Galloper Wind Farm Project - National Infrastructure Planning

2890_mitigation
13
August 2011
Galloper Wind Farm Substation
4.0 Proposals
4.1. Agreement of the landscape mitigation strategy with SCDC, SCC and EDF
A draft landscape mitigation strategy was submitted to SCDC and SCC in August 2011
and discussed with them at a meeting on 25 August 2011. The following matters were
agreed with them and incorporated into the revised proposals:
1. Shallower outside slope to the landform, approximately 1:10 being seen as a
good fall to aim for.
2. North and south slopes were seen as the most important as these were the
edges visible from public locations (Sizewell Gap road to the south and the
bridleway on Sandy Lane to the north).
3. The general height of the landform was considered to be acceptable (being
16.5mAOD on the southern and western sides and 15mAOD on the northern
side) and could be varied slightly from these levels as the design develops. The
height of the landform on the northern side could be increased so that it is
nearer to 16.5mAOD.
4. Introduce some variety into the top level so that it is not seen as a straight
horizontal line.
5. Levels and slopes can be varied depending on quantity of material available.
6. The draft proposals showed narrower woodland planting on the north side (in
Broom Covert) than on the western and southern sides, to enable acid
grassland to be re-instated in Broom Covert. It was agreed that the woodland
should be widened on this side to increase screening. The landscape / AONB
benefits of widening the woodland and landform into Broom Covert were
considered to outweigh the negative effects on biodiversity, given that the
landscape has national statutory protection whereas Broom Covert does not
carry any statutory protection.
7. Hedgerows are not necessarily appropriate between fields given the approach
likely to be followed for EDF’s Sizewell Vision for the area and should be
removed from the proposals. The enhancement to the roadside hedge (on
Sizewell Gap road) is appropriate and should be kept in the proposals.
8. Increase percentage of Scots pine in the proposed woodland mix to 30 – 50%.
9. Hedge planting to be predominantly hawthorn with a small proportion of
blackthorn. (Note, Christine Blythe, Biodiversity Manager for EDF
subsequently recommended avoiding the use of blackthorn as she has found
that it does not establish – see Appendix 3.)
10. Increase the width of the ‘woodland edge planting with open grassland’ on the
outside edge of the proposed woodland and create more gradual gradation
from woodland to less dense woodland to shrubs to grassland.
11. Retain the 10m woodland strip to the east of the bridleway in the landscape
mitigation proposals.