Contact:
Emma Barnett
Adams Hendry Consulting Ltd
7 St Peter Street
Winchester
SO23 8BW

01962 877414
e.barnett@adamshendry.co.uk

Fort Southwick Company has commissioned Adams Hendry to provide planning advice on their proposals for the erection of five 15m high wind turbines to be sited on the existing gun emplacements within the northern ramparts of Fort Southwick, Portsdown Hill, Portsmouth. Power generated will be directed to the existing on-site sub-station to supply the buildings within the fort complex. Fort Southwick is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and Grade 1 Listed Building and is situated adjacent to Portsdown Hill SSSI. The proposals have been designed to ensure that they do not require any interventions that would impact upon the fabric or buried archaeology of the fort.

As a Schedule 2 development in a sensitive area, the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations require that the proposal be screened in order to determine whether or not EIA is required. In support of the request for a screening opinion, Adams Hendry commissioned the preparation of a number of photomontages from key views of the site from publicly accessible locations. Neither Natural England nor English Heritage considered the proposal as being one that would require EIA, however Winchester City Council has issued a screening opinion confirming that EIA is required on the grounds that it is likely to have a significant effect upon the special character and visual appearance of the Scheduled Monument. Adams Hendry is currently preparing an application to the Secretary of State for a screening direction.