Galloper Wind Farm Project - National Infrastructure Planning

2842_SLVIA
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Sensitivity to Change
4.2.50. Some parts of this landscape are in good condition, maintained by the ongoing
traditional management of the land through cattle grazing. Elsewhere,
however, there is evidence of neglect and poor management, with many
peripheral fields being lost to scrub encroachment, tree planting and horse
paddocks.
4.2.51. The generally unsettled character of this landscape character type combines
with its ancient and estate related characteristics to increase its sensitivity to
the type of change proposed by the offshore wind farm. The containment
provided by adjacent valley slopes, however, combines with woodland and
plantation vegetation to limit views into the wider landscape. 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.
4.2.52. The proposed WTGs are not likely to be visible from LCTs Ancient Estate
Claylands, Open Coastal Fens, Plateau Estate Farmlands, Rolling Estate
Claylands, Saltmarsh Intertidal Flats, Valley Meadowlands, and Valley
Meadows & Fens, as discussed in Section 6.4. Full descriptions of the
landscape character types from which the WTGs might be visible (Coastal
Dunes & Shingle Ridges, Coastal Levels, Estate Sandlands and Rolling Estate
Sandlands) can be found in Appendix 2.
Table 5: Landscape Character Types Taken Forward for Assessment
Landscape Character Distance from
the nearest
WTG
Ancient Estate Claylands 36.3km Low
Coastal Dunes & Shingle
Ridges
Sensitivity to type of
change
29.4km High-Medium
Coastal Levels 29.9km Low
Estate Sandlands 32.4km Low
Open Coastal Fens 39.7km Low