Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
5.4.8 The guidance (last updated 24 October 2012) provides that the suggested areas of focus for
planning authorities should include:
• “Provide greater clarity on where groups of wind turbines can be located by ensuring
that a spatial framework for wind farms >20 MW has been set out in the development
plan and addressing the potential below 20 MW where appropriate;
• Detail criteria to be applied in assessing wind turbine applications; ... and
• Ensure that planning conditions and agreements for wind turbine approvals are
reasonable and proportionate.”
5.4.9 In considering the landscape impacts of wind farms when determining planning applications,
the guidance recognises that the receiving landscape features and the design of the
development can play a significant role in ensuring the proposals are integrated into the
landscape setting. It states that “the ability of the landscape to absorb development often
depends largely on features of landscape character such as landform, ridges, hills, valleys
and vegetation. This can also be influenced by careful siting and the skills of the designer.”
5.4.10 In replacing PAN 45 the advice dispenses with advice on the effect which distance has on the
perception of a wind farm by simply stating that “In considering wind farm visibility it should
be noted that in some locations and clear weather, turbines may be visible over long
distances, though this will depend on elevation, the angle of the sun and other factors.”
5.4.11 In relation to the impacts on wildlife and habitats, the guidance, although recognising the
potential for adverse impacts, also identifies the beneficial effects that wind farm proposals
may have. It states that “Wind turbine developments have the capacity to have both positive
and negative effects on the wildlife, habitats, ecosystems and biodiversity of an area. For
example, the effects of climate change are known to have damaging effects on wildlife,
habitats, ecosystems and biodiversity, and the production of renewable energy counters this.
There are also many opportunities for wind turbine developments to introduce environmental
improvement through land management, land restoration and habitat creation, as part of a
development scheme.”
5.4.12 Other criteria identified in the guidance to be assessed in the determination of wind farm
proposals include impacts on communities (shadow flicker, noise, electromagnetic
interference and ice throw), aviation and other defence matters, road traffic impacts and
cumulative impacts.
PAN 60 - Planning for Natural Heritage
5.4.13 PAN 60 does not specifically address wind farm developments but does provide general
guidance on the siting and design of development in relation to Scotland’s natural
environment.
5.4.14 The general principle, as stated in paragraph 52, is that ‘while inappropriate development can
detract from scenic quality or adversely affect particular habitats, species or earth heritage
interests, well designed and carefully sited development can complement the landscape and
substantially increase natural heritage interest’. NPPG 14 (now revoked) stresses that the
scale, siting and design of new development should take full account of the character of the
landscape and the potential impact on the local environment (paragraph 15) (now
encompassed within Paragraph 127 in the SPP). Landscape character assessment can play
March 2013 5-13 ES Chapter 5
Planning Policy Overview
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