Threats to the landscape
Wind turbines
Onshore wind energy is possibly the most clear and present threat to the Devon landscape. A wind farm or ‘pepperpotting’ of individual turbines across the horizon changes the look of the county dynamically. Not everyone dislikes the effect – but it is our responsibility to try to minimize the damage to the landscape. Wind turbines’ change to their environment is long-lasting and affects not only the visual amenity of the landscape but its topography as well – huge concrete foundations can substantially alter the substrate, water behaviour etc – and there is a worldwide issue with redundancy and disposal.
Local planning authorities have different approaches to wind energy policy. We have undertaken a number of lengthy campaigns, including public inquiries, to limit the effects of major windfarms in some areas, while also addressing the cumulative damage of multiple low-number installations in others. While community schemes which benefit everyone can be welcome, too often the benefit is limited to one landowner at the expense of their neighbours’ amenity.
Anaerobic digesters
While less immediately visually intrusive, large AD plants can have significant effects of both their immediate surroundings, and local agricultural infrastructures. Based on producing gas from rotting organic matter, they can be a very unsavoury neighbour, while their need for large areas of farmland to be laid to maize and similar feed crops present significant transport problems in the vicinity. All of these issues need to be considered and monitored by planning authorities.
Landfill sites
While landfill sites are necessary, their effect on the landscape and their environment is probably more damaging than any other development.
Their proposed siting can often be based on a landowner’s commercial preference rather than on a planned assessment of least risk, and the effect on any nearby rural community is devastating. We will work with residents and communities affected to present their case and try to ensure that this immense change to a landscape complies with best practice.
Telecom masts, pylons etc
One of CPRE’s first and longest-running campaigns was to ensure that the march of modernity did not destroy our most precious landscapes. Our work on the effects of grid pylons
In the 1930s CPRE was appointed as official advises to the Electricity Commissioners on the siting of overhead electricity cables. In the 1940s and 50s we campaigned for the burying of cables in important rural landscapes, and in the late 1970s were successful in preventing a chain of pylons affecting the outlook of Hadrian’s Wall.
That work continues today, including the additional network of telecoms masts on which our communications depend, but which need careful siting to minimize harms.