Nocton Fen Wind Farm - cultural heritage

Preliminary Environmental Information

Vol 1 - Chapter 12 - Cultural Heritage

Para 12.2.2: 'The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 requires in section 66, that the decision maker in the planning process should have special regard to the desirability of preserving a listed building or its setting or any features of architectural or historic interest which it possesses. Section 72 sets out a similar duty in respect of conservation areas and their character and appearance. The Act does not make provision for special regard to the desirability of preserving the setting of conservation areas.'

All Saints Church

The matter of landscape has already been referred to in an earlier blog.

All Saints Parish Church, Nocton was designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the 'Gothic Revival' style considered mandatory for new churches in the Victorian era.  The 'best' period of this Gothic style was the 'Early Decorated' style, originally dated at about 1300, and Sir George designed the new church accordingly. Indeed, it is widely acknowledged that All Saints Church is generally accepted as the finest Gothic Revival church in the whole of Lincolnshire and is a valuable asset in the heart of the village. The church was actually consecrated on 16 December 1862 and is now Grade II* Listed. It is a high sensitivity designated heritage asset.

Whilst Section 66 may exclude the setting of the Nocton conservation area, it does not exclude the setting of a listed building. However, it seems Vattenfall are obliged to 'have special regard to the desirability of preserving a listed building or its setting...'. The question is then, does their impact assessment incorporated in this Preliminary Environmental Information report satisfy the requirement, or will more need to be done in the Environmental Statement and planning application to have 'special regard to the desirability of preserving' the setting of the Grade II* Listed All Saints Church?

The view of the Grade II* Listed All Saints Church from the B1188 and B1202 has had no visual contamination of its setting in over 150 years. The church has nestled in the attractive village of Nocton with the spire adding a distinctive feature amongst the natural clay pantile roofing of many traditional stone dwellings within a setting of mature trees and woodland.

The twenty 149.5 metre high turbines proposed will completely dominate the setting of the Grade II* Listed church (the wooded area in which the church building sits) and a feature of architectural interest (the spire of the Grade II* Listed church). The debate to be had therefore, is whether or not it is acceptable for a huge national infrastructure project to adversely affect a widely regarded national heritage property in a historic setting for a period of 25 years or more?

The project will have an even greater detrimental effect on the setting of All Saints Church during winter months when there is no foliage on the trees in Nocton. Furthermore, the Nocton area is blessed with dark skies, noticeable for the lack of light pollution. Many of our street lights are set on timers to extinguish at midnight in order to contribute to dark night skies and given that the turbines will have lights mounted for air traffic, there is a fear these will have a negative impact when looking towards the project from the B1188 / B1202 and other viewpoints during night time hours.

Given the significance of All Saints Church, I think it should be incumbent on Vattenfall to provide photographs from all village locations and the surrounding area where the church is actually affected by the wind turbines.

Copyright - Geoff Hall (taken from public footpath leading to the Nocton Estate reservoir)

I fear the turbines will have a major effect on the view of All Saints Parish Church, Nocton from many locations.

Witham Valley and Nocton Fen

Chapter 12 - Appendices - Vol 3. Appendix 12.B

This document is a must read for anyone in doubt as to the wealth of cultural heritage in the close vicinity of the proposed wind farm. I particularly like the following descriptor for the area under review:

Para 4.2.4: '... the study site has been predominantly open land for its entire documented history, with scattered buildings and areas of woodland, with the main settlement of Nocton in the centre.'

Chapter 12 - Cultural Heritage Para 12.7.10 goes on to say: '... the Project will be a new feature within the Witham Valley historic landscape. The presence of the wind turbines will act as a distraction to the appreciation of the historic landscape by an informed observer...'.

This photo Vol 2 Figures 12.14a-d Viewpoint 6 Nocton Park Priory, gives you an idea of this 'distraction' - and incidentally why does this particular file not have a panoramic photo included, or am I starting to suffer from paranoia?

The Nocton Fen area is enjoyed by numerous visitors (with both informed and uninformed observers), many seeking the remoteness and to appreciate the abundant wildlife and unfettered views and skies.

Many walkers, cyclists, horse riders, bird watchers all use the tracks, footpaths, roads and bridleways surrounding the area. I see the context of the point Paragraph 4.2.4 was trying to achieve, by indicating the only people who can appreciate the landscape are those 'informed' observers who can link the cultural and heritage elements together to understand the landscape... but this is clearly not the case. I know myself, having visited a particular area for the first time and been literally blown away by its landscape, only then has it prompted further reading and thus knowledge of its background and history.

How many people would be put off from even visiting this location if the wind farm was in place? I do see there is an acknowledgement in the document that 'the presence of wind turbines will act as a distraction...', but this is probably the understatement of the year!

Finally, I acknowledge that the magnitude of change on some individual assets is limited, but for many it is significant. The overall effect of this Project on a landscape literally littered with important cultural heritage assets over a wide area will be enormous and in my mind is totally unacceptable.