Appendix 5.A LVIA Terminology © Entec UK Limited © Entec UK Limited 1 LVIA Terminology Terminology Definition Cumulative Defined in the Compact Oxford English Dictionary as an adjective meaning ‘increasing or increased by successive additions’. There are numerous slight variations such as that provide by the Random House Unabridged Dictionary: ‘Increasing or growing by accumulation or successive additions’ or ‘Formed by or resulting from accumulation or the addition of successive parts or elements’. Cumulative effects Additional changes to landscape and visual amenity caused by the proposed development in conjunction with other developments (associated with or separate to it) or actions that have occurred in the past, present or are likely to occur in the foreseeable future. AND: The summation of effects that result from the changes caused by a development (i.e. a wind farm) in conjunction with other past, present or reasonably foreseeable future actions. CLVIA Cumulative landscape and visual impact assessment. Criteria for aesthetic review of wind farm designs These terms are equally applicable in reviewing the acceptability in design and aesthetic terms of individual wind farms and cumulative visual interactions between two or more wind farms: • Array; the extent of the visible turbines in a wind farm development in a view and the spatial inter-relationship between the visible turbines. Can be measured in degrees; • Blade overlap; where two or more turbines are aligned so that there is the arc of the rotation of their blades intersects; • Turbine clustering: occurs when the arrangement of turbines in an array is such that a small group or groups of turbines are formed in a particular view; • Outlier; a turbine that is visually isolated form the other turbines in a development. Usually the outlying turbine is sited at the end of the array with a greater separation distance from its neighbouring turbine than is found elsewhere within the array; • Relationship to backdrop/horizon; the extent to which the theoretical horizontal line linking the nacelles of the turbines in an array is consistent with the horizon behind; • Topographical fit; the extent to which the array reflects the topography of the area upon which the development is sited; • Turbine ghosting; a more extreme form of turbine ghosting when two or more turbine towers are in line or almost in line when viewed from a particular location. Its occurrence could potentially cause visual confusion for visual receptors due to their difficulty in being able to easily estimate the number of turbines they are looking at. Degree of change A combination of the scale, extent and duration of an effect also defined as ‘magnitude’. EIA Environmental Impact Assessment Environmental fit The relationship of a development to identified environmental opportunities and constraints in its setting. l:\data\projects\ea-210\23125 kelmarsh wind farm (subfolder)\g030 general\environmental statement\es final\volume 3, appendices\appendix 5a lvia terminology.doc © Entec UK Limited 18 January 2010 2 Terminology Definition Indirect effects Not a direct result of the development, but are often produced away from it or as a result of a complex effect pathway. GLVIA Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, Second Edition, published jointly by the Landscape Institute and Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment, 2002. LCA Landscape Character Assessment LCAs Landscape character areas as defined by a Landscape Character Assessment. Landscape character areas are single, unique areas that are discrete geographical areas of a particular landscape character type (LCT). LCTs Landscape Character Types which are distinct types of landscape that are relatively homogeneous in their principal characteristics. They are generic as they will occur in different areas within a county, region or country e.g. chalk river valleys. LVIA Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment. Sometimes referred to as Landscape and Visual Assessment (LVA). Landscape capacity The degree to which a particular landscape character type or area is able to accommodate change without unacceptable adverse effects on its character. Capacity reflects both the sensitivity of the landscape resource and its visual sensitivity plus the value attached to a landscape or specific elements within it. Capacity is likely to vary according the type and nature of change being proposed. Landscape character A distinct and recognisable pattern of elements that occurs consistently in a particular type of landscape and how this is perceived by people. Character reflects particular combinations of geology, landform, soils, vegetation, landuse and human activities and settlement. It creates the particular sense of place for different areas of the landscape. Landscape character subtype A small area of distinctive or recognisable character within a wider LCA. Landscape constraints Components of the landscape resource such as views or mature trees recognised as constraints to development. Landscape designations Areas protected either by law or through planning policies for reason of their landscape attributes or contribution to general amenity and public enjoyment. Can be either at a national level e.g. National Parks and AONBs or at a local level e.g. Special Landscape Areas. Landscape effects Description of the likely nature and scale of changes to individual landscape elements and characteristics, and the consequential effect upon landscape character resulting from a proposed development or developments. Landscape elements A component part of the landscape, such as trees, woodland and ponds. Landscape features Visually prominent elements, e.g. wooded hill tops, and church spires. Landscape fit The relationship of a development to identified landscape opportunities and constraints in its setting. Landscape patterns Spatial distributions of landscape elements combining to form patterns, which may be distinctive e.g. hedgerows that combine to form a distinctive field pattern. Landscape quality or condition The state of repair of the elements of a particular landscape, its integrity and intactness from visual, functional or ecological perspectives and the extent to which its distinctive character is apparent. Landscape resource The combination of elements that contribute to landscape context, character and value. l:\data\projects\ea-210\23125 kelmarsh wind farm (subfolder)\g030 general\environmental statement\es final\volume 3, appendices\appendix 5a lvia terminology.doc © Entec UK Limited 18 January 2010 3 Terminology Definition Landscape sensitivity Landscape sensitivity to a particular type of change or development is concerned with the interactions between the landscape itself, the way it is perceived and the nature of the potential change or proposed development i.e. a wind farm or wind farms. Landscape value The relative value or importance attached to a landscape or view; (often as a basis for landscape designation) which expresses national or local consensus, because of its quality, including perceptual aspects such as scenic beauty, cultural associations or other aesthetic or perceptual considerations. Local landscape designations Discrete geographical areas that have been defined by local authorities in local plans, structure plans or supplementary planning guidance. Usually defined on the basis of perceived scenic quality, scenic or recreational value or rarity. Can be given various names and acronyms such as Special Landscape Areas or Areas of Great Landscape Value. Level of effect This is determined through the combination of the sensitivity of the landscape or visual receptor and the estimated/measured magnitude of change that will be sustained by that receptor as a consequence of the construction or operation of the proposed development. Magnitude A combination of the scale, extent and duration of an effect also defined as ‘degree of change’. Mitigation Measures including any process, activity, or design to avoid, reduce, remedy or offset for potential adverse environmental effects arising from a proposed development. Perceived cumulative effects These are defined by SNH as potentially arising where two or more developments are present but one or more of these is never seen by the visual receptor due to either screening or their inability to gain a necessary viewpoint. The receptor is aware iof the presence of the other development(s) due to previous knowledge or signage. In these situations there is good potential for the visual receptor’s information or perception to be wrong. Detailed consideration would be likely to require separate surveys of public perception. Photomontage An illustration of a computer generated perspective model of the proposed development that has been superimposed or combined onto a photograph from a recorded location PRoW Public Right of Way. Receptor Physical landscape resource, designation or person or group of people sharing certain characteristics that could experience a direct or indirect effect as a consequence of proposed development. Repowering The replacement of an existing wind farm scheme with a new scheme which is likely to use recent turbine designs that are taller and more efficient in terms of generating capacity. There is an implication that the turbine layout and specification would alter. Residual effects Potential environmental effects remaining after mitigation. Sense of place (genius loci) The essential character and spirit of an area: ‘genius loci’ literally means ‘spirit of the place’. l:\data\projects\ea-210\23125 kelmarsh wind farm (subfolder)\g030 general\environmental statement\es final\volume 3, appendices\appendix 5a lvia terminology.doc © Entec UK Limited 18 January 2010 4 Terminology Definition Significant effects Defined in the Concise Oxford Dictionary as “noteworthy, of considerable amount or effect or importance, not insignificant or negligible”. Whether or not a landscape or visual effect should be considered to be significant is not absolute and requires the application of professional judgement. Under the EIA (England and Wales) Regulations, 1999, an effect is significant if it should be a material consideration for assessing the suitability of a planning application for a development. The significance of an effect is determined by the combination of sensitivity of the affected receptor(s) and the predicted magnitude of change which combine to form a level of effect. Usually in LVIAs undertaken in accordance with the GLVIA an effect is ‘significant’ if the level of effect is ‘moderate/substantial’ or ‘substantial’. Simultaneous visibility Also known as ‘combined visibility’. It occurs when a visual receptor is able to see two or more wind farm developments from a viewpoint in a single field of view i.e. without the receptor having to turn around. It is acknowledged that no precise definition of the human field of view is possible but within LVIAs it is widely accepted that a 90° field of view is an appropriate approximation. Successional visibility This is a variation of combined visibility when a visual receptor at a viewpoint would have to turn in order to see the various wind farm developments i.e. they would not be visible in the same field of view. Sequential visibility This would occur when a visual receptor would have to move to another viewpoint (or viewpoints) to see different wind farm developments. These are most likely to be sustained by visual receptors using routes such as roads, railways or long distance paths and trails. Sequential effects mat=y arise frequently or occasionally and may be generated by periodic views of the same wind farm development or different wind farm developments. Sequential visibility can be assessed by use of transect ZTVs. Sustainability The principle that the environment should be protected in such a condition and to such a degree that ensures new development meets the present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Temporary or permanent effects Effects may be considered as temporary or permanent, in the case of wind farm development the application is for a 25 year period after which the assessment assumes that decommissioning will occur and that the Proposal Site will be restored. For these reasons the development is referred to as temporary, long term and reversible. Transect ZTV Use of appropriate wind farm software programmes allows the calculation of from which sections along a route individual wind farm developments should theoretically be visible. The results can be presented in a diagrammatic form. Turbine cluster A term sometimes used to describe wind farm developments consisting of a small number of turbines. There is no set definition but the term is rarely applied to development containing more than five turbines. Types of landscape effect The landscape and visual effects may be positive, neutral or negative. In landscape terms - a positive effect would require development to add to the landscape quality and character of an area. Neutral landscape effects would include low or negligible changes that may be considered as part of the ‘normal’ landscape processes such as maintenance or harvesting activities. A negative effect may include the loss of landscape elements such as mature trees and hedgerows as part of construction leading to a reduction in the landscape quality and character of an area. l:\data\projects\ea-210\23125 kelmarsh wind farm (subfolder)\g030 general\environmental statement\es final\volume 3, appendices\appendix 5a lvia terminology.doc © Entec UK Limited 18 January 2010 5 Terminology Definition Types of visual effect In visual terms – positive or negative effects are less easy to define or quantify and require a subjective consideration of a number of factors affecting the view, which may be positive, neutral or negative. Opinions as to the visual effects of wind farms vary widely, however it should not be assumed that all change, including high levels of change is a negative experience. With regard to wind farms both individually and cumulatively consideration should be given to their visual composition within the landscape in any view together with the schemes’ design and composition, which may or may not be reasonably accommodated within the scale and character of the landscape as perceived from receptor locations and viewpoints to be used as the basis for cumulative visual assessments. Visual amenity Value of a particular location in terms of what is seen by visual receptors living at, visiting, working or travelling through that location, taking account of all views that would be available to those visual receptors and their total visual experience. The assembly of components which can provide an attractive (or detractive) setting or backcloth for visual receptors’ activities to which they attach value in terms of what they can see. Visual effect A subset of landscape effects and concerned wholly with changes in views available to people i.e. visual receptors and the changes in the visual amenity of visual receptors resulting from development. Visual sensitivity The sensitivity of visual receptors such as residents, to visual change proposed by development. Using the guidance provided by the GLVIA visual receptors are categorised in accordance with their different levels of visual sensitivity which is influenced by factors such as their permanence, their purpose in being at that location, whether or not appreciation of their surroundings has influence of that purpose, whether or not they are static or moving and cultural factors. Visualisation Use of computer visualisations, photomontages or other techniques to illustrate the appearance of the development from a known location. Wireframe A computer generated line drawing of the DTM (digital terrain model) and the proposed development from a known location. ZTV – Zone of Theoretical Visibility Zone of Theoretical Visibility – the area of potential or theoretical visibility of the wind farm’s turbines based upon the height of their blade tips or hub applied to DTM (digital terrain model) data for a defined study area using a suitable software programme. The DTM does not take into account the influence of built development and vegetation such as tree cover (although it can be amended to incorporate such variations) and any local variations ‘smoothed out’ by using data aggregated by taking spot heights on a 50m grid. Also sometimes called a ZVI - Zone of Visual Influence. l:\data\projects\ea-210\23125 kelmarsh wind farm (subfolder)\g030 general\environmental statement\es final\volume 3, appendices\appendix 5a lvia terminology.doc © Entec UK Limited 18 January 2010 13 August 2009 Our Reference – 23125/L033/idg Planning Department Borough Council of Wellingborough Swanspool House Doddington Road Wellingborough Northamptonshire NN8 1BP FOR THE ATTENTION OF LANDSCAPE OFFICER Dear Sir/Madam ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT – PROPOSED WIND FARM NEAR KELMARSH, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. Entec have been appointed by E.ON UK RENEWABLES Ltd to undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for a proposed wind farm on a site approximately 1km to the south west of the village of Kelmarsh in Northamptonshire, bounded by the A14 (to the north), and the village of Haselbech (to the south west). The wind farm site is approximately 250 hectares (ha) in area and is located within Daventry District Council’s boundary. The site is shown on the accompanying plan, Figure 1. The seven turbine wind farm scheme will be considered under the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 1999. The EIA will consider the construction, operation and decommissioning phases of the proposed wind farm. Infrastructure that will compose the wind farm development will include: - 3 bladed wind turbines (the wind turbines will be 115m to blade tip in height); - Turbine foundations and crane pad bases; - Access tracks; - Electricity Substation; - Construction Compound; - Meteorological Mast; - Onsite underground cable links, and - Offsite underground grid connection. The gathering and appraisal of environmental information about the site will lead to the preparation of an Environmental Statement (ES) reporting on the potential environmental effects of the development. c:\docume~1\marse\locals~1\temp\notesd55fb4\lva consultation letter bc of wellingboro_13_aug.doc Our Reference – 23125/L033/idg 2 13 August 2009 Landscape Officer, Borough Council of Wellingborough A key component of wind farm EIAs is the landscape and visual assessment (LVA) which will be undertaken in accordance with the general guidelines set out in the GLVIA and more specific guidelines contained in various publications from Scottish Natural Heritage which are widely accepted as be applicable across the UK. Figure 2 shows the extent of the full and detailed study area that we intend to adopt for the LVA. As part of the LVA, Entec intends to produce a series of visualisations of the operational wind farm in the form of wireframes and photomontages. In line with best practice photomontages will be produced for viewpoints within ~8 km of any of the turbines, whilst for more distant viewpoints wireframes will be produced as experience demonstrates that at this distance turbines rendered in photomontages can be difficult to clearly discern. On the basis of a series of initial site visits, preliminary baseline study and meetings with planning officers at Daventry DC, English Heritage and representatives of the Battlefield Trust, we have selected a provisional list of 21 viewpoints, including a couple of ‘either/or’ options. Twelve of these are intended to be photomontages and nine would be wireframes, although we would be willing to produce up to twelve wireframes. The distribution of these proposed viewpoints is shown on Figures 3 and 4 where they are superimposed upon the hub height (70m) Zone of Theoretical Visibility (ZTV) of the provisional layout. This allows consultees to see the areas from where visual receptors could potentially have views of some or all of the turbines, although it does not account for potential screening by nearby building or intervening tree cover. In order that the selection of viewpoints accurately reflects potential local concerns, we would be grateful if you could review the viewpoint selection shown on Figures 3 and 4 and set out in the schedule attached with regard to potential visual receptors located within area covered by the Borough Council of Wellingborough. We would welcome your comments and suggestions to be received by 12 September so that we can commence taking the base photographs before the autumn. During this period please feel free to contact us should you require further information. Thank you for your time on this pre-application enquiry. Yours faithfully IAN GATES Principal Landscape Architect Direct Line – 01743 342707 E-mail – [email protected] enc: Viewpoint Schedule Figures 1-4 c: Martin Wood, Gosforth c:\docume~1\marse\locals~1\temp\notesd55fb4\lva consultation letter bc of wellingboro_13_aug.doc Appendix 5.C Construction LVIA Table © Entec UK Limited © Entec UK Limited 1 Table 5.C1 Construction Period - Predicted Landscape Changes and Consequences Identified Activity Landscape Change Predicted Landscape Consequences Movement of plant and vehicles along from junction of A14(T) and A508, northwards towards Kelmarsh and then left along the minor road past Rectory Farm, over the A14(T) and then right into and within the site. Landscape elements - increase in numbers of vehicles using a short section of the A508, the minor road past Rectory Farm and the improved on-site access track within primarily the north-east part of the development site plus an increase in number of different elements and sense of movement present within the development site, although this will be reduced by the presence of the A14(T) to the immediate north of this main internal access track In many locations the scale of increase in road traffic along the A508 and a minor road and the introduction of the same levels of movement across previously un-trafficked fields could periodically reduce existing levels of tranquillity. However all these activities will be temporarily taking place in close proximity to the A14(T) and the noise and movement of traffic using the A14(T) and to a lesser extent the A508 has been noted in field surveys as being a presence in this area with the consequence that baseline tranquillity levels are not as low as would normally be expected in a rural area. Landscape patterns – the existing pattern generated primarily by the field boundary hedgerows will be slightly modified within the development site by an increase in the number of elements and amount of movement although once again contrasts will be considerably reduced by the adjacent existing presence of the A14(T). Where possible the access track network has been designed to emphasise the existing field boundary patterns and thereby reinforce them. This is especially true of the eastern portion of the development site. However it should be noted that the limited presence of nearby elevated areas, especially with good public access, has the consequence that it would be difficult for the accordance between the field boundary pattern and the access roads to be appreciated. Landscape character – some temporary reductions in existing levels of calm and tranquillity, primarily in the northern portion of the development site. Temporary modification in landscape character across most of the development site. Landscape elements - introduction of tall elements (approximately 90m high) along a narrow section of the horizon for a proportion of the nine month long construction period. Temporary prominent landscape elements that will act as visual foci on a small section of the horizon. It should be noted that only one crane will ever be operational and at full height as the second crane as either being erected or dismantled. Landscape patterns – addition of small-scale and temporary complexity and contrast to existing patterns. The construction period will be too fluid and short-lived for any new patterns to be firmly established. Existing patterns based upon land-use variations and field boundaries will be retained, but will temporarily have a comparatively reduced visual prominence due to these other more visually prominent construction activities. Landscape character – small-scale contribution to the temporary modification to the existing character of closest parts of the Naseby Clay Plateau and Cottesbrooke and Arthingworth Undulating Hills and Valleys LCAs. The use of two cranes will be a small–scale and short-lived change considering the scale of the two LCAs, which on their own, will not modify their prevailing visual and sensory characteristics. Use of two cranes to erect turbines. l:\data\projects\ea-210\23125 kelmarsh wind farm (subfolder)\g030 general\environmental statement\es final\volume 3, appendices\appendix 5c construction period lvia.doc © Entec UK Limited 28 January 2010 2 Identified Activity Landscape Change Predicted Landscape Consequences Construction of crane pads and excavation for turbine and, where necessary, access road foundations. Landscape elements - loss of very small proportion (approximately 3.2 ha or 1.3% of the ~250 ha development site) of the overall land cover that is overwhelmingly arable farmland. No individual landscape features such as mature trees will be lost as a consequence of these construction activities. Small-scale temporary disturbance from the colour contrasts of both the stone pads and the excavated material. Landscape patterns - temporary increase in the complexity in an area where existing patterns tend to be relatively simple. Cumulatively the consequence will be a small-scale temporary modification to the existing pattern although once again the relative absence of surrounding elevated areas and low levels of access into the development site will ensure that these temporary modifications will be difficult to discern. Landscape character – the changes would be negligible at the scale of landscape character areas. Even when combined with the other ground level construction activities, these excavations will have minimal effect upon local landscape character, yet alone at the scale of the two closest LCAs. Landscape elements – temporary loss of some common elements, overwhelmingly swathes of arable fields plus potentially a few short sections of hedgerow; plus the introduction of temporary new mobile elements (bulldozers, and dump trucks) and temporary static elements (spoil heaps). Temporary introduction of new elements with few recent precedents within the site which are likely to contrast with existing elements. Landscape patterns - plant movement will add complexity to the existing simple pattern whilst, the layout of the access roads will reinforce the pattern of the field boundaries, especially in the northern parts of the site. Presence of construction plant and exposed ground will introduce temporary new patterns, which will change and develop over the construction period, although as the site is generally given over to arable there will regularly be fallow periods of bare earth. Landscape character - the movement and noise from the excavation coupled with the changes in the proportion of colours and textures across small portions could contribute to a temporary modification of local landscape character but would represent a negligible change at the scale of the two LCAs. Existing landscape character at any scale beyond the site is sufficiently robust and used to such activities on longer timescales to ensure that it would not be significantly affected by the construction of the access roads. Construction of internal site access roads l:\data\projects\ea-210\23125 kelmarsh wind farm (subfolder)\g030 general\environmental statement\es final\volume 3, appendices\appendix 5c construction period lvia.doc © Entec UK Limited 28 January 2010 3 Identified Activity Landscape Change Predicted Landscape Consequences Materials stockpiles. Landscape elements - introduction of new elements potentially with contrasting colours and textures. Most of which will be in the vicinity of the construction compound on the northern edge of the development site close to the A14. Precise consequences will depend upon the size, height and colour of any stockpiles however the scale of the landscape and use of the bunding and hedgerow alongside much of the development site’s northern boundary with the A14(T) hedgerows should reduce potential contrasts from their presence. Landscape patterns - temporary localised increase in complexity. Cumulatively the materials stockpiles, in conjunction with the other temporary elements introduced during the construction period, will contribute to a shifting series of temporary localised patterns. Landscape character – temporary introduction of new landscape elements at a scale that will be negligible at the scale of the Naseby Clay Plateau and Cottesbrooke and Arthingworth Undulating Hills and Valleys LCAs. The materials required for the construction of a wind farm are relatively limited compared with most other types of development, hence the temporary changes generated as a consequence of their storage is unlikely to be on a sufficiently large scale to alter the key characteristics. Landscape elements - introduction of temporary landscape element in the north-western corner of the development site where it should be able to utilise the bunding and hedgerow alongside much of the development site’s northern boundary with the A14(T). Incremental increase in number of man-made elements, however the level of effect is likely to be reduced by use of screening and backdrop provide by the A14(T). Landscape patterns - localised increase in complexity. Temporary negative but highly localised consequences from contrast with existing low key patterns. Landscape character – temporary increase in ‘clutter’ in the landscape with new elements. Incremental changes to local landscape character, principally as a result of the increased levels of vehicular movement the operation of the compound will generate in the northern part of the site. Landscape elements - the material excavated for the access tracks and crane pads will be incorporated within other construction activities and not transported off-site. The size of the development site and nature of the construction activities will make it possible to dispose of, or temporarily store any material without need to introduce potentially significant elements such as bunds. Landscape patterns - change of insufficient magnitude to modify patterns. No discernible landscape consequences because of the small scale landscape changes involved. Landscape character – highly likely that similar activities at a comparable scale already occur periodically throughout the two landscape character areas. Insufficient magnitude of change to have any consequences at a local landscape scale and certainly not at the scale of the Naseby Clay Plateau and Cottesbrooke and Arthingworth Undulating Hills and Valleys LCAs. Construction compound. Disposal areas for excavated material. l:\data\projects\ea-210\23125 kelmarsh wind farm (subfolder)\g030 general\environmental statement\es final\volume 3, appendices\appendix 5c construction period lvia.doc © Entec UK Limited 28 January 2010 Appendix 5.D Residential Proformas (see Volume 2 for figures) © Entec UK Limited
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