Phone: 01394 445225 | Email: [email protected]

Galloper Wind Farm Fund:

Funding Criteria & Guidance for Applicants 2024-25

If you need the information on this web page in a different format, please contact us by email at [email protected] or phone Oka Last, National Landscape Grants Officer on 01473 265558.

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1 Overview

Galloper Wind Farm Limited has Development Consent Order approval to build a substation and associated cabling and connection at Sizewell, Suffolk in association with its offshore wind farm.

This new infrastructure will be in close proximity to the Greater Gabbard substation. The offshore cabling comes ashore at Sizewell and connects into the Galloper substation before connecting via new and existing infrastructure, to National Grid’s electricity network.


As part of this development a Section 106 agreement has been made by Suffolk County Council, Suffolk Coastal District Council (now East Suffolk Council), the Ogilvie Estate and Galloper Wind Farm Ltd.


The Section 106 agreement makes provision for a fund which is agreed at £187,000 over 17 years, to be paid at £11,000 per annum to Suffolk County Council, starting in 2016, with any unallocated fund being carried over to the next year. There is no lower or upper amount for grant requests, but they are likely to be in the region of £1,500 - £2,500 per application.

The fund will be used for community, conservation and access projects, within a 5km radius of the development, including Leiston and its environs, or up to the high-water mark which, in the District Council and County Council’s reasonable opinion contribute to the appearance, setting, amenity, accessibility, and enjoyment of the Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape.

2 The Fund and its Management

The fund will be managed by the Galloper Wind Farm Fund (GWFF) Panel, made up of a representative from East Suffolk Council, Suffolk County Council, Leiston Town Council, and an Advisor from the National Landscape.

The Galloper Wind Farm Fund Panel make decisions about grant applications with the aim of supporting projects which improve the appearance, setting, conservation, amenity, accessibility, and enjoyment of the National Landscape and the area within a 5km radius of Sizewell. Funds will be held by Suffolk County Council, and the National Landscape team will provide a secretariat, administer, market and monitor the fund and provide support for the development of projects amongst stakeholders.

3 Geographical Area for the Galloper Wind Farm Fund

The geographical area for the Galloper Wind Farm Fund is defined primarily by a 5km radius from Sizewell or up to the high-water mark. Please see the Galloper Wind Farm Fund map for further details.


The Galloper Wind Farm Fund panel may under certain circumstances choose to support eligible projects that operate more widely, that by their very nature necessitate a broader view. Any such project would still need to demonstrate conservation and amenity benefit for the specified geographic area according to the fund objectives.


4 Galloper Wind Farm Fund Objectives

The Galloper Wind Farm Fund objectives are primarily those of the National Landscape. Projects must demonstrate that they will deliver specific actions or objectives identified within the current, and subsequent, National LandscapeM anagement Plan for the area (available from www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org or on request), and by fulfilling community, conservation and access objectives.

5 Essential Criteria and Galloper Wind Farm Fund Panel Priorities

The Galloper Wind Farm Fund Panel is particularly keen to encourage projects that are pertinent to its key priorities. Preference will therefore be given to projects that cover one or all of the following:

  • Conservation of landscape character and enhance the distinctive nature of the National Landscape and the Galloper Wind Farm Fund area
  • Conservation of biodiversity and lessen fragmentation of habitats
  • Conservation of the historic resources of the area including landscapes and the built environment
  • Conservation of the geodiversity of the area
  • Provision and enhancement of access and recreation provision
  • Provision of interpretation that improves understanding, guides behaviour and helps people enjoy the National Landscape and the Galloper Wind Farm Fund area

It will also be useful for applicants to consider how their project meets sustainable development objectives within the National Landscape and the Galloper Wind Farm Fund area:

Does your proposed project help conserve or enhance the natural beauty of the National Landscape and the Galloper Wind Farm Fund area?

Economic sustainability:

  • Does it help the local economy in some way?
  • Does it generate its own income?
  • Does it attract other contributions?
  • Does it generate new or safeguard existing employment?

Social sustainability:

  • Does it develop community infrastructure?
  • Does it provide training or build community capacity to tackle things?
  • Does it provide new or improved local services?
  • Does it allow/ improve access for a wide spectrum of society?
  • Does it have support or involvement of local communities?

Environmental sustainability:

  • Does it help biodiversity and/or sustain distinctive landscapes?
  • Does it protect natural resources?Involve reducing, recycling, or reusing materials?
  • Does it minimise adverse transport aspects?


Whilst the project does not have to bring equal benefit to all strands, there should be an element of help for each aspect, or certainly no adverse impact. Sustainable development is about the wise use of resources and avoids the exploitation of one strand to the detriment of the others.

Galloper Wind Farm Fund – project examples that meet the objectives:

  • Projects that improve the environment, natural character and/or sense of place of the National Landscape and the Galloper Wind Farm Fund area
  • Projects that improve the visual appearance of the area and thereby increase the enjoyment and experience of the National Landscape and the Galloper Wind Farm Fund area for residents and visitors
  • Projects that conserve and enhance the area’s natural beauty (the principal statutory purpose of the National Landscape’s designation)
  • Projects that improve sustainable access to the area, particularly within 5km of the substation development
  • Projects may also include those that improve peoples’ intellectual access to the area, for example through the production of interpretation materials

6 Desirable Criteria

A key aim of the scheme is to mitigate the impact of the Galloper substation and thereby to support communities in ways that enhance understanding of conservation and accessibility of the area, while promoting co-operation and social inclusion. Preference will therefore be given to projects that cover some or all of the following:

  • Demonstration of innovation or best practice
  • Promotion of or help implement social inclusion
  • Actively involve members of the community
  • Provide benefit to the public
  • Involvement or encouragement of partnership working
  • Complementary to key local and national strategies
  • Involvement of young people
  • Has little or no access to alternative funding sources
  • Lever in contributions from other sources

This is not a comprehensive list and other activities could qualify for a grant.

7 Who can apply

  • The Fund is open to organisations or groups from the public, private, voluntary and community sectors from within or outside the National Landscape, where projects benefit the Fund area
  • Whilst applications from individuals are not precluded, there needs to be demonstrable wider public benefit and support for the project. It is expected that in most cases applications will be submitted on behalf of organisations or groups of people
  • Applicants need not necessarily come from, or be based in, the National Landscape. However, projects must further the community, conservation and access objectives of the National Landscape and we would expect to see evidence of support for the project from the local area

8 Grant Conditions

Applications will be assessed by the Galloper Wind Farm Fund Panel. They will look at the above GWFF objectives and criteria to judge how well the proposed project meets those aspirations. The Panel will favour projects that really grasp the concept of conservation and accessibility, and have demonstrated how they are trying to meet the criteria and priorities of the National Landscape. 

The Panel may advise that an offer is made for less than the full amount requested. They may also give guidance to the National Landscape team to discuss certain aspects of the project with the applicant to clarify details before they give their final advice.

Funding of Galloper Wind Farm Fund projects may be either as 100% of costs or as match-funding towards a larger project. In most cases it will be encouraged that Galloper Wind Farm Fund grants will fund the latter and support the levering in of additional funding.


Voluntary and community organisations may like to show that ‘in kind’ support (e.g. volunteer time, or the loan of equipment, premises or land) forms at least part of their matching contribution and that they can demonstrate community support.

It is important for the Galloper Wind Farm Fund Panel to see the financial details of a project. It is required for the applicant to include a detailed breakdown of the expenditure and income of the project in the application form. It is important for the Panel to see how the money is likely to be spent. The Panel appreciates that some elements may be hard to cost but it is important that expenditure is not lumped together under large general headings or that guesses are made about costs. 

This is to everyone’s benefit as it would be sad to find there is not enough money to complete the project when the Panel would have been willing to offer more grant aid to a well thought out application. Where appropriate quotes or estimates should be provided to show proposed project costs.

9 Grant Management

Applications will be acknowledged within five working days, and applicants will be informed of the date on which the Galloper Wind Farm Fund Panel will consider their application. Applicants may in some instances be asked to provide further information to allow a decision to be taken.


The National Landscape team will undertake a simple eligibility assessment and will often come back to applicants if there is missing information or they feel the project is not

eligible. However, it is the responsibility of the applicants, not the National Landscape team, to see that they have supplied all the required information.


Applicants will be informed within five working days of the Galloper Wind Farm Fund Panel meeting whether their application has been successful, and if so the amount of grant they have been offered. This will be followed up by written confirmation and a formal offer of grant aid for successful applicants.

This will normally include certain conditions regarding:

  • What the grant is supporting
  • Accepting the offer of grant within a certain period
  • The evidence required to prove the project has been completed that will need to accompany the claim for the grant

10 Payment of Grant

The payment of the grant will be dependent on the submission of relevant records (e.g. receipted invoices) as detailed in the grant offer letter or agreed in writing

subsequently with the applicants.


Grants are usually paid in arrears, on successful completion of the project, and by invoice being sent from the applicant. A case can be made with the application, or exceptionally when returning the acceptance of the grant offer, for money to released up front – i.e. before the project is started. This is to help with issues of cash flow for smaller organisations and can be up to 75% of the grant offer. Confirmation of receipt of other funds is also required (where relevant).


If the application is from non VAT registered organisation/body/individual the Galloper Wind Farm Fund can fund up to 100% of the gross cost of the project. (i.e. VAT cost can be met by the fund). If the application is from a VAT registered organisation the Galloper Wind Farm Fund cannot meet any VAT costs (i.e. use figures excluding VAT).


Unless otherwise agreed with the National Landscape team, all projects should aim to be completed by the following March (i.e. grants awarded from April 2023 must be completed and claimed for by 13th March 2024).


If a project seems unable to fulfil its aims or meet its conditions, and complete by the agreed time, then the Galloper Wind Farm Fund via the National Landscape team has the right to agree with the project manager to “call in” the grant, and not award the funds.

11 Monitoring and Publicity

The National Landscape team will monitor the progress of projects and may, if required, carry out site inspections. If this monitoring highlights difficulties with the project there may be the need for discussion and negotiation. It is the desired intention to help all projects reach a satisfactory conclusion, but the Galloper Wind Farm Fund Panel will wish to safeguard the wise and legitimate use of the Fund.

12 Monitoring

A mid-year update (29th September 2024) and a short end of year report (13th March 2025) are required, and are a necessary part of the feedback to the Galloper Wind Farm Fund Panel and to Galloper Offshore Wind Farm Ltd. The grant will be paid on receipt of the final end of year report and an invoice.


This report is expected to be one page and include an overview of the project achievements, lessons learnt/difficulties encountered and how the terms and conditions were met. Please include at least two photos of the project plus any feedback or quotes from participants that the Galloper Wind Farm Fund Panel has permission to use in its own promotions.

13 Promotion and Publicity

The Galloper Wind Farm Fund Panel reserve the right to use any material submitted for publicity purposes. ‘The Galloper Wind Farm Fund’ must be acknowledged on all completed projects and mentioned in all press releases and publicity material relating to projects.


The Galloper Wind Farm Ltd logo (as shown) should be used where appropriate on materials and publicity, and is available from the National Landscape team, who must also see and sign off its proposed use.

Please let the National Landscape team see all drafts of printed promotion or use of logos, before anything goes to print. This will help avoid any errors in the use of the logo, any mis-spellings or incorrect ways of referring to Galloper Wind Farm Ltd. or to the National Landscape and other co-funders.


For further guidance on publicity requirements and support available from the National Landscape team please see ‘Publicity Guidance for Grant Funded Projects’ produced in 2021.

14 Application Forms

Completed applications (preferably typed, or if not, clearly written in dark ink) should be submitted on the Galloper Wind Farm Fund application form, by end of day 23rd February 2024 to:


Email: [email protected]

Tel: 01394 445225


National Landscape Grants Officer

Galloper Wind Farm Fund

Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscape

Saxon House

1 Whittle Road

Hadleigh Road Industrial Estate

Ipswich

Suffolk

IP2 0UH

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