The Huntroyde Estate; Clitheroe Auction Mart; Mr J Taylor; Ms Sarah Howard & Ms Samantha Howard
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Applicant: The Huntroyde Estate; Clitheroe Auction Mart; Mr J Taylor; Ms Sarah Howard & Ms Samantha Howard Waddow View, Clitheroe Address: Land off Waddington Road, Clitheroe LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT Prepared by Lorna Cruice BA, Dip LA, Tech Arbor A, CMLI Chartered Landscape Architect July 2014 FINAL – 04.07.14 17 CHORLEY OLD ROAD BOLTON BL1 3AD Tel. 01204 393006 Fax. 01204 388792 Email. [email protected] THE APPLETON GROUP REF: 1840 THE APPLETON GROUP 17 Chorley Old Road Bolton Lancashire BL1 3AD Tel: 01204 393006 Email: [email protected] Web: www.appletongroup.co.uk Copyright and Non-Disclosure Notice The contents and layout of this report are subject to copyright owned by Appleton Deeley Limited trading as The Appleton Group save to the extent that copyright has been legally assigned by The Appleton group to another party or is used by The Appleton Group under license. To the extent that The Appleton Group own the copyright to this report, it may not be used without written agreement from The Appleton Group for any purpose other than that indicated in this report. The methodology (if any) contained in this report is provided to you in confidence and must not be disclosed or copied to third parties without prior written agreement of The Appleton Group. Disclosure of that information may constitute an actionable breach of confidence or may otherwise prejudice our commercial interests. Any third party who obtains access to this report by any means will, in any event, be subject to third party disclaimer set out below. Third Party Disclaimer Any disclosure of this report to a third party is subject to this disclaimer. The report was prepared by The Appleton Group at the instruction of, and for the use by our client on the front of this report. It does not in any way constitute advice to any third party who is liable to access it by any means. The Appleton Group excludes to the fullest extent lawfully permitted all liability whatsoever for any loss or damage howsoever arising from reliance on the contents of this report. The Appleton Group does not however, exclude our liability (if any) for personal injury or death resulting from our negligence, for fraud, or any other matter in relation to which we cannot legally exclude liability. WADDOW VIEW, CLITHEROE LVIA 2 JULY 2014 THE APPLETON GROUP REF: 1840 THE APPLETON GROUP DOCUMENT CONTROL TITLE: LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROJECT: WADDOW VIEW, CLITHEROE JOB NO: 1840 CLIENT : THE HUNTROYDE ESTATE; CLITHEROE AUCTION MART; MR J TAYLOR; MS SARAH HOWARD & MS SAMANTHA HOWARD Prepared by: Lorna Cruice Date: 03.07.14 Checked by: David Appleton Date: 03.07.14 Approved for distribution by: David Appleton Date: 03.07.14 Document Status Description Rev / By Issued Issue Comments date Approved by to date Appendices issued DRAFT 1 LVIA + Appendices 03.07.14 LAC DA separately. Appendices issued FINAL LVIA + Appendices 04.07.14 LAC DA separately. Revisions to Final Document Rev Description Rev By Issued Issue Comments date Approved by to date WADDOW VIEW, CLITHEROE LVIA 3 JULY 2014 THE APPLETON GROUP REF: 1840 CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION AND TERMS OF REFERENCE 2.0 SITE DESCRIPTION AND CONTEXT 3.0 LANDSCAPE CHARACTER AND QUALITY 4.0 DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS 5.0 LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL ASSESSMENT CRITERA 6.0 IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION 7.0 RELEVANT LANDSCAPE POLICIES 8.0 CONCLUSIONS APPENDICES Appendix 1 – Character Assessments - National Landscape Character Area 33, Bowland Fringe and Pendle Hill, 1998 - Extract from Lancashire County Council Landscape and Heritage SPG, July 2006 - A Strategy for Lancashire: Landscape Character Type 5e, the Lower Ribbledale (Clitheroe to Gisburn), ‘Undulating Lowland Farmland’, 2000 - Forest of Bowland AONB Landscape Character Assessment, September 2009 Appendix 2 – Figures TAG 1: Location and Context Plan TAG 2: Site Characteristics Plan TAG 3: Photographic Viewpoints and ZVI TAG 4: Illustrative Masterplan Appendix 3 – Photomontages Photographs 1 to 20 (sheets 1-6) WADDOW VIEW, CLITHEROE LVIA 4 JULY 2014 THE APPLETON GROUP REF: 1840 1.0 INTRODUCTION AND TERMS OF REFERENCE Planning Background 1.1 In June 2012 The Appleton Group prepared a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) to accompany the planning application to development an area of fields off Waddington Road, Clitheroe, known as Waddow View (hereafter referred to as the Site). This application was refused by Ribble Valley Borough Council’s Planning Committee and also subsequently refused at Proposed development (Planning Inspectorate ref: APP/T2350/A/13/2194601) held in the summer 2013. The Appleton Group gave evidence at the Public Inquiry on landscape character and visual amenity impact matters and a further detailed Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment was carried out as part of the process for the formulation of the Proof of Evidence. 1.2 Pursuant to the above the applicants are seeking to submit a new planning application for the development for residential use on the land. The new proposed development takes account of the past planning history of the site and the consultation process that was undertaken for both the original planning application and the subsequent Proposed development. The illustrative masterplan which accompanies the application reflects on the Council’s Countryside Officer’s comments of the original application which commented on the need to supplement the existing tree cover, especially around the perimeter of the development where it may impact on the open countryside beyond. Proposed Development Appeal Decision and Report, January 2014 1.3 More importantly the new application considers the decision notice and report from the Inspector dated 23 rd January 2014 and takes reference regarding a number of points relating to landscape character and landscape and visual impact. In summary, the dismissal of the Proposed development did not rest on the landscape and amenity reasons for refusal. The Inspector considered that some harm would accrue to the landscape which would be counter to the aims and objectives of the strict application of the saved Local Plan and its emerging Core Strategy Policies, but that it would not be a determining issue in its own right given the need to meet RVBC’s housing demands (para. 215) . Changes to landscape character were considered not to be significant and outweighed by other public benefits (para. 70). As a consequence the illustrative masterplan has been a ‘landscape led’ collaboration of landscape matters, highway design and architectural put. WADDOW VIEW, CLITHEROE LVIA 5 JULY 2014 THE APPLETON GROUP REF: 1840 Terms of Reference 1.4 The Appleton Group was commissioned by the applicant in June 2014 to carry out a Landscape and Visual Assessment (LVIA) in respect of the new planning for the erection of up to 275no. dwellings on land off Waddington Road, Clitheroe. The application is outline with all matters reserved for subsequent approval save for access. An illustrative layout has been prepared to demonstrate the likely distribution of housing cells in relation to a highway network and landscape setting which could be accommodated on the site and thereby best understand the proposals potential impact. The application is also informed by a number of other surveys and studies including a tree survey, ecological survey and transport assessment. The site occupies 9.2 hectares. 1.5 The Appleton Group is a firm of landscape architects and environmental consultants, a registered practice of the Landscape Institute and Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment. A Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute (CMLI) was directly involved in writing this assessment: Lorna Cruice CMLI (Practice Director). Viewpoint photography, mapping and figures were taken and prepared by Lorna Cruice and Stuart Walker (Landscape Architect). Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment 1.6 This assessment considers the baseline for both landscape and visual amenity and seeks to identify the sensitivity of each before considering the change that the introduction of the proposed housing development will produce. Potential landscape, visual and character impacts of the proposals will be assessed and mitigation proposals to ameliorate such impact should it occur will be recommended. The document has been carried out in accordance with best practice contained within the ‘Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment’ 3 rd edition prepared jointly by The Landscape Institute and The Institute for Environmental Management and Assessment (I.E.M.A.). 1.7 The assessment should be read in conjunction with the following drawing: 1.3.1 Illustrative Landscape Masterplan (TAG 4 - APPENDIX 2) 1.8 The following principal sources of information were used to inform the Assessment of Effects on the Landscape Resource and Visual Amenity: Sources of Information 1.8.1 Planning Policy • National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), March 2012; • Ribble Valley District Wide Local Plan, adopted June 1998; WADDOW VIEW, CLITHEROE LVIA 6 JULY 2014 THE APPLETON GROUP REF: 1840 • Saved Policies from above, September 2007; • Ribble Valley draft Core Strategy 2008-2028. 1.8.2 Guidance • 'Guidance for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment', The Landscape Institute and the Institute of Environmental Assessment third edition 2013; • 'Landscape Character Assessment for England and Scotland', Scottish Natural. 1.8.3 Advice • ’A Handbook on Environmental Impact Assessment – Third Edition’, SNH, 2009. 1.8.4 Background • Character of England, 1998 • A Strategy for Lancashire: Lancashire Character Assessment, 2000; • Supplementary Planning Documents • Forest of Bowland AONB Landscape Character Assessment, September 2009; • OS 1: 50000 map sheets 108; • Aerial photographs of the site and surroundings; • Topographical Survey data; and • Information regarding the proposed development provided by the client and commissioned consultants. Definition of Assessment Area 1.9 The focused study area shown on Figure TAG 3 – Photograph Viewpoint Locations , was selected on a realistic and pragmatic basis as an approximate 0.5km radius from the centre of the site, beyond which the proposed development is unlikely to result in significant impacts or effects.