h + m were appointed to undertake a landscape and visual assessment of a 5 turbine wind energy proposed by Natural Power near St. John’s Town of Dalry, in Dumfries and Galloway.
From an initial analysis of the key landscape and visual characteristics of the site and its surroundings, a series of design objectives for the development were established. These design objectives were used to evaluate a range of layout scenarios using different turbines sizes, and which were considered from a range of selected viewpoints, to determine the most appropriate proposal to be promoted.
Subsequently, a detailed landscape and visual assessment was undertaken to establish the likely effects on the landscape resource and visual amenity of the area. This assessment included sequential assessments from local roads and the Southern Upland Way, as well as considering the cumulative effect in association with several other windfarm proposals in the surrounding area.