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LANCASTER DISTRICT LAND ALLOCATIONS DEVELOPMENT PLAN DOCUMENT LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT OF EMERGING SITE OPTIONS Heysham Energy Coast November 2012 LANCASTER DISTRICT LAND ALLOCATIONS DPD LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT OF EMERGING SITE OPTIONS Heysham Energy Coast Contents page Preface 1 Site Location and Context 1 2 Landscape Character 2 3 Landscape Value 5 4 Potential for Development 6 5 Sensitivity of the Heysham Energy Coast site to changes 6 arising from its potential development 6 Potential for Mitigation 7 Figures: Figure B1: Plan: The existing character of the Heysham Energy Coast Figure B2: Photographic views Appendix: (separate volume) The Project Brief Woolerton Dodwell November 2012 PREFACE i. This report by Woolerton Dodwell was commissioned by Lancaster City Council. It provides a landscape assessment of the Heysham Energy Coast, a broad area of land based around and to the east of Heysham Port and the two Heysham power stations. The purpose of the landscape assessment is to help inform Lancaster City Council’s consideration of future growth options and ultimately the allocation of sites in the Land Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD) which forms part of the Local Development Framework (LDF) for Lancaster District. ii. The Heysham Energy Coast is one of a number of emerging site options identified by Lancaster City Council as strategic due to their size and location, and which if developed would have significant implications for the District both in terms of meeting future development needs and also in terms of potential impacts. iii. Landscape assessments have been prepared for the City Council for the following five strategic site options: • Bailrigg, Lancaster • Whinney Carr, Lancaster • Grab Lane, Lancaster • Carnforth South • Heysham Energy Coast iv. A further element of Woolerton Dodwell’s commission involved a review of areas within Lancaster District identified under ‘saved’ Local Plan Policy E31 as Key Urban Landscape. The policy states that these areas will be conserved and important natural features safeguarded, and that development in such areas will only be permitted where it preserves the open nature of the area and the character and appearance of its surroundings. The purpose of the review was to help inform consideration of the continued appropriateness of the Key Urban Landscape allocation in the Land Allocations DPD. The review was undertaken in two stages and is the subject of separate reports. Woolerton Dodwell November 2012 HEYSHAM ENERGY COAST STRATEGIC SITE OPTION (SG 7) Landscape Assessment LOCATION AND CONTEXT 1.1 Land along the coast at Heysham has been identified as part of Lancaster City Council's Energy Coast. The identification recognises the exceptional opportunity that this area provides to develop the District’s economy and secure wider investment in the district. The combination of existing nuclear energy investment together with potential for further expansion in renewable energy both on and offshore mean that the area is well placed to meet future energy needs. The proposed upgrade to National Grid’s high-voltage electricity transmission system provides further support for the identification of this area as a focus for energy investment. 1.2 No specific site is identified for Heysham Energy Coast strategic site option; it comprises land based around Heysham Port and the existing Heysham Power Station, extending south-east towards Middleton. For the purposes of this assessment the Heysham Energy Coast encompasses Heysham Power Station, Heysham Nature Reserve, Heysham Golf Club, the Ocean Edge Leisure Park, parts of the Port of Heysham, parts of the Heysham Industrial Estate, and brownfield land identified as Middleton Wood which is the site of the former Trimpell chemical works that closed in 1986. It also includes residential properties located between a railway line and the A589 Rothesay Road that leads to the Port of Heysham. Figure H1 indicates the extent of the strategic site option. 1.3 Beyond this area residential suburbs extend northward including Higher Heysham with the historic core of Heysham further to the north. To the south-east is Middleton village, the Heysham Industrial Estate, and the Middleton Towers retirement village which is under construction on the coast to the south on the site of a former Pontins holiday camp. There are also several static caravan sites/leisure parks set within open countryside. To the east is a swathe of relatively flat, low-lying and open farmland that is crossed by the A683 road and which contains several large industrial/infrastructure facilities including a large National Grid electricity sub-station located on the south side of the A683, and close to it is the Middleton Resource Recovery Facility, sited on the Lancaster West Business Park, a former industrial site. On the north side of the A683 is Heysham Moss, an SSSI and local nature reserve that supports bog vegetation and wet woodland habitats. 1.4 Public access to land within the Heysham Energy Coast is gained via the road network and a small number of public rights of way most notably FP4, which links Carr Lane to the coast, and also from informal footpaths and tracks within land identified as Middleton Wood community woodland. Access to Heysham Nature Reserve is managed by Lancashire Wildlife Trust, by agreement with the site owner, British Energy. Woolerton Dodwell 1 November 2012 LANDSCAPE CHARACTER Existing Landscape Character Assessments ° National Landscape Character 1 - Character Area 31: Morecambe Coast and Lune Estuary ° Lancashire Landscape Character Assessment 2 – Character type 12 Low Coastal Drumlins ° Lancashire Landscape Character Assessment – Character area 12c Heysham - Overton ° Lancashire Historic Landscape Character Assessment 3 – Character type: Modern Industry Modern Settlement Modern Recreation Ancient Enclosure 1.5 Descriptions contained in National Character Area 31: Morecambe Coast and Lune Estuary help to establish a broad overview of the landscapes in this part of Lancashire. Its ‘key characteristics’ include: ° Broad, relatively flat lowlands enclosed by steeply sloping escarpments which open out dramatically into the undulating landscape of the coastal strip with substantial drumlin features. ° Development generally concentrated along the coastal strip where Heysham power station and caravan sites dominate the coastal scenery, with the remaining pastoral elements providing important countryside wedges. 1.6 The Lancashire Landscape Character Assessment (LLCA) presents a county-wide classification of landscape character based on mapping at 1:50000 scale. Published in 2000 it provides more detail on the landscape types and landscape character areas that occur within Lancashire. Land within the Heysham Energy Coast is classified as LLCA Landscape Character type 12: ‘Low Coastal Drumlins’. In general the landscape type is characterised by low whaleback hills that rise to approximately 40m high and extend over a wide area of the coastal lowlands. LCCA was informed by the Lancashire Historic Landscape Character Assessment, which identifies Heysham village as an Ancient and Post-Medieval settlement, surrounded by Modern Settlement and with extensive areas of Modern Industry and Modern Recreation. 1.7 The Heysham Energy Coast strategic site option forms part of a broad tract of low coastal drumlin landscape (landscape character type 12) that is generally characterised by a rolling lowland landscape of elongated rounded drumlins, generally aligned north-south. These form areas of raised ground that rise locally to around 25m AOD. This rolling landform is generally masked by extensive industrial and suburban development in Heysham where the scale and industrial appearance of the Heysham power stations and multiple high voltage overhead transmission lines have a dominant influence on landscape character and quality. Although much of the land within the Heysham Energy Coast is open and either undeveloped or previously developed ‘brownfield’ land, none of it is considered to be rural in character. 1 Countryside Character Volume 1: North West England Area 31 Morecambe Coast and Lune Estuary (Countryside Agency 1998) 2 A Landscape Strategy for Lancashire: Landscape Character Assessment (Lancashire County Council 2000) 3 Lancashire Historic Landscape Character Map (Lancashire County Council 2000) available at mario.lancashire.gov.uk Woolerton Dodwell 2 November 2012 1.8 At a more detailed, local level, four sub-areas can be distinguished within Heysham Energy Coast; these are: ° Large scale industry and urban development (west) ° Open undeveloped and previously developed land ° Coastal zone of ‘urban leisure’ uses ° Urban Fringes (east) Large scale industry and urban development (west): key characteristics ° Large scale industrial and urban development characterised by built urban and engineered forms which dominate the sub-area and include: * Heysham Power Stations which is dominated by the two tall, large scale box-shaped power stations that loom over the surrounding area. The power stations sit within an extended and securely fenced complex that contains a further range of buildings, hard standings and parking areas. High voltage overhead transmission lines supported by large pylons emanate from the power stations. * Port of Heysham which is characterised by a deep water quay and ferry terminal, port buildings and warehousing, and by very extensive areas of hardstanding used for container storage and vehicle parking, all surrounded by perimeter security fencing