8Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment
8.1Introduction
8.1.1 This chapter of the Onshore Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report presents the findings of the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) work undertaken to date for the onshore elements of the Ayre Offshore Wind Farm (the ‘Project’). For ease of reference the onshore elements of the Project, landward of Mean Low Water Springs (MLWS), are referred to as the ‘Proposed Development’. The Onshore EIA Report accompanies the application to The Highland Council (THC) for Planning Permission in Principle (PPP) for the Proposed Development.
8.1.2 This chapter considers the potential impacts and likely significant effects of the Proposed Development on landscape and visual resources during the construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning phases.
8.1.3 In particular, this Onshore EIA Report chapter:
- sets out the existing and future landscape and visual baseline conditions, established from desk studies, surveys and consultation undertaken to date;
- presents the potential environmental impacts and likely significant effects on landscape and visual resource arising from the Proposed Development, based on the information gathered and the analysis and assessments undertaken to date;
- identifies assumptions and limitations encountered in compiling the landscape and visual information; and
- highlights necessary mitigation measures that could avoid, minimise, reduce or offset the possible landscape and visual effects identified in the LVIA process.
8.1.4 The LVIA has been informed by the following supporting appendices:
- Volume 2, Appendix 8.1: Viewpoints Assessment; and
- Volume 3: Visualisations and Photomontages.
8.1.5 The LVIA has been undertaken with specific reference to the relevant legislation and best practice guidance and draws on the established Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (GLVIA3), April 2013 and Notes and Clarifications on aspects of the 3rd Edition Guidelines on Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (GLVIA3) LITGN-2024-01. GLVIA3 was published in collaboration with the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA).
8.2LVIA Study Area
8.2.1 The study areas for LVIA are shown in Figure 8.1 Open ▸ .
8.2.2 It is accepted practice within landscape and visual assessment work that the extent of the study area for a development proposal is broadly defined by the visual envelope of the site and the anticipated extent of visibility arising from the development itself. This would be based on the Zone of Theoretical Visibility (ZTV) study and through field survey verifications of the ZTV, as the latter does not take account of the effects of distance.
8.2.3 Therefore, the LVIA Study Area is defined by the three main elements of the Proposed Development including the Substation, the Landfall and the Onshore Export Cable Corridor.
8.2.4 The following LVIA Study Area has been agreed with THC:
- Onshore Export Cable Corridor Study Area - a 1 km radius offset from the PPP Application Boundary of the Landfall and Onshore Export Cable Corridors, including both the 220/275 kV Cable Corridor and the 400 kV Cable Corridor; and
- Substation Study Area - a 5 km radius offset from the Substation Switchyard.
8.2.5 These buffers are considered appropriate to cover all potential material landscape and visual impacts. The LVIA Study Area and viewpoints were agreed with THC, in their email of 03 September 2024 in response to an email sent on 16 May 2024.
8.2.6 If not specifically referred to, then it should be understood, that the LVIA Study Area is comprised of the Onshore Export Cable Corridor Study Area and Substation Study Area.
8.3Legislative and Policy Context
8.3.1 The overarching policy and legislation applicable to the Proposed Development is presented in Volume 1, Chapter 2: Policy and Legislation. A summary of the legislative provisions relevant to LVIA are provided in Table 8.1 Open ▸ , with other relevant policy provisions as set out in Table 8.2 Open ▸ .
National Planning Framework 4
Policy 1
8.3.2 Policy 1 states that “When considering all development proposals significant weight will be given to the global climate and nature crises” which offers a focus on proposals which help to tackle climate change.
Policy 11
8.3.3 Policy 11 sets out criteria for renewable energy development proposals:
- e) project design and mitigation demonstrate how significant landscape and visual impacts are addressed.
- impacts on communities and individual dwellings, including, residential amenity, visual impact, noise and shadow flicker;
- significant landscape and visual impacts, recognising that such impacts are to be expected for some forms of renewable energy. Where impacts are localised and/or appropriate design mitigation has been applied, they will generally be considered to be acceptable;
- public access, including impact on long distance walking and cycling routes and scenic routes.
Highland-wide Local Development Plan
8.3.4 The policies of relevance to LVIA include:
- Policy 36: Development in the Wider Countryside sets out the criteria against which development proposals are assessed where they lie outwith settlements. These include that they are ‘acceptable in terms of siting and design’ and ’are compatible with landscape character and capacity’. It is stated that renewable energy development proposals are assessed against the renewable energy policies, and the non-statutory Highland Renewable Energy Strategy.
- Policy 49: Coastal Development states that ‘proposals should not have an unacceptable impact on the natural, built or cultural heritage and amenity value of the area’. Essential infrastructure, which cannot be located elsewhere, may be acceptable, subject to mitigation as appropriate. Policy 49 states that potential landscape impact and effect on the setting of coastal communities are important factors to be considered.
- Policy 51: Trees and Development promotes the protection of existing hedges, trees and woodland on and around development sites;
- Policy 57: Natural, Built and Cultural Heritage requires that developments do not have an unacceptable impact on the natural environment, amenity and heritage resource, taking into account their level of importance;
- For features of local/regional importance we will allow developments if it can be satisfactorily demonstrated that they will not have an unacceptable impact on the natural environment, amenity and heritage resource.
- Policy 61: Landscape states that: ‘New developments should be designed to reflect the landscape characteristics and special qualities identified in the Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) of the area in which they are proposed. This will include consideration of the appropriate scale, form, pattern and construction materials, as well as the potential cumulative effect of developments where this may be an issue. THC would wish to encourage those undertaking development to include measures to enhance the landscape characteristics of the area. This will apply particularly where the condition of the landscape characteristics has deteriorated to such an extent that there has been a loss of landscape quality or distinctive sense of place. In the assessment of new developments, THC will take account of LCA, Landscape Capacity Studies and its supplementary guidance on Siting and Design and Sustainable Design, together with any other relevant design guidance’.
8.3.5 According to the HwLDP Proposals map ( Plate 8.1 Open ▸ ), the Proposed Development is within the area of Local/Regional Importance, subject to consideration against Policy 57 criteria 1 (see above).
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The Caithness and Sutherland Local Development Plan
8.3.6 According to the CaSPlan Strategy Map ( Plate 8.2 Open ▸ ), the proposed Substation and the Landfall are within the ‘East Coast Connectivity and Tourism Corridor’ ( Plate 8.2 Open ▸ ). This covers an area stretching along the east coast of Caithness and Sutherland where THC consider as particularly suitable for investment and development which helps to strengthen transport linkages and infrastructure and supports the growth of tourism and the expansion of the energy sectors.
8.3.7 The Onshore Export Cable Corridor mainly traverses the ‘Area for Energy Business Expansion’. This is an area within which the plan seeks to maximise opportunities arising from offshore renewables and oil and gas, including employment-generating uses to service the sector, through support for harbours, allocation of business and industrial land and a flexible approach to considering the needs of emergent sectors and strategic infrastructure proposals.
Supplementary Planning Guidance
The Onshore Wind Energy Supplementary Guidance
8.3.8 Given the Proposed Development relates to an offshore windfarm, the OWESG applies to the undergrounding of power lines connecting the Offshore Generation Assets to the Substation and the construction of access tracks. OWESG paragraph 4.14 requires that appropriate mitigation should be put in place, including with respect to the ‘length, route, visibility and methods and materials used in the construction of access tracks’.
8.3.9 According to the OWESG, the Substation is situated within Group 3: Areas with potential for wind farm development ( Plate 8.3 Open ▸ ), subject to detailed consideration against identified policy criteria.
8.4Consultation
8.4.1 The approach to consultation for the Proposed Development is set out in Volume 1, Chapter 4: EIA Methodology. A summary of the issues raised during consultation activities undertaken to date specific to LVIA is presented in Table 8.3 Open ▸ , together with how these issues have been considered in the production of this assessment. Further detail is presented within the Pre-Application Consultation Report and associated Pre-Application Consultation Appendices (document reference TWP-AYR-RPS-OSC-RPT-00007).
8.5Data Sources
Desktop Study
8.5.1 Information on LVIA within the LVIA Study Area was collected through a detailed desktop review of existing landscape studies and datasets which are summarised in Table 8.4 Open ▸ .
Site-Specific Surveys
8.5.2 A field survey was undertaken to verify baseline conditions and to take viewpoints photography (see Table 8.3 Open ▸ ) to inform the assessment.
8.5.3 A field survey was conducted on 10 and 11 April 2024. The landscape of the LVIA Study Area ( Figure 8.1 Open ▸ ) was assessed for particular features which contribute to the landscape character within the PPP Application Boundary or are important to the wider landscape setting within the identified Substation and Onshore Export Cable Corridor LVIA Study Area.
8.5.4 The LVIA Study Areas were extensively traversed during the field survey for a more detailed understanding of the actual visibility of the Proposed Development, and to verify the ZTV of the Substation, as shown on Figure 8.2.
8.5.5 The field survey allowed the assessors to judge the likely scale, distance, extent and prominence of the Proposed Development within its baseline context.
8.6Baseline Environment
Overview of Baseline Environment
8.6.1 This section sets out the current landscape and visual conditions within the LVIA Study Area. The baseline study assists in identifying the key landscape characteristics and identifies those visual receptors which merit detailed consideration in the assessment of effects and filters out those which have not been taken forward for further assessment where effects “have been judged unlikely to occur or so insignificant that it is not essential to consider them further” (GLVIA3, para. 3.19).
8.6.2 The baseline study establishes the scope of the assessment and the key landscape and visual receptors, which may be significantly affected by the Proposed Development. In order to be concise and proportionate, the LVIA focuses on the effects upon the most affected sensitive receptors.
Key Guidance Documents
8.6.3 The following guidance documents provide advice relevant to the landscape context of this LVIA:
- Guidelines for Landscape Character Assessment: Guidance for England and Scotland (Countryside Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage (now NatureScot), 2002);
- LI Technical Guidance Note 02/21 “Assessing landscape value outside national designations”; and
- Landscape Sensitivity Assessment Guidance (NatureScot, April 2022).
Zone of Theoretical Visibility Study
8.6.4 The ZTV study was used to determine which landscape and visual receptors are likely to be significantly affected by the Proposed Development. In addition it was used to determine which receptors require detailed consideration in the assessment of effects attributable to the Substation.
8.6.5 The ZTV is shown on Figure 8.2 Open ▸ and indicates areas of potential visibility of the Substation modelled at a 15 m height on the platform 61.87 m Above Ordnance Datum (AOD).
8.6.6 The ZTV analysis was carried out using a bare ground topographic model of the Substation LVIA Study Area, which does not include buildings and/or surrounding vegetation. Although the Substation site is surrounded by commercial forestry blocks, this vegetation has not matured and varies in height and is therefore not counted in the ZTV calculation.
8.6.7 The ZTV pattern shown on Figure 8.2 Open ▸ reflects the topography of the Substation LVIA Study Area and the maximum height of the Substation buildings. Due to the indicative Substation switchyard’s position at 61.87 m AOD on the northern lower slope of Spittal Hill (176 m AOD), the ZTV spreads immediately along the north-east descending shoulder and northern slope of Spittal Hill. In return, Spittal Hill screens views of the Substation development to the south/south-east and south-west. The ZTV pattern spreads to the north/north-east towards local higher peaks such as Sordale Hill (112 m AOD) and Semester Hill (127 m AOD), which in turn restrict the extent of the visibility beyond. The south facing slopes of these landforms accommodate farmsteads and the B874 and overlook the basin of Loch Scarmclate on the lower ground.
8.6.8 To the north-west, visibility is indicated on the south-east facing lower slope of Hill of Sour (109 m AOD), which is lined by the River Thurso and provides a backdrop to the settlement of Halkirk.
8.6.9 All of the above-named shallow landforms contribute to the overall visual containment of the proposed Substation within the wider landscape.
8.6.10 Based on the ZTV analysis, eight representative viewpoints (see Table 8.6) were selected to support the assessment in order to demonstrate the effects attributable to the proposed Substation, which are illustrated on Figures 1 – 8 in Volume 3: Visualisations and Photomontages.
ZTV Limitations
8.6.11 The ZTV exercise is only meaningful if taking into account the limitations of the ZTV production. It should be considered that the main factor to the magnitude of scale, is the effect of distance and the field of view occupied by the Proposed Development, this however cannot be modelled in the ZTV and as a result, the extent of actual visibility experienced on-the-ground would be considerably less than is suggested by the ZTV pattern.
8.6.12 While the ZTV provides a useful indication from where visibility of the Substation might be experienced, it should be noted that just a fraction of the modelled highest Substation building used in the ZTV generation may give rise to the wide colour band indicating visibility. Therefore, the ZTV could at the same time indicate visibility of the whole building or only a fraction of it. This phenomenon is well illustrated by Viewpoint (VP) 6, which falls within the ZTV, but does not have real visibility of the Proposed Development, on Figure 6 in Volume 3: Visualisations and Photomontages.
Fieldwork Observations
8.6.13 Fieldwork observations confirmed that distance, in combination with intervening vegetation and localised undulations in the landform within the surrounding landscape, would further reduce the extent of visibility of the Substation. The ZTV does not capture the screening provided by vegetation.
8.6.14 Based on the field survey verifications, it was concluded that potential visibility of the Substation would primarily be concentrated in the vicinity of the Substation, from the residential properties adjacent to the A882 and the local road to Banniskirk Mains.
8.6.15 Visibility of the Substation would be limited beyond a distance of 1 km from the platform, being mainly related to the B874 to the north-east at a distance of 2.5 km and to the outer boundaries of Halkirk settlement 3 km to the north-west and also to the south of Halkirk along the local road C1018 and associated residential properties of the village of Harpsdale.
8.6.16 Banniskirk House on the north-west extending shoulder of Spittal Hill, 900 m to the south-west of the proposed Substation platform, is surrounded by mature woodland and would therefore not experience any visual effects attributable to the Substation, which lies on a lower slope of the north-east extending shoulder of Spittal Hill. Neither would properties next to the A9, which fall within the ZTV, due to the roadside vegetation and the landform which rises to the east of the road and is therefore not assessed further in this LVIA.
Landscape Baseline
Designated Landscapes
8.6.17 A screening of landscape designations has been undertaken and has identified that there are no designated landscapes within the LVIA Study Area.
Landscape character
8.6.18 Scotland has a digital map-based national Landscape Character Assessment (published in 2019 by SNH). This shows Landscape Character Types (LCTs) – i.e. areas of consistent and recognisable landscape character. The main source of the landscape character baseline informing judgements within the LVIA Study Area is the Scottish National Landscape Character Assessment (NatureScot, 2019) Table 8.1 Open ▸ .
8.6.19 The LVIA Study Area comprises four LCTs as shown in Figure 8.4 Open ▸ :
- Farmed Lowland Plain (LCT 143);
- Sweeping Moorland and Flows (LCT 134);
- Sandy Beaches and Dunes (LCT 140); and
- Coastal Crofts & Small Farms (LCT 144).
Farmed Lowland Plain LCT
8.6.20 The entire 5 km Substation LVIA Study Area, and most of the Onshore Export Cable Corridor LVIA Study Area, are comprised of the Farmed Lowland Plain LCT, which stretches from the north coast of Scotland at Thurso Bay to its north-eastern coast at Wick Bay ( Figure 8.4 Open ▸ ).
8.6.21 The Farmed Lowland Plain LCT is a vast and open landscape of a simple landform, covered by a confusion of characteristics. This landscape possesses an extremely complex visual composition, with no obvious hierarchy. As the landscape is highly influenced by the activity of people, then roads, powerlines and field boundaries form key elements within its visual composition. The landscape is generally dominated by a horizontal emphasis of an underlying simple slightly rolling landform, with occasional hills and woodland defining spaces at a more detailed level. The levels vary from approximately 30 m AOD at Loch Scarmclate to 176 m AOD at Spittal Hill, which dominates the skyline within the Substation LVIA Study Area. The levels within the 22 km span of the Onshore Export Cable Corridor vary from 80 m AOD at Spittal Hill, to 10 m AOD at A99, to the west of Keiss Links.
8.6.22 The landscape is predominantly arable farmed, with areas of wetter rough pasture and moss also occurring on valley floors. Loch Scarmclate lies within the shallow basin in-between Spittal Hill to the south-west and Stemster Hill to the north.
8.6.23 Forestry plantations vary from small shelter strips to large areas of commercial conifers, several of which provide screening of quarries (including Banniskirk, Achanarras, Spittal) and the existing energy infrastructure, including SHET-L Spittal substation, which therefore is not readily visible. The Spittal to Loch Buidhe Overhead Line (OHL) traverses the landscape, extending in a north south direction, parallel with the A9.
8.6.24 Overall, the landscape is traversed by a dense network of local roads, including the A9, A882, and B874. The Wick-Inverness Network Rail Scotland railway route crosses these main roads in an east-west direction. Another railway line runs from the Georgemas Junction to Thurso to the north parallel with the A9 (Figure 8.5).
8.6.25 The landscape is well-settled with consistent dispersal of houses and small settlements throughout the LVIA Study Area; farms are regularly spaced across the plain with occasional loose clusters of crofts and newer houses located on more marginal upper slopes. A number of residential properties and small settlements (Halkirk, Harpsdale, Spittal, Clayock, Knockdee, Bowertower, Brabsterdorran, Halcro, Hastigrow, Kirk, Howe, Mireland) line the roads.
8.6.26 The key characteristics of the Farmed Lowland Plain LCT (NatureScot, 2019) which have relevance to the LVIA Study Area are identified below:
- A generally open, low-lying plain, gently undulating to form shallow broad valleys, which are often filled with lochs and mosses, and subtle low ridges.
- Occasional smooth hills rise above the more low-lying plain forming local landmarks.
- Agriculture is the predominant land cover.
- Distinctive Caithness flagstone walls/fences in some parts, creating low, sharp edges to fields.
- Sparse woodland, mainly comprising small angular coniferous plantations planted for shelter on farms.
- Farm buildings and houses forming focal points within the landscape.
- A number of historic environment features, including conspicuous castles, Baronial mansions and tall ‘Lairds’ houses, usually with broadleaf shelter woods planted around them (Stemster House, Braal Castle, Banniskirk House).
- Roads reinforce the settlement pattern, often following the field and property boundaries, running straight and then swinging around sharp corners.
- Extensive views due to the openness of the landscape, and the clarity of northern air and light.
- Small groups of large wind turbines sited on some of the low ridges and hills and prominent visibility of larger wind farms in adjacent LCTs. To the south and west along the transition between agriculture and moorland, wind farms are clustered along the A9. Operational wind farm development within 10 km includes Achlachan, Causeymire, Bad a Cheo and Halsary to the south and Stroupster to the north-east.
8.6.27 The Onshore Export Cable Corridor LVIA Study Area comprises flatter parts of the Farmed Lowland Plain LCT, a wide rich agricultural land, with farms regularly spaced across the plain. The character type dominated by ‘openness’, a simple visual composition, generally with no visual focus.
Sweeping Moorland and Flows
8.6.28 A small section of the Onshore Export Cable Corridor LVIA Study Area falls within the Sweeping Moorland and Flows LCT ( Figure 8.4 Open ▸ ). Most of this area is under commercial forestry and is traversed by a narrow-gauge railway, which is connected with pipeline manufacture at the Subsea 7 works and stretches from Westerloch on the A99 to Hastigrow on the B876.
8.6.29 The key characteristics of the Sweeping Moorland and Flows LCT which have relevance to the LVIA Study Area are identified below:
- Gently sloping or undulating landform which lies generally below 350 metres.
- Coniferous forest forming a dominant characteristic within some parts of this landscape character type.
- Very sparsely settled with dispersed crofts, farms and estate buildings largely found on the outer edges of this landscape or near a strath.
- Vehicular tracks within parts of the landscape.
- Wind farms, transmission lines, the A9 and a network of minor roads are key features within the more modified outer fringes within Caithness.
- Long, low and largely uninterrupted skylines offering extensive views across this landscape and result in a feeling of huge space.
- Consistent views to the distant Lone Mountains and Rugged Mountain Massif – Caithness and Sutherland.
- A strong sense of remoteness is associated within the largely uninhabited, inaccessible core flows and moorlands of this landscape.
Sandy Beaches and Dunes
8.6.30 The Landfall and all works east of the A99 falls within the Sandy Beaches and Dunes LCT which is immediately to the south of the settlement of Keiss. The LCT is defined as a gently curved sandy arc of Sinclair’s Bay.
8.6.31 The sandy beach to the west of a ridge of sand dunes, a transitional area by the grassy coastal plain to the Sweeping Moorland and Flows LCT to the west of the A99.
8.6.32 Sandy beaches are a rarer feature along the predominantly rocky coastline of Caithness. The long sandy beach of Sinclair’s Bay has a simple visual composition of sky, expansive sea and beach and a relatively narrow dune backed by well-managed agricultural land.
8.6.33 A beautiful, quiet stretch of unspoilt Keiss beach is popular for recreation. It is accessible from a car park, as well as from the signposted ‘Keiss Shore Sinclair’s Bay’ footpath (Core Path). The beach contains some interesting World War II era defence structures (pillboxes and dragon’s teeth tank traps), just above the tideline.
8.6.34 The key characteristics of the Sandy Beaches and Dunes LCT which have relevance to the LVIA Study Area are identified below:
- Long gently curved sandy arcs of Sinclair’s Bay and Dunnet Bay in Caithness.
- Strong sense of space, light and exposure, and extensive visibility on the larger and more open stretches of sandy beach.
Coastal Crofts & Small Farms
8.6.35 The Landfall also includes a small part of the Coastal Crofts & Small Farms LCT which comprises a narrow, settled and farmed fringe around the coast of north-east Caithness. The PPP Application Boundary of the Landfall and Onshore Export Cable Corridor is entirely outwith the LCT and therefore there are unlikely to be any direct effects on the LCT as well indirect perceptual effects. Therefore, the Coastal Crofts & Small Farms is not considered further for this assessment.
Visual Receptors
8.6.36 Visual receptors are ‘the different groups of people who may experience views of the development’ (GLVIA3, para 6.3). Whilst it is the people living, working, passing through or enjoying recreational activities in the area who actually see the view and enjoy the visual amenity, it is the places they may occupy that are mapped and described as the ‘receptors’ of the views. In order to identify those receptors which may be significantly affected, ZTV studies, a baseline desk study, and field-based observations have been carried out (see Section 8.5).
8.6.37 The key visual receptors of the Proposed Development are assessed under the following categories:
- Residential receptors: residents within settlements and scattered individual properties;
- Recreational routes: people using the countryside for outdoor recreation; and
- Road users: people travelling through the area on major and minor roads.
Settlements and Residential Properties
8.6.38 Villages, hamlets and properties/groups of properties within the LVIA Study Area, which have the potential to experience visibility of the Proposed Development, are listed in Table 8.6 below and are also shown in Figure 8.5 Open ▸ .
8.6.39 Should visibility of the Proposed Development be possible from any of the other settlements/properties than those, then it is judged that the visual impacts would be of no greater than negligible effect and are therefore not included as receptors for the assessment.
Recreational Routes
8.6.40 Recreational routes for the Substation LVIA Study Area and Onshore Export Cable LVIA Study Area are shown in Figure 8.6 Open ▸ and Figure 8.7 Open ▸ .
North Coast 500 (NC500) Long Distance Recreational Route
8.6.41 Approximately 2.5 km of the NC500 route extends within the Onshore Export Cable Corridor LVIA Study Area, where it overlaps with the A99 immediately to the west of the Landfall. The NC500 is a 516-mile scenic route around the north coast of Scotland, starting and ending at Inverness Castle.
8.6.42 As the NC500 route lies within the Onshore Export Cable Corridor LVIA Study Area, it will therefore not be considered further in this assessment in respect of operational stage effects given that the cable will be underground and thus not visible.
Core Paths
Core Paths Around Halkirk
8.6.43 Figure 8.6 Open ▸ shows that within the Substation LVIA Study Area, Core Paths are concentrated around Halkirk village. Representative Viewpoints (VP7 and VP8) selected are in the proximity of the Core Paths CA06.05/09 which line the eastern perimeter of the settlement.
8.6.44 Although the Core Paths CA06.02 and CA06.01 to the north of the River Thurso fall within the ZTV, any potential visibility would be screened by riverside vegetation. Therefore, these routes are not further assessed.
Core Path ‘Keiss & Reiss’
8.6.45 Figure 8.7 Open ▸ shows Core Path ‘Keiss & Reiss’ (CA08.03, CA08.04, CA08.01, CA15.17), within Mean High Water Springs (MHWS), following the arc of Sinclair Bay in between the settlements of Keiss to the north and Reiss to the south. The location of the Landfall and related works to the south of the Links of the settlement of Keiss overlap with the route of Keiss & Reiss’ Core Path. The Landfall would HDD under this stretch however without any impacts.
Transport Routes and Local Roads.
8.6.46 There are a number of transport routes within the LVIA Study Area that may experience visibility to construction and operation and maintenance activities. Transport routes that are considered to have relevance to the Proposed Development are provided in Table 8.7 Open ▸ Table 8.7 Open ▸ and shown in Figure 8.6 Open ▸ .
Representative Viewpoints
8.6.47 In line with LVIA guidance (GLVIA3), representative viewpoints have been identified in Table 8.8 Open ▸ below, to inform the assessment. The representative viewpoints are used as illustrative ‘samples’ on which to base judgments of landscape and visual baseline conditions and the magnitude of change attributable to the Proposed Development.
8.6.48 In general, the representative viewpoints have been selected in locations where significant effects would be anticipated; though some may be selected outside of that zone – either to demonstrate the reduction of effects with distance/landscape context; or to specifically ensure the representation of a particularly sensitive receptor. Most of the viewpoints represent multiple receptors. For this LVIA, all visual receptors are located within the Farmed Lowland Plain LCT.
8.6.49 It should be clarified that although the assessment of landscape and visual effects is supported by the representative viewpoints alongside the visualisations, the assessment is not based on the viewpoints themselves.
8.6.50 Table 8.8 Open ▸ provides the list of the assessment viewpoints and related receptors. These viewpoints have been agreed with THC.
8.6.51 Viewpoints’ locations are shown in Figure 8.2 Open ▸ , on the ZTV overlay within the Substation LVIA Study Area.
8.6.52 For each viewpoint, the existing baseline context and the change introduced by the proposed Substation is illustrated by visualisations in Figures 1 to 8, in Volume 3: Visualisations and Photomontages. These visualisations support the Viewpoints Assessment in Volume 2, Appendix 8.1: Viewpoints Assessment.
Future Baseline Scenario
8.6.53 The EIA Regulations require that ‘a description of the relevant aspects of the current state of the environment (baseline scenario) and an outline of the likely evolution thereof without implementation of the project as far as natural changes from the baseline scenario can be assessed with reasonable effort, on the basis of the availability of environmental information and scientific knowledge’ is included within the Onshore EIA Report.
8.6.54 If the Proposed Development does not come forward, an assessment of the ‘without development’ future baseline conditions have also been carried out and is described within this section and include:
- The LVIA Study Area falls within a Highland Native Woodland Target Area, which may lead to more native woodland planting in the area, which in turn, may reduce the visibility of the energy infrastructure developments, such as the mixed woodland at Sibster around Georgemas Junction;
- The Caithness Land Management Plan (LMP) (FLS, 2023) was approved by Scottish Forestry on 28 February 2023 meaning the current plan will be active until 28 February 2033. Therefore, commercial forestry activities are also likely to influence the landscape and visual baseline. Map 9C Management Coupes Dale, Sibster, Spittal, Halsary, Achnamoine Caithness LMP 030/516/4261 ( Table 8.4 Open ▸ ) shows that young forestry, which has been planted within the Substation LVIA Study Area and around the Substation, will be not felled before 2057, and will therefore provide additional screening to the energy infrastructure developments, aside from where removed for wayleave purposes which will be determined at the detailed design stage.
- Potential changes to the landscape as a result of climate change (milder, wetter winters, warmer drier summers) would not change the landscape and visual baseline; and
- Potential cumulative developments are discussed in Section 8.12 and shown in Figure 8.8.
8.6.55 It is important to note that the future baseline is a projection, with a range of potential future conditions, and it is subject to uncertainty associated with the available projections and how they may influence landscape character and visual amenity.
Data Limitations and Assumptions
8.6.57 However, the assessment of the proposed Substation using the Maximum Design Scenario, albeit aided by an indicative layout, may over-estimate the bulk and mass of the Substation. In the event that the final design of the Substation differs from the assessed Maximum Design Scenario, (as described in section 8.7) the identified landscape and visual effects will be less than or equal the assessment at the PPP stage.
8.6.58 Fieldwork was carried out on publicly accessible roads and did not involve visiting any of the properties or using their private access tracks. Therefore, assumptions in relation to the views from individual properties were made bearing in mind the worst-case scenario. Also, the assessment of visual effects is based on an estimate of worst-case scenario winter views, when trees have lost their leaves.
8.6.59 In the absence of any information regarding decommissioning works, the impacts during the decommissioning of the Proposed Development are considered analogous with, or likely less than, those of the construction stage. Decommissioning works are less likely to involve substantial groundworks or changes in land profile. Any future changes would be subject to the necessary assessment deemed appropriate at the time.
8.6.60 In the absence of Construction Method Statement, a general requirements and sequence of construction activities for the type of the development proposed are considered as the source of landscape and visual effects.
8.6.61 In the absence of plans identifying vegetation loss within the LVIA Study Area, an assumption has been made that the trees associated with Stemster House access track and its junction with the B874 will be retained.
ZTV Limitations
8.6.62 The ZTV exercise is only meaningful if taking into account the limitations of the ZTV production. It should be considered that the main factor to the magnitude of scale, is the effect of distance and the field of view occupied by the Proposed Development, this however cannot be modelled in the ZTV and as a result, the extent of actual visibility experienced on-the-ground would be considerably less than is suggested by the ZTV pattern.
8.6.63 While the ZTV provides a useful indication from where visibility of the Substation might be experienced, it should be noted that just a fraction of the modelled highest Substation building used in the ZTV generation may give rise to the wide colour band indicating visibility. Therefore, the ZTV could at the same time indicate visibility of the whole building or only a fraction of it. This phenomenon is well illustrated by VP 6, which falls within the ZTV, but does not have real visibility of the Proposed Development, on Figure 6 in Volume 3: Visualisations and Photomontages.