Galloper Wind Farm Project - National Infrastructure Planning

2842_SLVIA
1
1.0 Introduction
1.1.1. This Seascape, Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (SLVIA) Technical
Report has been produced in support of the Galloper Wind Farm (GWF)
project’s Environmental Statement (ES).
1.1.2. The report provides the assessment methodology, sets out the seascape and
landscape policy context under which the assessments have been made and a
characterisation of the existing environment. It then provides an assessment
of effects that the offshore components of the GWF will have on the existing
landscape and seascape environments, their characteristic features and on
the people who view it. The purpose of the assessment is to determine the
magnitude and significance of any change to the character of the seascape as
well as the potential impact upon views, visual amenity and receptor groups
within the Zone of Theoretical Visibility (ZTV). The assessment has defined
the existing landscape/seascape and visual baseline environment within the
45km radius study area, and assessed its sensitivity to change. It will describe
the nature of the anticipated change upon each and assess the magnitude and
significance of the changes during the construction, operational and
decommissioning stages of the proposed offshore wind farm. The assessment
will also identify any integral mitigation measures to assist with reducing
effects upon particularly sensitive receptor groups and landscape
environments.
1.1.3. The assessment draws upon the SLVIA for the consented Greater Gabbard
offshore wind farm (GGOWF) site, which is immediately adjacent to the
GWF. The baseline assessment for the SLVIA has been reviewed and updated
wherever possible. Due to an expanded study area, the SLVIA for the GWF
includes two additional viewpoints and additional regional seascape units.
1.2. The Proposed Development
Refer to Figure 01.
1.2.1. The GGOWF site is located within the Thames Estuary, approximately 27km
off the Suffolk coast at Hollesley Bay (measured to the site boundary). The
final design of the proposed GWF has not been fixed at this stage. The project
is being taken forward on the basis of envelope parameters including a
defined site area and a maximum capacity of up to 504MW. A number of
layouts and wind turbine generator (WTG) types are being considered, with
the range detailed in Table 1 below.