Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment
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UK Coal Operations Limited Proposed extension of time for colliery spoil tipping Environmental Statement operations at Harworth Colliery No. 2 Spoil Heap TECHNICAL APPENDIX 1 - Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment UK Coal Mining Limited Harworth Colliery Tip No. 2 – Extension of Permission Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment ESP Ltd June 2013 Harworth Colliery Tip No. 2 - Extension of Permissions Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Contents Section Title Page 1.0 Report author 3 2.0 Scope of report 3 3.0 Baseline studies 3.1 Description of the site and setting 5 3.2 Landscape designations 6 3.3 Landscape character 6 3.4 Visual appraisal 9 4.0 Development proposals 4.1 Programme, Working operations, and Plant 10 4.2 Restoration proposals 11 5.0 Assessment of effects and mitigation 5.1 Landscape effects 11 5.2 Visual effects 13 6.0 Summary and conclusions 6.1 Effects on the fabric of the landscape 15 6.2 Effects on the character of the landscape and on designated landscapes 15 6.3 Potential cumulative landscape impacts 16 6.4 Effects on local access to the countryside 16 6.5 Effects on the visual amenity of local residents and visitors to the setting 16 6.6 Potential cumulative visual impacts 17 June 2013 1 Harworth Colliery Tip No. 2 - Extension of Permissions Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment 7.0 Appendices 7.1 Methodology for assessing impact significance 7.2 Landscape Character plan (drawing number H8_LAN_001) 7.3 Estell Warren’s Visual Analysis plan from the 1996 assessment (drawing number 2074.LV1) 7.4 Visual Appraisal plan (drawing number G6_LAN_002) 7.5 Viewpoint photographs, tables of effects on views, and sightline sections from key viewpoints (drawings numbered H8_LAN_003 to 027) 7.6 References June 2013 2 Harworth Colliery Tip No. 2 - Extension of Permissions Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment 1.0 Report Author This report has been prepared by Keith Hampshire, BA Dip.LA CMLI. Keith has gained extensive experience in various aspects of landscape planning and environmental assessment in the minerals development and waste management sectors over the past 25 years. He is a Director of ESP Ltd, an independent, multi- disciplinary consultancy undertaking Landscape Planning and Design, Estate Management, Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Management for the public and private sectors. 2.0 Scope of report 2.1 Nottinghamshire County Council issued a Scoping Opinion to UK Coal Mining Limited on 15 March 2013 in response to a request for Scoping issued on 17 January 2013 for a proposal to extend the life of Harworth Colliery Spoil Tip number 2. The following advice was given in relation the assessing landscape and visual impact. ‘The scoping letter considers that the continuation of the disposal of spoil at the existing tip would not create significant additional visual impact over that already in place and consented by the existing planning permission. Nevertheless, an updated landscape and visual impact assessment is proposed using modern techniques which would give consideration to both the negative effects of the continuing development as well as areas where the existing features could be used to enhance the landscape. In consultation with the NCC Landscape Team a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (L&VIA) is considered necessary. The structure of the L&VIA should include the following: • Introduction; • Assessment approach; • Baseline condition; • Assessment of impacts (construction and operational stages); • Mitigation enhancement (construction and operational stages); • Residual effects; • Non-technical summary of findings. The assessment of impacts section should consider impacts to: • Landscape Resources (the physical impact) – this should quantify any physical removal of vegetation, in order that any mitigation proposed can be assessed against this. • Landscape Character – this section should make reference to the following documents which were not available when the previous assessment was carried out: - National Level – Natural England – National Character – The site is within Area 39 – June 2013 3 Harworth Colliery Tip No. 2 - Extension of Permissions Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Humberhead Levels; - Regional Level – Natural England – The East Midlands Regional Landscape Character Assessment. The site is within sub-type 2b Planned and Drained Fens and Carrlands of Regional Landscape Character Type 2 Fenland and Fenland Margins. - County Level – Bassetlaw Landscape Character Assessment. The site is within the Idle Lowlands Landscape Character Area and Policy Zone 11 Harworth. • Visual Amenity – the visual amenity of the proposals should be assessed from a series of representative viewpoints. These should be agreed in advance of the assessment with Nottinghamshire County Council Landscape Architect / Bassetlaw District Council Planning Officers. 2.2 There are no statutory criteria or standards laid down for the assessment of landscape and visual impacts. However, this report has been undertaken in general conformity with the ‘Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment’ (GLVIA) 2nd Edition, published by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment and the Landscape Institute in 2002 (LI, 2002). This document defines and differentiates landscape and visual effects as follows: ‘Landscape and visual assessments are separate, although linked procedures … The assessment of the potential effect on the landscape is carried out as an effect on an environmental resource, i.e. the landscape. Visual effects are assessed as one of the interrelated effects on population. Landscape effects derive from changes in the physical landscape, which may give rise to changes in its character and how this is experienced. This may in turn affect the perceived value ascribed to the landscape … …Visual effects relate to the changes that arise in the composition of available views as a result of changes to the landscape, to people’s responses to the changes, and to the overall effects with respect to visual amenity.’ The methodology for assessing landscape and visual impact significance employed in this report is detailed in Appendix 7.1 below. The 3rd edition of the GLVIA was published on 17 April 2013. However, this assessment was started in March 2013 and the recommendations of the Landscape Institute Policy and June 2013 4 Harworth Colliery Tip No. 2 - Extension of Permissions Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Communications unit on 22 April were that an assessment started before publication of the 3rd edition should be completed using the 2nd edition as guidance. 3.0 Baseline studies 3.1 Description of the site and setting (The Landscape Character plan (drawing number H8_LAN_001, located in Appendix 7.2 below) identifies the Planning Application Area) 3.1.1 The site is located approximately 1km south of Harworth, within Bassetlaw District of Nottinghamshire, approximately 2km south of the county boundary of Doncaster MBC. It lies approximately 1.5km north of Blyth, and approximately 0.5km east of the village of Styrrup. 3.1.2 The site within the Planning Application Area Boundary occupies approximately 108 hectares. This includes an area of approximately 46.4 hectares of mostly disturbed land, primarily occupied by former lagoon L10 and L11, where it is proposed to continue tipping. Approximately 61.6 hectares have been restored, including established mixed woodland [conifer and broadleaf species] areas in the north eastern area. There are mixed plantations along the eastern boundary adjacent to Blyth Road, the north western perimeter, the western boundary adjacent to the A1(M), and along the southern boundary. 3.1.3 The site sits within a generally low lying rolling landform, locally characterised by an east-west trending shallow ridge up with an elevation of up to 36m AOD. This ridge extends in a westerly direction, rising up to over 40m AOD at Malpas Hill [2.5km distance from site]. There is a northwest-southeast trending local ridge [similar in alignment with the proposed restored site landform] at Blyth Services [1km from site]. The land falls away to the south east where the River Ryton valley lies at an elevation of approximately 10m AOD, and to the northwest beyond Styrrup towards Tickhill Low Common at an elevation of 10m AOD [1.5km distance from site]. 3.1.4 No public rights of way cross the site. The nearest ones within 0.5km distance of the site boundary are Footpath No.5 (Blyth) on Harworth Avenue [ref: Appendix 7.4, Viewpoint 5] and Footpath No.2 (Styrrup with Oldcotes) on Styrrup Hall Golf Course [ref: Appendix 7.4, Viewpoint 16]. 3.1.5 The visual setting of the site is dominated to the north by large scale industrial development – including the Harworth Colliery – beyond which to the northeast lies the Serlby sand quarry and landfill site. To the west the site is constrained by the A1(M) that emerges from cutting south east of Styrrup and runs on shallow embankment adjacent to the central and southern site area - beyond which lies Whitewater June 2013 5 Harworth Colliery Tip No. 2 - Extension of Permissions Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Common. To the south east large open arable fields on gently undulating landform continue to the more wooded River Ryton valley and parkland of Serlby Hall. 3.1.6 The A1(M) is a major visual and sensory detractor in the immediate setting of the site. Further from the site, an overhead power line on steel lattice pylons runs parallel to the A1 approximately 1.5km to the west. 3.2 Landscape designations 3.2.1 The site does not lie within or adjacent to any designated landscapes. The nearest Conservation Area is located at Blyth, approximately 2km south of the site boundary, and at Oldcotes, approximately 2km west of the site boundary. The Registered Historic Park and Gardens at Sandbeck Park lie approximately 2.5km west of the site boundary. 3.3 Landscape Character Introduction 3.3.1 The baseline landscape section of this report addresses two aspects: a classification of the landscape including descriptions of its characteristic features; and an evaluation of the resource including an assessment of values ascribed to the setting, its capacity to sustain impacts and sensitivity to change.