Direct Impacts On Cultural Heritage Assets
Construction phase
95. The Branxton BESS Project lies outwith the Inner Study Area considered for direct impacts on cultural heritage and would have no construction impact on any of the known cultural heritage assets affected by the Proposed Development (Volume 1, Chapter 10, Section 10.7 Baseline Assessment, and Volume 2 Figure 10.1 of the Onshore EIA Report). As a result, there is no potential for direct cumulative impacts on any of the known cultural heritage assets affected by the Proposed Development.
96. The Branxton BESS Project is approximately 960 m to the east of the Proposed Development’s grid connection point at Thornton Law and 1.7 km to the southeast from the proposed onshore substation. Given the distance between the construction footprints of the two developments, it is assessed that there is no potential for direct cumulative construction impacts on any previously unrecorded cultural heritage receptors affected by the Proposed Development.
Operation and maintenance phase
Innerwick Castle (SM773)
98. The scheduled monument comprises the ruins of a castle dating from the 14th century which occupies a rock promontory on the edge of the steep-sided Thornton Glen. The glen provides an enclosed setting for this castle and views from the castle are largely focused within the steep gorge of Thornton Glen. Its location within the Thornton Glen provides the castle with a relatively hidden position and results in Innerwick Castle not being a prominent local landmark with limited views afforded towards the Castle from the wider landscape. Views towards the site of the Castle are possible from the north, at Castledene. However, looking from Castledene towards Innerwick Castle, the Castle is backdropped by Torness Power Station.
99. The assessment for the Proposed Development in Volume 1, Chapter 10 and Volume 4, Appendix 10.3 of the Onshore EIA Report identified an impact of minor adverse significance on this scheduled monument. The ZTV predicted no theoretical visibility of the Proposed Development from the area of the castle, however there was potential for the Proposed Development to be visible in combination with views to the castle from the wider area. The ZTV for the Branxton BESS Project is not available however given the location of Innerwick Castle within Thornton Glen it is considered unlikely that there will be visibility of the Branxton BESS Project from the castle area. It is possible that the Proposed Development and the Branxton BESS Project will be seen in combination with Innerwick castle in views from the north. Given the baseline setting of the scheduled monument, the combined cumulative impact will constitute a slight change in views to the castle. However, the localised setting of the castle within Thornton Glen will remain unchanged and it will remain possible for any visitor to understand and appreciate the setting of the monument. As such, the integrity of the setting of Innerwick Castle and its capacity to inform and convey its cultural significance, will not be compromised by the cumulative impact on its setting. It is assessed that there will be an adverse cumulative impact of minor significance on Innerwick Castle (SM773).
Thornton Mill, enclosure 350 m ESE of (SM 3990)
100. The scheduled monument comprises cropmark of a possible ring ditch (or barrow) and a row of three large pits and is located on the northeast edge of a rolling hill within an arable field. Views from the asset are over the surrounding arable agricultural land of the Lothian Plain, with the Firth of Forth visible to the north and east. The A1 Trunk Road and the East Coast Mainline are located to the immediate north of the asset and Torness Power Station, approximately 850 m to the north dominates the view from the asset.
Crowhill, enclosure WNW of (SM 5770)
102. The scheduled monument comprises the cropmark remains of an enclosed settlement located on southeast facing slope, above the settlement of Crowhill. Views to the north from the asset are slightly restricted by the rising ground. However, from the north edge of the site, the views are over arable fields towards the coast, and include Torness Power Station. The views to the east and west are over arable fields, and, to the south, the fields rise to the Lammermuir Hills.
103. The assessment for the Proposed Development in Volume 2, Appendix 10.3 of the Onshore EIA Report identified an impact of moderate adverse significance on this scheduled monument. The Proposed Development onshore substation will be located approximately 250 m to the north-west of the site. The Branxton BESS Project would also be visible in the wider landscape, 1.5 km to the west of the settlement, although probably partly screened by intervening buildings at Crowhill and tree belts along Thornton Burn. The two developments will lie in different directions from the monument and will be seen cumulatively in the same view.
104. While the integrity of the setting of this settlement will be compromised to some extent, the greater part of the impact would be as a result of the Proposed Development. It is assessed that the cumulative impact on Crowhill, enclosure WNW of (SM 5570), from the addition of the Branxton BESS Project will be an adverse cumulative impact of minor significance.
Innerwick Castle, fort and ring ditch (SM 5771)
105. The scheduled monument comprises cropmark remains of a multivallate fort and a ring ditch, of late prehistoric date, which are located on a gentle southeast facing slope above the steep valley of Thornton Glen. Adjoining the fort to the immediate southeast is the medieval Innerwick Castle (SM 773). Views to the north are slightly restricted by the rising ground, but, from the north edge of the site, they are over arable fields towards the coast, and include Torness Power Station. The view to the west is over arable fields and, to the south, the fields rise to the Lammermuir Hills. To the east, is the valley of Thornton Burn, which is recognisable by the belt of deciduous trees that line it.
106. The assessment for the Proposed Development in Volume 2, Appendix 10.3 of the Onshore EIA Report identified an impact of minor adverse significance on this scheduled monument, due to the limited views of the Proposed Development (630 m to the north) from the north edge of the asset. The Branxton BESS Project, 1.3 km to the east of the asset, may be visible in the wider landscape, although it would most likely be screened by the intervening trees of Thornton Glen. The two developments will lie in different directions from the monument and will be seen cumulatively in the same view.
107. Given the baseline setting of the scheduled monument, the combined cumulative impact would constitute a slight change in views from the asset. However, the key views from this fort, towards the valley of Thornton Glen, will not be affected and the relationship with Innerwick Castle (SM 773), and with possibly contemporary prehistoric assets in the area, will not be compromised. As such, the integrity of the setting of Innerwick Castle, fort and ring ditch, and its capacity to inform and convey its cultural significance, will not be compromised by the cumulative impact on its setting. It is therefore assessed that there will be an adverse cumulative impact of minor significance on Innerwick Castle, fort and ring ditch (SM 5771).
Branxton, enclosure 350 m NNW of (SM 5958)
108. The scheduled monument comprises cropmark remains of an enclosed settlement of prehistoric date, sited on a northeast sloping terrace above a meander of the Ogle Burn. The key views from this asset are over the surrounding arable land and to the coast to the north, Torness Power Station is a prominent feature to the north.
109. The assessment for the Proposed Development in Volume 2, Appendix 10.3 of the Onshore EIA Report identified an impact of negligible adverse significance on this scheduled monument, as there will be only limited visibility of the onshore substation, from the southern half of the enclosure, where, if not screened by the intervening trees, it would be visible 1.9 km to the northwest on the lower grounds of the East Lothian Plain sitting to the west of Torness Power Station. The Branxton BESS Project, 620 m to the northeast, will also be visible in the view to the north from this asset sited to the east of the view of Torness Power Station and offset from view of the onshore substation.
110. The cumulative effect of the Proposed Development and the onshore substation and the Branxton BESS Project would constitute a slight change to the wider views obtained from the enclosure and would not affect its localised setting. As such, the integrity of the setting of the Branxton, enclosure and its capacity to inform and convey its cultural significance, will not be compromised by the cumulative impact on its setting. It is therefore assessed that there will be an adverse cumulative impact of negligible significance on Branxton, enclosure 350 m NNW of (SM 5958).
Decommissioning phase
111. The potential for decommissioning effects was scoped out of the assessment for cultural heritage see Volume 1, Chapter 10 of the Onshore EIA Report, Table 10.6. Therefore, cumulative decommissioning effects are not considered relevant here.
2.6. Socio-Economics
112. An assessment of the likely contribution of the Branxton BESS Project to the significance of cumulative effects associated with the Proposed Development upon employment activities (including supply chain) is given below. This is based on information provided within the Branxton BESS Project Planning Statement (EastCoastGridServices, 2022), which provides an estimate of ‘local area’ job impacts[1]. The Planning Statement does not provide estimates of potential GVA impacts; therefore, assessment of this receptor is omitted, with any potential cumulative impacts assumed to be of negligible significance.
113. Cumulative impacts associated with the Branxton BESS Project are anticipated to be relevant for the ‘Local study area’ assessed within Volume 1, Chapter 13 of the Onshore EIA Report. Cumulative impacts are anticipated to be negligible at the Scotland study area level – assessment at this geography is therefore omitted here.