Commissioning a Visual Impact Survey

A key piece of work that we must produce is a visual impact survey. This will indicate the impact of the proposed installation on a variety of visual indicators.

A ZVI map of the area is required, and this illustrates the potential (or theoretical) visibility of an object in the landscape. It is only concerned with visibility - a topography analysis. This is different to a photomontage, where landscape features are included.

A list of sites for visual impact analysis is the choice of Unity Wind, but clearly if we ignore key visual recptor points then a planning application may be rejected. We need to be ‘objective’ and ‘justify’ our assertions. Essential reading is "Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Assessment" produced by the Landscape Institute. It is the bible for visual impact surveys. It will show us how to be objective about ‘receptors’, etc.

In the near future we shall be identifying potential 'visual receptor' sites and perform initial on-site inspections to determine the potential for visibility of the turbine site from each point.