond commercial forestry. The cumulative schemes would extend over approximately 180º
of the view. The proposed wind farm would be visible to the north east between the
Harburnhead and Fauch Wind Farms, at a similar distance to the two schemes. The proposal
would be seen as an additional scheme, which continues the existing pattern of wind farms
across the landscape. The proposed wind farm would increase the spread of wind farms in
the view by less than 10º. The magnitude of change would be small and the additional effect
of the proposed wind farm would be Slight, which is not significant.
Viewpoint 6. Woolfords Cottages
9.9.41 The mid-distance views from residential properties would include Pates Hill Wind Farm as a
prominent scheme, close to the viewer, rising up beyond forestry and farmland to the north
west. The Muirhall scheme would be less visible in the mid-distance to the south through
intermittent tree belts. The Extension to Muirhall would slightly intensify the development in
this part of the view. These schemes would combine to occupy approximately 50º of the
overall view. Schemes in planning at Harburnhead, Pearie Law and Fauch Hill would form an
extensive grouping of wind farms to the north east in the near to mid-distance, combining to
form an uncharacteristically large group of turbines. The wind farms would be partially
concealed beyond forestry, although would form a prominent addition to the view. A single
turbine at Benthead Farm would be partially visible through trees to the south. The
combination of these schemes would result in potentially 130º of the view including wind
March 2013 9-87 ES Chapter 9
Landscape and Visual
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