By virtue of their location in exposed places, windfarms are usually visible. Only the most remote are not, however these are then usually in countryside of the highest value.

Visibility does vary between windfarms. Factors such as local topography, buildings, woodland, and the windfarm size can all impact on the visibility.

The site and the proposals have several beneficial visual factors:
• There are several local woodlands that restrict visibility of the windfarm locally (see below).
• Many roads around the site are hedge lined, reducing visibility from local traffic.
• Built up housing in the larger communities obscures views towards the windfarm
• Topography shields some views from the north.
• The windfarm is set back from the coast, and hence does not infringe on the most valuable coastal views.
• With a maximum of 3 wind turbines, the proposal is much smaller than most windfarms.

Visual impact is best appreciated from pictures not words. 130 visualisations of the windfarm from all around the local area have been prepared so that a comprehensive appreciation can be gained of the visibility of the windfarm from around the area. See Visualisations

Cumulative Visibility

There are no other onshore windfarms in the local area. The nearest windfarm is Taff Ely Windfarm - near Tonyrefail, 13km away. The nearest likely future windfarms are at least a similar distance away as the local authorities have defined a strategic search area for large windfarms beginning 10km away.

Scarweather Sands is a thirty turbine offshore windfarm proposal. If it did proceed there would be very little cumulative views with Newton Down. The main view of Scarweather Sands is from the coast and from the coast Newton Down windfarm would be in the opposite direction behind the viewer, hence both windfarms would not be in the same field of view.