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ASSESSMENTOFTHESENSITIVITYOFTHE LANDSCAPESOFNORTHUMBERLAND
TOWINDENERGYDEVELOPMENT
Preparedfor
January2018
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AssessmentoftheSensitivityoftheLandscapesinNorthumberlandtoWindTurbineDevelopment 2
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ReportPreparedby
ThePlanningandEnvironmentStudioLtd.69NewRoad,Wingerworth,Chesterfield,
Derbyshire.S426UJ
Office:01246386555Mobile:07813172453
BAYOUBLUEnvironmentLimited.CottageLaneFarm,CottageLane
Collingham,NewarkNottinghamshire.NG237LJ
T.+44(0)1636555006M.+44(0)7866587108
PESDocumentRef.PES1610:FinalReportIssue:RevA
Draftedby:GrahamBradfordCheckedby:AnthonyBrown
Authorisedby:GrahamBradford
Coverphotograph:VistasouthtoNorthSteadsandSistersWindFarmsfromBoulmerBeach.Lens75-300mmf/4-5.6
(c)PESLtd
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ReportContents
Section Page.1. INTRODUCTION&CONTEXT: 5 NationalPlanningPolicyContext 6 LocalPlanningPolicyContext 7 BackgroundtoWindEnergyDevelopmentin
Northumberland 8
ScopeoftheStudy 14 FormatoftheReport 16 2. METHODOLOGY: 17 Introduction 17 ProjectStages 18 ProjectStage1DefiningAppropriateWind
TurbineTypologyCategories 18
ProjectStage1:GenerationandApplicationofAppropriateCriteriatoAssessSensitivity
19
ProjectStage1:PilotStudy 27 ProjectStage2:FieldEvaluationandModeration
ofInitialDesk-BasedSensitivityAssessment 28
ProjectStage3:SensitivityAssessmentandSummary
29
DerivingOverallSensitivityValuesincludingConsiderationofCumulativeEffects
29
3. LANDSCAPESENSITIVITYPROFILESAND
ASSESSMENT: 33
SensitivitybyLCTfromLCT1toLCT44 34-245 4. SUMMARYFINDINGS:SENSITIVITYTOWIND
ENERGYDEVELOPMENTINNORTHUMBERLAND:
246
SensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentinPrinciple
246
SensitivitytoSmall,Small-MediumandMediumTurbinesupto65mHeighttoBladeTip
250
SensitivitytoMedium-LargeandLargerTurbinesabove65mHeighttoBladeTip
255
WiderConsiderations 257 APPENDICES: 259A. LandscapeCharacterTypesandLandscape
CharacterAreas 259
B. KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsandGeneralInfluenceonWindEnergy
263
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LISTOFTABLES: Table1: WindResourceAreas(RSS),landscapecharacter
areasandexistingwindenergydevelopments 10
Table2: SummaryofwindturbineapplicationswithinNorthumberland
12
Table3: Operationalonshorewindenergyschemeswithturbines55m–100mht.tobladetip
12
Table4: Operationalonshorewindenergyschemeswithturbines100m–130mht.tobladetip
12
Table5: Operationaloffshorewindenergyschemes 13Table6: Windturbinetypologycategoriesusedinthe
study: 19
Table7: Landscapeattributesinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
20
Table8: Landscapesensitivitycontinuum 24Table9: Definitionsoflandscapecharacterarea
sensitivitytowindturbinedevelopment 29
Table10: SensitivityScaleforAssessingOverallSensitivityofeachLCAtoWindEnergyDevelopment
30
Table11: Summaryofoverallsensitivityoflandscapecharacterareastowindenergy
246
LISTOFFIGURES Figure1: StudyArea 5Figure2: LandscapeCharacterTypesinNorthumberland 9Figure3: WindResourceAreasinNorthumberland(RSS) 11Figure4: WindTurbinesinNorthumberland55mto130m
toBladeTip(2017) 13
Figures5-48:
LandscapeCharacterTypes/Areas1to44 34-241
Figure49: LandscapeSensitivitytoSmallWindEnergyTurbines<25m
252
Figure50: LandscapeSensitivitytoSmalltoMediumWindEnergyTurbines26m-40m
253
Figure51: LandscapeSensitivitytoMediumWindEnergyTurbines41m-65m
254
Figure52; LandscapeSensitivitytoMediumtoLargeWindEnergyTurbines66m-100m
255
Figure53: LandscapeSensitivitytoLargeWindEnergyTurbines101m-130m
256
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1. INTRODUCTION&CONTEXT1.1 NorthumberlandCountyCouncilcommissionedthePlanning&EnvironmentStudio(PES)and
BayouBluenvironment(BBe)toundertakeanassessmentofthesensitivityoftheNorthumberlandlandscape(outsideNorthumberlandNationalPark–seeFigure1)towindenergydevelopment.ThestudywillbeusedtohelptheCouncilunderstandwhetheritisappropriatetoidentifysuitableareasforwindenergydevelopmentwithintheemergingLocalPlan.
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1.2 Thepurposeofthestudyisthreefold:
(i) toprovidetheCouncilwithanuptodateevidencebaseonthesensitivityofthelandscapesofNorthumberlandtodifferentscalesofwindturbine;
(ii) toinformpotentialidentificationbytheCouncilofsuitableareasforwindturbinedevelopmentintheNorthumberlandLocalPlan;and
(iii) toinformpoliciesapplicabletoonshorewindenergyintheemergingLocalPlan.
NationalPlanningPolicyContext1.3 Planningpolicyforonshorewinddevelopmentiscontainedinanumberofdocuments.UK
GovernmentnationalpolicyisprincipallysetoutintheNationalPlanningPolicyFramework(NPPF)1,theOverarchingNationalPolicyStatementforEnergy,NationalPolicyStatementforRenewableEnergyInfrastructure2,andnationalPlanningPracticeGuidance(PPG)forRenewableandLowCarbonEnergy3.
1.4 ThenationalplanningpolicyframeworkisestablishedtohelpmeettheGovernment’starget
forenergygenerationfromrenewablesourcesaspartofatransitiontoalowcarbonfuture.However,thepromotionofrenewableenergyisrestrained-thedifferentrolesandcharacterofdifferentareasmustbetakenintoaccountandtheintrinsiccharacterandbeautyofthecountrysidemustberecognisedinguidingnewwindenergydevelopmenttoappropriatelocations4.
1.5 Planningapplicationsforlargescalerenewableenergyprojects,includingonshorewindwith
anelectricitygeneratingoutputabove50megawatts(MW),werepreviouslytreatedasNationallySignificantInfrastructureProjects(NSIPs)requiring‘developmentconsent’bytheSecretaryofState(ratherthanplanningpermission)underthePlanningAct2008andsubsequentlyamendedbytheLocalismAct2011.Onshorewindfarmsofover50MWwereremovedfromtheNSIPregimeundertheEnergyAct2016andregulationsmadeunderit,withthedecisionmakingpowertransferredbacktolocalplanningauthorities.Windenergyapplicationsbelow50MWaredecidedatthelocalauthoritylevelinEnglandinaccordancewiththepolicessetoutintheNPPFandfollowingtheproceduresetoutintheTownandCountryPlanningAct1990andtheTownandCountryPlanning(DevelopmentManagementProcedure)(England)Order2015.
1.6 Inawrittenministerialstatementon18June20155theGovernmentannouncednew
considerationstobeappliedtoproposedwindenergydevelopmentsothat“localpeoplehave
1DepartmentforCommunitiesandLocalGovernment(March2012),NationalPlanningPolicyFramework.2DepartmentforCommunitiesandLocalGovernment(July2011),OverarchingNationalPolicyStatementfor2DepartmentforCommunitiesandLocalGovernment(July2011),OverarchingNationalPolicyStatementforEnergy(EN-1)andNationalPolicyStatementforRenewableEnergyInfrastructure(EN-3).3DepartmentforCommunitiesandLocalGovernment(March2014),PlanningPracticeGuidance:Renewableandlowcarbonenergy.4NPPFparagraph17.5SecretaryofStateforCommunitiesandLocalGovernment(GregClark),(18June2015),HouseofCommons:WrittenStatement(HCWS42).
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thefinalsayonwindfarmapplications”.Thisstates:“Whendeterminingplanningapplicationsforwindenergydevelopmentinvolvingoneormorewindturbines,localplanningauthoritiesshouldonlygrantplanningpermissionif:
• thedevelopmentsiteisinanareaidentifiedassuitableforwindenergydevelopmentina
localorneighbourhoodplan;and• followingconsultation,itcanbedemonstratedthattheplanningimpactsidentifiedby
affectedlocalcommunitieshavebeenfullyaddressedandthereforetheproposalhastheirbacking”(whetheraproposalhasthebackingoftheaffectedlocalcommunityis,accordingtothewrittenstatement,“aplanningjudgementforthelocalplanningauthority”).
1.7 ThisisnowembodiedwithinthenationalPPGwhichprovidesguidancetolocalcouncilsin
developingpoliciesforrenewableandlowcarbonenergy6.ThePPGstressesthattherearenohardandfastrulesabouthowsuitableareasforrenewableenergyshouldbeidentifiedbut,critically,thepotentialimpactsonthelocalenvironment,includingfromcumulativeimpacts,mustbetakenintoaccount.
LocalPlanningPolicyContext1.8 TheLocalPlaninNorthumberlandcurrentlycomprisesthesavedlocalplansoftheformer
constituentlocalplanningauthoritiesinNorthumberland,priortolocalgovernmentreorganisationin2009.TheCounciliscurrentlypreparingareplacementLocalPlan.
1.9 TheNorthumberlandConsolidatedPlanningPolicyFrameworkdoesnotcurrentlyidentify
suitableareasforwindenergydevelopment.CastleMorpethLocalPlanidentifiesareasofsearchforwindpower,andAlnwickCoreStrategyidentifiesareasofleastconstraint.Inassessinglandscapesensitivitytodifferentscalesofwindturbine,thisstudywillinformworktoenabletheCounciltoidentifywhethertherearesuitableareasforwindenergydevelopmentacrossthecounty(outsideNorthumberlandNationalPark).
1.10 ThisstudywillformpartoftheevidencebasetotheNorthumberlandLocalPlanalongsidea
numberofotherrelevantstudiesthathavealsobeenusedasbackgrounddocumentstoinformpreparationofthisreport,namely:
• NorthumberlandLandscapeCharacterAssessment(NLCA),2010.• NorthumberlandKeyLandUseImpactStudy(NKLUIS),2010.• Renewable,Low-CarbonEnergyGenerationandEnergyEfficiencyStudy,2011.• NorthumberlandCoastAONBLandscapeSensitivityandCapacityStudy,2013.• EvaluationoftheImpactsofOnshoreWindFarmsonTourism,2014.• AssessmentoftheExtenttowhichExistingOnshoreWindDevelopmentsin
NorthumberlandhavebeenSuccessfullyAccommodatedintotheLandscape,2015.6DepartmentforCommunitiesandLocalGovernment,(18June2015),PlanningPracticeGuidance:Renewableandlowcarbonenergy.
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1.11 Thereport’sevidenceandfindingswillalsobeusefulbeusefulintermsofinformingplanningapplicationsandmayalsobeofvaluetolocalcommunitiesandotherorganisations.
BackgroundtoWindTurbineDevelopmentinNorthumberland
1.12 GuidancewithintheevidencebasestudiesreferredtoaboveiscurrentlyusedbytheCounciltohelpdetermineplanningapplicationsforwindturbines.TheNKLUISassesseslandscapesensitivityoflandscapecharacterareasidentifiedintheNLCA(seeFigure2andAppendixA)tosmall-scalewindpowerdevelopment(definedasupto5turbinesofanyheight–turbineheightwasnotconsideredakeyfactoraffectingsensitivitytowindpowerdevelopment))andtolarge-scalewindpowerdevelopment(definedasmorethan5turbinesofanyheight).ThisstudywillactasanupdatetothelandscapesensitivityassessmentwithintheNKLUISintermsofwindenergydevelopment.
1.13 PriortothesubmissionoftheNLCAandNKLUISin2010,strategicwindresourceareaswere
identifiedintheformerNorthEastRegionalSpatialStrategy(RSS)7.Policy41oftheRSSidentified11windresourceareas,basedon‘broadareasofleastconstraint’whichwerethemselvesderivedfromexaminationoflandscapecharacterataregionalscale.Table1andFigure3indicatesthe6windresourceareasidentifiedintheRSSwithinNorthumberlandandshowstheminrelationtolandscapecharacterareas(fromtheNLCA)andexistingwindenergyschemes.Thesepresentimportantchronologicalreferenceandcontext,buthavenotinfluencedthemethodologydevelopedorfindingsofthisstudy:
7GovernmentOfficefortheNorthEast(2008),TheNorthEastofEnglandPlan:RegionalSpatialStrategyto2021.
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Table1:WindResourceAreas(RSS),landscapecharacterareasandexistingwindenergydevelopmentsWindResourceArea(inRSS) LandscapeCharacterArea(s)
(inNLCA)WindEnergyScheme
SouthandWestBerwickuponTweed
DuddoandLowickOpenRollingFarmland
Barmoor
North/SouthCharlton RockFarmedCoastalPlain;CharltonRidgeOutcropHillsandEscarpments;RosebroughMoorSmoothMoorland
Wandylaw&Middlemoor
KnowesgateandHarwoodForestarea
GreenRiggSweethopeandBlackdownOutcropHillsandEscarpments;HarwoodForestOutcropHillsandEscarpments
NorthernCoalfieldsouthofDruridgeBay
CoastalCoalfields NorthSteads,Sisters&Lynemouth
KilnPitHillarea KilnPitHillHinterland BoundaryLane&KilnPitHill
1.14 Inaddition,theKielderForestandReservoirareawasidentifiedintheRSSasaStrategicRenewablesResourceArea,withpotentialforlarge-scalewindpowerdevelopment.WiththerevocationoftheRSSthesestrategicwindpowerresourceareasarenolongeridentifiedinthedevelopmentplanforthecounty,althoughtheirbasisinregionallandscapestudiesisunchangedandcontinuestoinformdecisionsonlocalwindenergydevelopmentapplications.
1.15 TodatethemainlevelofinterestinNorthumberlandforonshorewindturbinedevelopmenthasbeenformicroandsmaller-sizeddevelopmentscomprisingsingleturbines25mheighttobladetiporless,andcommercial-scalesinglewindturbinesandwindfarmswithupto18turbines100m–130mheight.Therehasalsobeenconsiderableinterestwithinthecountyforturbinesbetweenapproximately25m–55mheight.Atthetimeofwritingthisreporttherewasasmallnumberofoperationalwindturbinesbetween55m–100mheightwithinNorthumberland.
&Ray
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1.16 Building-mountedsmalldomesticwindturbinesthatdonotexceedanoverallheight(including
building,hubandblade)of15metres,andstand-alonesmalldomesticwindturbinesthatdonotexceed11.1metresinheight,donotgenerallyneedplanningpermissionunderpermitteddevelopmentrightscontainedwithintheTownandCountryPlanning(GeneralPermittedDevelopment)(England)Order2015.
1.17 Currentlymostapplicationsforonshorewindturbinesupto25mht.inthecountyhavebeen
approved.Withintheotherturbineheightrangesreferredtoabovethereisamixedpictureofapplicationspermitted,refused,allowedonappealanddismissedatappeal.Table2providesa
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summaryofwindturbineapplicationswithinNorthumberlandatthetimeofwritingindicatingthesignificantpressureforwindenergydevelopmentinthecounty:
Table2:SummaryofwindturbineapplicationswithinNorthumberland*
Turbineheighttobladetip
Schemespermittedor
allowedonappeal
Schemesrefusedordismissedatappealorpending
Turbinesoperationalorconsented
Turbinesrefusedordismissedatappealorpending
Below25m 55 0 62 025-55m 19 11 23 1355-100m 2 8 4 16100m+ 15 4 124 17
*approximatenumbersusingdatafromNorthumberlandCountyCouncil
1.18 Table3providesmoredetailofoperationalonshorewindenergyschemeswithturbineheight
55m–100mtobladetip.TheirlocationisshowninFigure4: Table3:Operationalonshorewindenergyschemeswithturbines55m–100mht.
Scheme Numberofturbines Turbineht.tobladetip
Power(MW)perturbine
BavingtonMount 1 61m 0.5Kirkheaton 3 66m 0.6LowHortonFarm 1 71m 0.275StepsofGrace 1 74m 0.5
1.19 Table4providesmoredetailofoperationalwindenergyschemeswithturbineheight100m–
130mtobladetip,alsoshowninFigure4: Table4:Operationalonshorewindenergyschemeswithturbines100m–130mht.
Scheme Numberofturbines Turbineht.tobladetip
Power(MW)perturbine
Barmoor 6 110m 2BewickDrift 1 110m 2.3BlythHarbour 1 130m 3.4BoundaryLane 3 110m 2GreenRigg 18 100m 2KilnPitHill 6 100m 2Lynemouth 13 121.5m 2Middlemoor 18 125m 3NorthSteads 9 125m 2MSDCramlington 2 125m 2.5Ray 16 125m 3.4Sisters 4 125m 2Wandylaw 10 125m 2Wingates 6 110m 2.5
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1.20 Atthetimeofwritingtherewere7offshorewindturbinesnearBlythHarbour,asdetailedin
Table5below: Table5:Operationaloffshorewindenergyschemes
Scheme Numberofturbines Turbineht.tobladetip
Power(MW)
BlythOffshore 2 93m 2perturbineBlythOffshoreRe-powering
5(consentforupto15) 191.5m Max.total41.5
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1.21 Therangeofturbineapplicationshasbeenusedtogenerateappropriatewindturbinetypologiesforinclusionwithinthestudy.Inaccordancewiththeprojectbrief,thestudyassessesthesensitivityoflandscapesinNorthumberlandtodifferentscalesofwindturbinebasedontheheightoftheturbines(ratherthannumbersofturbines/turbinearrayswithinawindfarm).ThisisdiscussedfurtherinSection2:Methodology.
ScopeoftheStudy
1.22 Thescopeofthisstudyisto:
a. identifycriteriaforassessinglandscapesensitivitytowindturbinedevelopment;b. identifydifferentcategoriesoflandscapesensitivitytowindturbinedevelopment;c. identifydifferentscalesofwindturbines,basedontheheightofturbines,tobeusedin
theassessment;d. undertakeanassessmentofthesensitivityofeachofthelandscapecharacterareasin
Northumberlandtowindturbinedevelopment,includingaconsiderationofcumulativeeffects;andto
e. provideadviceonthesensitivityofeachlandscapecharacterareatowindturbinedevelopmentandanyimplicationsfortheidentificationofsuitableareasforwindturbinedevelopmentinNorthumberland.
1.23 ThestudyconsidersonshorewindturbineswithinNorthumberland,includingthe
NorthumberlandCoastAreaofOutstandingNaturalBeauty(AONB)andthatpartoftheNorthPenninesAONBfallingwithinthecounty,butexcludingNorthumberlandNationalPark.Thenatureofwindturbinesmeanstheycanaffectlandscapecharacterbeyondthehostlandscape,thuscross-borderinter-visibilityandcumulativeeffectsofdevelopmentswithinneighbouringadministrativeareas,includinginScotland,NorthumberlandNationalParkandoffshoreinstallations,aretakenintoaccountinthestudy.
1.24 Althoughwindpoweristheoreticallylimitedbyarangeofconstraints,forexampleaverage
windspeed,technologicaladvancesnowenabledevelopmentacrossabroadrangeofconditions.Thereforetheentirecounty(withtheexceptionofNorthumberlandNationalPark)isconsideredinrelationtolandscapesensitivitytowindturbinedevelopment.
1.25 TheNorthumberlandLandscapeCharacterAssessment(NLCA)isusedasthebasisforthis
studyinassessingthesensitivityofthe44landscapecharactertypes(LCT)(whicharegenericandsharecommoncombinationsofgeology,topography,vegetationandhumaninfluences,e.g.OutcropHillsandEscarpments)andthe108landscapecharacterareas(LCA)(whicharesingle,discretegeographicalareasofthelandscapetypewithaunique‘senseofplace’,e.g.KyloeandChillinghamHills)towindturbineproposalsinthecounty.Writtenin2010(followingtheformationoftheunitaryauthorityofNorthumberlandCountyCouncilin2009),theNLCAprovidesvaluabledescriptionofthecharacteroftheNorthumberlandlandscapeswhichhasbeenupdatedinthisstudywherenecessary,inparticularintermsofthepresenceofman-madefeatures(suchaswindturbines)andhowtheseareperceivedasaffectingthebalanceofkeylandscapecharacteristicsandviews.Itisimportanttonotethatthisstudydoesnot
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purporttobeanewNLCA;itrecordsthemainfeaturesofeachlandscapecharactertypeatthetimeofthestudyasindicatorsoflikelysensitivityofthelandscapetowindturbinedevelopment.ThisisaddressedfurtherinSection2:Methodology.
1.26 Itisalsoimportanttonotethatthissensitivitystudydoesnotdefinethepreciselimitofwind
turbinedevelopmentthatcanbeaccommodatedwithinNorthumberland,butgivesanindicationoftherelativesensitivityofthedifferentlandscapecharacterareastothistypeofdevelopment,asdefinedinthestudy.Itshouldnotbeinterpretedasadefinitivestatementthataparticularlandscapeissuitableornotsuitableforwindturbinedevelopment–thisreportisnotasubstitutefordetailedlandscapeandvisualimpactassessmentoflocaldevelopmentproposalsoraspartofwiderenvironmentalimpactassessment.
1.27 Furthermore,althoughthestudymayhelpidentifylesssensitivelocationsitdoesnotmean
thattheseareasarethereforealwayssuitableforwindturbinedevelopment,northatsuchdevelopmentwillbeacceptable.Evenanarearatedaslow-moderatesensitivitywillcomprisesomekeycharacteristicsthataresensitivetodevelopment.Ifadevelopmentwouldadverselyaffectkeycharacteristics,orthescaleofdevelopmentwouldcreateahighmagnitudeofchange,effectsonthecharacterandappearanceofanareacouldpotentiallybesignificantevenifthatareaisratedaslow-moderatesensitivity.
1.28 Thestudyusescarefullydefinedcriteriatoassesssensitivitythatinevitablyinvolvesadegree
ofprofessionaljudgementinevaluatingsometimescompetingandunequallyweightedcharacteristics,orattributes.Rigidinterpretationofthefindingsshouldbeavoided,payingparticularattentiontothedescriptionsofpotentialsensitivitytodifferentscalesofdevelopmentandtheassociatedbroadgenericguidanceonthetypeofdevelopmentthatmayormaynotbeacceptableindifferentlocations.
1.29 Itisalsoimportanttorecognisethatthisstudyonlyconsiderslandscapecharacter.Biodiversity
andculturalheritagearetakenintoconsiderationonlywheretheyhaveaninfluenceonlandscapecharacter.TheCouncilwillconsiderallotherenvironmentalfactorsandallotherrelevantissuesduringdeliberationsonwhetherthereareanysuitableareasforwindturbinedevelopment.
1.30 Assessmentofthesensitivitytowindturbinedevelopmentismadetocomparelandscapes
withinNorthumberland;thestudyshouldnotbereadalongsideorcomparedwithothersensitivityandcapacitystudies.Nordoesthestudycomparetheadvantagesordisadvantagesofwindenergyinrelationtootherrenewableorlowcarbonenergysources.
1.31 Itisacknowledgedthatindividualperceptionsandattitudestowardsrenewableenergy
developments,andinparticularwindturbines,varygreatly.Contrastingpositiveandnegativeattitudesarecommonbutthestudytakesanunbiasedapproach.
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FormatoftheReport1.32 ThisReportissetoutin4principalsections: Part1:Introduction&Context(thissectionasabove). Part2:Methodology.Setsouttheprinciples,scope,approach,process,techniquesand
sequenceadoptedinpreparingthelandscapesensitivityreport. Part3:LandscapeSensitivityProfilesandAssessment.Thissectionformsthebodyofthe
researchoutputsandprovidesdetailed,structuredanalysisofLCT/LCAsensitivityattributesandsummaryvalues.
Part4:SummaryFindings:LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentin
Northumberland.Thissectionprovidesaccessiblesummaryresultsfromtheresearch,presentsmappingoutputsatcountyscaleandhighlightskeyissuesofsensitivityvariationsandfurtherconsiderationsinrespectstogoodlandscapeplanningforwindenergydevelopment.
Appendicessetoutmoredetailedcontextualinformation.
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2. METHODOLOGYIntroduction
2.1 TheassessmentfollowsgenericguidanceforjudginglandscapesensitivitycontainedwithinTheCountrysideAgency’sandScottishNaturalHeritage’sjointLandscapeCharacterAssessmentGuidanceforEnglandandScotland,2002,TopicPaper68.ThestudyisalsoconsistentwiththeimpactassessmentmethodologyadvocatedbytheLandscapeInstituteandInstituteofEnvironmentalManagement&AssessmentintheirGuidelinesforLandscapeandVisualImpactAssessment,20139.
2.2 Awidebodyofguidancehasbeenproducedonthelandscapeeffectsofon-shorewindfarms,
inparticularfromScottishNaturalHeritage(SNH)10,overrecentyears.Usefuloverviewsofwindfarmcharacteristicsandtypicaleffectsofwindturbinesonthelandscapearefoundinnumerousdocumentsincludinglandscapeandvisualimpactassessmentssubmittedinconnectionwithwindfarmproposals,andwindenergysensitivityand/orcapacitystudiesthroughouttheUK.Thereisnowawideconsensusastothewaysinwhichwindturbinescanaffectthelandscape.AppendixBprovidesanoverviewofkeylandscapecharacteristicsandtheirgeneralinfluenceonwindenergydevelopmentbasedonareviewofavailableguidanceandothersources11andtheconsultantsownexperienceofundertakingon-shorewindenergylandscapesensitivityandcapacitystudiesinEnglandandScotlandinmanydifferentlandscapesandatdifferentscalesofdevelopment.Thishashelpedinformamethodologyforthisstudy.Itisimportantthattheprocessissimpleandeasilyunderstoodwhilstbeingrobust,transparentanddefendable.
2.3 Landscapesensitivityreferstotheextenttowhichaparticularlandscapecharactertypeor
areaisvulnerabletochangeduetopotentiallysignificanteffectsonitscharacter,includingviews,oroverallchangeoflandscapecharactertype.Landscapesensitivityisaprofessionaljudgementreflectingtheparticularlandscapecharacteristicsandfeaturesofagivenarea,forexamplelandscapeswhicharerareorunusuallandscapetypesarelikelytobemoresensitivetochange.Sensitivityislikelytovaryaccordingtothetypeandnatureofchangebeingproposed,andinthisstudyreferstothelandscapeandvisualsensitivityoftheNorthumberlandlandscape(excludingNorthumberlandNationalPark)towindenergydevelopment.
8TheCountrysideAgencyandScottishNaturalHeritage(2002);LandscapeCharacterAssessment:GuidanceforEnglandandScotland.TopicPaper6:TechniquesandCriteriaforJudgingCapacityandSensitivity;9LandscapeInstituteandInstituteofEnvironmentalManagement&Assessment(2013),GuidelinesforLandscapeandVisualImpactAssessment,ThirdEdition.10Forexample:StrategicLocationalGuidanceforOnshoreWindFarms,2009;GuidanceonSpatialPlanningforOnshoreWindTurbines–naturalheritageconsiderations,2015;SitingandDesigningWindFarmsintheLandscape,Version1,2009&Version2,2014;SitingandDesignofSmallScaleWindTurbinesofbetween15and50minHeight,2012;AssessingtheCumulativeImpactofOnShoreWindEnergyDevelopments,2012.11IncludingSNHguidance(asabove),NorthumberlandKeyLandUseImpactStudy(2010),CheshireEastLandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopments(2013),DurhamCountyCouncilWindTurbineDevelopmentEvidencePaper(November2016).
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2.4 ‘Landscapesensitivity’and‘landscapecapacity’aretermsthatareoftenusedtomeanthe
samethinginlandscapesensitivityandcapacitystudies.Careisneededinthewaythat‘landscapecapacity’isusedsinceitcanimplytheexistenceofanobjectivelydefinedthresholdbelowwhichdevelopmentisacceptable,andbeyondwhichitisunacceptable.Rarelycansuchathresholdbedefinedwithanyaccuracy,andthresholdswillbedependentuponvariousconsiderationsaffectingsensitivity,policyandtheneedforrenewableenergy.ConsequentlythisstudyassessestheoverallsensitivityoflandscapecharactertypeswithinNorthumberlandtowindenergydevelopmentwithoutattemptingtoidentifylandscapeswherethresholdsofdevelopmentmayormaynotbeacceptable.
ProjectStages2.5 Themethodbroadlyfollowsaprocessofthreeprojectstages: ProjectStage1:
• Deskstudyreviewofpublishedmaterial(seeSection1),includingwindenergyapplicationdecisionswithinthecounty,OrdnanceSurveysheetsat1:50,000scaleand1:25,000scale,andaerialphotographs/imagery;
• Evaluationoflandscapecharactertypes(LCT)andlandscapecharacterareas(LCA)usingtheNorthumberlandLandscapeCharacterAssessment(NLCA),2010;
• Developmentofwindenergytypologycategoriesbasedonturbineheights(ratherthannumbersofturbines/turbinearrayswithinawindfarm)inaccordancewiththeprojectbrief;
• Generationandapplicationofappropriatecriteriatoassesssensitivity;• Initialdesk-basedassessmentoflandscapesensitivityofeachLCTandLCAacrossthe
county;• Initialfieldworkwithinpilotstudycharacterareas.
ProjectStage2:
• Fieldworkground-truthingandmoderationoftheinitialassessment.
ProjectStage3:• PresentationofresultsbywayofsensitivityprofilesforeachLCTtoeachwindenergy
category,tablessummarisingsensitivitybycategoryofeachLCA,andmappingusingageographicinformationsystem(GIS);
• Recommendationsfortakingthesensitivityassessmentfindingsforwardstowardsamorespecificidentificationofareaswiththecapacitytoaccommodatewindenergy,takingintoconsiderationcumulativeeffectsofoperationalandapproveddevelopments.
ProjectStage1:DefiningAppropriateWindTurbineTypologyCategories2.6 Inaccordancewiththeprojectbrief,windenergytypologycategoriesarebasedonturbine
heights(ratherthannumbersofturbines/turbinearrayswithinawindfarm).Awiderangeofwindenergytypologieshavebeenconsideredinpreviousstudies:forexample,theNorthumberlandKeyLandUseImpactStudy(NKLUIS),2010,considerssensitivitytosmall-
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scalewindpowerdevelopmentdefinedaswindfarmsofupto5turbinesofanysize,andlarge-scalewindpowerdevelopmentdefinedasanywindfarmwithmorethan5turbinesofanysize;theNorthumberlandCoastAONBLandscapeSensitivityandCapacityStudy,2013,considerssensitivitytodomestic/farm-scalewindturbinesofbetween15-50mheighttobladetip,andcommercial-scalewindfarmswithoneormoreturbines100mheighttobladetip.
2.7 Areviewofplanningapplicationsoverthepasttenyearsgivesapartialindicationoflikely
turbineheightsmostlikelytocomeforwardinthecounty12.Followingareviewofdifferentcategoriesofturbineincludedinthepilotstudy(seebelow)anddiscussionwiththeCouncil’sprojectteam,itwasagreedthatthefollowingwindturbinetypologycategorieswouldbeusedinthestudy:
Table6:Windturbinetypologycategoriesusedinthestudy:
TurbineheighttobladetipSmall<25m
Small-Medium26m-40m
Medium41m-65m
Medium-Large66m-100m
Larger101m-135m
2.8 ThistypologyissimilartothatadoptedbytheneighbouringDurhamCountyCouncilinawind
turbinedevelopmentstudypreparedasevidencebasefortheCountyDurhamPlaninNovember201613.Theseturbineheightscanbeseentoreflectmorecommongenerationcapacitybandsofcommerciallymaturewindenergytechnologies.Forexample,asnotedintheDurhamCCstudy,thereisoftenamarkeddifferenceinturbinetypeabove40moverallheighttobladetip,reflectedintheheightofthewindturbinetowertothehub(nacelle),rotorbladelengthandMWoutput.
ProjectStage1:GenerationandApplicationofAppropriateCriteriato
AssessSensitivity2.9 Thisisthekeystageinthedevelopmentofabespokemethodmostappropriatetothe
identificationandrecordingofsensitivityattributesofthelandscapesofNorthumberlandtodifferentcategoriesofwindturbine.Followingadeskbasedreviewoflandscapesensitivitytowindenergystudies,usingtheconsultant’sextensiveprofessionalexperienceatundertakingsuchprojectsanddiscussionwiththeCouncil’sprojectteam,ledtotheconclusionthatarefinementofthesensitivitycriteriausedintheNorthumberlandKeyLandUseImpactStudy(NKLUIS),2010,wouldbebroadlyappropriateforthisstudy.TheNKLUISusesthelandscapeclassificationofLCTsandLCAsfromtheNLCA(seeFigure2andAppendixA)asthebasisforitsassessmentoflandscapesensitivitytowindpower,asthisstudydoes,providingcontinuityacrosstheevidencebaseforthenewLocalPlan.
12Notwithstandingunforeseentechnologicaladvances.13DurhamCountyCouncil(November2016),CountyDurhamPlanWindTurbineDevelopmentEvidencePaper.
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2.10 Anunderstandingofhowwindturbinescanaffectthelandscapehashelpedtodefinethesensitivitycriteriausedinthisstudy.Asreferredtoabove(paragraph2.2)thereisnowawideconsensusastothewaysinwhichwindturbinesaffectthelandscape.AppendixBprovidesanoverviewofkeylandscapecharacteristicsandtheirgeneralinfluenceonwindenergydevelopmentbasedonareviewofavailableguidanceandothersources14andtheconsultants’ownexperienceofundertakingon-shorewindenergylandscapesensitivityandcapacitystudies.Fromthis,keylandscapeattributeshavebeenidentifiedthataremostlikelytoinfluencesensitivityoflandscapesinNorthumberlandtowindturbinedevelopment,asoutlinedbelowinTable7.Criteriaforassessingsensitivityinthisstudyarereproducedfromthelandscapeattributesinthetableundersixkeyheadingsofphysical,visual,perceptual,qualitative,historic&cultural,andcontextualconsiderations.
Table7:Landscapeattributesinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Attribute FactorsconsideredindetermininglandscapesensitivityPHYSICALLANDSCAPECONSIDERATIONSLandform Theshape,elevationandchangeinreliefofthephysicallandscape,
rangingfromsimpleandconsistent,suchastheflatcoastalplain,tothemorecomplex,ruggedanddramaticlandscapesofthesandstonehilloutcropsandrockycoastlines.Includingconsiderationofanydistinct‘landmark’featuressuchastheWhinSillwithincreasedsusceptibility.Ingeneral,thesimplerandmoregentlygradedthelandformthebetterthevisualrelationshipwiththesimpleformandscaleofturbines,providingvisualbalanceandavoidingvisualconfusion.Ancillaryroadsassociatedwithlargerturbinesaremorelikelytobebetteraccommodatedonmoregentleslopes.
Landcover Thecomplexityanddiversityoflandcoverpattern,fromtheuniformmonocultureofmoorlandandplantationforest,tomoreirregular,complex,intricatepatternsoflandscapefeatures.Landscapeswithdomestic/humanscalefeaturessuchassmallfields,boundaryhedgerows,treesandwalls,woodlandcopsesanddomesticbuildingsthatactasscaleindicatorsandcanaccentuatethesizeoflargerturbines.Considerationof‘landmark’featuressuchashilltopcopses,whetherpatterndisplaysintegrityorifitisfragmented.Ingeneral,asimpleandconsistentlandcoverpatternislesssensitivetowindenergydevelopmentthanamoreintricate,irregular,fragmentedpatternwhereturbinescouldincreasevisualconfusion.However,complexpatternswithinurbanfringelandscapesoftenlackcoherence,withthepotentialforreducedsensitivitytowindenergydevelopmentofappropriatescale.
14IncludingSNHguidance(asabove),NorthumberlandKeyLandUseImpactStudy(2010),CheshireEastLandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopments(2013),DurhamCountyCouncilWindTurbineDevelopmentEvidencePaper(November2016).
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Landscapescale
Therelativesizeoflandforms,rangingfromthemostintimaterivervalleystoextensiveopencoastalplain,andtherelativescaleofthelandscapeincludinglandcoverpatternsoffields,hedgerowsandtrees.Landscapescaleiscloselyrelatedtothedegreeofreliefandtopographicalcontainment,andthedegreeofenclosure/openness,visibilityandtheextentofviews,andhowthelandscapeisexperienced.Thewayinwhichlandformsenclosethelandscape,oropenoutintootherlandscapes,iscloselyrelatedtoscale.Considerationofwhetherturbineswouldbecompatibleinscaleoriftheywouldbeapparent/conspicuous/prominent/dominantinthelandscape.Ingeneral,themoreopenandlargerscaleofthelandscapethegreatertheabilitytorelatetolargerscaleturbinetypologies.However,landscapeswhereexpansivenessandsenseofdistanceisimportantwillbemoresensitivetowindenergydevelopment.
VISUALCONSIDERATIONSSkylines Visualhorizonscanbesimplei.e.relativelyflatandfeaturelessandnot
prominent,ormoreprominentanddistinctiveand/orcomplexwithwoodland,treesandotherfeatures.Ingeneral,prominent,distinctive,undevelopedskylinesaremoresensitivetowindenergydevelopmentthanindistinctiveskylineswhicharenotprominentorwheredevelopmentsuchastallstructuresisalreadyprominentontheskyline,eveniflocatedinadjacentcharacterareas.
Viewsandlandmarks
Considerationofviewsfromimportantviewpointsorotherviewsto/fromlandmarkfeaturessuchasiconicbuildings,naturalfeaturessuchasridgesandhillsandotherlandscapefoci.Includingviewsalongthecoastandtoandfromthesea.Ingeneral,turbineswillbelessacceptablewhereseenfrompopularviewpointsandwheretheyadverselyimpactonviewsto/fromimportantlandmarkfeaturesandothersensitiveviews,eitherwithinthesamecharacterareaorbeyond.Thismayincludeconsiderationofviewslookingdownfromsensitiveelevatedviewpoints.
Inter-visibility Landscapesmaybeopenandvisibleinpanoramicviewsacrossawidearea,ormaybevisuallyenclosedandself-contained.Includesconsiderationoftheroleofadjacentlandscapesincontributingtooverallcharacterofthelandscapetype,andpotentialeffectsofdevelopmentonothercharactertypesandviceversa.Ingeneral,landscapetypesthataremorecloselyjuxtaposedandwidelyvisiblefromsurroundinglandscapesarelikelytobemoresensitivetowindenergydevelopment,dependingonthenatureofeffectsandthesensitivityofthoselandscapestodifferentturbinetypologies.
Visualreceptors
Considerationofthechangeinviewsandvisualamenityfromsensitivevisualreceptors,inparticularresidents,tourists,peopleusingpublicrightsofwayforrecreationalpurposes,viewsfromscenicroads,canalsandothertransportcorridors.Ingeneral,landscapeswithlargenumbersofpotentialvisualreceptorswillbemoresensitivetowindenergydevelopment,dependingontheextentofvisibilityandthenatureofdevelopment.
PERCEPTUALCONSIDERATIONSMovement Considerationoftheextentofvisibleman-mademovementinthe
landscape(butwhichmayincludemovementfromnaturalsourcessuchasflowingwaterandtreesblowinginthewind),withinthesamecharacterareaorbeyond,suchasvehicletraffic,aircraftandmoving
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structuressuchasexistingwindturbines.Ingeneral,busylandscapeswithfrequentman-mademovementwillhavereducedsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment.
Builtdevelopment
Considerationofthedegreeofmodificationtothelandscape,eitherwithinthesamecharacterareaorbeyond,bybuiltdevelopmentsuchassettlement,industrialorcommercialbuildingsandinfrastructure,lineartransportroutesandpowerlines,andverticalstructuressuchascommunicationsmasts,pylons,chimneysandwindturbines.Moremodifiedanddevelopedlandscapeswillgenerallyhaveareducedsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment,dependingonthenatureofcumulativeeffectsandoveralllandscapecharacter.Undevelopedlandscapewithastrongsenseofnaturalness(includingmanagedlandscapes)willgenerallyhaveanincreasedsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment.Thedevelopedcoastislesssensitivethantheundevelopedsandyorrockycoastline,includingtheAONBandheritagecoast.Landscapeswithnotablehistoricsettlementsandsettlementpatternwillgenerallybeofincreasedsusceptibility.
Remoteness Considerationofthesenseofremotenessintermsofeaseofaccessorseclusion(inthesenseofthedegreeofcontainment,humanactivityandman-madenoisethatcanbeexperienced).Remote,tranquillandscapeswithlittlehumanactivityornoise(butwhichmayincludemovementandnoisefromnaturalsourcessuchasflowingwaterandtreesblowinginthewind)willbesensitivetowindenergydevelopment.
QUALITATIVECONSIDERATIONSScenicquality Thenaturalbeautyandnaturalorornamental(designed)scenicqualityof
thelandscape,whetherdesignatedforsuchqualitiesornot.Includesconsiderationoftheconditionofthelandscapeintermsofitsphysicalstateanditsvisualandfunctionalintactness.Considerationoflikelyeffectsonspecialqualitiesandtheoverallintegrityoflandscapesrecognisedfortheirscenicquality,suchasNorthumberlandNationalPark,AONB,heritagecoastanddesignedlandscapes,whichareparticularlysensitivetowindenergydevelopment.
Distinctiveness TheextenttowhichalandscapeisrepresentativeoftheNorthumberlandlandscape,orcontributestoadistinctive‘senseofplace’.Considerationofwhetherthelandscapecontainsaparticularcharacterand/orfeaturesorelementswhichareconsideredparticularlyimportantexamples,whichwouldbemoresensitivetouncharacteristicwindenergydevelopment.
Rarity TherelativerarityofalandscapecharactertypewithinNorthumberland.Considerationalsoofthepresenceofrareelementsorfeaturesinthelandscape.Ingeneral,morefrequentcharactertypeswillbelesssensitivethanrarerlandscapesorlandscapescontainingrareelementsorfeatures.
HISTORIC&CULTURALCONSIDERATIONSHeritageassets Theinfluenceofculturalheritagefeatures,includingbuiltstructures,
designedlandscapesandvisibleearthworksonthecharacterofthelandscapeandviews.Distinctivearchaeological/historicfeaturescangiveastrongsenseofhistoryor‘timelessness’.WindenergydevelopmentcouldadverselyaffectthesettingofsensitiveheritageassetssuchasScheduledMonuments,listedbuildings,historicparksandgardens,heritagecoastandHadrian’sWallWorldHeritageSite.
Recreation Considerationoftheroleplayedbythelandscapeinlandscape-basedrecreation,includingtouristattractions,othervisitorfacilitiesandscenic
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footpaths.Recreationalandtouristfacilitiesaresensitivetowindenergydevelopmentwhereexperienceofthelandscapeisimportanttovisitors.
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONSLandscapecharactercontext
Theroleofadjacentcharactertypesincontributingtooveralllandscapecharacterandscenicquality,andviceversa.Includesconsiderationoftheinteractionofnaturalandculturalattributesoflandscape,seascapeandperi-urban(urbanfringe)areas.Includesconsiderationofcontainment,backdropandskylines,theexperienceofscaleanddegreeofcomplexity,inter-visibilityandvegetationpatterns,andtheimportanceofthesettingoflandscapesrecognisedfortheirscenicquality.Landscapetypesthatarecloselyjuxtaposedandcontraststronglywithadjacentlandscapes,areasoftransitionbetweencharactertypes,andareasthatformpartofthesettingofsensitivelandscapes,arelikelytobeespeciallysensitive.Susceptibilitywillalsobeincreasedwherethereisahighdegreeofinter-visibilitybetweenadjacentlandscapesand/orseascapesand/ortheurbanfringe,includingconsiderationofvisibilitywithinthewiderstudyareabeyondNorthumberland.Considerationofthevisualinfluenceofwindturbinesandhowthiswouldchangelandscapecharacterdependingonwhetherwindenergydevelopmentwouldbeapparent/conspicuous/prominent/dominantwithinalandscapecharactertypeorarea.
Cumulativeeffects
Considerationofexistingwindenergydevelopment(s)andcumulativeeffectsthatmayalterkeycharacteristicswherewindenergydevelopmentwouldbeapparent/conspicuous/prominent/dominantwithinalandscapecharactertypeorarea.Considerationofcumulativeeffectswithotherdevelopmente.g.transmissionlinesandotherinfrastructure,whichcancreateanover-complexvisualimage.Theremaybescopeforfurtherdevelopmentofasimilarsizewhilstattainingsomevisualseparationtominimiseeffectsonlandscapecharacterdependentuponconsiderationofsequentialcumulativeeffectswhenmovingthroughthelandscape.
2.11 ThisframeworkrepresentsarefinementofthestandardisedsetofcriteriausedintheNLCAto
representthekeycharacteristicfeaturesofeachLCAinNorthumberlandthatcouldbeaffectedbywindenergydevelopment,inparticularintermsof:
• Amalgamationofconsiderationsoflandscapescaleandenclosuretoreflecttheirclose
inter-relationship;• Considerationofsettlement,industry,verticalandhorizontalfeaturestogetheras‘built
development’andtherecordingofuptodatebuiltfeatureswheretheyaffectlandscapecharacter,suchaswindenergyinstallationsandsignificanturbanandinfrastructureexpansion,asareflectionoftheperceptionofthedegreeofbuiltmodificationtothelandscape(ratherthanas‘cultural’criteriaasintheNLCA);
• Considerationof‘scenicquality’toincludenotonlylandscapecondition(asintheNLCA)butalsotoreflectNorthumberland’snaturalbeautyandornamental(designed)qualities;
• TheadditionofconsiderationofthewiderlandscapecharactercontextofeachLCA,reflectingtheoftenintricateinterplayofphysical,visual,perceptual,qualitative,historic
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&culturalattributesandhowthesecombinetoaffectthecharacterofthelandscapesofNorthumberland;
• Theadditionofconsiderationofcumulativeeffectstoreflecthowkeycharacteristicsmayhavechangedduetotheinstallationofwindenergydevelopmentswithinandbeyondthestudyarea.
2.12 Thestudyassessestherelativesensitivityofeachoftheprojectlandscapeunits(LCTs/LCAs)
interpretedfromtheNLCAdescriptions,consideredagainsteachofthewindturbinetypologycategoriesusedinthisstudy,foreachlandscapesensitivityattribute/criterionwithinTable7.Amatrixisused(basedonthatusedwithintheNLCAbutrefinedasappropriateasmentionedabove)torecordastandardisedsetofcriteriatorepresentthekeycharacteristicfeaturesofeachLCA,whichfacilitatesconsistentanddirectcomparisonofthesensitivityofeachLCAtowindenergydevelopment.Foreachcriterionafive-pointscaleisusedagainstwhicheachLCAisassessedintermsofgeneralsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment.Thefive-pointscalerepresentsagradualcontinuum(ratherthanarigidscalewithfixedpoints)fromlow,low-moderate,moderate,moderate-highandhigh,usingtheNLCA,fieldworkandprofessionaljudgementtodecidetheplacementonthescale,andconsequentoverallsensitivity(seeparagraphs2.23–2.30).Table8outlinesthelandscapesensitivitycontinuum:
Table8:LandscapeSensitivityContinuum
LowerSensitivity
HigherSensitivity
PHYSICALLANDSCAPECRITERIALandform Simple,levelorgentlygraded,
unvariedtopography;Lackoflandmarklandformfeatures.
Complex,steep,dramatic,strongtopographicalvariety;Distinctlandmarklandformfeatures.
Landcover Simple,consistent,limitedvarietyinlandcoverpattern;Lackofhuman-scalefeatures;Lackoflandmarklandscapefeatures;Complexurbanfringelandscapeslackingcoherence.
Moreintricate,irregular,fragmentedlandcoverpattern;Human-scalefeaturesactingasscaleindicators;Distinctlandmarklandscapefeatures.
Landscapescale
Largescalelandformswithlittlereliefortopographiccontainment;Largescalelandcoverpatternslackinginhuman-scalefeatures;Largerscaleturbinesrelatebettertolargerscale,open,exposedlandscapes;Smallerscaleturbinesrelatebettertosmallerscalelandscapeswithmoreintricatelandcoverpatternsandhuman-scalefeatures.
Smallscale,intimatelandformswithhighdegreeofreliefandtopographiccontainment;Smallscalelandcoverpatternswithhuman-scalefeatures;Landscapeswhereexpansivenessandsenseofdistanceisimportant;Largerscaleturbineswillbeoutofscaleinsmallscale,enclosedlandscapes.
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LowerSensitivity
HigherSensitivity
VISUALCRITERIASkylines Notprominent,indistinctive,
simple,featurelessvisualhorizons;Existingdevelopmentisprominentontheskyline.
Prominent,distinctive,complexvisualhorizons;Undevelopedskyline.
Viewsandlandmarks
Thelandscapeisnotafeatureinrecognisedviews;Noviewsfromimportantviewpoints;Noviewsto/fromimportantlandmarkfeaturesorotherlandscapefoci.
Thelandscapeisimportantinrecognisedviews;Keyviewsfromimportantviewpoints;Viewsto/fromimportantlandmarkfeaturesand/orotherlandscapefoci.
Inter-visibility
Self-containedlandscapesvisuallyenclosedwithrestrictedinter-visibility.
Openlandscapesvisibleinpanoramicviewsacrossawidearea.
Visualreceptors
Fewpeoplepotentiallyaffectedbyachangeinviewsandvisualamenity.
Manypeoplepotentiallyaffectedbyachangeinviewsandvisualamenity.
PERCEPTUALCRITERIAMovement Busy,frequenttocontinuousman-
mademovement.Still,withnooronlyveryoccasionalman-mademovement.
Builtdevelopment
Highdegreeoflandscapemodificationbybuiltdevelopment;Significantman-madelinearorverticalstructures;Littleornotraditionalbuildingsorsettlements;Nosenseofnaturalness.
Largelyundeveloped,withverylimitedlandscapemodificationbybuiltdevelopment;Nosignificantman-madelinearorverticalstructures;Traditional&/orsmallscalebuildingsandsettlements;Strongsenseofnaturalness.
Remoteness Easilyaccessiblelandscapewithnosenseofremoteness;Nottranquil,withmuchhumanactivityandman-madenoise.
Secludedlandscapewithasenseofremoteness;Tranquil,withlittlehumanactivityornoise.
QUALITATIVECHARACTERISTICSScenicquality Landscapeoflownaturalbeauty
and/orlownaturalorornamental(designed)scenicquality;Nolandscapedesignation;Poorcondition,poorlymanaged;Visuallyand/orfunctionallydamagedorimpaired.
Landscapeofhighnaturalbeautyand/orhighnaturalorornamental(designed)scenicquality;Landscapedesignatedforitsscenicquality;Goodcondition,wellmanaged;Visuallyand/orfunctionallyintact.
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LowerSensitivity
HigherSensitivity
Distinctiveness NotrepresentativeofNorthumberland;Little‘senseofplace’;Containsnoparticularlyimportantlandscapecharacteristicsorfeaturesorelements.
DistinctivetoNorthumberland;Strong‘senseofplace’;ContainslandscapecharacteristicsorfeaturesorelementsconsideredparticularlyimportantexampleswithinNorthumberland.
Rarity AcommonlandscapecharactertypeorareawithinNorthumberland;Norarelandscapefeaturesorelementspresent.
Aunique/veryinfrequentlandscapecharactertypeorareawithinNorthumberland;Rarelandscapefeaturesorelementspresent.
HISTORIC&CULTURALCRITERIAHeritageassets
Theinfluenceofculturalheritage/historicfeaturesonlandscapecharacterandviewsishighlylimited;Nodistinctivevisiblearchaeologyand/orsensitivehistoricassets;Nosenseofhistoryor‘timelessness’.
Landscapecharacterandviewsarehighlyinfluencedbyculturalheritage/historicfeatures;Distinctivevisiblearchaeologyand/orhistoricfeatures;Potentialforthesettingofsensitiveheritageassets(whetherdesignatedand/orlistedornot)tobesignificantlyaffected;Strongsenseofhistoryor‘timelessness’.
Recreation Littleornolandscape-basedrecreationalortouristuse.
Landscapeislocallyand/ornationallyimportantforrecreationand/ortourism,whereexperienceofthelandscapeisimportant.
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONSLandscapecharactercontext
Thelandscapedoesnotcontributetothecharacterand/orscenicqualityofadjacentcharactertypes,orviceversa;Landscapetypeissimilartoadjacenttype;Landscapecontrastswithadjacenttypesbutwithrestrictedinter-visibility;Windturbinesconsideredtobe‘noticeable’or‘apparent’arelikelytobecomeacharacteristicofthelandscapebutnotakeycharacteristic.Thelandscapeaffectedisunlikelytobecomea‘windfarmlandscape’typeorsub-type.
Thelandscapecontributestothecharacterand/orscenicqualityofadjacentcharactertypes,orviceversa;Landscapetypescloselyjuxtaposedandcontrastingstronglywithadjacenttypes;Areasoftransitionbetweencharactertypes;Highdegreeofinter-visibilitybetweenadjacentlandscapesand/orseascapesand/orperi-urban(urbanfringe)areas;Windturbinesconsideredtobe‘prominent’or‘dominant’wouldbecomeakeycharacteristicofthelandscapewhichmightbecomea‘windfarmlandscape’typeorsub-type.
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LowerSensitivity
HigherSensitivity
Cumulativeeffects
Landscapeunaffectedbyoperationalorconsentedwindenergydevelopment,orotherdevelopment,suchthatwindturbinesareunlikelytocreateanover-compleximage;Turbinesofasimilarlayoutanddesigntootheroperationalorconsentedturbinesthatlimitsvisualconfusion;Cumulativeeffectswithothernearbyoperationalorconsentedwindenergydevelopmentwouldcreateanew‘windfarmlandscape’charactertypebutwherethisisconsideredpreferabletoadverselyaffectingthecharacterofmoresensitivelandscapes;Visualseparationbetweenwindfarmsissuchthatsequentialcumulativeeffectswhenmovingthroughthelandscapeareconsideredinsignificant.
Combinedeffectswithoperationalorconsentedwindenergydevelopment,orotherdevelopment,wouldcreateanover-compleximageand/orvisualconfusion,and/orwouldadverselychangethecharacterofthelandscapeintoa‘windfarmlandscape’typeorsub-type;Acceptablevisualseparationbetweenoperationalorconsentedwindenergydevelopmentsisadverselyaffectedresultinginsignificantsequentialcumulativeeffectwhenmovingthroughthelandscape.
ProjectStage1:PilotStudy2.13 Theprojectteamrecognisedfromtheoutsetthatinundertakingarelativelylargescaleand
complexstudy,therecouldbesignificantvalueinpilotingproposedmethodsandprovisionalsensitivityassessmentstoenablerefinementinmethodand/orscopebeforefullapplication.Moreover,thisallowedfortheCouncil’sprojectteamtobeengagedfromanearlystageofthework.ConsequentlyapilotstudywasundertakenandaninternalpilotstudyreportpresentedtoCouncilofficerstowardstheendofStage1.
2.14 FieldsheetswerepreparedtorecordkeycharacteristicsofLCAswithin3LCTs,andfieldwork
undertakentorecordanysignificantchangesfromthecharacteristicsidentifiedintheNLCA,suchastheeffectsofnewinfrastructure,builtdevelopmentandwindenergyinstallations.Draftsensitivityprofileswerepreparedforthe3LCTs,whichwereLCT21:RollingUplands,LCT35:BroadLowlandValleysandLCT40:BroadBaysandDunes,chosenduetotheirdifferingcharacteristics(upland/lowland-rural/coastal-peri-urban),theirlimitednumberofcomponentLCAsandgeographicconcentration.
2.15 Akeylessonlearntfromthepilotstudywasthattheprojectwouldbenefitfrommore
extensivefieldworktoidentifylandscapechangessince2010,inparticularwindenergydevelopmentsandmoresignificanturbanandinfrastructureexpansionoverthepreceding7years.Insodoing,addedvaluewouldbeaffordedtothestudy,particularlyinrelationtohowwindenergyhaschangedthecharacterandwidercontext/inter-visibilityofsomeLCTs/LCAs,
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andtheimpactthishashadoncumulativeeffects.ChangeswererecordedontheLCAmatricesagainstrelevantcriteria(sensitivityattributes)thattogetherprovideanoverallassessmentofsensitivitytodifferentscalesofwindenergydevelopment.
2.16 Also,asaresultofthepilotprofilingandsubsequentdiscussionswiththeCouncil’sproject
team,theinitialturbinetypologycategorieswerefinalisedandthesensitivitycriteria(attributes)wereslightlyamended(asreferredtoabove).TheserelativelyminorbutsignificantchangesprovideabespokemethodmostappropriatetotheidentificationandrecordingofsensitivityattributesofthelandscapesofNorthumberlandtocategoriesofwindturbinemostlikelytocomeforwardinthecounty.
ProjectStage2:FieldEvaluationandModerationofInitialDesk-BasedSensitivityAssessment
2.17 ThisstageentailsthemoderationandrevisionwhereappropriateofStage1outputsthroughground-truthing.Thisallowsforaqualitative,experientialelementtobeembeddedwithintheoverallassessmentoflandscapesensitivity.Itaffordsthenecessaryfirst-handappreciationandground-levelunderstandingandanalysisofthecomplexinterplayoflandscapecomponents,bytheconsultants,inreachingaprofessionaljudgmentonlandscapeunitsensitivity.
2.18 Fieldworkentailedexaminationoflandscapecharactervis-à-vistheProjectStage1findings,
andindoingsokeyaddedvalueachievedthroughhavingregardtothesignificanceofvisualreceptorseitherwithinthelandscapeunit,orpotentiallyaffectedoutsideitinneighbouringormoredistantlandscapeunits.Inter-visibilityoflandscapeunitsandimportantviews/viewpointswasconfirmedbyground-truthingworkasfarasisappropriatetoastrategic-grainsensitivityassessment.
2.19 Fieldworkalsoconfirmedthelocationofalloperationalwindfarmswithinthecountytofeed
intothelaterprojectstagewheretheirimpactonlandscapecharacterandsensitivityistakenintoaccount.AtthetimeoftheNorthumberlandLCAin2010therewereonly3operationalwindfarmsinthecounty(withatotalof14turbinesincluding2offshoreatBlyth),andafurther10consentedwindfarms(totalling130turbines).Thishadrisento15operationalwindfarms(withatotalof114turbines100m–130mheighttobladetip-seeTable4andFigure4)plusanumberofsmallerwindturbinesandanadditional7offshoreturbinesnearBlythHarbour(withamaximumheighttobladetipof191.5m–seeTable5)bythetimetheconsultantsundertookthisstudy.Theeffects(individualandcumulative)ofoperationalwindfarmsonlandscapecharacterandsensitivityisakeyconsiderationinthestudy.
2.20 Duringthefieldwork,fieldsheetsandannotatedfieldmapswereusedtorecordkey
landscapecharacteristicsofeachLCAacrossthecounty,notinganyappropriaterefinementstothoserecordedintheNLCA.Thesetogetherwithaphotographicrecordprovideastrongframeworkofaide-memoirestoinformStage3projectoutputs.
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ProjectStage3:SensitivityAssessment&Summary2.21 Landscapesensitivityprofilesrecordtheassessmentofsensitivityofeachofthe44LCTs
againsteachofthekeysensitivityattributes.Afive-pointscaleisusedtorecordtheoverallsensitivityofeachLCAwithineachLCTtothedifferentcategoriesofwindturbinetypologyusedinthestudy,usingthedefinitionsofsensitivitygiveninTable9below.Professionaljudgementisusedtodecidetheexactplacementonthescale(seeparagraphs2.23–2.30).ThesearerecordedinasummarytableattheendofeachLCTprofile.
Table9:DefinitionsoflandscapecharacterareasensitivitytowindturbinedevelopmentHigherSensitivity(H) Manyofthekeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapeare
highlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment.Landscapecharacter,viewsand/orvisualamenityarehighlylikelytobesignificantlyaffected.
Moderate-HighSensitivity(M-H)
Manyofthekeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapearesensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment.Landscapecharacter,viewsand/orvisualamenityarelikelytobesignificantlyaffected.
ModerateSensitivity(M)
Someofthekeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapearesensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment.Landscapecharacter,viewsand/orvisualamenityareunlikelytobesignificantlyaffected.
Low-ModerateSensitivity(L-M)
Fewofthekeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapearesensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment.Landscapecharacter,viewsand/orvisualamenityareunlikelytobesignificantlyaffected.
LowerSensitivity(L) Thekeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapearegenerallyrobustandarenotparticularlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment.Landscapecharacter,viewsand/orvisualamenityareunlikelytobesignificantlyaffected.
2.22 Colourcodinginthesummarytableswithineachlandscapesensitivityprofilereflectthe
differentsensitivitylevelswithinTable10,andarerepeatedonGISgeneratedmappingtoindicaterelativesensitivityofeachLCAtoeachofthefivewindturbinetypologycategories.Thisenableseasycross-referencingandspatialexpressionoffindingstofacilitatecomparisonofeacharea.
DerivingOverallSensitivityValuesincludingConsiderationofCumulative
Effects2.23 OverallsensitivityvaluesforeachLCAarederivedbyusingthefollowingTable10.Foreach
landscapecharacteristic,adoptedspecificallyforthisstudyasreferredtoabove,afive-pointscaleissetoutagainstwhicheachlandscapeisassessed,andprofessionaljudgementisusedindecidingoverallsensitivity.
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Table10:SensitivityScaleforAssessingOverallSensitivityofeachLCAtoWindEnergyDevelopment LowSensitivity Low-Moderate
SensitivityModerateSensitivity
Moderate-HighSensitivity
HighSensitivity
PHYSICALLANDSCAPECRITERIALandform Simple,level,
unvariedSimple,gentlyundulatingwithoccasionalvariety
Undulatingorwithsomevariety
Rolling,varied,butlackingstrongcomplexity
Complex,strongtopographicalvariety,dramatic
Landcover Simple,predictablelimitedvarietyinlandcover
Simple,withoccasionalvariety
Somevariety Varied,butlackingcomplexity
Muchvarietyinlandcoverresultinginmosaiceffect
Landscapescale
Large,open,exposed
Medium-large,generallyopen,enclosedinplaces
Medium,someenclosure
Medium-small,mostlyenclosed,someopenareas
Small,enclosed
VISUALCRITERIASkylines Notprominent,
indistinctive,simple&/ordevelopmentdefined
Notprominent,indistinctive,&/orsomedevelopment
Someprominence,notdistinctive&/orvaried,somedevelopment
Prominent&/orsomecomplexity&/orlittledevelopment
Prominent,distinctive&/orcomplex&/orundeveloped
Viewsandlandmarks
Noviewsfromviewpointsortolandmarkfeatures
Viewstolimitedoroccasionallandmarkfeatures
Viewstolocallysignificantlandmarkfeatures
Viewsfromviewpointsortoimportantlandmarkfeatures
Keyviewsfrompopularviewpointstoiconic/importantlandmarkfeatures
Inter-visibility
Self-contained,restrictedinter-visibility
Occasionalviewsto/fromadjacentlandscapes
Inter-visibilitywithsomeneighbouringlandscapes
Inter-visibilityandstronglinkstoneighbouringlandscapes
Extensivelyinter-visible,partofwiderlandscape
Visualreceptors
Lownumberofviewersfrompropertiesandtransportroutes
Localtransportroutes,limitednumbersofresidents
Somevisibilityfrommaintransportroutes,moreresidents
Highervisibilityfrommaintransportroutesandproperties
Frequentpropertiesandviewsfrommaintransportroutes
PERCEPTUALCRITERIAMovement Busy,frequent
tocontinuousmovement
Frequentmovementonroadsandrailways
Occasionaltofrequentmovement
Quiet,limitedmovement
Still,veryoccasionalmovementonly
Builtdevelopment
Highdegree&/orlargescalebuiltdevelopment.Littleornotraditionalbuildingsorsettlements,nosenseofnaturalness
Somebuiltdevelopment&/orinfrastructureand/orprominentverticalstructuresand/orsomebrownfieldland
Somebuiltdevelopment&/orinfrastructureand/orverticalstructuresbutlackingprominence
Limitedbuiltdevelopment,infrastructure,&/ortraditionalorsmallscalebuildingsandsettlements,strongsenseofnaturalness
Verylimitedornobuiltdevelopment.Traditional&/orsmallscalebuildingsandsettlements,strongsenseofnaturalness
Remoteness Nottranquil,muchhumanactivityandnoise
Frequenthumanactivityandpresence
Somehumanactivitylimitingsenseofremoteness
Relativelytranquil
Tranquil,littlehumanactivityornoise,senseofremoteness
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QUALITATIVECHARACTERISTICSScenicquality
OfLowperceivedpicturesque/aesthetic/dramaticvalue
Low/mediumperceivedpicturesque/aesthetic/dramaticvalue
Mediumperceivedpicturesque/aesthetic/dramaticvalue
Medium/highperceivedpicturesque/aesthetic/dramaticvalue
Highperceivedpicturesque/aesthetic/dramaticvalue
Distinctive-ness
NotrepresentativeofNorthumberland
UnrepresentativeofNorthumberlandbutwithsomesenseofplace
SomeelementsofdistinctiveNorthumberlandlandscapecharacter
RepresentativelandscapeofNorthumberland
DistinctivetoNorthumberland
Rarity AcommonlandscapeacrossNorthumberland
Amorecommonlandscape,withfeaturesofsomerarity
Amorecommonlandscapewithsomeuniquefeatures
AlandscaperarelyoccurringacrossNorthumberland
Aunique/veryinfrequentlandscapeacrossNorthumberland
HISTORIC&CULTURALCRITERIAHeritageassets
Landscapewheretheinfluenceofhistoricsitesoncharacterishighlylimited
Landscapewheretheinfluenceofhistoricsitesoncharacterislimitedbutoccasionallylimportantlocally
Landscapewheretheinfluenceofhistoricsitesoncharacterissignificantbutrestrictedinextent
LandscapewhereperceptionandinfluenceofhistoricsitessignificantlyaddstocharacteracrosstheLCA
Landscapesignificantlydefinedordominatedbyheritagesitesandhistoricassociations
Recreation Littleornorecreationaluse
Lowlevelinformalorlocalrecreationaluse
Locallysignificantrecreationaluseorattraction
Wellusedforrecreation,greaterthanlocalattraction
Importantforrecreationforlocalsandvisitors,nationaldesignationorattraction
2.24 Itisimportanttonotethatthesensitivityassessmentisnotmadeonthebasisofasimplesum
ofthemostattributesfallingwithinapointonthescale,butonconsiderationofthecomplexinterplayofdifferentcriteria,recognisingthatwithinalandscapeunitsomecriteriamayhaveagreaterinfluenceonlandscapecharacterthanothercriteria,forexampleaprominentskyline.
2.25 Thecombinedeffectsofanumberofwindturbinescancreatecumulativeeffectsi.e.
additionalchangestothelandscapeandpeople’sperceptionsofitthatcouldeventuallychangethecharacterofthelandscape.Asnumbersofwindturbinesincrease,theirpotentiallyhighlevelofvisibilityandotherpotentialimpactsmeansthatcumulativeeffectsaremorelikely.Thisisanevolvingareaofpracticeandconsiderableefforthasrecentlybeendevotedtoaddressingcumulativelandscapeandvisualeffectsinguidance,specificallyonwindfarms15.Moregeneralguidanceisprovidedinthe‘GuidelinesforLandscapeandVisualImpactAssessment’,201316.
2.26 ConsiderationisgivenwithintheLCTprofilestothepresenceofwindturbineswithinorvisible
fromaLCT,howthisaffectslandscapecharacterandthepotentialfor(further)cumulativelandscapeandvisualeffectsasaresultofnewwindenergydevelopment.Cumulative
15AssessingtheCumulativeImpactofOnShoreWindEnergyDevelopments(2012),ScottishNaturalHeritage16GuidelinesforLandscapeandVisualImpactAssessment,ThirdEdition,2013;LandscapeInstituteandInstituteforEnvironmentalManagementandAssessment.
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landscapeeffectsmayincludeeffectsonlandscapecharacterandonthephysicalfabricofthelandscape(suchaswoodlandandhedgerows).Cumulativevisualeffectsmayinclude:
• Combinedvisibilityoftwoormoredevelopmentsfromaviewpoint,either‘in-
combination’(wherethedevelopmentsareseenwithinthesamearcofvisionatthesametime)or‘in-succession’(wheretheobserverhastoturntoseethevariousdevelopments);
• Sequentialvisibilitywheredifferentdevelopmentsareseenwhenmovingfromoneviewpointtoanother,forexamplewhentravelingalongaroad,railway,river/canalorfootpath,etc.Sequentialeffectsmayrangefromfrequentlysequentialtooccasionallysequential.
2.27 ThepotentialsensitivityofaLCAtocumulativeeffectsistakenintoaccountintheoverall
summaryassessment.Guidanceisgivenwithintheprofilesforavoidingorlimitingcumulativeeffectsfromadditionalwindenergydevelopment.
2.28 Althoughthestudyfindingswillhelpdirectdevelopmenttolesssensitivelocations,itdoesnot
implythatdevelopmentwillalwaysbeacceptableinthoseareas.Forexample,thestudymayfindthatevenanareaassessedasoveralllow-moderatesensitivitymaycomprisesomekeycharacteristicsthataresensitivetothetypeofdevelopmentproposedandthatmightcausesignificantadverseeffect.Itisforeachdevelopmentproposal(thatmaybesupportedbyLandscape&VisualImpactAssessmentasanexplicitelementofEnvironmentalImpactAssessment,forexample)toshowhowthecharacteristicsofalandscapeunit(LCT/LCA),andthewiderareawherevisualsensitivityextendsbeyondtheunit,havebeentakenintoaccountinthesiting,layoutanddesignofaproposal,tohelptheCouncilreachadecisiononthescaleofdevelopment,itsmagnitudeofchangeandlikelysignificanceofeffectonthecharacterandappearanceofthearea.However,theoutputsofthissensitivityassessmentdoprovidethatsystematicandtransparentcoarse-to-moderategrainfilterofareaswherewindenergydevelopmentofthedifferenttypologiesconsideredinthestudywouldnotbeappropriateinlandscapeandvisualterms.
2.29 Anoverallsummarysensitivitytablesetsoutacomprehensiveyetsimpleoverviewofthe
relativesensitivitiesofeachLCAtoeachcategoryofwindturbinetypology(seeTable11,Section4).ThesamecolourcodingisusedasintheLCTlandscapesensitivityprofilesandinthemappingtoeasecross-referencing.
2.30 Stage3oftheprojectincludesnarrativeinexplanationofthefindingsandmakes
recommendationsfortakingtheseforwardinpolicyand/orasupplementaryplanningdocumentinrelationtowindenergyinNorthumberland.
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3. LANDSCAPESENSITIVITYPROFILESANDASSESSMENT3.1 Thissectionsetsoutdetailedlandscapesensitivityassessmentsforeachofthe44
LandscapeCharacterAreasoftheStudyArea.WithineachassessmentprofilethereportpresentsfindingsinrespecttotheLCT’scomponentcharacteristicsandhowthesearejudgedtorelatetosensitivitytowindenergydevelopment.Eachprofileprovidesasummarystatementinrespecttotheoveralllandscapecharactercontextinrelationtowindenergysensitivityandanarrativeinrespecttothepotentialimplicationsofcumulativeimpactsarisingfromadditionalwindenergydevelopment.
3.2 Asummarytableispresentedwithineachprofileastotheassessedoverall
landscapesensitivitiestoeachofthewindturbinetypologies(scales)foreachcomponentlandscapecharacterareaofeachLCT.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT1:BroadRiverMouth
LCT1comprisesasinglecharacterareabasedaroundthelowertidalreachesandmouthoftheRiverTweed.• LCA1a:TweedRiverMouth
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT1:BroadRiverMouth:• Sweepingrivercourse,separatingthehistoriccoreandoutlyingareasofBerwickuponTweed,
withmudbanksandsandybeachesattherivermouth.
• Large-scalearableandpasturefieldsboundedbyremnanthedgerowsandoccasionalfieldtrees.Woodlandadjoinstheriverinplaces.
• Historiccharacter,includingthemedievalcoreandmedieval/post-medievalfortificationsofBerwickuponTweedonthenorthsideoftheRiverTweed,andthehistoricbridgesspanningtheriver.
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• PeripheraldevelopmentassociatedwithBerwickuponTweedextendsoverthevalleyslopes.
• Large-scaleindustrialbuildingsatTweedmouthformadominantfeaturewithinviewsfromthenorth.
• ThehigharchedrailwaybridgeformsadistinctivelandmarkandthisiscomplementedbytheoldroadbridgeintothehistoriccoreofBerwickuponTweed.
• Viewsaretypicallyfocusedonthebridgesandtowardsthecoast.LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT1:BroadRiverMouthSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
BroadrivermouthbasinandcoastalfringeflankingabroadsweepintheTweedasitflowsintotheNorthSea.Avarietyofgradientsrisetolowbluffsfromthetidalriverbanksandmudbankstothenorth,withgentlerrisessouthoftheriver.Broadsandybeacheslietotheimmediatesouthoftherivermouth,withamixedsandyandrockyshorelinetothenorth,beyondtheprominentstonebreakwaterandlighthouse.
Moderate
Landcover
MuchoftheLCAisurbanwithprominentrivercrossings(roadandrail),quayside,historictownfortificationsandprominentbuildings.Publicopenspace(riversideenvirons),pocketwoodland,golfcourses,variousurban-fringelandusesandarablefarmlandcharacteriseundevelopedparts.Riparianenvironsarekeyelementsofthelandscapewithgentlepastoralslopesandsteepwoodedbanksideswestofthetown.
Moderate-High
Landscapescale Large-mediumscalefarmlandliesbeyondadenseurbanframework,withpocketwoodlandsandriparianvegetationprovidingamoreintimatescaleinplaces.
Moderate-High
VISUAL:Skylines Awayfromtheurbanskylinesofthetownandthe
shorelineenvirons,horizonsaremostlydefinedbylow,roundedsimpleformfarmlandbrows,mostlyundevelopedbutwithperi-urbaninfluencesdependingonviewpoint(power-lines,masts,farmbuildings).Skylinesfromtheshorelinestretchouttoseaandalongthecoastnorthandsouthaffordingbigskies.OccasionalglimpsesofthemoredramaticCheviotHillstothesouthwestareaffordedfromelevatedlocations.
Moderate
Viewsandlandmarks
Expansiveviewsalongthecoastalstrip(particularlyfromthenorthernbreakwater)andfromtownfortifications.Historicandmorerecentrivercrossingsprovideprominentlandmarksandafforddramaticviewsacrossandalongtheriver,therivermouthandthetown,particularlyfromtheEastCoastMainLinerailcrossing.Areasofrelativeelevationfromwithinthetownandgolfcoursesforexampleprovidesomeexceptionalandhistoricviews.Someviewsacrossthe
High
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
areaarepossibletravellingnorthontheA1.Inter-visibility Someintervisibilitywithelevatedlandtothenorthof
thetown,butgenerallytheareaisself-containedbutwithlittlesenseofenclosurebytopography.
Moderate
Visualreceptors Widespread,highsensitivityreceptorswithinandaroundthetownfromresidentialareasandmanyhistoricsites.ViewsfromtheA1andparticularlytheEastCoastMainLineareimportantattherivercrossing.
High
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Significantmovementalongmaintransportroutesand
urbanactivity.Theriver,coastandtidalchangesandbigskiesaddnaturalmovementacrossthearea.
Low-Moderate
Builtdevelopment Extensiveurbanareaeast,southandnorthoftherailwayrivercrossingspresentingasignificantcontrasttotheriversidearablelandscapestothewestinwhichthereislittlebuiltdevelopment.
Moderate
Remoteness Someratherlimitedsenseofremotenesstothewesternfringesofthearea,butotherwiseasettledurbanandperi-urbanlandscape.
Low
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Therivercorridor,itsmouthandcoastalstrip,
combinedwithimportanttownscapesettingandviewsaffordsomestrongscenicvalueandimportantlocaldistinctiveness,althoughlargepartsoftheareaareofunremarkableurbancharacterorarablefarmland.
Moderate-High
Distinctiveness Adistinctivelandscapeofmoderatescaleriverflowingeastwardsfromtheremote,tranquilBoardercountrytoitsurban,protectedquaysidemouthtothenorthsea.
High
Rarity Uniquecombinationofnaturalandurbanlandscapefeaturesofsignificanthistoricandculturalimportance.
High
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Highculturalandtownscapeimportance,withstrong
inter-connectivitybetweentopography,thecoast,riverandhistoricbuildings,quayside,rampartsandbridges.
High
Recreation Importantriversideandcoastalamenityvalue,includingtheTownRampartsBerwickshireCoastalPath,NorthumberlandCoastalPathandNationalCycleNetwork.
High
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
Agentlyprofiled,lowlandriverandrivermouthbasinlandscapecontextatthenorthernendoftheextensivearablecoastalplain.Significanthistoricurbanareasonrisinglandstandaroundtherivermouthwhilstinlandisamixedarableandgrazingfarmedhinterlandbisectedbymajortransportinfrastructure.TheLCTliesimmediatelytothenorthoftheNorthumberlandCoastAONBandissteepedinhistoricsignificancewithiconicviewsfromthehistoricrivercrossings.TheLCTishighlyvisibleinmediumdistanceviewsfromtheviewpointatHalidonHillwithinLCA4a
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
(NorthTweedCoast)immediatelynorthoftheLCAandtown.Otherwiseintervisibilityisquitelimitedbylocaltopography.Ingeneral,theLCAwouldbehighlysensitivetocommercialscalewindenergydevelopment,primarilyasaconsequenceofalargeconcentrationofsensitivereceptors,includingextensiveresidentialareasandimportantheritagesitesandtheirlandscapesettings.AbsenceofsignificantverticalinfrastructurebeyondthetownandwithinsurroundingLCAscontributestotherelativelystand-alonecharacterofthetownandLCA’ssetting,whichcouldbeerodedbylargerscalewindenergydevelopment.However,tothewestfromthetownanditshistoricsitesandoutlooks,themediumtolargescaleofthearablefarmedlandscapewithlowerdensityofsettlementsuggestsomelimitedsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment.NewwindenergydevelopmentwithintheLCTshouldbelimitedtocarefullysitedsmallorpossiblysmall-mediumscaleturbines,singleorpossiblyinpairs,closelyassociatedwiththelocationandtothescaleofscaleoffarmbuildingsinthelandscapeontheperipheryoftheLCT.
Cumulativeeffects TherearecurrentlynowindturbineslocatedwithinLCA1a.Thevisualprominenceoftwomedium-sized,individualturbinestothenorthwithinLCA4astandinanurbanfringe/businesspark/transportcorridor(A1)contextandhaveminimaleffectuponcharacterofLCA1a.Longerviewstoindividualandmultipleturbineinstallationstothesouthandsouth-westpresentminimalvisualorcharactereffectsasaresultofdistanceandorscaleoftheturbines,suchasthosewithinthenorthernA1corridorofLCA3a.Largerturbineswouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapesettingofthetownandrivermouththatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment,includingthelandscapesettingandviewstoandfromtheNorthumberlandCoastAONBtothesouth,butareunlikelytohaveasignificantcumulativeeffect.
LCT1:BroadRiverMouth-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA1a:TweedRiverMouth M M-H H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT1:BroadRiverMouth
IngeneralLCT1issuitableforcarefullysitedsmallscaleturbinesupto25mheighttobladetip.Theyshouldbecloselyassociatedwiththescaleandlocationofindustrial/commercialunits,farmbuildings,otherdomesticscalefeaturesandwoodlandwithinthewesternpartsofthelandscape.Ingeneral,windturbinesabove25mheighttobladetipwouldinprinciplebeunsuitablewithinLCT1.However,small-mediumscaleturbinesbetween26m-40mheighttobladetipmaybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Turbinesshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthe
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landscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantinimportanthistoricviewsfromthetownandshouldnotout-competeimportantfociinthelandscape,suchasthehistoricrivercrossingsandfortifications.Medium,medium-largescaleandlargerturbineswouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapethatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment.Thisisparticularlyduetohighlevelsofsensitivereceptorsandhistoricimportanceofthetownscapeandhistoricrivercrossings.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT2:CoastalIncisedValley
ThisLCTcomprisesthelowersectionsoftworivervalleys,theCoquetandtheAln,astheyflowthroughthecoastalplaintotheNorthSea.Thevalleysarerelativelyshallow,butsharplyincisedinplaces,andemergeclosetogetheronthecoast.TheLCTisrepresentedbytwocharacterareas(LCA):• LCA2a:LowerAln• LCA2b:LowerCoquet
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT2:CoastalIncisedValley:• Shallowvalleyscuttingthroughthecoastalplain,withmeanderingrivers.
• Moreshelteredthanthesurroundingcoastalplain,withrestrictedviews.
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• Arablefarming,withpastureandwoodlandinsteeperareas.
• Villagesandlargersettlements,aswellasfarmsteadsandcottages.
• Transportlinksandinfrastructure,suchastheEastCoastMainLine,passthrough.
• Longhistoryofsettlement,andgoodaccesslinks.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT2:CoastalIncisedValleySensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Shallow,sometimessteep-sidedincisedvalleyscontainthemeanderingAlnandCoquetrivers.Bothriversmeanderwithinabroadervale,andthesurroundingfloodplainsaregenerallyundulating.CoastalinfluenceismorelimitedthaninthesurroundingFarmedCoastalPlain(LCT3),duetothelowerelevationsandenclosingtopography.
ModeratetoModerate-High
Landcover
Landcoverispredominantlyarablefarming,withopen,rectilinearfields.Somepastoralfarmingonsteeperareas.Boundariesarepostandwireorpostandrail,withareasofintact,relativelyspecies-richhedgerows.Estateinfluences,withmixedplantationwoodlandandironfencing,occurinsmallareas.Therearedeciduousandconiferousplantationsandshelterbelts,withnativeandsemi-naturalwoodlandalongtherivers,particularlytheCoquet.
ModeratetoModerate-High
Landscapescale Variedscaleconsequenttoareasoftightenclosureandvarietywithinsteepervalleyareas,contrastingwithwiderfarmlandsettingofthevalleys.Generallynotalargescaledlandscape.
ModeratetoModerate-High
VISUAL:Skylines Sometimescomplexandvariedwhilstfarmlandareas
simplerandmorepredictable.SomeimportantheritageskylinesatWarkworthCastleandAlnwickgardens
Moderate
Viewsandlandmarks
DramaticandimportantviewstoWarkworthCastlefromavarietyoflocationsandpleasingvistasacrossandalongrivervalleys,particularlyalongMillWalkoftheCoquetandfromtheelevatedvistasinlandacrossthemeanderingAlnatFoxtonnorthofAlnmouth.
Moderate-High
Inter-visibility GenerallylimitedthroughenclosureofthevalleysbutsomelongerviewstothewestfromLCA2b
Low-ModeratetoModerate
Visualreceptors LocaltransportroutesandsettlementatLesburyWarkworthandGuyzance.Recreationalusesofrivervalleysandvisitorstothesepopulardestinations.
ModeratetoModerate-High
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Frequentmovementonlocalroadnetworkbutalso
moresignificantregulartrainpassagealongEastCoastMainLine.
Low-ModeratetoModerate
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
Builtdevelopment EasternfringesofAlnwickinLCA2a.ElsewherevillagesettlementatWarkworth,GuyzanceandLesburyandscatteredfarmsteadsandsmallcountryhouses.AgriculturalbuildingsandcaravansiteatWarkworth,althoughnotvisuallyprominent.
Low-ModeratetoModerate
Remoteness PocketsoftranquillityinincisedCoquetValleyandwoodland.Elsewheretranquillitylimitedbyopennessandproximitytorodandrailnetwork.Raillineisfrequentlyaudibleevenwhenoutofview.
ModeratetoModerate-High
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality EasternfringesofLCTfallwithinNorthumberlandCoast
AONB.Elsewhererelativelyhighscenicvalueaffordedbycomplexlandusemosaicandtopographicvariety,withmeanderingriversasstrongfocalpointsandthedramaticprominenceofWarkworthCastle.
Moderate-HightoHigh
Distinctiveness StronglydistinctivelandscapepresentingvaluedNorthumberlandcharacteristics.
Moderate-HightoHigh
Rarity IncisedvalleysnotmarkedlyrareinNorthumberland. ModerateHISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Severalsignificantheritagesites,notablypartsof
WarkworthCastlesettinganddistinctivevillageenvironmentsatWarkworth,GuyzanceandLesburywherethereareConservationAreas.ElsewherehistoriclistedsitessuchasGuyzancePrioryandMorwickHallandhermitagesiteontheCoquet.EasternedgeofHulneParkandAlnwickCastleRegisteredParkandGardensoverlayLCA2a.
High
Recreation Importantareaasvisitorattractionandlocalvalue.RiversidewalksandwiderPRoW,boatingandsalmonfishing.
Moderate-High
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
TheCoastalIncisedValleyspresentarelativelysensitivelandscapecontextforwindenergydevelopment.Intimatetopography,human-scalefeatures,stronglysceniclandscapefociofthemeanderingriversandimportantheritageassets(whicharesignificantvisitorattractionsinpartduetolandscapesetting)wouldbesensitivetotheinstallationofmorethanthesmallestwindturbines.PartsoftheLCTfallwithinnationallandscapedesignation,anddevelopmentaffectingtheNorthumberlandCoastAONB’ssettingcouldbesignificantlyharmfultoitscharacter.Landscapeunitsarereasonablyself-contained,andcarefullylocatedsmallerwindenergydevelopmentsofsingleturbines,possiblysupportingruralbusinessesorfarmsteadsmaybeabsorbedinsomeareas,butwillbehighlydependentuponspecificsiting.
Cumulativeeffects TherearenoexistingwindenergyinstallationswithintheLCT.RelativeabsenceofintervisibilitybetweenLCTsmeansvistastoexistingwindfarmsarenotwidespread.However,someviewsfromthesouthernfringeofLCA2btowardsNorthSteadsandSisterswindfarmsatWiddringtonarepossiblefromtheAcklingtonRoad,southofGuyzanceatadistanceofaround5.5km.Here,largescalewindenergyproposalswouldbelikelyto
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
beintervisblewiththeWiddringtonsitesandindoingsoextendthecentralNorthumberlandcoastalplainwindfarmlandscapenorthwards.Overallissuesofcumulativevisualimpactsarenotlikelytobesignificantinrelationtolimitingdevelopmenttofewandsmallindividualinstallations.
LCT2:CoastalIncisedValley-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA2a:LowerAln M M-H H H HLCA2b:LowerCoquet M M-H H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT2:CoastalIncisedValley
IngeneralLCT2issuitableforcarefullysitedsinglesmallscaleturbinesupto25mheighttobladetip.Theyshouldbecloselyassociatedwiththescaleandlocationoffarmbuildings,otherdomesticscalefeaturesandwoodlandwithinthelandscape.Ingeneral,windturbinesabove25mheighttobladetipwouldinprinciplebeunsuitablewithinLCT2.However,small-mediumscaleturbinesbetween26m-40mheighttobladetipmaybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportantfociinthelandscape.Medium,medium-largeandlargerturbineswouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapethatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment.ThisispartiallyduetotherelativelysmallscaleandheritageandrecreationalimportanceoftheLCT.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT3:FarmedCoastalPlain
ThisLCTcomprisesabandoffarmlandrunningalongmuchofthenorth-eastNorthumberlandcoast.TheFarmedCoastalPlainvariesinwidthfromthenarrowstripbetweenHaggerstonandBelford,tothemoreexpansiveareasaroundRockandLucker.Itisagentlyrollinglandscapeofmainlyarablefarmland,wellsettled,andwithacoastalinfluence.TheNorthumberlandCoastAONBincludestheeasternedgeofthisLCT.TheLCTisrepresentedbythreecharacterareas(LCA):• LCA3a:Haggerston• LCA3b:Lucker• LCA3c:Rock
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KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT3:FarmedCoastalPlain:• Open,coastallocation,althoughseaviewsarenotalwayspossible.
• Gentlyrollingoralmostflatfarmland,dominatedbylargearablefields.
• Generallylow-lying,withsomesmallhillsandraisedplateaux.
• Intensivefarmland,oftenwithweakfieldboundarypattern.
• Occasionalwoodedestates.
• Largefarmsteadscomprisingtraditionalandmodernbuildings.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT3:FarmedCoastalPlainSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Generallylow-lyinglandscapeofgentlyrollingland,withsomebroad,flatareas.Thereareareasofhigherground,suchasthesmallplateau-likehillatBillylaw,southofBerwickuponTweed,andaroundLonghoughton.Small,roundedhillsarecommonfeatures.Theareaisdrainedbysmallburns,whichrundownfromthehillstothewest,andcutnarrow,shallowgulliesthroughthesandysoil.Rockyoutcropsarerare,butoccuratBelfordStation.
Moderate
Landcover
Predominantlyarablefarmland,withpastureinmoremarginalareas,suchassmallfieldsnexttotherailwayline,andonthescatteredhills.Largerfieldsaremorecommon,withsomeareasofveryextensiveenclosures.Hedgerowsarefrequentbutoftenunmaintained,leadingtogapsandreplacementwithpostandwirefencing.TreecoverisgreaterinthesouthoftheFarmedCoastalPlain,becomingsparsertothenorth.Coniferousforestryoccursinsmallblocksandshelterbelts,withsomedeciduousplantationsortreelines,aswellasbeltsofpine.Thefewestatesprovidealocallymorewoodedcharacter,withmixedplantationsandbetter-maintainedhedges.
Low-ModeratetoModerate
Landscapescale Amediumtolargelandscapecharacterisedbylimitedtopographicvariationorlandusechangeandlargefields.
Low-Moderate
VISUAL:Skylines Limitedcomplexity,withbigskiesoverthelow-lying
gentlyrollingcoastalplain.Low-Moderate
Viewsandlandmarks
SomemoresignificantviewsovertheNorthumberlandCoastAONBcoastline,withfocusofLindisfarneandHolyIslandsands,andHaggerstonCastleacrossLCA3a.Elsewhereviewsquitelimitedbysimplelandformandwoodlandblocks.HistoricviewsfromPeelToweratPreston.SomeviewstohigherlandtothewestsuchastheKyloeHills.
Moderate-High
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
Inter-visibility Generallylessintervisibilityasaconsequenceoflowchangesinreliefacrossthecoastalplain,andforeshorteningofviewsbywoodlandblocks.SomeintervisibilitywiththeNorthumberlandCoastAONBtotheeast.
Low-Moderate
Visualreceptors Scatteredsettlement,predominantlyfarmsteadsandhamlets.LocalandmaintransportrouteswithA1andEastCoastMainLinepassingthroughallthreeLCAs.AreasofAONBfallacrosseasternfringeoftheLCT.
Moderate-High
PERCEPTUAL:Movement FrequentmovementalongA1andEastCoastMain
Line,elsewheremovementlimitedtolocaltransportnetworksandsmallerscaleindividualwindturbines.
Moderate
Builtdevelopment Lowdensityofscatteredsettlements,mainlysmallervillagesandhamletssuchasEllingham,Lucker,ChristonBankandLonghoughton.Belfordistheonlylargervillagewithsomesmallscaleindustry.Haggerstonisalarge,wellestablishedholidayhomeparkbutgenerallywellscreenedinthelandscapebytrees.Occasionalmasts,railwaygantriesandpylonsbutthesearerarelyprominentorcharacteristic.
ModeratetoModerate-High
Remoteness Adeeplyrurallandscapewithlowdensityofdevelopmentandlittlemovementbutwellsettledandrarelyaffordingasenseofremotenessoftranquillity
Moderate
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality EasternfringesoftheLCTfallwithinthe
NorthumberlandCoastAONBandassuchenjoysignificantlandscapeprotectionandhencehighsensitivity.Inherentlandscapevalueawayfromthecoastalstripitselfishoweverrelativelylimited,withwellmanagedexpansiveareasoflow-lyingarablefarmlandwithplantationwoodlandandshelterbelts.
Moderate-HightoHigh
Distinctiveness ExpansivearearepresentativeofNorthumberland’sagriculturalcoastalplain.
Moderate-High
Rarity Commonplacelandscapetype. LowHISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets RockandHowickHalls,policywoodland(small,
managed,multi-purposewoodlandswithlandscapefunctionandvalue,oftenassociatedwithhistoriccountryhouses)andPrestonTowerpresentheritagefoci.ConservationAreasarefoundwithinhistoriccoresofEmbleton,RockandBelford.RegisteredParksandGardensatBelfordandHowickHalls.Largecountryhousesandtheirestatesareanimportantaspectofhistoriccharacter.Intensivearableagriculturehaserodedmuchoftheearlierhistoriclandscape.RemnantsofoldervillagesofAncroft,TughallandNorthCharlton–survivewithinthemodernfieldpattern.Someextensiveareasofridge-and-furrow,
Moderate
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
notablyaroundSwinhoe.WorldWarIIairfieldatBrunton.
Recreation ImportantgatewaystotheNorthumberlandCoastAONBandcoastalattractions,includingStOswald’sWayandNorthumberlandCoastPathlongdistancepathbutlimitedinherentrecreationalvaluebeyondPRoWnetworkandquietlaneswhichareimportantforrecreationalcycling.LargeholidayhomeparkatHaggerstonCastle.
Low-Moderate
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
ThelandscapecharacterofLCT3FarmedCoastalPlainisextensiveandprovidesarelativecontinuouscontextorsettingtothecoastalLCTsoftheNorthumberlandCoastAONBtotheeast.Characterishoweverrelativelyunremarkablewithwidespreadintensivearableagriculture,modesttopographicinterestandheritagesiteswithrelativelylowlandscapeprominence.Thelargescaleofthelandscape,simplecomponentsandpredictableskylineswouldsuggestarelativelylowsensitivitytowindenergyinstallations,particularlyinthemaintransportcorridorswhereotherinfrastructureandmovementinthelandscapeisperceptible.HowevertheoverlaporotherwisecontiguouslinearrelationshipwiththeNorthumberlandCoastAONBsuggeststheLCTcouldbeparticularlyimportantasasettingtothenationallysignificantlandscape,includingthesettingsofitsiconicheritagesitesandimportantrecreationalvalue.Developmentoflarge-scalewindenergyinstallations,particularlyofcommercialwindfarmswouldpresentinherentpotentialfornegativeimpactuponthewidersettingofthosesignificantlandscapeassets.Developmentofsmaller,individualturbinesorsmallclustersofsmallerturbinesmaybeaccommodatedwithinthelandscapewithoutseriouschangeincharacterbutonlyinthoseareasawayfromtheNorthumberlandCoastAONBboundary,particularlyinthoseareaswhereplantationwoodlandandshelterbeltsprovideinterruptiontolongervistas.InsomepartsoftheLCTlongervistasarepossibleduetogentletopographicvariationandfewvisualbarriers,andherethereispotentialforwindturbinestobevisuallyprominentfocioversignificantareas.Smallandsmall-mediumturbinesshouldbenomorethatapparentinthelandscapeorwithinsmallerviewconesorvisualenvelopes.
Cumulativeeffects Anumberofsmall-mediumindividualturbinesarelocatedwithinthenorthernpartsofLCA3aHaggerston,southofBerwick-upon-Tweed.ThesearelocallyvisiblewithinthegentlyrollingandopenlandscapeoftheA1corridorandintheenvironsofHaggerstonholidayhomepark.Noneoftheturbinesexceeds50minheight.Theseturbinesdohoweverpresentaloosebutdistinctconcentrationofsmallerturbineswithinthelandscapethatarelocallyprominent,althoughnotharmfullyobtrusive.Thesmallerturbinesareoftennotablebyhigherrotationalspeedofrotorsorbythelesselegant,visually‘jarring’rotationalrhythmof2-bladeturbines.ElsewheresilosatBelfordstationandMainLineoverheadgantriespresentonlylimitedverticalstructuresinthelandscape.AcrossLCA3bandLCA3ctherearerepeatedviewsandvistasoftheMiddlemoorandWandylawwindfarms(together28x125m)atNorth
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
CharltonandacrossLCA3aofBarmoorWindFarm(6x110m).ThescaleandelongatedlayoutofWandylaw/Middlemoorandtheirelevatedsitingresultsinwidespreadvisibilityoftheturbinesinsuchawayastopresentaperceptualwestern‘enclosure’ordelineationofthecoastalstripoverconsiderabledistances.Furtherdevelopmentoflarge-scalewindturbinesacrossthisLCTwouldpresentapotentialforexpansion,concentrationandconsolidationofthewindenergylandscape,andimportantly,serveto‘squeeze’anddilutetheintegrityofthesettingoftheAONBcoastlineaswellasbeprominentfromwithinit.ThewiderimpactsofBarmoorwindfarmarenotassignificanttoLCT3duetotheslightlysmallerscaleandlowernumberofturbinesandthe‘stepped’topographybetweenitandLCT3,whichlimittheextentofitsvisualprominence.However,thesecommercial-scaleinstallationscanbeseeninthesamevistasastheclusterofsmallerturbineswithinLCA3a,emphasisingthedifferencesinscaleandrotorspeedandindoingsobegintosuggestthatwindenergyisavisualcharacteristicofmuchofthenorthernA1corridor.Furtherdevelopmentoflarger-scalewindenergyinthisnorthernLCAmayexacerbatethisvisualcontrast,whichcanemphasisethedifferencebetweentheturbinesandhuman-scalelandscapecomponents,andleadtoaconfusedanddisjointedlandscapecharacterwhichwoulddiluteitswiderarable,coastalplaincontext.
LCT3:FarmedCoastalPlain-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA3a:Haggerston M-H M-H H H HLCA3b:Lucker M-H M-H H H HLCA3c:Rock M-H M-H H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT3:FarmedCoastalPlain
IngeneralwindturbineswouldbeunsuitableinprinciplewithinLCT3.However,smallandsmall-mediumscaleturbinesbelow40mtobladetipheightmaybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportantfociinthelandscapeoradjacentmoresensitivelandscapes.Medium,medium-largeandlargerscaleturbineswouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthewiderlandscapecontextthatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment.ThisisprimarilyduetotheimportanceaffordedtothelandscapeaseitherwithinNorthumberlandCoastAONBorlocallyintervisblefromit,withitshigherlandscape,recreationalandheritagevaluesensitivities.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT4:RockyCoastline
TheRockyCoastlineLCTcomprisestherockysectionsofthecoastalstrip,includingprominentheadlands,cliffs,andtheFarneIslands.ItfallslargelywithintheNorthumberlandCoastAONB.TheLCTisrepresentedbythreecharacterareas(LCA):• LCA4a:NorthTweedCoast• LCA4b:FarneIslandsCoast• LCA4c:CrasterCoast
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KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT4:RockyCoastline:• Rockycoastofcliffsandheadlands.
• Dramaticshorelinewithoffshorerocksandislands.
• Prominentcoastallandformsofferingviews.
• Smallformerfishingvillages,nowcentresoftourism.
• Exposedcoastallandscapeofwindblownhedges.
• Majorhistoricfeaturesarepopulartouristattractions.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT4:RockyCoastlineSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Complexlandscapestripwherebandsofhardrockmeetthecoastlineresultinginheadlands,whilethesofterrocksareerodedtoformsmallbays.ElevationrangesfromthehighcliffsnorthofBerwickuponTweed,tothelow-lyingheadlandsalongmuchoftheLCT.BaysandcoveswithinthisLCTaregenerallyrocky,withlimitedsandbeaches,thoughdunesystemsareprominentaroundBamburgh.Stonereefs,offshorerocks,andwave-cutplatforms,oftencalled‘carrs’or‘steels’,extendoutfromtheforeshore.Prominentlandformsoccur,suchastheWhinSilloutcroponwhichBamburghCastleisbuilt.
Moderate-HightoHigh
Landcover
Narrowcoastalstripdominatedbytheshore,althoughtheinlandsectionisfarmed,mostlyforpastureduetotheexposednatureoftheterrain.Hedgerowsareoftengappyandwindblown,withwirefences.Treecoverisgenerallysparse,althoughsomesmallwoodlandblocksarepresent.Whingrassland,adistinctiveplantcommunityonWhinSillderivedsoil,occursaroundBamburghCastle.
ModeratetoModerate-High
Landscapescale Amedium-to-smallscalelandscapedefinedbyintimaterockycoves,smallbaysandassociatedcoastalpasture.Landandshorelineslopestotheseaandincreasesintimacyofthelandscape.
Moderate-High
VISUAL:Skylines Simpleseawardhorizonsbutsomevariationinland
consequenttoscaleandvariationofinlandtopography.Moderate
Viewsandlandmarks
CoastalviewsoftendramaticandfocusedonsignificantheritageassetssuchasBamburghCastleandDunstanburghCastle.ViewsouttoFarneIslandsoftendramaticinchangingseascapes.
Moderate-hightoHigh
Inter-visibility Somelimitedintervisibility,particularlyalongthecoastlinetoadjacentLCT5SandyCoastlineandLCT1BroadRiverMouth.Limitedintervisibilityinland,butinplacesviewswestwardstohighergroundsuchasthe
Moderate
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
KyloeHillsareimportant.MiddlemoorandWandylawwindfarmsarefrequentlyprominentlandmarksfromthecoastalLCT.
Visualreceptors SignificantsettlementincludingSeahousesandBamburgh,majortransportcorridorthroughLCA4aandlocaltransportrouteselsewhere.
Moderate-HightoHigh.
PERCEPTUAL:Movement VariationinmovementacrossthethreeLCAs.LCA4a
includestheA1andEastCoastMainLineandBerwickuponTweedfringeandtwomediumsizedwindturbines.LCA4bincludessignificantvisitormovementalongthecoastroad.LCA4cexhibitsalowerdegreeofperceivedmovementalonglocalroadnetwork.
Low-ModeratetoModerate
Builtdevelopment MainsettlementatSeahouses,Bamburgh,CrasterandnorthernfringesofBerwick-upon-Tweedwheremodernindustrialandtransportinfrastructureislocated.LCA4cislessdevelopedoutsideCraster,withfewothersignificantbuiltstructures.Localpowerlinesandradiomasts.EstateartefactsandbuildingsaroundHowick,andmilitaryinfrastructureatRAFBoulmer,exertastronginfluenceonthelocallandscape.
ModeratetoModerate-High
Remoteness RemotenessandtranquillityarelimitedatLCA4aandalongthebusytouristrouteofLCA4b.RelativetranquillityisexperiencedinpartsofLCA4cbutlocalroadnetworkandcoastalvisitorsoftenapparent.
Low-ModeratetoModerate
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality VirtuallythewholeLCTfallswithintheNorthumberland
CoastAONBandenjoysthehighestnationalleveloflandscapedesignation.VistasalongthecoastandouttotheFarneIslandaredramatic,constantlychangingwithweatherandseascapeconditions,andfrequentlyfocusuponiconicheritagelandmarkssuchthattheseviewscanbeconsideredtobenationallyimportant.
High
Distinctiveness TheFarneIslands’coastlineofLCA4bishighlydistinctive.ElsewherelandscapecharacteristicsarerepresentativeofNorthumberlandcoastbutmorecommon.
Moderate-HightoHigh
Rarity FarneIslands’coastlineisunique.Rockbaysandheadlinesaremorefrequentlyexperiencedwithinthecounty.
Moderate-HightoHigh
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets TheLCAischaracterisedbyhighlyimportantheritage
siteswithDunstanburghandBamburghcastlesbeingparticularlysignificantinthelandscape.OtherassetsincludetheregisteredbattlefieldatHalidonHill(1333)furtherreflectsthestrategicimportanceofthecoastalstrip.Patternsofmedievalopenfields,intheformofupstandingridgeandfurrow,areanimportantaspectofhistoriccharacter.ConservationAreaswithin
Moderate-HightoHigh
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Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
Embleton,BamburghandSeahousesvillages.Recreation Highlyimportantareaforcoastalrecreationand
tourismwithattractivecoastalvillages,shorelinesandheritageassets.NorthumberlandCoastpath/StOswald’sWay.Caravanparksandgolfcoursesaresignificantinplaces.
Moderate-HightoHigh
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
TheLCTalmostentirelyfallswithinNorthumberlandCoastAONBandassuchenjoysanationallyrecognisedleveloflandscapevalueanddesignation.BydefinitiontheLCTisusuallyofpronouncedlinearproportionwithafocusstronglyoncoastlinevistasandnarrowstripofcoastallandscapefeatures.Whilstlandscapefeaturesandcharacteristicsinlandfromthecoastalstripareoftenunremarkable,theyprovideimportantruralsettingandbuffertothehighlyattractiveandvaluedcoastandshoreline.ViewsacrossthisLCTfringeareoftenimportantinthesettingofsignificantheritageandlandscapefeatures.Asaconsequenceofthecharacter,designationandrecreationalvalueofmuchoftheLCT(withlessersensitivitytoLCA4aoutsidetheAONB),landscapesensitivitytoallbutthesmallestscaleofwell-sitedwindenergyinstallationsishigh.Localisedcapacityforsingle,small-scaleturbinessupportingurbansites,caravanparksorfarmsteadsmaybepossiblebutthresholdsforlandscapeandvisualharmwillbelow.
Cumulativeeffects Twomedium-scalewindturbinesarelocatedwithinLCA4a,northofBerwickuponTweed.AlthoughwithinthevisualinfluenceoftheindustrialareaofthetownandtheA1corridor,thelandscapeinthelocalityisofcoastalhillsideandcliffsfallingtotheseafromHalidonHill,andthesepresentprominentvisualfoci,particularlywhenviewedfromabovefromhigherland.ThevisualenvelopeoftheseturbinesishoweverrelativelyenclosedfromelsewhereinNorthumberlandandintervisibilitywithadditionalturbineswouldthereforebeunlikelytocausesignificantcumulativeimpact.Intervisibilitywiththecoastalplainofsouth-eastScotlandcouldhoweverbesignificant.ElsewheretherearenoexistingturbineswithintheLCTandverticalstructuresorprominentintrusivebuiltdevelopmentverylimited.However,thevisualinfluenceoftheMiddlemoorandWandylawwindfarmsisattimessignificant,particularlyfromhigherormoreopenpointswithinLCA4bandLCA4c.ViewswestwardsfromareassuchasSeahouses,BamburghCastleandEmbletoncanbeperceivedtobedelineatedor‘hemmed-in’bytheextendedlinearorientationofthesemajorinstallationsonmiddledistancehorizons.ExtensionoftheseinstallationsordevelopmentwithinthehinterlandofLCT3CoastalFarmlandcouldleadtosignificantharmfulcumulativeimpactsuponthesettingLCT4anditshighsensitivitytomajordevelopment.
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LCT4:RockyCoastline-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA4a:NorthTweedCoast M M-H M-H H HLCA4b:FarneIslandsCoast M-H H H H HLCA4c:CrasterCoast M-H H H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT4:RockyCoastline
Limitedsensitivitytosmallerscalewindturbinesupto25mtobladetipheightisfoundwithinLCA4a.Singleorsmallclustersofturbinesshouldbecloselyassociatedwiththescaleandlocationoffarmbuildingsandotherdomesticscalefeaturesinthelandscape.IngeneralwindturbineswouldbeunsuitableinprinciplewithintherestofLCT4.However,small-mediumandmediumscaleturbinesbelow40mtobladetipheightwithinLCA4a,andbelow26mtobladetipheightinLCAs4band4cmaybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportantfociinthelandscapeoradjacentmoresensitivelandscapes.WithinLCA4aturbinesabove65mtobladetipheightwouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthewiderlandscapecontextthatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment.WithinLCAs4band4cthisthresholdofsignificantharmwouldbeforturbinesabove40mtobladetipheight.ThisisprimarilyduetotheimportanceaffordedtothelandscapeaseitherwithinNorthumberlandCoastAONBorlocallyintervisblefromit,withitshigherlandscape,recreationalandheritagevaluesensitivities.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT5:SandyCoastline
ThisLCTliesbetweenareasofRockyCoastline(LCT4).TheSandyCoastlinecomprisesalow-lyingcoastalstrip,withlongsandybeachesanddunes,aswellasextensivetidalsandsandestuaries.Thisisapopulartouristarea,andincludesthehistoricallysignificantHolyIsland.ItfallsmainlywithintheNorthumberlandCoastAONB.TheLCTisrepresentedbythreecharacterareas(LCA):• LCA5a:HolyIslandCoast• LCA5b:BeadnellandEmbletonBays• LCT5c:AlnandCoquetEstuaries
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KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT5:SandyCoastline:• Low-lying,exposedcoastline.
• Broadsandybeachesandtidalsands.
• Dunesystems.
• Isolatedprominentbuilthistoricfeatures,suchasLindisfarneCastle.
• Longviewsalongthecoast.
• Extensivehistoricassociations.
• Touristinfrastructure.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT5:SandyCoastlineSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Stretchingbetweenrockysectionsofcoast,wheresandstonesandothersofterrockshaveofferedlittleresistancetocoastalerosion,formingwidesandybays.BetweenBerwickuponTweedandBamburgh,alongstretchofbroadsandybeachandtidalflatsfacesthelow-lyingHolyIsland,whichisheldinplacebytheWhinSilloutcroponwhichLindisfarneCastleisbuilt.SmallerbaysoccuratBeadnellandEmbleton,andatAlnmouth,wheretheyareassociatedwithestuarineareasoftheCoquetandAlnrivers.Landward,theterrainislow-lying,withextensivedunesystemsinplaces.
ModeratetoModerate-High
Landcover
Thecoastalfarmlandisarableandpastoral,withvaryingfieldpatternsacrossthearea.Largerfieldsaremorecommoninthenorth,whilesmaller-scalefieldswithirregularboundariesoccuraroundHighNewton.Treecoverisgenerallysparse,limitedtosmallblocks,orassociationswithwatercourses.Sanddunesystemsareextensive,oftenforminghighridges.SaltmarshoccursinthetidalestuariesoftheAlnandCoquet.
ModeratetoModerate-High
Landscapescale Medium-largescalelandscapeswithlongsweepingexpansesofsandybeachatlowtideandcontinuousdunesystems.SomesmallerscalelandscapewithinLCA5bwherebaysaremoreenclosedandpronouncedinshape.
ModeratetoModerate-High
VISUAL:Skylines SimplewithincreasedvarietywithinLCA5bwhere
inlandtopographyismorevaried.Low-ModeratetoModerate
Viewsandlandmarks
IconiccoastalviewsalongbeachesandacrossbaystonationallyimportantheritagefeaturessuchasBeadnellLimeKilns,DunstanburghCastle,LindisfarneCastleandPrioryandWarkworthCastle.
High
Inter-visibility SomelimitedintervisibilitytocoastallandscapesofLCT4andinlandtoLCT3.Viewsoutfrommajor
Moderate-High
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
heritagesitesanddunetopscanbepanoramic.Visualreceptors A1068andEastCoastMainLinepassthroughLCA5c.
MainsettlementsofWarkworth,Alnmouth,EmbletonandHolyIslandfallwithintheLCTwithlocaltransportroutes.Iconicvisitorattractionsandrecreationalusersofthecoastandbeaches.
Moderate-HightoHigh
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Somemovementalongmaintransportcorridors,
particularlyLCA5c.NaturalmovementoftidesandseascapesparticularlycharacteristicacrossLCA5a.Uniquemovementofvehiclesatlowtideoverthecausewaycanbeprominentinlandscape.
Low-ModeratetoModerate
Builtdevelopment SignificantsettlementatWarkworth,Alnmouth,EmbletonandHolyIsland,withscatteredfarmsteadsacrossthewiderLCT.CaravanparksaroundBeadnell,Alnmouth,WarkworthandWarenMillareoccasionallyprominent.Absenceofsignificantinfrastructureorindustry.
Moderate-HightoHigh
Remoteness RelativetranquillityandperceptionofhumanactivityvariesacrosstheLCT.TransportroutesinLCA5creduceperceptionofremotenessduringbusierperiods,butthiscanaltermarkedlyonthebeachesawayfromtheA1068.LCA5boffersaquitelandscapeexperiencealthoughintensiveholidaydevelopmentatBeadnellBayerodesthisinhighseason.LCA5acanbeabusytourismdestinationacrossthecausewaytoHolyIslandinparticular,butatothertimesandawayfromthisfocalpointthewidesandyexpansesofthenorthoftheislandandalongGoswickSandscanaffordsignificantopportunitiesforsolitude.
ModeratetoModerate-High
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality ThegreatmajorityoftheLCTfallswithin
NorthumberlandCoastAONBandenjoysthehighestnationalleveloflandscapedesignation.Thesweepingsandybays,dramaticseascapes,shelteringdunesandrelativeabsenceofincongruousdevelopment,combinedwithsignificantheritagesiteswhichareprominentinthelandscapeaffordhighscenicvalue.
High
Distinctiveness StronglydistinctivetoNorthumberlandandrepresentativeofpopularperceptionofitsspecialqualitiesbyvisitors.
Moderate-High
Rarity LCA5aisuniquewithinthecountywiththespecialqualitiesandmysticalandhistoricappealofHolyIsland,tidalcausewayandexpansivesandsatlowtide.LCA5bandLCA5cpresentsomemorecommoncombinationsofheadlandandsandybeach,butremaindistinctiveanddistinctfrombeachestothesouthbytheirabsenceofindustrialheritageandincongruousdevelopment.
Moderate-HightoHigh
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
Heritageassets ImportantheritageassetsstandprominentinthelandscapeofLCT5,particularlythecastlesofWarkworth,DunstanburghandLindisfarneaswellasLindisfarnePriory.ConservationAreasarefoundinAmble,Warkworth,Alnmouth,EmbletonandHolyIsland.MorerecenthistoryassetsarefoundasWorldWarIIanti-invasiondefences,nowbeingsubsumedbydunesystems,atBamburgh,BeadnellBayandAlnmouthBay.
High
Recreation Importantareafortourismandrecreation.Focusingoninformalrecreationonthebeachesandvisitstoattractivevillagesandheritagesites.NorthumberlandCoastpathandStOswald’sWaypassthroughtheLCT.RecreationandtourismpressurescanhavenegativeimpactsupontheLCTsspecialqualities,suchascarparking,erosion,caravansitesandtraffic.
High
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
TheLCTpresentsabroadrangeoflandscapecharacteristicsandvisualqualitieswhichcanbeseentobehighlysensitivetowindenergydevelopment,andparticularlymediumtocommercialscaleinstallations.TheLCTisalmostentirelydesignatedasAONBandassuchenjoyshighlevelsoflandscaperecognitionanddesignation.Bydefinition,theLCTismainlynarrowinproportionwithastrongfocusoncoastalvistasandlinearlandscapefeaturesandunspoilt,open,expansivenaturalsandycoastline.Whilstlandscapefeaturesandcharacteristicsinlandfromtheimmediatecoastalstripareoftenunremarkable,theyprovideimportantquite,peacefulruralsettingandbuffertothehighlyattractiveandvaluedcoastandshoreline.ViewsacrosstheLCT’swesternfringeareoftenimportantinthesettingofsignificantheritageandlandscapefeatures.Asaconsequenceofthecharacter,designationandrecreationalvalueofmuchoftheLCT,landscapesensitivitytoallbutthesmallestofwindenergyinstallationsishigh.Localisedcapacityforsingle,small-scaleturbinessupportingurbansites,caravanparksorfarmsteadsmaybepossiblebutthresholdsforlandscapeandvisualharmwillbelowasobjectivesshouldbeonlandscapeenhancementratherthanconsolidationofincongruouslanduses.
Cumulativeeffects Onemicro-scale(10m)windturbineisoperationalatSnookToweronthenorthofHolyIslandbutthisdisplaysminimallandscapeintrusionorprominence.Elsewhereprominentvisualfociwithverticalemphasisarelimitedtohighlysignificantheritagesites.FurtherdevelopmentofwindenergyinstallationsacrosstheLCTarethereforeunlikelytopresentcumulativeharmwithintheLCTitself.However,aswithLCT4RockyCoastline,thevisualinfluenceofMiddlemoorandWandylawwindfarmsisattimessignificant,particularlyfromhigherormoreopenpointswithinLCA4aandLCA5b.ViewswestwardsfromareassuchasHolyIslandandthecoastalroadnetworkofLCA5bcanbeperceivedasbeingdelineatedorhemmed-inbytheextendedlineardistributionofthesemajorinstallations.ExtensionofthesewindfarmsordevelopmentwithintheadjacenthinterlandofLCT3CoastalFarmlandcouldleadto
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
significantcumulativeimpactsuponthesettingLCT5anditshighsensitivitytomajorwindenergydevelopment.Moreoverextensionofvisuallylinkedcommercialwindenergysiteseastornorthoftheremajorwindfarmsarelikelytopartiallyre-characterisethenorthNorthumberlandcoastalplainaswind-energylandscape.ViewstoBarmoorWindFarmandtheloosedistributionofsmallerturbineswithinLCA3aarepossiblefromnorthernpartsoftheLCT.ThesearegenerallynotvisuallyprominentbutfurtherconcentrationacrossthisareaofarangeofturbinescalesmaybegintoerodetheimportantsettingtotheLCTandNorthumberlandCoastAONB.
LCT5:SandyCoastline-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA5a:HolyIslandCoast M-H H H H HLCA5b:BeadnellandEmbletonBays M-H H H H HLCT5c:AlnandCoquetEstuaries M-H H H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT5:SandyCoastline
IngeneralwindturbineswouldbeunsuitableinprinciplewithinLCT5.However,smallscaleturbinesbelow26mtobladetipheightmaybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportantfociinthelandscapeoradjacentmoresensitivelandscapes.Small-medium,medium,medium-largeandlargerscaleturbineswouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthewiderlandscapecontextthatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment.ThisisprimarilyduetotheimportanceaffordedtothelandscapeaseitherfallingwithinNorthumberlandCoastAONBorlocallyintervisblefromit,withitshigherlandscape,recreationalandheritagevaluesensitivities.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT6:BroadSandstoneValley
ThisLCTcomprisesalandscapeofthebroadvalleyoftheRiverAlnandtributaries,asitpassesthroughthesandstonehills.TheLCTisrepresentedbyasinglecharacterareas(LCA):• LCA6a:WhittinghamVale
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT6:BroadSandstoneValley:• Broadundulatingvalley;
• Significantinfluenceofglacialdeposition;
• Strongenclosurepattern,albeitindeclineinparts.
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LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT6:BroadsandstoneValleySensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
SomevarietywithinabroadshallowvalleyoftheriverAlnanditstributariestheEdlinghamandEglinghamburns.ThemeanderingriverisnotahighlyprominentfeatureovermuchoftheLCTcomponent,oftendefinedonlybyripariandeciduoustreecover.Glacialdepositfeaturessuchasdrumlinsandeskersprovideundulatinglandforminplaces.
Moderate
Landcover
Patchworkofarablecropsandpasture,butwithlocalisedparklandinfluences.Occasionalpocketwoodlandsandfarmstead-linkedconiferousplantations.Strongpatternofhedgerowswithhedgerowtrees,althoughinmanyareasthisisbeingerodedashedgerowsareremoved.
Moderate-High
Landscapescale Mediumscalelandscapewithhumanscalefeaturessuchashedgerows,smallwoodlands,parklandandscatteredsettlement.Someenclosureinplaces.
Moderate
VISUAL:Skylines Largelysimple,punctuatedbywoodlands,somelarger
andblock-likeandlinearshelterbeltswithgentlyrollingslopesandhorizons.
Low-Moderate
Viewsandlandmarks
Somelocallyimportantfoci,smallermainlyhistoricestatesandsettlementsuchasShawdonHallandWhittinghamvillageinthevalleyfloor.ViewstoThruntonWoodsandAlnwickMoors.OccasionalglimpsestotheCheviotHillsandSandstoneRidge.
Moderate
Inter-visibility Theshallowbutpronouncedvalleyprofilegenerallyresultsinavisuallyself-containedlandscapeovermostoftheLCA.Somelongervistasincludelandscapesbeyond,suchasthedomeofAlnwickMoortothesouth-eastandThruntonWoodconiferousplantations.SomeviewsfromnorthernfringestoCheviotHills
Low-Moderate
Visualreceptors MaintransportroteA697runsnorth-souththoughtheLCAwhilstadenselocalroadnetworkliesacrossmuchoftheLCA.ThevillagesofWhittinghamandGlantonandtheagriculturalhamletsofBoltonandEdlinghamprovidethefociofsettlementalongwithscatteredbutfrequentfarmsteads.SmallEstatessuchasLemmingtonHallandShawdonHalladdhistoricalsensitivityinthelandscape.
Moderate
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Limitedmovementinthelandscape,primarilyfromthe
mainA697andlocalroadnetworkbutalsofromseasonalagriculturalactivityinthearablelandscape.
Moderate-High
Builtdevelopment Scatteredandfrequentbutoftensmallinscale.Limitedtosmallvillages,hamlets,smallestatesandfarmsteads.Limitedothertypesofbuiltdevelopment.
Moderate-High
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
Remoteness Asettledandfarmedlandscapewithstronglocalroadnetwork.Howeversettlementisgenerallysmallinscaleandscatteredratherthanconcentrated,reducinganyperceptionofremoteness.
Moderate
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Agentlearableandwoodlandlandscapeoveradistinct
butshallowrivervalleylandform.Peacefulruralcharacter,particularlyaroundhistoricestatesandhamletsbutoverallnotremarkable.
Moderate
Distinctiveness NotstronglydistinctivelandscapeofNorthumberland,butrivervalleysettlementandestatesprovidelocalisedsenseofplace.
Low-Moderate
Rarity NotunusualacrossNorthumberland,norarecomponentsinthelandscape.
Low-Moderate
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets ThevillageofWhittinghamislocatedatafordingpoint
oftheRiverAln,andisasmallvillagebuiltaroundamedievalcore.SmallestateswithsomedesignedparklandarelocatedacrosstheLCA.Extensiveareasofridgeandfurrow,representingmedievalfieldsystemsfoundinpocketswithinthemodernenclosures,associatedwithsettlements,particularlyWhittingham,andthedesertedvillagesofBartonandAbberwick.EdlinghamCastleisanEnglishHeritageproperty.
Moderate-toModerate-High
Recreation Publicfootpathsandpermissivepathsradiatefromsettlements,andtherearesmallareasofaccessland.SomebuiltheritageinterestsuchasEdlinghamCastle.
Low-Moderate
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
Adistinctshallowvalleyprofilewithamanagedappearanceandscatteredsettlementwithsomehistoricinterest,butwithoutstrongfociorsignificantlandscapefeatures.Landscapescale,degreeofenclosureandsettlementpatternallindicateawidespreaddegreeofon-goinghumanpresenceintheareabutgenerallyatlowtomoderatelevelsofintensity.Thelandscapeismostlyself-containedwithlimitedintervisibilitywithothercontrastingormoredistinctivelandscapes,butwithoccasionalviewstohigherlandinalldirections.Overallthelandscapecharacteristicsandvisualcomponentspresentamoderatedegreeofsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment,althoughlargerscaledevelopmentwouldpotentiallyhavesomesignificantimpactsuponsensitivereceptorsandheritageassets.Theareaishoweverdeeplyruralandsetwithinacontextofmostlymoresensitivelandscapeswherewindenergymayservetodilutethesettledruralcharacterandpresentincongruousscaleofdevelopmentinawiderlandscapecontextofhuman-scaledevelopment.Smallerandmediumscalewindenergydevelopmentmaybeaccommodatedintothelandscapehavingregardtolocallysensitiveelementsandsitesandwherethisisapparentratherthanprominent.
Cumulativeeffects NowindenergydevelopmentshavebeenpermittedorinstalledwithintheLCTandtherearenosignificantverticalstructurestocomplicatesimpleskylines.Thereisalsoanabsenceofwindenergydevelopmentinmost
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
neighbouringlandscapes.However,thesouthernturbinesofMiddlemoorwindfarmstandapproximately3kmtothenorthoftheLCT’snorthernfringe.ThescaleandnumberofturbinesacrossthemajorMiddlemoor/WandylawwindfarmsaffordvariousmiddleandlongerdistanceviewstothemfromwithintheBroadSandstoneValleyslandscapetypewithmovementbeingapparent.CumulativeimpactsoftheMiddlemoor/Wandylawwindfarmsaresignificantinsomevistasfromtheireastern/coastalsideanddevelopmentofsimilarscaleturbineswithintheBroadSandstoneValleycouldservetoextendthevisualenvelopewithinwhichthesearealreadyviewedoneast-westlinesoftravel,althoughtheelevationfromtheLCTislowerthanthoseexistingsites.AcrosstheLCTsmallscaleindividualturbinesservingfarmsteadsareunlikelytopresentseriouscumulativevisualharmandmaybeassimilatedwiththemediumscalelandscapeawayfromresidentialreceptors.
LCT6:BroadSandstoneValley-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA6a:WhittinghamVale L-M M M M-H M-HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT6:BroadSandstoneValley
IngeneralLCT6issuitableforsmall,small-mediumandmediumscaleturbinesupto65mheighttobladetip.Medium-largeandlargescalewindturbinesabove66mheighttobladetipthroughouttheLCTwouldbeunsuitableinprinciple.Thesescalesofwindenergydevelopmentmaybesuitableonlywhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffects,largelyduetothehighdegreeofinter-visibilitywithadjacentandmoredistantlandscapes,wouldnotbesignificant.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT7:EstateValley
ThisLCTconsistsofanincisedvalley,dominatedbytheextensiveparklandintheestateoftheDukeofNorthumberland,includingHulnePark,andthedistinctivehistoriclandscapearoundAlnwickCastle.TheLCTisrepresentedbyonecharacterarea(LCA):• 7a:HulnePark
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT7:EstateValley:• IncisedRiverAlnvalley.
• Extensivedesignedparklandlandscape.
• Historicarchitecturalfeatures,includingextensiveboundarywalls.
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• Estatewoodlands.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT7:EstateValleySensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Acomplex,relativelyconfinedmeanderingrivervalleywithsteepsidesdownstreamoftheAlnandEglinghamBurnconfluence.TheAlnvalleyisatitsnarrowesthere,asitpassesbetweenAlnwickMoortothesouth,andCharltonRidgetothenorth.Therivermeandersaroundsmallerhillswithinthevalley,suchasBrizleeHill(175m)andCuthbertHeugh(129m).Inplacestheriverflowsthroughfloodplains(‘haughs’),andelsewhereiscontainedwithinasteep-sidedgully.
Moderate-HightoHigh.
Landcover
Variedopenparklandelements,extensivewoodlandandestatelands.Riparianandparklandtreesarecharacteristicandelsewherethereisastrongmosaicofdeciduousandconiferousforestryplantationandwoodland.Arableandpastorallandenrichesthemosaicoflanduses.PartsofAlnwickaddanurbancomponentwithstrongtownscapevalueofstonebuildings,slateroofingandhighstonecurtilagewallsunderpinningestateinfluence.
Moderate-HightoHigh.
Landscapescale Anenclosed,mediumtosmalllandscapescalewithmultipleelementswithinarelativesmallspatialunit.
Moderate-HightoHigh
VISUAL:Skylines Somecomplexitydependentuponrelief,degreeof
enclosure,urbanfringeinfluenceandmixedlanduses.Moderate-HightoHigh
Viewsandlandmarks
ImportantviewswithintheLCTofhistoricdesignedlandscapesandheritagefeatures,aswellastownscapeandlandscapevalue.BrizleeTower,AlnwickCastle,theRiverAlnitselfandHulnePrioryareexamplesofacomplexandattractiverichheritagelandscape.
High
Inter-visibility AselfcontainedLCTbywayofenclosedrivervalleytopographyandsignificanttreecover.
LowtoLow-Moderate
Visualreceptors ResidentialreceptorsfromthenorthernfringeofAlnwickandfromlocaltransportroutes.Recreationalvisitorsalsosensitivetovisualprominenceofwindenergyinstallations.
High
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Urbanfringeandlocalroadnetworkpresentsome
limitedmovementinthelandscape,butgenerallyquitelimited.
Low-ModeratetoModerate
Builtdevelopment SignificanthistoricbuiltdevelopmentacrossthenorthernfringeofAlnwicktownandmanyhistoricbuildingssuchasAlnwickCastleanditsestatebuiltcomponentsandinfrastructure.Generallyhighvaluearchitecturalelementsacrossthelandscape.
High
Remoteness AmanagedanddesignedlandscapeovermuchoftheLCTbutoftentranquilwithlimitedpublicthoroughfares
Moderate
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overmuchofit.QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Highdegreeofattractivenessthroughcombinationsof
naturalandre-modelledtopographyandnaturalfeatures,designedlandscapeandfrequentheritagesitesandbuildings.
High
Distinctiveness Strongsenseofplaceassociatedwiththemosaicoflandscapeandheritagecomponents,historicassociationsandculturalimportance.
High
Rarity AuniquecombinationofhistoricandtopographicandgeomorphologicalcomponentsspecifictotheDukeofNorthumberlandEstate.
High
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Highhistoricalandculturalheritagevalueacrossthe
LCTwhichpartlydefinesthelandscapeandvisualfociwithinit.ImportantlandscapesettingsofhighvaluebuiltheritagecomponentsacrosstheLCT.MuchoftheLCTisRegisteredasHistoricParkandGardenandincludesdesignedlandscapebyCapabilityBrown.Stronghistoricimportanceextendsbacktoprehistoricearthworksandstandingstones.
High
Recreation AlnwickCastle,alongwiththeAlnwickGarden,isahighlypopulartouristdestination.HulnePrioryandAlnwickAbbeyarepubliclyaccessible,asisthesurroundingpark.
High
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
TheLCTisalmostentirelydesignatedasListedParkandGardenandcomprisesarichmixtureofdesignedparkland,woodlandsandplantationwhichpresentthesettingforimportantheritagefeaturesandthenorthernlandscapecontextfroAlnwickitself.Therollingtopographyandtreecoverprovidefrequentareasofenclosure,andlimitedpublicaccessenhancesrelativetranquillity.Withtheexceptionofwell-screenedestatefarmbarnsthereisapredominanceofattractivestonebuiltarchitectureacrosstheLCTwithanabsenceotherwiseofmodernprominentbuiltstructures.Theintroductionofmediumorlargerwindturbineinfrastructurewithinthelandscapewouldbelikelytocontrast,detractfromanddiluteitsstronganddistinctiveexistingestate-managedcharacterandhistoricintegrity.PartsoftheLCTtotheeastareparticularlyimportanttothesettingofthetownandofAlnwickCastleoverdesignedparklandwithiconicviewsfrombridgesinparticular.
Cumulativeeffects NowindenergydevelopmenthasbeeninstalledorpermittedwithintheLCT.Developmentofanynewlyconsentedturbineinfrastructurewouldinitiallyhavenocumulativeeffectswithintheimmediatearea.Middlemoorwindfarmfallsapproximately5kmtothenorthoftheLCT.OvermostoftheLCTlocallandformrestrictsviewstotheturbinesbuthighergroundsuchasatBrizleeTowerallowsviewstothenorthincludingtheextensivewindfarmlandscapeofLCA8cCharltonRidgeandLCA10aRosebroughMoor.DevelopmentofmediumtolargerscalewindturbineswithintheLCTwouldbelikelytoleadtoviewconeswithinwhch
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Middlemoorandnewturbineswouldbeperceived.TheenclosednatureoftheLCTwithlimitedintervisibilitybetweenLCTswouldservetoreducethelikelihoodofintervisibilitywithotherinstallationsofsmallerturbines.
LCT7:EstateValley-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA7a:HulnePark M-H H H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT7:EstateValley
IngeneralwindturbineswouldbeunsuitableinprinciplewithinLCT7.However,smallscaleturbinesbelow26mtobladetipheightmaybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportanthistoricanddesignedlandscapefociinthelandscapeoradjacentmoresensitivelandscapes.Small-medium,medium,medium-largeandlargerscaleturbineswouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthewiderlandscapecontextthatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment.Thisisprimarilyduetotheimportanceaffordedtothelandscapeasdesignedandhistoriclandscape,withimportantsettingtoAlnwickanditsnationallyimportantheritageassets.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT8:OutcropHillsandEscarpments
ThisLCTcompriseselevatedlandscapesofhillsthatformadistinctivechainofrockyuplands,runningthelengthoftheNorthumberlandSandstoneHillsNationalCharacterArea,fromtheKyloeHillsinthenorth,toGreatWanneyCraginthesouth.Theirdistinctiveformandrichsemi-naturalvegetationpatternscontrastwiththesurroundingmoreintensively-farmedlandscapes.TheLCTisrepresentedbysevencharacterareas(LCA):• 8aDoddingtonRidge.• 8bKyloeandChillinghamHills.• 8cCharltonRidge.• 8dBeanleyMoor.• 8eRothburyForest.• 8fHarwoodForest.• 8gSweethopeandBlackdown.
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT8:OutcropHillsandEscarpments• Flat-toppedelongatedridgesandroundedsandstonehills.
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• Distinctivesteepscarpfacesformingstepped,oftendark,skylinesilhouettes.• Openplateauandgentledipslopesclothedinheathermoorland,acidicgrasslandmosaic,
coniferousforestryandpeatbog/mires.• Steeperslopesandcraggyoutcropswithbracken,heatherandbroadleavedwoodland.• Wetpasturesandsemi-improvedpasturesonlowerslopes.• Richmutedcoloursandtextures.• Littleornohabitationbutsignificantarchaeologicalremains.• Waterbodiesincludingnaturalloughsandreservoirs.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT8:OutcropHillsandEscarpments
Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Somevarietyinlandformwithsandstonegeologyunderlyingasharpnorthandwest-facingscarpwithcraggycliffs,screeslopesandupstandingrockyoutcrops.Flattopsoftheridgesformabroadplateauabovethegentler,roundeddipslopetothesouthwheretherearefewerdistinctiverockyoutcropfeatures.Drainedbyaseriesofburnswhichcutincisedcoursesthoughthemoorland,andareoftenborderedbybracken,heatherandbroadleavedtreesandflankedbywetpastures.Elsewhereinthischaractertypetherearenaturalloughsandmires(e.g.DardenLoughandLittleLoughrespectively)inareasofimpededdrainage.Man-madereservoirsatSweethopeLoughandFontburnReservoir.
Moderate
Landcover
Extensivesemi-naturalvegetationofmixedheatherandgrasslandmoorlandandroughpasture,significantconiferousplantationanddeciduouswoodlandonsteeperscarpslopes.Bracken,heatherandbroadleavedtreesflankedbywetpasturealongsideincisedburnsdrainingtheplateau.Acidicsoilsandpeatboginareasofpoordrainage.Rockyoutcropsarevisuallyimportantelementsofthelandsurface.Stonewallenclosurefacilitatessheepfarmingwhilstmoorlandmanagementsupportsfieldsports.
Moderate
Landscapescale Significantvarietyinlandscapescaleisencounteredacrossthe7LCAsoftheOutcropHillsandEscarpments.Mediumtolargescalelandscapesgenerallywithvariationtowardsthefringeoftheopenmoorlandwheregreaterenclosurecanbeencounteredsuchaswithinwoodpasture.Drystonewallspunctuatemoreopenlandscapetractsreducingtheperceivedscaleofthelandscape.LCA8catCharltonRidgehasasmalleroverallscalethanotherLCAsduetogreaterundulationafrequentbutsmallconiferousplantations.BycontrastLCA8eatRothburyForesthasalargeopenandexposedlandscapescale.
Low-Moderate
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Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
VISUAL:Skylines Largelysimplebutwithsomevariation,dependent
uponthosemorecraggyoutcropsormoorlandandplantationaffordingamoreregularandsmoothskyline.Oftenbigskiesandextensivevistasareexperienced.TheprofileoftheOutcropHillsandEscarpmentscanbeimportantfromthecoastalplain,includingfromtheNorthumberlandCoastAONB,wheretheKyloeHillsforexampleoftenpresentsanimportant‘landscapeframe’orvisualenclosuretothecoastalplain.
Low-ModeratetoModerate
Viewsandlandmarks
SignificantvariationoverthewiderLCTareas.VistasoftentakeinlocallyimportantlandmarkswhilstlongervistasfromoutcropsandhighersitesextendbeyondtheLCAsoverbroadpanoramas,butarerarelyfocusedonkeylandmarks.KeyexceptionstothisarevistastothecoastparticularlyfromLCA8band8cwhereiconicheritagelandmarksarevisible,suchasBamburghCastleandHolyIsland.VistastothewestandtheSimonsideandCheviotHillsareimportant.
Moderate-HightoHigh
Inter-visibility ThelargeextentandoftenelevatedridgesandoutcropsoftheLCTallowforfrequentandsometimesstrongintervisibilitywithneighbouringLCTs.TransitionallandscapesservetoemphasisethissuchasLCT10SmoothMoorlandandLCT11SandstoneFringeFarmland.LCA8fhasanextensiveboundarywithNorthumberlandNationalPark.
Moderate-HightoHigh
Visualreceptors Fewvisualreceptorsofhighsensitivitybeyondlocalandoccasionallymaintransportroutes(A697,A696).Sparsesettlementislimitedtouplandfarmsteads.RecreationaluseofthelandisimportantoveranumberoftheLCAs.
Moderate.
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Wherenostrategicroadnetworkroutesorwindfarms
fallacrosstheLCAs,movementtendstobelimited.Elsewheresomefrequentmovementalongmaintransportcorridors.SignificantmovementisapparenthoweverfrominstalledwindfarmsincludingthelargewindfarmsatMiddlemoor(LCA8c),Ray(LCAs8fand8g)andGreenRig(LCA8g).
ModeratetoModerate-High
Builtdevelopment Verylimitedbeyonduplandfarmsteadsandwindenergyinstallations.SomehilltopmastsandantennaeevidentsuchasatLCA8eRothburyForestandLCA8fHarwoodForestwhereelectricitypowerlinepylonsandradiomastsareevident.MoDradardomeatBrizleeWoodisaprominentandalmostsurreallandscapefociinmultipleviews.
Moderate-High
Remoteness DespiteuplandatranquilcharacterremotenessiserodedacrossmuchoftheLCTbytheroadnetwork,
ModeratetoModerate-High
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agriculturalactivityandsometouristandrecreationactivities.LCA8fHarwoodForestandLCA8gSweethopeandBlackdownoffermoreremoteuplandtractswheremovementactivityislimitedawayfromwindfarms.
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Moderatescenicqualitiesawayfrominfrastructureand
largeuplandfarmsteads.Scenicqualityissometimesraisedwherevistasarepossibleandrockyoutcrops,scarpslopesandsurfacewaterfeaturesareapparent,suchasGreatWanneyCrag.
Moderate
Distinctiveness Somedistinctivenessbywayofscaleanduplandcharacter,particularlyacrosstheLCA8bKyloeandChillinghamHillsandHarwoodforestandLCA8eRothburyForestwhichunderpinsenseofplaceforuplandNorthumberland.
Moderate-High
Rarity ExtensiveareaoftheLCTresultsinlowerlevelofrarityalthoughimportanttothecharacterofthecountyasaconsequenceofrelativeextentofcover.
Low-Moderate
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Prehistoriccupandringfeaturesareimportantcultural
sitesbuthavelittleinfluenceonthelandscape.EstatewoodlandsandparklandatCragside,Chillingham,HedgeleyHallandRosCastleontheridgeofLCA8carelesscommonbutimportantlandscapecomponentsacrosstheLCT.Morewidelyhistoricsitesorfeaturesarelimited.
ModeratetoModerate-High
Recreation CragsideandChillinghamCastlewithitswildcattlearenotablevisitorattractionbutotherwiserecreationinterestislimitedtoinformalactivityovertherightsofwaynetworkandopenaccessland.StCuthbert’sWayacrosstheKyloeHillsandStOswald’sWaycrossLCA8fandareregionallyimportanttrails.
ModeratetoModerate-High
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONSLandscapeCharacterContext
Intheabsenceoflandscapedesignation,andalocationbetweennationallydesignatedlandscapesofNorthumberlandNationalParkandNorthumberlandCoastAreaofOutstandingNaturalBeauty,thisuplandspineofthecountymaybeseenpresentanattractivetopographiclocationforcommercialwindenergyproposals.Large-scalewindenergywithintheLCThasaninherentpotentialforsignificantlyalteringthecharacterofthisupland,openandoccasionallyremotemoorlandlandscape.ThishasbeenevidencedwherewindfarmshavebeeninstalledatMiddlemoor,RayandGreenRig.SignificantlocalvariationisidentifiedacrossthisextensiveLCTwithmultiplecombinationsoflandusesandhistoricfeaturesoverbroadlysimilargeologyandtopography.Thedegreeofdevelopmentvariesalso,althoughmuchoftheLCTisopenandexposedandoflargerscaleswithverylimitedbuiltdevelopmentincomparisontosurroundingLCTs.Comparativelylimitednumbersofsensitivereceptors,oftenmoderatescenicvalue(althoughoccasionallymoreimportant),simpleskylinesand
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largerscaleofthelandscapehasinfluencedpastpermissionsforwindenergydevelopmentatlargecommercialscales,suchasatMiddlemoor,GreenRigandRay,totheextenttheirhostLCAsmaynowbeconsideredtobecharacterisedbywindenergydevelopment.FurtherwindenergydevelopmentacrosstheLCTwouldbelikelytobeprominentinmanylocationsduetoelevationandexposure,butwithinareasofoveralllowertomoderatesensitivity.AcrosstheLCTinsitingnewwindenergyinstallationsitwillbeimportanttohaveregardstoimportantcraggyridgelinesandscarpslopeswhicharevulnerabletomediumandlargerscaleturbines‘sky-lining’orcausingpartial‘blade-sweep’overmediumandnear-distancehorizons,andhencebeunsuitablelocations.FurtherdevelopmentwithintheLCTofmediumtolargerscalewindturbineswouldnormallybeexpectedtobeprominentfromotherLCTs.Sensitivityofthelandscapeawayfromthosespecificfeaturesofinterestanddistinctivenesswouldnormallybelower,particularlytosmallandmedium-scaleturbines.
CumulativeEffects TheLCThasanumberofexistingwindenergysiteswithinitincludingthemajorinstallationsatMiddlemoor,RayandGreenRig.Smallertwinturbines(20m)arealsolocatedatOttercops,Kirkwhelpingtonandsinglesmall(18mand21m)turbinespermittedatFallowleesandPowburnalthoughwithsignificantlylowerlandscapeprominencethatthelargecommercialsites.Theextentofvisualinfluenceofthoselargerinstalledwindfarmsareoftenexpansive.ExistingcumulativeeffectsofthecloselylocatedMiddlemoorandWandylawsitesaresuchthatthetwositesreadasoneinalmostalldirectionsofpossiblevisibility,includingfromextensivetractsoftheNorthumberlandCoastAONB.RayandGreenRigwindfarmsarevisibleinthesamevistasfromimportantsiteswithinNorthumberlandNationalParksuchasSimonside,ataround6kmdistance.LCA8gnowcouldbereasonablydescribedasa‘windfarmlandscape’withthecompletionofRayWindFarminrelativeproximitytoGreenRig.TheelevatedandelongatedextentoftheLCTaffordsitwithmultipleboundarieswithseveralneighbouringLCTs.Intervisibilitybetweentheseareasandwithnon-contiguousLCTsisoftensignificant,includingwithcontrastinglowlandfarmedlandscapesborderingthespineofoutcropsandescarpmentsandaffordsastronglandscapecontrastandsettinginplaces.However,thesteepscarpslopesandgradualdipslopesdoaffordsomepossibilityoflocatingwindenergydevelopmentbelowandawayfromelevatedridgesandplateausuchthatthelandscapeobscuresintervisibilityatrelativelycloseproximitiesinsomedirections.TheelevatednatureoftheLCT,theexistenceofinstalledwindfarmswithinthreeoftheLCAsandstrongintervisibilityinplaceswithdesignatedlandscapesandneighbouringLCTssuggeststhatadditionallargerscalewindenergydevelopmentshavethepotentialforsignificantcumulativeimpactswhichwouldrequiredcloseexaminationinrespecttotheirpotentialforharmatprojectplanningstage.Closingordilutingthestrategic-scalegapsbetweenthetwomainconcentrationsofwindfarmsatRay-GreenRigandMiddlemoor-Wandylaw,particularlyacrossLCA8d,8eand8fthroughlargescalewindenergydevelopmentmaypresentsignificantcounty-scale
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cumulativeimpactasalineorseriesofintervisible‘islands’ofwindfarmsthroughthespineofthecounty,visiblefromimportantviewpointsandlandscapesatastrategicscale.Limitedfurtherconcentrationofwindturbinesclosetoexistingwindfarmsmaylimitsuchcumulativeharmwhereturbinesareofsimilarscale,butwouldneedtobeaffordedcloseconsiderationatprojectassessmentstage.
LCT8:OutcropHillsandEscarpments-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA8a:DoddingtonRidge M M-H H H HLCA8b:KyloeandChillinghamHills L-M M-H H H HLCA8c:CharltonRidge. L L-M M M-H M-HLCA8d:BeanleyMoor. M M-H H H HLCA8e:RothburyForest. M M M-H H HLCA8f:HarwoodForest. L-M M M-H H HLCA8g:SweethopeandBlackdown. L-M M M M-H M-HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT8:OutcropHillsandEscarpments
IngeneralLCT8issuitableforcarefullysitedsmallscaleturbinesupto25mheighttobladetipwheretheyarecloselyassociatedwiththescaleandlocationoffarmbuildingsinthelandscape.Small-mediumscaleturbinesbetween26m-40mtobladetipwouldbegenerallysuitablewithinLCA8c,8e,8fand8g.Ingeneral,windturbinesabove40mheighttobladetipwouldinprinciplebeunsuitablewithinLCT8,althoughLCA8candLCA8garelesssensitivetoturbinesbetween41m-65mtobladetip.Small-mediumscaleturbineswithinLCA8a,8band8d,mediumscaleturbineswithinLCA8eand8f,andmedium-largeandlargescaleturbineswithinLCA8cand8gmaybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportantfociinthelandscape.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT9:SandstoneUplandValleys
ThisLCTcomprisesthevalleyoftheRiverCoquet,asitflowsalongsideandthroughtheNorthumberlandSandstoneHillsNCA.Thevalleyisstronglyinfluencedbythesandstonecontexttothesouthandeast,andbythelower-lyinglandoftheUplandFringeFarmland(LCT15)tothenorth.ThisLCTextendsintoNorthumberlandNationalPark.TheLCTisrepresentedbyonecharacterarea(LCA):• 9a:Coquetdale
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT9:SandstoneUplandValleys:• Sinuousshallowvalleyandnarrower,incisedtributariessetwithinthesandstoneuplands.
• Valleysenclosedbydistinctive,gentlyconvexsandstonehillswithacidicvegetation.
• Smoothfloodplainmeadowsandpasturesgrazedbycattle,sheepandhorsesandoccasionalareasofarablefarmland.
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• Strongtopographic,vegetationandlandusepatterns.
• Meanderingriversthatareinconspicuouswithinthelandscape,butlinedwithalders.
• Steepbluffsclothedinpineandotherconifersflankingthevalleyfloor.
• ShelterbeltsandclumpsofScotspineandmixedwoodlandonlowerslopesandvalleyfloor.
• Sandstone-builthistoricvillagesonlowerslopes.
• Richarchaeologyincludingridgeandfurrow,motteandbaileyandfortifiedbastlehouses.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT9:SandstoneUplandValleysSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Theirregularprofileofmuchofthevalleyisasymmetrical,duetothefactthatthesouthsideisunderlainbysandstone,andthenorthsidebyglacialdepositsoverhardgeology.Onthesandstonevalleysidesthetopographyrisessharplyandacidicsoilsprevail,whileglacialdepositsrisemoregently,formingaroundedprofile.Thefloodplainwithinthevalleyiswelldefinedandofvaryingwidth.Themeanderingcourseoftheriverflowsbetweenshinglebanks.Inplacesoxbowlakesandformerriverchannelscanbepickedoutaswetpatchesandundulationswithinthevalleyfloorpastures.
Moderate-High
Landcover
SignificantvariationacrosstheLCT.Acidicsoilssupportdistinctivevegetation,includingheathermoorland,birchwoodland,andpatchesofgorseandbracken,whiletheglacialsoilstothenorthsupportlarge-scaleimprovedpasturesandblocksofconifershelterbelts.Valleyfloorpasturesaresemi-improvedwithpatchesofwetflushvegetation.Thefieldpatternisgenerallysmall-scalewithgrazingbycattle,sheepandhorses.ThesurroundingwoodlandsgivethevalleysasenseofenclosuremoststronglyfeltinthetributaryvalleyswherethewatercoursesarelinedwithaldertreesandbroadleavedwoodlandandintheUpperCoquetvalleywherepineandconiferplantationsextendontothefloodplain.Elsewhere,asatWartonandRothbury,thevalleyfloorismoreopen,althoughmatureoakandashtreesarecharacteristicwithinthehedgerowsonthelowervalleysides.MixedlandusesapartfromagricultureincludesmallsettlementandpartsofRothburywheregolfcourseandcaravanparkarelocated.Formersandandgravelworkingsnowrestored.
High
Landscapescale Smallscaleconsequenttocomplexmixofvegetation,landform,significantenclosureandmixedlanduses.
High
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
VISUAL:Skylines Relativelycomplexskylinespresentedbythevalley
shouldersandwherelongerviewsallowneighbouringLCTsofhighergroundbeyondthevalleyfloorandintotheOutcropHillsandEscarpmentsandUplandFringeFarmlandLCTsandtheCheviotHillswithinNorthumberlandNationalPark.
Moderate-High
Viewsandlandmarks
SomelocallyimportantheritagecomponentssuchasBastileandTowerHousesandthefocalpointoftheriveritselfanditscrossingpoints.
Moderate
Inter-visibility Oftenself-containedbywayofsteeplyrisingvalleysides.Somelongervistastohighergroundtothesouthandnorth,andoccasionalvistasintoNorthumberlandNationalPark.
Moderate
Visualreceptors SettlementofHepple,Sharperton,ThroptonandRothburyfallwithinorpartlywithintheLCTasdoestheB6341andB6342.TheareaisimportantforrecreationandvisitorsasamaingatewayroutetoNorthumberlandNationalPark.
Moderate-High
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Roadusers,focusedagriculturalactivityinthevalley
floorandvariousurbanandperi-urbanlandusesprovidesomemovementtothelandscape,whilsttheriveritselfprovidesnaturalseasonalvariationinflowandwidth.
ModeratetoModerate-High
Builtdevelopment FocusedsettlementinvillagesandtownofRothbury.Scatteredfarmsteadselsewhereandvariousotherlandusewithassociatedstructures.
Moderate
Remoteness Focusedusesandactivityinthevalleylimitssenseofremotenessoftranquillity.
Moderate
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Somescenicvaluewherevistastoupperslopesand
surroundinguplandsbecomepossible.Therivercourseitselfandsteeptributaryburnsprovideattractivefocaldetail,includingasitpassesthroughthegorgeatRothbury.OtherwisehumaninfluenceandtransportcorridorhasresultedinagoodconditionofthelandscapebutalsolimitsscenicvaluewithintheLCTitself,suchasmineralsworksandcaravansites.ImmediateproximitytoNorthumberlandNationalParkunderlinesthepotentialimportanceoftheLCTasasettingtothedesignatedlandscape.
Moderate-High
Distinctiveness Arelativelydistinctivecombinationoflandscapecharacterwithastrongersenseofplace.
Moderate-High
Rarity AuniqueLCTwithlimitedspatialextentacrossthecounty.
High
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Locallyimportantfeaturessuchasnumeroustower
housesandbastlehousesandhistoricvillageswithModerate-High
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
ConservationAreaacrossmuchofRothburyasitfallswithintheLCT.Villagesdatingfromthemedievalperiodorpossiblyearlierhaveastronglocalvernacularcharacterandarepredominantlybuiltofsandstone.
Recreation RothburyattheeasternedgeoftheLCTisarecognisedgatewaysettlementtoNorthumberlandNationalPark.Relativelylevelfootpathslinethefloodplainallowingpotentiallymoreaccessibleinformalrecreationtosomeusers.
Moderate.
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
Thesmallscale,complexityoflanduses,frequentsensitivereceptorsandhistoricsettlementalongsidetheattractiverivervalleycharacteratthefringeofNorthumberlandNationalParksuggesthigherlandscapesensitivitytowindenergy.Limitedcapacityforverysmall-scaledevelopmentofindividualturbines,outoftheimmediatevisualriver-valleycorridor,possiblysupportingruralbusinessesandfarmsteadsmaybeaccommodatedwithoutseriousvisualandcharacterharminlimitedcircumstances.Otherlargerturbinesanddevelopmentsofmultipleturbines-bybeingoutofscalewiththelandscapeandpresentinginevitablevisualdrawinconfinedtopography,wouldbelikelytobevisuallydominantoroutofscale.
Cumulativeeffects Nowindenergydevelopmentislocatedwithinthecharacterarea,norinadjoiningLCTs.TherelativelyenclosedtopographyandlimitedintervisibilitybetweenneighbouringandmoredistantLCTssuggeststhatshouldsmallscalewindenergydevelopmentbepermittedwithintheSandstoneUplandValleytherewouldbealowprobabilityofcumulativeeffectsarising.ProximitytoNorthumberlandNationalParksuggeststhatvisualharmtothesettingofthenationallydesignatedlandscapewouldbeanimportantconsiderationindefiningsuitabilityofproposedwindenergyschemes.
LCT9:SandstoneUplandValleys-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA9a:Coquetdale M-H H H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT9:SandstoneUplandValleys
IngeneralwindturbineswouldbeunsuitableinprinciplewithinLCT9.However,smallscaleturbinesbelow26mtobladetipheightmaybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportanthistoricanddesignedfociinthelandscapeoradjacentmoresensitivelandscapes.
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Small-medium,medium,medium-largeandlargerscaleturbineswouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthewiderlandscapecontextthatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment.Thisisprimarilyduetotheimportanceaffordedtothelandscape’scomplexity,intimatescale,scenicvalueandcloseproximitytoNorthumberlandNationalPark.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT10:SmoothMoorland
ThisLCToccursonthebroaddipslopewhichliestotheeastoftheprominentscarpoftheNorthumberlandSandstoneHills.ItiscloselyassociatedwiththeOutcropHillsandEscarpments(LCT8),whichformthewesternedgeofbothareasofSmoothMoorland.TheLCTisrepresentedbytwocharacterareas(LCA):• 10aRosebroughMoor• 10bAlnwickMoor
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT10:SmoothMoorland:• Gentlyundulatingmoorland,withoutthesignificantrockyoutcropswhichcharacterisethe
OutcropHillsandEscarpments(LCT8).
• Simplelandcoverofheathermoor,roughgrasslandandpeatbog.
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• Limitedareasofconiferousplantationforestleavinganopencharacter.
• Littlewoodlandortreecover,andverylimitedsettlement.
• UninterruptedviewsacrossthecoastalplaintowardstheNorthSea.
• Prominentmastsandotherinfrastructure.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT10:SmoothMoorlandSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
LandformisdefinedbythegentleeasterndipslopeoftheNorthumberlandSandstoneHillsNCA.Thelandrisesfromthecoastalplaintoarelativelylevelseriesofplateaux,beforedroppingsharplytothewestatthescarpslope(withinLCT8).Theplateauxareflatorverygentlyundulating,withfewprominenthills.Overallthelandshelvestotheeast.Smallburnsdraintheland,viaanetworkofnarrowgullies.Elevationandopen,extensivenatureaffordsexpansivevisibilityacrossmanyparts.
Low-Moderate
Landcover
Primarilyheathermoorlandwithuplandheathandblanketbogoccupyinglargeareas,givingtheimpressionofanamorphouslandscapeofcontinuousheathercoverage.Transitionisgradualtobrackenandgorseamongstopenpasturewithincreasingbutlimitedfieldboundaries.Areasofsemi-improvedgrasslandonlowerslopeswithincreasingenclosurefromhedgesreplacingdrystonewallsandpostandwireofhigherareas.Smallbutprominent,frequentgeometricalconiferousplantationandoccasionalbroadleafedwoodsprovideonlytreecover.
Low-Moderate
Landscapescale Opennessandrelativeuniformity,withlimitedtopographicvarietyandfewboundaryfeaturesresultinalargerscalelandscapealthoughoverallextentslightlylimitsthis.
Low-Moderate
VISUAL:Skylines Topographicandsimplevegetationcoveraffords
largelysimpleconsistentskylinesbutthesearepunctuatedbyprominentwindenergydevelopmentatLCA10aandvariousmastsandantennas.
Low-Moderate
Viewsandlandmarks
WandylawandMiddlemoorwindfarmsarehighlyprominentcomponentsinthelandscapeofLCA10a,outcompetingoccasionalolderradiomasts.OtherwiseverylimitedfocalpointswithintheLCT,butprominentfrommajorroads(A1,B6341).OccasionalimportantvistasoutwardsfromtheLCT,particularlyfromLCA10awithpanoramicviewstowardsthecoastanditsimportantheritagelandmarks,and
Moderate
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
someviewstotheCheviotHillstothewest.Inter-visibility Strongintervisibilitytoneighbouringandmoredistant
LCTsfromLCA10b,lesspronouncedintervisibilityfromLCA10a,butstillpossibleinplacesacrossthecoastalplain.LCA10bvisiblefromareasofAlnwick.
Moderate-HightoHigh
Visualreceptors SensitivereceptorslimitedtofarmsteadsandscatteredsettlementwithintheLCT,andmainandlocalroadcorridors,includingtheA1.SomeprominencetoimportantresidentialreceptorsoutsidetheLCT,suchasfromnorthernpartsofAlnwickforLCA10b.
Moderate
PERCEPTUAL:Movement SignificantmovementinthelandscapeofLCA10awith
theoperationofMiddlemoorandWandylawwindfarms.MovementalongthelocalroadnetworkisapparentacrossLCA10b,butrelativelylimited.
Low-ModeratetoModerate
Builtdevelopment ThepresenceofMiddlemoorandWandylawwindfarmsissignificantinLCA10a,andradioandtelevisiontransmissionmastswithassociatedcompoundsandbuildingsatAlnwickMoor,QuarryHouse,ChattonSandyfordsandBrowniesideareprominent.
Remoteness Despitelackofsignificantsettlement,windenergy,thelimitedroadnetworkandforestryandfarmsteadsettlementdetractfromanysenseofdeepremotenessalthoughthereisrelativetranquillityandsenseofopennessawayfromroadsandwindturbines.
Moderate
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Smooth,relativelyfeaturelesslandscapewithblocky
plantation,weakboundaryfeaturesradiomastandwindenergydevelopmentgenerallydetractfromtheruralandpeacefullandscapesandlongervistastotheeast.RichheathercoloursinlatesummerliftthebleaknessoftheLCT.
Low-ModeratetoModerate
Distinctiveness Notastronglydistinctiveorplacedefininglandscapetype,althoughculturalassociationswithAlnwickforLCA10b.TheRadardomeonthenorthernboundaryofLCA10bisadistinctivelandmarkwhichprovidesastrongfocalpointandreferencepoint.
Low-Moderate
Rarity OneofaseriesofuplandmoorlandplateaulandscapesinNorthumberland,affordinglimitedrarity.
Low-Moderate
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Generalabsenceofbuiltheritageassetswhich
influencethelandscapebutimportantpre-historicstonemarkingsandearthworksacrosstheLCT.RemnantrailwaylinestructurestoLCA10b.
Low-Moderate
Recreation Limitedrecreationalvaluebeyondinformaluseofrightsofwaynetworksandopenaccessland.QuietlanesaffordcyclingopportunitytoLCA10a.
Moderate
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
Thislargerscalelandscapewithfewfocalpointsorfeaturesandrelativelyuniformtopographyandlandcoverprovideslimitedinherentsceniccharacter.Thiswouldnormallysuggestlowersensitivitytowindenergydevelopment.Howeverthelandscapeisoftenprominentinwidervistasfromthesouthandeastandaffordssignificantvistastothecoastalplain,includingtheNorthumberlandCoastAONB.ThenorthernareasofLCA10bareincloseproximitytopartsofAlnwickandsuggestahighdegreeofsensitivereceptorsforlargerscalewindenergyproposals.IntervisibilitywithmoresensitiveneighbouringlandscapesfromtheLCT’sfringe,suchasLCT7:EstateValleymaybeimportantinconsideringsensitivityofthelandscapetofuturewindenergydevelopment.ThefundamentalcharacterofLCA10ahasbeenredefinedoverrecentyearswiththeestablishmentofMiddlemoorandWandylawwindfarms,comprising28x125mturbines(including5turbineswithinLCA8c).Thishaseffectivelyresultedina‘windfarmlandscape’fortheLCAandhassignificantlyalteredthebalanceofdefininglandscapecomponents.ThismayhavereducedfurtherthepotentialforharmfulchangetolandscapecharacterwithintheLCTbyfurtherwindenergydevelopmentsalthoughelevatedwesternfringesoftheLCThavethepotentialforsky-liningbyturbinesandsignificantincreaseinprominencefrommoresensitivelandscapesbetweenLCT10andNorthumberlandNationalParktothewest.FurtherdevelopmentofwindturbineswithinLCA10ashouldbeassessedagainsttheabilitytoconcentrateratherthanexpandtheextentofwindenergypredominanceinthelandscape.
Cumulativeeffects TheinstallationsatWandylawandMiddlemoorareincloseproximitysuchthatinmostviewsthesecanbereadasonelargewindenergyinstallation.TogetherthesecanbeseentohavecreatedawesternskylineofwindturbinesforlargercentralpartsoftheNorthumberlandCoastAONB.NowindenergydevelopmentispresentinLCA10b.NotwithstandingthetightvisualinterrelationshipbetweenWandylawandMiddlemoorwindfarms,itispossibletoviewthesewithotherlargerwindfarmstothesouth-eastacrossthecoastalplainsouthofAmble/Hadston,includingSisters,NorthSteadsandLynemouthwindfarms.Howeverthedistanceofseparationmeanssuchintervisibilityislimitedinsignificance.Furthermajorwindenergydevelopmentbetweentheseconcentrationsofwindturbines,particularlythoseacrossthecoastalplainwhichcanbeviewedinpanoramicvistasfromhigherpointsinland,mayhoweverresultinaperceivedconsolidationofwindturbinesacrossawiderviewconeorarc,withthepotentialforsignificantchangeinlandscapecharacterthroughcumulativeeffects.DevelopmentoflargescalewindenergyinLCA10bwouldpotentiallyservetonarrowthecurrentlystrategicgapbetweenlargerscaleinstallationstothesoutheastandsouthwest,andthusbegintoeffectivelyconsolidatepotentialchainofwindenergysiteswithinaverywideseriesofviewcones.Significantintervisibilitywithlargewindenergyinstallationstothesouth-west(GreenRigg,Ray)isnotpossiblebutfuturedevelopmentinthehinterlandLCTs,suchasLCAs8eand8fwouldpresentpotentialforacentralNorthumberlandchainoflargeturbinesacrosshigherground.
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LCT10:SmoothMoorland-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA10a:RosebroughMoor L-M M M M-H M-HLCA10b:AlnwickMoor M M-H M-H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT10:SmoothMoorland
IngeneralLCT10issuitableforsmallscaleturbinesbelow26minheighttobladetip.LCA10apresentslesssensitivitythanLCA10b,andissuitableinprincipletowell-sitedsmall-mediumandmediumscaleturbinesbelow66minheighttobladetip.LCA10awouldgenerallybeunsuitableformedium-largeandlargerturbinesupto135mtobladetipheight,butthesemaybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffects,largelyduetothehighdegreeofinter-visibilitywithadjacentandmoredistantlandscapes,wouldnotbesignificant.WithinLCA10b,small-mediumandmediumscaleturbinesupto65mheighttobladetipareunsuitableingeneral,butmaybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffects,wouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportanthistoricanddesignedfociinthelandscapeoradjacentmoresensitivelandscapes.WithinLCA10bmedium-largeandlargerscalewindturbinesabove66mheighttobladetipwouldbeunsuitableinprinciple,largelyduetothehighdegreeofinter-visibilitywithadjacentandsomemoredistantlandscapes,andlongervisualimpactsonsettlementanddesignatedlandscapes.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT11:SandstoneFringeFarmland
LCT11isatransitionallandscapebetweentheexposedSandstoneHillsandmoreintensivelyfarmedandsettledlowlandareas,andisamarginalareaforagriculturebotheconomicallyandgeographically.TheLCTiscloselyassociatedwiththeOutcropHillsandEscarpments(LCT8),occurringateitherendofthechainoftheNorthumberlandSandstoneHills(NCA2).TheLCTisrepresentedbythreecharacterareas(LCA):• 11aBelfordHills• 11bButelandandColtCrag• 11cHetton.
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KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT11:SandstoneFringeFarmland:• Open,expansive,marginaluplandfringefarmland.
• Gentlyundulatingtopographydrainedbyminorburns,withwetpasturesinshallowhollows.
• OccasionalWhinSillandsandstoneoutcropsandcragswithassociatedactiveanddisusedquarries.
• Associationwithneighbouringsandstonehills.
• Mainlyroughandsemi-improvedpastures,withpatchesofopengrassmoorlandonhighestground.
• Variedpatternofenclosure;medium-to-largescaleanddefinedbyamixtureofstonewallsandwirefencing.
• Areasofgeometricconiferousforestandmixedwoodlandplantation.
• Sparselypopulatedlandscape,withoccasionalfarmsteadsconnectedbynarrowlanes.
• Historicelementsincludeevidenceofpastminingincludingcoalshafts,andancientridgeandfurrow.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT11:SandstoneFringeFarmlandSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Thelandscapeshelvesdownfromthehighersandstonehills,tothecoastalplain,ortothemid-Northumberlandfarmland.Relativelylimitedtopographicalvariation,althoughassociatedwiththemoredistinctlandformsoftheOutcropHillsandEscarpments(LCT8),suchastheKyloeHillsaboveHetton.Sandstone,shale,limestoneandmudstoneareoverlainwithglacialdrift,givingrisetoasubtlyundulatingtopography.Sandstoneandwhinstoneoutcropsoccurandarequarriedforaggregateandbuildingstone.FrequentsmallsurfacepondsandmossesandsmallreservoirssuchasColtCragreservoirinLCA11b.
Moderate
Landcover
Predominantlyalandscapeofroughandsemi-improvedpastures,oftenwithwetrushyareas,withpatchesofopengrassmoorlandonthehigherground,above200m.Somearablefarming,particularlyinLCA11aandLCA11b.FrequentsmallconiferousbeltsandfarmplantationacrossLCA11aandLCA11c.Deciduoussemi-naturalwoodlandsoccupywerdepressionsandincisedburns,althoughnotwidespread.MilitaryfiringrangesandassociatedinfrastructureandtracksfoundwithinLCA11b
Low-Moderate
Landscapescale Mainlyamediumtolarge-scalelandscapeconsequenttosimplelandcovercomponentsandlackofdiversityinlandform.Weakboundaryfencingservestoemphasiselargerlandscapescale.Inareaswhere
Low-Moderate
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drystonewallsaremaintained,scaleisoccasionallyreduced,supportedlocallybyplantation.
VISUAL:Skylines Simple,longhorizonsandbigskiesconsequentto
simpleelevatedlandformandlimitedtreeorbuiltstructure.SlightlymorevarietyisseeninviewstothewestwheretheCheviotHillsprovideamoredramatichorizon.
Moderate
Viewsandlandmarks
FewsignificantlandmarkswithintheLCTalthoughLCA11aofferspanoramicviewstothecoastincludingBamburghCastle,theFarneIslandsandHolyisland.SomeviewstoNorthumberlandNationalParktothewestfromLCA11bandLCA11c.
Moderate
Inter-visibility StrongassociationswiththeimmediatevalleyanduplandoutcropsandescapementLCTs,butonlyLCA11aBelfordHillsofferslongerviewsacrossmultipleLCTstowardsandalongthecoast.LCA11aandLCA11cofferoccasionalvistastowardstheCheviotHillstothewest.
ModeratetoModerate-High
Visualreceptors AverylowdensityofbuiltdevelopmentlimitssensitivereceptorstohamletssuchasHolburn,occasionalfarmsteads,roadnetworks(includingtheA68)andrecreationalusers.Scaleanddensityoftransportroutesvary,withmainroutesthroughorabuttingLCA11aandLCA11b.ThenorthernfringeofBelfordpartlyfallswithintheLCT.
Moderate
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Somemovementalongtransportroutes.Verylimited
withinLCA11c.Twoofthe18windturbinesofGreenRiggwindfarmfalljustwithinLCA11bandindoingsoaddmovementtothisarea.OtterburnmilitaryrangesfallpartlywithinLCA11bwheremilitaryactivity,smokeplumesandnoiseperiodicallyintroducemovementandnoise.
ModeratetoModerate-High
Builtdevelopment SomehumaninfluenceacrossBelford,hamletsandscatteredfarmsteads.Masts,overheadlinesandreservoirsareoccasionallyprominentinLCA11basismilitaryrangeinfrastructureinformermineralsworks,butoverallalandscapewithverylimitedbuiltstructure.GreenRiggwindfarmpartlyoverlaystheLCT(althoughfallingprimarilywithinLCA8g)andistheonlysignificantverticalfeatureinthelandscape,althoughthemajorityofthewindfarmisprominentfromwithinLCA11b.
Moderate-High
Remoteness LCA11aofferslowerlevelsofremotenessasaconsequenceofgreaterlevelsofdevelopment,urbanedgeactivityaroundBelfordandmaintransportcorridorsclosetotheeasternboundary.LCA11band11caremoreremoteandwithinlimitedmovementoractivityandoffersomerelativetranquillity
ModeratetoModerate-High.
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QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Althoughofsemi-uplandcharacterwithlimitedbuilt
developmentandrelativetranquillity,theLCThaslimitedscenicvalue.Overallwide-opentractswithlowvarietyoflandcoverorfocalpoints,oftenwithweakboundaryfeaturesorblockplantations.Longerviewstoeastandwestareofvaluebutarenotreflectiveofimmediatecharacter.
Low-Moderate
Distinctiveness Somedistinctivefeatures,suchascragsandsmallravinewoodlandsbutfrequentlywithoutstronglydefiningcharacterleadingtoweaksenseofplace.
Low-Moderate
Rarity Amorecommonlandscapetypewithcommonfeaturestootheruplandfringecharactertypesacrossthecounty.Howeversomecombinations,suchasthewaterbodiesofLCA11aandcragsofLCA11boffersomemoreunusuallandscapecomponents.
Moderate
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Rigandfurrowandpre-historiccupandringrock
carvingprovidesomehistoricimportancetothelandscapes,butwithlimitedvisualsignificance.
Low-Moderate
Recreation Informalrecreationacrossrightsofwayandaccessland,withhighimportanceattachedtoStCuthbert’sWaylongdistanceroute.
Moderate
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
TheLCTpresentsanextensivebutpredominantlyopenandunremarkablelandscapecomponentofNorthumberland,althoughsomeareasprovidehistoric,recreationandlocalisedscenicvalue.Broadly,theabsenceofenclosure,lowlevelsofhumanscalestructuresandmoderatelevelsofreceptorssuggestaloweroverallsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment.Despitethis,theelevatednatureofmuchoftheLCTandsomewiderpanoramicprominence,particularlyacrossLCA11a,meansthatthelandscapesaffordexpansiveviewsintoandacrossthemfromnumerousviewpoints.LCA11ainparticularformspartofthelowuplandridgelinerunningnorth-southwhichpartlyframesthecoastalplainandAONB.Whilstpresentinglimitedinherentinterest,visualprominencefromneighbouringlandscapes,particularlythoseassociatedwiththesettingofdesignatedlandscapesaffordsomeincreasedsensitivitytowindenergydevelopmentatlargerscales.Furtherturbineswithinthelandscapeshouldthereforebeapparentratherthanvisuallyprominentfeatures,andtheconsiderationofscaleofnewturbineswillbethemostsignificantfactorinachievingthisobjective.
Cumulativeeffects Two125mwindturbinesofGreenRiggWindFarmfalljustwithinLCA11bButelandandColtCragandsixsmall(<25m)turbineshavebeenconsentedacrossthatLCAinadisperseddistribution,ofwhichtwoareoperational(atthetimeofstudy).Onesmall-scaleturbineisoperationalatWarentonLawwithinLCA11a.Operationallarge-scalewindturbinesatGreenRigg,RayandWandylawpresentclearintervisibilitywithmajorwindenergysitesinneighbouringLCTs.Consequentlymajorwindenergydevelopmentsofmediumtolarge
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scaleturbineswithintheLCTwouldpresentinherentpotentialforcumulativevisualeffectsofmultiplemajorinstallationswithinthesameviewcorridorsorpanoramas.Careshouldbegiventoensuinganyfurtherturbinedevelopmentconsolidatesareasnowcharacterisedbywindenergyratherthanextendtheminanysignificantdirection.ParticularharmcouldariseinrelationtotheroletheLCTplaysinthewidersettingsofthedesignatedlandscapesofNorthumberlandNationalParkandNorthumberlandCoastAreaofOutstandingNaturalBeauty,despitenotbeingcontiguouswiththoseareas.AneffectivenorthernlinearextensionwithinLCA11aoftheMiddlemoor/Wandylawwindfarmarraywouldhavesignificantpotentialtoconsolidatetheperceivedwindfarm‘enclosure’totheAONBwhenviewedfromiconicviewpointssuchasHolyIslandandBamburghCastle.
LCT11:SandstoneFringeFarmland-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA11a:BelfordHills L-M M M-H H HLCA11b:ButelandandColtCrag L-M M M M-H HLCA11c:Hetton L-M M M M-H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT11:SandstoneFringeMoorland
IngeneralLCT11issuitableforsmallandsmall-mediumscaleturbinesbelow40minheighttobladetip.LCA11apresentsslightlyhighersensitivitythanLCA11band11c,andisunsuitableinprincipletoturbinesabove40mtobladetipheight.Howeverwell-sitedmediumscaleturbinesbetween41mand66minheighttobladetipmaybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffects,wouldnotbesignificant.LCA11band11cwouldgenerallybeunsuitableformedium-largeandlargerturbinesbetween66m-100mtobladetipheight,butthesemaybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffects,wouldnotbesignificant.Medium-largeandlargerscalewindturbineswouldbeunsuitableinprincipleinLCA11a,withlargescaleunsuitableinprincipleinLCAs11band11c.Sensitivitytothesescalesofturbineislargelyduetothehighdegreeofinter-visibilitywithadjacentandsomemoredistantlandscapes,andlongervisualimpactsonsettlementanddesignatedlandscapes.Cumulativeimpactsarealsoimportantconsiderations.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT12:BroadFarmedVale
LCT12comprisesonlyonelandscapecharacterarea:• LCA12a:BreamishVale
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT12:BroadFarmedVale:• Meanderingriverandfloodplainwithinbroadvalleylandscape.
• Distinctbreakbetweenthevaleandthesandstonehillstotheeast.
• Rollingmixedfarmland.
• Irregularpatternofwoodlands.
• ViewstotheCheviotHillstothewest.
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LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT12:BroadFarmedValeSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Somemoderatevariationwithinbroadvaletopographywithincreasesinelevationtoeastandwestmargins,morepronouncedtotheeastbythesandstonehills.RiverBreamish/Tillmeanderssouthtonorththroughlowerlyingbutmarkedlyundulatinglandforminplaces.Valleyprofileisnotpronouncedalongmuchofrivercourse,whichinplaceshasbeenstraightened.
Low-Moderate
Landcover
Mostlymedium-largearablefields,withsignificantareasofsemi-improvedpasture.Someolderclustersofsmaller,lessregularfieldsremain.Oftenweakfieldboundaries.Clumpsofbroadleafwoodland,someassociatedwithfarmsteads.Coniferousshelterbeltsmorefrequenttothesouth.Moresignificantwoodlandisassociatedwithparklandlandscapes,especiallyChillinghamCastle.
Low-Moderate
Landscapescale Mediumscale,characterisedbyopenlandscapewithgenerallyweakfieldboundariesbutsetwithinadjacentpartialenclosurebyrisingground.
Moderate
VISUAL:Skylines Generallysimplewithsomevarietyprovidedbyrising
CheviotHillstowestandmorewoodedsandstonehillstotheeast.
Low-Moderate
Viewsandlandmarks
Limitedsignificanceofviewsalthoughmainroads(B6349andB6348)transectthevaleLCAeasttowestandprovidevistasacrossthevalebetweenhigherneighbouringgroundLCAs,whilstthebusierA697fringesthesouthwestoftheLCA.ChillinghamestatetotheeasternfringeoftheLCAprovideslandscapeandarchitecturalfocus,butfromlimitedvisualextent.
Low-Moderate
Inter-visibility StrongintervisibilityfromwithinthevaletohigherenclosingridgelinesofCheviotfoothillsandthesandstoneOutcropHillsandEscarpments.ExtensiveviewsoverandbeyondtheLCAfromraisedvantagepointssuchasRosCastletotheeast
Moderate-High
Visualreceptors Sensitivereceptorslimitedtosmalllocalsettlements(Chatton,ChillinghamEstate),scatteredfarmsteadsandlocaltransportroutes.
Moderate
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Appreciablemovementinthelandscapefromroads
andmorelocallyalongtherivercourse.Moderate
Builtdevelopment ChattonandChillingham(settlement)arelargersettlementsrelativetotheruralityandremotenessofthearea.Frequentfarmsteadswithlargemodernagriculturalbuildingpunctuatethelandscapes.ThesawmillatWoopertonisaprominentindustrialoperation.Theroadnetworkisthemaininfrastructure
Low-Moderate
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oftheLCAbutapartfromtheA697rarelyprominent.Verticalstructuresareverylimited,restrictedtoagriculturalstructuresandtelephoneandlocalpowerlines.
Remoteness AwayfromtheroadnetworkthevaleLCAisstronglyruralwithmoderatesenseoftranquillitypartlyattributedtolowdensityofsettlement.PublicrightsofwaytomoreremoteareasoftheLCAarerelativelylimitedinmostlyarablelandscapeandtheroadnetworkisoftenperceptible.
Low-Moderate
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Limitedscenicvalueinisolation,althoughwider
landscapeviewstohighergroundeastandwestprovidesomesceniclandscapevalue.RegisteredParklandandheritagevalueofChillinghamaffordsenhancedlocalscenicvalueanddramaticviewstotheCheviotHills.
Moderate
Distinctiveness Notstronglydistinctiveinisolationfromitswiderlandscapecontext,althoughthemeanderingrivercourseaffordslocalsenseofplace.
Low-Moderate
Rarity Notrareincontextofthecountybutwidersettingisdistinctive.
Low-Moderate.
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets The‘Devil’sCauseway’Romanroadrunsnorth-south
throughthelandscape.Somemedievalridgeandfurrow,particularlyaroundChattonwhichretainscharacteristicallymedievalsettlementform.The14thcenturyChillinghamCastleisapopularvisitorattraction,asistheparkland(inseparateownership),andishometotheChillinghamwildcattleherd.Viewsfromthecastle/parklandtothewestareparticularlyattractive.
Moderate
Recreation MainlylimitedtovisitorattractionofChillinghamCastleandparkland,particularlythewildcattlewhichhasnationalprofile.Elsewheretheareaifoflimitedwalkingandcyclingvalueincomparisontoneighbouringareas.
Low-Moderate
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
Alocalised,contrastingpocketofrelativelylowland,arablelandscapeseparatingareasofsteepergradientanduplandridgestotheeastandwestwithcontrastinglandcovertothoseneighbouringLCAsandsignificantintervisibility.ViewstotheCheviotHillswithinNorthumberlandNationalParkaresignificanttothewest,overandbeyondtheinterveningLCT15UplandFringeFarmland.Ingeneralwindenergydevelopmentshouldbelimitedtofewindividualorsmallgroupsofsmallormediumsizedturbinesassociatedwithsettlement,farmsteadsorruralenterpriseemploymentsites.Largerscalewindenergydevelopmentwouldbelikelytobedisproportionatetothescaleofthelandscapeandaffectsensitivereceptorstherein.
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TheimportanceofviewsfromhighergroundeastandwestoftheLCA,particularlyfromdesignatedheritageassetssuchasChillinghamRegisteredParkandGarden,shouldbeconsideredinwindenergyproposalsaslikelyconstraints.
Cumulativeeffects TherearenocurrentwindenergyinstallationswithinLCA12a.OccasionalpartialviewstotheBarmoorWindFarm(6x110m)arepossiblefromwithintheLCTbutthesepresentamiddledistancefeature(>10km)acrossanarrowviewarc.NootherprominentlyvisibleturbinesfallwithinneighbouringornearneighbouringLCAs(forexampleWandylawWindFarminLCA10a)asaconsequenceoftheenclosingnatureofthevalelandscapesetting.
LCT12:BroadFarmedVale-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA12a:BreamishVale M M M-H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT12:BroadFarmedVale
IngeneralLCT12issuitableforwindenergydevelopmentunder40minheighttobladetipwherethesearecarefullysitedandassociatedwiththescaleandlocationoffarmbuildings,otherdomesticscalefeaturesandwoodlandwithinthelandscape.Thelandscapeisgenerallyunsuitabletoaccommodatewindturbinesabovethisheight.Howeverlandscapesmaybesuitabletomediumscaleturbinesunder65mtobladetipheightwhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportantfociinthelandscapeandnotinterruptimportantvistasacrossthelandscape(ratherthanintoit).Medium-largescaleandlargerturbineswouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapethatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment.Thisisparticularlyduetohighinter-visibilityandstronglinkswiththeadjacentlandscapesframingNorthumberlandNationalParkdesignatedlandscape.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT13:BroadFloodplainValley
LCT13comprisesbroad,openvalleys,definedbyhighergroundatthemargins,andaflatalluvialfloodplainwithmeanderingrivers.ThisLCTisrepresentedbyonecharacterarea(LCA):• LCA13a:TillandGlenValleys
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT13:BroadFloodplainValley• Broadvalleywithflatfloodplainandmeanderingrivercourse.
• Intensivelyfarmedagriculturallandscape,withgeometricwoodlandblocks.
• Settlementandfarmsclusteredattheedgeofthevalleyfloor.
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• ExpansivelandscapewithviewstotheCheviotHills.
• Historicvillagesandfarmbuildings.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT13:BroadFloodplainValleysSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Agentlyundulatingtoflat,broadfloodplainlandscapeoversedimentarydepositdriftgeology.TheWoolerWaterentersthebroadvalleyfloortothenorthofWooler,joiningwiththeRiverTillandthebroadvalleyoftheRiverGlenwhichentersfromthewest.TheRiverTillthenmeandersmarkedlyacrossthevalleyfloortothenorth.
Low-Moderate
Landcover
Predominantlyanarablefarmedlandscapewithareasofpastureandgeometricwoodlandblock,particularlytothenorthandwest.Limitedriparianvegetationhelpsdefinemeanderingcourseoftherivers.Sandandgravelworksandasmallairfieldprovideotherlandusestothewesternfringe.
Low-Moderate
Landscapescale Mostlylargescalewithsomemoremediumgrainaroundwoodlandareasandsettlementfringes.
Low-Moderate
VISUAL:Skylines Skylinesaremostlydefinedbyrisinggroundover
moorlandfringeinadjacentLCAs,includingthesteeplyrisinggroundofNorthumberlandNationalParkwhichtheLCAabutswestofWoolerwhereridgelinesaresmoothbutundulating.TotheeastthesteeperslopesanddistinctivemixofwoodedandsmoothrollingoftheoutcrophillsandescarpmentsLCTservetoprovideacleartopographicalcontrastwiththeLCA.Skylinesareessentiallyfreefromman-madestructuresawayfromsightlinesthroughhighvoltagepowerlinesthatrunnorth-souththroughthecentreoftheLCA.
Moderate-High
Viewsandlandmarks
VerylimitedpointsofvisualfocuswithintheLCAbutimportantviewsoutwards.Themeanderingriversaredistinctivetopographicalfeaturesbutpresentlowvisualprominencewithinthevalley.Keyvistasacrossthevalleytothewest,intotheCheviotHillsarestrikingandexpansive,andareenhancedbythecontrastbetweentheneighbouringtopography.
Moderate-High
Inter-visibility HighdegreesofintervisibilityparticularlyintoNorthumberlandNationalParkandOutcropHillsandEscarpments,butalsotorisinggroundtothenorthintotheOpenRollingfarmlandsLCT.ExtensiveviewsacrossthewholeofLCT13fromadjoiningLCTsarepossibleasaconsequenceoflowandrelativelyflattopography.
High
Visualreceptors SomeimportantreceptorsalongmaintransportrouteoftheA697betweenWoolerandColdstream.SignificantsettlementofWoolerliestothesouthern
High
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fringeoftheLCAwhilstdwellingsarelocatedinDoddington,Fenton,Milfieldandacrossmanyscatteredfarmsteadsonhigherpointsaroundthefloodplain.RecreationalimportanceoftheneighbouringNorthumberlandNationalParkmaybeadverselyaffectedbywindenergydevelopmentacrossthevalleyandelevatesthesensitivityofthiscriterion.
PERCEPTUAL:Movement SomemovementassociatedwiththeA697,andmore
occasionallyfromMilfieldairfield.Moderate
Builtdevelopment Agriculturaldevelopmentisscatteredacrosstheflatvalleyfloorwherelandrisesabovethefloodplain.MainsettlementoftheedgeofWoolerandsmallhamletsfallaroundthefringeoftheLCA.
Moderate
Remoteness Anintensivelyfarmedlandscapewithscatteredsettlementandmainroad.Powerlines,pylonsandairfieldlimitanysenseofremoteness.
Low-moderate
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Somemoderateinherentscenicqualityprimarily
focusedwithintherivercorridorsthemselvesthataffordattractiveoutlookswithpronouncedmeanderingandsomebraiding,butwithlimitedpublicaccessawayfromroadcrossings.SomeattractivecontrastbetweentheLCAitselfandthesteeplyrisingCheviotHillswhichdelineatethewesternedge.
Moderate-High
Distinctiveness Presentsmoderatesenseofplaceandsettingwithinneighbouringuplandfeaturesisdistinctive
Moderate
Rarity AninfrequentlandscapetypewithinNorthumberland Moderate-HighHISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets TheMilfieldBasincontainssomeofthemostsignificant
prehistoriclandscapesinthecountry,includingevidenceofMesolithicsettlement,hengesandlaterprehistoricoccupation,inadditiontotheAnglo-Saxon‘palace’siteofMaelmin.Howeverthesearenotprominentinthelandscape.Romansettlementsites,enclosuresandcampscanalsobefoundintheLCAandaswellastheestatelandscapeofEwartPark
Moderate
Recreation Limitedtothelocalfootpathnetwork.ViewsfromNorthumberlandNationalParkintoandacrosstheLCA,andtowardsitfromwithinmaybeimportantinrespecttotheNationalParks’statutorypurposes.
Moderate-High.
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
TheLCTcontextoffersgreaterlandscapevalueandsensitivitythanitsinherentlandscapecharacteralone.ItliesasarelativelydistinctivebroadvalleyfloodplainwithinacontrastingcontextofsurroundingsteeprisinggroundleadingtotheundevelopedroundedhillsoftheCheviotHills(withinNorthumberlandNationalPark),theIgneousFoothillsandOutcropHillsandEscarpments.Assuch,viewsacrossthelandscapefromoutsidearecomprehensive,andsignificantfromwithinittothesehigherareas.
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WindenergydevelopmentwithintheLCAshouldnotservetodiminish,interruptordistractfromimportantvistasbetweenareasofhighergroundfringingandpartiallyenclosingtheLCA,potentiallyaffectingthesettingofNorthumberlandNationalPark.Movementofturbinebladesfromelevatedviewsagainstlandscapebackdropcouldbeprominentandadistractioninthelandscape.However,verticalmanmadestructuresalreadydilutetheseviewsintheformofpowerlinesandpylons.Furtherdevelopmentshouldhoweverseektoavoidexacerbatingthisvisualimpactbylimitingthescaleanddistributionofwindenergydevelopmentsuchassmallerindividualturbinesassociatedwithfarmsteads.Windenergydevelopmentinthekeyrivercorridorsshouldbeavoidedtoconservetheirlocalisedspecialcharacter.Theremaybesafety/technicalimplicationsforwindenergydevelopmentasaconsequencetheairfield/glidercluboperationsatMilfield
Cumulativeeffects TherearenoexistingwindenergydevelopmentswithintheLCT.Howeverthepylonsandpowerlinesprovideaprominentdiscordantfeatureinthelandscapewhichwouldprovidebothafurthercomplexityagainstlargerscaledwindturbines,andapotentiallydramaticindicatorofscale.Suchjuxtapositionorcombinationoffeaturesinasingleviewconeshouldbeavoided.BarmoorWindFarm(6x110mturbines)standsonelevatedgroundtothenorth-eastinLCT16.TheirpreciselocationandafocusinthelandscapetowardstheCheviotHillsmeansthesearesignificantbutnotoverbearingfeaturesinthelandscape.TheyarehoweverseenagainstabackdropoftheCheviotHillsinviewsfromthenorth-east,andfurtherdevelopmentofmediumorlargerscaledturbinesinLCT13wouldbelikelytoexacerbatethisvisualcontrastanddetractfrothesettingofNorthumberlandNationalParkoverandaboveindividualimpacts.
LCT13:BroadFloodplainValley-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA13a:BroadFloodplainValley M M-H H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT13:BroadFloodplainValley
IngeneralLCT13issuitableforsmallscalewindenergydevelopmentunder26minheighttobladetipwherethesearecarefullysitedandassociatedwiththescaleandlocationoffarmbuildings,otherdomesticscalefeaturesandwoodlandwithinthelandscape.Thelandscapeisgenerallyunsuitabletoaccommodatewindturbinesabovethisheight.However,thelandscapemaybesuitabletosmall-mediumscaleturbinesunder41mtobladetipheightwhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportantfociin
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thelandscapeandnotinterruptimportantvistasacrossthelandscape(ratherthanintoit).Medium,medium-largescaleandlargerturbineswouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapethatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment.Thisisparticularlyduetohighinter-visibilityandstronglinkswiththeadjacentlandscapesframingNorthumberlandNationalPark.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT14:IgneousFoothills
TheIgneousFoothillsLCTcomprisesaseriesofsteepsidedrounded,outlyingfoothillsoftheeasternCheviotHills,closetooradjoiningNorthumberlandNationalParkboundary.Itpresentsamixofuplandandlowlandcharacteristicsandisdividedinto3landscapecharacterareas(LCAs):• LCA14a:MoneylawsandColdside,• LCA14b:WoolerFoothills• LCA14c:OldFawdon
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT14:IgneousFoothills:• Roundedhillscutbysteepvalleys.
• AssociationwiththeCheviotHills,eitherdirectlyorseparatedbynarrowvalleys.
• Generallysmoothhillswithsomerockyoutcrops.
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• Amixofuplandlanduses,includingforestryandroughgrazing,withsomeareasofpastureandarablefarming.
• Littleornosettlement,withonlyafewfarmsteads.
• Frequentevidenceinthelandscapeofhistoricalactivitysuchassettlements.
• Networkoffootpathsandopenaccessland.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT14:IgneousFoothillsSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
RollingsteepsidedhillsformingeasternfringeoftheCheviotHills.Generallysimplewithlimitedvariety,althoughhillsoftenpronouncedinprofileifnotscaleandelevation.
Moderate-High
Landcover
Simpleagricultural(mainlyarablewithsomegrazing)andplantation/shelterbeltlanduse,occasionallyvariedaroundWooler(LCA14b)whereresidential,recreationalandemploymentusesareevident.
Low-Moderate
Landscapescale Largeormedium-largescalewestofWooler.Definedbylargerfieldsandopenroughgrazing,withloworweakhedgeandpostandwireboundariesinplaces.
Low-Moderate
VISUAL:Skylines Large,simple,somelimitedvarietywhereplantations
skyline.MorecomplexitywithinLCA14batWoolerwithincreaseinurbanusesandactivities.
Moderate
Viewsandlandmarks
GenerallyimportanteasternfringeofCheviotHillsandseenextensivelyfromlowlandtotheeastandhighergroundofthesandstoneoutcropsandescarpment.
Moderate-High
Inter-visibility Significantintervisibilitytolowlandanduplandneighbouringlandscapes,includingNorthumberlandNationalParkandtotherisinglandscapesofthesandstoneoutcrophillsandescarpmenttotheeast.
High
Visualreceptors LowlevelsofresidentialbuildingsandthereforereceptorslimitedtolocaltransportroutesandPublicRightsofWayusers.Localreceptorsinneighbouringareasarehoweversensitive,suchasWoolerandNorthumberlandNationalPark.
Low-Moderate
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Verylimited,primarilytothelocalroadnetwork. HighBuiltdevelopment VerylimitedsettlementwiththeexceptionofWooler’s
westernfringe.Occasionalfarmsteadandfreestandingscatteredcottages.ProminentpylonsandpowerlinespartiallycrossLCA14bsouthofWooler.
ModeratetoModerate-High
Remoteness ModeratelyisolatedbutaccessiblefrommainroadcorridorsandproximitytoWooler,particularlyLCA14b.
ModeratetoModerate-High
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Variedscenicqualitybutsomeimportantareasin
relationtotheCheviotHills,NorthumberlandNationalModerate-HightoHigh
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
Parkfringeandhighlyvisibletransitionallandscapewheresomeareasareattractive,suchastothewestofWoolerandOldFawdonHill.
Distinctiveness AdistinctiveNorthumberlandlandscapecharacterisedbythelargescaleofthelandscapewithmixedlandusereflectingthechangingtopographyandrelativetranquillity.
Moderate-HightoHigh
Rarity Ararelandscapewithrelativelysmallareawithinafarmoreexpansiveuplandfringecontext.
Moderate-hightoHigh
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Arichhistoriclandscapebutwherefeaturesofinterest
arerarelyvisuallyprominentinthelandscape.HeritageassetsincludehillfortsandbattlefieldatHomildonhill.
Moderate-hightoHigh
Recreation Importantaccessibleupland/CheviotoutlierlandscapeforinformalrecreationonfootpathnetworkandacrossAccessLand,particularlywestofWooler,withnumerousaccessiblesummits.HowevermoresignificantareasforoutdoorenjoymentfallclosebywithinNorthumberlandNationalPark.
ModeratetoModerate-High.
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
AnuplandtransitionallandscapewhichinplacesdefinesthechangebetweentheeasternCheviotfringeasitfallstothelowervaleandvalleylandscapesandthenSandstoneHillsbeyond.ThelandscapeunitsareasignificantcomponentofthesettingofNorthumberlandNationalParkandspecificallytheCheviotHillsandpresentasemi-remoteuplandvisualbufferfromoutwardsviewsfromthehighersummitsoftheCheviotHills.Locallythelandscapeisofsomesimplebutneverthelessscenicvalueandisoftenhighlyvisiblefromsurroundinglandscapeunits.TheIgneousHillslandscapesremainmostlysimpleandgenerallywithoutprominentbuiltstructuresorverticalcomponents.Skylinesmaybesimplebutareoftenimportantincloseandlongerviews.ThissettingandframingfunctionoftheIgneousHillstoNorthumberlandNationalPark,elevatedlandandimportantskylineswithfewverticalstructuressuggeststhelandscapewouldbemoresensitivetowindenergydevelopmentatmediumtolargerscales,eventhoughlandscapescaleisgenerallylargeandhumanscalefeaturesarelimited,whichwouldotherwiseindicatelowersensitivity.SmallerscalewindenergydevelopmentmaybeacceptableawayfromridgelinesandhighergroundwhichformpartofthepanoramicviewsintoNorthumberlandNationalParkfromthenorth,eastandsouth.
Cumulativeeffects VerylimitedwindenergydevelopmentislocatedwithinLCT14oritssurroundinglandscapes.Asingle24mturbineislocatedwithinLCT14bwestofWooleraboveHighburnHousecaravanpark.Theturbineislocatedclosetoanareaofrelativelyprominentdevelopmentandmixedlandusesandthusdoesnotpresentaparticularlyincongruouselementorlandscapeintrusion.ProminentpowerlinesandpylonswhichareasignificantlandscapedetractortotheeasternfringeoftheCheviotHillscrossLCA14b.Thepylonsandpowerlinesprovideaprominentdiscordantfeatureinthe
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
widerlandscapewhichwouldprovidebothafurthervisualcomplexityagainstlargerscaledwindturbines,andapotentiallydramaticindicatorofscale.Suchjuxtapositionorcombinationoffeaturesinasingleviewconeshouldbeavoided.Withtheexceptionofthepylons,theabsenceofwindenergydevelopmentorprominentwindenergyinstallationswithinthenearandmediumvisualenvelopeofLCT14suggeststhatdevelopmentthereinwouldbeunlikelytoleadtosignificantcumulativeimpact.SomelongerviewstotheCheviotHillsfromthenortheastmayhoweverincludetheBarmoorwindfarm(6x110mturbines)andbeviewedagainsttheeasternfringeofNorthumberlandNationalParkincludingLCT14,andfurtherdevelopmentofmediumtolargeturbinesclosertoNorthumberlandNationalParkmayresultincumulativeerosionofthesettingofthedesignatedlandscape.FurtherwindenergydevelopmentwithintheLCTshouldthereforebelimitedtosmallturbinessetacrosslowerlyingland.Mediumandlargerturbinesandgroupsofturbineswouldpresentaprominentanddistractingformofdevelopmentagainstanimportantlandscapecontextofnationalimportance,presentnewvisualfociandcompetewithimportantvistastowardsNorthumberlandNationalPark.
LCT14:IgneousFoothills-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA14a:MoneylawsandColdside M M-H H H HLCA14b:WoolerFoothills M M-H H H HLCA14c:OldFawdon M-H M-H H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT14:IgneousFoothills
IngeneralLCT14isonlysuitableforcarefullysitedsinglesmallscaleturbinesupto25mheighttobladetipwithinLCA14aand14b.Theseshouldbecloselyassociatedwiththescaleandlocationoffarmbuildings,otherdomesticscalefeaturesandwoodlandwithinthelandscape.Ingeneral,windturbinesabove25mheighttobladetipwouldinprinciplebeunsuitableinallotherareasofLCT14.However,smallandsmall-mediumscaleturbinesupto40mheighttobladetipmaybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportantfociinthelandscape.Medium,medium-largeandlargerscaleturbineswouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapethatarehighlysensitive
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tothistypeandscaleofdevelopment.ThisisparticularlyduetotheinherentlysensitivecharacteristicsoftheIgneousFoothills,significantpossibilityofcumulativeeffectsandhighinter-visibilityandstronglinkswiththeadjacentNorthumberlandNationalParkanditssetting.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT15:UplandFringeFarmland
LCT15UplandFringeFarmlandischaracterisedbyundulatingfarmlandatthefringesofthehighergroundoftheCheviotHills,andcharacterisedbydispersedwoodlandandplantations,andsparsesettlement.Itisrepresentedbytwolandscapecharacterareas(LCA):• LCA15a:LilburnandRoddam• LCA15b:UpperCoquet
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT15:UplandFringeFarmland:• Medium-scale,undulatinglandformwithminorwatercoursesfeedingintothenearbyriver
valleys.
• Mixtureofarableandimprovedpasture,withfrequentwoodlandblocks.
• Dispersedpatternofsettlementwithsmallvillagesandscatteredfarmsteads.
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• Medium-scalelandscapewithviewstotheCheviotHills.
• Historicvillages,landmarkbuildingsandestatewoodland.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT15:UplandFringeFarmlandSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Amarkedlyundulatinglandscape,lowerlyingthanuplandtotheeastandwest,fallingbetweentherivervalleyscarvedbytheCoquet,BreamishandTill.Numeroussmallwatercoursesdrainthearea,flowingintotheadjacentrivervalleys
ModeratetoModerate-high
Landcover
Mainlyarablefarmlandwithfrequentconiferousshelterbeltsandsmallmixedwoodlandsandplantations.Deciduousriparianvegetationrevealtheroutesofsmallwatercourses.SmallerareasofpastureacrosswesternareasandsomeundesignatedestateparklandsuchasatRoddamandLilburnTower.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Landscapescale Mediumscalewithcomplexmosaicofsemi-regularfieldspatterspunctuatedbyplantationsandshelterbelts.Someenclosureclosetowoodlandsandinsteepersmallervalleys.
Moderate
VISUAL:Skylines Generallysimple,notprominentandindistinctivevisual
horizonswithsomevariationwithintherollinglandform.Woodlandisastrongskylinefeatureinplaces.
Moderate-High
Viewsandlandmarks
Undulatinglandformfrequentlylimitsdistantviews,howeverthemoreintimatevalleys,particularlyinthenorthcontainviews,someofwhichfocusonthehistoricbuildings,parklandandestatewoodland.Furthersouththelandscapeismoreopenincharacter,andviewsaremoreexpansive,withviewstotheCheviotHillspossible.
Moderate
Inter-visibility Someself-enclosedareasoflandscapeowingtolocalundulationbutsomesignificantintervisibilityispossiblefromhigherpointswithhigherlandscapeunitstothewestandsouth-eastandconsequentlyintotheLCTfromthoseareas.ViewsintotheareapossiblefromwithinNorthumberlandNationalPark.
ModeratetoModerate-High
Visualreceptors A697mainroadrunssouthtonorththroughLCA15a,withasignificantnetworkofminorroadsandPublicRightsofWayelsewhere.Occasionalsmallvillagesandestateslieacrossthelandscapewhereresidentsaresensitivereceptors.
ModeratetoModerate-High
PERCEPTUAL:Movement LocaltransportroutesandthemainA697present
frequentmovementinthelandscape.Someagriculturalactivity.
ModeratetoModerate-High
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
Builtdevelopment Somehamletandsmallvillagespresentlimitedsettlementinthelandscapeasdofrequentscatteredfarmsteads.Farmsteadsandagriculturalbuildingsareoftenmaskedbyshelterbeltsandwoodland.EstategroupsofhistoricbuildingsatLilburnandRoddam.MajorpylonandelectricitylinescrossLCA15a.Nosignificantindustrialinfluence.
ModeratetoModerate-High
Remoteness RelativelytranquilbutinfluenceofA697andpylonsinLCA15adetractsfromsenseofremoteness.AbsenceofthesefeatureswithinLCA15breinforcesmoreremoteruralcharacter.Somelimitedareasofseclusionwithindeeperburnvalleys,betweenwoodlandsandaroundhistoricfarmsteads/halls.WesternfringeofLCA15bhasastrongersenseofremoteness.
ModeratetoModerate-High
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Attractive,well-managedlandscapeparticularlyacross
LCA15basitrelatescloselytotheCoquetValleyandNorthumberlandNationalPark’seasternboundaryacrossrisingland.EstatelandsandparklandcontributetoattractivecharactertothenorthwhilsttheextensivemosaicoffarmlandandwoodlandtothesouthcontrastswithadjoiningrivervalleyandmoorlandoftheCheviotfringe.
Moderate-HightoHigh
Distinctiveness Someclearsenseofplace.AdistinctiveNorthumberlandlandscape,particularlyinrespecttothejuxtapositionofmanagedfarmedlandscapeandwoodlandmosaicandmoorlandhillsandopenrivervalleys.
Moderate-High
Rarity Notanuncommonlandscapeacrossthenorthandwestofthecounty.
Moderate
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Smallestates,parkland,romanroad,medievalhamlets
andfieldsystemsandaricharchaeologicalheritagecontributetothelandscape’svisualcharacter.
Moderate-High
Recreation NationalCycleNetworkroute68towithinLCA15aandarichnetworkofPublicRightsofWayandquietlanesofferconsiderableinformalrecreationvalue,supportedbyproximitytoNorthumberlandNationalParkandlargerestatessuchasChillinghamtotheeast.
Moderate-High
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
Themarkedlyundulatinglandscapeischaracterisedbymanagedarableandpasturefarmlandandwoodlandswithoccasionalinfluenceofestatefarmsteadsandhamlets.TheproximitytotheeasternfringeofNorthumberlandNationalParkandabsenceoflargersettlementscontributetoanattractiveandsemi-remotelandscapeofahumanscale.Thisispartlyerodedbypylonsandroadinfrastructuretothenorth,althoughthesearelocalised.Sensitivitytomediumandlargerscalewindenergydevelopmentwillbemorepronouncedincloserproximitytothedesignatedlandscapeanduplandfringe,andtosettlement.Theundulating
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
landform,medium-scaleandscatteredhuman-scalecomponentsofmanagedfarmlandincreasesensitivitytolargerstructures.VistasfromandtoNorthumberlandNationalParkwillbeimportantconsiderationsandincreasesensitivitymoregenerally.Largerturbineswouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapethatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment,includingthelandscapesettingandviewstoandfromNorthumberlandNationalPark.
Cumulativeeffects NootherwindenergyinstallationsarelocatedwithintheLCT.HighvoltagetransmissionlineswithinLCA15aprovideareferencepointtoscaleforotherverticalfeaturesandwouldpotentiallyemphasisethescaleofcommercialwindfarminstallations.Thepylonsandpowerlinesprovideaprominentdiscordantfeatureinthewiderlandscapewhichwouldprovidebothafurthervisualcomplexityagainstlargerscaledwindturbines,andapotentiallydramaticindicatorofscale.Suchjuxtapositionorcombinationoffeaturesinasingleviewconeshouldbeavoided.Thepowerlinesandpylonsareasignificantlandscapedetractortothenorth-easternfringeoftheCheviotHillsandfurtherprominentdevelopmentwouldhaveaderogatoryaffectonthewidersettingofNorthumberlandNationalParkinthisarea.
LCT15:UplandFringeFarmland-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA15a:LilburnandRoddam M M-H H H HLCA15b:UpperCoquet M M-H H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT15:UplandFringeFarmland
IngeneralLCT15issuitableforcarefullysitedsinglesmallscaleturbinesupto25mheighttobladetip.Theyshouldbecloselyassociatedwiththescaleandlocationoffarmbuildings,otherdomesticscalefeaturesandwoodlandwithinthelandscape.Ingeneral,windturbinesabove25mheighttobladetipwouldinprinciplebeunsuitablewithinLCT15.However,small-mediumscaleturbinesbetween26m-40mheighttobladetipmaybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportantfociinthelandscapesuchasestatefarmlandandhistoricbuildingsandsettlement.Medium,medium-largeandlargerturbineswouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapethatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment.Thisispartiallyduetotherelativelysmall
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scaleandheritageandrecreationalimportanceoftheLCTanditsproximitytoNorthumberlandNationalPark.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT16:OpenRollingFarmland
ThisLCTcompriseslandscapesofgentlyrollingarablefarmland,withscatteredvillagesandoccasionalestatesboundingtheEngland-ScotlandborderandformingthesouthernsideoftheTweedrivercorridor.TheLCTisrepresentedbythreecharacterareas(LCA):• 16a:Halidon• 16b:DuddoandLowick• 16c:EastLearmouth.
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT16:OpenRollingFarmland:• GentlyundulatingfarmlandlyingabovethevalleysoftheRiverTweedandRiverTill.
• Arablecultivationdominatesthefarmlandwithastrongpatternofenclosureandregular,mediumsizedfields.
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• Scatteredfarmsteads,hamletsandsmallvillagesaredispersedthroughoutthelandscape.
• LocalinfluencesofestatesandplannedvillagessuchasFordandEtal.
• Thelandscapehasanopencharacterandtheregularlandformandmediumsizedfieldscontributeaconsistencyacrossthearea.
• InfluencesfromanumberofperiodsofhistoryareevidentincludingtherouteoftheA697alongtheRomanroad,theBattleofFloddenField,theplannedvillagesofFordandEtal,andestatelandscapessuchasTillmouthPark.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT16:OpenRollingFarmlandSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Gentlyundulating,graduallyrisinglandfromtheTweedandTillrivervalleysbeforefallingtowardsthesouthernboundaryaroundFord.Generallysimplelandformoverglacialtill.Inpartstherivervalleysaremorepronouncedandincised,androckyoutcropsarefoundinhigherpartsofthearea.InotherareastheTweedValleyisbroaderandpresentsaopensmoothlandform.
Moderate
Landcover
Characterisedbyarablefarmingwithinwidenetworkofregularmedium-sizedfields.Deciduoustreesfollowwatercourseswhileconiferousormixedplantationandshelterbeltspunctuatemoreraisedareas.Treesoftenassociatedwithscatteredfarmsteads.
Moderate
Landscapescale Thelandscape,dominatedbywell-managedarablefarmlandhasamediumtolargescalewhichoffersonlylimitedenclosureinsteepervalleysandclosetowoodsandshelterbelts.
Low-ModeratetoModerate
VISUAL:Skylines Largelysimplewithsomelocalisedvarietyinsteeper
valleylocationsandacrosshigherareasofLCA16b.Moderate
Viewsandlandmarks
Someexpansiveviewspossiblefromslightlyraisedareas,particularlytotheCheviotHills.HalidonHillwithinLCA16aofferspanoramicviewssouthwardsacrossBerwickuponTweedandtheTweedValleyandthecoastbeyond.
Moderate-HightoHigh
Inter-visibility Someintervisibilitypossibleacrossmoreopenareasofgentletopography.HalidonHillpresentsstrongerintervisibilitywithcoastalLCAsandBerwickuponTweedtownscape.
ModeratetoModerate-High
Visualreceptors ProximitytoBerwickuponTweedandmaintransportcorridors(A1andEastCoastMainLine)fromHalidonHillpresentsignificantreceptors.LCAs16band16carepunctuatedwithsmallersettlementsandfarmsteadsanddissectedbylocalandmainroadnetworksincludingA697,A696andB6354.
ModeratetoModerate-High
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Moderatelevelsofmovement,butlocalisedtoaround
BerwickuponTweedandthemaintransportcorridors.WindenergymovementfromlargeturbinesatBarmoorwindfarmwithinLCA16b.
Moderate
Builtdevelopment SomesettlementscatteredacrosstheLCTbutoverallalowdensityofbuiltdevelopmentwithscatteredfarmsteads,hamletsandsmallvillages.VillagesreflecttheAnglo-Saxondistributionofsmallnucleatedvillagesseparatedbyawideareaofsurroundinglandwithinwhichfarmhamletsarelocated.EstateVillagesfoundsuchasFord.
ModeratetoModerate-High
Remoteness Awell-managedandgenerallyaccessiblelandscape,althoughoftensemi-tranquilawayfrommainroadsacrossLCA16band16c.ProximitytoBerwickuponTweedreducesanysenseofremotenessacrossHalidonHill.
Moderate
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Relativelygentletopographyandlargearable
farmscapespresentlimitedscenicvalue.Howeverriverandstreamvalleysoffermoreconstrainedareasofhighvisualvalue,withwoodedvalleysidesandwatercoursesandhistoriccrossings.ViewstoCheviotHillswithinNorthumberlandNationalParkandtheNorthumberlandCoastAONBofferscenicinterestoutsidetheLCT,whilstestatevillagespresentattractivebuiltheritageanddesignedlandscapes.
ModeratetoModerate-High
Distinctiveness Locallydistinctivefeaturessuchastherivervalleysbutgenerallynotaffordingastrongsenseofplace.
Low-ModeratetoModerate.
Rarity Amorecommonlandscapetype. Low-ModerateHISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Someimportantheritagecomponents,reflecting
bordercountrylocation.FloddenFieldbattleground(1513)isclosetothevillageofBranxton,markedbytallstonecross.ThecourseoftheA697wasoriginallyaRomanroadandanimportantmilitaryroute.Medievalvillages,suchasNorham,Lowick,CornhillonTweedandWarkareanimportantaspectofhistoriccharacter,particularlywheretheyareassociatedwithfortifications.
Moderate-High
Recreation ImportantforinformalrecreationwithNationalCycleNetworkroutes1and68passingthroughthislandscape,providinglinksfromBerwickuponTweedintoScotland.Thereisanextensivenetworkoffootpaths,includingalongsidetheRiverTillandonthedisusedrailwayssouthofCornhillonTweed.
Moderate-High
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
Anundulating,sometimesrollinglandscapecharacterisedbyexpansivearablefarmlandreflectinggoodsoilsanddrainage.Opennessprevails
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Sensitivityattributes
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Sensitivityassessment
althoughsomeenclosureisfoundinthevalleysandbetweenwoodlands.LongviewsinandoutoftheLCTandgraduatedtopographicalvarietysuggeststhatwindenergywithintheLCTcouldbevisibleoverlongerdistances,particularlyfromelevatedsitesnorthandwest.WhilsttheLCT’scharacteristicsarenotinherentlyhighlysensitivetowindenergydevelopment,areasabuttingmoresensitiveneighbouringlandscapespresentthepossibilityofvisualharmtothesettingsofthosedesignations,particularlyfromlargerscaleprominentwindenergydevelopment.Locally,rivervalleyswithinandpartlydelineatingtheLCTpresentimportantlandscapecomponentswhichwouldbesensitivetomediumandlargerscaleproposals.Humansettlementisscatteredratherthanextensivebutprovidesensitivereceptorsandhuman-scalelandscapecomponentswhichcouldcontrastvisuallywithcommercialscaleturbines.Ingeneral,windenergydevelopmentshouldbesetbackfromthesensitiveuplandwesternfringeorwherelargeturbinesinparticularcouldhaveasignificanteffectonthesettledandsmallerscalevalleysandsettlementbybeingoutofscaleandvisuallydominant.LCA16aatHalidonHillwouldbemoresensitivetowindenergydevelopmentasaconsequenceofelevatedprominenceandproximitytosensitivereceptors.
Cumulativeeffects Thesix110mturbinesofBarmoorwindfarmonthesouthernfringeofLCA16barehighlyprominentfeaturesonhigherground,visibleoverlongdistancestothenorth,eastandwest.FurthermediumorlargescalewindenergydevelopmentwithintheLCT,andparticularlyLCA16bwouldbelikelytobevisibleinlongervistasfromNorthumberlandNationalParkandmoresensitivereceptorsinareasaroundBerwickuponTweedandfrommaintransportroutes.SuchviewsareoftenagainstalongerbackdropoftheCheviotHillstothewest.ThelargescalewindfarmatLongformacus(48x125mturbines)inScotlandtothenorth-eastisclearlyvisiblefromseveralhigherpointsacrosstheLCT,butisofsufficientdistancetoberealtivelyunobtrusiveorvisuallyassociatedwithBarmoor.HowevertheBorderslandscapeissubjecttointensivepressureforwindenergydevelopmentatthetimeofthisreport.(Source:ScottishBordersCouncil)SmallerindividualturbinesarelocatedatKentstoneFarm,Haggerston,LowickandCornhill-on-Tweed.Thesesmallerturbines(alllessthan40mheight)havealimitedvisualprominenceinthelandscapeandsomelowerlevelcumulativeeffectspresentedastravellingthroughthelandscape.OthersmallerturbinesinneighbouringLCTs,particularlyLCA3aHaggerston,areoflimitedvisualinfluencedespitelowtopographicalvariationandopenvistasfromhigherlandwithinLCA16b.TheLCTwillgenerallybelesssensitivetofurthersmallscalewindenergywhereassociatedwithscatteredfarmsteads,butcumulativeeffectsshouldbeconsideredatthelocallevel,particularlywheretheseconcentratewindenergydevelopmentatasmallscalebetweenlargerinstallationseithersideoftheScottish-Englishboarder.
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LCT16:OpenRollingFarmland-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA16a:Halidon M-H H H H HLCA16b:DuddoandLowick M M-H M-H H HLCA16c:EastLearmouth M M-H M-H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT16:OpenRollingFarmland
IngeneralLCT16isnotsuitableforwindenergydevelopment.TheonlyexceptionstothishighersensitivityareLCAs16band16cwhichwillbegenerallysuitableforsmallscalewindenergydevelopmentupto25bladetipheightwherethesearewellrelatedtootherhumanscaledevelopmentsuchasfarmsteadsandsettlement.LCA16amaybesuitableforcarefullysitedsmallscalewindenergydevelopmentupto25mtobladetipheightwhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant,suchaswherecloselyassociatedwiththescaleandlocationoffarmbuildings,otherdomesticscalefeaturesandwoodlandwithinthelandscape.LCAs16band16cmaybesuitableforcarefullysitedsmallscalewindenergydevelopmentupto65mtobladetipheightwhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportantfociinthelandscape.Ingeneral,windturbinesabovesmall-mediumscale(>25mheighttobladetip)inLCA16a,andabovemedium-large(>65mtobladetipheight)inLCA16bad16cwouldinprinciplebeunsuitableastheywouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapethatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment.Thisisparticularlyduetothehighinter-visibilitywithadjacentsensitiveLCTs,heritagecomponentsinthelandscapeandsensitivereceptors.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT17:UplandFringeRidges
ThisLCTcompriseslong,farmedparallelridges,runningsouth-westtonorth-east,extendingacrosstheScottishborder.Large-scale,openlandscape,withsomewoodlandbeltsandshelterbelts.Itoccursinasingleareainthenorth-westofthecounty.TheLCTisrepresentedbyasinglecharacterareas(LCA):• 17a:HorseRigg
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT17:UplandFringeRidges:• Seriesoflong,narrowparallelridges,alignedfromthesouth-westtonorth-east.
• Occasionalrockoutcrops.
• Groundrisestowardsthesouth-west.
• Viewsnorth-easttowardsColdstreamandtheTweedvalley.
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• Largefieldsandshelterbelts.
• Steepsouth-easternedgefacingtheCheviotHills.
• Uplandfringecharacter.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT17:UplandFringeRidgesSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
AdistinctseriesofrollingsmoothridgeswhichformspartofamoreextensivefeaturewhichextendsintoScotlandtothesouthwest.Thelandrisestosummitsof200mand221m.Topographyincludesoccasionalrockyoutcrops,butthelandformisgenerallysmooth,droppingmoresharplyintotheBowmontWatervalleytothesouth.
Low-ModeratetoModerate
Landcover
Predominantlyarablefarmlanddespiterelativeelevation.Largeopenfieldswithoftenloworweakhedgeboundaries.Somepastureandwoodlandisalsofound,withrectilinearandsometimessky-liningconiferousplantation.Deciduoustreebeltsarealsopresent,aswellasclustersoftreesaroundfarmsteads
Moderate
Landscapescale AlargescalelandscapealthoughvistaswithintheLCTareself-containedbytherollinglandform.Largefieldpatternswithweakhedgelinesemphasisethelargescale.
Low-ModeratetoModerate
VISUAL:Skylines Generallyself-containedsimplesmoothskylines,
sometimesdefinedbyplantation.AtothertimesinviewsalongridgestheskylineismorecomplexasaconsequenceofotherLCTprofiles.
LowtoLow-Moderate.
Viewsandlandmarks
Nosignificantdistinctivefeaturesorvisualfoci.VistastowardstheTweedValleytothenortheastandthoseovertheBowmontWatervalleytotheCheviotHillstothesouthoccasionallypossible.
LowtoLow-Moderate.
Inter-visibility Someintervisibilitypossiblefromthisrelativelyelevatedarea,particularlytothesouthandeast.
Moderate-High
Visualreceptors Lownumberofreceptorsasaconsequenceofsparsesettlementandpopulationandabsenceofmaintransportroutes.
Low-Moderate
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Limited,aquiettranquillandscapeunit Low-ModerateBuiltdevelopment Limitedprimarilytoscatteredfarmsteadsandisolated
dwellings.Somefarmsteadswithlargeagriculturalbuildingsareprominent.
Low-Moderate
Remoteness Althoughtranquilwithlimitedmovement,humaninfluencepervadesthroughprominentfarmsteadsandarablelandscape.Small-scalemineralsoperationsaddtoaperceptionofhumanactivityandactiveland
Moderate
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Sensitivityassessment
management.QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Limitedsignificantscenicinterestalthoughdistinctive
landformwithoccasionaloutcropsaddsomeinterest,asdoviewsoutwards.
ModeratetoModerate-High
Distinctiveness Notstronglyrepresentativeofthecounty Low-ModerateRarity Amorecommonlandscape,withfeaturesofsome
rarity,suchasrockyoutcropandparallelridges.Moderate
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Lowlevelsofheritagecomponents.Somevernacular
cottages.Thelarge,relativelylate,rectilinearenclosurescreateaformalhistoricstructuretothelandscape,albeitwithfewcharacteristicstructures.
Low-Moderate
Recreation Limitedtolocalinterestacrossrightsofwaynetwork. Low-ModerateCONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
ThelandscapeoftheUplandFringeRidgespresentssometopographicaldistinctiveness,butlargescalearableandimprovedpasturefarmingpracticeresultsinasmoothlandscapeoflimitedinherentinterest.IntervisibilityandviewsintoandoutoftheLCTvary,andofsomeimportancelocallybutnotextensively.Thelandscapeunitishoweverrelativelyelevatedandlongerviewstolargescaleturbineswouldbelikelyfrommostdirections.Visualreceptorsarelimitedbutthereisotherwiseadegreeoftranquillityasaconsequenceofremotenessandlowlevelsofsettlementandroaddensity.VistasacrosstheLCTfromNorthumberlandNationalPark’snorthernelevatedareasarepossible.Landscapecomponentsgenerallysuggestalowersensitivitytowindenergydevelopment.HoweveritissignificantinrespecttothesettingofNorthumberlandNationalParkandthiselevatesitsoverallsensitivityabovethatassociatedwithitscomponentcharacteristicsalone.
Cumulativeeffects NowindenergyinfrastructureislocatedwithintheLCT.SmallandmediumscaleturbinesareunlikelytobereadinthesamevistasasotherinstallationswithinNorthumberland,butviewsintoScotlandandsignificantwindenergyinfrastructuremaybepossible.ProximitytoNorthumberlandNationalParknorthernboundarysuggestdevelopmentoflargerinstallationsormediumturbinestothesouthoftheLCTmaypresentharmtothesettingofthedesignatedlandscape.
LCT17:UplandFringeRidges-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA17a:HorseRigg L-M M M-H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT17:UplandFringeRidges
IngeneralLCT17issuitableforcarefullysitedsinglesmallandsmall-mediumscaleturbinesupto40mheighttobladetip.Theyshouldbecloselyassociatedwiththescaleandlocationoffarmbuildings,other
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domesticscalefeaturesandwoodlandwithinthelandscape.Ingeneral,windturbinesabove40mheighttobladetipwouldinprinciplebeunsuitablewithinLCT17.However,mediumscaleturbinesbetween41m-65mheighttobladetipmaybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportantfociorsensitivitiesinthelandscape.Medium-largescaleandlargerturbineswouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapethatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment.Thisisparticularlyduetothehighinter-visibilitywithNorthumberlandNationalParkandtheTweedValley.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT18:UplandFringeValley
ThisLCTcomprisesvalleylandscapeslyingattheperipheryoftheCheviotHills,andrepresentingatransitionbetweentheinciseduplandvalleysandbroadlowlandvalleys.Thevalleysaretypicallyruralincharacter,withlimitedurbaninfluence.TheLCTisrepresentedbythreecharacterareas(LCA):• 18a:BowmontValley• 18b:WoolerVale• 18c:UpperBreamish• 18d:UpperAln
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT18:UplandFringeValley:• Shallow,glaciatedvalleyswithgravelriverbeds,oftendelineatedbywoodland.
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• Mixedarablefarmlandandpasture.
• Scatteredsettlementconcentratedwithinsmallvillages,hamletsandfarmsteads.
• Strongvisualrelationshipwiththeuplands.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT18:UplandFringeValleysSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Simple,usuallydistinctivevalleyfloorlandscapesbetweentheinciseduplandvalleysandbroadlowlandvalleys.FlatbottomedorgentlyundulatingvalleysofglacialdepositsandgeomorphologicalsurfacefeaturesliebetweenwideningvalleysideswithuplandsurroundsoftheCheviotfoothillsandotheroutlyinguplandssuchastheMoneylawsandHeddonHill.Riversarevariouslystraightflowing(WoolerWater)ordistinctlymeandering(BowmontWater).StrongvisualassociationwiththeCheviotuplandstothewestwhichtheriversdraineastwards.
Low-Moderatetomoderate
Landcover
Mixedarable,improvedpastureanddeciduouslinear/riparianwoodlandcover.Shelterbeltsandsmallconiferousplantation,particularlytothesouthernLCAs.Formermineralsoperations,suchasatBranton.
Moderate
Landscapescale Mediumandmedium-smalllandscapescale,definedbyboththedegreeoftopographicenclosureandgrainofagriculturalandforestrylanduse.
ModeratetoModerate-High
VISUAL:Skylines Varieddependentupondegreeofenclosurebyvalley
sidesanddirectionofviewalongoruprivercorridor.Moderate-Moderate-High
Viewsandlandmarks
StrongvisualinfluenceofNorthumberlandNationalPark’sCheviotHillsuplandstothesouthandwestandlongerviewsalongvalleylinestowardsOutcropHillsandEscarpmentlandscapeareastotheeast.Oftenastrongcontrastbetweentheflatvalleyflooranduplandvalleysides.
Moderate-High
Inter-visibility Strongintervisibilitybetweentheflatvalleycharacterareasandthevalleysideanduplandlandscapestheybound,evenifthosevistasarenotparticularlyextensive.
Moderate-High
Visualreceptors Mixeddegreeofreceptorsacrossthefourcharacterareas.LCA18bincludespartsofWoolerandmaintransportroutes.TheotherLCAshavelimitedscatteredsettlementandminorroadlocaltransportnetworks.ProximitytoNorthumberlandNationalParkincreasessensitivityinvistasfromandtowardstheLCT.
Moderate-High
PERCEPTUAL:Movement LCAs18band18cexperiencesignificantmovement
alongtheA697andsettlement-edgeactivity.ModeratetoModerate-High
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
Elsewheremovementislimitedtominorroadnetwork.Naturalmovementinthelandscapeisperceptibleatcloserdistancestotheshallowriverbedsandcanbeseasonallyvaried.
Builtdevelopment VariesconsiderablyacrossthefourLCAs.LCA18bincludesareasofsettlementtothesouthernedgeofWooler,somelightindustrialunitsandsignificantinfrastructuresuchastheA697andhighvoltagepowerlinesandpylons.AlargecaravanparkisasignificantfeatureinLCA18b.RestoredmineralsoperationsarelocatedatBranton.Inotherareassettlementishighlylimitedtofarmsteadsandoccasionallysmallhamletsintranquilsettings.
ModeratetoModerate-High
Remoteness MixedacrosstheLCAs.LCAs18aand18darequietremoteruralsettingswhilst18band18careinfluencedbydevelopment,populationandmovement.
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Mixedscenicvaluebroadlydependentuponthedegree
ofsettlementandhumanactivity.LCa18aandLCA18dpresentquietruralvalleyfloorlandscapesbeneathsteepuplandsurroundsofsomescenicvalue.ElsewherescenicvalueoftheLCAitselfislimited.
Low-ModeratetoModerate
Distinctiveness Notstronglydistinctiveinthecountycontext,withscenicandsenseofplacequalitiesmoredependentuponimmediatelyneighbouringlandscapesettings.
Low-ModeratetoModerate
Rarity NotaparticularlyrarelandscapesinNorthumberlandbutwithdistinguishingwidercontextcharacter.
Moderate.
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Importanthistoricalsitesrangingfromevidenceof
medievalcultivationandsettlement,tosmallgardensanddesignedlandscapes.TheseincludetheAnglo-SaxonpalacecomplexofAdGefrinonthenorthernslopesofYeaveringBell,Alnhammedievalvillageandanumberofbastleandtowerhouses.
Moderate-High
Recreation GatewaylandscapestothenorthernpartsofNorthumberlandNationalPark.Locallyrecreationopportunitylimitedtolocalrightsofwayandcycleroutes
Moderate.
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
ConsiderablevarietyincharacterexistswithinthesetoffourlandscapecharacterareaswhichbroadlysharetopographicfeaturesandlandscapecontextswiththeCheviotfringe,butwithsomevariationindegreeofsettlement,scenicvalueandtranquillity.TheBowmontValleyandUpperAlnpresenttranquillandscapeswithinattractivesettingswithlowlevelsofsettlementandprimarilyinagriculturallanduse.Elsewherehigherlevelsofdevelopmentandmovementandlowerlevelsoftranquillitypresentrelativelybusylandscapecontexts.WhilsttheLCT’scharacteristicsarenotinherentlyhighlysensitivetowindenergydevelopmentperse,closeproximitytomoresensitiveneighbouring
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Sensitivityassessment
landscapes–particularlyNorthumberlandNationalPark,presentsomevulnerabilityofvisualharmtothesettingsofthoselandscapes,especiallyfromlargerscalewindenergydevelopment.Locally,rivervalleyswithinandpartlydelineatingtheLCTpresentimportantlandscapecomponentswhichwouldbesensitivetomediumandlargerproposalsasaconsequenceoflandscapescaleandrelativeenclosure.Inplacesthereisahigherconcentrationofsensitivereceptorstolargerscalewindenergydevelopment,althoughthesecoincidewiththeareasofexistingbuiltdevelopmentandmovementinthelandscape.IngeneralwindenergydevelopmentshouldberestrictedtosmallerindividualturbinessetbackfromthesensitiveuplandwesternandsouthernLCTfringesorwherelargeturbinesinparticularcouldhaveasignificanteffectonthesettledandsmallerscalevalleysandhamletsbycontrastingwithhumanscaleandbeingvisuallydominant.
Cumulativeeffects NoexistingwindenergyinstallationsarelocatedinLCT18.A21msingleturbineispermittedclosetotheeasternfringeofLCA18catPowburn.LargewindenergyinstallationsareotherwisedistantfromtheLCTandunlikelytohavecumulativeimplicationsfromwithinLCT18.Thenarrow,arcingextentofLCA18awouldbeparticularlysensitivetomultiplewindenergydevelopments,potentiallyservingtovisuallyframeNorthumberlandNationalParkboundary.ThepylonsandhighvoltagepowerlinesacrossLCA18cprovideaprominentdiscordantfeatureinthelandscapewhichwouldprovidebothfurthervisualcomplexityagainstlargerscaledwindturbines,andapotentiallydramaticindicatorofscaleofcommercialscaledturbines.Suchjuxtapositionorcombinationoffeaturesinasingleviewconeshouldbeavoided,particularlyinthewidercontextofNorthumberlandNationalPark’snorth-easternsetting.
LCT18:UplandFringeValley-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA18a:BowmontValley M M-H H H HLCA18b:WoolerVale L-M M M-H H HLCA18c:UpperBreamish M M-H H H HLCA18d:UpperAln M M-H H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT18:UplandFringeValley
IngeneralLCT18issuitableinprincipleforsingleorsmallgroupsofcarefullysitedsmallscaleturbinesupto25mheighttobladetip,andupto40minLCA18b.Theyshouldbecloselyassociatedwiththescaleandlocationoffarmbuildingsandotherdomesticscalefeaturesinthelandscape,andgenerallyawayfromthesmallscalevalleysandNorthumberlandNationalParkfringe.ForLCAs18a,18cand18dthelandscapewillgenerallybeunsuitablefor
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windturbinesabove26m,andover40minLCA18b.HoweverintheseLCAsturbinesbetween26mand40mmaybesuitablewithinLCAs18a,38band38c,andbetween41and65minLCA18bwhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportantfociinthelandscape.WiththeexceptionofLCA18b(wheremediumscalewindturbinesmaybeacceptableasabove),medium,medium-largescaleandlargerturbineswithintheLCTwouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapethatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment,largelyasaresultoftheinter-visibilitywithneighboringlandscapes,andparticularlyNorthumberlandNationalPark,andimpactsuponsensitivelocalreceptors.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT19:MoorlandandForestMosaic
ThisLCTcoversmostoftheisolatedwesternpartofthecounty,tothewestofNorthumberlandNationalPark.ItextendsintoNorthumberlandNationalPark,andalsobeyondtheborderintoScotland,formingoneofthelargestareasofforestinBritain.Withinthestudyarea,thislandscapeincludesKielderForestandKielderReservoir,andmuchofRedesdaleForest.TheLCTisrepresentedbytwocharacterareas(LCA):• 19a:KielderandRedesdaleForests• 19b:KielderReservoir.
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT19:MoorlandandForestMosaic:• Simple,expansiveuplandlandscape,generallyover250m.
• Gentlyrollingtopographyincisedbyburnsthatareoftenconcealedbyplantations.
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• Mosaicoflarge-scaleconiferousplantations,opengrass,heathermoorlandsandmires,withlimitedareasofin-byepasture.
• Enclosedlandscapewithlimitedoutwardviews.
• Adynamiclandscapewithsignificantareasofon-goingfellingandrestocking.
• Somebroadleavedwoodlandsandwoodlandedgesthatsoftentheplantationcharacter.
• Agenerallyuninhabitedlandscape,withonlyoccasionalfarmsteadsandforestrysettlements.
• Reservoirsthatofferexpansiveviewsacrossopenwater,incontrasttotheenclosedcharacterofsurroundingforest.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT19:MoorlandandForestMosaicSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Topographyofhighrollingorundulatingplateauxgenerallyover250m,withharderunderlyingsandstonesformingridgesseparatedbysoftererodedshales.Inpost-glacialtimesmeltwateraccumulatedintheuplandtroughscreatingareasofraisedandblanketbog,forexampleatKielderMoorwhereheather,cottongrass,deergrassandsphagnummossoccuronblanketpeat.Inthenorthofthearea,theundulatingridgesarelesscommon.HereflattabularhillssuchasatPeelFellandCarterFellaremorecommon.KeilderReservoirprovidesavastartificialwaterscapeinthefloodedtheuppervalleyoftheRiverNorthTyne.Theman-madethereservoirhasnaturalisticedges,narrowinletsofwater,andpeninsulasofland.Somewatersideareasremainasopenmoorland.
Moderate
Landcover
Predominantlylarge-scaleextensiveconiferousplantationandmoorland,withthereservoirlandscapepresentingacentrallarge-scalecontrastinglandcover.Rotationaltimberfellingandplantingpatternsdefinelargeareas.Extensiverestructuringoftheplantationswithselectivethinninganddeciduousplantingtoreflectamorenaturalplantsuccessionandvisualsoftening.
Low-Moderate
Landscapescale LargescaleandsimplicityoflanduseandcoveroverLCA19a.SomemorecomplexreservoirfringelanduseandcoverwithintheKielderbasinofLCA19b.
Low-Moderate
VISUAL:Skylines Generallysimple,undulatingwithsinglelandusemixof
coniferousplanationormoorlandvisible.Lowtolow-Moderate
Viewsandlandmarks
LCA19aprovideslimitedfocallandmarksduetoenclosureofthewoodlandandextensivelanduse.IncontrastLCA19bprovidessomecontrastinglandmarkfeaturesassociatedwiththereservoirandbanksideinfrastructure
Low-ModeratetoModerate-High
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Sensitivityassessment
Inter-visibility OccasionalvistastootherLCAsfromhighermoorlandpoints(primarilyintoScotlandorNorthumberlandNationalPark)arepossiblebutinfrequentduetoenclosureoftheplantations.ThebasintopographyofKielderreservoiriswhollyenclosed.VerylimitedintervisibilityispossiblebetweentheedgesofLCA19aandLCA20cUpperNorthTyneValley.
LowtoLowModerate.
Visualreceptors FewreceptorswithinLCA19areflectinganabsenceoftransportroutesandsettlement.Recreationaluseofthereservoirbasingivesrisetolimitedreceptorsensitivitybyrecreationalusers.KielderObservatoryislocatedtothenorthwestofthereservoirwithinLCA19a.Itislikelythatwindenergydevelopmentwhichbreachesthehorizonina360oarcwouldhaveahighlydeleteriouseffectonastronomicalactivitiesatthishighprofilepublicfacility.
Low-Moderate,occasionallyHigh
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Verylimitedmovementwithintheforestasa
consequenceofverylimitedsettlementortransportroutesacrossLCA19a.LCA19bKielderReservoirisanimportantrecreationareawithatpeaktimesconsiderablevehiclemovementsandwaterandlandbasedactivitiessuchassailingandwindsurfing.
Low-ModeratetoModerate
Builtdevelopment Significantwaterrelatedinfrastructureatthereservoir,somedramaticinscalesuchasthedamwall,whichfallsmainlywithinNorthumberlandNationalPark.Primarily,‘buildings’arelimitedtolooseconcentrationsofforestryandwaterworkers’dwellings,communityinfrastructureandvisitorfacilitiesatKielder‘village’atthewestofthereservoir.Kielderobservatoryisastrikingbuildingremotefromothersettlement.Noneofthesedevelopmentsisprominentinthewiderlandscape.
Low-Moderate
Remoteness Forestryandwaterresourceactivityandrecreationaluseandfacilitieslimitremotenessinthosespecificareas,butinplacestheLCTcanbeperceptuallyremote.
Low-Moderate
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality LimitedinherentscenicqualityacrossthewiderLCT
althoughvistasacrossthewaterscapeofKielderReservoirisanattractiontomanyvisitors.Increasingscenicqualityinareaswhereforestryremodellingisbecomingestablished.
ModeratetoModerate-High
Distinctiveness Scaleanddualityoflandcover/usesresultinsomelimiteddistinctivenessbutfewfeaturesofparticularsignificancewithinLCA19a.Kielderreservoir,asthefocusofLCA19bisastrikinglandscapefeatureifnotwhollyunique.
Moderate-High
Rarity LCA19acomprisesacombinationoftopographyand High
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landcovernotuncommonacrossNorthumberland.Inpartdrivenbyscaleofthewaterscapeandabsenceofintervisibilitytootherlandscapes,LCA19bisararelandscape,exceptionalatthenationallevel.
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Limitedheritagefeatureswhichcontributetothe
landscapecharacterorfocioftheLCT,forexampleancientearthworksandoccasionalcairns.
Low-Moderate
Recreation HighvaluerecreationalresourceonandaroundKielderReservoir.Walking,cycling,ridingandwatersportsissupportedwithinthelargelandscapebypurpose-builtfacilities,carparkingandaccommodation.
High
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
ThisexpansiveLCToffersseverallandscapecharacteristicswhichmaybelesssensitivetowindenergydevelopmentthantheremoteuplandlandscapewouldotherwisesuggest.ThereisastronguniformityandsimplicityacrosstheLCT,atalargelandscapescalewithfewhuman-scalefeaturesagainstwhichlargerturbineswouldcontrast.DespiteproximitytoNorthumberlandNationalParkthelandscapeisoftenself-containedtoalargeextent,althoughtherelationshiptoNorthumberlandNationalParkshouldbesignificantconsiderationsinrespecttowindenergyproposals.Thelandscapeislargelymanagedwithwidespreadforestryactivityandwatermanagementinfrastructureofnationalsignificance.Theseuseshaveshapedthecharacterofthelandscapeoverarelativelyrecenttime-depth,andhasresultedindynamicchangeswhichcontinuewithforestryclearanceandreplanting.Locally,theLCTprovideshighrecreationalvalue,particularlyonandaroundKielderReservoir.Foresttracksareimportantformountain-bikingandotheroutdoorpursuits,forwhichopenvistasorscenicvaluevariesinrespecttotheirrecreationalimportance.KielderForestandWaterPark(andthewholeofNorthumberlandNationalPark)istheUK’sfirstdarkskyparkknownasNorthumberlandInternationalDarkSkyPark.KielderObservatoryisacelebratedandrecentexampleofaquasi-publicfacilitybeingestablishedtofurtherastronomicalstudyandpublicaccesstoit.Windenergydevelopmentofanyscalewhichwouldbreachexistingskylineswouldpotentiallyharmtheastronomicvalueoftheareaandtheeffectivenessoftheobservatory.Large-scalewindturbineswouldhaveinherentpotentialtoseriouslyharmsuchlandscape/’skyscape’characterandtheobservatoryshouldbeconsideredtobeahighlysensitivereceptorthatwouldlimitpotentialsitesforwindenergyacrosstheLCT.
Cumulativeeffects NowindenergyschemesareinstalledorpermittedacrosstheLCTandcumulativeeffectsthereinarethereforeunlikelytoariseinrelationtoinitialproposals.IntervisibilityfromwithintheLCTtootherlandscapeunitsislimitedbybothrollingtopographyandextensiveconiferousplantation.ThereisarelativeabsenceofwindenergydevelopmentinareascontiguouswiththeLCT,whichprimarilycomprisesareasinCumbria,ScotlandorNorthumberlandNationalPark,oftenremotefromthehighcapacitygridandalsoinfluencedbyproximitytoMoDsites.
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VisualimpactsuponthesettingofNorthumberlandNationalParkwillbeanimportantconsiderationfroproposalsacrosstheeasternflankoftheLCT.
LCT19:MoorlandandForestMosaic-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA19a:KielderandRedesdaleForests L-M M M-H M-H HLCA19b:KielderReservoir M M-H H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT19:MoorlandandForestMosaic
IngeneralthewholeofLCT19issuitableinprincipleforsingleorsmallgroupsofcarefullysitedsmallscaleturbinesupto25mheighttobladetip.WithinLCA19athelandscapeissuitableinprincipleforturbinesupto40mtobladetipheight.ForLCAs19a,thelandscapewillgenerallybeunsuitableforwindturbinesabove40m.Howeverturbinesbetween41mand100mtobladetipheightmaybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant,includingthoseontheKielderObservatory.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportantfociinthelandscape.WithinLCA19b,thesameprincipleswillapplybutonlytowindturbinesbetween26mand40mtobladetipheight.ThelandscapeofLCA19awillbeunsuitableinprincipletoturbinesabove100mtobladetipheight.Medium,medium-largescaleandlargerturbineswithintheLCA19bwouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapethatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment,largelyasaresultofthevisualandperceptualeffectsupontherecreationalandsceniclandscapeimportanceofKielderReservoir.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT20:RollingUplandValleys
ThisLCTcomprisesbroadvalleyswhichcarvethroughlargerblocksofuplandlandscape.ThevalleyscontraststronglywiththeneighbouringuplandLCTs.ThislandscapeincludesthevalleysoftheRiversRedeandNorthTyneandtheirtributaries,althoughpartsofthesevalleysextendintoNorthumberlandNationalPark,andarethereforeoutsidethestudyarea.TheLCTisrepresentedbythreecharacterareas(LCA):• 20aOtterburnandElsdonValley,• 20bBellinghamandWoodburnValley• 20cUpperNorthTyneValley
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT20:RollingUplandValleys:• Broadvalleyswithgentlyconvexvalleysides.
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• Tributaryburns,oftenwell-wooded,carvingincisedvalleysintothehillsides.
• Clearlydefinedfloodplainandmixedfarmlandonvalleyfloors.
• Consistentpatternoftexturedroughpasturesdividedbystonewallsonvalleysides,withopenmoorlandabove.
• Meanderingriversaresometimesmarkedbyalders,butarenotgenerallyprominentlandscapefeatures.
• Steep,woodedbluffsflankingedgesofthefloodplain.
• ShelterbeltsandclumpsofScotspineormixedwoodlandonlowerslopesandoccasionallyonvalleyfloors.
• Historicsandstonevillagesanddispersedfarmsteadsonlowerslopes.
• Richarchaeologyincludingridgeandfurrowandfortifiedbastlehouses.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT20:RollingUplandValleysSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Simple,broadvalleylandscapewithsteeperincisedtributarieswithstrongglacialandmeltwaterinfluences.Well-definedfloodplainwithprominentblufftoitsedges,withriversandburnsoftenoflowvisualprominence.MeanderingcoursesofriverRede,islesBurnandNorthTyne.Glacialdriftandalluviumsoilsgraduallythinwithincreasedelevationtowhereunderlyingsandstoneandshaleoutcrops.Occasionalwaterfallsreflectinghorizontalgeologicalbanding.
Low-Moderate
Landcover
Floodplainmeadowsandpastures,andinsomeplacespatchesofarableland.Valleysidespasturetransitionstoroughgrazingandopenmoorlandwithgorse.Oakandashwoodednarrowtributaryvalleys.Othersemi-naturalwoodlandismainlyriparianoronsteeperbluffs.Somemixedspeciesshelterbeltsaroundfarmsteads.Lowergroundenclosedbyweakfencesandhedgeswithdrystonewallsprominentacrossvalleysides.
Moderate
Landscapescale Largetomediumscalelandscapewithasenseofenclosureisfeltmostkeenlyinthesmaller,narrowertributaryvalleys,wherelinearsemi-naturalbroadleavedwoodlandsflankthewatercourses,forexamplealongTarset,HareshawandLislesBurns.Bycontrast,thevalleysaroundOtterburn,ElsdonandnorthofBellinghamareshallow,mediumtolarge-scalevalleyswithrelativelylittlewoodlandonvalleyfloorsorsides.
Low-Moderate
VISUAL:Skylines Simple,gentlyrollingskylines,primarilypastureor
roughgrazinglandwithlittlemanmadestructureapartLow-Moderate
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fromwallsandoccasionalfarmstead.Plantationandshelterbetsoccasionallyformtheskyline.
Viewsandlandmarks
OccasionalvistasfromvalleysidesacrosstheLCT,oftendownthevalleycorridorandoccasionallytohighergroundofNorthumberlandNationalPark.
Low-Moderate
Inter-visibility Someintervisibilitypossible,particularlytouplandswithinNorthumberlandNationalParkandacrossLCT8OutcropHillsandEscarpmentsandLCT11SandstoneFringeFarmlandtotheeast.LCA20aOtterburnandElsdonValleyhasstrongproximitytoLCT21theRollingUplandsandlendsanempty,uplandfeeltothelandscapewherelongerviewsacrosstheLCTarepossible.
Moderate-High
Visualreceptors AsasettledlandscapethereareresidentialreceptorswithinvillagessuchasBellinghamandOtterburn,fromscatteredfarmsteadsandfromtransportroutessuchastheA68,A696andB6320.
Moderate
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Occasionaltofrequentmovementasaconsequenceof
localtransportroutesandlargersettlement,butalsoagriculturalactivityacrossthevalleyfloors.OccasionalaircraftdisturbanceinrelationtotheOtterburnMoDranges.
Moderate
Builtdevelopment VillagesofBellingham,OtterburnandEastandWestWoodburnaremainsettlementsoftheLCTfocuseduponrivercrossingswithsomevernacularmerit.Elsewherescatteredfarmsteadslieprimarilyacrossthevalleyfloors.Overallawell-settledlandscapetypealthoughretainingsomesenseofpeacefulnessconsequenttorelativeremoteness.
Low-Moderate
Remoteness Some,butinteruptedsenseofremotenessasaconsequenceoftransportroutes,settlementandmanagedagriculturallandscapeovermuchofftheLCT.MilitaryoperationsatOtterburnMoDcampaddoccasionalnoisydisturbance.AsmallradiomaststandsatStannersburn.
Low-ModeratetoModerate
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Somewiderappealasaconsequenceofopenvistas
acrossshallowuplandrivervalleysandexpansivepastoralandgrazedlandscapewithdrystonewallsandriparianwoodlands.LCAshaveaverydistinctive,unspoiltandhistoriccharacterandarestronglyinfluencedbythewideruplandsetting.HoweveroveralltheLCTprovidesformoderatescenicvalueasaconsequenceofthevisualimpactoftransportinfrastructureandsomevisuallyprominentgriculturalbuiltdevelopment.Althoughlimitedinextent,therelativelackofdevelopmentacrossLCA20coffersanattractivevisualcontext.
ModeratetoModerate-High
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Distinctiveness Limiteddistinctivefeatureswhichmightdefineastrongsenseofplace.Thereisgenerallyahorizontalemphasistothelandscape,unusualinanuplandcontext.
Low-Moderate
Rarity NotararelandscapeacrossnorthandwesternpartsofNorthumberlandalthoughreasonablylimitedinextent.
Moderate
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets HistoricassetsareimportantintheLCTwithRoman
sitesandroadsincludingDereStreet,medievalvillageform,rigandfurrowpastureandfortifiedbastlehousesandpeeltowers.Medievallandscapeofopenfieldsystemsofridgeandfurrowcultivationiseasilyappreciatedwithinthemodernfieldpatternandaddstothehistoriccharacterofthearea.PastindustrialactivityandminingisevidentinthelandscapeofLCA20b.
Moderate
Recreation RecreationalfacilitiesinLCT20includedevelopmentssuchascaravanparksandgolfcourses.Thereisagoodnetworkofrightsofway,andsmallareasofaccessland.AshortsectionofthePennineWay,NationalTrailpassesthroughLCA20b.
Moderate-High
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
LCT20RollingUplandValleyscombinesrelativelygentle,openandpeacefullandscapecomponentswithasettledcharacteranddeephistorictime-depth.Althoughwithinawideruplandcontextthelandscapeisoftenhorizontalincharacterandrelativelycompactinextent.Verticalfeaturesaregenerallyabsentfromthelandscapeandahumanscaleoftenpervadesconsequenttosettlementandsmallerfieldpattern,particularlyonlowerslopesandvalleyfloors.Historicassetsandrelativelyfrequentsensitivereceptorsfurthersuggestahighersensitivitytomediumandlargerscalewindenergydevelopment.Scatteredagriculturalfarmsteadsmaybeabletoaccommodatewell-locatedsmall-mediumscalewindenergydevelopmentofsinglemaststhatassimilatewithinthelandscapewithoutsignificantvisualprominence.
Cumulativeeffects Twosmall(<25m)windturbinesstandwithintheLCT-tothenorthofWestWoodburnwithinLCA20bandontheboundarywithNorthumberlandNationalParkonhighergroundatSheelLawnorthofBellingham.Neitheroftheseturbinesishighlyconspicuousinthewiderlandscapeandlimitedfurtherdevelopmentofthisscaleisunlikelytogiverisetostrongcumulativelandscapeeffects.Theeastern-mostareasofLCA20bfallsclosetoRayWindFarmwhere16125mturbineslieacrossLCT8.SeveralturbinesareconspicuousfromwithinLCA20b,eastofEastWoodburn.TheLCTalsoformsasignificantelementofthelandscapecontextbetweenRayWindFarmandNorthumberlandNationalParkboundarywestofWestWoodburn.DevelopmentwithintheLCAandLCTmorewidelywouldpresentinherentpotentialforharmfulchangetothesettingofNorthumberlandNationalParkanditsupland,remotecharacterwhichtheLCThelpsreinforce.Developmentofmorethansmall-mediumscalewindenergyinstallationswithLCA20aandLCA20bwouldpresentariskofsignificantcumulative
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landscapeimpactsincombinationwithRayandGreenRiggwindfarm,whichalthoughlessprominentfromwithintheLCThasthepotentialtofurtheralteroverallcharacterofthewiderareatothatofawindfarmlandscape.
LCT20:RollingUplandValleys-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA20a:OtterburnandElsdonValley L-M M M-H H HLCA20b:Bellingham&WoodburnValley L-M M M-H H HLCA20c:UpperNorthTyneValley L-M M M-H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT20:RollingUplandValleys
IngeneralthewholeofLCT20issuitableinprincipleforsingleorsmallgroupsofcarefullysitedsmallandsmall-mediumscaleturbinesupto40mheighttobladetip.Thelandscapewillgenerallybeunsuitableforwindturbinesover40m.Howeverturbinesbetween41mand65mtobladetipheightmaybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant,includingthoseonNorthumberlandNationalPark,settlementreceptors,heritageassetsandthePennineWay.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportantfociinthelandscape.Medium-largescaleandlargerturbineswithintheLCTabove66mtobladetipheightwouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapethatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment,largelyasaresultofcumulativeeffects,sensitivityofreceptorsandsettingofNorthumberlandNationalPark.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT21:RollingUplands
ThisLCTcompriseslargeareasoftheeasternpartoftheBorderMoorsandForestNationalCharaterAreaalthoughmuchofitislocatedwithinNorthumberlandNationalParkandoutsidethepresentstudyarea.ThreesmallareasofthislandscapeextendoutsideNorthumberlandNationalPark,wheretheyareassociatedwiththeRollingUplandValleys(LCT20).TheLCTisrepresentedbythreecharacterareas(LCA):• LCA21a:EalinghamRigg• LCA21b:CorsensideCommon• LCA21c:OtterburnPlateau.
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT21:RollingUplands:• Broad,open,large-scale,rollingmoorlandplateau.
• Simple,smoothflowinglandform,oftenfeaturelesswithhighdegreeofuniformity.
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• Extensiveareasofsemi-naturalvegetationincludingamatrixofheather,mat-grassmoorland,raisedbogsormiresandpatchesofbracken.
• SparsesettlementincludingisolatedfarmsteadsandVictorianhuntinglodges.
• Drainedbyanetworkofburnsthathaveerodeddeepbutnotvisuallyprominentravines.
• Sparsetreecover–occasionalconiferousshelterbeltsandclumps,withlimitedareasofsemi-naturalwoodlandalongburns.
• Uniformityoflandcoverbrokeninplacesbyin-byepasturesassociatedwithfarmsteads.
• Militarytraininguseoverasignificantpartofthearea.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT21:RollingUplandsSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Smooth,rollingandsimpleappearancetothetopographywithlocalisedvarietyonly.Wheretheunderlyingsandstonebreakstheboulderclaysurface,contrastingcraggyoutcropsaddvisualinterest.Intheeast,sandysoilsarewelldrainedbyanetworkofburnswhichcarvedeepravinesbutarenotamajorfeatureofthelandscapeasawhole.
Low-ModeratetoModerate
Landcover
Inareaswheretheglacialdepositsaredeep,landcoverisprimarilygrassymoorland,peatbogandmosses.Someheathermoorlandusedforsheepgrazingwithextensiveareasarealsomanagedasgrousemoor.Wherepostandwirefencingdividesareas,theeffectsofdifferentialgrazingregimesaresometimesevident.Treecoverissparsealthoughtherearegeometricshelterbelts,forinstanceatLeightonHill.
Low-ModeratetoModerate
Landscapescale Alargescale,emptylandscapearisingfrombroadextent(intoNorthumberlandNationalPark)withlimitedenclosure,sub-divisionorhumaninfluence.SomemoderatenaturalenclosureisfoundlocallywithinvalleysofLCA21c.
Low-Moderate
VISUAL:Skylines Plateaulandscapeandverylimitedwoodlandor
structurespresentsimplepredictableskylinesLow-Moderate
Viewsandlandmarks
Occasionalviewsarepossiblefromhigherpoints,particularlyfromLCA21bEalinghamRiggovervalleystotheeastandoversettlementofOtterburnbutplateaulandformmostlylimitsvistas.EalinghamRiggitselfisamorepronouncedlandmark.
Moderate
Inter-visibility Variationsinintervisibilityacrossthe3LCAs.LCA21aandLCA20chavelimitedintervisibilitybeyondneighbouringLCTs,particularlyLCA8fHarwoodForest,LCA11bButelawandColtCragandLCA29NorthTyneValley.LCA21boffersoccasionallystrongintervisibilitywithneighbouringLCTs.AllLCAshavestrongvisual
ModeratetoModerate-High
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linkagestoNorthumberlandNationalPark.Visualreceptors GenerallylimitedreceptorswithintheLCTbutlocal
transportroutesandscatteredfarmsteadswithinLCA21aandLCA21b.
LowtoLow-Moderate
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Limitedmovementinthelandscape,limitedtosporadic
militarytrainingactivitywithinOtterburnrangeswithinLCA21c.SlightlygreatermovementalongA68boundingLCA21a.
Moderate-HightoHigh
Builtdevelopment Limitedtoafewscatteredfarmsteads.LatticeradiomastatEalinghamRigg.
Moderate-HightoHigh
Remoteness Limitedtolocaltrafficnetwork,low-keyagriculturalactivityandoccasionalmilitarytrainingactivities.
Moderatetomoderate-High
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Landscapewithlimitedscenicvalue,althoughgenerally
open,semi-wilduplandandwithoutstrongvisualdetractors.RockoutcropswithinLCA21coffersomeinterest.AlthoughboundingNorthumberlandNationalParkacrossallthreeLCAsitpresentslimitedfocalpointsorfeaturesofvisualattractiveness.
Moderate
Distinctiveness Rockyoutcropsandvalleysaffordsomelimiteddistinctiveness.
Moderate
Rarity Openuplandsrelativelyuncommonbutnotrare.Alessfrequentlandscapewithoccasionaldistinguishingfeatures.
Moderate
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Someimportantarchaeologicalinterest,butrarely
visuallysignificantinthelandscape.Rigandfurrow,hillforts,bastles,earthworks,DereStreetRomanroad.
ModeratetoModerate-High
Recreation MoDrangesatOtterburnperiodicallyrestrictrecreationalaccess.LCA21aandLCA21bpresentopenaccessandfootpathswithdirectlinkagestoNorthumberlandNationalPark.ThePennineWayNationalTrailcrossesLCA21a.
ModeratetoModerate-High
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
Largescale,simplerollinglandform,lowcomplexityoflandcoverandpatternandminimalsettlementgenerallyaffordslowersensitivitytowindenergydevelopment.However,theLCAsarerelativelysmallandneverdistantfromruralsettlements,presentingsensitivereceptorsforlargerscaleturbinesoutsidetheLCAs.Scatteredagriculturalfarmsteadsmaybeabletoaccommodatewell-locatedsmallerscalewindenergydevelopmentofsinglemaststhatassimilatewithinthelandscapewithoutsignificantharm.LCAsImmediatelyabutNorthumberlandNationalParkandthisconsiderablyincreasessensitivityduetopotentialeffectsonitssettingandvisualharmtoviewsintoandoutofNorthumberlandNationalPark.Importantheritageassetsareprimarilyarchaeologicalandmaybelessvulnerabletolandscapechange.TheLCAsaffordsomelow-keyrecreationalvalue,butthisislimitedin
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
relationtothatoftheadjoiningNorthmberlandNationalParkandsubjecttomilitaryrangerestrictions.Minimalmovement,developmentorinfrastructureintheLCTwouldmeanthelandscapeisrelativelysensitivetotheintroductionofmediumandlargerturbines.Groupsofmedium-to-largerscalewindturbineswouldbelikelytopresentmoderate-to-highharmtotheintegrityoftheLCT.
Cumulativeeffects TherearenoexistingwindenergydevelopmentswithintheLCT.SomelimitedvisualintervisibilityispossiblewithRayWindFarmfromLCA21aataround3kmdistance,butisnotprominentfromLCA21corLCA21a.GreenRiggWindFarmispartlyvisiblefromhigherpartsofLCA21bataround5kmdistance.WhereviewsofturbinesarevisiblefromwithintheLCTtheyareoftenagainstthemostlysimple,mainlyhorizontalskyline.Despitetherelativeproximitytotheselargewindfarms,thereisnotsignificantvisualeffectwithintheLCTandthereforecumulativeimpactsmaybepossibledependingonscaleorlocation,butnotnecessarilysignificant.Medium-distancehorizonslimitverylongvistasandfrequentchangesintopographyallowsforscreeningofsmall-mediumturbinesovermediumtolongdistances.ApotentialforcumulativevisualandcharactereffectsexistsbywayofrelativeproximitytoRayandGreenRiggWindFarms.ConsiderationtotheeffectofawindfarmconcentrationinrelativeproximitytoNorthumberlandNationalParkboundary,andviewstoitfromtheeastarethereforeimportantconsiderationsinthisLCTinrespecttowindenergyproposals.
LCT21:RollingUplands-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-
135mLCA21a:EalinghamRigg M M-H H H HLCA21b:CorsensideCommon M M-H M-H H HLCA21c:OtterburnPlateau M M-H M-H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT21:RollingUplands
IngeneralthewholeofLCT21issuitableinprincipleforsingleorsmallgroupsofcarefullysited,smallscaleturbinesupto25mheighttobladetip.Thelandscapewillgenerallybeunsuitableforwindturbinesover25m.HoweverwithinLCA21aturbinesbetween26mand40mtobladetipheight,andbetween26m-65minLCAs21band21c,maybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristics
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andcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant,includingthoseonNorthumberlandNationalPark,settlementreceptorsandheritageassets.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportantfociinthelandscape.Turbinesofmorethanmedium-largescale,(ormediumscaleforLCA21a),wouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapethatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment,largelyasaresultofcumulativeeffects,sensitivityofreceptorsandsettingofNorthumberlandNationalPark.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT22:FarmedRiverValleys
ThisLCTformsanuplandfringefarmlandlandscapebetweentheNorthTyneandDerwentdalewhichhasbeendissectedbydeeplyincisedburnvalleys.ThisLCTisrepresentedbytwolandscapecharacterareas(LCA):• LCA22a:Devil’sWaterandHinterland• LCA22b:DiptonWoodandSlaley
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT22:FarmedRiverValleys:• East-westridgessupportinguplandfringemixedfarmland;
• Dissectedanddrainedbyincisedburnsrunningalongdeepcleftsordeans(narrow,steep-sidedvalleys);
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• Rockyledges,waterfallsandnarrowhaughs(areasoflow-lyingfloodplain)withindeansmarktheproximityofbedrocktothesurface;
• Semi-naturalancientwoodlandwithindenesandconiferousplantationsinthewiderhinterland;
• Variedfieldpatterns–irregularandsinuousclosetosettlements,rectilinearandplannedonupperslopes;
• Mixedfarming–arableandsheeporhorsepasture(improvedandsomewet);
• Mixtureoffieldboundaries,includinghedgeswithhedgerowtrees,postandwirefencing,andstonewallsparticularlyaroundsettlements;
• Settlementcomprisessmallvillagesanddispersedfarmsteads,countryhousesandhalls,andmillvillages.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT22:FarmedRiverValleysSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Thevaried,rollinglandscapeisunifiedbyitsstronganddistincttopographicpatternofeast-westroundedsteppedterracesanddrainagepatternofburnswithinincisedvalleys,reflectingthebandingandfaultingwithinthesandstonerockstrata.Cragsandwoodeddenesarelandformfeatures.
Moderate-hightoHigh
Landcover
Variedlandcoverpatternofwoodedgorgesanddenes,exposedrockwithwaterfalls,commercialforestryandmixedfarming.Domestic/human-scalefeaturesincludehedges,hedgerowtreesanddrystonewalls.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Landscapescale Valleys,woodland,domestic/human-scalefeaturessuchasfieldboundariesandundulatinglandformcreatemedium-smallscalelandscapewithsomeenclosure.Small-scaleintimatevalleyscontrastwithareasofmoreopen,largerscalefarmland.
ModeratetoModerate-high
VISUAL:Skylines Generallysimple,notprominentandindistinctivevisual
horizonswithsomevariationwithintherollinglandform.Woodlandisastrongskylinefeatureinplaces.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Viewsandlandmarks
Thelandscapeisnotafeatureinrecognisedviewsorfromimportantviewpoints,butcragsandwoodeddenesprovidelandscapefocitogetherwithlocalviewswithinvalleysandtohistoricbuildings.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Inter-visibility Self-containedvalleylandscapeisvisuallyenclosedbytopographyandwoodland,withrestrictedinter-visibility.Increasedinter-visibilityfromhighermoreopenfarmlandwithoccasionalviewstoadjacentlandscapesincludingmoorlandridgesanduplandstothenorth,southandwest.
LowtoLow-moderate
Visualreceptors SensitivevisualreceptorsincluderesidentsofSlaleysituatedalongalocalisedridge,smallvillagesand
Low-moderatetoModerate
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Sensitivityassessment
dispersedproperties,withintermittentviewsfromminorlocalroads.
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Occasionaltofrequentman-mademovementonminor
localroadsandagriculturalactivities.ModeratetoModerate-high
Builtdevelopment Noindustrialorsignificantinfrastructureortransportroutesbutbuiltmodificationofthelandscapeincludesvillages,scatteredsettlementandlocalroads.Fewverticalstructuresincludeashortlineofpylonsandtwosmalltomediumscalesinglewindturbines.Ruralcharacteroftraditionalsmall-scalevillagesandfarms.Moderatesenseofnaturalness.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Remoteness Somesenseofseclusionwithinthevalleysbutgenerallyanaccessiblelandscapewhereproximitytosettlementandotherhumanactivityreducesthesenseofremoteness.
ModeratetoModerate-high
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Naturalrivervalleyfeaturesincludingincisedburns,
waterfallsandancientwoodlandwithinnarrow,steep-sidedvalleysprovidescenicquality.PartlylieswithintheNorthPenninesAONB.Lackoffieldboundarymanagementinsomeplaces.Generallyavisuallyandfunctionallyintactlandscape.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Distinctiveness Naturalrivervalleyfeaturesaredistinctiveandprovideastrong‘senseofplace’,althoughnotespeciallyrepresentativeofNorthumberland.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Rarity AninfrequentLCTwithonlytwoLCAscoveringarelativelysmallpartofNorthumberland.DistinctivenaturalrivervalleyfeaturesarerarewithintheCounty.
Moderate-hightoHigh
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Saxonandmedievalvillages,survivingridgeandfurrow
andsixteenthandseventeenthcenturyfieldpatternsinfluencelandscapecharacterandviews.Historicearthworks,millsandotherlistedbuildings.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Recreation Landscape-basedrecreationislimitedtoasmall,localrightsofwaynetwork.
Low-moderatetoModerate
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
Arollingandinplacesdeeplyinciseduplandfringefarmedlandscape,lyingbetweenandcontrastingwithuplandmoorlandandDerwentdalewithintheNorthPenninesAONBtothesouth,andtheTyneGapvalleylandscapetothenorth.Theuplandfringeisparticularlysensitivetowindenergydevelopmentwherelargerturbinescouldhaveasignificanteffectonthesettledandsmallerscalevalleysandlowlandlandscapestothenorthbybeingoutofscaleandvisuallydominant.Strongpastoralemphasisandinter-visibilityonthehighergroundthatbordersmoorlandlandscapescontributetothecharacterofLCA22a.Althoughnotremote,andmodifiedbyfarmingandcommercialforestry,thepresenceofextensivenativewoodlands,estateplantingsandstonebuildingsgivestheLCTarural,naturalistic,andtraditionallymanaged
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Sensitivityassessment
character.Thesimplerlandformandlandcoverpattern,andmoreopen,mediumtolargerscalefarmlandofLCA22bindicatepotentiallylowersensitivitytomediumscalewindenergydevelopment.
Cumulativeeffects Therearecurrentlyasmallnumberofsinglesmall-scalewindturbineswithinLCA22a.Thesedonotadverselyaffectlandscapecharacter;cumulativeeffectsarecurrentlyinsignificant.TherearecurrentlynowindturbinesvisiblewithinneighbouringLCTs.
LCT22:FarmedRiverValleys-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA22a:Devil’sWaterandHinterland M M-H H H HLCA22b:DiptonWoodandSlaley M M-H M-H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT22:FarmedRiverValleys
IngeneralLCT22issuitableforsingleorasmallgroupofcarefullysitedsmallscaleturbinesupto25mheighttobladetip.Theyshouldbecloselyassociatedwiththescaleandlocationoffarmbuildingsinthelandscape.Ingeneral,windturbinesabove25mheighttobladetipwouldinprinciplebeunsuitablewithinLCT22.Small-mediumscaleturbinesandmediumscaleturbineswithinLCA22bmaybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportantfociinthelandscape.Medium-largescaleandlargerturbineswithintheLCT,andmediumscaleturbineswithinLCA22awouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapethatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment,includingthelandscapesettingandviewstoandfromtheNorthPenninesAONB.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT23:LowerDale
ThisLCTcomprisesthelowersectionsofthedaleswhichrunnorthandeastoutoftheNorthPennines.Althoughthetypicaldalehascharacteristic‘upper’,‘middle’and‘lower’sections,notallLowerDaleareasareassociatedwithcorrespondingMiddleDale(LCT24)andUpperDale(LCT27)areas.ThisLCTisrepresentedbythreelandscapecharacterareas(LCA):• LCA23a:LowerSouthTyne• LCA23b:LowerAllenheads• LCA23c:LowerDerwent
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT23:LowerDale:• Broaddaleswithnarrowfloodplainsorgorgesonthevalleyfloor;
• Winding,oftenshallowandrockyriversandtributaryburns,withpeatybrownfast-flowingwater;
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• Limestones,sandstonesandshalesthatoutcropoccasionallyonthesidesofgorgesanddale-sidequarries;
• Tree-linedwatercourses,withancientashandoakwoodsingorgesanddenes(narrow,steepsidedvalleys);
• Frequenthedgerowoak,ash,sycamoreandwychelmanduntrimmedhedgerows;
• Pastorallandscapecomprisingimprovedandsemi-improvedpasturesandhaymeadows;
• Oldfieldsystemswithsub-regularorlinearpatternsofhedgesandwalls;
• Relictsofridgeandfurrowandcultivationterraces;
• Oldvillagesofvernacularsandstonebuildingsonthedalefloor;
• Scatteredstonefarmsteadsandfieldbarns;
• Intimateandvisuallyenclosedcharactercontrastingwithhighmoorlandridgelines.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT23:LowerDaleSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Broaduplandvalleyswithafairlyshallowandevenslopinglandform,gentlysteppedinplaces,dissectedbyadrainagepatternoffastflowingburnsinsmalltributaryvalleysrunningintothemainriversofthedale.Variedandrelativelycomplexlandformfeaturesincludemeanderingriversandstreamsinsteep,incisedgillsanddeepgorges,withrockyoutcropsandwaterfalls.Locallymodifiedbyquarrying.
Moderate-hightoHigh
Landcover
Logicalpatternoflanduseandvegetationcoverrelatedtolandform,drainageandexposure-mosaicsofimprovedandsemi-improvedpastureandoccasionalflower-richhaymeadowsandgrazingonupperslopesandwetterland,withmanagedgrasslandsandriparianwoodlandonthevalleyfloor.Generallysmallandmediumsizedregularorlinearfieldpatterns,withabundantdomestic/human-scalefeaturessuchastallhedgerows,treesandstonewallboundaries.Overallthelandscapehasawell-woodedfeel.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Landscapescale Relativelybroadscaleoftheopenpastoraldales,contrastingwiththevalleysthatarevisuallyenclosedbyriparianwoodlands,treesandhedgerows,withamuchmoreintimate,domestic/human-scale.
ModeratetoModerate-high
VISUAL:Skylines Thedalesaredefinedbysimple,highmoorland
ridgelinesthatoverlookthevalleysandformabackdrop,withlittlevariety.Largelyundevelopedvisualhorizonsincreasesensitivity.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Viewsandlandmarks
Thelandscapefeaturesinviewsfromhighergroundbutnotfromimportantviewpoints.Cragsandwoodedgorgesprovidelandscapefocitogetherwithlocalviews
Low-moderatetoModerate
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withinvalleystocharacteristicrockyoutcropsandwaterfalls.
Inter-visibility Theself-contained,deepvalleylandformrestrictsinter-visibility,althoughthemoreopenupperdalelandscapeprovidesviewsofneighbouringvalleyandmoorlandslopes.Overlookedfromhigherground.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Visualreceptors Sensitivevisualreceptorsincluderesidentsofsmallhamletsandvillagesanddispersedproperties,walkersandcyclistsonrecreationalroutes.Alsoviewsfromminorlocalroadsandmain‘A’roads.
Low-moderatetoModerate
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Occasionaltofrequentman-mademovementalong
recreationalroutesandroads,includingsome‘A’roads,althoughsomeareasaremuchcalmer.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Builtdevelopment Lackofsignificantindustryandinfrastructure,althoughthereareactiveandabandonedlimestonequarries.FewverticalstructuresincludeoccasionaltelecommunicationsmastsandtwosmalltomediumscalesinglewindturbinesinLCA23b.Someviewstoapowerlinetothenorth.‘A’roadswindthroughthevalleysoralongthevalleyedge.Generallyasettled,rurallandscape,withsmallhamletsandmediumsizedmedievalvillagesonthedalefloor,andscatteredfarmsandbarnsconnectedbywindinglocalroads.Moderatetomoderate-highsenseofnaturalness.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Remoteness Tranquiluplandfringelandscape,withasenseofseclusionwithinthevalleys,butgenerallyanaccessiblelandscapewhereproximitytosettlementandotherhumanactivityreducesthesenseofremoteness.
ModeratetoModerate-high
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Naturalrivervalleyfeaturesincludingmeandering
riversandincisedburns,waterfallsandancientwoodlandwithinnarrow,steep-sidedgorgesprovidehighscenicquality.Lossofsomefieldboundariesonupperslopesandlackofwoodlandmanagement,butgenerallyavisuallyandfunctionallyintactlandscapeofhighquality.TheLCTlieswithinoradjacenttotheNorthPenninesAONB.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Distinctiveness Naturalbroadrivervalleyswithincisedtributariesandotherfeaturesaredistinctiveandprovideastrong‘senseofplace’,althoughnotespeciallyrepresentativeofNorthumberland.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Rarity AninfrequentLCTintheuplandfringesofthePenninedalescoveringarelativelysmallpartofNorthumberland.DistinctivenaturalrivervalleyfeaturesarerelativelyrarewithintheCounty.
Moderate-hightoHigh
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Vernacularbuildings,medievalvillagesandpastoral
landusegiveastrongsenseofbothvisualunityandModeratetoModerate-high
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Sensitivityassessment
culturalcontinuity.Relictsofancientagriculture–ridgeandfurrow,lynchetsandcultivationterraces–arewidespread.Historicalquarryinghasalsoshapedthelandscape.CountryhousessuchasWhitfieldHallinLCA23b,associatedestatevillages,andFeatherstoneCastleparklandinLCA23acontributetothehistoriclandscapecharacterofthearea.However,thereisnostronghistoricinfluenceonthecharacterofLCA23c.
Recreation FootpathnetworksincludingIsaac’sTeaTrailandthePennineWayNationalTrail,andNationalCycleNetworkroutesprovideimportantlinksintoandthroughtheNorthPenninesAONB,andtoDerwentReservoir.DisusedrailwayisanimportantrecreationalroutethroughLCA23a.
ModeratetoModerate-high
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
BroaduplandlandscapefringingtheNorthPennineAONBmoorland,withcontrastingdeeplyincised,well-wooded,intimatevalleysfallingtowardstheTyneGapvalleylandscapetothenorth.Theuplandfringeisparticularlysensitive,wherelargerwindturbinescouldhaveasignificanteffectonthesettledandsmallerscalevalleysandlowlandlandscapestothenorthbybeingoutofscaleandvisuallydominant.Inpartstranquil,althoughnotremoteandgenerallyaccessible,thevernacularbuildings,medievalvillagesandrelictsofancientagriculturegivetheLCTarural,naturalistic,andstronglypastoralcharacter.
Cumulativeeffects Therearecurrentlyasmallnumberofsinglesmall-scalewindturbineswithinLCA23b.Thesedonotadverselyaffectitslandscapecharacter;cumulativeeffectsarecurrentlyinsignificant.Therearelimitedviewstooccasionalsmallturbinesonhighgroundtothesouth(andtotallmaststotheeast).
LCT23:LowerDale-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA23a:LowerSouthTyne M M-H H H HLCA23b:LowerAllenheads M M-H H H HLCA23c:LowerDerwent M M-H H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT23:LowerDale
IngeneralLCT23issuitableforsingleorasmallgroupofcarefullysitedsmallscaleturbinesupto25mheighttobladetip.Theyshouldbecloselyassociatedwiththescaleandlocationoffarmbuildingsintheuplandfringelandscape,wherethereissomeassociationwiththeopenmoorlandandfell.Theyshould,however,besitedawayfromthesensitivevalleysidesandfloorwhichshouldremainfreeofwindenergydevelopment.Ingeneral,windturbinesabove25mheighttobladetipwouldinprinciple
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beunsuitablewithinLCT23.Small-mediumscaleturbinesmaybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominant;theyshouldavoidthesensitiveuplandfringeandtheyshouldnotout-competeimportantfociinthelandscape.MediumscaleandlargerturbineswithintheLCTwouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapethatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment,includingtheuplandfringe,landscapesettingandviewstoandfromtheNorthPenninesAONB.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT24:MiddleDale
ThisLCTcomprisestheintermediatesectionsofthedalesthatrunprincipallynorthandalsoeastwardsfromtheNorthPennines.Althoughthetypicaldalehascharacteristic‘upper’,‘middle’and‘lower’sections,notallMiddleDaleareasareassociatedwithcorrespondingLowerDale(LCT23)andUpperDale(LCT27)areas.ThisLCToccurswhollywithintheNorthPenninesAONB.ThisLCTisrepresentedbyfivelandscapecharacterareas(LCA):• LCA24a:MiddleSouthTyne• LCA24b:MiddleWestAllen• LCA24c:MiddleEastAllen• LCA24d:MiddleDevil’sWater• LCA24e:MiddleDerwent
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KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT24:MiddleDale:• Broaduplandvalleyswithmoderatelysloping,oftengentlysteppedvalleysides,incisedby
narrowsteep-sidedgills;
• Rockyriversandtributaryburns,withfast-flowingpeatybrownwater,withinnarrowfloodplainsonvalleyfloors;
• Improvedandsemi-improvedpasturesandflower-richuplandhaymeadows;
• Strongregularorsub-regularpatternsofdrystonewallswithoccasionalash,oakandsycamorefieldtrees;
• Sparselywooded,withnarrowashandoak-birchwoodlandsalongrivers,streamsanddale-sidegills,andscatteredplantationsofScotspine,larchorspruce.
• Smallvillages,hamletsandfarmclusterslinkedbyvalleyfloorroads,withscatteredfarmsandfieldbarnsondalesides.Buildingsoflocalstonewithstoneflagorslateroofs;
• Activeandabandonedlimestoneandwhinstonequarriesprominentonthedalesides;
• Relictsoftheleadminingindustry,includingbuildings,wasteheaps,smelterfluesandreservoirs;
• Importanceashistoricalroutesofcommunicationunderlinedbyriver,roadandrailwaycorridors,includingIsaac’sTeaTrailwalkingroute,SouthTynedaleRailway(preservedscenicnarrowgaugerailway),MaidenWayRomanRoadandWhitleyCastle/EPIACUMRomanFort;
• ThemajorwaterbodyofDerwentReservoirsignificantlycontributestothecharacterofLCA24eMiddleDerwent,extendingovertheborderintoCountyDurham;
• Visuallyopen,butenclosedbyencirclingmoorlandridgelines;
• Settledtranquiluplandlandscapewithastrongsenseofculturalcontinuity.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT24:MiddleDaleSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Broaduplandvalleyswithafairlyshallowandevenslopinglandform,gentlysteppedinplaces,dissectedbyadrainagepatternoffastflowingburnsinsmalltributaryvalleysrunningintothemainriversofthedale.Variedandrelativelycomplexlandformfeaturesincludemeanderingriversandstreamsinsteep,incisedgillsanddeepgorges,withrockyoutcropsandwaterfalls.Locallymodifiedbystonequarryingandleadmining.
Moderate-hightoHigh
Landcover
Generallyregularpatternoflanduseandcomplexmixofvegetationcoverrelatedtolandform,drainageandexposure-mosaicsofimprovedandsemi-improvedpastureandoccasionalflower-richhaymeadowsandgrazingonupperslopesandwetterland,withmanagedgrasslandsandriparianwoodlandonthevalleyfloor.Strongfieldboundarypatternwithabundantdomestic/human-scalefeaturessuchastallhedgerows,treesandstonewalls(quarriedfromlocalsandstones,
ModeratetoModerate-high
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limestonesandwhinstone).Generallysparselywoodedalthoughsomeareashaveawell-woodedappearance.LCA24eisaheavilywoodeddale.
Landscapescale Relativelybroadscaleoftheopenpastoraldales,contrastingwiththenarrowincisedvalleysthatarevisuallyenclosedbyriparianwoodlands,treesandhedgerows,withamuchmoreintimate,domestic/human-scale.
ModeratetoModerate-high
VISUAL:Skylines Thedalesarevisuallyopenbutdefinedbysmooth,
simple,highmoorlandridgelinesthatencircleandoverlookthevalleysandformbackdrops,withlittlevariety.Mostlyundevelopedvisualhorizons,increasingsensitivity,althoughtallmastsatCattonBeaconarevisuallysignificanttothenorthofLCA24candfromadjacentcharacterareas.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Viewsandlandmarks
Thelandscapefeaturesinviewsfromhighergroundbutnotfromimportantviewpoints.Cragsandwoodedgorgesprovidelandscapefocitogetherwithlocalviewswithinvalleystocharacteristicmeanderingrivers,rockyoutcropsandwaterfalls.DerwentReservoirisakeylandmarkandvisualfocusinLCA24e.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Inter-visibility Thelargelyself-contained,deepvalleylandformrestrictsinter-visibility.Themoreopenupperdalelandscapeprovidesviewsofneighbouringvalleyandmoorlandslopes,butlimitsinter-visibility.
LowtoLow-moderate
Visualreceptors SensitivevisualreceptorsincluderesidentsofAllendaleTown,smallhamletsandvillagesandnumerousscatteredproperties,walkersandcyclistsonrecreationalroutes.Alsoviewsfromminorlocalroadsandmain‘A’roads,andfromthescenicrouteofthepreservedSouthTynedaleRailway.
ModeratetoModerate-high
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Occasionaltofrequentman-mademovementalong
recreationalroutesandroads,includingsome‘A’roads,althoughsomeareashavelittlemovement.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Builtdevelopment Lackofsignificantindustryandinfrastructure,althoughthereareactiveandabandonedstonequarriesandleadmines.Fewverticalstructuresincludecommunicationmastse.g.CattonBeaconandatKnarsdale,andanumberofsmalltomediumscalesinglewindturbineswithinoradjacenttoLCA24cand24d.TheA689andA686runthroughthevalleysoralongthevalleyedgeofLCA24a&24b.AllendaleTownisthelargestsettlement,butgenerallyadomesticatedsettled,rurallandscape,withsmallhamletsandmediumsizedmedievalvillagesonthedalefloor,andscatteredfarmsandbarnsconnectedbywindinglocalroads.Highersenseofnaturalnessontheupper,wilder
ModeratetoModerate-high
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slopesandinthesmallerdales.Remoteness Tranquiluplandfringelandscape,withasenseof
seclusionwithinthevalleysofthesmallerdales,butgenerallyanaccessiblelandscapewhereproximitytosettlementandotherhumanactivitye.g.DerwentReservoirvisitordestination,reducesthesenseofremoteness.
ModeratetoModerate-high
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Naturalrivervalleyfeaturesincludingmeandering
riversandincisedburns,waterfallsandancientwoodlandwithinnarrow,steep-sidedgorgesprovidehighscenicquality.Lossofsomefieldboundariesonupperslopesbutgenerallyawell-managed,visuallyandfunctionallyintactlandscape.TheLCTliesentirelywithintheNorthPenninesAONB.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Distinctiveness Naturaluplandmoorlandandbroadrivervalleyswithincisedtributariesandotherfeaturesprovideastrong‘senseofplace’representativeofNorthumberland,althoughnotespeciallydistinctivetotheCounty.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Rarity ArelativelyinfrequentLCTintheuplandfringesofthePenninedales,enclosedbyencirclingmoorlandridgelinesofsouthernNorthumberland.DistinctivenaturalrivervalleyfeaturesarerelativelyrarewithintheCounty.
Moderate-hightoHigh
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Vernacularbuildings,medievalvillagesandpastoral
landusegiveastrongsenseofbothvisualunityandculturalcontinuity.Relictsofancientagriculture–ridgeandfurrow,lynchetsandcultivationterraces–arewidespread.Historicalstonequarryingandleadmininghasalsoshapedthelandscape.TheremainsofBlanchlandAbbey,towers,andseveralcountryhousesreflectotherhistoricalaspectsofthelandscape.ImportanceashistoricalroutesofcommunicationunderlinedbytheMaidenWayRomanRoadandWhitleyCastle/EPIACUMRomanFortwithinLCA24a.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Recreation FootpathnetworksincludingIsaac’sTeaTrail,PennineWayNationalTrailandMaidenWayRomanRoad,andNationalCycleNetworkroutesprovideimportantlinksthroughtheNorthPenninesAONB,andtoDerwentReservoirwhichisapopularfacility.DisusedrailwayisanimportantrecreationalrouteincludingthepreservedscenicSouthTynedaleRailwaythroughLCA24a.OpenaccesstotheWhitleyCastle/EPIACUMRomanFort.
ModeratetoModerate-high
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
BroaduplandlandscapefringeencircledbymoorlandridgesoftheNorthPenninesAONB,withcontrastingdeeplyincised,well-wooded,intimatevalleysfallingtowardstheTyneGapvalleylandscapetothenorth.Theuplandfringeisparticularlysensitive,wherelargerscalewindenergy
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developmentinparticularcouldhaveasignificanteffectonthesettledandsmallerscalevalleysandlowlandlandscapestothenorthbybeingoutofscaleandvisuallydominant.Inpartstranquil,althoughnotremoteandgenerallyaccessible,thevernacularbuildings,medievalvillagesandrelictsofancientagriculturegivetheLCTarural,naturalistic,andstronglypastoralcharacterthatishighlysensitivetomediumandlargerscalewindenergydevelopment.
Cumulativeeffects Thereareanumberofoperationalorapprovedsinglesmalltomedium-scalewindturbineswithintheLCT.ThesearemostlylocatedthroughoutoradjacenttothenorthernpartofLCA24cwheresequentialcumulativeeffectscouldoccurwhilstmovingthroughthelandscapeshouldallapprovedturbinesbecomeoperationaloriffurtherturbinesareapproved.TwosmalltomediumscalesinglewindturbinesarelocatedwithintheneighbouringLCAs25dand25ebuttherearenoviewsoflargerwindturbinesfromwithinLCT24.Additionalsmallorsmalltomedium-scalewindenergydevelopmentintheLCTshouldbecarefullysitedtoavoidcumulativeeffects(eithercombinedwithinasinglevieworsequential).AdditionalwindturbineswithinoradjacenttoLCA24cmaycreatesignificantcumulativeeffectswheretheyareconspicuous,becomingkeyfeaturesandaffectingthecharacterofthelandscape.
LCT24:MiddleDale-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA24a:MiddleSouthTyne M M-H H H HLCA24b:MiddleWestAllen M M-H H H HLCA24c:MiddleEastAllen M M-H H H HLCA24d:MiddleDevil’sWater M M-H H H HLCA24e:MiddleDerwent M M-H H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT24:MiddleDale
IngeneralLCT24issuitableforsingleorasmallgroupofcarefullysitedsmallscaleturbinesupto25mheighttobladetip.Theyshouldbecloselyassociatedwiththescaleandlocationoffarmbuildingsintheuplandfringelandscape,wherethereissomeassociationwiththeopenmoorlandandfell.Theyshould,however,besitedawayfromthesensitivevalleysidesandfloorwhichshouldremainfreeofwindenergydevelopment.Ingeneral,windturbinesabove25mheighttobladetipwouldinprinciplebeunsuitablewithinLCT24.Small-mediumscaleturbinesmaybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportantfoci
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inthelandscape.MediumscaleandlargerturbineswithintheLCTwouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapethatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment,includingtheuplandfringe,landscapesettingandviewstoandfromtheNorthPenninesAONB.TheycouldalsobecomeconspicuousinviewsfromtheneighbouringMoorlandRidgesLCTwhichishighlysensitivetowindenergydevelopment.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT25:MoorlandRidges
ThisLCTisfoundwithintheNorthPennineuplandssouthoftheTyneGapandformsanimportantvisualbackdroptothelowerlyingdaleswhichdissectit.Thisuplandlandscape,rangingfromaround450mto600m,isculturallylinkedtothedalesbelow.Theirinterfaceismarkedbynarrowbandsoftransitionallandscapes,wheresemi-improvedpastureandconiferousshelterbeltsmeetthebroadpatternoffencesandstonewalls.MostofthislandscapeiswithintheNorthPenninesAONB(withtheexceptionofLCA25aandanareainthenorthernpartofLCA25c).ThisLCTisrepresentedbyfivelandscapecharacterareas(LCA):• LCA25a:BlenkinsoppCommon• LCA25b:HartleyburnandKnarsdaleCommons• LCA25c:WhitfieldMoor• LCA25d:AllenCommonandMohope/ActonMoors• LCA25e:HexhamshireandBulbeckCommons
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KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT25:MoorlandRidges:• Broaddividedridgesandhighflat-toppedsummits;
• Astronghorizontalgraintothetopography;
• Gritstonesandlimestonesoutcroplocallyinlowgreycragsandscreeslopes;
• Hardigneousdolerites(suchasWhinSill)outcropinlargercragsandscreeslopes;
• Dissectedbyrocky,quickflowingbecksorburnsinsteepsidedgullies,withstandsofjuniper;
• Extensivetractsofblanketbogwithcottongrass,sphagnummossandheathermoorland,withsparsetreecover;
• Drierslopesclothedinuplandheathofheatherandbilberryoracidgrasslands;
• Burningpatternsongrousemoorscreateapatchworkofolderandyoungerheather;
• Extensivegrazingbyhardyhillsheep;
• Fewman-madefeaturesotherthanoccasionalfences,grousebutts,cairnsandsheepfolds;
• Unfencedroadsmarkedbysnowpoleswithgatesorcattlegridsatthemoorwall;
• Somerelictsofleadmining–bellpits,hushes,wasteheaps,railways,reservoirsandwaterleats(artificialwatercourse),smelterfluesandchimneys;
• Panoramiclongdistanceviewsoutacrossunbrokenmoorlandsoradjoiningdales;
• Aremoteandelementallandscapewithanearwildernessqualityinplaces.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT25:MoorlandRidgesSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Simple,smoothlyflowing,uplandplateaulandformwithastronghorizontalgrainandsteppedprofile,heavilyinfluencedbytheunderlyinggeology.Broad,gentlyundulating,dividedridgesandelongatedflat-toppedsummits,withnotablelandformfeaturesincludingoutcropssuchasWhinSill,cragsandscreeslopes.Rocky,quickflowingbecksformsteepgulliesorgills.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Landcover
Relativelyconsistentlandcoverinmutedmosaicsofblanketbog,grassandheathermoorland.Seasonalpatternsarearesultofheatherburningandextensivesheepgrazing.Domestic/humanscalefeaturesaregenerallyabsentapartfromoccasionalstonewalls.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Landscapescale Alargescale,open,horizontallandscapepredominantlyunenclosed.Incisedvalleysaresmallerinscaleandmoreenclosed.
Low-moderatetoModerate
VISUAL:Skylines Prominent,open,sweepingskylinesalmostentirely
undevelopedandwhereverticalfeaturesarefew,suchasoccasionalmasts,telegraphpolesandroadsidesnow
Moderate-hightoHigh
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poles.Viewsandlandmarks
Visualsimplicitywithopen,deeppanoramicviewsacrossthemoorsandadjoiningdales,andshallowerpanoramicviewsacrosssequentialridges.TheLCTformsthebackdropofviewsfromthelowerlyingdaleswhichdissectit,andinpartfromtheTyneGapinthenorthfromwherethereareviewsfromHadrian’sWall.Fewfocalpointsorlandmarkfeatures.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Inter-visibility Highlevelsofinter-visibilitythroughoutandbetweencharacterareas.
Moderate-hightoHigh
Visualreceptors AsparselypopulatedlandscapewithviewsprincipallyfromsettlementswithintheadjoiningdalesandSouthTyneValley,localroadsandscenicwalkingandcyclingroutes.
Low-moderatetoModerate
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Verylittleman-mademovementgenerally,principally
fromtheA69whichcutsthroughLCA25a.AgreaterperceptionofmovementattheLCTedgesclosertothemoresettledvalleys.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Builtdevelopment Occasionalman-madefeaturesincludescatteredrelictsofleadmining,grousebutts,sheepfoldsandoccasionalmastsonthemoors.TheA69andaparallellineofpylonsinfluencethenorthernpartofLCA25a.Panoramicviewsincludedistantbuiltdevelopmentincludingwindfarms.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Remoteness Aremoteandelementallandscapewithanearwildernessqualityinplaces,reducingtowardstheedgeswherethereisagradualtransitionintoadjoiningdales.AccesstomostpartsoftheLCTisverydifficult,withahighdegreeofseclusionandtranquillity.
ModeratetoModerate-high
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Highscenicquality.MostoftheLCTiswithintheNorth
PenninesAONBwiththeexceptionofLCA25aandanareainthenorthofLCA25cwhichareofsimilarcharacterandareofsimilarhighscenicvalue.Generallywell-managed,withsomeissuesaroundmoorlandmanagement.
Moderate-hightoHigh
Distinctiveness Distinctiveuplandridgeswithastrong‘senseofplace’andastrongassociationwiththeadjoiningvalleylandscapes.
Moderate-hightoHigh
Rarity TheMoorlandRidgesLCTcoversanextensivepartofsouthernNorthumberlandsouthoftheTyneGap,andextendsintoCountyDurhamandCumbria.
Low-moderatetoModerate
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets OccasionalstonewallsincreaseinnumberattheLCT
edgesandreflectlate18thcenturyenclosureofcommonground.IndustrialarchaeologyisanimportantfeatureofthisLCT,withextensiveremainsofformerleadminesonWellhopeMoor,andtheextensiveflue
Low-moderatetoModerate
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networkfromtheAllensmeltmillatDryburnMoor.Althoughrichinprehistoricarchaeology,muchisburiedorcomprisessubtlefeatureswhicharemaskedbyvegetation,forexamplestonecircles,cairnfieldsorburialmounds.SomeRomanfeatures.
Recreation SectionsofthePennineWayNationalTrail,Isaac’sTeaTrailandotherway-markedroutescrossthemoors,includingasectionofNationalCycleNetworkroute7(partoftheverypopularCoasttoCoast[alsoknownastheSeatoSea]recreationalroute).Themajorityofthelandscapeisopenaccesslandwherelandscape-basedrecreationinparticularenjoymentofthesceniclandscapeisimportant.
Moderate-hightoHigh
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
Thephysicalcharacteristicsofthelandscapei.e.thegenerallylargescale,open,simpleandconsistentlandformandlandcover,wouldsuggestthattheMoorlandRidgesLCTisnotparticularlysensitivetowindenergydevelopment.However,theLCTformsanimportantvisualbackdroptothelower,middleandupperdalesLCTswhichdissectit.Consequentlythemoorlandridgesareanimportantcharacteristicofthedales,andviceversa.Theirinterfaceismarkedbynarrowbandsoftransitionallandscapes.Thisuplandlandscapeisalsoculturallylinkedtothedalesbelow.Thedistinctiveperceptionofremoteness,wildernessandnaturalness,andthehighscenicvalueofthemoorsarecharacteristicsenjoyedbyvisitorstowhomlandscape-basedinformalrecreationisimportant.Thesecharacteristicsarehighlysensitivetowindenergydevelopmentofanyscale.
Cumulativeeffects TherearenowindturbineswithintheLCT.ThereareviewsofasmallnumberofsmalltomediumscaleturbinesinadjoiningLCTsandovertheborderinCountyDurham,anddistantviewstolargerturbinestothenorth(GreenRigg,BavingtonMount,KirkheatonandRaywindfarms).ThesedonotadverselyaffectthecharacteroftheMoorlandRidgesLCT;cumulativeeffectsarecurrentlyinsignificant.DuetotheimportanceofthelandscapeinviewsfromsurroundingLCTsitisimportantthatadditionaldevelopmentbeyondtheLCTdoesnotresultincumulativeeffectsadverselyaffectingthelandscapecharacteroftheMoorlandRidgesLCT.
LCT25:MoorlandRidges-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA25a:BlenkinsoppCommon H H H H HLCA25b:HartleyburnandKnarsdaleCommons H H H H HLCA25c:WhitfieldMoor H H H H HLCA25d:AllenCommonandMohope/ActonMoors H H H H H
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LCA25e:HexhamshireandBulbeckCommons H H H H H
OverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT25:MoorlandRidges
ManyofthekeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofLCT25arehighlysensitivetoallscalesofwindenergydevelopment.Landscapecharacter,viewsand/orvisualamenityarehighlylikelytobesignificantlyaffectedandthusingeneralanyscaleofwindenergydevelopmentwouldbeunsuitablewithinLCT25.However,theremaybescopeforlimitedwindenergydevelopmentassociatedwiththeA69corridorinthenorthofLCA25a.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT26:UplandFarmlandandPlantations
ThisLCTformsatransitionallandscapegraduallyfallingnorthwardsfromtheNorthPenninedales(MiddleDale)totheTyneGapvalley.ThisLCTisrepresentedbyonelandscapecharacterarea(LCA):• LCA26a:Healey
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT26:UplandFarmlandandPlantations:• TransitionallandscapebetweentheNorthPenninedales(MiddleDale)andtheTyneGap;
• SeriesofroundedterracesgentlyrollingdownintotheTynevalleytothenorth;
• ForestedlandscapewithmediumtolargerectilinearblocksofconiferousplantationsincludingScotspineandlarch,andmixedroadsidetreebelts;
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• Regularmediumtolarge-scalegeometricfieldpatterndefinedbyhedgeswithhedgerowtreesandareasofstonewalls;
• Mixtureofarableandpasture(sheepgrazing);
• Drainagepatternisnotstrong,consistingofrelativelyinsignificantminorburns;
• Sparsesettlementconfinedtoformercountryhousesnowusedforvariouspurposes.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT26:UplandFarmlandandPlantationsSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
SandstonebandingofthebedrockisreflectedinthegentlyrollinglandforminaseriesofroundedterraceswhichdescendnorthwardsintotheTynevalley.Insignificantshallowburnsprovidesomevarietybutwithnostrongdrainagepattern.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Landcover
Asomewhatvariedbutcoherentlandcoverreflectingtheunderlyingvarietyofsoils,comprisingamosaicofheavy,seasonallywaterloggedclaysandmorefertileandfree-drainingbrownearthsonthesandstone.Coniferousplantationsandpatchesofgorseandbrackeninvergesandhedgerowsreflecttheacidicsandysoils.Largemixedconiferplantationsandroadsideshelterbelts.Geometricfieldpatternofmixedarableandpastorallanduse,withboundaryhedgerowsandstonewalls.These,togetherwithdomesticbuildingsprovidehumanscalefeaturesinthelandscape.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Landscapescale Generallyamedium-largescalelandscapealthoughreducedbythewoodedenclosureinsomeareasandthedomestic/humanscalelandscapeelementsandbuildings.
Low-moderatetoModerate
VISUAL:Skylines Smoothuplandslopesprovidelargelysimplevisual
horizons,withsomevariationwithintherollinglandform.Blocksofplantationforestryaresimplefeaturesontheskyline.PredominantlyundevelopedalthoughalineofpylonscrossestheskylineinthenorthoftheLCT.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Viewsandlandmarks
Significantconiferousplantationsprovidecontainmentandlimitviews.Nokeyviewsto/fromimportantviewpoints,butelevatedfeaturessuchastreesandbuildingsprovidelocalisedlandmarkfoci.Therearelongdistanceviews,funnelledbetweenforestryorotherwisepanoramic,outwardsfrommoreelevatedareas.TheLCTfeaturesinviewsfromneighbouringlandscapesincludingthePenninefringe.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Inter-visibility Therelativelyhighforestcoverandgentletopographylimitinter-visibility.However,thereishighinter-
ModeratetoModerate-high
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visibilitywithneighbouringandmoredistantlandscapesfromelevatedpartse.g.viewsfromelevatedsectionsofroadnorthwardstotheTynevalleysidesandeastwardstothePenninefringe.
Visualreceptors Nosubstantialsettlements;sensitivereceptorsincluderesidentsofdispersedfarmsandcottages,andintermittentviewsfromthelocalrightsofwaynetworkandfromtherollingminorlocalroadsandtheA68.
Low-moderatetoModerate
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Occasionalman-mademovementonminorlocalroads,
andagriculturalactivities.MorefrequentmovementontheA68.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Builtdevelopment Noindustrialorsignificantsettlementorotherdevelopment,withbuiltmodificationofthelandscapelimitedtoscatteredfarmsandcottages,localroadsandtheA68.Fewverticalstructuresincludeoccasionalcommunicationsmastsandashortlineofpylonsacrossnorthernparts.Overridingruralcharacteroftraditionalsettlementpattern,withamoderatesenseofnaturalness.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Remoteness Somesenseoftranquillitywithinthefarmlandbutgenerallyanaccessiblelandscapewhereproximitytosettlementandotherhumanactivityreducesthesenseofremoteness.
ModeratetoModerate-high
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality HealeyHall,SlaleyHallandMinsteracreswith
associatedparklandandestatelandscapefeaturesprovideornamental(designed)scenicquality.Lackoffieldboundarymanagementinsomeplaces.Overallavisuallyandfunctionallyintactlandscapebutnotofespeciallyhighnaturalscenicbeauty.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Distinctiveness IndistinctlandscapecharacterlackingfeaturesorelementslikelytobeconsideredasimportantexampleswithinNorthumberland.Nostrong‘senseofplace’.
LowtoModerate-low
Rarity AninfrequentLCTwithonlyoneLCAcoveringarelativelysmallpartofNorthumberland.However,uplandfarmland,forestryplantationsandestateinfluencesarenotparticularlyrarefeaturesorelementswithintheNorthumberlandlandscape.
Low-moderatetoModerate
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Countryhouseswithassociatedparklandandestate
landscapessuchasSlaleyHallandMinsteracres(monastery)influencethecharacterofthelandscape,buttherearefewotherheritageassets.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Recreation SlaleyHallformercountryhouseandestateisnowusedforrecreationalpurposesasahotelandgolfcourse.Thelocalrightsofwaynetworkprovideslimitedinformalrecreation.
Low-moderatetoModerate
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
Atransitionallandscape,similaringeologyandtopographytolandtothewestbuttheLCTslandusepatternandlackofastrongdrainagenetworkdistinguishitfromtheFarmedRiverValleys(LCT22).Manyofthekeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapegenerallysuggestlow–moderatesensitivitytomediumtolargescalewindenergydevelopmentiflocatedwithinareasofmoremodifiedlandscape,suchastheA68roadcorridor.Thehighproportionofforestrycovercouldreducetheimpactofturbinesinthelandscape.However,elevatedpartsoftheLCTareinter-visiblewithneighbouringlandscapesanditsuplandfringecharactermakesitsensitivetowindenergydevelopmentthatcouldaffecttheadjoiningsettledandsmaller-scalelowlandvalleylandscapetothenorth.TheLCTprovidesabackdropinviewsfromallaround,includingtheNorthPenninesAONBtothesouth,andisimportanttothesettingofthedesignatedlandscapewherewindenergydevelopmentcouldaffectitsspecialcharacteristicsandscenicquality.
Cumulativeeffects TherearecurrentlynowindturbineswithinLCT26butwindturbinesarevisiblewithinneighbouringLCTsi.e.KilnPitHillandBoundaryLanewindfarmsapproximately2kmtotheeast.ThesedonotadverselyaffectlandscapecharacterofLCT26;cumulativeeffectsarecurrentlyinsignificant.
LCT26:UplandFarmlandandPlantations-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA26a:Healey M M-H H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT26:UplandFarmlandandPlantations
IngeneralLCT26issuitableforsingleorasmallgroupofcarefullysitedsmallscaleturbinesupto25mheighttobladetip.Theyshouldbecloselyassociatedwiththescaleandlocationoffarmbuildingsinthelandscape,onlowerlyingland.Ingeneral,windturbinesabove25mheighttobladetipwouldinprinciplebeunsuitablewithinLCT26.Small-mediumscaleturbinesmaybesuitablewithinLCA26awhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportantfociinthelandscape.Evensmallandsmall-mediumsizedturbinescouldbecomeprominentordominantiflocatedinelevatedlocationsawayfromforestry.MediumscaleandlargerturbineswithintheLCTwouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapethatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment,includingtheuplandfringe,landscapesettingandviewstoandfromtheNorthPenninesAONB.They
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couldalsobecomeconspicuousinviewsfromneighbouringlandscapestothenorth.Ifturbinesaresitedimmediatelyadjacentto,orwithinwoodlandareas,treeswouldactasascaleindicatoraccentuatingturbinesize.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT27:UpperDale
ThisLCTcomprisesapastorallandscapeintheupperreachesoftheNorthPenninedales.ItoccurswhollywithintheNorthPenninesAONB.ThisLCTisrepresentedbytwolandscapecharacterareas(LCA):• LCA27a:UpperWestAllen• LCA27b:UpperEastAllen
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT27:UpperDale:• UpperreachesoftheNorthPenninedalesconsistingofvariedvalleytopography;
• Fast-flowing,rockyRiverWestAllenandRiverEastAllen,withsmallertributaryburnsandbecks;
• Shallow,infertileorwaterloggedsoils;
• Wetrushpastures,uplandhaymeadowsandroughgrazinginmoorlandfringes;
• Regularfieldpatternsofdrystonewalls;
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• Scatteredfieldbarns;
• Fewtreesorwoodlandsexceptforoccasionalconiferplantations;
• Scatteredsmallfarmswithoccasionalfarmclustersandhamlets;
• Relictsoftheleadminingindustry,includingminebuildings,wasteheaps,smelterflues,reservoirsandhushes,oftenwithspecialisedbiodiversity;
• ReservoirsinLCA27b;
• Visuallyopenbutenclosedbyencirclingmoorlandridgelines;
• Remote,wildandtranquillandscapesonthemarginsofsettledandagriculturalland.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT27:UpperDaleSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Broaduplandvalleyswithafairlyshallowandmoderatelyslopinglandform,gentlysteppedinplaces,dissectedbyadrainagepatternoffastflowingburnsinsmalltributaryvalleysrunningintothemainriversofthedale.Variedandrelativelycomplexlandformfeaturesincludemeanderingriversandburnsinnarrow,incisedgillsorsikes.Locallymodifiedbytheleadminingindustry.
Moderate-hightoHigh
Landcover
Generallyregularpatternoflanduseandconsistentvegetationcoverrelatedtolandform,drainage,exposureandlandmanagement–pastorallandscapewithmutedpatchworksofwet,rushpastures,uplandhaymeadowsandroughgrazing.Regularfieldboundarypatternwithstonewallsandwirefences,andscattereddomestic/human-scalefeaturesincludingstonefieldbarnsandsheepfolds.Generallysparselywoodedalthoughsomelandatthedaleheadhasbeenafforestedwithregularblocksofsprucee.g.atAllenheads.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Landscapescale Relativelybroadscaleoftheopenpastoraldales,contrastingwiththenarrowincisedvalleyswithamoreintimate,domestic/human-scale,andwoodedareas.
ModeratetoModerate-high
VISUAL:Skylines Thedalesarevisuallyopenbutdefinedbysmooth,
simple,highmoorlandridgelinesthatencircleandoverlookthevalleysandformbackdrops,withlittlevariety.Undevelopedvisualhorizons,increasingsensitivity.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Viewsandlandmarks
Thelandscapefeaturesinviewsfromhighergroundbutnotfromimportantviewpoints.Occasionallocalisedlandformfeaturesprovidelandscapefociinviewsalongthedalefunnelledbytherisingdalesides.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Inter-visibility Generallyhighlevelsofinter-visibilityfromtheopenupperdalelandscapetoneighbouringvalleyand
ModeratetoModerate-high
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
moorlandslopes.Widelyoverlookedfromencirclinghigherground.
Visualreceptors SensitivevisualreceptorsincluderesidentsoftheonlysettlementatAllenheadsandnumerousscatteredpropertiesinthedalefloorandontothedalesides,walkersandcyclistsonrecreationalroutes.AlsoviewsfromminorlocalroadsandtheB6295.
ModeratetoModerate-high
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Occasionaltofrequentman-mademovementalong
recreationalroutesandminorroads,althoughsomeareashavelittlemovement.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Builtdevelopment Lackofsignificantindustryandinfrastructure,althoughthereareabandonedleadmines.Fewverticalstructuresincludeoccasionalcommunicationmastsandanapprovedsmallscalewindturbine.Allenheadsistheonlysettlement,butgenerallyadomesticatedsettled,rurallandscape,withnumerousscatteredfarms,barnsandcottagesconnectedbywindingminorroads.Highersenseofnaturalnessandwildernessontheupper,wilderslopesandalongsmallertributaryburns.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Remoteness Tranquiluplandfringelandscape,withasenseofseclusionandremotenesswithinthevalleysofthesmallerburnsandontheopenroughmoorlandvalleysides.Moreaccessibilityalongthedalefloorwhereproximitytosettlementandotherhumanactivitye.g.AllenheadsalongtheB6295,reducesthesenseofremoteness.
ModeratetoModerate-high
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Naturalrivervalleyfeaturesincludingmeandering
riversandincisedburnsprovidehighscenicquality.Lossofsomefieldboundariesonupperslopesbutgenerallyawell-managed,visuallyandfunctionallyintactlandscape.TheLCTliesentirelywithintheNorthPenninesAONB.
Moderate-hightoHigh
Distinctiveness Naturaluplandmoorlandandbroadrivervalleyswithincisedtributariesandotherfeaturesprovideastrong‘senseofplace’representativeofNorthumberland,althoughnotespeciallydistinctivetotheCounty.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Rarity ArelativelyinfrequentLCTintheuplandfringesofthePenninedales,enclosedbyencirclingmoorlandridgelinesofsouthernNorthumberland.DistinctivenaturalrivervalleyfeaturesarerelativelyrarewithintheCounty.
Moderate-hightoHigh
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Vernacularfarmbuildingsandpastorallandusegivea
strongsenseofbothvisualunityandculturalcontinuity.Relictsoftheleadminingindustryshapethelandscape.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Recreation Limitedlocalfootpathnetworkandasmallpartof Low-moderateto
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Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
NationalCycleNetworkroute7(partoftheverypopularCoasttoCoast[alsoknownastheSeatoSea]recreationalroute)withintheLCTprovidelinksthroughtheNorthPenninesAONB.
Moderate
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
BroaduplandlandscapefringeencircledbymoorlandridgesoftheNorthPenninesAONB,withcontrastingincisedrivervalleysofmoreintimatescale.Generallyhighlevelsofinter-visibilityfromtheopenupperdalelandscapetoneighbouringvalleyandmoorlandslopes.WidelyoverlookedfromencirclinghighergroundofhighscenicqualityincreasessensitivityofthisLCTtowindenergydevelopment.SomeareasarerelativelyaccessiblebutoveralltheLCThasastrongrural,naturalistic,pastoralcharacterthatispartstranquil,wildandremoteandthushighlysensitivetowindenergydevelopment.
Cumulativeeffects ThereiscurrentlyoneapprovedsmallscalewindturbinewithintheLCTthatdoesnotadverselyaffectlandscapecharacter;cumulativeeffectsarecurrentlyinsignificant.TherearecurrentlynowindturbinesvisiblewithinneighbouringLCTs.
LCT27:UpperDale-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA27a:UpperWestAllen M M-H H H HLCA27b:UpperEastAllen M M-H H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT27:UpperDale
IngeneralLCT27issuitableforsingleorasmallgroupofcarefullysitedsmallscaleturbinesupto25mheighttobladetip.Theyshouldbecloselyassociatedwiththescaleandlocationoffarmbuildingsintheuplandfringelandscape,wherethereissomeassociationwiththeopenmoorlandandfell.Theyshould,however,besitedawayfromthesensitivevalleysidesandfloorwhichshouldremainfreeofwindenergydevelopment.Ingeneral,windturbinesabove25mheighttobladetipwouldinprinciplebeunsuitablewithinLCT27.Small-mediumscaleturbinesmaybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportantfociinthelandscape.MediumscaleandlargerturbineswithintheLCTwouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapethatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment,includingtheuplandfringe,landscapesettingandviewstoandfromtheNorthPenninesAONB.TheycouldalsobecomeconspicuousinviewsfromtheneighbouringMoorlandRidgesLCTwhichishighlysensitivetowindenergydevelopment.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT28:BasinValleyandFringes
ThisLCTliesatthefarwestoftheCountyandincludesthewatershedattheheadoftheTyneGapbetweentheRiverIrthing,whichflowswestintoCumbria,andtheTipaltBurn,whichflowseasttotheSouthTyne.ThislandscapeisadjacenttoNorthumberlandNationalParkandcontinueswestalongtheIrthingvalley,beyondthestudyarea.ThisLCTisrepresentedbyonelandscapecharacterarea(LCA):• LCA28a:RiverIrthing
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT28:BasinValleyandFringes:• TransitionallandscapeonthewatershedbetweentheSouthTynevalleytotheeastandthe
CarlisleBasintothewest;
• Transitionallandscapebetweenhighermoorlandridgestothenorth(ThirlwallCommon–inNorthumberlandNationalPark)andtothesouth(BlenkinsoppCommon–LCT25a);
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• Narrow,wooded,steep-sided,deepgorge-likevalleycarvedbytheRiverIrthingalongtheLCTswesternboundary(theCountyboundarywithCumbria);
• Predominanceofpasture,scrubandroughgrazing;
• Semi-naturalwoodlandalongriverandtributaryburns,andmaturetreesassociatedwithsettlement;
• Fieldpatterndefinedbystonewalls,postandwirefencesorhedgerows;
• SignificanthistoricsitesreflectingtheLCTsimportanceasadefensivefrontieroverthecenturies.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT28:BasinValleyandFringesSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Narrow,steep-sided,deepgorge-likevalleyalongtheLCTswesternboundary(theCountyboundarywithCumbria)wherethesinuouscourseoftheRiverIrthinghascutthroughthesandstone.ElsewheregentlerslopesfallfromtheruggedmoorlandontheedgeofNorthumberlandNationalPark,southwards.Occasional,irregularWhinSilloutcropsaredistinctivelandformfeatures.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Landcover
Variedlandcoverpattern;thesteep-sidedgorge-likevalleyisheavilywoodedbothonthevalleyfloorandwith‘hanging’woods.Wetpasture,hedgerowsandgorsearealsofoundonthevalleyfloor.Elsewherein-byepasturesandroughgrazingfieldsareboundedbyamixtureofstonewalls,hedgerowsandpostandwirefences,withoccasionalhedgerowtreesandwoodedcopsesoftenneardomestic-scalefarmbuildings.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Landscapescale Theintimategorge-likerivervalleyisasmallscalelandscapecontainedbythesteepwoodedsides.Thiscontrastswiththemoreopentransitionalpasturelandwhereoccasionallongdistanceviewssouthwardstotheopenmoorlandgivetheperceptionofamedium-largescalelandscape,albeitcontainingsmall-scalelandcoverpatternswithhuman-scalefeatures.
ModeratetoModerate-high
VISUAL:Skylines Smoothflowinggenerallyfeatureless,roundedskylines,
notprominentorparticularlydistinctive.Pylonsarevisibleondistantskylinestothesouth.Theskylineisnotafeaturefromwithinthevalleyduetodensewoodland.
ModeratetoLow-moderate
Viewsandlandmarks
ThelandscapefeaturesinviewsfromhighergroundincludingNorthumberlandNationalPark.Occasionallocalisedlandformfeaturesprovidelandscapefoci.ThelandscapeprovidesanimportantbackdroptothesettingofHadrian’sWallandtheremainsofThirwallCastle.
Moderate-hightoHigh
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
Inter-visibility Rivervalleylandformandwoodlandrestrictinter-visibilitybutelsewheretherearelongerdistanceviewstoneighbouringmoorlandslopes.
LowtoModerate
Visualreceptors Anumberofsensitivevisualreceptorswouldbepotentiallyaffectedbyachangeinviewsandvisualamenity,includingresidents,travellersontheB6318andrailway,walkers,cyclistsandtourists.
ModeratetoModerate-high
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Man-mademovementinthelandscapeis
predominantlyinthemoresettledlowlandinthesouthincludingtheB6318andrailway,withoccasionalmovementelsewhereincludingasmallscalewindturbineclosetoBarronHouse.
ModeratetoLow-moderate
Builtdevelopment NucleatedvillagesatGreenhead,LongbyreandGilslandandscatteredfarmsteadsarelocatedonthesettledlower-lyinggroundalongtheB6318.Althoughthereareotherdispersedfarmsandarailwayonthehigherslopesthesearemoreruggedwithamorenaturalcharacter.Telegraphpoles,occasionalcommunicationmasts,asmallwindturbineandviewsofpylonstothesouthareconspicuousstructures.
ModeratetoLow-moderate
Remoteness Theintimaterivervalleyanddeepgorgeisinpartssecluded,andthereisasenseofremotenessontheruggedvalleyfringeslopesalthoughthisperceptionisreducedbyhumanactivity,settlementandtransportroutes.
ModeratetoLow-moderate
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Highnaturalscenicqualityofthegorge-likerivervalley
landscape.Elsewherethevalleyfringepasturelandisgenerallywellmanagedandvisuallyintact.DevelopmentcouldaffectthespecialqualitiesandintegrityoftheadjacentNorthumberlandNationalPark.
Moderate-hightoHigh
Distinctiveness Thegorge-likerivervalleylandscapeisdistinctivewithastrongsenseofplace,representativeofNorthumberlandanddistinctiveintheCounty.ThepresenceofHadrian’sWallthroughthelandscapeenhancesdistinctiveness.
Moderate-hightoHigh
Rarity AuniqueLCTenclosedbymoorlandridgelinesofNorthumberlandNationalParkandsouthernNorthumberland.DistinctivenaturalrivervalleyfeaturesarerelativelyrarewithintheCounty.
Moderate-hightoHigh
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets SignificanthistoricfeaturesincludeHadrian’sWall
WorldHeritageSite,theStanegateRomanRoadandtheremainsofThirlwallCastle.
Moderate-hightoHigh
Recreation SignificantrecreationaluseincludingHadrian’sWallPathNationalTrail,thePennineWayNationalTrailandNationalCycleRoute72‘Hadrian’sCycleway’.
Moderate-hightoHigh
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Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
Thisisagenerallyopen,transitionallandscapelyingbetweenhighermoorlandridgestothenorth(ThirlwallCommon–inNorthumberlandNationalPark)andtothesouth(BlenkinsoppCommon–LCT25a)whichgivesitaruggeduplandcharacter,withcontrastingincised,narrow,wooded,steep-sided,deepgorge-likerivervalleyofmoreintimatescale.Thevarietyoflandformandlandcover,scenicqualityofthelandscape,itsdistinctivenessandrarity,arecharacteristicsthatmakethisLCTespeciallysensitivetowindenergydevelopment.Inter-visibilitywithneighbouringuplandmoorlandslopesincreasessensitivityofsomepartsoftheLCT.Lower,southernareasarerelativelyaccessiblebutoveralltheLCThasarural,naturalistic,pastoralcharacterthatishighlysensitivetowindenergydevelopment.Thehistoricandrecreationalimportanceofthelandscape,adjacenttoNorthumberlandNationalParkandimportanttothesettingandenjoymentofHadrian’sWallWorldHeritageSitefurtherincreasetheLCTssensitivitytowindenergydevelopment.
Cumulativeeffects ThereiscurrentlyonesmallscalewindturbinewithintheLCT.Thisdoesnotadverselyaffectlandscapecharacter;cumulativeeffectsarecurrentlyinsignificant.TherearecurrentlynowindturbinesvisiblewithinneighbouringLCTs.
LCT28:BasinValleyandFringes-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA28a:RiverIrthing M-H H H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT28:BasinValleyandFringes
IngeneralLCT28isunsuitableinprincipleforwindenergydevelopment.Singleorasmallgroupofcarefullysitedsmallscaleturbinesupto25mheighttobladetipmaybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbecloselyassociatedinlocationandscaletofarmbuildingsinthevalleyfringes.Theyshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportantfociinthelandscape.Small-mediumandlargerturbineswouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapethatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment,includingthelandscapesettingandviewstoandfromNorthumberlandNationalPark.TheycouldalsobecomeconspicuousinviewsfromtheneighbouringMoorlandRidgesLCTwhichishighlysensitivetowindenergydevelopment.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT29:BroadWoodedValley
Thisnorth-southelongatedLCTdefinesthenorthernextremitiesoftheTyneGapandcomprisesthebroadwoodedvalleythatcontainstheRiverNorthTyneinitsmiddlereachesandseveraltributaryvalleys.TheTributaryValley(LCT33)oftheErringBurnliesimmediatelytotheeastwhilsttheSandstoneFringeFarmland(LCT11)alsoflankstheLCTtotheeast.TheroundeduppervalleyslopesshowagradualtransitionintotheUplandCommonsandFarmland(LCT34)tothewest,borderingNorthumberlandNationalPark.LCT29stretchesfromRedesmouthinthenorthtotheconfluencewiththeRiverSouthTyneeastofBridgeEnd.ThisLCTisrepresentedbyonelandscapecharacterarea(LCA):• LCA29a:NorthTyneValley
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT29:BroadWoodedValley:• BroadvalleywiththeRiverNorthTynemeanderingnorthtosouththroughthecentreofthe
floodplainofvaryingwidth;
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• Gentlyslopingandundulatingvalleysidesdissectedbyarepeatingpatternoftributarystreamsmeanderingwesttoeast;
• Highconcentrationoftrees–includingnativewoodlandcopses,mixedandconiferouswoodlands,hedgerows,avenuesandparklandtrees;
• Semi-naturalwoodland(includinghazel,wychelmandash)alongriveredgesandintributaryvalleys;
• Mixtureofarableandpastureagriculturallanduse,andvalleyfloormeadows;
• OutcropsofWhinSillandlimestone;
• Regularmediumscalefieldpatterndefinedbyhawthornhedges,postandwirefencesorstonewalls;
• Smallstonebridgesacrosstributarystreamsanddisusedrailway;stonewallssurroundingparklandestates;
• Villageslocatedonlowervalleysides,andscatteredfarmsteadslendingasettledcharacter;
• Managedlandscapewithlargecountryhousesandassociatedparklands.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT29:BroadWoodedValleySensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Complexbutrelativelyconsistenttopographyisinpartduetoacomplexgeologyunderpinnedbysandstone,siltstone,mudstonesandshalesandoverlainbyglacialdriftandalluvium.WhinSillandlimestoneoutcropswithinabandthroughthecentreoftheLCT.AtthenorthernendoftheLCTtheRiverNorthTynedropsintoadeepgorge-likewoodedvalley.Therearecut-offmeanders,terracesandotherfeatures,providingevidenceofthechangingcourseoftheriverwithintheoftenbroad,gentlyundulatingfloodplainmeadows.AseriesofwoodedtributaryvalleyswindtheirwayeastwardsfromtheuplandmoorlandwithinNorthumberlandNationalPark,passingthroughthegentlyslopingorundulatingvalleyandcuttingintothemainrivervalleysidesinaregularpattern.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Landcover
Acomplexyetunifiedmixofpastureandarablefarmland,enclosedbyastrongfieldpatternofhedgerowsandhedgerowtrees,withpostandwirefencingorstonewallsinsomeplaces.Managedhaymeadowsonthevalleyfloor,grazedbyhorses.Denseancientandsemi-naturalbroadleavedwoodlandwithinthetributaryvalleysandalongthemainvalleysides,withmixedwoodlandplantationsandcopses.Numerousparklandandestatelandscapeswithmatureparklandandavenuetrees,andornamentalgardens.
Moderate-hightoHigh
Landscapescale Thebroadvalleycomprisesfieldsofmediumscalealthoughwoodlandprovidessomeenclosure,in
ModeratetoModerate-high
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contrasttothemoreintimatewoodedrivervalleysthatofferagreaterdegreeofcontainment.Occasionallongdistanceviewstotheadjacentopenmoorlandgivetheperceptionofamedium-largescalelandscape,albeitcontainingsmall-scalelandcoverpatternswithhuman-scalefeatures.
VISUAL:Skylines Smoothflowinggenerallyfeatureless,rounded
moorlandskylines,notprominentorparticularlydistinctive.PylonsarevisibleontheskylinecuttingthroughthesouthernpartsoftheLCT.Theskylineisnotafeaturefromwithintherivervalleyduetodensewoodland.
ModeratetoLow-moderate
Viewsandlandmarks
ThelandscapefeaturesinviewsfromhighergroundincludingNorthumberlandNationalPark.Occasionallocalisedlandformfeaturesprovidelandscapefoci.ThelandscapeprovidesanimportantbackdroptothesettingofHadrian’sWallandassociatedfeatures,andotherheritageassets.Largecountryhouseswithinparkland,otherbuildingssuchasChipchaseCastle,stonebridgesetc.arefeaturesinthelandscape.Pronouncedterracesonlowervalleyslopesaffordviewsacrossthevalleywithinwhichthemainriveranditsfloodplainandtributariesareoftenhidden.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Inter-visibility Rivervalleylandformandwoodlandrestrictinter-visibilitybutelsewheretherearelongerdistanceviewstoneighbouringmoorlandslopes.
ModeratetoLow-moderate
Visualreceptors Anumberofsensitivevisualreceptorswouldbepotentiallyaffectedbyachangeinviewsandvisualamenity,includingresidents,travellersonthenetworkoflocaland‘B’roads,theA6079,walkersincludingthoseonthePennineWay,andtourists.
ModeratetoModerate-high
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Frequentmovementalongthenetworkoflanesand‘B’
roads,andtheA6079inthesouth,withenhancedactivityaroundthemainsettlementsandquarries.Asmallnumberofsmall-scalewindturbinesaddman-mademovementintothelandscape.Turbineblademovementisalsoevidentfromlargewindturbinesandwindfarmsinadjacentlandscapestotheeast(GreenRigg,BavingtonMount,KirkheatonandRaywindfarms).
ModeratetoLow-moderate
Builtdevelopment Awell-settledlandscapewithsmallhistoricvillagesatcrossingpoints,scatteredfarmsteadsandcottages,andlargeestatehouseswithboundarystonewalls,alonganetworkofnarrowwindinglanesand‘B’roads.Bridgescrosstheriversandadismantledrailway.TheA6079passesthroughthesouthernpartoftheLCT.Occasionalmastsinthelandscapeandquarries(active,disused
ModeratetoLow-moderate
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andrestored)telegraphpoles,smallwindturbinesandpylonsthroughthesouthernpartsoftheLCTareconspicuousstructures.Overall,however,thevalleyretainsadistinctlyrural,naturalbutmanagedcharacter.
Remoteness Agenerallyaccessible,settledlandscapeinwhichhumanactivitylimitstranquillityandsenseofremoteness.
ModeratetoLow-moderate
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Highscenicqualityofthemeandering,woodedriver
andtributaryvalleyscontrastingwiththegentlyundulatingfloodmeadowspunctuatedbythenumerousparklandandestatelandscapesonthelowervalleysides,withmatureparklandandavenuetrees.Awell-managedlandscape,inparticulartheNunwickRegisteredHistoricParkandGardenatSimonburn,andornamentalgardensatChipchaseCastle.
Moderate-hightoHigh
Distinctiveness Thegorge-likerivervalleylandscapeinthenorthisdistinctivewithastrongsenseofplace,representativeofNorthumberlandanddistinctiveintheCounty.ThepresenceofHadrian’sWallandassociatedfeaturesinthelandscapeenhancesdistinctiveness.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Rarity AuniqueLCTinwhichdistinctivebroad,naturalrivervalleyfeaturesarerelativelyrarewithintheCounty.
Moderate-hightoHigh
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets SignificanthistoricfeaturesincludeHadrian’sWalland
majorRomanfortatChesters,theStanegateRomanRoad,castlesatHaughtonandChipchase,andotherheritageassets.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Recreation PopulartouristdestinationsincludeamajorRomanfortatChestersandornamentalgardensatChipchaseCastle.Alsocaravansitesandanextensivepublicrightsofwaynetworkthroughthevalley.ThePennineWayNationalTrailpassesalongthenorth-westernboundaryoftheLCT.
Moderate-hightoHigh
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
Theconsistenttopographic,landcover,fieldandsettlementpatternscreateacomplexyetunifiedvisualcomposition.Despitetherelativelyhighdensityofsettlement,thevalleyretainsaruralcharacter.Narrow,windingroadsandlaneslinedwithhedgerowsandsmallwoodlandsreinforcethisnaturalbutmanagedcharacter.Thebroadfarmedvalleycontrastswiththewoodedrivervalley,inparticularthedeepgorge-likewoodedvalleyatthenorthernendoftheLCT.Scenicqualityofthelandscape,itsdistinctivenessandrarity,arefurthercharacteristicsthatmakethisLCTespeciallysensitivetowindenergydevelopment.Inter-visibilitywithneighbouringuplandmoorlandslopesincreasessensitivityofsomepartsoftheLCT.Thehistoricandrecreationalimportanceofthelandscape,adjacenttoNorthumberlandNationalParkandimportanttothesettingandenjoyment
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ofHadrian’sWallWorldHeritageSitefurtherincreasetheLCTssensitivitytowindenergydevelopment.
Cumulativeeffects Thereareasmallnumberofsmall-scalewindturbineswithintheLCT,andglimpsesoflargeturbinesatGreenRigg(LCT8)totheeastfromelevatedlocationsalongtheedgeofthisLCT.Consequentlycumulativeeffectsarecurrentlyinsignificant.Largerscaleturbineswithinthislandscapecouldcreatesignificantcumulativeeffectswhenseenincombinationwithorinsuccession(i.e.whenpassingthroughthelandscape)withexistingwindturbinesandwindfarmsvisibleinadjacentlandscapestotheeast.
LCT29:BroadWoodedValley-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA29a:NorthTyneValley M M-H H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT29:BroadWoodedValley
IngeneralLCT29issuitableforsingleorasmallgroupofcarefullysitedsmallscaleturbinesupto25mheighttobladetip.Theyshouldbecloselyassociatedwiththescaleandlocationoffarmbuildingsandotherdomesticscalefeaturesinthevalleylandscape.Ingeneral,windturbinesabove25mheighttobladetipwouldinprinciplebeunsuitablewithinLCT29.However,small-mediumscaleturbinesbetween26m-40mheighttobladetipmaybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportantfociinthelandscape.MediumscaleandlargerturbineswithinthewoodedrivervalleyofthisLCTwouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapethatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment,includingthelandscapesettingandviewstoandfromNorthumberlandNationalPark.TheycouldalsobecomeconspicuousinviewsfromtheneighbouringMoorlandRidgesLCTwhichishighlysensitivetowindenergydevelopment.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT30:GlacialTroughValleyFloor
ThisLCTcomprisestheflatfloodplainandlowervalleyslopesabovetheRiverTyne.Forthemostpartthelowervalleyslopesblendgentlyintotheextensivefloodplain.Inplacesthemeanderingcourseoftheriverhascutintothevalleysidescreatingsteepsidedbluffsandnarrowgorges.ThisLCTisrepresentedbythreelandscapecharacterareas(LCA):• LCA30a:HaltwhistletoNewbrough• LCA30b:NewbroughtoCorbridge• LCA30c:CorbridgetoWylam
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT30:GlacialTroughValleyFloor:• Valleyfloorandshallowlowerslopesofaneast-westalignedglacialtrough,lyingbetweenthe
NorthPenninestothesouthandtheNorthumberlanduplands,includingtheNorthumberlandNationalPark,tothenorth;
• Theglacialicesteamcarvedthroughtheunderlyingbedrockwhichconsistsofmudstone,sandstoneandlimestone,coveredbymeltwaterdepositsofsandandgravels,creatingamoundytopographyofkames,eskersandinterveninghollowsinsomeareas;
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• Predominantlyaflat,welldefinedandshelteredvalleyfloorcontainingthemeanderingRiverSouthTyne;
• Highlyfertileandwelldrained,rich,alluvialdepositsonthevalleyfloorsupportamixofarablelanduse,withcattle-grazedriversidepastures;
• Mediumtolarge-scalefieldswithmixedfarming,definedbyhedgerowsandpostandwirefencing;
• Generallyopencharacter;treecoverisconcentratedalongtheriverorsteepbluffs,orassociatedwithestatelandscapes;
• Nucleatedsettlementsofearlydateonlowerslopes,oftenbridgingtherivere.g.HaydonBridge;
• MajortransportcommunicationroutecontainingtheA69,theCarlisletoNewcastlerailway,aswellastheriver;
• Sandandgravelextractiononthevalleyfloorinsomeplaces;
• Someareasofindustryandsettlementexpansion.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT30:GlacialTroughValleyFloorSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Simple,lowlyingvalleyfloorandgentlelowervalleyslopes,withsometopographicvariationwheresteepbluffsorgorges,kames,eskersandinterveninghollowsprovidevarietyinsomeareas.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Landcover
Simplelandcoverpatternofarablelanduseonthefertilevalleyfloorwithcattle-grazedriversidepastures.Treecoverisnotextensive;woodedestatelandscapes,areasofwoodedgorgeandriparianwoodlandprovidevariation.Humanscalefeaturesactasscaleindicatorswithinthesettledvalley,includingwell-trimmedhedgerowsandoccasionalhedgerowtrees.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Landscapescale Mediumtosmallscalelandscapeandfieldpattern,generallynarrow,linearvalleywhereslopingvalleysidescreateenclosure,thoughbroadeningoutwithinthecentralareaoftheLCT(LCA30b).IncreasedwoodlandcoverwithinthevalleyfloorofLCA30cgivesamoreenclosedcharactertotheeastofCorbridge.
ModeratetoModerate-high
VISUAL:Skylines Thegentlyslopingvalleysidesleaduptolargelysimple
surroundinghighermoorlandskylines,althoughsettlementandlowfarmedridgesprovidesomevarietywithinLCA30bandnarrowtributaryvalleysinLCA30c.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Viewsandlandmarks
Thesinuouscourseoftheriverprovideslocallyimportant,glimpsedviewsalongthevalleyfloor,acrosstherivertovalleysides,andatjunctionswithtributaryvalleys.Landmarkbuildingsandestatesarelocallysignificant.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Inter-visibility Ashelteredvalleylandscapewhereadjacentvalley Lowerto
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sidesandhighergroundareimportantincontributingtotheoverallcharacteroftheglacialtroughvalleyfloorLCT.
Low-moderate
Visualreceptors Highnumberofresidentialreceptorsinthesettled,populatedvalley,andviewsfromkeytransportroutes.
Moderate-hightoHigh
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Extensivevisibleman-mademovementwithinthe
valleyalongtheriverandmaintransportationroutesincludingtheA69andCarlisletoNewcastlerailway.FactorychimneyplumesarevisibleforconsiderabledistancesintheHexhamareaofLCA30b.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Builtdevelopment TownsandvillagesreflectarepetitivepatternalongthecommunicationcorridorthroughwhichmainroadsandtheNewcastletoCarlislerailwaypass.Recentgrowthincludesbuiltdevelopmentonthefloodplain.LCA30binparticularincludesprominentbuiltdevelopmentandindustry,andapylonlinecrossesthevalleyeastofHexham.Landscapemodificationbygravelextractioninsomeplacesonthevalleyfloor.Despitethis,thevalleyfloorretainsaruralcharacteralongmuchofitslength.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Remoteness Activity,noiseandeaseofmovementalongthevalleyreduceremoteness,althoughsomepartsretainastronglyruralandunspoiltcharacter.
Low-moderatetoModerate
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Naturalrivervalleyfeaturesincludingmeanderingriver,
woodedtributaryvalleysandbluffs,andremnantglaciallandformfeaturesprovidehighnaturalscenicquality.Parklandandgardenswithindesignedestatesareofhighornamentalscenicquality.Lossofsomefieldboundariesbutgenerallyawell-managed,visuallyandfunctionallyintactlandscape.
Moderate-hightoHigh
Distinctiveness Thenarrowglacialtroughvalleyfloorcontainsdistinctivevalleylandscapefeaturesandastrong‘senseofplace’representativeofNorthumberland,althoughnotespeciallydistinctivetotheCounty.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Rarity Aninfrequentlandscapecomprisingtheflatfloodplainandlowervalleyslopesabovetheeast-westalignedRiverTynecorridor,attheheartoftheTyneGap.
Moderate-hightoHigh
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets 18thcenturyestatelandscapesarealegacyofindustrial
wealthintheTyneValley,particularlyeastofHexham.HistoricallythelowervalleyslopeshavebeenimportantforsettlementsinceRomantimes;somearelocatedatimportantrivercrossingpointswithhistoricstonebridges.Therailwayandminingactivityhashadasignificantinfluenceonvernaculararchitectureofanumberofsettlements.Historiccorestosomesettlements.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Recreation NationalCycleRoute72‘Hadrian’sCycleway’passes Low-moderateto
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throughpartofthevalleyfloor.Riversidewalksandcyclepaths,includingpartsofHadrian’sWallPathNationalTrail.NationalTrustpropertiesprovidelocalattractions.
Moderate
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
Thesheltered,extensivelypopulatedvalleylandscapeandbusytransportcorridorcontrastswiththewilderqualitiesoftheadjacentvalleysidesandsurroundinghigherground.Parkland,avenuesandwoodedplantationsassociatedwithestatelandscapeshaveastronginfluenceonthecharacterofsomepartsoftheglacialtroughvalleywhereimpactonsettingisamajorconsideration.Incontrastingurbanfringeandprominentindustrialareas,particularlywithinLCA30b,builtdevelopmentisakeycharacteristicreducingsensitivitytosmallerscalewindenergydevelopment.However,thelinear,mediumtosmall-scalevalleylandscape,areasthatretainastronglyrural,unspoiltcharacter,andhighnumberofsensitivevisualreceptorsincreasessensitivityofthisLCTtolargerscalewindenergydevelopment.
Cumulativeeffects TherearenowindenergydevelopmentswithinthisLCTorvisiblefromitlyingwithinotherLCTs.ConsequentlythecumulativeeffectofwindenergydevelopmentisnotcurrentlyaconcernwithinthisLCT.
LCT30:GlacialTroughValleyFloor-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA30a:HaltwhistletoNewbrough M-H H H H HLCA30b:NewbroughtoCorbridge M-H M-H H H HLCA30c:CorbridgetoWylam M-H H H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT30:GlacialTroughValleyFloor
IngeneralLCT30isunsuitableinprincipleforwindenergydevelopment.Singleorasmallgroupofcarefullysitedsmallscaleturbinesupto25mheighttobladetipmaybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbecloselyassociatedinlocationandscaletofarmbuildingsonthelowervalleysides.Theyshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportantfociinthelandscape.Small-mediumscaleturbinesbetween26m-40mheighttobladetipmaybesuitablewithinLCA30bwhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbecloselyassociatedwithexistingtallerverticalstructures(suchasindustrialchimneys).Small-mediumscaleturbinesbetween26m-40mheighttobladetipwithin
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LCAs30aand30c,andlargerturbinesthroughouttheLCT,wouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapethatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment.Theycouldbecomeconspicuousinviewsfromtheneighbouringmoorlandandhighergroundwhichissensitivetowindenergydevelopment.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT31:GlacialTroughValleySides
ThisLCTcomprisesthevalleysidesoftheglacialtroughwhichcarriestheRiversSouthTyneandTyne.ThesevalleysidesareparticularlydistinctfromtheGlacialTroughValleyFloor(LCT30)bothintermsoftopographyandlandusepatterns.Inplacesthelandscapeofthesurroundinguplandsoccursontheuppervalleysides,influencingthecharacterofthevalleyslopesbelow.ThisLCTisrepresentedbysevenlandscapecharacterareas(LCA):• LCA31a:TipaltBurn• LCA31b:HaltwhistletoBridgeEnd• LCA31c:NorthPlenmellerCommon• LCA31d:LangleytoStocksfield• LCA31e:StocksfieldtoPrudhoe• LCA31f:AcombtoOvington• LCA31g:OvingtonWylam
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KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT31:GlacialTroughValleySides:• Valleysidesofaneast-westalignedglacialtrough,lyingbetweentheNorthPenninestothe
southandtheNorthumberlanduplands,includingNorthumberlandNationalPark,tothenorth;
• Theglacialicesteamcarvedthroughtheunderlyingbedrockwhichconsistsofmudstone,sandstoneandlimestone,coveredbymeltwaterdepositsofsandandgravels,creatingerosionaldeepeningthatsubsequentlyencouragedtributaryburnstocutdownandformdeeplyincisedgulliesinthevalleysides;
• Asaresultofthegeologyandglacialerosion,thevalleyssidesaregenerallysteepandshowastronglysteppedprofileinplaces,becominggentlertotheeast.Wheretributaryvalleyscutintobedrockonthevalleysides,waterfallsarecharacteristic;
• Someofthetributaryvalleysarefedbymanyfurthersmallertributaries-locallythiscreatesacomplextopographyofincisedwoodedvalleysseparatedbyroundedknollsofland;
• Mixed-scalefieldpatterndefinedbyhedges,postandwirefencingandstonewallsonupperslopes;generallymediumsizedfieldpattern,thoughsmalltomediuminsomeplacesandmediumtolargescalewherearablefieldshavebeenenlarged;
• MainlypasturelandtothewestoftheLCT,withincreasingarablecomponentonshallowerslopestotheeast;
• Ancientsemi-naturalwoodlandassociatedwithnaturalspringsandincisedtributaryvalleys;
• Characteristicwaterfallsalongtributaryburns,particularlyonnorth-facingslopes;
• Areasofconiferousplantationandshelterbeltsinplaces;
• Historichouses,estatesandcastles,andsignificantareasofridgeandfurrow;
• Nucleatedsettlementandareasofurbanexpansion;
• Narrowlanesrunningupanddownvalleysides;
• Well-settledandshelteredenclosedlandscape.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT31:GlacialTroughValleySidesSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Valleysidesaregenerallyrelativelysteepwithastronglysteppedprofileinplaces,becominggentlertotheeast.Alocallycomplextopographyofincisedwoodedvalleysseparatedbyknollsoflandwheretributaryvalleysandburnsarefedbymanysmallertributaries.Asaresultofgeologyandglacialerosion,thetributaryburnshavecutdeeplydownintothebedrockofmudstones,sandstonesandlimestones,formingdeeplyincisedgulliesinthevalleysides.Waterfallsaredistinctivelandformfeatures.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Landcover
Typicallyimprovedpastureontheuppersteeperslopeswithstonewallboundaries,andarableuseontheshallowerslopeswithhawthornhedgerowfieldboundaries.Deeptributaryvalleysarewellwooded.Hillslopesarereasonablywellwoodedwithsmallto
Low-moderatetoModerateandModeratetoModerate-high
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medium-sizedbroadleafandconiferouswoods.Parklandtreesandshelterbeltsaroundlargehousesandestatesonnorthernslopes,withlargeconiferousforestsmorecommontothesouth.
Landscapescale Generallymediumsizedfieldpattern,thoughsmalltomediuminsomeminortributaryvalleysandmediumtolargescalewherearablefieldshavebeenenlarged.Enclosureisprovidedbythevalleylandformandwoodedslopes.Broader,moreopenlandscapewherethevalleyslopeslinkphysicallyand/orvisuallywithadjacentmoorlandridges.
Low-moderatetoModerateandModeratetoModerate-high
VISUAL:Skylines Largelysimple,gentlyundulatinglowrounded
moorlandridgeorsummits,occasionallypunctuatedbydistinctivelinesofScotspinee.g.LCA31d.AlineofpylonsisprominentontheskylinethroughLCAs31aand31b.Tributaryvalleysprovidevarietyonthehorizon.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Viewsandlandmarks
Landformandwoodlandconstrainsviewsinsomeareasbutviewsupanddownandacrossthevalleyfromhighermoreopenslopesarelocallyimportant.Hallsandestatewoodlands,waterfallsandblocksoftreesprovidelocallandmarksorlandscapefoci.Landscapeformsthebackgroundandsettingtosettlements.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Inter-visibility Fromthehigheropenslopesthereisinter-visibilitywithsurroundinghigherland,includingNorthumberlandNationalParktothenorthandNorthPenninesAONBtothesouth.Lowerslopesandtributarylandscapesareself-containedwherethevalleylandformandwoodlandlimitvisibility.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Visualreceptors Highnumberofvisualreceptorsfromsettlements,main‘A’roadsandotherroads,andtherailwayinparticular.
ModeratetoModerate-high
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Roadsandtherailwayprovidefrequentmovementon
thelowerslopesandinthevalleyfloor,withotherman-mademovementvisibleonhigherslopesandinadjoiningcharacterareas.Twopairsofsmall-mediumsizedwindturbinesprovidemovementwithintheLCA31blandscape.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Builtdevelopment TheLCTsupportsconsiderableandprominentsettlementrangingfromsmallnucleatedvillagestolargetowns,insomeplacesextendingfromthevalleyfloorupthevalleysides.NarrowrurallanesrunupanddownthevalleysidesconnectingthemainsettlementsandmaintransportcorridorincludingpartsoftheA69,A695andCarlisletoNewcastlerailwayonlowerflatterground.AlineofpylonscrossesthenorthernvalleyslopesthroughLCA31aand31b,andoccasionalmasts
Low-moderatetoModerate
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Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
includingatwopairsofsmall-mediumsizedwindturbinesprovidedistinctiveverticalfeatures.Previouscollierysettlementshaveexpanded,whilstmininghasleftareasofdisturbedground.Incontrast,minortributaryvalleysformrelativelyundevelopedquietbackwaterswithastronglyrural,secretivecharacter.LCA31ehasparticularlystrongperi-urbaninfluences.
Remoteness Activity,noiseandeaseofmovementalongthevalleyandupanddownvalleysidesreduceremoteness,althoughsomepartsretainastronglyruralandunspoiltcharacter.Peri-urbaninfluencesreduceremotenessandtranquillityinLCA31e.
Low-moderatetoModerate
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Designedlandscapesoflargeestates,hallsandcastles
onnorthernvalleysidesareofhighscenicquality.WesternpartsofthevalleyaresandwichedbetweenNorthumberlandNationalParkandNorthPenninesAONBwithhighscenicquality,lesssototheeastwheretherearemoreurbaninfluences.Lossofsomefieldboundariesandpoorwoodlandmanagement,butgenerallyawell-managed,visuallyandfunctionallyintactlandscape.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Distinctiveness Theglacialtroughvalleysidescontaindistinctivevalleylandscapefeaturesandestateinfluences,withastrong‘senseofplace’representativeofNorthumberland,althoughnotespeciallydistinctivetotheCounty.LCA31eislessdistinctivewithperi-urbaninfluences.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Rarity Theglacialtroughvalleyslopesextendoveraconsiderabledistanceeasttowest,andnorthandsouthabovetheRiverTynecorridor,throughthemiddleoftheTyneGap.LCA31eisamorecommonlandscapewithstrongperi-urbaninfluences.
Low-moderatetoModerate
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Largeestates,hallsandcastlesprovidereflectionsof
theBorderWarsand19thcenturyindustrialwealth.Ridgeandfurrowissignificantinsomeareas,e.g.LCA31c.Historiccorestosomesettlements.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Recreation NationalCycleNetworkroute72passesthroughthevalley,withotherlocalpathsandcycleroutes.
Low-moderatetoModerate
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
Thesettledlandscapeandtransportcorridorofthelowerslopescontrastwiththewilderqualitiesofthehighervalleysidesandsurroundingmoorland.ImpactonviewsfromNorthumberlandNationalParkandNorthPenninesAONBisamajorconsiderationparticularlyinwesternpartsoftheLCT,increasingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment.Estatelandscapeshaveastronginfluenceonthecharacterofsomepartsoftheglacialtroughvalleysideswhereimpactonsettingisalsoaconsideration.Incontrastingurbanfringeandprominentindustrialareasbuiltdevelopmentisakeycharacteristicreducingsensitivitytosmallerscalewindenergy
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Sensitivityassessment
development.However,thelinear,mediumtosmall-scalevalleylandscape,areasthatretainastronglyrural,unspoiltcharacter,andhighnumberofsensitivevisualreceptorsincreasessensitivityofthisLCTtolargerscalewindenergydevelopment.
Cumulativeeffects Therearecurrentlytwopairsofsmall-mediumsizedwindturbinesassociatedwithfarmsteadsontheupperslopesofLCA31b.Thesedonotadverselyaffectlandscapecharacter;cumulativeeffectsarecurrentlyinsignificantbutthislandscapetypehasamoderate-hightohighsensitivitytofurtherturbinesofthissizethusnumbersshouldbelimitedtominimisecumulativeeffects.TherearecurrentlynowindturbinesvisiblewithinneighbouringLCTswithinthestudyarea.
LCT31:GlacialTroughValleySides-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA31a:TipaltBurn M-H H H H HLCA31b:HaltwhistletoBridgeEnd M-H H H H HLCA31c:NorthPlenmellerCommon M-H H H H HLCA31d:LangleytoStocksfield M-H H H H HLCA31e:StocksfieldtoPrudhoe M-H H H H HLCA31f:AcombtoOvington M-H H H H HLCA31g:OvingtonWylam M-H H H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT31:GlacialTroughValleySides
IngeneralLCT31isunsuitableinprincipleforwindenergydevelopment.Singleorasmallgroupofcarefullysitedsmallscaleturbinesupto25mheighttobladetipmaybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbecloselyassociatedinlocationandscaletofarmbuildingsinthevalleyfringesorwithinurbanfringelandscapesassociatedwithexistingbuiltdevelopment.Theyshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportantfociinthelandscape.Small-mediumandlargerturbineswouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapethatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment,includingthesettingofestatelandscapes,landscapesettingandviewstoandfromNorthumberlandNationalParkandNorthPenninesAONB.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT32:ParallelRidgesandCommons
ThisLCThasamarkedpatternofelevatedridgesandshallowtroughswithastrongeast-westalignment,extendingnorthbeyondthestudyareaintoNorthumberlandNationalParkwhichformsthenorthernboundaryoftheLCT.Thegentlyrolling,openmoorlandextendsfromGreenheadinthewesttoShieldontheWall(BrownMoor)intheeast.ThehighgroundoffersviewstotheedgeofWarkForestinNorthumberlandNationalParkandacrosstheTyneGaptothePenninesinthesouth.ThisLCTisrepresentedbytwolandscapecharacterareas(LCA):• LCA32a:HowdenHill• LCA32b:Haltwhistle,MelkridgeandRidleyCommons
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT32:ParallelRidgesandCommons:• Glacialerosionhascreatedarepeatingpatternofelevatedridgesandshallowtroughswith
strongeast-westalignment:acuestalandscape(ridgeformedbyerosionoftiltedsedimentaryrockstrata,wherehardrocksremainasascarpononeside,withsofterrocksformingagentle
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slopeontheother);inplacesthecraggyoutcropridgeisbrokenbyglacialmeltwaterchannels,forexampleatWhinstoneRidgeandSycamoreGap;
• VisualassociationwiththedramaticWhinSilloutcropstothenorth,whicharetoppedbyHadrian’sWallWorldHeritageSite,althoughtheseareoutsidethelandscapecharactertype;
• Openmoorlandwithmat-grass(Nardusstricta)andpurplemoorgrass,peatbog,improvedpasturesandcommons;
• Mediumtolarge-scaleenclosurepatterndefinedbystonewallsandpostandwirefencing;
• Limitedhabitationofdispersedfarmsteadsnestlingintolandformandsurroundedbyshelterplanting;
• Limitedtreecoverofsmallbroadleavedcopsesandblocksofconiferousplantation;
• SignificantareaforoutdoorrecreationandtourismassociatedwithRomanfeaturesincludingthenearbyHadrian’sWall,campsandsignalstations,andimportantearthworkevidenceofpre-Romanlandscapecultivation(cordrig).
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT32:ParallelRidgesandCommonsSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Simplepatternofgentlyslopingelevatedmoorlandridgesandshallowtroughswithstrongeast-westalignment,incisedbyuplandburnsdrainingnorthtosouth.CraggyoutcropsofWhinSillprovidevariationanddistinctioninrelief,especiallywherebrokenbyglacialmeltwaterchannels.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Landcover
Simple,consistentmoorlandplateauwithlittlevarietyconfinedtomoorgrassandsemi-improvedgrazingpasturedividedbystonewallsorfencing.Otheroccasionaldomestic/humanscalefeaturesincludepatchesofcarrwoodland,boghabitatsandconiferousplantations,andisolatedfarmsteads.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Landscapescale Mediumtolargescaleopen,exposedmoorlandplateau.
LowertoLow-moderate
VISUAL:Skylines Simple,gentlyundulatingmoorlandskylinesare
generallyfeaturelessbutprominent.Alineofpylonsandoccasionalwoodedplantationsaredistinctiveandprominentonthehorizoninplaces.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Viewsandlandmarks
TheLCTisimportanttothesettingofNorthumberlandNationalParkandHadrian’sWallWorldHeritageSite.LandformfeaturesincludingWhinSillcragsprovidelandscapefoci.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Inter-visibility Inter-visibilitywithNorthumberlandNationalParkandHadrian’sWallWorldHeritageSiteisakeyissue.Moreextensiveinter-visibilityfromopenelevatedmoorlandacrossadjacentlandscapesincludingNorthumberlandNationalParktothenorthandNorthPenninesAONBtothesouth.
ModeratetoModerate-high
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
Visualreceptors ContrastbetweenLCA32awherereceptorsarelimitedtoacoupleofadjacentminorroads,andLCA32bwherevisualreceptorsincludetheB6318MilitaryWayRomanRoad,asmallnumberoffarmsteads,touristsandrecreationalusersofpublicrightsofwayincludingpartofNationalCycleNetworkroute72‘Hadrian’sCycleway’.
ModeratetoModerate-high
PERCEPTUAL:Movement MovementalongtheB6318MilitaryWay,localroads
andatcarparksassociatedwithrecreational/tourismfacilitieswithinLCA32b.Twopairsofsmall-mediumsizedwindturbinesprovidemovementwithintheadjoiningLCA31b.IncontrastLCA32aisarelativelysmallareabarelyaffectedbymovement.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Builtdevelopment Dispersedpatternofisolatedsandstonefarmsteadslinkedbyminorlanes.The18thcenturyMilitaryRoad(B6318)followsthenorthernedgeofpartofLCA32bacrossHaltwhistleCommon.AlineofpylonspassesthroughorclosetoLCAswithinthischaractertype.Visitorinfrastructureandsignagehasmodifiedthelandscapee.g.atVindolandaRomanFort.
Low-moderatetoModerateandModerate-hightoHigh
Remoteness Overallsenseofremotenessandexposure,butsomewhatreducedbyrelativeeaseofaccess;contrastintranquillitybetweenLCA32awhichisquietandtranquilwithlittleactivity,andLCA32bwhichhassignificantrecreationalusereducingremoteness.
ModeratetoModerate-highandModerate-hightoHigh
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality CloseproximitytoNorthumberlandNationalParkand
NorthPenninesAONBwithhighscenicquality.Moorlandhaslimitedmanagementrequirementsbutvisuallyandfunctionallyanintactlandscape.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Distinctiveness UplandmoorlandistypicaloflargepartsofNorthumberland.Landformfeaturesprovideparticularfeaturesofimportanceandadistinctive‘senseofplace’.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Rarity ThisLCTcoversarelativelysmallpartoftheCountyandcontainssomerarefeatures.
ModeratetoModerate-high
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets FewhistoricfeaturesinLCA32abutimpactonthe
settingofRomanfeaturesassociatedwithHadrian’sWallisaconsideration.TheseheritageassetsfromtheRomanperiod,includingimportantearthworkevidenceofpre-Romanlandscapecultivation(cordrig),campsandsignalstationsareimportanthistoricfeatureswithinLCA32b.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Recreation ThelandscapeisagatewaytothemajortouristdestinationofHadrian’sWall,ashortdistancetothenorth,andassociatedattractionsincludingTheSillNationalLandscapeDiscoveryCentre.Thereare
ModeratetoModerate-high
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Sensitivityassessment
campsites,extensiveaccessintheformofpublicrightsofwayincludingpartofNationalCycleNetworkroute72‘Hadrian’sCycleway’,andaccessland.
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
Physicallandscapeattributesoftheopenmoorlandindicatereducedsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment,althoughturbinescouldadverselyaffectnaturallandformfeaturesincludingWhinSillcragsthatprovidelandscapefoci.Thelandscapecontainshistoricallyimportantearthworkevidenceofpre-Romanlandscapecultivationintheformof‘cordrig’nearHaltwhistleandelsewhere.Thislandscapecharactertypefeelsremotebecauseofitsnarrowroads,sparsesettlement,extensiveagriculturemanagement,andexposuretotheelements.Thelandscapehasatimelessquality,apparentlylittlemodifiedsinceRomantimes.Thecomplex,enduringformoftheWhinSill,setwithinasimpleanduniformlandscapeofgentlyrollingmoorlandandenclosedpastures,remainsitsdefiningfeature.Thelandscapecontainshistoricallyimportantearthworkevidenceofpre-Romanlandscapecultivationintheformof‘cordrig’nearHaltwhistleandelsewhere.ThelandscapeisagatewaytothemajortouristdestinationofHadrian’sWall,andtheassociatedattractions.Inter-visibilityincludingpotentialimpactonviewsandthesettingofNorthumberlandNationalParkandHadrian’sWallWorldHeritageSiteisasignificantconsideration,increasingthesensitivityofthisLCT.
Cumulativeeffects TherearecurrentlynowindturbineswithinthisLCT.TwopairsofsmalltomediumscalewindturbinesarevisiblewithintheneighbouringLCA31bbutthesedonotadverselyaffectlandscapecharacter;cumulativeeffectsarecurrentlyinsignificant.AnylargeturbineswithinthislandscapecouldcreatecumulativeeffectswithexistingpylonsthatarealreadyprominentontheskylineinsomepartsoftheLCT.
LCT32:ParallelRidgesandCommons-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA32a:HowdenHill H H H H HLCA32b:Haltwhistle,MelkridgeandRidleyCommons
M-H H H H H
OverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT32:ParallelRidgesandCommons
IngeneralLCT32isunsuitableforwindenergydevelopment.Singleorasmallgroupofcarefullysitedsmallscaleturbinesupto25mheighttobladetipmaybesuitablewithinLCA32bwhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbecloselyassociatedinlocationandscaletofarmbuildingsorotherdomesticscalefeaturesinthelandscape.Theyshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthe
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landscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportantfociinthelandscape.Smallscaleturbinesupto25mheighttobladetipwithinLCA32aandsmall-mediumandlargerturbinesthroughouttheLCTwouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapethatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment,includingthelandscapesettingandviewstoandfromNorthumberlandNationalPark,NorthPenninesAONBandHadrian’sWallWorldHeritageSite.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT33:TributaryValley
ThisLCToccursalongthenorth-easternedgeoftheTyneGapvalleyandisdefinedbythehigherlandoftheNorthumberlandsandstonehillstothenorth(SandstoneFringeFarmlandLCT11)andthehigherlandoftheNorthTynevalleytothesouth(UplandCommonsandFarmlandLCT34).TotheeastthelandscapeopensoutintothelowlandfarmlandofMidNorthumberland.ThisLCTisrepresentedbyonelandscapecharacterarea(LCA):• LCA33a:ErringBurn
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT33:TributaryValley:• ShallowvalleyoftheErringBurnlyingbetweenridgesofhigherlandtothenorthandsouth;
• Cleardrainagepattern,astheErringBurnflowsthroughthecentreofashallowvalleywestwardsintotheRiverNorthTyne;
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• Geometric,medium-sizedfieldpatterndefinedbylowhawthornhedgerowswithoccasionalhedgerowtreesandstonewalls;
• Mixtureofarablelandandimprovedpastureswithwetflushesalongtheburn;
• Sparselywoodedexceptforsmallcopses,somerelativelyyoung,andripariantreesalongsidetheburn;
• Sparselypopulatedlandscapewithasmallnumberoffarmsteadsmostlylocatedontheoneminorroadrunningeast-westthroughtheLCT,withfewotherlanesandtracks;
• TheA68runsnorth-westtosouth-eastthroughthecentreoftheLCT,andtheA6079alongthewesternboundary;
• HistoriclandscapewithDereStreetRomanRoad(A68),desertedmedievalvillageatKeepwick,ridgeandfurrowandanumberoflistedbuildingsincludingCocklawPeleTower.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT33:TributaryValleySensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Asimple,consistent,shallowbowl-shapedvalleydrainedbytheErringBurnfeedingintotheRiverNorthTynetothewest.Underlainbybandsofsandstone,limestone,siltstonesandmudstonesbutcoveredwithathicklayerofglacialdepositswhichgiverisetoagentlyundulatingtopography.Thereisalackofanydistinctlandformfeatures.
Lower
Landcover
Asimple,consistentpatternofmixedagriculturalusewithgeometricarablefieldsandimprovedpasture,dividedbywell-trimmedhawthornhedgerows,hedgerowtreesandoccasionalstonewalls.Treesoverlapinviewssuggestingamorewoodedcharacterthanexists.Gorseonhighergroundandwetflushesinthevalleybottomprovidesomevariety.Occasionalfarmsteadsprovideotherdomestic/humanscaleindicatorsinthelandscape.Thereisalackofanydistinctlandscapefeatures.
Low-moderate
Landscapescale Mediumsizedfieldpattern.Aridgelineofhighergrounddefinesthebroadbowl-likevalleytothesouthandprovidessomeenclosure,butthelandscapeopensouttotheeastparticularlytothenorthwherethereareextensiveviews,givingtheperceptionofamoreopenlandscape.
Low-moderatetoModerate
VISUAL:Skylines Thesurroundinghigherfarmlandprovidessimple,open
andunclutteredhorizonsimportanttothecharacterofthebowl-likeLCT.ThereissomevisibledevelopmentandmovementalongtheB6318(MilitaryWay)andatallmastonhighgroundtothesouth.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Viewsandlandmarks
TheLCTisseeninviewsfromsurroundinghighergroundbutimportantviewsorviewpointsarenota
Low-moderatetoModerate
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
featureofthisLCT.VisibilityfromNorthumberlandNationalParktothewestandHadrian’sWalltothesouthisanimportantconsideration.
Inter-visibility Limitedinter-visibilitytothesouthduetotheridgelineofhigherground,butthereareextensiveviewsparticularlynorthwardsprovidinginter-visibilitywithneighbouringlandscapes.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Visualreceptors FewresidentialreceptorsbutsomevisibilityfromtransportroutesincludingtheA68throughtheLCT.
Low-moderatetoModerate
PERCEPTUAL:Movement TheA68andminorroadprovidemovementthrough
theLCT,withtrafficalsovisibleonsurroundingroads.Beyondthesetransportationcorridorsthereisonlyoccasionalman-mademovement.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Builtdevelopment Sparselypopulatedlandscapewithasmallnumberoffarmsteadsmostlylocatedontheoneminorroadrunningeast-westthroughtheLCT,withfewotherlanesandtracks.ThestraightA68isthemainlandscapemodification(DereStreetRomanRoad)togetherwithatalltelecommunicationmastonhighgroundalongtheLCTssouthernboundary.OnemediumscalewindturbineatBavingtonMount(1x61m)andthreemedium-largescaleturbinesatKirkheaton(3x66m)approximately6-7kmtothenortheastarevisiblefromhighground.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Remoteness TheA68andperpendicularminorroaddividetheLCTandprovideaccessibility,althoughbeyondtheseroutestheLCTisremoteandtranquilwithastronglyruralcharacter.
ModeratetoModerate-high
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Aheavilymanagedagriculturallandscapewithsome
naturalscenicquality,althoughsomelossofhedgerowsasevidencedbyremaininglinesoftrees.Evidenceoftreeplantinginfieldcornercopses.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Distinctiveness TheshallowvalleylacksdistinctivecharacteristicsandfeaturesandisnotparticularlyrepresentativeofNorthumberland,buthassome‘senseofplace’duetoitsbowl-likelandform.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Rarity ThefarmedvalleylandscapesharessimilarcharacteristicswithotheragriculturallandscapesintheCounty,butitisarelativelysmallLCTwithonlyoneLCAandthusuniquealbeitwithnorarelandscapefeaturesorelements.
ModeratetoModerate-high
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets HistoriclandscapewithDereStreetRomanRoad(A68),
desertedmedievalvillageatKeepwick,ridgeandfurrowandanumberoflistedbuildingsincludingCocklawPeleTower.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Recreation Littleevidenceofrecreationalortouristuse,limitedto LowertoLow-
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asmallpartofSt.Oswald’sWaylongdistanceroutecuttingthroughthenorth-easterncorneroftheLCT.
moderate
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
Physicalattributesoftheopenvalleylandscapeindicatereducedsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment,althoughthepresenceofheritageassetsinthelandscapeandadjacentLCTsincreasessensitivity,especiallywherethesettingofHadrian’sWallWorldHeritageSitetothesouthcouldbeaffected.Thevalleyistoalargeextentdefinedbyitssmoothunclutteredridge-likeskylinegenerallyfreeofdevelopmentapartfromaprominenttallmastonthesouthernboundary.Movingturbinebladesonthesurroundinghighgroundwouldsignificantlyaffectthestronglyrural,remoteandtranquilqualitiesoftheLCT.AwayfromthemainA68corridor,thislandscapecharactertypefeelsremotebecauseofitsfewnarrowroads,sparsesettlement,lackofovertmodernhumaninfluencesandthesimpleagriculturallanduse.Inter-visibilityincludingpotentialimpactonviewsandthesettingofNorthumberlandNationalParkandHadrian’sWallWorldHeritageSiteisasignificantconsideration,increasingthesensitivityofthisLCT.
Cumulativeeffects TherearecurrentlynowindturbineswithinthisLCT.OnemediumscalewindturbineatBavingtonMountandthreemedium-largescaleturbinesatKirkheatonarevisiblewithintheneighbouringLCA36aapproximately6-7kmtothenortheast,butthesedonotadverselyaffectlandscapecharacter;cumulativeeffectswithintheLCTarecurrentlyinsignificant.ThewindturbinesatBavingtonMountandKirkheatonaddtosequentialcumulativeeffectsalongtheA68fromwhereotherwindfarmsarevisiblealongtheroute,includingBoundaryLane,KilnPitHill,GreenRiggandRay.CumulativeeffectsofanynewwindenergydevelopmentwithintheLCTwithexistingturbinesinneighbouringLCTs,andsignificantsequentialcumulativeeffectsalongtheA68,shouldbeavoided.
LCT33:TributaryValley-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA33a:ErringBurn M-H M-H H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT33:TributaryValley
IngeneralLCT33isunsuitableinprincipleforwindenergydevelopment.Singleorasmallgroupofcarefullysitedsmallscaleturbinesupto25mheighttobladetip,andsmall-mediumscaleturbinesbetween26m-40mheighttobladetipmaybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbecloselyassociatedinlocationandscaletofarmbuildingsonthelowervalleysides.Theyshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldavoidthehighergroundontheedgeof
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theLCT.Mediumscaleandlargerturbinesabove40mheighttobladetipwouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapethatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment.Theycouldbecomeconspicuousinviewsfromtheneighbouringhighergroundandotherlocationssensitivetowindenergydevelopment,includingthelandscapesettingandviewstoandfromNorthumberlandNationalParkandHadrian’sWallWorldHeritageSite.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT34:UplandCommonsandFarmland
ThisLCTislocatedabovethevalleyslopesoftheRiversSouthTyneandNorthTyne,formingatransitionallandscapetotheadjoininguplandmoorlandandforestlandscapeswithinNorthumberlandNationalPark,andtotheNorthPenninesAONBintowhichitextendstothesouth.Generallyitcomprisesopen,elevatedlandbetween200mand250m,theelevationenablingviewsacrosstheadjacentvalleysandtotheedgeoftheKielderandWarkForestswithinNorthumberlandNationalPark.Thislandscapethereforeactsasanimportantvisualsettingtoadjacentvalleys.ThisLCTisrepresentedbyfivelandscapecharacterareas(LCA):• LCA34a:AcombRidge• LCA34b:BroadpoolCommon• LCA34c:GrindonCommon• LCA34d:FeatherstoneCommon• LCA34e:LowesandNubbockFells
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KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT34:UplandCommonsandFarmland:• Broadopenridgesandplateauareas;
• Intermediate,transitionalareabetweenopenmoorlandandforestsandadjoiningvalleylandscapes;
• Dissectedbyseriesofburnsoftenflowingthroughincisedcleughs(narrowgorgewithhighrockysides);
• Strongmediumtolarge-scalegeometricpatterncreatedbystonewallandhedgerowenclosures;
• Someimprovedpasturesonlowerslopes,givingwaytounimprovedrougherpasturesonhigherland;pasturesaremainlywetandrushy;
• Broadleavedtreesonlowerslopesandinravines;
• Smalltomedium-sizedconiferousplantationscreating'blocky'characterinplaces;
• Sparselysettled,withisolatedfarmsmarkedbyshelterwoodlandandconnectedbystraightroads.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT34:UplandCommonsandFarmlandSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Geologicallythelandscapecomprisesthinlybeddedlimestones,sandstonesandmudstonesoverlainwithglacialtill.Partsoftheareaformarelativelyflatplateau,whileothersundulategentlyasaresultofdriftdeposits.Inplacesthebandingofthesandstonerockisevidentintheundulatingtopographyandinthedrainagepatternwhereminorburnshavecutravinesthatreflectthefaultingoftheunderlyinggeology.Overallasimplelandformwithsomevariety.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Landcover
Simplelandcoverofmoorland,poorlydrainedroughpastureandbrackenonhighground,withimprovedpasturesonlowerslopes.Patchesofgorseandbrackenprovideevidenceofbandingofthesandstoneandoverallatexturedlandscapeofmutedcolours.Avarietyoffieldboundariesincludestonewallsonelevatedmoorland,outgrowngappyhedgerowsandpost&wirefencingonlowerground,reflectingthelandscape’stransitionalcharacter.Thestronggeometricfieldpatternreflectsplanned18thcenturyenclosureofcommonland.Thewell-treedandinplaceswell-woodedburnscreateastronglandscapepattern.Occasionaltreesonroadsides,inhedgerowsandaroundfarmsteads,withmoreextensiveareasofgeometricconiferousshelterbeltplantationsthatcreatea‘blocky’character.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Landscapescale Mediumtolargescalefieldpatternwithinapredominantlyopenlandscape,althoughtrees,woodlandandblocksofconiferousplantationsprovide
Low-moderatetoModerate
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
asenseofenclosureinparts.VISUAL:Skylines Generallysimple,smooth,indistinctivemoorland
skylines,althoughwoodlandandplantationsprovidesomecomplexity.AlineofpylonsisprominentontheskylinewithinoradjacenttomostofthelandscapeareaswithinthisLCT.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Viewsandlandmarks
LongdistanceviewsnorthwardsfromthetopoftheridgewherethemilitaryroadrunsfollowingthelineofHadrian'sWall;impactonthesettingoftheWorldHeritageSiteisasignificantfeatureoftheLCT.PotentialvisualimpactonviewsfromNorthumberlandNationalParkandNorthPenninesAONBisasignificantconsideration.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Inter-visibility Highinter-visibilitywiththesurroundinglandscapefromelevatedridgesandacrosstheTyneValley,includingvisibilitywithNorthumberlandNationalParkandNorthPenninesAONB.
Moderate-hightoHigh
Visualreceptors FewresidentsbutvisibilityfromtransportroutesincludingtheA68andB6318.
ModeratetoModerate-high
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Frequentmovementonmaintransportrouteswithin
theLCTorbeyond.Low-moderatetoModerate
Builtdevelopment Dispersedfarmsteadsinshallowdipsinthelandform,somedisusedquarries,prominentlineofpylonsandtransportrouteswithassociatedbuiltdevelopment.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Remoteness ThisLCTisnotheavilypopulatedandretainsahighdegreeoftranquillitywithfewovertman-madestructures.Openmoorlandandpatchesofbrackenscrubreinforcesasenseofwildness,buttransportroutesandvisitoractivityassociatedwithHadrian’sWallreducesthesenseofremoteness.
Low-moderatetoModerate
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality TheLCTlieswithinoradjacenttoareasdesignatedfor
theirscenicbeauty:thesouthernpartofLCA34elieswithintheNorthPenninesAONB,whilstotherLCAsborderNorthumberlandNationalPark.TheLCTisthusimportanttothesettingoftheNorthPenninesAONBandNorthumberlandNationalPark.Someuplandmoorlandareasshowalackofmanagement.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Distinctiveness ExtensiveuplandlandscapeisrepresentativeoftheNorthumberlandlandscape,withsomedistinctivefeaturesinparticulartherouteandearthworksandotherfeaturesassociatedwithHadrian’sWall.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Rarity ExtensiveuplandlandscapeisamorecommonlandscapetypewithintheCounty,withsomeuniquefeaturesinparticulartherouteandearthworksandotherfeaturesassociatedwithHadrian’sWall.
ModeratetoModerate-high
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Remnantridgeandfurrowandlinearearthworks
provideevidenceofpasthumanactivityincludingarablecropping.TheremainsofHadrian'sWall,comprisingremnantsectionsofthewallandthevallumorditch,runsalongthetopofaridgefollowingthemilitaryroad(B6318)inLCA34aand34c.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Recreation Hadrian’sWallWorldHeritageSiteisasignificantrecreationalandtouristattractionwithinLCA34aand34c.ThePennineWayNationalTrailrunsalongtheedgeofLCA34b.NationalCycleNetworkroute72‘Hadrian’sCycleway’runsthroughLCA34c.
ModeratetoModerate-high
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
Thephysicalcharacteristicsofthelandscapei.e.thepredominantlymediumtolargescale,open,simpleandconsistentlandformandlandcover,wouldsuggestthattheUplandCommonsandFarmlandLCTisnotparticularlysensitivetowindenergydevelopment.However,thisisanintermediatetransitionallandscapebetweenopenmoorlandandforestsandadjoiningvalleylandscapes,makingtheLCTespeciallysensitiveintheseterms.Furthermore,somepartsarerelativelytranquilandretainasenseofwildnessthatcouldbeaffectedbywindenergydevelopment.TheLCTformsanimportantvisualbackdroptotheTyneValleywherethemoorlandridgesareanimportantcharacteristic;inter-visibilitywiththeTyneValley,NorthumberlandNationalParkandtheNorthPenninesAONBisakeyconsideration.Hadrian’sWallisasignificantrecreationalandtouristattractionwithinandadjacenttotheLCTwherewindenergydevelopmentcouldadverselyaffectviewsandthesettingoftheWorldHeritageSite.
Cumulativeeffects AsinglesmallscalewindturbinehasbeenconsentedwithinLCA34e.ThereareviewsofasmallnumberofsmalltomediumscaleturbinesinadjoiningLCTs,howeverthesedonotadverselyaffectthecharacteroftheUplandCommonsandFarmlandLCT;cumulativeeffectsarecurrentlyinsignificant.DuetotheimportanceofthelandscapeinviewsfromsurroundingLCTs,andinparticularfromtheTyneValley,NorthumberlandNationalParkandtheNorthPenninesAONB,itisimportantthatadditionaldevelopmentwithinorbeyondtheLCTdoesnotresultincumulativeeffectsadverselyaffectingthelandscapecharacteroftheTyneValley,NorthumberlandNationalParkandtheNorthPenninesAONB,orviewstoandthesettingofHadrian’sWallWorldHeritageSite.
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LCT34:UplandCommonsandFarmland-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA34a:AcombRidge H H H H HLCA34b:BroadpoolCommon M-H H H H HLCA34c:GrindonCommon H H H H HLCA34d:FeatherstoneCommon H H H H HLCA34e:LowesandNubbockFells M-H H H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT34:UplandCommonsandFarmland
IngeneralLCT34isunsuitableforwindenergydevelopment.Singleorasmallgroupofcarefullysitedsmallscaleturbinesupto25mheighttobladetipmaybesuitablewithinLCAs34band34ewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbecloselyassociatedinlocationandscaletofarmbuildingsorotherdomesticscalefeaturesinthelandscape.Theyshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportantfociinthelandscape.Smallscaleturbinesupto25mheighttobladetipwithinLCAs34a,34cand34d,andsmall-mediumandlargerturbinesthroughouttheLCTwouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapethatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment,includingthelandscapesettingandviewstoandfromNorthumberlandNationalPark,NorthPenninesAONBandHadrian’sWallWorldHeritageSite.Theseconsiderationstogetherwithinter-visibilityacrosstheTyneValleymaketheelevatedridgesoftheLCTparticularlysensitivetoallscalesofwindenergydevelopment.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT35:BroadLowlandValleys
ThisLCTlieswithinthetransitionallandscapesofmid-Northumberland.Itcomprisesthebroad,gentlyV-shapedvalleysoftheCoquet,FontandWansbeckrivers,betweenthesandstonehillstothewestandthecoastalplaintotheeast.NorthumberlandNationalParkliesashortdistancetothewest,abuttingLCA35a.ThisLCTisrepresentedbytwolandscapecharacterareas(LCA):• LCA35a:CoquetValley• LCA35b:FontandWansbeckValleys
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT35:BroadLowlandValleys:• Broad,gentlyv-shapedvalleyssetintorollingfarmland;
• Inplacesthedeeplyincised,steep-sidedvalleylandscapeisinsharpcontrasttothesurroundingfarmland;
• Mediumtosmall-scalemixedfarminglandscapewithenclosureprovidedprincipallybyhedgerows;
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• Riparianwoodlandsarefrequentalongsidemeanderingriverchannels,contributingsignificantlytoenclosure;
• Significantlocalestateinfluencesincludinglargecountryhousessetindesignedparkland.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT35:BroadLowlandValleysSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Broad,gentlyV-shaped,low-lyingvalleysmeanderthroughthelandscape,cuttingshallowcoursesthroughdriftdeposits.TopographicalvarietywherethevalleysaremoresharplyincisedastheyflowoutoftheNorthumberlandSandstoneHillstothewest,cuttingthroughtheunderlyingmillstonegritandformingsteepvalleysides,withwoodedravinesandbouldersalongtheriverbed.TheRiverFontemergesfromtheFontburnReservoirunderthesteepslopesoftheWingatesridge.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Landcover
Agriculturallandusecomprisesasimplemixofarablecropsandpasturefields,generallyboundedbyhedgerowswithsomestonewalls.Improvedpasturegiveswaytolargerarablefieldsonthegentlerslopes.Meanderingriversidesarewellwoodedwithriparianvegetation.ThereisancientwoodlandatvariousriparianlocationsincludingMitford,Hartburn,andNunnykirk.MatureparklandassociatedwithRegisteredParksandGardensandotherornamentalgrounds.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Landscapescale Generallyopen,mediumtosmallscalefarmlandwithmedievalfieldpatternsinsomeplaces,butmoreintimatealongincisedvalleysparticularlyinthewest.Woodlandandgentlyundulatinglandformhasanenclosingeffectonviews.
ModeratetoModerate-high
VISUAL:Skylines Largelysimple,undevelopedskylinesformedby
surroundingfarmland,butwoodlandsprovidesomevarietyonthehorizon.Alineofprominentpylonscrossesbothvalleysinseveralplaces.
LowertoLow-moderate
Viewsandlandmarks
ThelandscapeisvisiblefromlimitedpartsofthesandstonehillsandelevatedpartsofNorthumberlandNationalParktothewest,includingSimonsideHills.Locally,woodlandandgentlyundulatinglandformforeshortensviewsalthoughroadoverbridgesprovidemid-distanceviewsalongthevalleys.Occasionallandmarksincludecountryhouses.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Inter-visibility Valleylandform,woodlandandgentlyundulatingfarmlandlimitsoutwardviewsbutinter-visibilitywithsurroundinghighergroundtothewest,includingSimonsideHillsinNorthumberlandNationalPark,is
ModeratetoModerate-high
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
important.Visualreceptors Visibilityfromdispersedsettlements,cottagesand
farmsteads,main‘A’roads,localroadnetworkincludinganumberof‘B’roads,fromtheurbanedgeofMorpethandthefootpathnetworkincludingSt.Oswald’sWaylongdistancefootpath.
ModeratetoModerate-high
PERCEPTUAL:Movement FrequentmovementontheA1,A696andA697,and
fromtheurbanedgeofMorpeth,lesssoonthelocalroadnetworkincludinganumberof‘B’roads.Otherareasaremoreremoteandtranquilwithlimitedmovement.
Low-moderatetoModerateandModeratetoModerate-high
Builtdevelopment Occasionalsmallvillagesliealongtherivers,locatedatcrossingpointsorontheslopesabovethewater.ThetownofMorpethliesattheeasternendofLCA35bbutdoesnotexertastronginfluenceontheWansbeckvalley,eastofMitford,sincebuiltdevelopmentwithinthetownisnotespeciallyprominent.TheA1crossesbothvalleys,insomeareasonsubstantialbridges,andothermainroadsalsopassthrough.Alineofpylonscrossesbothvalleysinseveralplaces.Anumberoflargecountryestatesexertasignificantdesignedandmanagedinfluenceonlandscapecharacterthroughtheiruseofspecificandconsistenttraditionalmaterialssuchasstoneandstylesofconstruction.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Remoteness Themoreintimatescalelandscapes,wherethevalleysareincisedandthereiswoodlandenclosure,arerelativelyremoteandtranquil.Elsewhereeaseofaccessandhumanactivityreducesremoteness.
ModeratetoModerate-high
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Relativelyhighscenicqualitywithinthemeandering,
well-woodedrivervalleyswithgoodmanagement,especiallywithincountryhouseandestateparklands,andclosetoNorthumberlandNationalPark.Hedgerowdeteriorationisevidentinsomeareas,notablywherearablecropsaregrownandtheneedforfunctionalboundariesisdiminished.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Distinctiveness Distinctivelowlandwoodedrivervalleylandscape,withsomedistinctivetopographicalandhistoricfeatures.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Rarity BroadlowlandvalleylandscapeisrelativelycommonwithinNorthumberland–althoughthereareonlytwoLCAstheycoverarelativelylargearea.Somefeaturesarequiterareinthecountye.g.lowlandincisedwoodedravines.
Low-moderatetoModerate
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Thelandscapeshowsmuchevidenceofearlier
settlement:fieldpatternsareofmedievalorigininplaces,withevidenceofridgeandfurrowcultivation;anumberoflargecountryestatesexertasignificant
ModeratetoModerate-high
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
influenceonlandscapecharacter,includingRegisteredParksandGardensatKirkharle(homeofLancelot‘Capability’Brown)andtheWallingtonestate(WallingtonHallGradeIListed);ConservationAreasatFelton,Kirkwhelpington,Middleton,MorpethandNetherwitton;desertedmedievalvillageofSouthMiddleton;MitfordCastle;cairns;RomancampsandTheDevil’sCausewayRomanRoad.
Recreation St.Oswald’sWaylongdistancefootpathfollowstheRiverCoquetcorridor;elsewherethelocalfootpathnetworkisintermittent.TheRiverCoquetisnationallyimportantforgamefishing(salmonandseatrout).BrinkburnPrioryisanEnglishHeritageproperty.WallingtonHall,gardensandestateareNationalTrust-ownedwithpublicaccess,asthereisalsototheestateatKirkharle.
Low-moderatetoModerate
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
Broad,gentlyV-shapedlowland,meanderingrivervalleys,lyingbetweenthesandstonehillstothewestandtheflatcoastalplaintotheeast.Inter-visibilitywithNorthumberlandNationalParkandadjacentsandstonehills:NorthumberlandNationalParkliesadjacenttoLCA35aandisimportantincontributingtooveralllandscapecharacterandscenicqualityoftheLCT,andviceversa.Overallthelandscapehasatraditionallymanagedcharacter,withcountryhousesandestateparklandcontributingsignificantlytothis.Steepvalleysideswithwoodedravinesprovidenaturalvarietyandtranquillity,incontrasttobusytransportationcorridors.
Cumulativeeffects TherearenowindturbineswithinthisLCT.ThereareviewsofasmallnumberofsmalltomediumscaleturbinesinadjoiningLCTs,andglimpsesthroughvegetationtoWingateswindfarmlocatedin-betweenLCA35aand35b.ViewsfromwithinNorthumberlandNationalPark(forexamplefromtheSimonsideHills)acrosstheLCTarecharacterisedbymiddleandlongerdistancewindturbines.ThesedonotadverselyaffectthecharacteroftheBroadLowlandValleysLCT;cumulativeeffectsarecurrentlyinsignificant,althoughadditionalturbinegroupsinvistastothecoastandtothesouthmayresultincumulativeeffectsharmfultothesettingofNorthumberlandNationalParkinthewesternpartsoftheLCT.Existingpylonsprovideman-madeintrusionsintothevalleylandscapebutdonotnecessarilyreducesensitivitytowindenergydevelopment.Inasensitivelandscapetheadditionofturbinesmaycreateunacceptablecumulativeeffectswithexistingverticalfeaturessuchaspylons.CumulativeeffectsofanynewwindenergydevelopmentwithintheLCTwithexistingturbinesthatarevisibleinneighbouringLCTs,forexampleWingatesWindfarminLCA37a,shouldbeavoided.
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LCT35:BroadLowlandValleys-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA35a:CoquetValley M-H H H H HLCA35b:FontandWansbeckValley M M-H H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT35:BroadLowlandValleys
IngeneralLCT35isunsuitableinprincipleforwindenergydevelopment,althoughsingleorasmallgroupofcarefullysitedsmallscaleturbinesupto25mheighttobladetipwouldbesuitableinprinciplewithinLCA35b.Theyshouldbecloselyassociatedwiththescaleandlocationoffarmbuildingsandotherman-madebuiltdevelopmentordomesticscalefeaturesinthevalleylandscape.Small-scaleturbinesupto25mheighttobladetipwithinLCA35aandsmall-mediumscaleturbinesbetween26m-40mheighttobladetipwithinLCA35bmaybesuitableinsomelocations,forexamplewithintheA1corridor,whereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldbeassociatedwithexistingbuiltdevelopmentsoastoreducetheirprominence/dominance,andtheyshouldnotout-competeimportantfociinthelandscape.Small-mediumscaleturbinesbetween26m-40mheighttobladetipwithinLCA35aandlargerturbinesthroughouttheLCTwouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelowlandvalleylandscapethatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment,includingthelandscapesettingandviewstoandfromNorthumberlandNationalPark(includingthedistinctiveskylineoftheSimonsideHills).Largerturbinesaregenerallyunsuitablewithinalowlandvalleylandscapewherethereisastrongsenseofnaturalness.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT36:LowlandFarmedMoor
ThisLCTislocatedwithinmid-Northumberland,atransitionallandscapebetweenthehillsanduplandfringetothewest,andthefarmlandandcoastalplaintotheeast.ItliesbetweenthevalleysoftheRiverWansbecktothenorth,theRiverPonttothesouth,andthetributariesoftheRiverNorthTynetothewest.ThisLCTisrepresentedbyonelandscapecharacterarea(LCA):• LCA36a:IngoeMoor
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT36:LowlandFarmedMoor:• Elevated,exposed,plateau-likeridge;
• Openrollingfarmland;
• Regularenclosurepattern;
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• Remnantsofmoorland,exposedcragsandquarries;
• Occasionalsmallwoodlandsandshelterbelts.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT36:LowlandFarmedMoorSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Asimpleelevated,relativelyopenandexposed,rolling,plateau-likeridgelyingbetweenrivervalleys,slopinggenerallyfromnorth-westtosouth-east.Bandsofsandstonesandlimestonesunderliethearea,providingsomevarietyinlandformbywayofoccasionalcraggyoutcrops,withdeepdriftdepositsformingtherollingtopography.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Landcover
Rectilinearfieldsofmixedpastureandarablefarmland,boundedbystonewalls,gappyhedgesandwirefences,withremnantmoorlandandfewtrees.Smallfieldcopsesandmediumscaleplantationsaddvarietyinlandcoverthroughcentralandlowerlyingeasternparts.Remnantsofroughgrazingonexposedsites.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Landscapescale Generallylargefields,limitedenclosureandthebroadopenlandformgivetheperceptionofamediumtolargescaletransitionaluplandfringelandscape.Thiscontrastswithadjoiningshelteredvalleylandscapes.
LowertoLow-moderate
VISUAL:Skylines Simpleskylineformedbygentlyrollingmoorland,
occasionallyinterruptedbyplantationwoodlandandlargescalewindturbines.
LowertoLow-moderate
Viewsandlandmarks
Thelandscapeisnotprominentanddoesnotcontainanyimportantviewpointsorviewstoorfromimportantlandmarkfeatures.Variationsinlandformsuchascragsandotherrockyoutcropse.g.atShaftoeCragsprovidenaturallandscapefoci.
LowertoLow-moderate
Inter-visibility Limitedinter-visibilitydespitetheopenexposednatureofthelandscape,withsomeinter-visibilitywiththesandstonehillstothewest.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Visualreceptors Sensitivevisualreceptorsarelimitedtoresidentsoffarmsteadsandindispersedvillagesandhamlets,usersofSt.Oswald’sWaylongdistancerouteandNationalCycleNetworkroute10thatpassashortwaythroughtheLCT,smallsectionsoftheA68andA696andthelocalroadandpublicrightsofwaynetwork.
Low-moderatetoModerate
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Generallyarelativelystill,quietlandscapewithman-
mademovementlimitedtofarmingactivityandoccasionalvehicletraffic.However,movingbladesonmediumandmedium-largescalewindturbinesareprominentfeaturesinthelandscape.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Builtdevelopment Limitedindustrialinfluence,althoughpastandon-going Moderateto
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mineralquarryingisevident.ExistingwindfarmsatKirkheatonandBavingtonMount,andotherturbinesandmasts,andmain‘A’roadsthatcrossthenorth-easternandsouth-westerncornersoftheLCTarethemainformoflandscapemodification.Asparselysettledlandscapewithscatteredstonefarmsteadsoftenwithlargemodernbarns,smallvillagesandhamlets.
Moderate-high
Remoteness Anaccessiblelandscapelargelyman-modified,orderedandintensivelyfarmed,withlimitedtranquillityandremoteness.
Low-moderatetoModerate
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Notalandscapeofhighscenicquality,withlittle
structureandgappyfieldboundaries.Low-moderatetoModerate
Distinctiveness Thelandscapedoesnotcontainanyparticularlydistinctivefeaturesorelements;atransitionaluplandfringe/lowlandfarmedopenmoornotparticularlyrepresentativeofNorthumberland,althoughwithsomesenseofplace.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Rarity Thelandscapedoesnotcontainanyparticularlyrareelementsorfeatures,butthisLCTisalessfrequentlandscape,withonlyoneLCA,withintheCounty.
Low-moderatetoModerate
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Somesignificanthistoricfeatures,includingCapheaton
Hall,estateandRegisteredParkandGarden,ConservationAreaatGreatWhittington,historichamletse.g.Ingoe.Heritageassetsincludestandingstonesandanumberofburialmounds/barrow/Tumulas.DereStreetRomanRoadcrossestheareainthewest,andthecourseoftheDevil’sCausewayRomanRoadcrossesdiagonallyfromGreatWhittingtontoBolam.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Recreation Littleusedforrecreation;St.Oswald’sWaylongdistancerouteandNationalCycleNetworkroute10passthroughthearea.HallingtonReservoirprovidesprivateangling.
Low-moderatetoModerate
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
Despitebeinggenerallyopenandexposed,thislowlandfarmedmoorlandisrelativelywellcontainedbytherollingtopographywhichlimitsinter-visibilitywithadjoininglandscapes.AdjacentcharactertypesdonotcontributetothecharacterofthisLCT.Generallythelandscapeandvisualattributesindicatereducedsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment.ThisLCTalreadyincludesmediumandmedium-largescalewindturbineswhichcontributesignificantlytothecharacteroftheareaaroundKirkheatonandHallington.Keyconsiderationsarepotentialimpactoffurtherdevelopmentonthesettingofheritageassets,includingtheCapheatonestate,andthesettingandviewsfromnaturalfeaturessuchascraggyoutcropswhichactaslandscapefoci.
Cumulativeeffects ThereisanexistingwindfarmintheLCT,atKirkheaton(3No.x66mto
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bladetip)andasingleturbineatBavingtonMount(1No.x61mtobladetip),andasmallnumberofsinglesmallandsmall-mediumsizedwindturbines.Viewsalsonorth-westwardstoGreenRiggWindfarm(18No.x120m)andRayWindfarm(16No.x125m).Consequentlythisisalandscapeinfluencedbywindenergyinstallationswherefurtherwindenergydevelopmentcouldcreateawindfarmlandscapewhereturbinesbecomedominantcharacteristics,andaddtosequentialcumulativeeffectswhentravellingalongtheA68andA696.
LCT36:LowlandFarmedMoor-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA36a:IngoeMoor L L-M L-M M MOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT36:LowlandFarmedMoor
IngeneralwindenergydevelopmentofanyscalewouldbesuitableinprinciplewithinLCT36.DevelopmentproposalsforallsizeofwindturbinewithintheLCTshoulddemonstratethatanysignificantlandscapeandvisualeffects,includingcumulativeeffects,willnotresultinunacceptablyharmfullandscapechangeorvisualintrusion.However,additionalwindenergydevelopmentwithintheLCTmaybepreferabletoallowingwindenergydevelopmentinmoresensitivelandscapes.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT37:LowlandFarmedRidges
ThisLCTcomprisestwobroad,relativelylowridgeslocatedonthehighergroundbetweenthebroadlowlandrivervalleysoftheCoquetValley(LCA35a)andtheFontandWansbeckValley(LCA35b).TheLowlandFarmedRidgesLCThasanuplandfringecharacterandisphysicallyandvisuallylinkedtothesandstonehillsandthenearbyNorthumberlandNationalParktothewest.ThisLCTisrepresentedbytwolandscapecharacterareas(LCA):• LCA37a:WingatesRidge• LCA37b:LongwittonRidge
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT37:LowlandFarmedRidge:• Elevated,rollinguplandfringefarmland;
• Relativelyopen,mediumtolargescale;
• Coniferousshelterbeltsandplantations;
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• Areasofmoorlandroughgrazing,particularlytothewest,amongstmixedfarmlandwithpasturefieldspredominant.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT37:LowlandFarmedRidgeSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Landformisvariedbutwithoutstrongcomplexity.Broad,elevated,west-eastalignedcentralridgedrainedbyminorburnsfallingnorthwardsandsouthwardsintothemoresteeplysidedrivervalleys,withinanundulatinguplandfringelandscapeslopinggenerallyeastwards.Topographicalvariationisleasttowardstheeastbutmorevariedtothewestwherethereareexposedrockyoutcropsandcrags.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Landcover
Somevarietyinlandcover,wherepasturefieldspredominategrazedbysheep,cattleandhorses,boundedbywirefencesanddrystonewalls,witharablelandtowardstheeast.Gappyhedgerowsshowevidenceofexposuretothewind,becomingmorefrequenttotheeastwithhedgerowtreesalongroadsides.Coniferousplantationsandsmallshelterbeltsarecommon,withnotableareasofancientwoodland,frequentscrubandpatchesofbrackenencroachmentonopentreelesspastureland.Matureestateparklandandassociatedwithlargehousesandhalls.DryheathlandatLonghorsleyMoor.Scatteredhamletsandfarmsteadslinkedbylocalruralroadsaregenerallytraditionalincharacter.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Landscapescale Mediumtolargescalefieldpattern.Topographicalundulationsprovidevarietyinscale,withhigheropenexposedridgesandsmallerscaleenclosedandshelteredareas.
Low-moderatetoModerate
VISUAL:Skylines Skylinesarelargelysimple,formedbygentlyundulating
farmlandandadjoininghills.Developmentincludesconspicuouspylonsonhighgroundandtallwindturbineswhichprovidecomplexityofvisualhorizons.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Viewsandlandmarks
Thebroadexposedridgesoffergoodvantagepointswithviewsouttosurroundinglandscapes.TheLCTformspartofthesettingofNorthumberlandNationalPark,withimportantviewstoandfromtheSimonsideHills.Viewsextendeastwardstothecoastandacrossthevalleystothenorthandsouth.Historicbuildingsareprominentlandmarks.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Inter-visibility Extensiveinter-visibilityfromhigherexposedareaswithstronglinkstoadjacentlandscapesincludingNorthumberlandNationalParktothewest,acrossthecoastalplaintothecoasttotheeast,andacrosstherivervalleystothenorthandsouth.
ModeratetoModerate-high
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Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
Visualreceptors TheLCTisasettledlandscapebutwithrelativelyfewnumbersofvisualreceptors,andviewsfromtransportcorridorslimitedtotheminorlocalroadnetwork.Alsofromlocalpublicrightsofway.
Low-moderatetoModerate
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Arelativelyquietuplandfringelandscapewhereman-
mademovementislimited,forexamplelocaltrafficonruralroads.MovementoflargeturbinebladesatWingatesWindfarmisasignificantissuewithinLCA37a,andtoalesserextentatRayWindfarmwhichisseenfromLCA37bandwhichalsoaffectadjoininglandscapes.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Builtdevelopment Builtdevelopmentislimitedto:evidenceofpastquarryandmineralextractioninthewest;aconspicuouslineofpylonscrossingbothridgesineasternpartsoftheLCT;WingatesWindfarm(6No.x110m)isaprominentman-mademodificationinthelandscape,withviewstoRayWindfarm,asmallnumberofmastsandothersmallturbines.Therearenomainroadsorrailways,orlargesettlementswithintheLCT.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Remoteness Anaccessiblelandscapebutonlybyminorroads,witharemotequalityinexposedareasandinpocketsofsmaller-scaleshelteredland,albeithuman-influenced.
ModeratetoModerate-high
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Anintactlandscapewithsignsofpositivemanagement.
WithinthesettingofNorthumberlandNationalParkrecognisedforitshighscenicquality.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Distinctiveness AdistinctiveuplandfringelandscapewithcloseassociationwithNorthumberlandNationalPark,andadistinctivesenseofplace.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Rarity AreasofdryheathlandareprotectedasSSSIsasadiminishinghabitatoncewidespreadinNorthumberlandbutsignificantlyreducedbyagriculturalimprovement.OtherwisetherollinguplandfarmedridgesarerelativelycommonwithinNorthumberland.
Low-moderatetoModerate
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Arelativelyhistoriclandscape,withancientsettlements
andenclosures,bastlehouse(16thcenturydefensivefarmhouse),severalhallssetwithinparklandanddesignedgardense.g.RothleyHall,LongwittonHall,NeedlessHallandHartingtonHall,andprominentfollybuildingsatCodgerFortandRothleyCastle.ThecourseoftheDevil’sCausewayRomanRoadpassesacrosstheeasternendoftheLCT.RothleyLakesisaLancelot‘Capability’BrowndesignedlandscapewithintheextensiveWallingtonestate.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Recreation LocalrightsofwaynetworkacrosstheLCT,includingafootpathalongadisusedrailwayline.Caravanparkat
Low-moderatetoModerate
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TodburnMoor.CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
Physicalattributesoflandcoverandlandscapescalesuggestreducedsensitivitytomedium-largeandlargerscalewindenergydevelopment.However,theLCTexhibitsastrongtraditional,ruralcharacter,withsmallhamletsandestatevillages,andscatteredfarmsteadslinkedbyanetworkoflocalminorroads.Theperceptionisofarelativelyquiet,remoteuplandfringelandscapewithlimitedbuiltdevelopment(althoughelectricitypylonsandWingatesWindfarmareveryconspicuousandprominent)withsomesensitivehistoricassets.Oneofthekeyconsiderations,however,istherolethelandscapeplaysinthesettingofNorthumberlandNationalPark,withimpactonkeyviews,includingfromtheSimonsideHills,amajorissue.Thehighdegreeofinter-visibilitywithadjacentandmoredistantlandscapesincreasessensitivitytofurtherlargescalewindenergydevelopment,especiallywithinLCA37bwhichiscurrentlyfreeoflargewindturbines.
Cumulativeeffects WingatesWindfarm(6No.turbinesx110mtobladetip)isprominentinthelandscape.Thereisalsoasmallnumberofsmall-mediumscalewindturbineswithintheLCT.AmajorissueisthepotentialcumulativeeffectoffurtherwindturbinesinviewsfromNorthumberlandNationalPark,withimpactonkeyviewsincludingfromtheSimonsideHillsasignificantconsideration.
LCT37:LowlandFarmedRidge-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA37a:WingatesRidge L-M M M M-H M-HLCA37b:LongwittonRidge L-M M M M-H M-HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT37:LowlandFarmedRidge
IngeneralLCT37issuitableinprincipleforcarefullysitedsmallscale,small-mediumscaleandmediumscalewindturbinesupto65mheighttobladetip.Smallscaleandsmall-mediumscaleturbinesupto40mheighttobladetipshouldbecloselyassociatedwiththescaleandlocationoffarmbuildingsandotherdomestic-scalefeaturesinthelandscape.Ingeneral,medium-largescaleandlargerscalewindturbineswouldbeunsuitableinprincipleunlessitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristics,suchasprominenthistoricbuildingsandcountryestates,andcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Forexample,aminorextensiontoWingatesWindfarmoranadditionalwindfarmofsimilarscaleandlocationwithinLCA37amaynotincreasecumulativeeffectssignificantly(subjecttodetailedassessment).AlargescalewindfarmmaybesuitablewithinLCA37bbywayofmaintaininganappropriateseparationdistancewithWingatesandotherwindfarmsinadjacentLCTs(namelyRayandGreenRigginthesandstonehillstothesouthwest,andBavingtonMountandKirkheatononthelowlandfarmed
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moorwithinMid-Northumberlandtothesouth)dependinguponimpactsonkeycharacteristicssuchassensitiveviewsandthesettingofheritageassets.Thismaybepreferabletoallowingwindenergydevelopmentinmoresensitivelandscapes(subjecttodetailedassessment).
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT38:LowlandRollingFarmland
ThisLCTcoversalargeareaofrollingorundulatingfarmland,stretchingfromtheTyneGapinthesouthtoAlnwickinthenorth.ThebroadlowlandrivervalleysoftheCoquetValley(LCA35a)andtheFontandWansbeckValley(LCA35b)cutthroughtheLowlandRollingFarmlandfromthesandstonehillsinthewesttothecoastalplainintheeast.Althoughtherearevariationsinenclosure,patterns,andtreecoverinthislandscape,theoverallformisrelativelycontinuous.ThisLCTisrepresentedbyfivelandscapecharacterareas(LCA):• LCA38a:Longframlington• LCA38b:Longhorsley• LCA38c:WhaltonandBelsay• LCA38d:PontValley• LCA38e:NorthTyneRidge
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT38:LowlandRollingFarmland:• Undulatingagriculturallandscapewithrichsoilsunderpredominantlyarablecultivation;
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• Generallylittletreecoverotherthanhedgerowtrees,withoccasionalsmall-scalecopses,woodlandsandoccasionallargeconiferousplantations;
• Medium-scaleparliamentaryenclosurelandscape;
• Fieldenclosurebyhedgerows,withfrequenthedgerowtrees,hasbecomefragmentedinmanyplaces;
• Trunkroadsandprominentroadalignmentsexertastronginfluence;
• Locallyimportantestateinfluences,withwoodland,andestatevillages.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT38:LowlandRollingFarmlandSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Generallyasimple,smoothlyundulatingorinpartsrollinglandformasaresultofthickdriftdepositsoverlyingMillstoneGritandlimestones.Relativelyelevatedatbetween100m–150mAOD(thoughalmost200minsomeplaces)andgraduallyslopingfromwesttoeast,drainedbyaseriesofburnsandsmallrivers.Somevariationinlandformbutlackingcomplexity,e.g.LCA38distheshallowPontValley;LCA38eisanopenridgethatfallssteadilysouthwardstotheTyneValley.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Landcover
Generallyasimplepatternoflandcover,withpredominantlyintensivearablelanduseandpastureonhighergroundtothewest.Generallylittletreecoveralthoughvarietyisprovidedbywayofhedgerowtrees,small-scalewoodlands,andoccasionallargeplantationsandnativeriparianburn-sidewoodland.Matureparklandanddesignedgardensassociatedwithlargeestatesandhallsprovidefurthervariety.Therearemanyhuman/domesticscaleindicatorsinthelandscape.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Landscapescale Generallymediumtolargescale,openandexposedlandscape,althoughsmalltomediumscaleandmoreshelterede.g.inpartsofthePontValley(LCA38d).Strongenclosurepatternofregularfieldswithhedgerowboundariesgivingwaytopostandwireandstonewallsonhighergroundandaroundestates.Therollingtopographyprovidescontrastsinscale.Extensiveconiferousplantationsprovideenclosureandscreeninginsomelocations.
Low-moderatetoModerateandModeratetoModerate-high
VISUAL:Skylines Largelysimpleskylinesformedbyundulatingorrolling
farmland,butwithcomplexityinpartswhereviewsopenoutbeyondtheLCTorduetothepresenceoffeaturesonthehorizonincludingwoodland,transportationcorridorsorconspicuousbuiltdevelopmentincludingpylons.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Viewsand Mostlylocallysignificantviewswithfewlandmarks, Low-moderateto
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
landmarks limitedtooccasionalviewswestwardstoNorthumberlandNationalParkandeastwardstothecoast.Historichallsandverticalstructuresincludingmastsandwatertowersarelandmarkfeatures.ViewsfrommajortransportroutesthatcutthroughtheLCTincludingtheA1,A697,A696andtheA69.
Moderate
Inter-visibility Therollingtopographyprovidescontrastinviews,withexpansiveinter-visibilityfrommoreelevatedlocations,inparticularinter-visibilitybetweenLCA38aandtheNorthumberlandCoastAONBtotheeast,betweenLCA38bandtheCoquetValley(LCA35a)tothenorthandNorthumberlandNationalParktothewest,andbetweenLCA38eandtheTyneValleytothesouth.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Visualreceptors Asettledlandscapewithoveralllargenumbersofresidentialreceptors.Alnwick,MorpethandPontelandaremainsettlementsborderingtheLCTalthoughviewsarelimited.Viewsfromseveralmajor‘A’roadsandthelocalroadnetworkthroughtheLCT.Hadrian’sWallWorldHeritageSiteinLCA38eattractslargenumbersofvisitors.
ModeratetoModerate-high
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Awellsettledlandscapewhereseveralmajor‘A’roads
providefrequentmovementthroughlargepartsoftheLCT.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Builtdevelopment LargepartsoftheLCTretainastrongruralcharacter,albeitintensivelymanagedfarmland,witharegularscatteredsettlementpatternofvillages,hamletsandfarmsteadslinkedbyminorlocalroads,althoughsomeincludemodernhousingextensions.Prominentlineartransportroutesprovideconspicuousman-mademodification.Severalmasts,watertowers,andsmallscalewindturbinesareconspicuousverticalfeatures,andthereareviewstolargescalewindfarmsinseverallocationsbeyondtheLCTtothewestandeast.SeverallinesofpylonspassthroughsouthernLCAswestwardsfromNewcastleuponTyne,onelinecontinuingnorthwardsthroughorclosetotheLCT.Evidenceofminingandindustrialactivityinthenorth,andconcentrationsofbuildingse.g.atairfields(formermilitaryandoperational).
Low-moderatetoModerate
Remoteness Generallyanaccessiblelandscape,heavilyinfluencedbyman,althoughsomeareasarerelativelyremoteandtranquilawayfromthemaintransportcorridors.
Low-moderatetoModerate
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Areasonablyintactagriculturallandscape,although
fieldhedgerowshavebecomefragmentedinplaces.HistoricestateinfluencesandassociationwithnearbylandscapesofhighscenicqualitywithinNorthumberlandNationalParkandNorthumberland
ModeratetoModerate-high
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CoastAONB.Distinctiveness LowlandRollingFarmlandisarelativelycommon
landscapetypewithinmid-Northumberland,withfewdistinctivecharacteristics,featuresorelementsbutwithsomesenseofplace.LCA38eNorthTyneRidgeisadistinctivesouth-facingridge.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Rarity LowlandRollingFarmlandcoversanextensiveareaofmid-NorthumberlandandisatypicallandscapewithintheCounty.LCA38eNorthTyneRidgeanditsassociationwiththeTyneValleymakesitamoreunusuallandscapethanotherrollingfarmlandareas.
LowertoLow-moderate
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Historicfeaturesincludehallsandestateinfluences,
suchasBelsayandBolam,historicsettlementssomeofwhichareConservationAreas,RegisteredParksandGardensatBelsayandNorthSaltwick,historictowers,ScheduledMonumentse.g.EastMatfenandOgle(earthworksandcastle),desertedandshrunkenmedievalvillages.IncreasedRomaninfluencetothesouthincludesHadrian’sWallWorldHeritageSiteandassociatedfeatureswithinLCA38e.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Recreation LimitedrecreationalusewithintheLCT.LindenHall(LCA38a)isnowahotelandgolfclub,withothergolfcoursesinthelandscapeandaCountryParkatBolamLake.BelsayHallisakeyattraction.Hadrian’sWallWorldHeritageSiteandNationalTrailaremajortouristandrecreationalattractionswithinLCA38e.
Low-moderatetoModerate
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
Alargeareaofrollingorundulatingfarmlandbetweenthesandstonehillsinthewestandthecoastalplainintheeast,dividedbybroadlowlandrivervalleys,withtheTyneValleyalsoinfluencingthecharacteroftheLCTtothesouth.Inter-visibilitywiththeseneighbouringlandscapesincreasessensitivitytowindenergydevelopmentdespitelandscapescalegenerallysuggestingreducedsensitivitytomediumandlargerscalewindfarms.Therearesomeurbanfringeinfluencesonthelandscapebutingeneralitretainsastrongruralcharacter,albeitintensivelymanagedarablefarmland,witharegularscatteredsettlementpatternofvillages,hamletsandfarmsteadslinkedbyminorlocalroads.Frequentmovementalongmajorroadcorridorsthroughthelandscape,andotherbuiltdevelopmentincludingprominentverticalstructures(suchascommunicationmastsandwatertowers)alsosuggestsreducedsensitivity,butawayfromtheseelementsthelandscapeisrelativelyremoteandtranquilwherelargerscalewindenergydevelopmentislikelytosignificantlyaffectlandscapecharacter.AhighnumberofsensitivevisualreceptorsarelikelytoexperienceasignificantchangeinviewsandvisualamenityasaresultoftheintroductionofmediumtolargescalewindenergydevelopmentintothisLCTwherecurrentlytherearenone.ImpactsonthesettingofheritageassetsandthepopulartouristattractionofHadrian’sWallWorldHeritageSiteareakeyconsideration.
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
Themanyhuman/domesticscaleindicatorsinthelandscape,suchasfieldboundaryhedgerows,treesandwalls,smallwoodlandcopsesanddomesticbuildingsincreasesthecapacityofthelandscapetoaccommodatethisscaleofwindenergydevelopment.
Cumulativeeffects ThisLCTiscurrentlyfreeofwindenergydevelopmentotherthanasmallnumberofsmallandsmall-mediumscalesinglewindturbines.ThereareviewstolargewindfarmswithinneighbouringLCTsfrommoreopenelevatedpartsoftheLCT,onhighergroundtothewest(Wingates,Ray,GreenRigg,BavingtonMountandKirkheatonwindfarms)andonthecoastalplaintotheeast(NorthSteads,SistersandLynemouthwindfarms).LargescalewindenergydevelopmentwithinthisLCTislikelytofallwithinzonesofvisibilityofoperationalwindfarmsthatcouldcreatecumulativeeffectsinsensitiveviewsto/fromthesandstonehillsandNorthumberlandNationalParkinthewestandto/fromthecoastalplainincludingtheNorthumberlandCoastAONBintheeast.
LCT38:LowlandRollingFarmland-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA38a:Longframlington M M-H H H HLCA38b:Longhorsley M M-H H H HLCA38c:WhaltonandBelsay M M-H H H HLCA38d:PontValley M-H H H H HLCA38e:NorthTyneRidge M-H H H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT38:LowlandRollingFarmland
IngeneralLCT38issuitableinprincipleforsingleorsmallgroupsofcarefullysitedsmallscaleturbinesupto25mheighttobladetip.Theyshouldbecloselyassociatedwiththescaleandlocationoffarmbuildingsandotherdomesticscalefeaturesinthelandscape.LCAs38dand38earemoresensitivetothisscaleofwindturbinethatwouldbeunsuitableinprincipleunlessitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivekeycharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswithintheseLCAswouldnotbesignificant.Ingeneralwindturbinesabove25mheighttobladetipwouldbeunsuitableinprinciplewithinLCT38,althoughsmall-mediumscaleturbines26m-40mheighttobladetipmaybesuitablewithinLCAs38a,38band38cwhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportantfociinthelandscape.Busyroadcorridorsandotherlocationswithbuiltdevelopmentincludingprominentverticalstructuresarelesssensitivetosmallandsmall-mediumscalewindenergydevelopment.MediumscaleandlargerturbineswithintheLCTwouldsignificantlyaffect
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keycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapethatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment,largelyasaresultoftheinter-visibilitywithneighbouringlandscapeswithintheTyneValley,NorthumberlandNationalParkandtheNorthumberlandCoastAONB,andheritage/recreationalassetsincludingHadrian’sWallWorldHeritageSite.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT39:CoalfieldFarmland
ThisextensiveLCTcompriseslargepartsofthemoreruralareasofthecoastalplain,andincludeswell-settledfarmland,withextensiveindustriallanduses.Historicandon-goingmineralextractionhasalteredlargepartsofthelandscape,whileurbanfringeisalsoakeyinfluence.Thisisaheavilymodifiedlandscapewhichhaslostmuchofitsnaturallandscapestructureandwhichisdominatedbyman-madeelements.TheLCTisrepresentedbythreecharacterareas(LCA):• LCA39a:CoastalCoalfields• LCA39b:SeatonDelaval• LCA39c:Stannington
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT39:CoalfieldFarmland:• Low-lyingcoastalfarmland,mediumtolargeinscale,andgenerallyopenandexpansive.
• Heavilymodifiedruralarea,withextensiveindustrialandurbanfringeinfluences.
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• Wellsettled,withminingtownsandvillages.
• Large-scalesurfacecoalminesites.
• Distinctive,simplelandscapesonrestoredformersurfacecoalminesites.
• Pylons,chimneys,andtransportandindustrialinfrastructureareprominent.
• Occasionalwoodedestatelandscapes.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT39:CoalfieldFarmlandSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Underlainbythelowerandmiddlecoalmeasures,includinglayersofsandstone,mudstone,andcoal.Theexploitationofcoalhashadamajorimpactonthedevelopmentofthislandscape.Thesurfacelandscapeisgenerallyflat,withgentlyrollingareas,andrisesnohigherthan89matBerwickHill,nearPonteland.TheonlysubstantialriversaretheBlyth,whichflowsthroughtheincisedStanningtonVale,andtheWansbeck,flowinginanincisedvalleyfromMorpeth.ThesmallerRiverLyneandSeatonBurnarelesssignificantlandscapefeatures.
LowtoLow-Moderate
Landcover
Landuseisgenerallymixedfarmland,comprisinglargeorverylargefieldswithweakboundaries.Hedgerowsareoftengappyandhedgerowtreesarelimited.Woodlandcoveringeneralisinfrequentandconsistsprincipallyofconiferousplantations.Deciduoustreecoverisrestrictedtooccasionalmaturehedgerowtreesandsmallcopses.ExceptionsarethewoodedvalleysoftheBlythandWansbeckrivers,andthewoodedBlagdonestate.Elsewhereonlyscatteredfragmentsofancientwoodlandremain.Thereareseveralareasofreclaimedland,representingformermineralworkings.Restorationhasgenerallyresultedinoversimplifiedgeometriclandscapesofpastureandconiferblocks,whichlackdistinctivefeatures.Wetlandsandpools,theresultofsubsidenceorrestoration,arerelativelyfrequentandinplaceshavedevelopedintovaluablehabitat.Althoughmineralextractionhasaffectedlargepartsofthisarea,therearealsopocketsofruralcharacterwhichhavebeenrelativelyunaffected.
LowtoLow-Moderate
Landscapescale Mediumtolargelandscape,influencedbylimitedtopographicreliefandmanyareasofrestoredlandscapewithlargegeometricfieldswithweakboundaries.Pastmineralsworkingsareashavefewmaturetreesinthelandscapecontributingtoopennessandlargescale.
Low-ModeratetoModerate
VISUAL:Skylines Beyondsettlementsskylinesoftensimplebutbuilt Moderate
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Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
environmentsandpyloninfrastructurealsoaddscomplexityinmanyareas.
Viewsandlandmarks
FewsignificantviewcorridorsbutviewstothecoastandtohighgroundofSimonsideandCheviotHillsarepossiblefromcertainareas.LocallyviewstolandmarkssuchasSeatonDelavalHallareimportant.
Moderate
Inter-visibility Generallylimitedintervisibility,partlyasaconsequenceoflimitedchangeinreliefbutalsoasafunctionofthescaleofthisLCT.
Visualreceptors Aheavilysettledlandscapewithmajortransportroutespresentfrequentsensitivereceptors.
Moderate-High
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Frequentmovementalongmajortransportcorridors
andsettlementfocusedactivity.MovementfromwindenergyinstallationsisnowsignificantinLCA39a,particularlyasaresultoftheLynemouth,NorthSteadsandSisterswindfarms.
Low
Builtdevelopment FrequentsettlementandotherbuiltdevelopmentparticularlyacrossLCA39band39cincludingverticallyprominentchimneys,pylonsandwindenergyinstallationsatLynemouth,NorthSteadsandSisterswindfarms.
Low
Remoteness NotranquillityisencounteredacrosstheLCTasaconsequenceofsettlementandtransportinfrastructuredensity.
Low
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Limitedscenicvalueasaconsequenceofsettlement,
existingmineralsoperations,lowchangesinreliefandextensiveover-simplelandscaperemodellingfollowingsurfacecoalworking.PocketsofruralcharacterandbroadleavedwoodlandparticularlyaroundcountryhousesandtheincisedvalleysoftheWansbeckandBlythpresentlocalisedscenicvalue.
Low-moderate
Distinctiveness Notadistinctivelandscape,manycommonplaceelementsalthoughremodelledmineralsworkingspresentsomelimitedsenseofplace,althoughnotattractively.Countryhousesandparklandsaffordlocalinterest,asdowoodedrivervalleys.
Low-ModeratetoModerate
Rarity TherollingfarmlandandsettlementisacommonplaceandextensivelandscapetypeinmidNorthumberland.
Low-Moderate
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Somesignificantheritageassets,particularlythe
countryhousesandparklandsofBlagdon,SeatonDelavalHallandLonghirst.IndustrialheritageisimportantacrosstheLCT,particularlyatWoodhornColliery.ConservationAreasinAmble,Longhirst,PontelandandSeatonDelaval/SeatonSluice.RegisteredhistoricParkandGardensatBlagdonand
ModeratetoModerate-High
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SeatonDelaval.Recreation Importantrecreationopportunitiesatthehistoric
housesheritagesitesandCountryParksatWoodhorn(QEII)andDruridgeBay,thePublicRightofWaynetworkincludingrivervalleyfootpathsandholidayhomeparkatAmble.
ModeratetoModerate-High
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
AbroadrangeoffactorssuggestthatthelandscapecharacterofLCT39presentscomparativelylowdegreeofsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment.Topographyisrelativelyunremarkableandcurrentandpastmineralsworkingshavealteredthelandscapeandordinarilylessenedinherentlandscapeinterestwhilstincreasingitsperceivedscale.Thelandscapehasbeenmuchalteredandischaracterisedbyasignificantdegreeofbuiltdevelopmentandincongruouselements,includingfrequentmovementfromtransportandwindenergyinfrastructure.HighernumbersofsensitivereceptorsarehoweverlikelytoaffectsensitivityacrosslargeswathesoftheLCT.Theseincludesettlementbutalsoheritagesites,particularlyseveralhistoriccountryhousesandtheirsettings.
Cumulativeeffects TheLCTissignificantlyimpacteduponbyexistingwindenergydevelopment,bothwithinitandinadjacentlandscapes.LCA39aCoastalCoalfieldsincludesthreelargescalewindfarms:-Sisters,NorthSteadsandLynemouth.WithinLCA39LowHortonFarmturbine(87m)isprominentinopenfieldlocation,whistoneoftheCramlingtonMSGturbines(124m)fallsjustwithinLCA39c.On-shorewindturbinesatBomarsund,BewickDrift,BlythHarbourandEarthBalancearewidelyvisiblefrompartsoftheLCT,asaretheincreasingarrayofoff-shoreturbinesatBlyth.LCA39ainparticularcannowbeconsideredtobealandscapecharacterisedbywindenergyinstallations,whilstLCA39cissignificantlyaffectedbytheirvisualprominenceinadjacentareas.LCA39bislessaffectedbywindenergytoitssouth-westernareas.Developmentoffurtherlarge-scaleturbineswithinLCA39awouldbelikelytohaveaconsolidatingandconcentratingeffectofwindenergyprominence,anddevelopmentacrossLCA39blikelytoextendthevisualprominenceofthisareaalongthecoasttothesouthandpotentiallyimpactupondesignatedassetsatSeatonDelaval.Howeverthiswouldbeinthecontextoftheoff-shoreinstallationsatBlythwhich,whenviewedfromlowergroundtothewest,cansometimesappearnottobeoff-shore,andreadasafurtherelementofthesweepofwindfarmsofcentralcoastalplainNorthumberland.Large-scalewindenergydevelopmenttoLCA39cwouldintroducenewfeatureswithintherollingarablelandscape,butdependentuponspecificlocationcouldservetoextendthesweepofcoastalplainwindfarmsinlandacrossthenorthernfringeoftheTyneandWearconurbation.Sensitivityofmuchofthislandscapehoweverremainsrelativelylow.
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LCT39:CoalfieldFarmland-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA39a:CoastalCoalfields L L-M M M MLCA39b:SeatonDelaval L L-M M M-H M-HLCA39c:Stannington L L-M M M MOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT39:CoalfieldFarmland
IngeneralLCT39issuitableinprincipleforallscalesofwindturbines.Busyroadcorridors,powerinfrastructureandotherlocationswithbuiltdevelopmentincludingprominentverticalandindustrialstructuresarelesssensitivetowindenergydevelopment.Considerationofeffectsonsensitiveresidentialreceptorsandcumulativeimpactswithexistinginstallationswillhoweverbesignificant.LimitedexceptiontothisgeneralsuitabilityrelatestoLCA39bwheredevelopmentofwindturbinesabove66mtobladetipheightwouldordinarilybelikelytotriggerunacceptablelandscapeeffectsinrelationtoimportantheritageandrecreationalassets.Howeverdevelopmentofturbinesabove66mtobladetipheightmaybesuitablewithinLCA39bwhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthesemoresensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportantfociinthelandscape.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT40:BroadBaysandDunes
ThisLCTcomprisesthecoastalstripofthelessintensivelydevelopedpartoftheSouthEastNorthumberlandCoastalPlain.Althoughlargelyundeveloped,andwithsignificantnatureconservationinterest,thecoastlinehasbeenextensivelyman-modifiedbypastmineralextraction.DruridgeBayiswithintheNorthumberlandHeritageCoast.TheLCTisrepresentedbytwocharacterareas(LCA):• LCA40a:DruridgeBay• LCA40b:SeatonDunes
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT40:BroadBaysandDunes:• Widesweepingsandybaysbackedbydunes.
• Sharptransitionwithheavilymodifiedcoastalplain.
• Emergingleisurelanduses.
• Formerindustrialandremnantmininginfrastructure.
• Ecologicallyrich,despite,andinsomecasesbecauseof,industrialactivity.
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LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT40:BroadBaysandDunesSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Anarrow,low-lyingcoastalstripcomprisingaseriesofbroadsandybaysseparatedbyrockyheadlandsreflectingthealternationofharderandsofterrockswithintheunderlyinggeology.Flatwave-cutplatformsandoffshorerockyisletsarecharacteristic:CoquetIslandistheonlysubstantialisland.Thebayshavebroad,sweepingsandbeachesbackedbyextensivedunesystems.Surfacewaterpondsandditchesinplaces,reflectingminingsubsidence.
Low-ModeratetoModerate
Landcover
Mixedfarmland,primarilylargearablefieldsandpasture.Lengthsofcoastarebackedbyextensivedunesystems,whicharelargelyintact.Thereareveryfewtreesinthisexposedlandscape,exceptionsbeingthemixedplantationsaroundLadyburnLakeatDruridgeBayCountryPark,andconiferousshelterbeltstothenorth.
Low-ModeratetoModerate
Landscapescale Amedium-to-largescalelandscapewithmorecontainedareaswithinthedunesystems.
Low-Moderate
VISUAL:Skylines Simpleopenskylineswithexpansiveseaviewsand
dunetopsofferingsomepredictablevariety.Low-Moderate
Viewsandlandmarks
Coastalstrip,beachandheadlandviewsareimportantandoftenexpansive.Viewsinlandfromdunetopsbuthighlylimitedfromonthebeaches.ViewstoindustrialsitesaroundBlythandprominent.
ModeratetoModerate-High
Inter-visibility Strongdegreeofintervisibility,particularlyfromdunetopsandintoneighbouringcoastallandscapessuchasLCT41DevelopedCoastandinlandtoLCT39CoalfieldFarmland.
ModeratetoModerate-High
Visualreceptors Lownumbersofresidentsandlocaltransportnetworkbuthighrecreationalusage,particularlytoshoreline.
Moderate
PERCEPTUAL:Movement LimitedhumanactivitywithintheLCTbutstrong
naturalmovementinthelandscapefromseascapeandhugeskies.LargeBewickDriftwindturbinestandsonboundaryoftheLCA40bandLCA39a
Moderate
Builtdevelopment Generallyalowextentofmanmadestructuresandbuildings,anarrowsemi-naturallandscapeinthemain.Somelocalpowerlines,WWII‘pillboxes’.TheSouthernedgeofAmbleencroachesthenorthoftheLCTandhistoricpartsofthesmallhamletsofCresswellandHauxleypresentsomestonebuiltcottagesbythedunes.TheSouthernelementsofLCA40aincludeindustrialenvironsofLynemouthpowerstationsiteunderre-developmenttousebiomassasitsprimaryfuelandotherprominentindustrialstructures,partsof
ModeratetoModerate-High
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
NewbigginbytheSeatownandmobilehomeparks.LCA40bincludessignificantpartsofthelargevillageofSeatonSluice.
Remoteness Localroadnetworks,industry,settlementandfarmsteadsintheLCTandthosevisibleinneighbouringLCAslimitremoteness,althoughsomeisolationfromhumanactivityispossiblefromtheshore,althoughindustrialstructuresofBlythenvironspossibleevenhere.Windenergydevelopmentvisiblefromdunesandsomebeachareas.
Moderate
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Duneandsweepingsandybeaches,hugeskiesand
changingseascapesoffersomescenicvalue.IndustrialinfluenceinandoutwiththeLCAdetractsfromsomevistasandscenicvalue.
ModeratetoModerate-High
Distinctiveness StronglydistinctivetoNorthumberland,withsweeping,longsandybeachesandduneswithrocky‘carr’headlandscharacterisingpopularperceptionsofthecountybymanyvisitors.
High
Rarity Limitedinextentalthoughexpansiveinthelocalcontext,arelativelyrarelandscapetype.
Moderate-High
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets PartofNorthumberlandHeritageCoast.Someremnant
industrialheritagesites,butrarelyvisuallyprominent,occasionalWWIIpillboxes.HeadlandchapelsandchurchesatSeatonSluiceandNewbigginbytheSea.ExtensiveConservationAreaatSeatonSluiceanchorageandcoastaldefences,andpartofSeatonDelavalHalldesignedlandscape.
ModeratetoModerate-High
Recreation Highrecreationvalueforinformalenjoymentalongaccessiblesandybays,somesailingandfishingactivity.DruridgeBayCountryParkhasmaturedfromformersurfacecoalminingworkstoimportantopenspacesandhabitatscentredonLadyburnLake.GolfcourseatNewbigginbytheSea.
Moderate-High
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
LCT40presentslinearcoastallandscapestripswithverylimited‘inland’extent,withclearfocusonextensivedunesandsweepingsandybays.Thereisastronghorizontalemphasistothelandscapewithwide-opencharacterandhugeskies.Landuseinlandfromthedunesisprimarilyagriculturalacrosswideflattopographybutinplacessettlementandsomesignificantindustrialinfrastructuredominates.Thelandscape’sscale,relativesimplicityandoccasionalprominentindustryandinfrastructurewouldsuggestlowersensitivitytowindenergydevelopment.Howeverscenicandsignificantrecreationalvalue,alongwithsensitivedunesystemssuggestthatlandscapescale,simplicityandformshouldnotoutweighthehighrecreationalandnaturalandhistoricheritagevalueoftheLCAinrelationtosensitivitytowindenergy.TherearehoweversignificantcontrastsinsensitivitywithintheLCT,particularlyinareaswhereexistingor
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Sensitivityassessment
pastindustryorinfrastructureremainsvisuallyprominent.Somecapacityforsmallscalewindenergy,possiblyservingcoastalcommunitiesorfarmsteads,suchasCresswellandNewbigginbytheSeamayexistwithoutcompromisinglandscapecharacter.Onthelargerurbanfringes,suchasLynemouth,existinginfrastructurealtersthebalanceoffeaturesinthelandscapeincomparisontothewiderLCT,andherecapacityforlargerwindenergyinfrastructuremaybefound.
Cumulativeeffects BewickDriftwindturbine(126m)atLynemouthisasignificantlandscapefeatureandliesexactlyupontheboundaryofLCTs40and39.TherearenosignificantwindenergyinstallationselsewhereintheLCTbutwindenergyoftenpredominatesinadjacentLCTs.On-shoreinstallationsareparticularlyprominentatLynemouthWindFarm(13turbinesat121mheight),SistersandNorthSteadsWindFarmsatWiddrington(acombined13turbinesat126mheight),BlythHarbour(130m)andLowHortonFarm(87m).Significanttotheconsiderationofcumulativeimpactsofwindenergy,off-shoreturbinesarelocatedeastofBlyth.Twoturbinesstandonly800moffshoreataheightofapproximately93mtotip,earlydemonstratorprojectsforthetechnology.Moresignificantlyisthecurrentinstallationof5x191mturbineslocatedapproximately6kmfromthecoastline,butaspartofaconsentforupto15turbinesintotal,extendinginthreegroupsupto14kmoffsore.Theconsequenceofthispredominanceofvisuallyprominentturbines,includingthoseoff-shore,isthatthewiderlandscapecontexttotheLCTisoftenofa‘windturbinelandscape’.FurtherdevelopmentofwindenergyinfrastructurewithinLCT40wouldthereforebeunlikelytomakesignificantchangestothevisualpresenceofturbinesinthewiderlandscapecontext.HoweverwindenergydevelopmenttothenorthoftheLCTsandtothesouthinLCA40b,mayservetoextendtheconcentrationofwindenergydevelopmentalongthesouthandmid-Northumberlandcoastalstrip,whilstdevelopmentoffurtherturbinessouthofWiddringtonwouldinevitablyservetoconcentrateandconsolidatethewindfarmlandscape.
LCT40:BroadBaysandDunes-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA40a:DruridgeBay M M-H H H HLCA40b:SeatonDunes M M-H M-H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT40:BroadBaysandDunes
IngeneralLCT40isalandscapeunsuitableinprincipleforwindturbinesabove25mtobladetipheight.However,turbinesupto40mbladetipheightinLCA40a,andupto65mbladetipheightinLCA40bmaybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthesemoresensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.InLCA40bturbinesshouldbemorecloselyrelatedtoindustrialinfluenceswithinoradjacenttotheLCT.Otherwiseturbines
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shouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportantfociinthelandscape.InLCA40aturbinesabove40mtobladetipheight,andabove65minLCA40b,willbeunsuitableastheywouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapethatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment.Thiswouldlargelybeasaresultoftheeffectsuponimportantscenicandrecreationalvalueofthebeachesanddunes,andlongervisualeffectsuponNorthumberlandCoastAONB.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT41:DevelopedCoast
ThisLCTcomprisesthecoastaledgeofBlythandadjacentsettlements,andiscloselyrelatedtoUrbanandUrbanFringe(LCT42).ItscoastalcharacterislinkedtotheBroadBaysandDunes(LCT40)tonorthandsouth.TheLCTisrepresentedbyonecharacterarea(LCA):• LCA41a:BlythandWansbeckEstuaries
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT41:DevelopedCoast:• Intensivelydevelopedlandscape,comprisingacoastalurbanedge.
• Rivermouthswithmudflatsormodifiedtoformharbours.
• Large-scaleindustrialstructuresandformerindustrialsites.
• Fragmentedfarmlandamongsturbandevelopment.
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LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT41:DevelopedCoastSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Simple,low-lyingcoastalstripcentredonbroadbay,intowhichtheRiversBlythandWansbeckflow.Thebayisframedbyrockypromontories,withwave-cutplatformsextendingintotheseaatNewbigginPoint,SpitalCarrs,andCrabLaw,androckyoffshoreislets.TheWansbeckestuaryisrelativelynarrowandsandy.ThatoftheBlyth,andthetributarySleekBurn,ismuchwiderwithextensivemudflats.However,itsnaturalfeatureshavebeenextensivelymodifiedforuseasamajorport.Thetopographyofthisareadoesnotriseabove10m.
Low-Moderatetomoderate
Landcover
Acomplexmixofpredominantlyurban,industrialandpost-industriallanduses,infrastructureandtransportroutes,includingthemajorportofBlyth.Arablefarming,withremnanthedgerows,persistsinfragmentedareasaroundthemouthoftheWansbeck.ThebanksoftheWansbeckarefringedwithdeciduousscrubwoodland,withmorescrubbywoodlandalongtheSleekBurnandRiverBlyth.
Low
Landscapescale Amedium-largelandscapewithpocketsofenclosurewithinrivervalleysandwoodland,butmoreusuallyopenandexposed.
Low-ModeratetoModerate
VISUAL:Skylines Somecomplexitycausedbyextensiveportand
industrialinfrastructureandwirescapes.Moderate
Viewsandlandmarks
Locallyimportantviewsalongthecentralsandycoastline,withprominentviewstoinfrastructureandindustrialheritagesitesandmorerecentwindturbines,onandoff-shore.
Moderate
Inter-visibility Lowreliefchangereducesintervisibilitygenerallybutprominentinfrastructureisvisibleaswellaslongerviewsalongthecoastfromtransportroutesandthecoastalstrip.
Low-ModeratetoModerate
Visualreceptors Highnumbersofresidentialandtransport-routereceptors.
High
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Frequentmovementfromtransportinfrastructureand
windenergyinfrastructure.Settlementandindustrypredominates.
Low
Builtdevelopment Highlydevelopedurbanandurban-fringelandscapeswithsignificantbuiltstructuresthroughout.
Low
Remoteness Nosenseofremoteness.Somerelativecalmalongshorelineispossible.
Low
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Lowscenicqualityasaconsequenceofindustrial
character.Low
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Sensitivityassessment
Distinctiveness Somedistinctivenesspresentedbytherivervalleysandestuariesaswellasthesandybay,butelsewhereubiquitousutilitarianinfrastructurepredominates.
Low-Moderate
Rarity TheextentanddegreeofurbanisationsetsthelandscapeasbeingofinfrequentcharacterwithinNorthumberland.
Moderate-High
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Withinurbancontextssomeheritageassetsfoundbut
rarelyimportantinthelandscape.ListedhistoricportatNorthBlythandConservationAreaacrossmuchofNewbigginbytheSeaseafront.
Moderate
Recreation Locallyimportantrecreationvalueofthecoast,withNewbigginbytheSeaapopularsiteforholidaychalets/mobilehomes.
Moderate
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
ThemostindustrialisedanddevelopedcoastallandscapeofNorthumberland.Unremarkabletopography,prominentanddominatinginfrastructureandindustrialsites,aswellasthemajorportofBlythtogethersuggestagenerallylowsensitivitytothefutureimpactofwindenergydevelopment.CountertothislowlandscapecharactersensitivityistheurbanfunctionoftheLCAwithmanyresidentsandfrequenttransportreceptors.Recreationaluseisimportantlongthecoast,butevenhereindustrialcharacterpredominates.
Cumulativeeffects SimilartothecircumstancesofLCT40BroadBaysandDunes,therearerelativelyfewwindenergyinstallationswithintheLCT,butsignificantwindenergyinfrastructurewithininter-visibleareas.BlythHarbourwindfarmcomprisesaprominent130mturbinelocatedontheouterharbourwall.Elsewherea67msingleturbinehasbeenconsentedatFurnaceRoad,westoftheA189spineroad.However,windenergyoftenpredominatesinadjacentLCTs.On-shoreinstallationsareparticularlyprominentatLynemouthWindFarm(acombined13turbinesat121mheight),furthernorthatSistersandNorthSteadsWindFarmsatWiddrington(13turbinesat126mheight),CramlingtonMSD(2x124m)andLowHortonFarm(1x87m).Significanttotheconsiderationofcumulativeimpactsofwindenergy,off-shoreturbinesarelocatedeastofBlyth.Twoturbinesstandonly800moffshoreataheightofapproximately93mtotip,earlydemonstratorprojectsforthetechnology.Moresignificantlyisthecurrentinstallationof5x191mturbineslocatedapproximately6kmfromthecoastline,butaspartofaconsentforupto15turbinesintotal,extendinginthreegroupsupto14kmoffsore.Inmanyviewsfromlowergroundtheseoffshoreturbines,aswithBlythHarbourreadvisuallyasbeingon-shoreandservetopresentaneasternframeworkofmajorturbineinfrastructure.Theconsequenceofthispredominanceofvisuallyprominentturbines,includingthoseoff-shore,isthatthewiderlandscapecontexttotheLCTisoftenofa‘windturbinelandscape’.FurtherdevelopmentofwindenergyinfrastructurewithinLCT41wouldthereforebeunlikelytomakesignificantchangestothevisualpresenceofturbinesinthewiderlandscapecontext.HoweverwindenergydevelopmenttothenorthandsouthinLCA41may
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
servetoconcentrateandconsolidatethewindfarmlandscapeacrossthispartofthesouthNorthumberlandcoastalstrip.
LCT41:DevelopedCoast-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA41a:BlythandWansbeckEstuaries L L-M L-M M MOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT41:DevelopedCoast
IngeneralLCT41isalandscapesuitableinprincipleforwindturbinesofallscales,subjecttolocalconsiderationsofsensitiveresidentialreceptors.Significantexistingscaleandextentofverticalandindustrialinfrastructurehaveservedtoreducelandscapesensitivitysuchthatfurtherwindenergyinstallationwouldbeunlikelytopresentnegativelandscapechange.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT42:Urban&UrbanFringe
ThisLCTcomprisesthelargesettlementsofthesouth-eastofNorthumberland,togetherwiththeheavilyurban-influencedareasoffragmentedfarmlandandindustrywhichseparatethem.TheLCTisrepresentedbyonecharacterarea(LCA):• LCA42a:Ashington,BlythandCramlington
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT40:BroadBaysandDunes:• Largebuilt-upareasincludingformerminingtowns.
• Large-scaleindustrialandcommerciallanduses.
• Significanthumanfeatures,includingdualcarriageways,railways,pylons,andchimneys.
• Residentialareasofarangeofages.
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LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT42:Urban&UrbanFringeSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
SimilartotheCoalfieldFarmland(LCT39).Agenerallyflattopography,withsomegentlesummits,slopeseastwardstothecoast,underlainbythecoalmeasures.Thegeologywasformerlyworkedforcoal,viadeepandsurfacemines.ThelandscapeiscutthroughbythevalleysoftheRiversWansbeckandBlyth,aswellasseveralsmallerburns.Inplaces,thenaturallandformhasbeenmodified,andisoftenobscuredbydevelopment.
Low-ModeratetoModerate
Landcover
Muchvarietyinurbandevelopment,infrastructureandfragmentedagriculturalfringes.Fieldsarearangeofshapesandsizes,havingbeenmodifiedbysurroundinglanduses,butaregenerallylargeandrectilinear.Fieldboundariesoftencomprisegappyoroutgrownhedges,withpostandwirefencesreplacinghedgesentirelyinplaces.Treecoverincludesconiferousplantationsanddeciduouswoodlands,bothoftensitedonreclaimedorrestoredland.
Moderate-HightoHigh
Landscapescale Amediumlandscapescalebutcharacterisedbyextensiveareasofurbancover.
Moderate
VISUAL:Skylines Complexityinskylinesarisesthroughthevariedbuilt
structuresoftheLCT,includingresidential,industrialcommercialbuildings,powerinfrastructureandtheundulatingtopography-especiallytherivervalleyatBedlingtonandreclaimedformersurfacecoalmineworkings.
Moderate-High
Viewsandlandmarks
Viewsgenerallyconstrainedbyurbancontext.However,somesignificantviewsacrossmainsettlementsincludingfromhighergroundatNelsonVillage,Cramlington.Occasionally,longerviewstotheuplandwestarepossible,withthedistinctiveprofileoftheSimonsideHillsandCheviotHillsbeyond.
Moderate
Inter-visibility Relativeabsenceofelevationandurbancontextlimitsintervisibility,althoughoccasionalvistasopenout.
Low-Moderate
Visualreceptors Urbanareapresentsextensiveandhighdensityofsensitivereceptors.
High
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Muchmovementacrosstheurbanareasand
connectingtransportcorridors.Low
Builtdevelopment Essentiallyanurbanlandscapewithopenagriculturallandatypical.Frequent,extensiveareasofpost1900residentialestatesandnewerindustrialdevelopmentsitswithincontextofpastmininginfrastructureand19thcenturysettlements.Chimneys,mastsandpylonspunctuatetheskyline.
Low
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
Remoteness Nosenseofremotenesspossibleinurbanlandscape. LowQUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Verylimitedscenicqualityalthoughrivervalleys,
particularlywheremoreincised,presentareasoflocalvalue,asdoconiferousplantationsinwiderurbancontext.
Low-Moderate
Distinctiveness Somesenseofplaceemanatesfromformminingcommunitysettlements,suchastheterracesofAshington,butotherwiseindistinctivewithmanyutilitarianurbancontexts.
Low-Moderate
Rarity AuniquelandscapeinNorthumberlandbutoflimitedvalue.
Moderate-High
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Historicremnantsofmedievalvillages,suchasthe11th-
centurychurchinWoodhorn.Morerecenthistoricbuildingsarelocatedwithinthecoresofthemainsettlements.Industrialheritageisalsoakeyaspectofthislandscape.ConservationAreaswithinBlyth,BedlingtonandCramlington.
Low-Moderate
Recreation Urbanparks,rivervalleysandCountryParkatBedlingtonofferlocallyimportantrecreationopportunities.GolfcourseatNewDelaval.
Moderate
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
Thisisahighlyurbanisedlandscapetractreflectingthearea’shistoricimportanceasaformercoalminingandindustrialheartland.Consequentlytheareaischaracterisedbyacomplexmixofurbanuses,structuresandtransportinfrastructure,wheresomeareasexhibiturbandecaybutalsorengeneration.Valuedlandscapeortownscapeassetsaregenerallylimited.Sensitivitytowindenergydevelopmentisthereforelowinrelationtophysicallandscapeandtownscapecharacteristics.Howeverextensivedistributionofsensitivereceptorsarelikelytoincreasesuchsensitivitiestomediumandlargerwindenergytypologies.
Cumulativeeffects PartoftheCramlingtonMSDWindFarm(1x125m)fallswithintheLCTasdoesthemediumscalesingleturbine(43.5m)atEarthBalance,Bomarsund,Bedlington.AswithLCT40BroadBaysandDunesandLCT41DevelopedCoastsurroundingLCTspresentasignificantconcentrationofwindenergydevelopmentwhichhasavisualinfluencewithinLCT42.On-shoreinstallationsareparticularlyprominentatLynemouthWindFarm(13turbinesat121mheight),furthernorthatSistersandNorthSteadsWindFarmsatWiddrington(acombined13turbinesat126mheight),thesecondCramlingtonMSDturbine(124m)andLowHortonFarm(87m).BlythHarbourWindFarmcomprisesaprominent130mturbinelocatedontheouterharbourall.Elsewherea67msingleturbinehasbeenconsentedatFurnaceRoad,westoftheA189SpineRoad.Significanttotheconsiderationofcumulativeimpactsofwindenergy,off-shoreturbinesarelocatedeastofBlyth.Twoturbinesstandonly800moffshoreataheightofapproximately93mtotip,earlydemonstratorprojectsforthetechnology.Moresignificantlyisthecurrentinstallationof5x191mturbineslocatedapproximately6kmfromthecoastline,butaspartofaconsentforupto15
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Sensitivityassessment
turbinesintotal,extendinginthreegroupsupto14kmoffshore.Inmanyviewsfromlowergroundtheseoff-shoreturbines,aswithBlythHarbour,readvisuallyasbeingon-shoreandservetopresentaneasternframeworkofmajorturbineinfrastructure.Theconsequenceofthispredominanceofvisuallyprominentturbines,includingthoseoff-shore,isthatthewiderlandscapecontexttotheLCTisoftenofa‘windturbinelandscape’.FurtherdevelopmentofwindenergyinfrastructurewithinLCT42wouldthereforebeunlikelytomakesignificantchangestothevisualpresenceofturbinesinthewiderlandscapecontext.HoweverwindenergydevelopmenttothenorthandsouthinLCA41mayservetoconcentrateandconsolidatethewindfarmlandscapeacrossthispartofthesouthNorthumberlandcoastalstrip.LongerviewstowardstheLCTarepossiblefromhigherlandwithinNorthumberlandNationalParksuchasatSimonside,andincertainvistastheLCTanditssurroundingwindenergylandscapescanbeseenwithWingateswindfarm(6x110m)intheneardistance.Whilstthegapbetweenthesegroupsofinstallationsmaybesignificant,furtherdevelopmentofmediumtolargeturbineseastofWingatescouldbeginningtoextendtheperceptionofawindfarmlandscapeacrossthisareaofcentral-southNorthumberland.
LCT42:Urban&UrbanFringe-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA42a:Ashington,Blyth&Cramlington L L-M L-M M M-HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT42:UrbanandUrbanFringe
IngeneralLCT42isalandscapesuitableinprincipleforwindturbinesofscalesuptomedium-large–below100mtobladetipheight,subjecttoconsiderationsofsensitiveresidentialreceptors.Developmentoflargerscalesofwindturbineabove100mheighttobladetipwouldotherwisebelikelytohaveharmfullandscapeeffects,unlessitcanbeshownthateffectsonthesemoresensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Suchconsiderationsarelikelytofocusuponsensitivityandextentofresidentialreceptors.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT43:CoalfieldUplandFringe
ThisLCT(togetherwithLCT44)occupiesthenorth-westernsideoftheDurhamCoalfieldPennineFringe,amainlyrurallandscapethatdipsgentlytowardstheheavilysettledlowlandsoftheTyneandWearvalleys,characterisedbyindustrialinfluencesandmineralworkingsinplaces.LCT43isatransitionaluplandfringelandscapemadeupofbroadridgesandshallowtributaryvalleys,lyingabovetheTynevalleytothenorthandtheDerwentvalleytothesouthandeast.ThisLCTisrepresentedbytwolandscapecharacterareas(LCA):• LCA43a:KilnPitHillHinterland• LCA43b:PrudhoeHinterland
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT43:CoalfieldUplandFringe:• Broad,elevatedopenridgesabovetheTynevalleytothenorthandtheDerwentvalleytothe
southandeast,withshallowvalleyheads;
• Gentlyroundedtopographyofdriftfree,thinlybeddedsandstones,mudstones,shalesandcoals;
• Occasionalsteepbluffsandinciseddenes;
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• Heavy,seasonallywaterloggedclaysoilswithpocketsofpeatysoilssupportingheathvegetation;
• Predominantlyimprovedorsemi-improvedpastorallandusewithsomearablecroppingondrierridges;
• Regulargridsofparliamentaryenclosuresboundedbydrystonewallsorovergrownhawthornhedges,withoccasionalolderfieldsystems;
• Sparselytreedorwooded,withscatteredconiferplantations,shelterbelts,hedgerowswithoccasionalhedgerowtrees;
• Isolatedfarmsconnectedbystraightenclosureroads,withoccasionalold‘green’villagesoflocalstoneonridgetopsites;
• Occasionalrelictsoftheminingindustryincludingsmallspoilheaps,cokeovens,waggonways,andrestoredsurfacecoalminingland;
• Telecommunicationsmasts,pylonsandwindturbinesprominentonsomeridges;
• Avisuallyopenlandscapewithcommandingviewsacrossadjacentvalleystodistantridges.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT43:CoalfieldUplandFringeSensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Simple,broad,gentlyroundeduplandlandscapewheresoftandthinlybeddedsandstones,shalesandcoalsofthecoalmeasuresaregenerallyfreeofdriftormaskedbyboulderclays.Occasionalthickersandstonebedsaremarkedbysteeperbluffs.Smallbecksandburnswithshallowvalleyheadsdraintheuppervalleys,sometimesincisedinnarrowdenes.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Landcover
Predominantlyimprovedandsemi-improvedpastureswithoccasionalroughergrazingandwetrushypastureonheavyandseasonallywaterloggedsoils.Limitedarablecroppingondrierridgetops.Arelativelyopenlandscapeofcharacteristicregular,uniformfieldpatternswithboundaryhedgerows(orwirefencingwherehedgesaregappy),andstonewalls,withdomesticbuildingsaddingtothelocallysmallscalelandscapefeatures.Infrequenttreecover,withsmalltomediumscaleplantationwoodlandsandshelterbelts(givinga‘blocky’characterinplaces),narrowtree-linedroadsandwatercourses.Brackenandpatchesofgorsereflecttheacidicsoils.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Landscapescale Abroad,mediumtolargescale,generallyopenlandscapewithexpansiveviewsfromelevatedparts.Regularpatternoffieldenclosuresismoremediumscalethanlargescale.Lowergroundandoccasionalplantationsprovidesomeenclosure.
Low-moderatetoModerate
VISUAL:Skylines Thebroadlyundulatingridgesprovidelargelysimple
skylines,withsomevarietybywayofwoodlandModeratetoModerate-high
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
plantations.ThehighergroundformstheskylinesinviewsfromneighbouringLCTs.Developmentincludingpylonsandwindfarmsareprominentontheskyline,beingdominantinsomepartsoftheLCT.
Viewsandlandmarks
ExpansiveviewstoandfromelevatedridgeswithinandbeyondtheLCT,includingnorthwardsacrosstheTyneGapandsouthwardsacrossDerwentdaletothemoorlandsoftheNorthPenninesAONB.TheLCTformspartofthebackdroptoviewsofandfromsettlements,beingimportanttotheirsetting.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Inter-visibility Extensiveinter-visibilitytoandfromelevatedlandwithinandbeyondtheLCT,includingnorthwardsacrosstheTyneGap,southwardsintoDerwentdaleandtheNorthPenninesAONB,andoccasionallyeastwardstothecoast.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Visualreceptors WithintheLCTthereissomevisibilityfromsmallsettlements,scatteredfarmsteadsandpublicrightsofway,andfrompredominantlyminorroadsandalimitedsectionofthebusyA68.HoweverthereisalargenumberofpotentialvisualreceptorswithinadjacentlandscapeswithviewsintotheLCT.
ModeratetoModerate-high
PERCEPTUAL:Movement Occasionaltofrequentvisibleman-mademovement
fromroadswithintheLCTandinadjacentareas.MovementofturbinebladesfromBoundaryLaneandKilnPitHillwindfarmsarevisiblefromwithintheLCTandbeyond.Somelocationsarequieterwithlimitedmovement.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Builtdevelopment Asparselysettledlandscapethatretainsastrongruralcharacterinplaces,withscatteredhamletsandfarmsteadslinkedbystraight,regular,localenclosureroads.However,thesouthernedgeofPrudhoeextendsintoLCA43b,andnearbyStocksfieldandConsettareurbanisinginfluences.Also,thebusyA68passesthroughthewesternedgeofLCA43aandtherearesomerelictsofpastminingactivity.TelecommunicationsmastsandwindfarmsatBoundaryLane(3x110mtobladetip)andKiltPitHill(6x100m)areprominentverticalfeatures.Asmallnumberofsinglesmalltomediumscaleturbinesarealsopresentinthelandscape.AlineofpylonspassesthroughsouthernpartsofLCA43b.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Remoteness TheLCTisrelativelyaccessibleandtheinfluenceofnearbyminingtowns,busyroads(eitherwithintheLCAoradjacent),communicationsmastsandwindfarmsgivesomepartsasemi-ruralorurbanfringecharacter.Awayfromman-madeinfluencesthelandscapeisrelativelytranquil.
Low-moderatetoModerateandModeratetoModerate-high
QUALITATIVE:
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Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
Scenicquality Thelandscapeshowssomesignsofpositiveagriculturalmanagementandisvisuallyandfunctionallyintact.Scenicqualityintermsofnaturalbeautyisnothighandtherearenodesignedornamentallandscapesofnote.Therearesignificantdetractorsinthelandscape,mostnotablywindturbinesandpylons,althoughtherearescenicviewsacrossthemoorlandstotheeastandsouth.
Low-moderatetoModerateandModeratetoModerate-high
Distinctiveness Theuplandfringelandscapeisfairlydistinctivewithsomesenseofplace,butnotespeciallyrepresentativeoftheNorthumberlandlandscape,beingasmallpartofthemuchwiderDurhamCoalfieldPennineFringethatextendseastwardsandsouthwardsbeyondthecounty.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Rarity TheuplandfringelandscapeisrelativelycommonwithinNorthumberlandalthoughtheLCToccupiesonlyasmallpartofthemuchwiderDurhamCoalfieldPennineFringe.TheLCTlacksanyrareelementsorfeaturesinthelandscape.
Low-moderatetoModerate
HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Fewheritageassetsincludehistoricvillagesites,
manorialearthworksatWhittonstallandalistedMausoleumonGreymareHill.ThecourseofDereStreetRomanRoadpassesthroughthenorthernedgeofLCA43a.Thesearenotespeciallyprominentorsignificantbutdobaresomerelationshipwiththelandscape.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Recreation Thereislittletouristorrecreationinfrastructure,otherthanascatteringofrightsofwaywithaparticularconcentrationsouthofPrudhoe.TheHighlandCattleCentreisatouristattractiontothesouthofStocksfield.AgolfcoursealsoliestothesouthofStocksfieldandaglidingclubwithinLCA43b.
Low-moderatetoModerate
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
Physicalattributesoflandform,landcoverandlandscapescalesuggestreducedsensitivitytomediumandlargerscalewindenergydevelopment.InpartstheLCTexhibitsatraditional,ruralcharacter,withsmallhamletsandscatteredfarmsteadslinkedbyanetworkoflocalminorroads.Thisgivestheperceptionofarelativelyquiet,remoteuplandfringelandscapewithlimitedbuiltdevelopmentinparts,althoughelectricitypylonsandwindfarmsareveryconspicuousandprominent.Thekeylandscapeconsiderationistherolethelandscapeplaysasabackdroptoviewsfromarelativelyextensiveareaandasasettingtosurroundingsettlement.Thehighdegreeofinter-visibilitywithadjacentandmoredistantlandscapesincreasessensitivitytofurtherlargescalewindenergydevelopment,withinbothLCA43a(seeconsiderationofcumulativeeffectsbelow)andLCA43bwhichiscurrentlyfreeofmediumandlargerscalewindturbines.
Cumulativeeffects WindfarmsatBoundaryLane(3x110mtobladetip)andKiltPitHill(6x100m)areprominentfeatures,providingnotabletractsof‘windfarmlandscape’withinLCA43a.Asmallnumberofsinglesmalltomediumscaleturbinesarealsopresentinthelandscapebutthesedonotcurrentlyhave
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Sensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
significantcumulativeeffects.TelecommunicationsmastsandalineofpylonspassingthroughsouthernpartsofLCA43bprovidefurtherprominentverticalfeatures.FurthercoalescenceoflargescaleturbineswithinLCA43aislikelytoresultinwindturbinesbecomingadefiningcharacteristicofthatlandscape.Thiswouldincludelargeextensionsto,orre-poweringof,existingwindfarmswhichislikelytoresultinfurthercumulativeeffects.Thedevelopmentofadditionalturbinesinthisareashouldotherwisebelimitedtominorextensionswherenewturbinesmatchexistingturbinesinscaleandcharacter.LCA43biscurrentlyfreeofmediumandlargerscaleturbines.NewwindenergydevelopmentofthisscalewithinLCA43bwouldmaintainastrategicgapbetweenexistinginstallationsatBoundaryLaneandKilnPitHillbutislikelytocreateastragglingpatternalongtheelevatedridgesandsuchcumulativeeffectshouldbeavoided.RestrictingwindenergydevelopmentinremainingpartsofthisLCTtosmallerturbineswouldavoidsignificantcumulativeeffectsoflargerscaleturbines.
LCT43:CoalfieldUplandFringe-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA43a:KilnPitHillHinterland L L-M M M M-HLCA43b:PrudhoeHinterland L L-M M M-H M-HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT43:CoalfieldUplandFringe
IngeneralLCT43issuitableforsmallscale,small-mediumscaleandmediumscaleturbinesupto65mheighttobladetip.Carefullysitedmedium-largescaleturbinesbetween66m-100mtobladetipwouldbegenerallysuitablewithinLCA43a.Medium-largescalewindturbinesbetween66m-100mheighttobladetipwithinLCA43bandlargerscaleturbinesabove100mheighttobladetipthroughouttheLCTwouldbeunsuitableinprinciple.Thesescalesofwindenergydevelopmentmaybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffects,largelyduetothehighdegreeofinter-visibilitywithadjacentandmoredistantlandscapes,wouldnotbesignificant.
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LandscapeSensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentLCT44:CoalfieldValley
ThisLCT(togetherwithLCT43)occupiesthenorth-westernsideoftheDurhamCoalfieldPennineFringe,amainlyrurallandscapewithindustrialinfluencesandpastandpresentmineralworkingsinplaces.LCT44istheDerwentvalley,throughwhichtheRiverDerwentanditstributariesflow.Thislandscapestraddlesthesouth-easternboundaryofNorthumberland,separatingtheNorthumberlandCoalfieldUplandFringe(LCT43)fromthecoalfieldfringeeastoftheriverandextendingintoCountyDurham.ThisLCTisrepresentedbyonelandscapecharacterarea(LCA):• LCA44a:DerwentValley
KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsofLCT44:CoalfieldValley:• Broad,welldefinedvalleyscuttingthroughandenclosedbyroundedridgelines,withoccasional
narrowfloodplainsandinciseddenes;
• Thinlybeddedsandstones,mudstones,shalesandcoalsoverlainbyglacialboulderclays;
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• Agradualwest-eastgraintothelandscape,drainedbytributarystreamsandburnsfallingfromtheuplandfringeintotheRiverDerwent;
• Heavy,seasonallywaterlogged,claysoils;
• Mixedfarmlandofimprovedpastureandarablecropping;
• Sub-regularfieldpatternsofoldenclosuresboundedbythornhedgesandstonewalls.Occasionalregularparliamentaryenclosures;
• Scatteredhedgerowoak,ash,sycamoreandbeechtrees;
• Wellwoodedwithancientoak-birchwoodsinnarrowdenesandalongwatercourses,‘blocky’broadleaved,coniferousormixedplantationsonvalleysides,andwithinparklandassociatedwithShotleyHall;
• Settlementlimitedtoasmallnumberofisolatedfarmsteadslinkedbyminorlocalroads;
• Astronglyrurallandscapeinplacesbutwitha‘semi-rural’qualityalongitseasternmoresettledurbanfringewithConsettandEbchester;
• AsandandgravelquarrywestofEbchesterisopenandrelativelyfeatureless;
• AwayfromthewoodlandsthelandscapeisrelativelyopenwithcommandingviewseastwardsacrossthevalleytodistantridgesonthecoalfielduplandfringewithinCountyDurham.
LandscapeSensitivityProfileofLCT44:CoalfieldValleySensitivityattributes
Landscapecharacteristicsinfluencingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment
Sensitivityassessment
PHYSICAL:Landform
Relativelysimple,broad,well-definedvalleyoftheRiverDerwent,withtributarystreamandburnscuttingwest-eastthroughthinlybeddedsandstones,mudstones,shalesandcoalsoverlainbyglacialboulderclays,andenclosedbyroundedridgelines.Sometopographicalvarietybywayofoccasionalnarrowfloodplainsandinciseddenes,butlackinglandmarklandformfeatures.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Landcover
Relativelysimplemixedfarmlandmosaicofimprovedpastureandarablecropping,withextensivewoodlandblocks.Isolateddomesticbuildings,roadandfield-sidehedgesandtrees,andboundarystonewallsprovidehuman-scalefeaturesinthelandscape.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Landscapescale Generallyanopenbutmediumscalevalleylandscape(ratherthanlargerscale)whereextensivewoodlandandtree-linedvalleyscreateenclosureandalocallyintimatecharacterinplaces.
ModeratetoModerate-high
VISUAL:Skylines Generallysimpleskylineofroundedvalleysidesbut
wherewoodlandinparticularprovideslocalvariation.Skylinesintheneighbouringcoalfielduplandfringearemoreprominentandcomplicatedespeciallytotheeastwheredevelopmentwithintheurbanfringerisesontheadjacentridgeline.
ModeratetoModerate-high
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Sensitivityassessment
Viewsandlandmarks
Viewsaretypicallydefinedbyenclosingridgelines,withlocallysignificantviewsalongthevalley.CommandinglongerdistanceviewsacrossthevalleytodistantridgesonthecoalfielduplandfringewithinCountyDurhamandviceversa.ViewsfromthesouthfromtheNorthPenninesAONBareimportantandsensitivewheretheDerwentvalleyinthisLCTisseentocutthroughthecoalfielduplandfringelandscape.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Inter-visibility Inter-visibilityandstronglinkswiththeadjacentcoalfielduplandfringeridges.
ModeratetoModerate-high
Visualreceptors LimitedsensitivevisualreceptorswithintheLCTalthoughthevalleyiswidelyvisiblefromthesettlededgearoundConsettandEbchestertotheeast.
ModeratetoModerate-high
PERCEPTUAL:Movement LimitedmovementwithintheLCTfromlocalroadsand
farmvehicles,butfrequentmovementonbusymainroadsincludingtheA68andA694,andotherthroughroutesetc.withintheadjacentsettledurbanfringearoundConsetttotheeast.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Builtdevelopment InfluencesoftheformercoalminingindustryandasandandgravelquarrywestofEbchesterarethemainman-mademodificationstothelandscape.AlineofpylonspassesthroughthenorthernendoftheLCTbutisnotprominent.Tallmastsonadjacenthighgroundaremoreconspicuous.AshortstretchoftheA68passesalongthesouthernboundarywhilstotherbuiltdevelopmentwithintheadjacentsettledurbanfringearoundConsetttotheeastprovidesanurbanisinginfluence.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Remoteness MostoftheLCTretainsastronglyrural,relativelyremoteandtranquilcharacter,accessedonlybywindinglocalroads.ViewsoftheheavilysettledanddevelopeduplandfringelandscapeaboveConsettreducetheperceptionofremoteness.
Moderate
QUALITATIVE:Scenicquality Thestronglyrural,relativelyremoteandtranquil,intact
andwellmanagedagriculturalandvalleylandscapeisofmoderatetohighscenicquality,withemphasisontheShotleyHallestate.Ebchestersandandgravelquarryandthestrongurbanfringeinfluencestotheeastreducetheperceptionofscenicquality.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Distinctiveness ThispartoftheRiverDerwentvalleyhassomedistinctivefeaturesand‘senseofplace’,butisnotparticularlyrepresentativeoftheNorthumberlandlandscape.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Rarity RivervalleylandscapesarerelativelycommonthroughoutNorthumberland,althoughthisparticularcharactertypecoversarelativelysmallareaoftheCountyandcomprisesonlyonelandscapecharacter
Low-moderatetoModerate
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area.HISTORIC&CULTURAL:Heritageassets Limitedhistoricimportancewithasmallnumberof
historicbuildingsandfeatureswithintheLCT.ShotleyHallatShotleyBridgeisGradeIIlisted,atthecentreofalinearConservationAreaalongsidetheRiverDerwent.GoodlinkstoEbchesterRomanFort(Vindomora)acrosstheriverinCountyDurham.
Low-moderatetoModerate
Recreation LimitedrecreationalusewithintheLCT.GoodpublicaccessalongDerwentvalleytothewestofEbchester,linkingtowalksalongthedisusedrailwaynowpartofDerwentWalkCountryPark,EbchesterWood(ownedandmanagedbytheNationalTrust)andEbchesterRomanFort(Vindomora)acrosstheriverinCountyDurham.
Low-moderatetoModerate
CONTEXTUALCONSIDERATIONS:Landscapecharactercontext
Thepredominantlyundeveloped,stronglyrural,relativelyremoteandtranquilcharacterofthismediumscalevalleylandscapeindicatesgenerallyhighersensitivitytomedium-largeandlargescalewindturbines.Thiswouldbethecaseforbothsingleturbinesandturbinegroups.Duetotheclosejuxtaposition,inter-visibilityandcontrastwiththecoalfielduplandfringethislandscapeplaysanimportantroleincontributingtothecharacteroftheadjacentlandscape,andviceversa,increasingsensitivitytowindenergydevelopment.BuiltdevelopmentwithintheadjacentsettledurbanfringearoundConsettandEbchesteronrisinggroundtotheeastprovidesanurbanisinginfluence.ViewsfromthesouthfromtheNorthPenninesAONBareimportantandsensitivewheretheDerwentValleyinthisLCTisseentocutthroughthecoalfielduplandfringelandscape.Thedomesticscaleofexistingfeaturesinthelandscape,includingfarmsteads,treesandhedges,suggeststhatturbinesofcomparablescalearelikelytobemoreappropriate,especiallywherescreenedbywoodland.Singleturbineswouldbemoreappropriate,withhighersensitivitytoturbinegroups.
Cumulativeeffects Therearecurrentlynowindturbineswithinthislandscape.Thereareviewsoflargeturbinesinadjacentcharacterareas(BoundaryLaneandKilnPitHillwindfarmsonthecoalfielduplandfringetothewest).TheDerwentValleyisseeninthemiddledistanceinviewsfromthecoalfielduplandfringetotheeastwhereBoundaryLaneandKilnPitHillwindfarmsareseeninthedistanceasprominentdevelopmentsontheskyline.Despitethis,cumulativeeffectsarenotconsideredsignificant.However,anymediumandlargerscalewindenergydevelopmentwithintheDerwentValleyLCAcouldcreateaconfusingimageandsignificantcombinedandsequentialcumulativeeffects.Theeffectofsmallorsmall-mediumscalesinglewindturbineswithinthevalleyshouldbelimitedifsensitivelylocatedwheretheywouldbeofcomparablescalewithexistingverticalelementssuchasfarmsteadsandtrees,andwherewoodlandprovidesscreening.Turbinegroupsshouldbeavoided,especiallyaroundhistoricfeaturesandwithinsensitiveviews.
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LCT44:CoalfieldValley-LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)SensitivitytoDifferentScalesofWindEnergyDevelopment
LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA) Turbineheighttobladetip<25m 26m-
40m41m-65m
66m-100m
101m-135m
LCA44a:DerwentValley M M-H M-H H HOverallLandscapeSensitivityofLCT44:CoalfieldValley
IngeneralLCT44issuitableforcarefullysitedsinglesmallscaleturbinesupto25mheighttobladetip.Theyshouldbecloselyassociatedwiththescaleandlocationoffarmbuildings,otherdomesticscalefeaturesandwoodlandwithinthelandscape.Ingeneral,windturbinesabove25mheighttobladetipwouldinprinciplebeunsuitablewithinLCT44.However,small-mediumscaleturbinesbetween26m-40mheighttobladetipandmediumscaleturbinesbetween41m-65mheighttobladetipmaybesuitablewhereitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivecharacteristicsandcumulativeeffectswouldnotbesignificant.Inthesecircumstancesturbinesshouldbenomorethan‘apparent’inthelandscape–theyshouldnotbeprominentordominantandshouldnotout-competeimportantfociinthelandscape.Medium-largescaleandlargerturbineswouldsignificantlyaffectkeycharacteristicsandqualitiesofthelandscapethatarehighlysensitivetothistypeandscaleofdevelopment.Thisisparticularlyduetothehighinter-visibilityandstronglinkswiththeadjacentcoalfielduplandfringeridgesandvisibilitywiththeadjacentsettledurbanfringe.
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4. SUMMARYFINDINGS: SENSITIVITYTOWINDENERGYDEVELOPMENTIN NORTHUMBERLAND SensitivitytoWindEnergyDevelopmentinPrinciple4.1 Table11setsoutthefullfindingsofthisstudyacrossalllandscapeareasforallwindturbine
typologies.
Table11:Summaryofoverallsensitivityoflandscapecharacterareastowindenergydevelopment(seeAppendixAforfulllistofLCAnames).LandscapeCharacterArea
TurbineheighttobladetipSmall<25m
Small-Medium26m-40m
Medium41m-65m
Medium-Large
66m-100m
Larger101m-135m
LCA1a M M-H H H H
LCA2a M M-H H H HLCA2b M M-H H H H
LCA3a M-H M-H H H HLCA3b M-H M-H H H HLCA3c M-H M-H H H H
LCA4a M M-H M-H H HLCA4b M-H H H H HLCA4c M-H H H H H
LCA5a M-H H H H HLCA5b M-H H H H HLCA5c M-H H H H H
LCA6a L-M M M M-H M-H
LCA7a M-H H H H H
LCA8a M M-H H H HLCA8b L-M M-H H H HLCA8c L L-M M M-H M-HLCA8d M M-H H H HLCA8e M M M-H H HLCA8f L-M M M-H H HLCA8g L-M M M M-H M-H
LCA9a M-H H H H H
LCA10a L-M M M M-H M-H
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LandscapeCharacterArea
TurbineheighttobladetipSmall<25m
Small-Medium26m-40m
Medium41m-65m
Medium-Large
66m-100m
Larger101m-135m
LCA10b M M-H M-H H H
LCA11a L-M M M-H H HLCA11b L-M M M M-H HLCA11c L-M M M M-H H
LCA12a M M M-H H H
LCA13a M M-H H H H
LCA14a M M-H H H HLCA14b M M-H H H HLCA14c M-H M-H H H H
LCA15a M M-H H H HLCA15b M M-H H H H
LCA16a M-H H H H HLCA16b M M-H M-H H HLCA16c M M-H M-H H H
LCA17a L-M M M-H H H
LCA18a M M-H H H HLCA18b L-M M M-H H HLCA18c M M-H H H HLCA18d M M-H H H H
LCA19a L-M M M-H M-H HLCA19b M M-H H H H
LCA20a L-M M M-H H HLCA20b L-M M M-H H HLCA20c L-M M M-H H H
LCA21a M M-H H H HLCA21b M M-H M-H H HLCA21c M M-H M-H H H
LCA22a M M-H H H HLCA22b M M-H M-H H H
LCA23a M M-H H H HLCA23b M M-H H H H
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LandscapeCharacterArea
TurbineheighttobladetipSmall<25m
Small-Medium26m-40m
Medium41m-65m
Medium-Large
66m-100m
Larger101m-135m
LCA23c M M-H H H H
LCA24a M M-H H H HLCA24b M M-H H H HLCA24c M M-H H H HLCA24d M M-H H H HLCA24e M M-H H H H
LCA25a H H H H HLCA25b H H H H HLCA25c H H H H HLCA25d H H H H HLCA25e H H H H H
LCA26a M M-H H H H
LCA27a M M-H H H HLCA27b M M-H H H H
LCA28a M-H H H H H
LCA29a M M-H H H H
LCA30a M-H H H H HLCA30b M-H M-H H H HLCA30c M-H H H H H
LCA31a M-H H H H HLCA31b M-H H H H HLCA31c M-H H H H HLCA31d M-H H H H HLCA31e M-H H H H HLCA31f M-H H H H HLCA31g M-H H H H H
LCA32a H H H H HLCA32b M-H H H H H
LCA33a M-H M-H H H H
LCA34a H H H H HLCA34b M-H H H H HLCA34c H H H H HLCA34d H H H H H
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LandscapeCharacterArea
TurbineheighttobladetipSmall<25m
Small-Medium26m-40m
Medium41m-65m
Medium-Large
66m-100m
Larger101m-135m
LCA34e M-H H H H H
LCA35a M-H H H H HLCA35b M M-H H H H
LCA36a L L-M L-M M M
LCA37a L-M M M M-H M-HLCA37b L-M M M M-H M-HLCA38a M M-H H H HLCA38b M M-H H H HLCA38c M M-H H H HLCA38d M-H H H H HLCA38e M-H H H H H
LCA39a L L-M M M MLCA39b L L-M M M-H M-HLCA39c L L-M M M M
LCA40a M M-H H H HLCA40b M M-H M-H H H
LCA41a L L-M L-M M M
LCA42a L L-M L-M M M-H
LCA43a L L-M M M M-HLCA43b L L-M M M-H M-H
LCA44a M M-H M-H H H
4.2 TheassessmenthasidentifiedsomeNorthumberlandlandscapesasbeingofthehighest
sensitivity,i.e.ModeratetoHighorHighsensitivity,toallsizesofwindturbineconsideredinthisstudy.Theseare:
• MostoftheRockyCoastlineLCTandalloftheSandyCoastLCT,whichforthemostpart
liewithintheNorthumberlandCoastAONB;• LCA7a:HulnePark,withintheEstateValleyLCT;• LCA9a:Coquetdale,withintheSandstoneUplandValleyLCT;• LCA14c:OldFawdon,withintheIgneousFoothillsLCT;• LCA16a:Halidon,withintheOpenRollingFarmlandLCT;
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• TheMoorlandRidgesLCT,whichforthemostpartliewithintheNorthPenninesAONB;• AlmosttheentirelandscapeswithintheTyneGap,comprising7LCTs;• LCA35a:CoquetValley,withintheBroadLowlandValleysLCT;• LCA38d:PontValleyandLCA38e:NorthTyneRidge,bothwithintheLowlandRolling
FarmlandLCT.4.3 InaccordancewiththedefinitionsofsensitivityinTable9,keycharacteristicswithin
landscapesofHighersensitivity(H)arehighlylikelytobesignificantlyaffected,andkeycharacteristicswithinlandscapesofModerate-Highsensitivity(M-H)arelikelytobesignificantlyaffectedbywindenergydevelopment.ConsequentlythisstudyconsidersthatwindenergydevelopmentwouldbeunsuitableinlandscapesofHighersensitivity(H).WindenergydevelopmentinlandscapesofModerate-Highsensitivity(M-H)wouldbeunsuitableinprincipleunlessitcanbeshownthateffectsonthemostsensitivekeycharacteristicswithinanLCAwouldnotbesignificant.Thisrecognisesthecomplexinterplayofthedifferentcriteriathatinfluencelandscapecharacterandwhichaffectlandscapesensitivitytowindenergydevelopmenttoagreaterorlesserextent(seeparagraph2.24).
4.4 TheassessmenthasalsoidentifiedanumberofotherlandscapesofModerateorlower
sensitivitywheresomeofthekeycharacteristicsaresensitivetothecategoriesofwindturbineconsideredinthisstudy.Landscapecharacter,viewsand/orvisualamenityareunlikelytobesignificantlyaffected(seeTable9).ConsequentlythisstudyconsidersthatwindenergydevelopmentwouldbesuitableinprincipleinlandscapesofModeratesensitivity(M),Low–Moderatesensitivity(L-M)andLowersensitivity(L).However,applicationsfordevelopmentofanysizeofwindturbineintheselocationswillneedtodemonstratethatanysignificantlandscapeandvisualeffects,includingcumulativeeffects,willnotresultinunacceptablyharmfullandscapechangeorvisualintrusion(seeWiderConsiderationsbelow).
SensitivitytoSmall,Small-MediumandMediumTurbinesupto65mHeighttoBladeTip
4.5 Figures49to51showthespatialdistributionoflandscapesensitivitiestothethreelowerandmediumscalesofwindturbineaddressedbythisstudy.
4.6 Landscapesthatarethemostsensitivetosmallandsmall-mediumturbinesupto40mtipare
theCoastalPlain,partsoftheCheviotFringe,theRollingUplands,NorthPennines,TyneGap,theRollingLowlandFarmland,BroadBaysandDunesandtheDerwentValley.WheretheassessmenthasidentifiedsensitivityasModeratetoHighorHighsensitivity,turbinesofthissizewouldnotnormallybeexpectedbeappropriateelementsinthelandscapewithoutharmfulcharacterorvisualchange.TurbinesofthissizemaybeacceptableinlandscapesassessedasModeratesensitivitywhereeffectsonkeycharacteristicswouldnotbeexpectedtobeassignificant.TurbinesofthissizearealsolikelytobeacceptableinlandscapesassessedasModerate-LoworLowsensitivitywherenormallykeycharacteristicsareunlikelytobesignificantlyaffected,orwhereitisdemonstratedthatanylocalsignificantlandscapeandvisualeffects,includingcumulativeeffects,willbeotherwiseacceptablethroughmitigation.
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4.7 Thereismostpotentialinthecountyforsinglesmallturbines(upto25mheighttobladetip)
orturbinesatthelowerendofthesmall-mediumheightcategory,andforsmallgroupsoftwoorpossiblythreeturbineswithinthisheightrangewithinmorerestrictedpartsofthecounty(ratherthanmorewidelydistributedbecauseofthepotentialforcumulativeeffects).Turbinesofthisheightaremorelikelytobeinscalewithlandscapepatternsandhuman-scalefeaturesinthelandscapesuchasbuildings,churchspiresandmaturetrees.However,thereisstillthepotentialforturbinesofthissizetocausesignificantadverseeffectstokeylandscapecharacteristicswithinaLCAorawiderareawherevisualsensitivityextendsbeyondtheLCA.
4.8 MostlandscapesthroughoutthecountyindicateModeratetoHighorHighsensitivitytosmall-
mediumandmediumturbinesbetween25m-65mheighttobladetip.Mediumturbinesbetween40m-65mheighttobladetipareunlikelytobesuitableinlandscapesofModeratetoHighorHighsensitivity,butmaybeacceptableinlandscapesassessedasModeratesensitivitywhereeffectsonkeycharacteristicswouldnotbesignificant,whichmayincludepartsoftheSandstoneHills,LowlandFarmedRidges,CoastalFarmlandandtheCoalfieldUplandFringe.
4.9 Landscapesassessedasbeinglesssensitivetomediumandsmallerturbinesbelow65mheight
tobladetiparetheLowlandFarmedMoor,DevelopedCoastandtheUrban/UrbanFringeLCTs.4.10 TherearelimitedareasinthecountyassessedasLowsensitivitywherekeylandscape
characteristicsarelikelytobesufficientlyrobustandarenotparticularlysensitivetothissizeofwindturbine.However,thesetendtobelandscapeswithmoreextensiveoperationalorconsentedturbineswherefurtherdevelopmentcouldleadtocumulativeeffects,orarelandscapessubjecttoremodellingandenhancement,suchasacrossformerorcurrentsurfacecoalminingareas.
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SensitivitytoMedium-LargeandLargerTurbinesabove65mHeighttoBladeTip
4.11 Theassessmenthasshownthatmostlandscapesthroughoutthecountyarenotsuitableformedium-largeandlargerturbinesduetotheModeratetoHighorHighsensitivitytoturbinesabove65mheighttobladetip.SeeFigures52and53:
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4.12 LandscapesofModeratesensitivitytothissizeofturbine,i.e.theleastsensitivelocationsincomparisonwithotherNorthumberlandlandscapes,are:
• LCA36a:IngoeMoor,whereturbinesatKirkheatonandHallingtoncontributeto
reducinglandscapesensitivityoftheLowlandFarmedMoorLCT;
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• LCA39a:CoastalCoalfields,whereturbinesatLynemouth,NorthSteadsandSisterscontributetoreducinglandscapesensitivityofthenorthernpartoftheCoastalFarmlandLCT;
• LCA39c:Stannington,wherepastandcurrentopencastmining,significanttransportinfrastructureandalargescalelandscapewithlimitedintervisibilityreducesoverallsensitivityalthoughlocallysensitivitymaybehigher;
• LCA41a:BlythandWansbeckEstuaries,whereonshoreandoffshoreturbinesatBlythcontributetoreducinglandscapesensitivityofthatpartoftheDevelopedCoastLCT;
• LCA42a:Ashington,BlythandCramlington,whereturbinesatCramlingtoncontributetoreducinglandscapesensitivityoftheUrbanandUrbanFringeLCT;
• LCA43a:KilnPitHillHinterland,whereturbinesatKilnPitHillandBoundaryLanecontributetoreducinglandscapesensitivityoftheCoalfieldUplandFringeLCT.
4.13 Althoughtheassessmenthasidentifiedtheselandscapesasbeingtheleastsensitiveto
medium-largeandlargerturbines,someofthekeylandscapecharacteristicsaresensitivetothissizeofturbine.Applicationsfordevelopmentofturbinesabove65mheighttobladetipintheselocationswillneedtodemonstratethatanysignificantlandscapeandvisualeffects,includingcumulativeeffects,willbeacceptable(seeWiderConsiderationsbelow).
4.14 Wheretheremaybesomepotentialformedium-largeandlargerturbines,thepatternof
developmentislikelytobeoneofextension(s)tooperationalwindfarmsoranewgroupingofturbineswithinaparticularpartofthecountywhereturbinesofthissizearealreadyestablished.Thereisverylittlepotentialforsingleturbinesorgroupsofturbinesabove65mheighttobladetipthatwouldnotbeexpectedtobeoutofscaleandover-dominantwithintheNorthumberlandlandscape.
4.15 Wherere-poweringproposalsarise,developmentwhichseekstomaintainthescaleofthe
existingturbineorarrayislikelytobeappropriate.However,wherelandscapeandvisualeffectsofoperationalmedium,medium-largeorlargeturbinesinparticularareconsideredtobesignificant,orwherere-poweringwithlargerturbinescouldresultinsignificantlandscapeorvisualeffects,re-poweringmaybeinappropriate.
WiderConsiderations4.16 Applicationsfordevelopmentofanysizeofwindturbinewillneedtodemonstratethatany
significantlandscapeandvisualeffects,includingindirectandcumulativeeffects,willbeacceptable.Inparticularthismustaddressinmoredetailthaninacounty-widesensitivitystudyofthiskind,therelativevalueattachedtoaparticularlandscapeoritscomponentelements,includinglandscapedesignations(suchasNationalParkandAONB),andundesignatedlandscapesthatmaybevaluedatthecommunityorlocallevel.Impactonthesettingofavaluedlandscapewillalsoneedtobeconsidered,forexamplewhereanareaaffectedbyaproposalisvisuallyassociatedwithLCAsadjacenttooroccasionallybeyondcontiguouslandscapestoadesignatedarea(suchaswheresuchareasmaybeparticularlylimitedinscale,forexamplethesouthernfringeofNorthumberlandNationalPark).
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4.17 Similarly,applicationsfordevelopmentofanysizeofwindturbinewillneedtoincludeanassessmentofvisualeffects.Thisshouldestablishthevisualbaselinebyidentifyingtheextentofpossiblevisibilityofaproposal(ZoneofTheoreticalVisibility/ZTV),thegroupsofpeoplewhomaybeaffected(visualreceptors),andkeyviewsandviewpoints.ThevalueattachedtoviewsisanimportantconsiderationwithinNorthumberland,forexampleinrelationtoiconicheritageassetssuchasthecastlesandprioriesalongthecoastline.
4.18 AssessmentofcumulativeeffectsisarequirementoftheEnvironmentalImpactAssessment
(EIA)Regulations.Cumulativeeffectsofwindenergydevelopmentsisaparticularconsiderationduetothepotentiallyhighlevelofvisibilityofthesetallstructures,whichmeansthatcumulativevisualeffectsinparticular(alongwithcumulativelandscapeeffects)aremorelikelywhereadevelopmentisproposedinconjunctionwithotheroperationalorconsentedwindenergydevelopments.ThisstudytakesintoconsiderationoperationalandconsentedwindenergydevelopmentswithinNorthumberlandandadjacentauthorities,andadvisesonpotentialcumulativeeffects,butitisnotasubstitutefordetailedassessmentofthecumulativeeffectsofawinddevelopmentproposal.ThescopeofacumulativeassessmentshouldbeagreedwiththeCouncilandislikelytoincludedefinitionofanappropriatestudyareaandtheuseofZTVmappingoftheproposeddevelopmentwithoperationalandconsentedschemes,togetherwithschemesthataresubjecttoavalidplanningapplicationthathasnotyetbeendetermined.
4.19 Thelandscape(andvisual)sensitivitytowindenergydevelopmentassessedinthisstudywill
helptheCouncilunderstandwhethersuitableareasforwindturbinedevelopmentcanbeidentifiedwithintheemergingNorthumberlandLocalPlan.Thestudyconsidersthosefactorsthataffectlandscapecharacter;otherconsiderationswillbetakenintoaccountbytheCouncilindeterminingoverallsuitability,suchasconsiderationofwiderenvironmentalvalueincludinginternationalandnationaldesignations(e.g.SPA,SSSI,ScheduledMonumentandListedBuilding)andenvironmentalassetsvaluedatthecommunityorlocallevel(e.g.localwildlifesitesandConservationAreas),aswellastechnicalandotherpracticallimitations.However,theoutputsofthissensitivityassessmentdoprovideasystematicandtransparentcoarse-to-moderategrainfilterofareaswherewindenergydevelopmentofthedifferenttypologiesconsideredinthestudywouldorwouldnotbeappropriateinlandscapeandvisualterms.
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APPENDICESAppendixA:LandscapeCharacterTypesandLandscapeCharacterAreas(NLCA2010)
LandscapeCharacterType(LCT) LandscapeCharacterArea(LCA)
1 BroadRiverMouth 1a TweedRiverMouth
2 CoastalIncisedValley 2a LowerAln
2b LowerCoquet
3 FarmedCoastalPlain 3a Haggerston
3b Lucker
3c Rock
4 RockyCoastline 4a NorthTweedCoast
4b FarneIslandsCoast
4c CrasterCoast
5 SandyCoastline 5a HolyIslandCoast
5b BeadnellandEmbletonBays
5c AlnandCoquetEstuaries
6 BroadSandstoneValley 6a WhittinghamVale
7 EstateValley 7a HulnePark
8 OutcropHillsandEscarpments 8a DoddingtonRidge
8b KyloeandChillinghamHills
8c CharltonRidge
8d BeanleyMoor
8e RothburyForest
8f HarwoodForest
8g SweethopeandBlackdown
9 SandstoneUplandValleys 9a Coquetdale
10 SmoothMoorland 10a RosebroughMoor
10b AlnwickMoor
11 SandstoneFringeFarmland 11a BelfordHills
11b ButelandandColtCrag
11c Hetton
12 BroadFarmedVale 12a BreamishVale
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13 BroadFloodplainValley 13a TillandGlenValleys
14 IgneousFoothills 14a MoneylawsandColdside
14b WoolerFoothills
14c OldFawdon
15 UplandFringeFarmland 15a LilburnandRoddam
15b UpperCoquet
16 OpenRollingFarmland 16a Halidon
16b DuddoandLowick
16c EastLearmouth
17 UplandFringeRidges 17a HorseRigg
18 UplandFringeValley 18a BowmontValley
18b WoolerVale
18c UpperBreamish
18d UpperAln
19 MoorlandandForestMosaic 19a KielderandRedesdaleForests
19b KielderReservoir
20 RollingUplandValleys 20a OtterburnandElsdonValley
20b BellinghamandWoodburnValley
20c UpperNorthTyneValley
21 RollingUplands 21a CorsensideCommon
21b EalinghamRigg
21c OtterburnPlateau
22 FarmedRiverValleys 22a Devil'sWaterandHinterland
22b DiptonWoodandSlaley
23 LowerDale 23a LowerSouthTyne
23b LowerAllenheads
23c LowerDerwent
24 MiddleDale 24a MiddleSouthTyne
24b MiddleWestAllen
24c MiddleEastAllen
24d MiddleDevil'sWater
24e MiddleDerwent
26 UplandFarmlandandPlantations 26a Healey
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27 UpperDale 27a UpperWestAllen
27b UpperEastAllen
28 BasinValleyandFringes 28a RiverIrthing
29 BroadWoodedValley 29a NorthTyneValley
30
GlacialTroughValleyFloor 30a HaltwhistletoNewbrough
30b NewbroughtoCorbridge
30c CorbridgetoWylam
31 GlacialTroughValleySides 31a TipaltBurn
31b HaltwhistletoBridgeEnd
31c NorthPlenmellerCommon
31d LangleytoStocksfield
31e StocksfieldtoPrudhoe
31f AcombtoOvington
31g OvingtontoWylam
32 ParallelRidgesandCommons 32a HowdenHill
32b Haltwhistle,MelkridgeandRidleyCommons
33 TributaryValley 33a ErringBurn
34 UplandCommonsandFarmland 34a AcombRidge
34b BroadpoolCommon
34c GrindonCommon
34d FeatherstoneCommon
34e LowesandNubbockFells
35 BroadLowlandValleys 35a CoquetValley
35b FontandWansbeckValleys
36 LowlandFarmedMoor 36a IngoeMoor
37 LowlandFarmedRidges 37a WingatesRidge
37b LongwittonRidge
38 LowlandRollingFarmland 38a Longframlington
38b Longhorsley
38c WhaltonandBelsay
38d PontValley
38e NorthTyneRidge
39 CoalfieldFarmland 39a CoastalCoalfields
39b SeatonDelaval
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39c Stannington
40 BroadBaysandDunes 40a DruridgeBay
40b SeatonDunes
41 DevelopedCoast 41a BlythandWansbeckEstuaries
42 UrbanandUrbanFringe 42a Ashington,BlythandCramlington
43 CoalfieldUplandFringe 43a KilnPitHillHinterland
43b PrudhoeHinterland
44 CoalfieldValley 44a DerwentValley
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AppendixB:KeyLandscapeCharacteristicsandGeneralInfluenceonWindEnergyLandscapeAttributes
KeyLandscapeConsiderations
GeneralInfluenceonWindEnergyDevelopment
Landform Topography,shape,complexity;distinctivefeatures;influenceonviews
• Simple,smooth,flatorgentlyundulatinglandformsgenerallyhavegreatercapacitythancomplex,ruggedorsteeplandforms
• Largerturbinegroupsmaysometimesbeaccommodatedonsimple,flatorgentlyslopinghillfringeorlowlandlandscapes
• Smallerturbinegroupsarelikelytofitbetterinarollingorundulatinghillfringeorlowlandlandscape
• Generallyturbineheightshouldbeproportionatetolandformheight,withtallerturbinesonhigherhillsandsmallerturbinesonlowerground,tohelpretaintopographicdistinctionsandcontrastsbetweenuplandandlowlandlandscapes
• Wheresitedonridgesorhills,turbineheightshouldbetypicallylessthanone-thirdtheperceivedheightoftheridgeorhilltobeproportionatetothelandform
• Developmentcouldintrudeorbevisuallyconfusingifclosetodistinctivetopographicalfeatures
• Developmentwithinlowlandlandscapescouldaffectsenseofcontrastwherethereisexistingwinddevelopmentonadjoininguplandareas
• Floodplainlandscapeshavelittlecapacityduetotheiressentiallyopencharacter
• Simpleflatcoastallandscapesprobablyhavegreatercapacitythancomplexcoastallandscapewithcombinationsofcliffs,headlandsorrockyshorelines
• Extensiveflatlowlandplateauorlowlandplainlandscapesmayhavecapacitytoaccommodatewindenergydevelopment
• DevelopmentcouldaffectsenseofdistanceLanduse Landusechange,
historicalcontinuity• Developmentcouldaffectperceptionsof‘naturalness’in
landscapeslargelyunaffectedbymoderninfluencesLandcover Pattern,varietyand
complexityduetothenumberanddiversityoflandscapefeatures;infrastructure,settlement&otherdevelopment
• Extensiveareasofhomogenouscharacterandsimilargroundcovergenerallyhavegreatercapacitythanlandscapeswithasmallerpatternandvarietyoflandcover
• Largeturbinegroupsmayhaveanadverse‘flattening’effectonlandscapeswithacomplexcharacterandvariedlandcoverwheresmallergroupingsarelikelytofitbetter
• Relationshipofturbineswiththepattern,scale,location,characterandsettingofotherbuiltdevelopment,inparticulartheheightofexistingtallstructures,willinfluencecapacity
• Maybetheneedforvisualseparationtoavoidvisualconflictsduetocontrastsinscalewhereexistingstructuresareseenincloseproximitytoturbines
• Maybetheneedforvisualseparationtoavoidcumulativeeffectswhereexistingstructuresareseenincloseproximitytoturbines
Rarity Rare/unusuallandscapeswithadistinctive‘senseofplace’
• Developmentcouldaffectperceptionsofdistinctivenessandcouldphysicallyaffectlandscapeswitharareorunusualcharacter
Scale Horizontalandvertical‘size’ofthelandscapeand
• Developmentmustbeinscalewiththelandscape,includinganyfeaturesinit,otherwiseitwilleitherdominateorappeartoosmallandtrivial
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LandscapeAttributes
KeyLandscapeConsiderations
GeneralInfluenceonWindEnergyDevelopment
extentoflandvisible(scalegenerallyincreaseswithelevationanddistance);sizeoffeaturesinthelandscape
• Intimateandsmallscalelandscapesgenerallyhavelesscapacitythanlargescalelandscapes
• Largeturbinegroupsmayhaveanadverse‘flattening’effectonsmallscale,moreintricatelandscapeswheresmallergroupingsarelikelytofitbetter
• Largeturbinegroupsmaybeappropriateinsimple,flatcoastallandscapes,andsmallerturbinesandgroupsmaybemoreappropriateinmorecomplex,variedcoastlines
• Developmentcouldaffectperceptionofverticalscaleifturbinesaretootallincomparisonwithlandscapefeaturesorsmallerturbines
Openness Extentofenclosure/containmentduetothearrangementoflandscapeelementsandtheinteractionoftheirheightanddistancebetweenthem
• Enclosedorconfinedlandscapesgenerallyhavelesscapacitythanmoreopenlandscapes
• Sensitivityislikelytobeincreasedwhereviewsarefocussedalongcoastlinesoracrossopenwatertootherlandmasses
Experience Forexamplewildness,solitude,tranquillity,senseofmovement,etc.
• Developmentcouldaffectperceptionsofremoteness,calmnessetc.
LandscapeContext
Considerationofhowadjacentareasandfeaturesalterkeysensitivitiesi.e.importancetosettingorprovidingabackdrop
• Existingdevelopmentinadjacentareasistakenintoaccountinassessingexisting‘baseline’character
• Existingdevelopmentinadjacentareasistakenintoaccountinassessingwhetheranareahasreachedorisapproachinglandscapecapacityforwindenergydevelopment
• Developmentinoneareacanaffectkeysensitivitiesinadjacentareasandincreasecumulativelandscapeeffects
• Thesettingofdistinctivelandmarkcoastalfeaturescanbeespeciallysensitive