Welsh seascapes and their sensitivity to offshore developments
Client: Countryside Council for Wales
Seascape character study for the whole of Wales to Regional Seascape Unit level ie 50 areas. The method is based broadly on the pilot study which White Consultants contributed to. Units are based on visual criteria principally including sea, coast and land components between major headlands.
A complex GIS intervisibility model was developed to define areas. In addition, relative values for each area were developed based on designations. Detailed descriptions of characteristics are set out. In addition, a new typology for units and a method for illustrating the height of the coastline have been developed.
The sensitivity of each regional seascape unit is defined for three types of renewable energy- wind, wave and tidal, using a series of criteria including scale and complexity of coastline, settlement pattern, lighting, presence of sensitive features, tranquillity and remoteness.
These 2008 reports have formed the basis for the CCW/White Consultants report published in 2009.
This study won the Strategic Landscape Planning award at the 2009 Landscape Institute Awards.
Judges’ comments: ‘This is a professional and timely piece of work. It places landscape architects in a critical position to help decision makers move forward on addressing critical issues associated with the provision of renewable energy.’
A link to the report on CCW's website:
