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1 DO NOT PRINT THIS PAGE 19 Landscape and Seascape Character Intrductin Baseline Envirnment Ptential Effects Sensitivity f receptrs Ptential Significance f Effects Likelihd f Occurrence Mitigatin Measures Cnfidence and Knwledge Gaps Residual Effects Recmmendatins fr Survey and Mnitring 430 References

2 19 Landscape and Seascape Character 19.1 Intrductin This chapter will discuss the impacts that marine renewable energy develpment may have n the landscape and seascape character f the castline f Guernsey. It will fcus particularly n the visual amenity prvided t residents and turists Baseline Envirnment The Rural Area Plan The REA Scping reprt identified a number f ptential energy resurce areas as shwn in the figure belw. A Rural Area Plan has been prepared by the States f Guernsey Envirnment Department 1.. This is a Detailed Develpment Plan that sets ut Guernsey s planning plicy fr the whle f the rural area, which makes up apprximately 90% f the area f Guernsey. A similar dcument, the Urban Area Plan, cvers the remaining area arund St Peter Prt and The Bridge. It is anticipated that the develpment f Marine Renewable Energy is likely t present the greatest challenges t landscape amenity in rural areas, and as such, the Rural Area Plan will be used as the main reference with regard t this subject. The Rural Area Plan has been develped arund States plicies that are set ut in the Strategic and Crprate Plan. These emphasise the verriding strategic imprtance f cnserving and enhancing the rural envirnment. Accrdingly, the primary bjective f the Rural Area Plan is the cnservatin and enhancement f the rural envirnment Key sensitivities may be identified frm the Rural Area Plan as: Areas f High Landscape Quality Cnservatin Areas (with respect t the built envirnment) Nn-designated areas because these are in rural areas, there is an intentin t maintain and enhance the penness f the cuntryside. 1 Rural Area Plan, Review N. 1, Envirnment Dept

3 Within the Rural Area Plan, the fllwing plicies are identified that may have a bearing n the assessment f landscape impact and any develpment that may be allwed: Table : Plicies that may be relevant t Marine Renewable Energy Develpment Plicy Reference RGEN3 RGEN4 RGEN5 RGEN7 RGEN10 RCE1 RCE2 RCE3 RCE7 RCE8 RCE10 RD1 Title LANDSCAPE, ECOLOGY & WILDLIFE BUILT HERITAGE CHARACTER & AMENITY SAFE & CONVENIENT ACCESS PUBLIC ENJOYMENT PROTECTION OPEN LAND AND AVOIDING UNNECESSARY DEVELOPMENT LANDSCAPE CHARACTER AREAS OF HIGH LANDSCAPE QUALITY PUBLIC VIEWS LANDSCAPE DESIGN CONSERVATION AREAS ESSENTIAL DEVELOPMENT It is clear frm a review f these plicies that they have been prepared t address the ptential impacts f develpment n land, rather than at sea. Hwever, they indicate a clear purpse t prtect the public s enjyment f Guernsey s unique landscape. Furthermre, the develpment f renewable energy installatins is likely t require sme shreside develpment in terms f cntrl buildings and substatins, and the design f these shuld reflect the value placed n the landscape character and the guidance prvided within the Plan. The Rural Area Plan states that the prcess f change shuld nt be allwed t erase histric evidence r bscure the essential and unique character f the landscape and its cmpnent features. 417

4 Existing Landscape Character Assessment Within the Rural Area Plan, Annex 1 prvides a Landscape Character Assessment f the whle f the rural area f Guernsey. Whilst it wuld be inapprpriate t replicate the text f the Assessment in the dcument, sme key pints are extracted as fllws. Landscape Types Castal Cliffs, Western Bays and Nrthern Shres Lwland Wetlands, Lwland Hills and the Central Plain Upland Escarpment, Valleys and Plateaux These types are defined in detail in the Rural Area Plan. Clearly, it is the castal landscapes that are likely t be mst affected by marine renewable energy develpment. Key aspects f landscape cnservatin and enhancement are that it prvides a number f benefits: It maintains a histric recrd f changes in land use, ecnmics, custms and taste ver time Guernsey enjys a unique frm f small, intricate, clsely ccupied island landscape The landscape creates a sense f identity and a backdrp fr daily life It prvides pen spaces, pathways, habitat, and pprtunities fr gd views fr the enjyment f residents and visitrs The whle f the castline n Guernsey is defined in the Plan as an Area f High Landscape Character, as shwn n the extract belw (Figure X.2.1). It is likely that any ffshre develpment in the study area that includes flating r surface piercing cmpnents will be clearly visible frm at least a part f the castal ftpath, beaches r prperties that enjy castal views. 418

5 Figure Extract frm Rural Actin Plan (RAP) 419

6 Belw are shwn sme typical castal scenes. Figure Typical view f the suth cast cliffs (Lking East frm Le Guffre) Figure Sunset view frm the west cast (pen unbrken hrizns) 420

7 Figure Sandy Beach n Nrth Cast (L Ancresse Bay) Figure St Peter Prt (Havelet Bay and Castle Crnet) 421

8 19.3 Ptential Effects Onshre Elements With respect t the nshre elements f the scheme, the fllwing ptential impacts have been identified: Effect f cable laying n the visual amenity f the beach during cnstructin; Permanent effect f cable laying n landscape features, specifically any expsed sectins f cable ver rcky freshre r n sea-walls r dunes; Effect f cmpleted sub-statin / cntrl building n visual amenity and landscape character Effect f the cable n visual amenity if expsed due t natural beach prcesses Offshre Elements With respect t the ffshre elements, the fllwing ptential impacts have been identified: Temprary effects f the ffshre cnstructin prcess, including increased bat traffic, n views frm land; Permanent effects f flating and fixed generatin equipment and supprt infrastructure n views frm land, including: Flating wave energy cnverters Navigatinal marking buys Surface piercing tidal energy generatrs Other surface piercing structures such as platfrms fr ffshre cable cnnectins, switchgear and transfrmatin equipment Effects f lighting during cnstructin, peratin and maintenance n night-time views frm land. 422

9 Uncertainties relating t Ptential Offshre Visual Impacts The existing landscape character f Guernsey s castline is well understd. Hwever, the nature and lcatin f renewable energy devices that may be installed is nt knwn, and therefre a high standard f impact assessment is nt pssible at this time. On cmpletin f site selectin, detailed assessment f specific device prpsals shuld be undertaken t infrm prject specific Envirnmental Statements Sensitivity f receptrs The presence f the castal ftpath and the designatin f the whle f the rural castline as an Area f High Landscape Character suggests that the landscape and seascape character f Guernsey has a high sensitivity. The castline, althugh nt unique in the Channel Islands r in Eurpe, is f significant value t thse living and visiting Guernsey. Therefre, the landscape character is cnsidered t be f Reginal imprtance. Previus discussins with interest grups such as the Sark Chamber f Cmmerce and the Guernsey Renewable Energy Frum (GREF) indicate that there will be a public perceptin that ffshre energy generatin equipment that is clearly visible frm the cast will be cnsidered t be unsightly and disruptive t landscape views. This crrbrates press reprting f public bjectin t UK wind farms. Therefre, this assessment assumes that the visual impact f visible items f equipment will be negative. Hwever, it shuld be nted that whilst current marine renewables are surface piercing, they are nt f the height r visual impact f wind turbines. This may mean that they are mre acceptable t the Bailiwick residents. With regards t night time lighting f devices, thrugh navigatin aids, Sark has recently been declared the wrld s first Dark Sky Island by the Internatinal Dark Sky Assciatin. This means that there culd be ppsitin frm Sark shuld any large scale lighting be required. It is very likely that at night during the installatin f devices there wuld be large amunts f lighting, especially where the tides dictate that a night time installatin is mre practical. Hwever, what is mre likely during peratin is a number f navigatin lights attached t buys r surface piercing devices which ffer little illuminatin int the night sky. Frm any pint n Sark verlking a ptential develpment there wuld likely be a nuisance factr frm the flashing lights, but nt a pllutin factr. Sark Already has navigatin lights just ff its cast at the Bec du Nez and Pint Rbert, as well as further afield and Blanchard. There are als navigatin lights which may be visible frm Sark ff the cast f Herm. All f these are highlighted in the Navigatin chapter (Chapter 15). As these have nt affected the Dark Skies status it is unlikely that further navigatin markings in the Big Russel wuld have an impact. 423

10 As Guernsey s East cast already suffers heavily frm light pllutin any develpment t the East f Guernsey wuld have a negligible effect n the nightscape frm Guernsey. Hwever the west and suth cast s suffers less frm light pllutin and s there may be a nuisance factr attached t develpment in these regins, especially in the deplyment phase Ptential Significance f Effects The study area is defined as including territrial waters t 3 Nautical Miles f the cast. Any significant ffshre develpment that prjects abve the surface f the sea will be clearly visible frm the cast, and will be experienced by a large number f peple. Develpments at sea cannt be easily hidden, and mitigatin measures (see belw) will need t fcus n reducing the height f structures. Shreside develpment, whilst clser t ptential receptrs, is likely t impact n fewer receptrs and can be screened r carefully sited t minimise visual impact. The fllwing table recrds the severity f the impacts and, thrugh reference t the sensitivity recrded abve, shws the Significance f the affects. Table : Sensitivity f Receptrs Receptr Sensitivity Effect Magnitude f Impact Reductin in visual amenity due t increased marine traffic Lw during Reginal cnstructin and maintenance. Landscape and Seascape Character frm ffshre structures and devices Landscape and Seascape Character frm shre-side wrks Reginal Reductin in visual amenity due t permanent visible structures Reductin in visual amenity during cnstructin Reductin in visual amenity due t permanent structures High Lw High Significance f Effect Minr Mderate Minr Mderate 424

11 Nightscape Character frm ffshre structure and devices Reginal Increase in night time light surces in areas f develpment during cnstructin Increase in night time light surces in areas f develpment during peratin f devices Medium Lw Mderate Minr 19.6 Likelihd f Occurrence The fllwing table identifies the perceived prbability f the receptrs being affected by the ptential effects based n currently available infrmatin. Fr the purpse f this assessment, these impacts are cnsidered, at this stage, as unmitigated. Table : Table utlining the prbability f effect n receptrs Receptr Effect Likelihd f Occurrence Landscape and Seascape Character frm ffshre structures and devices Landscape and Seascape Character frm shre-side wrks Nightscape Character frm ffshre structure and devices Reductin in visual amenity due t increased marine traffic during cnstructin and maintenance. Reductin in visual amenity due t permanent visible structures Reductin in visual amenity during cnstructin Reductin in visual amenity due t permanent structures Increase in night time light surces in areas f develpment during cnstructin Increase in night time light surces in areas f develpment during peratin f devices High Medium High Medium High High 425

12 19.7 Mitigatin Measures Ptential impacts during cnstructin, and Ptential Mitigatin Measures Ptential impact f cable laying acrss a beach r freshre Pssible annyance at the temprary visual impacts experienced may be reduced if infrmatin were made available t the public at entrance pints nt the beach, alng the cast path, and at ther public places and in the media. The infrmatin shuld infrm the public f the reasns fr disruptin. Once buried t an apprpriate depth, there shuld be n further impacts n visual amenity unless the cable becmes unintentinally expsed due t beach level changes. The depth f cable burial shuld be determined with reference t histric beach level recrds, and the rute f the cable shuld be mnitred thrughut the life f the prject t ensure that any expsure is quickly identified and crrected. Ptential impact f cable laying n landscape features, particularly rcky shres, sand dunes and castal scrub Cable laying culd ptentially directly affect the integrity and vegetatin cver f castal areas, which in turn culd present a visual impact. Mitigatin fr this can be prvided by installing the cable by directinal drilling, instead f excavatin r fixing the cable t expsed rcky surfaces. Ptential Impact f Substatin and Cntrl Building The need fr sme shreside develpment is likely t be unavidable. Hwever, it is likely that mitigatin will be in the frm f careful site selectin, design f structures and buildings t be as lw as pssible, and careful design f screening such as fencing r planting. Ptential impact f ffshre cnstructin in views frm land Mitigatin that shuld be emplyed is directly related t the methds f cnstructin. The number f vessels deplyed t cmplete the wrks must be ptimised in rder t cmplete the wrk as safely and as quickly as pssible. The cnstructin f the devices themselves will be dne ff site which will minimise the time required fr installatin. Ptential impact f flating r surface piercing ffshre elements The best mitigatin wuld be the selectin f energy devices and ther ffshre equipment that may be deplyed belw the surface f the sea. Hwever, where this is nt pssible fr technical reasns, and where sub-sea equipment is t be prtected by navigatinal marker buys, there will remain a residual impact. 426

13 Further measures culd be t site the devices as far frm land as pssible and t limit the size and height f the equipment abve the water. The cluring f equipment and markers is likely t be determined by navigatinal safety requirements as t be as bright as pssible (eg. yellw) and in this respect, the impact cannt be mitigated. Ptential impact f lighting f structures r areas During cnstructin the restrictin f night time wrk culd be implemented t minimise the impact f high light levels, hwever as deplyment is dependent n tides, a blanket night-time ban wuld be cunterprductive. Als additinal lighting wuld be present at night fr any structures that are under cnstructin s as t prevent a cllisin risk. The nly mitigatin available fr light surces during peratin is t site the develpment areas as far frm shre as pssible and restrict the size f any develpment. The clurs, brightness, directinality and the flashing pattern f any lighting and wuld be determined by navigatinal safety requirements Public Perceptin f Impacts n Landscape Character There is a large bdy f public pinin in the UK that is ppsed t the siting f renewable energy facilities within r in clear view f areas f acknwledged landscape value. A cmmn viewpint expressed (insert ref t wind farms study) is that the uncluttered but ever-changing views f the sea and sky prvided by castal views are f paramunt imprtance t the quality f life, and the siting f permanent structures within such a setting wuld damage this. Hwever, these views are ften cuntered by sme that express that renewable energy installatins culd be a pint f interest r a talking pint t thse experiencing castal views. Nnetheless, ne f the attractins f tidal and wave energy prductin ver ffshre wind farms is that many technlgies can be lcated predminantly n the seabed r flating n the surface f the sea (rather than prjecting high in the air), thus reducing the risk f impacting significantly n visual amenity. Hwever, t deliberately preclude certain technlgies that are surface piercing culd ptentially bstruct the intrductin f the mst technlgically beneficial slutin. Hwever, there may be sme scpe fr public educatin and debate t challenge the perceptin that ffshre structures are unsightly. This culd reflect n the fact that thrughut histry new technlgies, fr example windmills, canals r railways, will have caused a significant change t the landscapes that they were sited within. Over time, these impacts have been absrbed and tlerated by sciety and in many cases valued and prtected as items f landscape value. Such a 427

14 prgramme f public cnsultatin and invlvement culd be cnsidered as a specific mitigatin that may be applied, shuld surface piercing r flating structures be cnsidered t be essential Cnfidence and Knwledge Gaps The ptential impacts described in this sectin cannt adequately reflect the variatin in impacts prvided by different device types r infrastructure slutins. It must be acknwledged that sme wave energy device types may prject significantly abve the waterline, whilst thers lie alng the surface r even belw the waterline. Similarly, sme devices ccupy a lng length r plan area f sea, whilst thers take the appearance f large navigatin marker buys, and may nt lk t ut f place in a marine envirnment. The majrity f tidal energy devices lie well belw the surface. Hwever, these d nt benefit frm access t the strnger currents that exist higher in the water clumn. Surface piercing devices may als benefit frm better maintenance access arrangements. Electrical pwer exprt infrastructure slutins fr marine renewable energy develpments, including cable cnnectins and transfrmer equipment, has been develped n the ffshre wind industry. The siting f infrastructure platfrms adjacent t wind farms presents little additinal visual impact in relatin t the scale f a large farm. Hwever, a single such platfrm, if used with an array f subsurface tidal energy generatrs wuld have a mre significant visual impact. It is fr this and ther technical reasns that designs are in develpment fr placing this electrical infrastructure either n the sea-bed, r (thrugh the use f additinal exprt cables) n land. These new methds wuld have the ptential t reduce visual impact ver ther technlgies. Anther cause f uncertainty wuld be the level f lighting required t navigatin markers used in assciatin with a prject. Generatin devices and infrastructure that is predminantly n the seabed may nt require the same level f prtectin as flating r surface-piercing equipment. Als, arrays that are sited clse t shipping rutes wuld require mre significant level f marking and lighting. 428

15 19.9 Residual Effects If all mitigatin measures were fully incrprated, then there wuld be very little residual landscape impact, leading t the fllwing residual significance. Table : Residual effects Receptr Effect Significance f Effect Reductin in visual amenity due t increased marine traffic during Minr cnstructin and maintenance. Landscape and Seascape Character frm ffshre structures and devices Reductin in visual amenity due t permanent visible structures Mderate Mitigatin Public infrmatin abut wrks Optimise vessel mvements Careful site selectin Minimise use f surface-flating r surface-piercing devices Residual Significance Minr Minr Landscape and Seascape Character frm shre-side wrks Nightscape Character frm ffshre structure and devices Reductin in visual amenity during cnstructin Reductin in visual amenity due t permanent structures Increase in night time light surces in areas f develpment during cnstructin Increase in night time light surces in areas f develpment during peratin f devices Minr Public infrmatin abut wrks Minr Mderate Screening Minr Mderate Minr Carful Site Selectin Limitatins n nighttime wrking hurs Careful site selectin Mderate Minr Hwever, the full implementatin f mitigatin measures culd cnstrain the selectin f technlgies t thse that lie cmpletely belw the surface f the sea. Therefre, the desire t mitigate against landscape impacts shuld be balanced against peratinal requirements and cst. 429

16 19.10 Recmmendatins fr Survey and Mnitring Scheme Specific Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment As described abve, the landscape character f the whle f the castline f Guernsey may be cnsidered t be equally sensitive t develpment. Therefre, further generic studies wuld nt prvide additinal value. Hwever, reference may be made t related studies being undertaken in the UK, such as the current wrk by PRIMaRE. The best pprtunities fr understanding and mitigating the landscape impacts f renewable energy develpments will emerge frm prject specific Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments t be undertaken by prspective develpers in supprt f cnsent applicatins. The scping advice given t develpers regarding the scpe f their Envirnmental Statements shuld make specific reference t the required standards and methdlgy f the assessments. Althugh it wuld nt be apprpriate t fully define these in advance f receipt f a scping request frm a develper, the fllwing may be included: General Carried ut by chartered landscape architect Based upn best practice guidance as utlined in the Landscape Institute/IEMA (2002) Guidelines fr Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (secnd editin). Baseline Infrmatin Baseline infrmatin n the landscape and visual cntext f the ptential deplyment site shuld be gathered frm a desk study f publicly available infrmatin, site visits, and cnsultatin with statutry cnsultees and lcal interest grups. The desk study shuld include a review f OS maps, existing and emerging Lcal Plans and plicies, and Guernsey s existing Landscape Character Assessment. Infrmatin n existing light pllutin affecting night skies shuld be surced frm the Campaign t Prtect Rural England (CPRE) website and ther lcal surces. Infrmatin n atmspheric cnditins affecting visibility shuld be btained frm the UK Met Office and Guernsey Airprt recrds. 430

17 Evaluatin f existing landscape and visual sensitivity The sensitivity f landscapes within the vicinity f the ptential deplyment site shuld be evaluated with reference t the castline s designatin as an Area f High Landscape Character, indicating landscape, recreatinal, cultural and histric value. Visual receptrs is a term that describes types f peple wh are likely t respnd t visual change accrding t the reasn why they are in a particular lcatin. Fr the purpses f the assessment, the fllwing distinctins shuld be made. Table : Table utlining the sensitivity f visual receptrs Sensitivity t visual change High Medium Lw Type f visual receptr Resident, walker; utdr recreatinist; turist Rad user; cmmuter. Wrker The use f different sites in the vicinity f a develpment by different types f user will indicate its sensitivity. The sensitivity f visual receptrs is likely t be further affected by: The distance f the viewer frm the prpsed develpment site, whereby the further away the viewer is, the smaller the bject becmes relative t the view as a whle; The influence f ther similar elements in the view. This wuld reduce sensitivity t the prpsals; Hw busy peple are with ther activities that draw fcus away frm the landscape and visual cntext, fr example, driving n busy rads, wrking. Views frm busy rads and frm places f wrk are therefre cnsidered less sensitive; and Fr ffshre elements, the effects f different atmspheric and sea cnditins, which wuld affect visibility f bjects frm land. 431

18 Evaluatin f darkness f night skies The Internatinal Occultatin Timing Assciatin (IOTA) has prduced light pllutin maps acrss France and the Suth f England including the Channel Islands. 2 These indicate that Guernsey, alng with the ther Channel Islands, experiences light pllutin levels cmparable with thse f castal twns f suthern England and nrthern France. This data, tgether with the predicted levels f illuminatin frm existing ffshre navigatinal lights and markers, shuld be used t assess the impact f specific lighting prpsals assciated with prspective develpments. Hw visual impact will be assessed A number f viewpints will be selected within the Zne f Theretical Visibility (ZTV) f the prpsals t represent the nature f the views experienced frm sensitive landscapes and visual receptrs frm varying distances and directins. It is cmmn fr viewpints t be selected frm publicly accessible lcatins. Hwever, if there are particular cncerns regarding the impact n a private prperty, then these can als be selected. Viewpints will be visited t verify visibility, and adjustments made s as t cnsider the wrst-case view frm a particular pint. Phtgraphs frm the representative viewpints will be taken t allw panramas t be prduced by splicing standard phtgraphs tgether using graphics sftware. minr retuching will be allwed t ensure that clur variatins at jins in phtgraphs are eliminated. The ptential visibility f ffshre develpments will be predicted by generating wireline perspectives frm representative viewpints using a 3D cmputer mdel. The predicted magnitude f visual impact experienced frm the representative viewpints will then be assessed using the categries described abve. 2 Internatinal Occultatin Timing Assciatin ( 432

19 References States f Guernsey Envirnment Dept Rural Area Plan, Review N. 1 Internatinal Occultatin Timing Assciatin ( 433