Location
East Lothian
Client
Community Windpower
Project
Aikengall Wester Dod Windfarm
Aikengall Wester Dod Windfarm
Pegasus Planning was appointed to prepare a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) for a 22 turbine extension to Community Windpower Ltd’s existing Aikengall Windfarm near Dunbar in Scotland. If approved, the development will generate approximately 79.2MW of clean, green electricity for over 44,000 homes and will displace around 90,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per annum.
Our assessment considered the potential impacts on landscape elements, landscape character and visual amenity. The Aikengall II site lies within a locally designated Area of Great Landscape Value (AGLV) and close to a number of Conservation Areas. Landscape and visual impacts on these designated areas was therefore a key consideration.
Effects on landscape character were addressed in relation to the Landscape Capacity Study for Wind Turbine Development in East Lothian which we considered when taking account of the existing Aikengall and Crystal Rig developments, which lie directly adjacent to the proposed development site.
Visual impacts were considered in relation to nearby residential properties and settlements, recreational resources and key transport routes in the surrounding landscape.
The LVIA was illustrated with a series of photomontages which were prepared by Pegasus in accordance with published best practice guidance. Located on the boundary between East Lothian and Scottish Borders, the selection of viewpoints involved extensive negotiation with both Local Authorities as well as Scottish National Heritage (SNH); the key statutory natural heritage advisor for Scotland.
The Aikengall II site lies in a part of Scotland where there are several operational and consented windfarms and significant pressure for further development. A key element of our appraisal was therefore a cumulative impact assessment.
The application was submitted under Section 36 of the Electricity Act and is awaiting determination.
