Cumulative Impact on Visitor Numbers to Beaches
Construction Phase
143. Construction activities associated with the Branxton BESS Project have the potential to impact access to Skateraw Harbour and Thorntonloch Beach as a result of additional HGV traffic on the A1. This has the potential to affect the number of visitors to these receptors. There will be no additional traffic on direct access routes from the A1 to either receptor, therefore it is anticipated that the cumulative magnitude of impact will remain at medium and low for Skateraw Harbour and Thorntonloch Beach, respectively.
144. The sensitivities of receptors are as detailed in Volume 1, Chapter 14, Paragraphs 97 and 98 of the Onshore EIA Report.
145. The cumulative effect of change in visitor numbers to Skateraw Harbour and Thorntonloch Beach will be of minor adverse significance which is not significant in EIA terms.
Operation and maintenance phase
146. The Branxton BESS Project is likely to be visible from Thorntonloch Beach during operation and may have a limited impact on the visual amenity of this receptor. There is potential for overlapping views with the Proposed Development. However, given the existing baseline of industrial infrastructure visible from Thorntonloch Beach, the cumulative magnitude of impacts on this receptor is considered to be low.
147. The sensitivity of this receptor is as detailed in Volume 1, Chapter 14, Paragraph 104 of the Onshore EIA Report.
148. The cumulative effect of change in visitor numbers to Thorntonloch Beach will be of minor adverse significance, which is not significant in EIA terms.