Galloper Wind Farm Project - National Infrastructure Planning

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Felixstowe/Deben Estuary Regional Seascape Unit
Seascape Unit Boundaries
4.3.29. The headland at East Lane near Bawdsey provides the northern extent of the
Felixstowe regional seascape unit, and Landguard point provides the
southern extent. These are clearly evident as the main regional headlands
which define the Felixstowe / Deben Estuary regional seascape unit.
Marine, Coastal & Hinterland Components
4.3.30. The marine character of the seascape unit is strongly influenced by heavy
commercial and ferry passenger shipping traffic bound for Felixstowe and
Harwich. The coastal character of this seascape unit is derived from two
main influences: the settlement of Felixstowe to the south; and the less
developed area at the mouth of the Deben Estuary to the north. Felixstowe is
Britain's biggest and busiest container terminal and the southern extent of
the seascape unit is characterised by widespread urban and industrial
development along an engineered coastal edge with large cranes and
floodlights at Felixstowe docks forming prominent vertical features within
the seascape. In contrast, the Deben estuary forms a natural inlet between
Old Felixstowe and the headland at East Lane. Much of the land next to the
estuary has been reclaimed with flood embankments and the estuary and
reclaimed floodplains support numerous features of nature conservation
interest as well as activities associated with tourism, recreation and
agriculture. Between the Deben Estuary and Felixstowe, natural physical
features tend to be limited with man-made jetties, pipes, groynes, sea
defences and piers predominating. To the south of Felixstowe lies Landguard
Point, a windswept, shingle spit sandwiched between the North Sea and the
multitude of multi-coloured containers stacked in dockside parks. It is
Suffolk's southernmost point and is a popular visitor destination. The
hinterland of the seascape unit is formed mainly by the open, gently rolling
land of the River Deben Marshes, containing meadow and marsh, with tracts
of enclosed farmland associated with river floodplains and coastal grazing
marsh. Human habitation is virtually absent in this part of the hinterland
landscape, although to the south, the urban area of Felixstowe forms the
hinterland to the seascape unit.
Inter-visibility
4.3.31. The visibility splays at the edge of this unit are defined by its boundaries,
with the headland at East Lane providing some containment of views north
along the coast and Landguard Point, providing some containment of views
south. The widespread urban development along the coastal edge at
Felixstowe often limits inter-visibility of the sea to the coastal edge.