Galloper Wind Farm Project - National Infrastructure Planning

2842_LVIA
34
September 2011
GALLOPER WIND FARM SUBSTATION
4.2.8. The route of the proposed onshore cable connection lies within the
Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB and the Suffolk Heritage Coast
designations. The existing quality of these landscapes is, however,
significantly compromised at the local level by a number of large
scale detractors, namely: Sizewell Power Station and a series of
visually dominant pylons.
Landscape to the East of the Proposed Substation Site
4.2.9. The landscape to the east of the proposed substation site includes a
diverse range of built structures and land-uses scattered over a gently
undulating landform. Immediately to the east lies the newly
constructed GGOWF offshore wind farm substation comprising a
rectangular green building, transformers and switchgear enclosed by
security fencing. The large-scale, geometric structures and buildings
associated with Sizewell Power Station to the northeast, both onshore
and offshore, are visually prominent and tend to dominate the
landscape. Views towards pylons are also common in the landscape
to the east of site. These large-scale, structures contrast strongly with
the natural, hummocky, marram grass-tufted dunes that stretch along
the coast edge at Sizewell Beach. There are also a number of smaller,
more traditional, maritime built structures such as the timber clad
watch tower, stained-timber fishing huts and small fishing boats
scattered along Sizewell beach. The inland areas to the east of the site
comprise a series of undulating medium-large scale fields bounded by
a variety of hedgerow treatments including short clipped hedgerows,
and outgrown medium and tall hedgerows. There are also several
small pockets of woodland with Scots pine forming a common
species. The infrastructure and buildings associated with Sizewell
Power Station dominate inland views to the east of the site, although
views towards these elements are partially screened by topography
and woodland blocks in places. The pylons are prominent features in
views to the east of the site.
4.2.10. The landscape to the east of the site lies within the Suffolk Coast and