Landscape Protection: where the aim is to maintain the existing landscape and visual resource, retaining or reinforcing its present character and protecting its quality and integrity. It is likely to be difficult to accommodate wind farms in such
areas. Small-scale development may nonetheless be possible where it relates well to the existing landscape in terms of both scale and design. Micro generation may be acceptable where this relates well to the existing built environment. Where a landscape designation is in place, it is important to understand the special qualities for which the area is designated and to consider how the proposal could affect these. In National Scenic Areas, for example, landscape protection will be the most appropriate objective, reflecting the high degree of protection afforded to these
areas by SPP6 and NPPG14.
Nationally and internationally designated areas where landscape protection is an appropriate approach are likely to be afforded ‘significant protection’ in Planning Authority Spatial Frameworks.
13. Landscape Accommodation: where the aim is to retain the overall character of the landscape, yet accepting that development may be allowed which will have an impact on the landscape locally; development fits within the landscape and does not change its character on a large scale. Landscape accommodation implies that there may be important landscape-related constraints in terms of the siting and scale of wind farms, but that suitably designed wind farms can be compatible with this objective. Within local landscape designations the degree of landscape protection will be less than for National Scenic Areas. In some local landscape designations an appropriate objective may be to accommodate wind farms, rather than seek landscape protection. Where this approach is chosen the justification will need to be clearly articulated in relevant planning policy.
14. Landscape Change: where it is accepted that the area is one whose landscape character may be allowed to change, which could result in a perception of a wind farm landscape. Landscape change does not imply that ‘anything goes’: good
landscape design principles still need to be followed to ensure that the development is appropriate for the scale and character of the landscape. SNH Strategic Locational Guidance
Landscape accommodation may be an appropriate approach within the ‘other’ areas in Planning Authority Spatial Frameworks, where other constraints and policy criteria will apply. A landscape accommodation approach could also be relevant to ‘Broad Areas of Search’ if the associated criteria make it clear that overall landscape change is to be
avoided.
15. SNH has published Strategic Locational Guidance for Onshore Wind farms 7 to guide planners, practitioners and others in respect of natural heritage constraints at the strategic level. It identifies three zones of natural heritage sensitivities and
aims to promote a consistent approach to wind farm development. It is important to note that the zones identified within the Strategic Locational Guidance are mainly designations-based and do not take account of landscape character or potential visual effects.
Siting and Designing Wind farms in the Landscape
6 National Planning Policy Guideline 14 Natural Heritage, Scottish Government 1999
7 Strategic Locational Guidance for Onshore Wind farms with respect to the Natural Heritage. SNH 2002, updated March 2009, www.snh.org.uk. Nationally and internationally designated areas where landscape protection is an appropriate approach are likely to be afforded ‘significant protection’ in Planning Authority Spatial Frameworks.
To date, the majority of wind farm development has been in Zone 1 – the zone of least natural heritage sensitivity. Areas where landscape change is an appropriate objective, and where multiple wind farm development might be encouraged, are most likely to be found within Zone 1. However, it should not be assumed that all of this zone should be open to landscape change. The scale and detail of some landscapes will always make it difficult for them to accommodate wind farms satisfactorily, and there are many areas within Zone 1 which are valued locally for the character, quality and amenity value, for example on account of the recreation opportunities they provide close to towns. In some locations, the concentration of proposed developments in Zone 1 is leading to the potential for undesirable cumulative impacts.
Identifying capacity and the limits to development
17. Within areas identified as being suitable for multiple windf arms there will still be a limit on the number or extent of wind farms which can reasonably be accommodated. SPP6 states that ‘Development plans should identify those areas
where there are existing wind farm developments and set out, in relation to the scale and proximity of further development, the critical factors which are likely to present an eventual limit to development’8. Within Broad Areas of Search, Planning Authorities are encouraged to complete a landscape capacity study to determine how much development can be accommodated and what the critical factors might be that will define an eventual limit to development. The critical
factors will be specific to the landscape involved, but could include the factors summarised below.