Galloper Wind Farm Project - National Infrastructure Planning

2890_mitigation
5
August 2011
Galloper Wind Farm Substation
Traditionally, the area also had 'fields with trees’ (as opposed to the closely grown trees
of woodland). These can still be seen at Brakey Pin and Oak Pin in Risby. The creation
of farmland out of the former heaths in the 18th and 19th centuries resulted in the
widespread planting of tree belts and rectilinear plantations. These are commonly of
pines in the north-east (originally Scots, but now mainly Corsican) but of mixed
character in the south-east, with chestnut featuring strongly in places like Kesgrave.
The characteristic ‘pine lines’ of Breckland originated as managed hedges, many of
which have now grown out into lines of very striking twisted trees. There are similar
lines in the Sandlings area.
A profound change to the character of the Estate Sandlands came with the
establishment of the Forestry Commission’s coniferous forests (Thetford Forest, King’s
Forest, Rendlesham Forest and Dunwich Forest) from the 1920s onwards. ……
Under Landscape Sensitivity & Change it says:
There is tree cover throughout this landscape, except in those areas that are still open
heathland. The Brecks and the Sandlings have a comprehensive pattern of shelterbelts
and small plantation woodlands running across them and there are large areas of stateowned
forestry plantations created after WWI.
The character of the landscape is largely made up of C18th and C19th estate farms,
irrigated arable crops, new woodlands and tracts of heathland.
Key Forces for Change include large-scale agricultural buildings in open countryside.
It does not mention the treatment of substations or other such infrastructure under
the section headed Development Management. However, the guidance in relation to
the treatment of large scale agricultural buildings in open countryside is helpful in
providing pointers for the treatment of the substation:
The right choice of siting, form, orientation and colour of these buildings can make a
considerable contribution to mitigating their impact. The plantations, shelterbelts,
and tree lines found throughout this landscape provide opportunities to design locally
appropriate planting schemes to reduce the visual impact further.
The siting of buildings should relate to an existing cluster of buildings whenever
possible. Usually, although not in all cases, using a shade of the colour green is
preferred as this will integrate well with vegetation. The correct orientation of the
building can also significantly change the visual impact of the development, and this
consideration should always be explored.
In addition to new planting to mitigate the impact of a development, the location of
the development in relation to existing trees that act either as screening or as a
backdrop should be carefully considered. The planning authority should ensure these
trees are retained for the lifetime of the development. The option to modify the
management of existing hedgerows should also be explored. New planting should be