Planning Supporting Statement - Partnerships for Renewables

Louth Canal Wind Energy Development
7.3.6 During operation of the development there are no predicted significant effects on Landscape
Designations, and only locally significant effects on the Lincolnshire Coast and Marshes
National Character Area and the local landscape character area of Tetney Lock to Skegness
Coastal Outmarsh.
7.3.7 Of the sixteen viewpoints considered as part of the visual assessment, one is considered to
experience a major adverse effect and six are assessed as having a moderate adverse effect.
Details of the sixteen viewpoints and the assessment of their effect are included in Table 9.17
in Chapter 9 of the ES.
7.3.8 The effect the proposed Development, on the views from residential properties (within 1.5km)
of the proposed turbine locations has been assessed. This equates to 33 views, as set out in
Table 9.18 in Chapter 9 of the ES. Just one of these views results in a major adverse effect
and 16 in a moderate adverse effect, at a distance of less than 700m from the closest
proposed turbine, further details on these views can be found in Table 9.18 of the ES.
7.3.9 The LVIA acknowledges that both in terms of landscape and visual effects during the
construction and operational phases, there is a certain capacity in the wider landscape for the
nature, scale and location of the proposed Development. This supports the findings of the wind
farm capacity studies covering the assessment area and is borne out by the cumulative
assessment findings where, taking into account existing and planned wind farms alongside
other industrialising infrastructure already within the assessment area, it is considered that the
proposed Development would not significantly contribute further to any adverse cumulative
landscape or visual effects. The effect on the natural and cultural environment (including
biodiversity, the integrity of designated nature conservation sites of international importance,
and historic assets and their settings).
7.3.10 The Louth Canal site is not covered by any international and national ecological designations.
The Tetney Flood Local Wildlife Site (LWS) is within the development site boundary which is
designated for its rich wetland and swamp flora.
7.3.11 Chapter 11 of the ES provides details of the ecological effects of the proposed Development.
The Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA) for the proposed development follows the published
guidance by the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (IEEM). Establishment of
the baseline environment involved a combination of desk based study, data collation and site
survey. The Louth Canal site is not covered by any international and national designations.
There is a local wildlife designation on a small part of the site within the flood reservoir (Tetney
Flood Local Wildlife Site). Hedgerow buffers have been put in place to avoid damage to
habitats. These hedgerows are not ecologically significant and in some cases the local habitats
will benefit from the works. There is predicted to be a minor adverse impact on bat activity, the
details of this are set out in Chapter 11 of the Environmental Statement.
7.3.12 The potential effects of the proposed Development on ecology and nature conservation (based
on surveys undertaken, published literature and available guidance documents) are not
considered to be significant.
7.3.13 Chapter 12 of the ES provides details of the ornithological effects of the proposed
Development. It complements the assessment of ecological effects in Chapter 11. The
potential effects of the proposed Development on all birds are considered to be minor adverse
to negligible, and therefore not significant. Nevertheless, protective measures and mitigation
during construction of the wind farm will be ensured.
March 2012 26 Planning Supporting Statement
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