Galloper Wind Farm Project - National Infrastructure Planning

2842_SLVIA
58
Landscape Character Type n/a
Regional Seascape Unit The Stour and Orwell Estuaries
Existing View
5.8.23. This viewpoint is located adjacent to the Naze Tower close to the access point
to the beach from the elevated cliff top area. Wide panoramic views are
available across this simple, elevated coastline, both out to sea and
northwards towards the Naze itself. Elements defining the view include the
vegetated and partially collapsed cliff face; one and two storey residential
properties to the north side of Walton-on-the-Naze; and Walton pier and the
timber groynes, which extend across the view from the cliff face to the east
and to the south. The partially collapsed cliffs to the left of the view have
been protected with rock projection. To the south, in the far distance, beyond
the Walton pier, the majority of the Gunfleet Sands wind farm WTGs can be
seen extending across a 26° stretch of the seaward horizon line. When
visibility is good, the WTGs of the constructed and consented London Array
wind farms are or will be visible on the horizon of the North Sea, spanning
41° of the southeast sector of the horizon line. When visibility is very good, it
is also possible to see the WTGs of the GGOWF scheme, extending across
33.5° of the view within the eastern sector of the horizon line, seen as two
separate WTG clusters with approximately 6° of separation between them.
In wider views along the coast to the north, the Naze tower and associated
brick-built public facilities are prominent. When visibility is good, there are
distant views along the coast towards the cranes at the Port of Felixstowe,
with very distant views beyond this towards the far reaches of the northern
coastline within the study area possible on days when visibility is very good
or excellent. To the north of this viewpoint, extending in front of the
crumbling cliffs of the Naze promontory and lying beyond the illustrated
view in the photographic panorama, further areas of open sea with shipping
traffic are visible.
Existing Sensitivity of View
5.8.24. The utilitarian brick-built public facilities to the north of the viewpoint and
the prominence of the groyne and revetment structures on the beach below
combine to diminish the existing quality of the view. The collapsed cliffs and
rock protection to the north of the viewpoint indicate that the condition of
this stretch of the coastline is currently deteriorating but is being actively
managed. The visibility of the Gunfleet Sands wind farm WTGs combines
with the intermittent visibility of the GGOWF and London Array offshore
wind farm to further reduce the quality of the existing view.