Galloper Wind Farm Project - National Infrastructure Planning

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due to their generally transient nature, effects would be reduced. It is judged
that the magnitude of effect is, at greatest, Medium for vessels closest to
GWF, reducing to Low and Negligible with increasing distance. As the
workers on the ships would have a generally Medium to Low sensitivity to
the type of change proposed, the significance of effect is assessed as Moderate
to Negligible depending on the proximity of the receptor to the WTGs.
7.4.20. Recreational sailing and racing areas are shown on Figure 16.9 in Section 16.
They lie close to the coast, at 30km or more from GWF. The proposed
turbines will be seen in the context of existing turbines at GGOWF and the
changes to the views will not be great. They would have a Medium
sensitivity to the type of development proposed as, although they may have
an interest in their surroundings, which already include a relatively high
level of marine activity and a number of offshore wind farms, they would also
be concentrating on the sailing or racing. The magnitude and significance of
effect is judged as Negligible to vessels within the areas shown as ‘Sailing
Areas’ and ‘Racing Areas’ on Figure 16.9. However, there may be other
recreational sailing vessels that pass closer to GWF and these would
experience temporarily higher magnitude of effect. For vessels that pass
close to or within GWF effects will be as great as Medium magnitude and
Moderate significance.
7.4.21. Figure 16.9 also shows cruising routes which run further out to sea, passing
closer to GWF. However, the majority of the routes shown lie 15km or more
west of GWF, beyond GGOWF and, again, the proposed turbines will be seen
in the context of existing turbines at GGOWF. Two cruising routes are
shown passing closer to GWF, one of them (identified as ‘Light Use’) passing
between the north and south parts of the wind farm. Visual effects on this
receptor, and also on other passenger vessels, as they pass close to GWF
(possibly within 1km of turbines) will be substantial for some of the routes;
however, views will already be affected by the existing turbines at GGOWF
which lies similar distances from the routes. The overall magnitude of
impact is judged as Low as it will be a temporary visual impact seen within
the context of the existing GGOWF, and for a small proportion of the vessel’s
overall route. In passing there is potential for greater impacts (Medium
magnitude) but for a short period of time. The passengers on the cruising
routes will have a Medium sensitivity to the proposed change. The overall
significance of effect is considered to range from Moderate to Negligible
depending on the proximity of the receptor to the WTGs.
7.4.22. At night, navigation and aviation lights will be visible in what is currently a
dark seascape, except where there are existing lights, for example those
associated with the adjoining existing GGOWF.