Galloper Wind Farm Project - National Infrastructure Planning

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Coastal Levels
4.2.17. The key characteristics of this landscape character type include areas of lowlying,
flat marshland adjacent to the coast or estuaries comprising marine
alluvium soils. The landscape is incised with both sinuous and complex
medieval dyke networks as well as 19th Century uniform dyke networks.
There are some areas of cattle grazed wet grassland as well as widespread
modifications for arable production. The rising ground on the inland side is
often wooded and small plantations and woodland are common. Despite this
containment, however, the views are generally open and wide, invoking a
profound sense of exposure. This landscape type is largely unsettled, with
views towards domestic buildings on the fringes and derelict wind pumps
forming notable features. This landscape character type lies at a distance of
29.9km from the nearest WTG.
Sensitivity to Change
4.2.18. Many areas of marshland and wet grassland have been converted to arable
production within this landscape character type. Elsewhere, smaller units of
the Coastal Levels are influenced by the features of the landscape that
surrounds them. There are some areas, however, that remain in excellent
condition.
4.2.19. The low-lying, open character of this landscape character type increases its
sensitivity to the type of change proposed. The diversity of land-uses and the
complexity of the landscape structure, however, combine with the screening
effects of vegetation to moderate this sensitivity. However, views of the sea
or the role of the sea in forming part of the setting of the landscape character
type are not referred to in the Suffolk Landscape Character Assessment
description, and it is not described as being sensitive to offshore
development. It is considered, therefore, that the sensitivity of this
landscape character type to the type of change proposed by the offshore wind
farm, outwith its area, is Low.
Estate Sandlands
4.2.20. The Estate Sandlands landscape character type comprises a flat, or very gently
rolling, plateaux of freely-draining sandy soils, overlying drift deposits of
either glacial or fluvial origin. There are extensive areas of heathland and
acid grassland and a distinct absence of watercourses. The landscape is
strongly structured by geometric fields enclosed in the 18th and 19th
Centuries. Large continuous blocks of commercial forestry combine with the
widespread planting of tree belts and occasional isolated pockets of ancient
woodland to give a wooded feel to the landscape. The wooded horizon lines,
however, often give way to long and distant views. There is a high incidence