Galloper Wind Farm Project - National Infrastructure Planning

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August 2011
Galloper Wind Farm Substation
2.1.3. Suffolk Coasts and Heaths Management Plan 2008 – 2013
The Management Plan seeks to co-ordinate the action of the organisations that make
up the AONB Partnership while also setting a framework for any organisation or
individual whose activities will have an impact on the objectives for the area.
The management plan says that the landscape assets of the AONB are what give it its
particular character, setting it apart from the wider countryside and leading to its
designation.
It goes on to summarise the relevant landscape character types described in the Suffolk
Landscape Character Assessment including the Estate Sandlands.
Referring to development it states that, in general, care needs to be taken that
piecemeal development does not produce cumulative adverse impacts and that it is
vital that all proposals pay attention to local character and the particular sensitivity of
the AONB.
2.1.4. The Suffolk Coast & Heaths - Landscape Guidelines
The Suffolk Coasts and Heaths partnership, comprising 23 organisations with an
interest in the area, including Local Authorities, government agencies, farming
representatives, and conservation organisations, drew up the guidelines in 2001. They
provide landscape character guidelines for the AONB. It defines eight landscape types
covering different areas to other landscape character assessments. The GWF substation
lies on the boundary of two character types - Coastal Valley and Sandlings Plateau with
Farmland.
Relevant general guidance includes:
� Retain and enhance the distinctive character of the Coast and Heaths.
� Ensure that new development is in keeping with the landscape, and proliferation
of urban clutter is prevented.
� Retain traditional landscape features.
� Tree and shrub planting - In the open countryside, choose native species which
occur locally in hedgerows, woods etc. Avoid ornamental trees such as Norway
maple or red oak and conspicuous non-natives such as leylandii.
Relevant guidance in relation to the Coastal Valley landscape type includes:
� Planted woodland can be restocked, and new woods created using the following
species: oak, ash, hawthorn, field maple, hazel, blackthorn or other species which
occur naturally in the locality. Small proportions of pines are acceptable
providing they do not create a hard ‘edge’ or a dominant block in the valley
landscape.