Impact on Number of Recreation Users of Cycle Paths
Construction Phase
161. The construction activities associated with the Branxton BESS Project will be visible in conjunction with the Proposed Development from the NCN 76 and local cycle route. Reduced recreational amenity of the NCN 76 and local cycle route as a result of visual disturbance and construction traffic on the A1 will have the potential to impact a number of recreational users of the cycle path. The cumulative impact on the number of recreational users on the cycle paths will be temporary and of low magnitude.
162. The sensitivity of the cycle route is as detailed in Volume 1, Chapter 14, Paragraph 153 of the Onshore EIA Report.
163. The cumulative effect of change in number of recreational users of cycle paths will, therefore, be of minor adverse significance, which is not significant in EIA terms.
Operation and maintenance phase
164. The Branxton BESS Project is likely to be visible from short sections of the NCN 76 and local cycle route in conjunction with the Proposed Development. Therefore, there is the potential for cumulative impacts on recreational amenity of the cycle paths as a result of a change in views inland when travelling southeast on the NCN 76 and northwest on the local cycle route. This has the potential to impact a limited number of recreational users of the paths. Given the baseline of industrial infrastructure within the existing view inland, the cumulative magnitude of impact is considered to be low.
165. The sensitivity of the cycle route is as detailed in Volume 1, Chapter 14, Paragraph 157 of the Onshore EIA Report.
166. Therefore, the cumulative effect of change in number of recreational users of cycle paths will be of negligible to minor adverse significance, which is not significant in EIA terms.