Landscape and Heritage Assessment
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Middlesbrough Local Plan Review: Landscape and Heritage Assessment Prepared by LUC for Middlesbrough Council December 2016 Project Title: Middlesbrough Local Plan Review: Landscape and Heritage Assessment Client: Middlesbrough Council Version Date Version Details Prepared by Checked by Approved by 1 29 July 2016 DRAFT GW / SO PDM PDM 2 14 Oct 2016 DRAFT AB/MC GW PDM 3 09 Dec 2016 FINAL AB/MC PDM SO Landscape and Heritage Assessment (Main Report).docm Last saved: 27/01/2017 15:30 Middlesbrough Local Plan Review: Landscape and Heritage Assessment Prepared by LUC for Middlesbrough Council December 2016 Planning & EIA LUC EDINBURGH Offices also in: Land Use Consultants Ltd Registered in England Design 28 Stafford Street London Registered number: 2549296 Landscape Planning Edinburgh Bristol Registered Office: Landscape Management EH3 7BD Glasgow 43 Chalton Street Ecology T +44 (0)131 202 1616 London NW1 1JD Mapping & Visualisation [email protected] FS 566056 EMS 566057 LUC uses 100% recycled paper Contents 1 Introduction 2 Background 2 Study area 3 Objectives and scope 3 Report structure 3 2 Methodology 4 Introduction 4 Baseline evaluation 5 Evaluation process 10 3 Baseline 11 Introduction 11 Landscape and visual 11 Historic environment 13 Green infrastructure 13 4 Evaluation 14 Introduction 14 Parcel 1 Albert Park 14 Parcel 2 Linthorpe Cemetery 15 Parcel 3 Acklam Recreation Ground 16 Parcel 4 17 Parcel 5a Acklam Cemetery and Avenue 18 Parcel 5b Nature‟s World 19 Parcel 6 Middlesbrough Municipal Golf Course 20 Parcel 7 Marton West Beck North 21 Parcel 8a 22 Parcel 8b 23 Parcel 9 Middlesbrough Sports Village 24 Parcel 10 Stewart Park 25 Parcel 11 Ormesby Road 26 Parcel 12 Middle Beck corridor 27 Parcel 13 Tees Link 28 Parcel 14a 29 Parcel 14b Low Gill and Cypress Road 30 Parcel 15 Marton West Beck South 31 Parcel 16a 32 Parcel 16b Newham Grange 33 Parcel 17 Hemlington Lake 34 Parcel 18 Bluebell Beck 35 Parcel 19 Whinney Banks 36 Parcel 20 West of the A19 37 Parcel 21 Stainton Vale 38 Parcel 22 West of Thornton 39 Parcel 23 Thornton to Coulby Newham 41 Parcel 24 Newham Hall 42 Parcel 25 Middlesbrough Golf Club 43 Parcel 26 Rye Hill 45 Parcel 27 Nunthorpe Hall 46 Parcel 28 47 Parcel 29 48 5 Summary and conclusions 50 Opportunities for development 50 Opportunities for enhancement 51 Appendix 1 53 Landscape and historic environment value of key housing land allocations 53 Introduction 54 Parcel H4 Brookfield 54 Parcel H6 Hemlington Grange 56 Parcel H8 Coulby Newham 57 Parcel H9 South of Guisborough Road 59 Appendix 2 61 Field Survey Sheets Error! Bookmark not defined. 1 Introduction 1.1 LUC was commissioned by Middlesbrough Council to carry out an assessment of the landscape and historic environment value of certain areas of the Borough, to inform development planning and management decisions. The study aims to provide a holistic evaluation of broad areas within the Borough, as well as a site-specific review of land to the south of Newham Hall. 1.2 The provision of open space within the boundary of Middlesbrough Council is limited to a southern fringe of agricultural land, and a series of green wedges, parks and open spaces within the urban area. The Council wishes to derive the maximum benefit from these open spaces, and the present study aims to identify where such open space should be afforded protection as a priority, and also where there may be opportunities for the enhancement of the urban landscape through sensitively sited development. Background National planning context 1.3 The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) states that the planning system should “contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by”, among other things, “protecting and enhancing valued landscapes”. NPPF also states that local authorities should “recognise that heritage assets are an irreplaceable resource and conserve them in a manner appropriate to their significance.” 1.4 Both of these aims form part of the overall purpose of the planning system, which is “to contribute to the achievement of sustainable development.” By commissioning this holistic look at the values placed on areas of the Borough, the Council is ensuring that sustainable principles will be built in to decisions concerning these areas. Where these values are understood, the best use can be made of land to ensure maintenance and enhancement of important landscape and historic environment features, while permitting necessary development. Local planning context 1.5 The current local development plan in Middlesbrough is the Housing Local Plan, adopted in November 2014.1 It identifies large areas of greenfield land for residential and mixed-use development around the southern flank of the built up area. Following on from the Housing Local Plan, a full review of local planning is now underway, and the Council has commissioned this study to inform approaches to the protection of important landscapes, as well as to inform potential allocations for development. 1.6 As part of the preparation of the Housing Local Plan, the land to the south of Newham Hall was initially allocated as a proposed extension to Middlesbrough Golf Club to the north-east. Such an extension could enhance the potential of the golf course and provide an additional attractor for the area. At the examination of the plan, the Inspector recommended removal of this allocation, pending further investigation of the potential for impacts on the historic environment and landscape. 1.7 The present study therefore aims to satisfy the requirement for a better understanding of the landscape and heritage value, not only of the land south of Newham Hall, but of other areas within the Borough where development may be possible. 1 The Local Plan Review Issues Paper was published for consultation as this study was being finalised. Middlesbrough Local Plan Review: 2 December 2016 Landscape and Heritage Assessment Study area 1.8 The study area comprises the agricultural fringe to the south of the Borough, as well as a number of open areas and green spaces within the urban area. The study area was defined by the Council and is shown in Figure 1. 1.9 At the project outset it was agreed that the four main housing allocations would also be subject to a review of their landscape and heritage value. These parcels of land are discussed in Appendix 1, and are also identified in Figure 1. Objectives and scope 1.10 The objectives of the study, as set out in the brief for the commission, are as follows: to gain an understanding of the landscape value of open land within the Borough; to gain an understanding of the historical value of this land; to identify: - areas for protection; and - areas with opportunities for development, including mitigation strategies; and to advise on a policy framework for protection or enhancement of key areas. 1.11 An additional task was to undertake a more detailed review of the land south of Newham Hall. The findings of this piece of work are reported separately. Report structure 1.12 Section 2 of this report presents the methodology that was developed and agreed with Middlesbrough Council for the purpose of the study. The study baseline is set out in Section 3, including the definition of land parcels for individual assessment. Section 4 includes the evaluation of each parcel and draws conclusions on the constraints and opportunities within them. The findings of the study, in terms of areas for protection and areas of opportunity, are summarised in Section 5. Appendix 1 presents the evaluation of each of the four housing land allocations, and Appendix 2 includes the completed survey sheets for all parcels. Middlesbrough Local Plan Review: 3 December 2016 Landscape and Heritage Assessment 2 Methodology Introduction 2.1 The study requires a holistic assessment of the different values placed on landscapes within Middlesbrough. The study brief specifically requires consideration of landscape and historic environment values, but in discussion with the Council it was also decided to incorporate consideration of the functional value of the areas, described as Green Infrastructure value, whether existing or potential. It was agreed that overall value would be assessed under four key themes: Landscape – being the value attached to features and characteristics; Visual amenity – the value attached to views and scenery; Historic environment – the value attached to its component assets: archaeological remains; historic structures; and historic landscape features; and Green infrastructure (GI) - the value placed on the functions and networks provided by green space. 2.2 These four themes of value are linked but separate, and a robust evaluation must clearly distinguish what type of value is represented in each area. As such, the study includes separate evaluations of these four parallel themes. 2.3 These are then considered together, leading naturally to the recommendations for each area, identifying opportunities both for development, and for enhancement of landscape, historic environment and GI. Where opportunity for development is identified, consideration is also given to the mitigation required for successful integration. Diagram 2.1 Overview of the process Baseline Evaluation Landscape Visual amenity Historic environment Green Infrastructure Overall evaluation Recommendations Opportunities for Opportunities for development enhancement and mitigation and protection Middlesbrough Local Plan Review: 4 December 2016 Landscape and Heritage Assessment Baseline evaluation 2.4 At the project outset,