Representation by Suffolk Preservation Society (Suffolk Preservation Society)
- Date submitted
- 18 July 2023
- Submitted by
- Non-statutory organisations
The Suffolk Preservation Society (the SPS) is a non-political, independent, self-funding charity that was established in 1929. Its charitable objects are to “promote the conservation, protection and improvement of Suffolk’s physical and natural environment for the public benefit by ensuring any change is undertaken sympathetically and to the highest level of design and sustainability possible”. The Society is a member of the Suffolk Coast and Heaths AONB Partnership and also represents the CPRE, The Countryside Charity in Suffolk. SPS acknowledges the imperative for the transition to a low carbon economy, the urgent need to provide renewable energy at pace and that grid infrastructure updates will be required to successfully deliver Net Zero targets. Nevertheless, in supporting the Nation’s current and future energy requirements, Suffolk is being disproportionately affected in terms of the combined environmental impact of onshore infrastructure including: substations, cable, solar farms and pylons routes. SPS considers that if harm cannot be avoided, it should be fully mitigated, and where this is not possible comprehensive compensation must be made available. Our comments are restricted to the impacts of the Bramford to Twinstead upgrade project on the heritage, landscape and communities of Suffolk. Having responded to the previous rounds of consultation, SPS wishes to register as an Interested Party, and puts forward the following points: • Where harm is identified in the proposals and cannot be avoided, it should be fully mitigated, and where this is not possible comprehensive compensation must be made available with regard to Suffolk’s landscapes, its heritage and the communities expected to host these schemes. • We consider that the proposals do not go far enough to mitigate the impact of the proposals on the countryside and communities it will affect. • More could be done to mitigate the visual impact of the proposed new infrastructure, either through increased undergrounding or enhanced planting. Current proposals which, at most, aim to filter views through limited hedgerow planting are inadequate and larger scale planting should be delivered. • In particular, we are concerned about the cumulative landscape effects of the proposed additional 400kv line near the substation site with existing and future projects’ wirescape. We therefore call for greater and more significant planting at Burstall and Hintlesham to mitigate the impact on these communities. • More significant measures to mitigate the heritage impact at grade I listed Hintlesham Hall should also be delivered. We consider that the landscaping measures currently proposed do not go far enough to mitigate the impacts of the scheme on this grade 1 designated heritage asset and continue to call for more extensive reinstatement of parkland adjacent to the Hall.