Galloper Wind Farm Project - National Infrastructure Planning

2842_SLVIA
43
5.2.4. As can be seen from Figure 04, the proposed WTG hubs and blade tips are
theoretically visible from along much of the coastline within the study area,
with visibility towards the development extending inland to include low
lying areas in the near hinterland and some of the more elevated areas further
inland. Visibility is theoretically limited to blade tips only from more
sheltered areas of the coastline and inland lower valley slopes. The ZTV
indicates that the proposed offshore wind farm will not be visible at all from
a number of low lying areas along the coast including large parts of the River
Deben valley; the marshes and lower valley landscapes associated with the
Butley; River areas around Long Reach west of Aldeburgh; and the marsh
areas to the west and southwest of Southwold, for example.
5.2.5. As can be seen from Figure 05, when obstructions are included in the ZTV the
theoretical visibility towards the proposed offshore wind farm remains
largely unchanged along the coastline. Visibility within the hinterland,
however, is considerably reduced by the screening effects of settlement and
woodland, with the principal areas of theoretical visibility confined to the
more elevated, seaward-facing inland slopes, and some of the more isolated,
lower-lying areas near the coast such as the mud flats around Hamford
Water; the coastal levels and sandlands around Aldterton; the marshland
areas near Orford; the marshes southwest of Aldeburgh; and areas of marsh
south of Walberswick, for example.
5.2.6. It should be noted that visibility will be further reduced by localised existing
vegetation, hedgerows and subtleties of landform not modelled into the ZTV.
5.3. Existing Cumulative Context
5.3.1. Refer to Figure 07 for the location of operational and consented wind farms
within the study area, and for the location of the East Anglia ONE site and
Round 3 zone.
5.3.2. In accordance with best practice guidance, the existing visual effects of
operational wind farms and the anticipated visual effects arising from wind
farms currently under construction and wind farms with consent that are not
yet under construction have all been considered as part of the baseline
assessment of the existing visual environment. These are summarised in
Table 4 below.
5.3.3. The East Anglia Round 3 wind farm zone has been identified but no scheme
details are available and it is, therefore, not possible to make a meaningful
cumulative assessment. Potential cumulative effects of GWF and the East
Anglia Round 3 zone are discussed but not included in the detailed
assessment.