A Change to the Baseline
We shape and assess landscape change to enable informed decisions and well-designed development.
Project Case Studies
East of England Showground
Abseline was engaged by AEPG Ltd to produce the Environmental Statement (ES) supporting the application for a mixed use development comprising c. 1,500 homes along with care, leisure and commercial development at the former East of England Showground. Our role included advising on the approach to assessment given the proposals are the subject of two separate planning applications, authoring introductory and summary chapters and coordinating technical chapter authors to ensure a consistent and high quality ES was delivered.
Carrick & Hollandmey Renewable Energy Developments
ScottishPower Renewables engaged Abseline in 2023 to provide expert witness support for two of its Scottish renewable energy developments going through Public Local Inquiries.
Landscape evidence for Hollandmey (Highland), comprising ten turbines of up to 149.9m tip height solar arrays and battery storage, was considered at a single LVIA hearing session. Carrick (South Ayrshire), comprising 12 turbines of up to 200m tip height, was the subject of a conjoined Inquiry with two adjacent schemes which was heard over a series of Inquiry and Hearing sessions with Mary providing oral evidence. In both cases Abseline provided updated assessments to consider baseline changes since the original applications were submitted; for Carrick this involved working collaboratively with teams representing the neighbouring proposals to jointly submit updated visual material and avoid unnecessary duplication of effort between parties.
Byers Gill Solar Farm
Abseline is currently providing landscape and visual support in relation to this NSIP/DCO application for a solar farm located northeast of Darlington. Mary championed the use of design charrettes to engage stakeholders and the public in shaping the proposals and has played a key role in consultation from the earliest stages of the project, which is currently being finalised in advance of submission to the Planning Inspectorate. Along with design advice, the Abseline team provided landscape and visual impact assessment at the PEIR and EIA stages.
Onshore Wind, South Wales
Abseline is currently providing landscape and visual services in relation to two DNS wind farm projects in south Wales. Both projects have been submitted and were accepted for examination by PEDW in late 2023 and Abseline is engaged to provide ongoing support to each project throughout their examination phases.
The Dragon Energy project comprises an application for three wind turbines of up to 149.9m tip height situated at the Dragon LNG Terminal at Milford Haven (Pembrokeshire) submitted on behalf of Dragon Energy Ltd. The proposed turbines would provide a direct supply of renewable electricity to this significant energy user.
The Mynydd Fforch Dwm proposal comprises six wind turbines of up to 200m to blade tip along with around 10 ha. of solar PV panels located on hills to the east of Neath (Neath Port Talbot) being developed by Naturalis Energy Developments Ltd.