Non Technical Summary - Partnerships for Renewables

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Landscaoe and Visual – Chapter 9 continued > • 10km from the proposed development for assessment of effects on local landscape character and the majority of visual receptors. This is referred to as the detailed study area and covers nearly all the areas of the Island from where the proposed turbines would be potentially visible; • 20km from the proposed development for assessment of effects on settlements, National Trails and national landscape designations; and • 40km from the proposed development for cumulative effects. A cumulative scoping exercise was carried out which identified three wind energy developments and a biomass CHP plant with a tall chimney stack to be included in the cumulative assessment. The development site is not located within any national or local landscape planning designations and is located approximately 2.5km from the Isle of Wight Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and approximately 8km away from the New Forest National Park which is located on the mainland. The Isle of Wight Council has undertaken detailed studies which have characterised the different landscapes of the Isle of Wight. The proposed turbines are located within the Northern Woodlands’ landscape character type (LCT) which extends across Parkhurst Forest and some of its adjacent fields and the surrounding area is defined as Traditional Enclosed Pasture Land LCT or Calbourne Farmland Landscape Character Area (LCA). The development site is located on the eastern side of the 395ha Parkhurst Forest which comprises of mature, mixed broadleaf and conifer woodland which extends around the development site’s western and northern edges. Another mature woodland, Noke Plantation, forms the development site’s eastern edge providing it with a strong sense of enclosure. To the south is a valley containing a number of unkempt pasture fields which separate it from the HMP Isle of Wight site including Camp Hill, Albany and Parkhurst Barracks. Parkhurst Forest contains a number of trails which are open to public use but there is no public access to the site itself or in its immediate vicinity. There are moderate levels of public access approximately 1km from the proposed development. In the wider context there are ten long-distance trails mostly concentrated in the southern part of the island with the exception of the Isle of Wight Coastal Path which skirts the whole perimeter. These have been assessed and there will be no “substantial adverse” or “very substantial adverse” effects experienced at any of these receptors. The centre of Newport, the island’s largest town, lies some 2.8km to the south-east and its northern suburb of Parkhurst extends along the A3020 approximately 1km to the east. The small towns of Cowes and East Cowes also lie within 5km. Otherwise the prevailing settlement pattern in the detailed study area is of small settlements distributed in a medium density interspersed with farmsteads and isolated or small clusters of residential properties. There are also a number of holiday parks and tourist attractions 1.5km from the proposed development site and beyond. In terms of effects on the receptors mentioned above during the construction and de-commissioning phases both landscape and visual effects are considered to be temporary in nature and short term. This results in landscape and visual effects being not significant although there would be a limited number of visual receptors likely to sustain moderate adverse levels of visual effect during the shortlived period when the turbines are actually being erected by crane and their rotor blades attached. During construction and de-commissioning this relatively low level of landscape and visual effect is mainly due to the low numbers of close distance visual receptors and the screening of all ground level construction activities by the surrounding woodlands. During the 25-year operational period no significant effects have been identified that would be greater than “moderate adverse” on any landscape elements, character areas or types or upon landscape designations. Moderate adverse landscape effects have been identified for the Northern Woodlands LCT within which the wind energy development would be sited and the aforementioned surrounding Traditional Enclosed Pasture Land LCT and Calbourne Farmland LCA. In the areas from which the turbines could potentially be seen, the separation distances from and the most valued attributes of the AONB and Heritage Coasts are assessed in detail and it is concluded that landscape effects would be no more than “slight adverse”. Consequently, no significant effects were identified for the Isle of Wight AONB, the Heritage Coast or the New Forest National Park. In addition to the nineteen agreed visualisation viewpoints the visual assessment included 118 individual or, more usually, groups of visual receptors located on the island and within 10km of the proposed development site. Of these visual receptors it is concluded that nine individuals or groups would be likely to sustain “substantial adverse” visual effects and a further twenty-four individual or groups would be likely or certain to sustain “moderate adverse” visual effects. However, no visual receptors would sustain “very substantial adverse” visual effects. These relatively low numbers of instances where “moderate” or “substantial” adverse visual effects would be experienced is due to the fact that there is, in fact, a relatively small number of visual receptors located in close proximity to the development site. Furthermore, screening provided by the high level of tree cover nearby will help to foreshorten many potential views for residents in properties such as those at the western end of Noke Common and Mark’s Corner. The aspect and Section continues overleaf > 08
Landscaoe and Visual – Chapter 9 continued > principal views of some properties, such as those on Rooke Street in Parkhurst, will also limit the level of visual effect. For many visual receptors with potential medium distance views the proposed two turbines would be screened by the island’s distinct landform especially the chalk ridge “spine” that runs west -east across its centre as well as relatively high levels of hedgerow, hedgerow tree, copse and plantation woodland that are characteristic of the two adjacent and extensive landscape character types and areas. Those receptors assessed as sustaining “substantial” or “moderate adverse effects” are generally a proportion of the residents in properties on the north-western edge of Newport or properties alongside or just off the A3020 where their main views are likely to be to the north-west, west or south-west and where nearby screening is limited. In addition to the above “moderate adverse effects” may be sustained at sections of some public rights of way at separation distances of up to 3.5km or, in two instances, up to 5km. In no instance will public rights of way sustain “substantial adverse” or “very substantial adverse” effects. With regard to effects upon residential visual amenity a combination of separation distance, the screening of ground level operational elements and the narrowness of the turbine array formed by only two turbines would ensure that no residential visual receptors would reasonably have the sense that their property would be ‘widely regarded as an unattractive place to live’. Finally the cumulative landscape and visual assessment concluded that in only one area, around Bowcombe Down, would the combination of the Camp Hill Wind Energy Development with the other developments included in the assessment result in a higher level of visual effect than would be experienced in relation to the Camp Hill turbines on their own or the other developments excluding Camp Hill. There would be no significant cumulative landscape effects upon any landscape designations or landscape character types or areas. Cultural Heritage – Chapter 10 Background historical and archaeological data was compiled and a site walkover survey undertaken in order to inform the assessment. The assessment was undertaken in accordance with current best practice and policy guidance including Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment (Department of Communities and Local Government 2010), the Practice Guide (English Heritage 2010), the Guidance Note on the Setting of Heritage Assets (2011) and the Local Unitary Development Plan. Consultation was undertaken with English Heritage and the Isle of Wight Planning Archaeologist. Designated heritage assets in the area were visited in order to assess the possible effect on their setting. Through experience of production of numerous Environmental Statements it has been demonstrated that significant effects rarely occur beyond a distance of 10km and the highest level effects are generally within 3.5km. Effects on listed buildings, conservation areas, scheduled monuments and registered historic parks and gardens within 5km were assessed; for example, the Carisbrooke Conservation Area, which includes both the parish Church of St Mary, a grade I listed building and Carisbrooke Castle, a scheduled monument and a grade I listed building all of which lie over 3km to the south of the development site. Assessment of Osborne House registered park and garden at 5km and the buildings at Parkhurst Prison and St Mary’s Hospital within 1.5km of the development site was also undertaken. Whilst the wind turbines would form a visible and recognisable new element within the landscape the assessment concluded that it would not detract from the character or significance of the surrounding heritage assets. However, the proposed development is assessed as having moderate adverse effect on the setting of the Carisbrooke Conservation Area together with the parish Church of St Mary as a result of the appearance of turbines within a specific number of views towards the church within the settlement. Moderate effects are also identified on Carisbrooke Castle. The physical effect on all heritage assets, including buried archaeological remains and other historic structures within the footprint of the proposed development, including associated services, construction compound, electrical cable connections and on/off site access routes was assessed through a desk study and site visit. The desk study comprised the identification of known designated and non-designated assets within the development area to assess the potential for effects on buried archaeological deposits and other historic features. This drew from the Isle of Wight Council Historic Environment Record, National Monument Record, historic Ordnance Survey maps and other available published resources in order to describe the history and development of the site. The assessment concluded that the potential for archaeological deposits to be affected during the construction phase is low with the exception of potential finds relating to the development site’s use as a rifle range during the late 19th and early 20th century in association with Parkhurst Barracks. Consequently a watching brief (archaeological supervision of works) would be undertaken during construction. Ecology – Chapter 11 A desk study and field surveys were undertaken at the site in 2010 and 2011 including extended phase 1 habitat, dormouse, red squirrel, reptiles and bat surveys. Detailed bat survey work included an assessment of potential roost sites, manual bat detector transect surveys at dusk, dawn re-entry surveys of trees with roosting potential, static detector surveys at ground level and static detector surveys at height. Section continues overleaf > 09
Page 1 and 2: P PfR (HMP Camp Hill) Limited Camp
Page 3 and 4: Camp Hill Wind Energy Development N
Page 5 and 6: Consultation A vital aspect of the
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Page 11 and 12: Ornithology - Chapter 12 continued
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Non Technical Summary - Partnerships for Renewables

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