Impacts to Recreational Users of Paths

Construction Phase

155.           The construction of the Branxton BESS Project has the potential to be visible in conjunction with the Proposed Development from some stretches of the John Muir Link and Core Paths 309 and 310. The impact on recreational amenity of the paths as a result of visual disturbance from construction activities will be minimal and temporary. The cumulative magnitude of impact on recreational users of these paths will be low.

156.           The sensitivities of receptors are as detailed in Volume 1, Chapter 14, Paragraphs 129-132 of the Onshore EIA Report.

157.           Therefore, it is considered that the cumulative effect of change in number of recreational users of the John Muir Link will be of minor adverse significance and the effect on Core paths 309 and 310 will be of negligible to minor adverse significance which is not significant in EIA terms.

Operation and maintenance phase

158.           The Branxton BESS Project may be visible from sections of the John Muir Link, Core Paths 310 and 309, the Southern Upland Way (SUW) and the Berwickshire Coastal Path in conjunction with the Proposed Development. This may reduce recreational amenity of the receptors which has the potential to impact their recreational users. Clear views of both the Branxton BESS Project and Proposed Development experienced by recreational users would be limited to short sections of the overall paths. Additionally, there would be no cumulative effect on key views out to sea. The magnitude of impact on the recreational users of these receptors will be low.

159.           The sensitivities of receptors are as detailed in Volume 1, Chapter 14, Paragraph 145 of the Onshore EIA Report.

160.           The cumulative effect of change in number of recreational users of the John Muir Link and the SUW will be of minor adverse significance which is not significant in EIA terms. In relation to the Berwickshire Coastal Path, Core Paths 310, 18 and 42, and the SUW the cumulative effect will be of negligible to minor adverse significance which is not significant in EIA terms.