Galloper Wind Farm Project - National Infrastructure Planning

2842_SLVIA
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10.0 Summary and Conclusion
10.1. Introduction
10.1.1. The final design of the proposed GWF has not been fixed at this stage. The
project is being taken forward on the basis of envelope parameters including
a defined site area and a maximum capacity of up to 504MW. A number of
WTG sizes and densities are being considered and this SLVIA assesses the
effects of the tallest WTG option, given that these are likely to have the
greatest seascape, landscape and visual effects. This SLVIA, therefore,
assesses the effects of 72 number 7MW WTGs with nominal hub and blade
tip heights of 120 and 195m above sea level respectively.
10.2. Summary of Landscape and Seascape Effects
10.2.1. Even though the proposed GWF is located at a distance of approximately
27km to the east of the nearest stretch of coastline at Orford Ness, the scale
and extent of the scheme will still have some effect on the seascape and
landscape environments of the study area.
10.2.2. The primary source of the effects will arise from the operational phase of the
offshore WTGs. The WTG columns are necessarily large structures and this
assessment is based on the largest potential WTGs that would result in
approximately 72 number, 195m high WTGs being introduced into the wider
offshore extents of the study area. Being sited out at sea, however, means the
WTGs will be placed in a receiving environment that has both the scale and
simplicity of form to not only accommodate the development, but to also
provide it with an appropriate contextual setting. Thus, although the WTGs
are in themselves of a substantial scale, the expansive skies, simple
composition and linear nature of the existing receiving environment
combine with the overall scale of the seascape, to provide capacity to
accommodate the proposed WTGs, even though there is little opportunity to
incorporate meaningful mitigation measures to reduce the scope of the
WTGs’ effect. Furthermore, the study area already includes the operational
offshore wind farms at Gunfleet Sands and Thanet, the partially constructed
wind farms at GGOWF and London Array Phase I, and will also include the
consented offshore wind farm at London Array Phase II, once constructed. As
such, the proposed WTGs will not introduce an unfamiliar element into the
wider environment of the study area.
10.2.3. The proposed WTGs are located well beyond any of the landscape receptors
lying within the study area. The proposed GWF will not, therefore, result in
any physical effect upon any of the landscape receptors within the study area.
Any effects arising will be limited, therefore, to indirect effects upon the
visual attributes of the landscape receptors.