1. The Council does not object to the Five Estuaries project with a radial connection to Essex providing the offshore turbines do not have a significant impact on the National Landscape of the Suffolk Coast, although we are disappointed that a coordinated offshore connection with a multi-purpose interconnector has not been proposed which minimises the provision of onshore infrastructure. The Council continues to support coordinated offshore connections rather than radial connections should it be demonstrated that the option minimises and reduces the extent of onshore infrastructure and provides genuine environmental and social benefits.
2. The Five Estuaries project would comprise of up to 79 additional turbines (up to 395m above sea level) across two separate seabed areas, being only 37km off the Suffolk Coast at its closest point. The Council commissioned an addendum to the Suffolk Seascape Study (White Consultants, June 2023) originally produced for the SPR EA1N and EA2 projects, this addendum assessed the level of potential seascape visual impact introduced resulting from the Five Estuaries project. This concluded that the project would result in an ‘above medium magnitude’ impact on the seascape when viewed from the National Landscape.
3. The Suffolk Seascape Sensitivity Study was updated using turbine heights of 400m+, and it was concluded that turbines over 400m should be located at a minimum of 40km from the coastline. This threshold would limit the seascape visual impact to below the medium magnitude. This assessment found that the turbines would be visible less than 33% of the year due to the variables above. When they are visible however, the visual effects from within the National Landscape would be worse than the medium magnitude if turbines over 400m were used.
4. The Five Estuaries project is currently proposing wind turbines up to 395m in height at a distance of only 37km from the Suffolk Coast. As the nearest wind turbines remain within 40km of the Suffolk Coast having a maximum height potentially only 5m below 400m as assessed in the addendum study, residual visual impacts are therefore likely. This is especially concerning given the cumulative impacts from other existing and proposed wind farms on the seascape horizon when viewed from the National Landscape.
5. The importance of the National Landscape, its special qualities and value have been stressed by the Council throughout its responses. The proposal has the potential to impact the statutory purpose of the designation from the project itself or cumulatively with the other existing or proposed energy infrastructure projects impacting the Council over the next decade.
6. Additionally, should the Five Estuaries project seek an offshore connection (rather than a radial connection to Essex), this would potentially link up to a subsea cable which is due to connect within East Suffolk. In such a scenario, coordination of this kind is likely to result in a need for additional transmission infrastructure within East Suffolk which would not be supported.
7. Appropriate delegation was sought to allow for a streamlined process that allows the Council's officers to respond to the set deadlines in a timely manner whilst also representing the views of members and residents in the NSIP determination process.