Section 2: SITING AND LAYOUT

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LANDSCAPE CHARACTER

The landscapes of Scotland are a rich physical and scenic resource. Industries depend on this diversity and individuals are inspired by it. New development of all kinds should respond sensitively to the quality and variety of coastal landscapes, aiming to respect both the range of character types and the scenic qualities which make each area distinctive.

Understanding the character of the landscape and how it is experienced is a first step towards siting and planning the layout of a fish farm or shellfish line proposal. In particular, character assessment should assist in:

Scottish Natural Heritage Landscape Character Assessments

Scottish Natural Heritage has recently completed a programme of landscape character assessment which covers the whole of Scotland. The Landscape Character Assessments (LCAs) for individual parts of Scotland are available in report form from SNH. Developers should consult the assessment which covers the area of the proposed development when considering the siting and layout of aquaculture installations.

LCAs provide information on the key characteristics of specific landscape character types and also provide guidance on landscape change and the design of developments within each landscape character type. Some LCAs also provide specific guidance on how to relate aquaculture developments to the landscape character.

Using LCAs, potential developers should be able to identify in which landscape character type their proposal lies, and what possibilities there are for relating their development to the landscape characteristics.

Using This Section

The following guidance complements the LCAs by setting out how to integrate aquaculture with the principal landscape characteristics of the Scottish coastline. It does this by describing three broad categories of coastal landscape character, and illustrating what to consider when siting and aligning both water-based and onshore structures.

The three broad categories of landscape character are:

Developers should use this section by reading the descriptions of each broad landscape character category. They should identify which category of coastline is most similar to their chosen location for development. Some locations may have characteristics which are in more than one category, and will need to study the guidance set out in more than one character category.

The guidance on siting and layout appropriate to each category follow each character description.

This section also describes the implications of settlement pattern on aquaculture developments, and what to consider when assessing the visual impact of an individual proposal.

STEEP SIDED, ENCLOSED LOCHS

Key Characteristics

  • The coastline is dominated by the steep sides of mountains which plunge into the sea, creating a sense of drama.
  • The steep sided topography can create dense shadow, and the sheltered, often calm waters offer opportunities for distinct reflections.
  • Often this landscape type is characterised by the sense of enclosure and intimacy, emphasised by the verticality of the surrounding landform.
  • Views are concentrated along the length of, or directly across, the loch, rather than along the hill tops.
  • The coastline of these lochs is often relatively simple, with few indentations.
  • Roads often approach these lochs over high passes, giving elevated views, or are constrained by the steep landform and are located close to the loch side, resulting in views directly across the loch.
  • Bridging points at the head of the lochs are often focal points in the landscape.
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Implications for siting and layout

In these relatively narrow, intimate lochs, the simplicity, scale and expanse of the water surface is important. Too many water-based structures, or one large development can quickly lead to overcrowding, and divert views away from the central loch space.

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  • The size of the development should reflect the scale of the water surface and the integrity of the central loch space should be maintained.
  • Where the coastal edge forms a sheltered enclosed space, untrammelled water surface should be allowed to dominate.
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  • Structures sited across the loch space may fragment and subdivide the loch, breaking up its simple expanse. Structures should therefore be aligned parallel to the long length of the loch, not across it.
  • Often in steep sided enclosed lochs, the coastal edge is simple in shape, with relatively few indentations. Cages and lines should aim to reflect this characteristic and appear as simple, linear shapes.
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  • Owing to the steep sides of these enclosed lochs, often there are areas which are in deep shadow for much of the day. New shore-based facilities will be less obvious if sited against a backdrop of shadows and rising ground.
  • Excavation of landform on steep slopes for access tracks or shore bases can cause considerable long term scarring of the landscape. Development should aim to site shore-based facilities where they do not result in excessive earth moving. Appropriate sites tend to be set back against a break in slope and away from promontories.

SHELTERED BUT EXPANSIVE LOCHS

Key Characteristics

  • These lochs are enclosed by hills or mountains but feel less contained because of the long length and wide breadth of the loch.
  • The landform near to the water edge is frequently gentle in gradient, sometimes with low rocky outcrops or ledges, creating a gradual transition from the flat water surface to the steeper hillsides.
  • Often, the eye is drawn to a skyline of hill tops over an expanse of water.
  • The coastline is generally indented with small bays and sometimes islands or skerries.
  • Roads are not constrained by landform so views from roads are often part of the way up the hillside, allowing viewers to look down upon the water.
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Implications for siting and layout

In these landscapes, cages and lines can readily dominate the water surface of small bays and lochside indentations, resulting in the loss of a key characteristic. Often, the relative intimacy of the coastline makes it difficult to accommodate the mass of large cages or extensive areas of lines.

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  • Cages and lines can reflect the horizontal emphasis in this landscape, by reinforcing the shape and alignments of promontories and landform spurs.
  • The more gentle transition between land and sea can be emphasised by breaking up the scale and mass of large blocks of cages and lines to reflect the interlock between land and water.
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  • Where a series of small bays create a distinctive landscape characteristic, filling in of successive small bays should be avoided. Where possible, the majority of bays should be left free from development, so that it is possible to visually follow the indented coast without obstruction.
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  • Cages and lines can quickly dominate the intimate scale of individual bays. The open, expansive nature of the water surface area should still be allowed to dominate when planning an aquaculture installation.
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  • Shore-based facilities may be able to nestle into the rocky outcrops and low ledges around the gently graded coastline. Often in this type of landscape, there are opportunities to establish woodland to link in with existing vegetation patterns.

COASTS

Key Characteristics

  • Coasts are open to the sea, and feel exposed.
  • This coastal edge often forms distinctive bays and is often punctuated with islands or skerries.
  • The landform around the coast is often relatively gentle, with low hills, rocky knolls and low sweeping headlands; however in some areas, the coastal edge is dominated by rocky outcrops and cliffs.
  • Often this character type is dominated by the horizontal line of the water, and the sense of open space is emphasised by the expanse of sea.
  • Views are often panoramic, embracing a wide sweep of seascape. Often, views along the coastal edge are partial, broken by headlands, islands and promontories.
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Implications for siting and layout

In these landscapes, cages and lines which are too large or too numerous can visually coalesce, obscuring the distinct pattern and scale of skerries and the indented coastline.

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  • Well scaled and sited cages can reflect the pattern and layout of skerries and islands. Aquaculture developments should reflect the subtleties of the shape and scale of the coastline.
  • Longlines and cage structures should align with the dominant coastal edge.
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  • Structures should avoid filling up a bay. The open, expansive nature of the water surface area should still be allowed to dominate when planning an aquaculture installation.
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  • Avoid siting a development where it appears to block the entrance to a bay, or separates a bay from the open sea – a physical and visual link between the water contained within a bay and the open sea should be maintained.
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  • Shore bases should be sited low in the landscape, avoiding promontories and with a backdrop of landform behind the buildings.

SETTLEMENT PATTERN

The three landscape character categories explained above will often contain some degree of settlement. The settlement pattern also contributes to landscape character, and can influence the siting and design of aquaculture proposals.

Concentrated settlements

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Coastal villages can be linear, established along a lochside road, or clustered at the head of a loch at a key bridging point, or sheltered in a bay, with relatively easy access to the sea. Often they form focal points within a landscape.

It may be appropriate to locate shore-based facilities within or close by settlements. The infrastructure associated with shore bases, such as roads, storage yards and lighting, is more likely to be in keeping with the character of villages than remote, inaccessible landscapes.

While it is recognised that siting of shore bases within or near to settlements may result in longer boat journeys, there may be benefits in terms of the accessibility of infrastructure, landscape character and goodwill with residents who often like to see the activity and bustle associated with a thriving business.

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  • Shore-based facilities sited within, or near to concentrated settlements should be sited to reflect the settlement pattern.

Nevertheless, some activities associated with aquaculture can be unpopular. There can be problems with litter, discarded fish cages, unpleasant smells and increased traffic on small roads. Careful consideration of siting in relation to views from settlements and the interests of residents is essential.

Scattered settlement pattern

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Scattered housing, often linked to a coastal road and the pattern of crofting land, creates a series of point features in the landscape. This pattern can be very dispersed. Again, the presence of established structures and activity in an area may help to integrate new structures and the noise and movement associated with fish farming.

Aquaculture developments can bring with them increased noise and traffic, and unwanted visual intrusion and smells. It is essential to consider the needs of residents when considering a proposal near to a settlement.

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  • Increasing the number of point features in the landscape can be a successful approach to integrating development, but care must be taken to respect the scale and pattern of the existing features.
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  • Large scale blocks of cages or lines should be avoided near scattered settlements, as the scale of the aquaculture installation will dominate the fragmented pattern of the settlement. Aquaculture development should reflect the scattered nature of the land-based structures.

Unsettled areas

It is difficult, and may not be desirable, to introduce new roads and buildings into areas which are characterised by their sense of remoteness from settlements, and where there are no existing buildings. Potential developers should consider other options carefully. Establishing a new shore base in areas of remote or wild land character should only be considered if no other viable options exist.

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  • Shore facilities will be more appropriate in a nearby settlement, rather than introducing a building and storage complex to an unsettled area.
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  • If there is no settlement pattern to follow, buildings should be integrated with the landform as far as possible. Buildings should take advantage of level ground, be concentrated in layout, be set back against a break in slope, and set into a bay rather than on a promontory.

VISUAL ASSESSMENT

A visual assessment is used to help identify an appropriate site, and to decide on a well proportioned and well designed lay out.

The visibility of the water-based structures and of any planned shore base should be considered in undertaking a visual assessment. In addition, all elements of the development, including access roads, food storage silos, lifting gear and other structures should be included.

An introduction to visual assessment, including identifying key viewpoints and assessing the significance of viewpoints is given in Section One. In addition, a more detailed checklist of steps to be considered when undertaking a visual assessment is given in Box 2, below.

Visual assessment allows developers to consider ways to link the proposal visually with the surrounding landscape, often by blending the structures into the colours and textures of the vegetation patterns, or by linking the siting of structures to landscape patterns.

To assess visual impact of aquaculture development, it is important to consider both the eye level of the viewpoint and the proximity of the viewer to the development.

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  • Cages viewed from a low level viewpoint are absorbed by background vegetation.
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  • The mass of these cages, sited close to the viewer, is broken up by the irregular outline of the cage layout

High level viewpoints

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  • From a high-level viewpoint, the contrast in texture between fish farm structures and the smooth, reflective surface of the water is more obvious. The geometric shapes of lines and cages are also clearly visible. It is also very obvious if lines and cages are not parallel to the coast.
  • It is very important that the shape, scale, alignment and layout of cages reflects the shape and scale of the coastline.
  • When viewed from a distance, aquaculture developments can be visually linked to the pattern and texture of the vegetation.

Low level viewpoints

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  • From a low-level viewpoint, water-based structures can be more easily absorbed into the landform and vegetation of the shore. In particular, busy landscapes can create a backdrop which absorbs aquaculture installations relatively readily.
  • When viewed close up, cages can dominate the water surface. Their impact can be reduced by using an irregular pattern of cages which varies the density of texture across the structure.
  • If aquaculture installations are allowed to dominate the water surface in a sequence of views along a coast road, this can seem more intrusive than if it is only in one view.
  • Views of water-based structures from coastal roads can be broken up by planting along the shore line. This approach is most successful where existing tree cover is part of the landscape character.
  • Visual foreshortening occurs when the level surface of a large expanse of water takes up only a small part of a view. As a result, vertical structures can have a high impact from a low-level viewpoint.
  • Structures such as overhead nets, rails and feed storage facilities contrast most significantly with the level water surface. They should be avoided where possible and kept close to the water surface if they are essential.

BOX 2: Visual Assessment

This guidance on undertaking visual assessment complements that given in other documents, in particular the ‘Guidlines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment’ published jointly by the Institute of Environmental Assessment and the Landscape Institute.

When assessing the potential visual impact of a proposal, developers should carry out the following steps:

  • Identify key viewpoints, using a map based assessment, site survey or a computer visualisation programme.
  • Draw up a map which illustrates the extent of visibility and the proximity of viewpoints to the development. This is called the zone of visual influence. Separate maps may be required for onshore and the water-based structures.
  • Identify the highest point in the development, which may be a crane or a tall building. The zone of visual influence should take into account the visibility of this structure.
  • Identify how people view all elements of the development. Are people walking, with sustained views of the proposal, or are they travelling by car, with the potential development glimpsed behind landform or trees?
  • Consider how views will change due to seasonal changes, such as when trees lose their leaves, or when the summer sun is at its highest. Consider the impact of lighting.
  • Identify whether or not the proposal has a significant effect on the sequence of views experienced when travelling along a road, footpath or established boat route.
  • Identify whether the main views of a site are from low-level vantage points or from viewpoints which allow residents and visitors to look down upon the site from above.
  • Consider whether views are mainly going to be from a distance, with the development set against a backdrop of hills or woodland, or from a nearby viewpoint, where the development will take up more of the view.
  • Consider and illustrate how the development is going to change over time. For example, as the weight of the shellfish increases, the original, often quite small buoys need to be replaced with larger buoys. Consider the visual impact of the proposal when the development is at its most extensive.

All these considerations can be readily presented using maps, photographs, photomontages or computer generated perspectives. One of the simplest methods of illustrating a proposal and assessing its visual impact is to place acetate over a photographic panorama of the site, and to draw on the development at a realistic scale.