The council commissioned a report to provide detailed criteria to test the capacity of the landscape to accommodate further wind farms. A landscape character study identified the sensitivity of various landscape character types and areas and proposed a number of thresholds to help assess the suitability of further wind farms in a range of sizes.
Consideration of cumulative impact was a key factor in a district that had a number of existing wind farms. The report was subject to full public consultation and provides part of the evidence base for the local plan.
The Landscape Partnership subsequently provided consultancy to Fenland District Council for wind farm applications based on the guidance and has provided expert witness at public inquiries. Planning Inspectors considered that the ‘Wind Turbine Development in Fenland’ study could be given weight as a consideration in making decisions.
