The LCTs within South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse contain areas of higher and lower landscape sensitivity that vary from the overall scores. It is therefore very important to take note of the content of the individual assessment profiles, including any commentary which highlights areas which could be more sensitive to solar PV or wind energy developments.

The interactive map below present a spatial representation of the landscape sensitivity of South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse to new solar PV development (by the five different size bandings) as well as the overall sensitivity to the five different size scenarios for wind energy development.

The maps below should always be referred to alongside the individual assessment profiles which set out the scores and reasonings behind them.

Landscape sensitivity to different scales solar and wind development - View map full screen

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Generic guidance for accommodating solar and wind energy in South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse

The following section provides some generic guidance on siting renewable energy development in the study area focussing on minimising landscape and visual effects and making developments an accepted feature of the environment. While it is recognised that schemes need to be sited and designed to ensure operational efficiency, this is a matter for developers, and needs to be balanced with adequate mitigation of adverse impacts. The siting and design of schemes is a key aspect of such mitigation.

In all cases the strategy for the relevant LCA within the South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse Landscape Character Assessment should be considered when choosing potential sites for development.

All renewable energy development should aim to be sensitively sited.

• Site renewable energy development away from dramatic rugged landforms or valued landform features. The most suitable sites are likely to be on large scale smooth, convex or flat landforms. For example, site solar PV development on lower slopes/undulating lowlands, rather than upper slopes where they are more visually prominent.
• Select sites in simple, regular landscapes with extensive areas of consistent ground cover over landscapes with more complex or irregular land cover patterns and landscapes with frequent human scale features (subject to satisfying other sensitivities).
• Seek to avoid areas with a concentration of semi-natural habitats.
• Seek to avoid siting renewable energy development where it could detract from undeveloped areas free from human influence and perceived ‘naturalness’.
• Consider locations in association with hard surfacing or built elements (e.g. larger business parks and reclaimed, industrial and man-made landscapes) where other landscape sensitivities are not compromised.
• Avoid siting renewable energy development on landscapes with intrinsic historic landscape character significance or potential for preserved archaeological evidence (e.g. fields with a medieval historic character).
• Protect the character of Conservation Areas (including views integral to their character), the setting to Listed Buildings (where the character of the landscape is an important part of a listed building’s setting), and Registered/ local historic parks and gardens and battlefields (including views to and from the heritage landscape, particularly designed views).
• Ensure siting of renewable energy development does not adversely affect the distinctive characteristics and special qualities of the Chilterns and North Wessex Downs, as set out in the Management Plans, or their settings.
• Ensure the siting of renewable energy development does not damage the special qualities of the landscape as recorded in the South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse Landscape Character Assessment descriptions and is designed with reference to landscape guidance.
• Significant effects on views from important viewpoints, popular tourist and scenic routes and settlements should be avoided where possible or minimised through careful siting.
• Avoid selecting sites for solar PV development which have Public Rights of Way running through them. Care should also be taken where Public Rights of Way are adjacent to sites.
• Avoid selecting sites on important undeveloped or distinctive skylines, or skylines with important cultural or historic landmark features.
• Consider the landscape effects of transmission infrastructure when siting development, aiming for sites that will minimise the need for above ground transmission infrastructure, particularly through National Landscapes. Undergrounding cables may mitigate effects in sensitive locations.
• Consider sites where areas of existing vegetation, such as woodland or high hedgerows could screen ground-level features of renewable energy developments (such as fencing, tracks and transformers) and solar PV panels rather than open and unenclosed landscapes. Since commercial scale wind turbines cannot be hidden, careful site selection as well as choice of turbine type and layout is the most effective way of minimising landscape and visual effects.
• Consider potential effects of transporting turbines and solar PV panels to site, and the possible limitations presented by winding narrow lanes bounded by hedgerows.
• Seek to keep developments within one LCT (particularly as perceived in sensitive views) so that the development does not span across marked changes in character on the ground, such as changes in topography. For example, set turbines back from breaks of slope, avoiding the effect of turbines ‘spilling’ into adjacent valleys or lowlands, or keep solar PV panels set back from the edges of a plateau landscape to minimise effects on the surrounding area.

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Landscape enhancement

• Continue the existing land use underneath the turbines or solar PV panels so that the landscape flows underneath and around these features, or link land use to adjoining land uses especially if this can create more robust semi natural habitats and reduce habitat fragmentation.
• Provide enhanced management of landscape features, habitats and historic assets as part of a renewable energy development, including contributing to wider landscape scale targets in the South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse Landscape Character Assessment or other relevant documents.
• Screening development of solar PV panels is important, however care needs to be taken with regards to the impact of screening on existing views and mitigation, which should fit in with the local landscape character. Native tree or shrub species should be used for any screening.
• Retained and new planted features such as vegetation around solar PV developments should be given sufficient space so that shade on the solar panels does not result in inappropriate maintenance of the vegetation.