Here are some pictures of what the community wind turbine will look like when it is on the hill. The best view will be from The Brunt or from Torness nuclear power station. An assessment of the visual impact is at the bottom of the page and more details and higher definition pictures can be seen in our planning application. The BIG thing you will see is the TV mast. (Click on picture to expand)
The findings of the LVIA have demonstrated that the proposed development will not result in any significant changes to the physical landscape resources of the site or surroundings during the construction and operational phases of the development;
No significant effects are predicted on the integrity of any landscape designations or LCTs within the study area. Furthermore, no localised significant landscape effects are predicted from any of the seventeen representative viewpoints;
There are predicted to be significant visual effects on several residential dwellings at The Brunt. No other clusters, villages or towns are predicted to experience significant visual effects;
Of the seventeen viewpoints, the visual amenity of viewpoint 3 is predicted to experience a significant visual effect on two nearby residential dwellings. No other viewpoints are predicted to experience significant visual effects;
No significant visual effects are predicted on main roads or users of main recreational routes; and
Significant cumulative landscape effects are predicted on small parts of the Upland Hills LCT, the Upland Fringe LCT and the Lammermuir AGLV. No significant effects are predicted on the integrity of any landscape designations or LCTs.
Issues of Significance
Local and National planning policy are supportive of wind energy developments subject to specific developments avoiding unacceptable landscape and visual effects.
The assessment of effects on the landscape and visual resource has demonstrated that the proposed development will have localised significant effects on a very limited number of residential receptors and cumulative landscape effects on small parts of the Upland Hills LCT, the Upland Fringe LCT and the Lammermuir AGLV.
In relation to the Planning Guidance for the Location and Design of Wind Turbines in the Lowland Areas of East Lothian (2010), the following conclusions are made:
Apart from significant effects on The Brunt the development does not harm the landscape setting of any settlements, including the Conservation Areas of Oldhamstocks and Innerwick;
The overall integrity and setting of key public views to and from landmark features, both natural and man-made, are not significantly compromised;
The proposed development does not significantly harm the character, appearance and setting of significant natural landscape features, landmark buildings and structures;
Although the turbine would be noticeable on the hill summit, the existing masts on Blackcastle Hill would limit the magnitude of any further landscape change;
The proposed development is in scale with its landscape setting and surrounding vertical elements and is not detrimental to the landscape character of coastal areas;
The character, appearance and setting of sites listed in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes are not significantly affected;
The integrity of AGLVs are not significantly affected;
The development does not have a detrimental impact on views out across the Firth of Forth, [including views of the Forth Islands] and views along the coastline.
The landscape capacity study concludes there is no scope for the proposed development within the Upland Fringe LCT. Although the study provides a robust assessment of capacity at the strategic scale, this does not necessarily preclude development at the proposed location. It is the role of this LVIA to identify the nature and extent of any significant effects. In relation to the sensitivities of the LCT, the LVIA has demonstrated that:
The complex rolling landform, intimate narrow valleys and the dramatic landform of the steep-sided Lothian Edge and pattern of distinctive knolly hills against the scarp of the Lammermuir Hills are not significantly affected. This is primarily due to the existing masts on Blackcastle Hill already affecting these characteristics and the effects from the addition of proposed development are limited;
Although the proposed turbine is located on a visually prominent hill top and can be seen from key transport routes such as the A1, this is at distance where the scale of the turbine does not present significant effects for the large majority of receptors;
Significant cumulative landscape and visual effects with existing windfarm developments within the adjacent Lammermuir Hills are limited to very localised areas.
Overall, these factors indicate the landscape has the capacity to effectively accommodate the proposed development at this location without an unacceptable and detrimental change to its inherent character or visual amenity.”
