Galloper Wind Farm Project - National Infrastructure Planning

2842_SLVIA
64
as the WTGs of the GGOWF both of which will be at distances beyond 25km.
The proposed WTGs will also be seen in the existing context of other
structures that already feature in coastal views, namely Sizewell power
station and the port infrastructure at Felixstowe. Elsewhere within the
AONB, opportunities for views from inland areas towards the proposed
WTGs are generally very limited, with sea views from low-lying salt marshes
and mudflat areas commonly screened by coastal defence embankments and
local vegetation. Sea views from inland areas of farmland within the AONB
are commonly limited by the screening effects of the undulating landform
and intervening vegetation in the wider landscape. There will, however, be
some glimpsed distant views towards the proposed WTGs from a few
intermittent areas of elevated farmland that lie immediately adjacent to areas
of marshland, inland from the coast between Southwold and Felixstowe.
Where distant glimpsed views of the WTGs are seen, however, they will
appear as very distant elements on the far horizon, whose additional presence
will be barely perceptible in the context of the existing very distant views
towards the GGOWF, seen in the same sector of the seaward view. The most
significant effects on views will be of Low to Negligible magnitude as
assessed for two out of the six viewpoints located in the AONB (viewpoints 3
Aldeburgh seafront and 5 Orford Ness). These two viewpoints represent the
‘worst case’ situation. At most locations within the AONB from where the
GWF will be visible, effects will be of Negligible magnitude and limited to
effects upon the visual characteristics of the AONB which otherwise will
remain wholly unaffected by the presence of GWF.
6.3.3. Views of WTGs that will be of Low to Negligible magnitude from very
limited areas of the AONB, and Negligible magnitude elsewhere, lead to
Negligible magnitude of effects on the landscape of the Suffolk Coast and
Heaths AONB. The sensitivity of the AONB is judged to be High. The overall
significance of operational effect is assessed as Negligible.
Suffolk Heritage Coast
6.3.4. The nature and extent of visibility of the proposed WTGs from the landscape
of the Suffolk Heritage Coast broadly follows the same pattern as for the
Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB described above, namely: beaches; shingle
spit areas; the eastern extents of cliff tops; and a limited number of elevated
inland areas lying immediately adjacent to areas of marshland and mudflats.
As these views will be very distant in nature, seen in the same, relatively
narrow sector of the seaward view as the GGOWF and, more often than not,
seen in the context of existing views towards Sizewell power station and/or
the Port of Felixstowe, the magnitude of operational effect of the proposed
GWF on the landscape of the Heritage Coast is regarded as Negligible. The
sensitivity of this landscape designation is judged to be High to Medium. The
overall significance of operational effect is assessed as Negligible.