ANGUS LOCAL PLAN REVIEW FINALISED PLAN - Angus Council

3.79 Hills, dip slopes and large areas of commercial forestry withinthe lowlands (Figure 3.4 – Area 2) have more potential toaccommodate wind energy development. Detailed analysis oftopography, landscape, and environmental impact will be required toassess specific development proposals. Within the geographic areaof moderate sensitivity, there are locations of high sensitivity. Thesewill include:• small scale landscapes and sites on the skyline;• locations used or visited by large numbers of people;• countryside around towns, villages and other residentialproperties;• sensitive habitats such as river and stream beds, sand anddune systems;• wayleaves.3.80 Cumulative visual impact arises where wind turbinedevelopments are visually related. This may be through one or moreturbine or wind farm being visible from a single point, or fromfrequency of visibility, such as from a road or a footpath. The impactcan be exacerbated if wind turbines come to dominate ageographically defined area or feature – which can extend acrosslocal authority boundaries. Environmental impacts can also be subjectto cumulative effect – for example where a number of turbinedevelopments adversely affect landscape character or a singlespecies or habitat type.3.81 Development proposals should take cognisance of existing windenergy developments and consented sites. The potential cumulativeimpact within any TLCA landscape type, both visually andenvironmentally, will require to be assessed in any developmentproposal.Policy ER34 : Wind Energy DevelopmentProposals for large-scale wind energy development will notnormally be permitted in the Highland and Coast GeographicAreas (Areas 1 and 3) in Angus.Proposals for small-scale wind energy development withinGeographic Areas 1 and 3 and for large-scale development inGeographic Area 2 (Lowland and hills) will require todemonstrate that a site search has been undertaken and that nosuitable less sensitive location is available within the landscapezone.NPPG6 : Renewable EnergyDevelopments (Revised 2000)Large-scale projects which mayor will require an EnvironmentalAssessment. These are definedas hydroelectric schemesdesigned to produce more than0.5MW and wind farms of morethan 2 turbines or where the hubheight of any turbine or anyother structure exceeds 15m.Wind energy proposals will also require to demonstrate:(a) compatibility with the requirements in Policy ER33;(b) there is no unacceptable detrimental effect on residentialamenity, existing land uses or road safety by reason ofshadow flicker reflected light, or electro-magnetic influences;Angus Local Plan Review88Finalised Plan