Cumulative Impacts to Tourist Accommodation

Construction Phase

149.           The construction of the Branxton BESS Project has the potential to reduce access to Thorntonloch caravan park, Dunbar Thorntonloch House Bed and Breakfast. This has the potential to affect the number of visitors to these receptors. However, adverse impacts may be offset by the potential to increase customer turnover at tourist accommodation facilities during the construction period. The cumulative magnitude of impact will therefore remain low.

150.           The sensitivities of receptors are as detailed in Volume 1, Chapter 14, Paragraph 110 of the Onshore EIA Report.

151.           Therefore, the cumulative effect of change in visitor numbers to Thorntonloch caravan park and to Dunbar Thorntonloch House Bed and Breakfast will be of negligible to minor adverse significance which is not significant in EIA terms.

Operation and maintenance phase

152.           The addition of the Branxton BESS Project to the cumulative context has the potential to be viewed in conjunction with the Proposed Development from Thorntonloch caravan park, Dunbar Thorntonloch House Bed and Breakfast, The Old Coastguard Lookout and the Blue Cabin by the Sea. This may reduce the visual amenity of views from these receptors which has the potential to reduce visitor numbers. Due to the proximity of the Branxton BESS Project and the Proposed Development to Thorntonloch caravan park and Dunbar Thorntonloch House Bed and Breakfast, the cumulative magnitude of impacts on visitor numbers to these receptors will be medium. Due to the separation distance of Old Coastguard Lookout and the Blue Cabin by the Sea the cumulative magnitude of impacts on visitor numbers to these receptors will be low.

153.           The sensitivities of receptors are as detailed in Volume 1, Chapter 14, Paragraph 118 of the Onshore EIA Report.

154.           The cumulative effect of change in visitor numbers to Thorntonloch Caravan Park and Dunbar Thorntonloch House Bed and Breakfast is therefore considered to be of minor adverse significance, which is not significant in EIA terms.  The cumulative effect of change in visitor numbers to Old Coastguard Lookout and the Blue Cabin by the Sea will, therefore, be of negligible to minor adverse significance, which is not significant in EIA terms.