Galloper Wind Farm Project - National Infrastructure Planning

2890_mitigation
1
August 2011
Galloper Wind Farm Substation
1.0 Introduction
This report sets out the proposed landscape mitigation strategy for the Galloper Wind
Farm (GWF) above-ground onshore works. It illustrates the proposals that will be
submitted with the Development Consent Order and will form the basis of detailed
designs that will be submitted for approval post consent.
Draft proposals have been presented to and discussed with Suffolk Coastal District
Council (SCDC), Suffolk District Council (SCC) and EDF Energy (EDF). The proposals
have been modified in consideration of comments received to arrive at the final
proposals presented in this landscape mitigation strategy.
In light of the potential landscape and visual effects identified by GWF and evidenced
in the comments from key consultees, there is an essential need to define key
principles and therefore give certainty that a robust mitigation strategy will be
implemented. This is particularly important given the location of the site in the
Suffolk Coasts and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). The
landscapes within AONBs are recognised as being of the very highest quality and, as
such, they are afforded the highest status of protection from damaging development at
all levels of the planning system.
This report therefore sets out proposals that have been agreed with the local planning
authorities and EDF at this stage, providing confidence in the ability to mitigate
landscape and visual impacts to the level assessed in the landscape and visual impact
assessment (LVIA), without compromising the future detailed design and delivery of
the proposed substation, or the ability to deliver even more effective mitigation. It
addresses the works relating to the proposed substation and the sealing end
compounds and the immediate vicinity, including the cable connection corridors to
the proposed cable sealing compounds and gantries, within the area shown on
drawing 2890/07H.
This report does not address the onshore cable connection corridors except where the
corridor passes north of Sizewell Gap road where it is close enough to the proposed
substation to influence the mitigation proposals for the GWF compound. This is
because the proposed onshore cable connection will not cause any significant adverse
landscape or visual impacts once construction work is completed, as the land will be
restored to its current condition.