Page 377 - A Comprehensive Guide to Solar Energy Systems

384 A COmPrEhEnSIVE GuIdE TO SOLAr EnErGy SySTEmS

given planning consent and what conditions or mitigation measures are required to re-
duce or avoid the environmental effects that have been identified by the EIA.
Large-scale solar farms are considered to have negative effects on the rural environ-
ment, with visual effects being the aspect that most people will respond to. In the uK at
least, the most common reasons for refusal of planning permission are related to visual
and landscape matters and the use of agricultural land.

9.4.1 Landscape and Visual Effects

Assessment of effects on landscape character and on visual amenity are normally required
in the uK for large developments such as commercial scale solar farms, and are under-
taken following guidance set out in the Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assess-
ment [10]. Landscape and visual impact assessments should consider the sensitivity of the
receptor and the magnitude of change as a result of the development. Evaluation of the
sensitivity of the receptor includes identification of the susceptibility of the landscape or
view to change and the value placed on the landscape and view as a resource. Identifying
the magnitude of change includes consideration of the scale of the change, the duration
and permanence of the change, and the geographical area over which the change will be
experienced. These aspects are brought together to identify the level of effect and whether
it is significant in planning terms.
An assessment of the potential visual effects of a proposed solar farm should consider
the appearance of the installation (including panels and infrastructure) from local routes,
including consideration of the effect it will have on the experience of the routes for people
passing by. Views from particularly sensitive locations, such as visitor attractions, places
where people congregate, or places where the view of the landscape is important, may in-
fluence the design and location of the installation, including how and whether screening
is possible. A visual impact assessment should consider potential views from these loca-
tions, as well as effects on views from residential properties or settlements nearby.
A solar farm can also change the character of the site and its immediate surrounding
landscape, introducing a modern technological layer to the pattern and land use of the
area. The orientation of the arrays with respect to the existing pattern of the landscape can
have effects on landscape character, where arrays cross rectilinear fields diagonally. The
effects of the installation and its infrastructure on landscape character should be consid-
ered as part of an EIA.
uK guidance on solar farms, prepared for counties such as Cornwall and devon that
have seen increasing pressure for solar farm developments [6,11], encourages careful sit-
ing and screening of solar installations to address visual effects, with particular emphasis
on retention of existing hedgerows and trees that give structure and pattern to the land-
scape. Further mitigation through additional screening planting of hedges and trees is also
encouraged, and maintenance regimes can be designed to allow hedgerows to grow taller
than normal, for screening purposes. In undulating landscapes, it is often views from a
distance (although generally no more than 5–10 km) from elevated vantage points with