Section 3 : DETAIL DESIGN
The most successful aquaculture development will be arranged and designed to integrate with the landscape, through positively building on the landscape characteristics and by using the most appropriate detail design.
It is important to stress, however, that no matter how well designed the structure is, if it is poorly located, badly sited or inappropriately laid out, it will not integrate with the landscape. Well thought out detail design will not make up for a poor choice of location or a badly sited and laid out proposal. Detail design can only be of assistance once an appropriate location has been selected, and a layout has been planned which takes into account the surrounding landscape character.
When applying for authorisation to proceed with developing aquaculture, it is important that all details of the development, including the type of structures and food storage systems to be used, are described. In addition, it is important to consider not only what structures are required when a proposal is first submitted for approval, but also how the structures will develop. Any need for increased food storage capacity, potential requirements for expansion, and the use of larger buoys required for lines as they become progressively heavier for example, should all be explained at the outset.
This section describes examples of good practice in relation to the detail design of both onshore and offshore structures. It is important to bear in mind that the most appropriate design will reinforce the way in which a development reflects the landscape character of its location. Detail design will therefore aim to reinforce the key characteristics of the landscape type, for example by reflecting colour and texture, by responding to landform shape and by using existing vegetation pattern.
The detail design information is divided into two sub sections:
DETAIL DESIGN OF WATER-BASED STRUCTURES
The elements which make up water based developments include:
- main structures, such as cages, rafts, pontoons, jetties and nets
- mooring and navigation buoys
- longlines
- food storage and feeding structures
- lighting
Structures
- Dark muted colours are less obtrusive, and should be used for all structures wherever possible. It is a requirement of a Crown Estate lease that all installations other than for navigation purposes are dark matt grey in colour.
- Materials should be chosen which do not have a highly reflective surface, as this will catch the light and attract attention.
- Dark matt grey pontoons and jetties will blend into the landscape more subtly than brightly coloured or highly reflective materials.
- Handrails and other vertical structures should be kept as low as possible, within the requirements of health and safety regulations, to respect the horizontality of the water surface.
- Walk under nets, which can be up to two metres above the water surface, should generally be avoided.
- If there is more than one fish farm on a loch, they will appear less intrusive if the same types of cages and buoys are used. Storage facilities and shore bases should be shared where possible, reducing the amount of visual clutter.
Buoys and Longlines
- While navigation and corner buoys need to be brightly coloured and highly visible, other buoys should be of a consistent design and dark matt grey in colour.
- The pattern of buoys should, as far as possible, be kept simple and ordered within the loch space, and aligned reflecting the shape of the coastline.
- Where it is possible to align buoys to reflect the shape of the coastline, place buoys to emphasise the sense of ‘line’.
- As the weight of the shellfish increases, the original, often quite small buoys need to be replaced with larger buoys, or the number of small buoys increased. Larger buoys can look out of scale in an intimate landscape and proposals should be assessed with this in mind.
Food Storage Systems
- The least intrusive system of food storage is hand feeding combined with a mobile storage raft mainly moored at the shore base.
- Structures such as sheds on cages will increase visibility and should be avoided.
- If storage structures are used on the cages, they should be stained or painted dark matt grey. Feed hoppers should be dark coloured and positioned as close to the water surface as possible
- Permanently moored large feeding stations and silos can be very visible and should be avoided, especially where the surroundings are low lying or the site is very exposed to view.
- Permanently moored large feeding stations and silos are slightly less intrusive if they are moored close to the corner of the cages, if they are as ‘boat like’ in scale and shape as possible and if they are coloured dark matt grey.
Lighting
- Security lighting can be very intrusive, creating unwanted light pollution. Where security measures are needed, to prevent vandalism or theft, operators should consider the use of infrared cameras, which eliminate the need for overhead lighting.
- Where overhead lighting is required, baffles or guards should be fitted to reduce the extent of light emission.
- Underwater lighting, used for photoperiod manipulation, is less intrusive, although it can create an eerie glow. However, in some areas, such as those valued for their sense of wildness, even subsea lighting may be unacceptable.
DETAIL DESIGN OF ONSHORE FACILITIES
Onshore facilities are not always required for aquaculture developments, and at the outset, developers should consider whether a base is necessary, or whether it is possible to share existing infrastructure.
Onshore bases may have a significant impact on the landscape, not least because they have the potential to be permanent structures. The implications of siting and design therefore have to be considered in terms of their long term impact.
In addition to buildings, a base may need lifting gear, a new access road and a power supply, all of which can accumulate to make a very significant impact, especially in an area with few or even no built structures. In some circumstances, consultees may be more concerned about the potential impact of an onshore facility than offshore cages or rafts.
Onshore facilities include:
- buildings
- net cleaning facilities
- slipways
- access tracks, external storage and vehicle parking
Buildings
- Redundant buildings can offer the opportunity for conversion into offices and storage sheds. The reuse of redundant buildings or slipways can often make a positive contribution to the landscape.
- New buildings should be sited to take advantage of natural landform and vegetation which will create a setting.
- Consider an innovative and ecologically sound building style if new build is required, in discussion with the local planning authority.
- Ensure that storage space is big enough to accommodate all storage needs, either through well scaled buildings or organised and adequate external storage space. Car parking areas, too, often need to be larger than at first considered.
- The size of shore based buildings and compounds should reflect the form and scale of other buildings. Buildings which are large will stand out, and should be orientated and aligned to fit in with existing settlement pattern.
- If a large storage shed is required, consider breaking up the mass of the building to reduce its scale.
- Avoid excavating a steep slope and excessive underbuilding, and fit the buildings into the gradient.
Other Infrastructure
- Even if existing buildings are not available for re use, consider using existing access tracks and other infrastructure such as slipways if possible.
- Tall lifting gear, and infrastructure which is particularly industrial in character is difficult to accommodate in more rural coastal landscapes.
- Likewise, large industrial-scale net cleaning stations need to be sited where the visual intrusion and smells do not adversely affect landscape character or experience of a place.
- Aim to create an appropriate setting for buildings by using fence materials and designs which relate to the character of the landscape. Avoid urban and suburban solutions.
- Although they may take longer to establish than ‘instant’ fencing barriers, well established and maintained planting may be more effective in the long term. At some sites, fencing could be used to create a setting for a building until planting is established.