Residential Amenity
- Local residents tend to have a higher level of sensitivity to change in their landscape and visual environment than those passing through. For
residents, the most important views tend to be from their homes, although they are also likely to be sensitive to other views such as those experienced when
travelling to work or other local destinations. Although there is no ‘right to a view’ in planning terms, if the impact of a wind farm on the amenity of a private
property is such that it renders the property an unsatisfactory place to live then it becomes a material planning consideration. A Residential Amenity
Assessment has been carried out as part of the design and Environmental Impact Assessment process to minimise potential adverse effects on residential
amenity.
- There are strict guidelines on noise emissions from wind turbines to ensure the protection of residential amenity. The evolution of wind farm
technology over the past decade has rendered mechanical noise from turbines almost undetectable with the main sound being the aerodynamic ‘swoosh’ of
the blades. A noise assessment has been undertaken as part of the design and Environmental Impact Assessment process which demonstrates that noise
from the proposed wind farm will be within the relevant guidelines at all nearby residential properties.
- There is always low frequency noise present in any ambient quiet background and it can be produced by a variety of man-made sources
including transport. It has been repeatedly shown by measurements of wind turbine noise undertaken in the UK, Denmark, Germany and the USA over the
past decade that the levels of low frequency noise and vibration that radiate from modern, upwind configuration wind turbines are at a very low level, so low
that they are recorded below the threshold of perception. Reports¹ have also shown that there is no evidence that infrasound from wind turbines can directly
impact the inner ear as has been claimed.
- This predictable phenomenon only tends to occur within 10x rotor diameters of wind turbines, which in this case equates to around 920m
from turbine bases. A shadow flicker assessment has been prepared for residential properties within this distance which will be included in the planning
application. Mitigation measures, including automatic turbine shut down, will be incorporated into the wind farm design so that shadow flicker does not
cause disturbance.
- The propagation and effects of low-frequency sound are well understood, and adverse effects on humans are only evident at infrasound
levels far exceeding that generated by operating wind turbines². The UK Health Protection Agency welcomes additional research in the field of environmental
infrasound, while acknowledging that there is a lack of evidence supporting wind turbine-generated infrasound as a health risk³.
- If there is potential for interference (predicted or measured) of television signal from wind turbines then local authorities will typically expect
wind farm developers to take remedial action, usually requiring on-site surveys to determine appropriate remedial measures. If any resident suffers a
degradation in image quality following construction of the wind farm then the developer will be required to investigate. Where it is found that the operation
of the wind farm has had an impact on the quality of television received, remedial measures will be undertaken on a case-by-case basis. This may be in the
form of repositioning receptor aerials to different transmitters or the provision of alternative receptor services, i.e. satellite dishes.
Shows a residential buffer of approximately 800m from residential properties
There is no national guidance on standoff distances between residential
properties and wind turbines.
¹ See for example Report of Independent Expert Panel prepared for Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and Massachusetts Department of Public Health (January 2012) Wind Turbine Health Impact Study. Available
online at http://www.mass.gov.uk/dep/energy/wind/turbine_impact_study.pdf
² See for example Leventhall, G. A review of published research on low frequency noise and its effects. Ashtead, UK: Dr Geoff Levanthall, Consultant in Noise, Vibration and Acoustics; 2003 May. Contract no. EPG 1/2/50. Sponsored by
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
³ Health effects of exposure to ultrasound and infrasound. Chilton, UK: Report of the Independent Advisory Group on Non-ionising Radiation; 2010 February. Report no. RCE-14. Issued by Health Protection Agency.