RECOMMENDATION 1.1 The proposal, together with the other existing and proposed offshore wind schemes in the

area, would cause unacceptable negative impacts to the seascape and visual amenity of the Walney and Duddon areas. Although the scheme would produce a significant amount of renewable energy it is essential that there is a thorough independent assessment of the capacity of the area to accommodate large offshore wind energy developments of the scale and nature proposed, particularly with regard to the landscape and visual impacts. This is necessary to determine the acceptable level of wind energy development in this part of the East Irish Sea.

1.2 The DTI is requested to require an independent seascape and visual capacity assessment for the Morecambe Bay, Walney and Duddon areas and for the application to be re-consulted on in the light of this before any decisions are made on this or any other wind energy development proposed in the area. In the meantime the Council objects to the proposal.

2 THE PROPOSAL 2.1 The applicant has applied to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and to the

Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for a number of consents for the Walney Offshore Wind Farm. These include:

i) Under section 34, 36, and 36a of the Electricity Act 1989 to construct and operate between 450 - 600 MW offshore electricity generating station in two phases between 2008 and 2012.

2.2 The County Council has been consulted on the proposals and asked whether it has any concerns about the potential impacts and what these impacts might be. Where concerns are identified, suggestions for any mitigation measures are welcomed. An Environment Statement (ES) accompanied the consultation.

2.3 The project is to develop up to a 118 turbine offshore wind farm with onshore connection at Heysham and Fleetwood. The scale of the proposal would generate significant amounts of renewable energy.

2.4 The offshore wind farm would be located in an area approximately 73 km2, with the closest wind turbine 14 km from the shore. Due to the timescales involved in developing the proposal several options for are considered by the application. The license granted by the Crown Estates allows 450 MW, but due to expected improvements in wind technology the site could host up to 600MW. This could provide sufficient energy to support 300-400,000 homes. Cumbria has 209,300 households.

Scenario One – 450MW

Phase 1 proposes to install 45 x 3.6 MW wind turbines with a capacity of 162MW. This would be linked through a sub-station platform to an existing sub station at Heysham. It is proposed to carry out this phase in 2008.

Phase 2 proposes to install a further 48 x 6 MW turbines with an installed capacity of 288MW. This would connect to a sub station at Hillhouse, Lancashire. This phase would take place in 2012 following work that is required to upgrade the existing grid network in 20012/13.

Scenario Two – 600MW

Phase 1 – proposed as described above.

Phase 2 proposes to install 73 x 6MW turbines to provide 438MW (although the developers might consider using a smaller number of 9MW turbines if the manufacturer has such modules available). This scenario would be subject to receiving consent from the Crown Estates and DTI to extend the current licence from 450MW to 600MW. However, the application submitted applies for up to 600MW.

2.5 The turbine dimensions proposed are set out below and compared to the built scheme of 30 turbines west of Walney.

Phase One (3.6MW) Phase Two (6MW) Barrow Offshore Windfarm (3MW)

Hub height 93m 116m 75m

Rotor diameter 127m 172m 90m

Overall height 157m 202m 120m

2.6 The turbines would be set out in a grid pattern of around 18 x 6 turbines, approximately parallel to the Walney Island coastline. The distances between the turbines would vary depending on the size of turbine installed.

2.7 Lights for sea and air navigation safety are proposed.

2.8 At the end of their operational life, the facilities would be decommissioned. This likely to require the removal of all equipment above the sea bed.

2.9 The East Irish Sea forms a strategic offshore wind site, as set out in the Government’s offshore wind strategy ‘Future Offshore’ 2002. There are currently five offshore schemes with round 1 or round 2 licences in the East Irish Sea. The County Council raised no objection to the Barrow Offshore Windfarm, and raised an objection to the Ormonde proposal.

2.10 The DTI and Crown Estates gave nineteen round 1 offshore windfarm leases in 2001. These sites were limited to a maximum of thirty turbines. Barrow and Ormonde offshore windfarms both received a round 1 licence. A further scheme, Shell Flats, is proposed west of Blackpool. Barrow is partly operational, a decision is yet to be made on Ormonde and the location of Shell Flats is being revised.

2.11 Walney Offshore Windfarm forms part of the second round of licences for offshore windfarm development. Two of the fifteen licences granted by the DTI and Crown Estates in 2003 are located around Morecambe Bay. The sites with licenses are sited further offshore beyond a five mile (8km) exclusion zone from the coastline, and are for larger schemes. West of Duddon Sands Offshore Windfarm also received a round 2 licence and the application is also considered on the agenda. The ES assesses the cumulative impact if all these schemes were developed.

3 REPRESENTATIONS 3.1 Local members of divisions most affected by the proposal have been consulted on the

proposal. A number of concerns/questions have been raised by Councillor Cole, these

include:

Letters to the local paper suggest overwhelming opposition to the proposal due to environmental issues and visual impact.

Lack of information on the efficiency of wind turbines.

Questions the benefits to the County, local economy, and regeneration of Barrow.

Legacy concerns of decommissioning if the parent company cease trading.

Negative impacts on natural beauty and associated tourism.

Potential impacts on ecology, navigation, aircraft etc.

Concerns of more similar schemes in the areas if this one is approved.

A copy of the letter will be available at the committee meeting.

4 STRATEGIC ISSUES 4.1 This is a major development proposal and despite being offshore its impacts should be

considered against the policies of the Cumbria and Lake District Joint Structure Plan in responding to this consultation. There are a number of strategic issues raised by this proposal that the County Council should address, particularly:

i) Whether the development would be detrimental to the character and quality of the landscape or any features of national or international importance including National Parks [policies E34, E37].

ii) Whether the proposal would be detrimental to the distinctive character of landscapes of County Importance or the undeveloped coast or have a significant adverse impact [policies E36 and C41, R44].

iii) Whether the energy contribution and other benefits of the proposals clearly outweigh any detrimental effects [policies ST4 and R44].

4.2 The ES covers a wide range of potential impacts including those that may impact on the main policy issues outlined above.

Landscape, Visual and Cumulative Impact

4.3 A review of the ES and the landscape/seascape and visual impact assessment including cumulative impact has been undertaken by Capita at my request, to aid my assessment of the scheme.

4.4 A visibility assessment was carried out by the applicant to reflect the varied nature of visibility in coastal areas due to the influences of wind, light, tidal movements and atmospheric conditions. In summary this suggests that the proposal could be visible from 10 – 162 days of the year along the coast from St Bees Head (10) to Haverigg (162) and from 38 – 120 days of the year in the areas around the Duddon Estuary. From Biggar Bank on Walney Island the closest turbines would be visible for 205 days of the year and for 88 days from Birkrigg Common.

Landscape character

4.5 The description of the existing coastal landscape in the Barrow, Walney, Duddon and St Bees to Haverigg areas is in my view satisfactory. There is limited use of the Countryside

Agency's character assessment, although there was no reference to the County Council's landscape classification. The techniques used to produce the seascape units [ie offshore landscape units] follow the guidance found in the Guide to Best Practice in Seascape Assessment.

4.6 Part of the affected coastline, between Silecroft and south of Drigg, is in the Lake District National Park. Parts of South Walney and North Walney, Morecambe Bay and the Duddon Estuary, together with higher ground behind Dalton-in-Furness and Millom are Landscapes of County Importance. The St Bees Heritage Coast is around 43km from the development site and is not significantly affected.

4.7 The ES looks at 17 viewpoints in detail, five of them are considered to be more sensitive. These are the closest viewpoints to the proposal and all fall within Cumbria. The method used for selecting and taking the photos and preparing the photomontages is in accordance with Landscape Institute Guidance. The photomontages will be displayed at the committee meeting.

4.8 The ES includes landscape and seascape assessments, considering the changes that the proposed development would have on the key features of the landscape and seascape within the study area. This is based on magnitude of change and receptor sensitivity and capacity of the seascape to accommodate change. Three seascape units have been identified in this part of the East Irish Sea. The landscape character impacts of the area have been assessed considering the quality, value and capacity for the areas to accommodate change. They have been evaluated on a scale of very significant, significant, moderate and slight. The applicant’s findings are set out below.

4.9 In the Duddon Estuary Seascape Unit runs from Seascale to Barrow. The area is considered to have a varied character with remote rural and developed parts, the open estuary and the backdrop of the Cumbrian fells. It also has some visual detractors, including overhead power lines, radio masts, onshore wind turbines, and dock buildings at Barrow. It has a high value attached to it, largely due to the tranquil and diverse nature of the landscape of the Duddon Estuary, its popularity with residents and visitors, and the dynamic nature of the mudflats and intertidal sands. When this is considered along with the distance of the proposal from the coastline it is considered that the significance of the effects of the proposal on the character of the seascape would be moderate within this expansive large scale setting.

4.10 Within the Barrow and Walney Island Seascape Unit two contrasting character areas are found. At Barrow and along the fringe of Walney Channel the industrial and dock buildings and structures and gas infrastructure dominate much of the area. In contrast the southern part of Walney Island is a more isolated area of sand dunes, salt marsh and mud flats. The significance of effect on seascape character is considered to be slight for Barrow. However, due to the more remote character of Walney Island the effect on the character of the seascape is considered to be moderate.

4.11 For the Morecambe Bay Seascape Unit the character within the Cumbria includes the dynamic nature of the intertidal flats and salt marshes and rural areas, interspersed with settlements, which contrasts with the more developed characteristics along the Lancashire coastline. When considered in relation to the distance of the proposal, its impacts were assessed to have a slight effect on seascape character.

4.12 CAPITA generally concur with the landscape character assessment from the five key viewpoints within the three seascape units.

Visual impacts

4.13 The ES also assesses the visual impact (the perceived change in the character and quality of the view) for receptors from 17 viewpoints, including 12 in Cumbria (5 of which are considered to be the most sensitive). The most sensitive receptors are defined as residents whose sea views would be affected, visitors where the seascape contributes to their enjoyment and recreational routes travelled at low speeds. The visual impact assessment was based on the proposal comprising 45, 3.6MW turbines and 48, 6MW turbines.

4.14 Maps show the zones of visual influence of the proposal for the areas where it may be possible to see all or some part of the development. These indicate that it would be particularly visible from Walney Island, the Duddon, including Millom, Askam and Haverigg and some higher ground, including Black Combe. The proposal would also be visible from the coastline north of Haverigg but with increasing distance and more obliquely. It would be visible from the inter-tidal areas of Morecambe Bay and the Furness peninsula east of Barrow.

4.15 The applicant’s assessment concludes that from footpaths running just below the summit of Black Combe in the Lake District National Park, the visual impact would be moderate/minor with the turbines being just discernible along with those built at the Barrow Offshore Windfarm. From along the coastal path at Haverigg there would be a moderate visual effect with the turbines forming conspicuous elements in the wider seascape noticeable to the casual observer. To the north of Dalton in Furness the visual impact is assessed to be moderate/minor. Along Biggar Bank Road, Walney the visual impact would be moderate for residents and visitors, and minor for road users. The visual impact from the South Walney Nature Reserve is also considered to be moderate. In both cases, this is largely due to the significant distance of the proposal from the land and the wind turbines that already exist in this view arising from the Barrow Offshore Windfarm. CAPITA concur with the visual assessment from these five key viewpoints.

4.16 Additional assessments have been carried out for each of the scenarios set out earlier in the report. These include options for building fewer turbines with a greater height, or more turbines of a lesser height. Overall the applicant concludes that the visual impacts would not vary from the option described above. I am in agreement with this.

Cumulative landscape and visual impacts

4.17 The South Cumbria area already has a number of onshore wind clusters including those at Askam, Kirkby Moor, Haverigg and Harlock Hill, plus the now operational Barrow Offshore Windfarm. The assessment also considered the landscape character impacts and predicted views at the selected viewpoints if all the remaining four proposed offshore wind farms in this area were built in combination with the above operational schemes.

4.18 The proposal, in combination with all others operational and proposed within the Barrow and Walney Island seascape unit would result in a windfarm seascape, where the wind turbines, collectively, would provide dominant features in the seascape views. CAPITA concur with this conclusion.

4.19 Mitigation measures have been considered but determined as being very limited, partly due to technical constraints on the site, such as shipping routes. The turbines would all be the same type and colour (although heights would vary) – three bladed turbines painted semi matt pale grey.

4.20 The ES includes details on the extent to which all the built and proposed schemes would be visible with this proposal and the impact this may have on the landscape/seascape character. It concludes that there will be major changes to the character of seascape view at Haverigg and Walney with lesser changes expected from other viewpoints. This is due to distance, the sensitivity of viewpoints, and character and quality of the existing views. The greatest impacts are set out below.

4.21 There would be moderate effects from Black Combe and along the coast, where all the turbines would occupy 34% of the open seascape view and the Ormonde, Walney and West of Duddon Sands schemes would form one contiguous development. The Barrow scheme would be set slightly off, but collectively they would become a characteristic, but distant, element in the view and cause a noticeable change in the character and quality of the view.

4.22 There would be major cumulative effects along the coast path at Haverigg due to the sensitive nature of the recreational route. The Ormonde, Walney and West of Duddon Sands schemes would be seen as one contiguous development. Cumulatively all schemes would form 56% of the open seascape view. They would form a more prominent characteristic element, and cause a prominent change to the character and quality of the view.

4.23 There would be major cumulative impacts for residents along Biggar Bank, and major/moderate impacts for road users. From here the Barrow, Ormonde, Walney and West of Duddon Sands schemes would be seen as one contiguous development. Cumulatively all schemes would form 65% of the open seascape view and become the dominant element within the seascape. The overall character of the area would change to one that could be classified as a ‘windfarm seascape’.

4.24 From the Walney Island Nature Reserve the impacts would be major due to the sensitive nature of the viewpoint. In good weather all the schemes proposed/built in the Morecambe Bay area would be visible, occupying 66% of the open seascape view. From here the Barrow, Ormonde, Walney and West of Duddon Sands schemes would be seen as one contiguous development. The proposals would form a prominent change in the character and view.

4.25 No detailed seascape capacity assessment has been carried out for the East Irish Sea area of which Morecambe Bay forms a part (the East Irish Sea runs from the Solway Firth in the North to the North Coast of Wales in the South). However, a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) was carried out for the East Irish Sea on behalf of the DTI in 2003. This considered the potential impact of offshore wind development in relation to issues such as seascape, ecology, navigation, fishing etc. Although the SEA looked in detail at the Cumbrian coast it did not carry out a separate capacity assessment for the Morecambe Bay, Walney or Duddon Estuary area.

4.26 It identified two scenarios for the capacity to accommodate offshore wind energy development in the wider East Irish Sea. One scenario suggested 800MW of offshore wind energy development could be developed by 2010, without causing significant conflict with areas sensitive to visual impact, concentrations of sensitive seabirds, conservation sites, MOD sites and navigational issues. It also suggested the development of up to 1500MW could be accommodated by 2020 subject to resolving uncertainties on ecology and physical processes.

4.27 A scenario for significantly more development was also put forward. This suggested that 1500MW would be the maximum credible amount of offshore wind energy development by

2010 (subject to resolving uncertainties on ecology and physical processes), rising to 3000MW by 2020. However, it recognised that cumulative impacts (including seascape and visual impacts) and conflict with marine traffic might constrain this higher figure of 3000MW being achieved.

4.28 The built, consented and proposed wind energy schemes in the East Irish Sea (clustered around North Wales, the Morecambe Bay, Walney and Duddon area, and the Solway Firth) exceed the capacity estimated as feasible for either scenario for 2010. They currently account for 2648MW of development, with a development timescale of 2012. This would suggest that further work is needed to be carried out by Government to determine the capacity for this area to accommodate this proposal.

Energy contribution, Employment and other Economic Effects

4.29 The current national energy policy seeks to increase renewable energy production, reduce CO2 emissions and diversify the nation’s energy sources. The UK Government has set itself a domestic target for reducing CO2 emissions to 20% below 1990 levels by 2010 and to obtain 10% of the UK’s electricity supply from renewable sources by 2010. This has recently been extended to 15% by 2015, with an aspiration by 2020 to double the renewable share of electricity to 20%. Offshore wind schemes would contribute significantly towards these targets.

4.30 A tentative target for generating capacity from offshore wind was included in the NW Renewables Study in 2001. The targets included the development of four offshore windfarms (total of 58MW within the NW by 2010). Since then, the East Irish Sea has been identified as one of the Government’s three strategic locations for offshore wind. This was based on the depth of the seabed, current sea use, environmental factors and provisional indications of interest from the industry1. National and regional planning policy supports the development of renewable energy projects. It should be noted that any energy generated off shore would not contribute to wind energy targets currently suggested in the Draft Regional Spatial Strategy. It would contribute to the national targets set out in paragraph 4.29.

4.31 If successful the proposal would significantly strengthen the region's energy production. 450 -600MW output could provide electricity equivalent to 300 - 400,000 homes. Cumbria has 209,300 households. It is expected that the turbines will produce electric power 95% of the time when they are turning, and produce around 43% of the theoretical maximum. This is reflected when determining the number of households that could be supported.

4.32 The applicant states that the development would create and support employment both directly and indirectly from increased expenditure within the local economy. The ES estimates that around 40 jobs would be generated for the operation and maintenance of the proposal. In addition there are opportunities for temporary staff to be employed locally during the construction period. The applicant also believes that the scale of the development offers Barrow based manufacturers the opportunity to explore how they could develop wind turbine manufacturing.

4.33 The applicant acknowledges the importance of tourism to the local economy and believes that the project could act both as a tourist attraction or deter visitors due to the change in nature of the seascape. There could also be a direct impact on sea based leisure activities. However, in both cases the applicant suggests there is no direct evidence to support or

1 Future Offshore DTI 2002 section 4.3.3.

contradict this. The biggest impact is likely to be to tourist seeking to enjoy the natural beauty of the coastal paths and nature reserves and this issue is reflected in the visual impact assessment.

Other Key Findings of the Environmental Statement (ES)

Impact on Fisheries

4.34 Through the ES the applicant recognises that there is still an active local fishery. There are fishing grounds to the north, south and to a lesser extent, the west of the proposed site. These support a mixed commercial fishery of mainly local trawlers harvesting prawn. The ES finds that there would be some impact on local fishing out of Barrow, Whitehaven and Fleetwood due to safety and navigation exclusion zones around the wind turbines. It suggests that the presence of the wind farm would probably not greatly reduce the value of the local fishery in the area. However, it is likely to result in a change of fishing methods within the wind farm area, from mobile trawls to static gear such as pots and gill nets. Consideration has also been given to the cumulative impacts if all the wind farms go ahead. Some fishing grounds would be lost which may have a detrimental effect on boats based in Barrow. Ongoing liaison is proposed with local fishermen to minimise impacts.

Navigation and Shipping

4.35 The applicant highlights how the siting of the wind farm has been influenced through consultation with local interested parties including commercial and recreational shipping interests. A radar based marine traffic survey determined vessel traffic volumes and movements over a 28 day period. Issues of navigation and safety were considered. The original shape of the proposal was amended to enable the continued use of navigation routes to the south western side of the proposal. The residual impacts on dredgers, cargo and passenger ships travelling along the north eastern edge of the proposal are not considered significant and ships would be expected to amend their current routes slightly. The siting of the windfarm has been amended to provide a safe route in this area if the Ormonde Offshore Windfarm proposal also goes ahead. It is proposed to maintain a shipping channel with a safe distance of 2.2 nautical miles between this proposal and the Ormonde Offshore Windfarm proposal.

4.36 Impact on the Biological Environment

4.37 There are protected and sensitive coastal habitats in the Morecambe Bay, Walney and Duddon area; many of which are internationally and nationally designated as protected areas, especially for the birds that populate them. Morecambe Bay is a European Marine site, and is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), a Special Protection Area (SPA), RAMSAR site and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Other protected sites of national, regional and local interest have been taken into consideration.

4.38 The applicant has consulted with the RSPB and English Nature and the ES has identified a number of important bird and sea mammal interests in the area. Surveys have been carried out for the fish, shellfish, seabed, bird and mammal communities at the site of the proposal and the surrounding area.

4.39 The proposal lies outside the protected areas, although the cabling would pass through protected and sensitive areas within Morecambe Bay to landfall at Heysham. The potential impact of this has been assessed by the applicant. These areas provide high tide resting and feeding sites for birds. The ES concludes that the impacts would be negligible due to the

temporary nature of the disturbance – being just a few days whilst the cables are laid. This is also likely to be the case with regard to cumulative impacts – only the Barrow Offshore Windfarm is bringing its cables onto land at the same point.

4.40 Survey results contained in the ES indicate that the project area would have some impacts on feeding, breeding and roosting birds in the area and migrant species too. Key species include Whooper Swans, Pink footed Goose, Common Scoter, Manx Shearwater, Lesser Black backed Gull, Herring Gull, Red throated Diver, and Sandwich Tern. The ES concludes that no bird group would be significantly affected by the presence of the proposal. Work would be carried out to mitigate impacts and the applicant is consulting with English Nature and RSPB on this.

4.41 The ES concludes that the overall impact on the local seabed communities and fish and shellfish populations is considered to be minor. Three key species of marine mammals have been identified as being affected; harbour porpoises, bottlenose dolphins, and grey seals. The assessment considers that there could be moderate adverse impacts on them from noise during construction and decommissioning, but steps would be taken to mitigate this once the foundation design is agreed. English Nature is being consulted on this issue to determine the most appropriate form of mitigation. Impacts during operation are considered to be negligible. Other mammals are assessed to be of a medium abundance in the East Irish Sea, and the proposal is not considered to have a significant impact on them.

Sediment and Coastal Processes

4.42 The ES concludes that the proposal would be likely to have a very localised impact on the waves, currents and the corresponding sediment transport regime within the immediate vicinity of offshore structures but it is not anticipated there would be any significant far afield impacts. There would be no lowering of water quality along the local coastline.

5 CONCLUSION 5.1 National and regional planning policy is promoting targets for renewable energy and

looking for local authorities to support proposals for renewable energy developments which do not have unacceptable impacts. Policy ST4 (Cumbria Joint Structure Plan) requires that the total benefits clearly outweigh the total detrimental effects and all possible measures are taken to minimise the adverse effects of development and associated infrastructure.

5.2 The renewable energy generation of the scheme is significant, producing energy for up to 400,000 homes in England. This far exceeds the amount of onshore renewable energy that could be provided in Cumbria (for example 257MW of onshore wind development is currently being suggested for Cumbria in the Regional Spatial Strategy). In addition, the applicant refers to some jobs being created which could support the local economy.

5.3 This contribution of clean energy from a home based source is an important benefit given the predicted gap in energy supply nationally and the targets for reducing CO2 emissions. This is a significant consideration when viewed against the difficulties of satisfactorily accommodating windfarms, generating this level of output, onshore.

5.4 A case can be argued for siting renewable generation where it may be less intrusive than if it was accommodated onshore and where it is maximising output in a concentrated area.

5.5 On the other hand despite the significant energy benefits, an important question to ask is how significant will the change in character of the seascape be on the enjoyment of the

coastal zone and the perception of the area? In this case, despite the distance from the shore, cumulatively this proposal would significantly change the character and visual amenity along sections of the coast and particularly at Walney, both in the undeveloped areas and those that are sensitive because of housing and significant recreational use.

5.6 These concerns are even greater when the proposal is considered in relation to the other built and proposed windfarms in the area. There are considerable cumulative impacts for seascape character and visual amenity, as the proposal, in conjunction with the others, would create a windfarm seascape both across the sea and along the adjacent coastline at Walney and the Duddon. This conclusion is drawn by the applicant and I am in agreement with this and consider that this would be detrimental to the enjoyment of these areas and their overall character. Cumulatively the wind energy schemes would form a significant part of the view from several locations.

5.7 Although a Strategic Environmental Assessment was carried out for the wider East Irish Sea in 2003 no detailed work has been carried out to determine the capacity of the this area to accommodate windfarms on the scale currently proposed. Neither has any work been carried out to establish the best location, layout and size of turbines for the area. The only work carried out by the applicant links to the technical constraints of the location, such as MOD firing ranges, shipping channels, seabed cabling etc. Although there has been some collaboration with the applicant of the Walney proposal (see report elsewhere on the agenda) in preparing the Environment Statements the schemes have been developed independently and again no work appears to have been carried out to establish the best location, layout and size of turbines for the area. In addition to this, the cumulative size of the schemes built, consented and proposed in the wider East Irish Sea area currently exceed the capacity findings of the SEA.

5.8 It is considered that there does not appear to have been a co-ordinated approach to determine an appropriate balance between clean energy supply and the capacity of the area to accommodate this type of development. Irrespective of the licensing arrangements, co-ordinating the development of an acceptable scheme for this area should be the key priority.

5.9 Despite its benefits and distance from the shore, this scheme alone, and particularly in consideration with the others built and proposed in the area, will dramatically change the seascape from important and widespread onshore locations and on balance I consider an objection should be raised.

Shaun Gorman Head of Environment Contact Jenny Wain, Kendal, tel. 01539 773420, Email: developmentcontrol@cumbriacc.gov.uk Background Papers Planning Application File Reference No. A0779-007 Walney Offshore Windfarm ES Review, Landscape, Seascape, Visual Impact Assessment by CAPITA Symonds, May 2006.

Electoral Division Identification Ms J Murphy, Walney North Mr JH Garnett, Walney South Mr R Cole, Millom Mr J Hemingway, Low Furness Ms S Brown, Seascale and Whicham Mr O Pearson, High Furness Mr P Phizacklea, Dalton North Mr I Stewart, Kent Estuary \\ceekenb\kendal\filing\environment\admin\a0779-007 dc consulatations adjoining authorities - walney offshore windfarm\D012006 - report 060623 dcr - walney offshore wind farm.doc