Galloper Wind Farm Project - National Infrastructure Planning

2842_LVIA
26
September 2011
GALLOPER WIND FARM SUBSTATION
� Onshore wind (>50MW)
3.2.15. GWF falls into the category of an offshore wind farm >100MW. EN-3
does not discuss the onshore components of an offshore wind farm in
detail but refers to the generic landscape and visual impacts covered
in Section 5.9 of EN-1.
Regional Policy
3.2.16. Policy ENV2 of the East of England Plan (2008) states that ‘Within the
AONBs priority over other considerations should be given to
conserving the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of each
area.’
Local Policy
3.2.17. In March 2010 Suffolk Coastal District Council adopted its Core
Strategy as interim planning policy for determining planning
applications. The interim policies do not replace the saved policies
from the Suffolk Coastal Local Plan but sit alongside them. There is
no specific AONB policy in the adopted Core Strategy.
3.2.18. The Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB is afforded protection under
Policy AP12 of the Suffolk Coastal Local Plan (Adopted 2006). This
policy seeks to protect the rich mixture of unique lowland landscapes
of heathland, saltmarsh and mudflats within the AONB designation,
all of which are under pressure for change.
3.2.19. Policy AP12 states:
‘In order to safeguard the quality of the landscape within the Suffolk Coast
and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, as shown on the Proposals
Map, the District Council will not grant planning permission for any
proposed development which would have a significant adverse impact on the
landscape. Only proven national interest and lack of alternative sites can
justify an exception.