APPENDIX EK6: Landscape and Visual Appraisal Report by Enplan FERNBANK NURSERY, LOWER NAZEING PROPOSED PLANNING APPEAL FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL APPRAISAL REPORT on behalf of Stallan Nazeing Ltd November 2017 Enplan, Gloucester House, 399 Silbury Boulevard, Milton Keynes MK9 2AH Offices also at Tunbridge Wells Directors: PG Russell-Vick DipLA CMLI • MA Carpenter BA(Hons) MRTPI • RJ Hodgetts BA(Hons) DipLA CMLI 01892 545460 [email protected] www.enplan.net Enplan is the trading name of Enplan UK Limited. Registered in England & Wales with Company Number 4608553. A list of directors is available at the registered office; Preston Park House, South Road, Brighton, BN1 6SB. THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK 2 | Enplan ref 05-715 Fernbank Nursery, Lower Nazeing Landscape Report November 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 5 2.0 LANDSCAPE RELATED PLANNING POLICY CONTEXT ................................... 6 National ................................................................................................................. 6 Local ..................................................................................................................... 7 3.0 LANDSCAPE CONTEXT ...................................................................................... 9 Landscape Character ............................................................................................ 9 National Context ................................................................................................... 9 District ................................................................................................................. 11 Appeal Site Location and Immediate Surroundings ............................................ 14 4.0 LANDSCAPE APPRAISAL OF THE APPEAL SITE .......................................... 16 5.0 VISUAL APPRAISAL OF THE APPEAL SITE ................................................... 17 6.0 LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT ....................................... 20 Visual Impact Assessment .................................................................................. 20 Impact on Residential Visual Amenity ................................................................. 23 Landscape Character Impacts ............................................................................ 24 7.0 LANDSCAPE STRATEGY .................................................................................. 28 8.0 CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................. 29 Figures 1 Appeal Site Context (Location of wider viewpoints) 2 Topography 3 Designation Plan 4 Zone of Theoretical Visibility (bare earth) 5 Landscape and Visual ( Location of Viewpoints and Appeal Site Appraisal Views) 6 Landscape Character Areas 7 Appeal Site Photographs A & B 8 Appeal Site Photographs C & D 9 Appeal Site Photographs E & F 10 Appeal Site Photographs G & H | 3 11 Appeal Site Photographs J & K 12 Appeal Site Photographs L & M 13 Photographic Viewpoint 1 14 Photographic Viewpoint 2 15 Photographic Viewpoint 3 16 Photographic Viewpoint 4 17 Photographic Viewpoint 5 18 Photographic Viewpoint 6 19 Photographic Viewpoint 7 20 Photographic Viewpoint 8 21 Photographic Viewpoint 9 22 Photographic Viewpoint 10 23 Photographic Viewpoint 11 24 Illustrative Masterplan Appendices Appendix A Methodology Appendix B National Character Area Profile: Northern Thames Basin (NCA111) Appendix C Epping Forest District Council Landscape Character Assessment (Jan 2010) Appendix D Landscape Supporting Graphics 4 | Enplan ref 05-715 Fernbank Nursery, Lower Nazeing Landscape Report November 2017 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Enplan is a multi-disciplinary practice of planners, landscape architects and environmental consultants. Enplan was instructed by Stallan Nazeing Ltd to produce a landscape and visual appraisal for the proposed development (Appeal Site) at land at Fernbank Nursery, Lower Nazeing to support an appeal for the refused planning application 28 July 2017. 1.2 The report defines the existing landscape conditions, assesses the character and quality of the landscape and analyses the visual and landscape effects of the proposals. 1.3 The baseline position against which this assessment has been undertaken is as per the current position on the ground. There are no extant planning permissions for the land. 1.4 The Study Area for this assessment has been defined to incorporate all parts of the landscape that potentially may have a view of the proposals (referred to later in this chapter as the Zone of Theoretical Visibility or ZTV) and is a slightly wider area that is sufficient in size to define the broad landscape context of the Appeal Site. 1.5 Assessments undertaken within this appraisal have been undertaken in accordance with the 3rd Edition of ‘Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (GLVIA3). The assessment and landscape design work has been led by Richard Hodgetts BA Hons DipLA CMLI, Landscape Director of Enplan and a Chartered Landscape Architect with over 27 years’ experience. 1.6 The proposal is to construct to provide up to 50 dwelling houses together with access roads and hard and soft landscaping proposals. The proposed illustrative plans have been designed by John Douglas Architecture and the details of the rationale for the design set out in the Planning Statement by Peacock and Smith and Design and Access Statement which accompanied the original application. | 5 2.0 LANDSCAPE RELATED PLANNING POLICY CONTEXT 2.1 This section describes the background of relevant national and local planning policies, in so far as they relate to landscape matters, against which the development proposals will be determined. The Appeal Site falls within the administrative boundary of Epping Forest District Council and is classed as “urban fringe”. It lies adjacent but outside of the defined built up area boundary of Lower Nazeing . National 2.2 Policies in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), 2012, which relate to landscape are set out below: Paragraph 17: - always seek to secure high quality design and a good standard of amenity for all existing and future occupants of land and buildings; - take account of the different roles and character of different areas, recognising the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside and supporting thriving rural communities within it; Paragraph 58: - respond to local character and history, and reflect the identity of local surroundings and materials, while not preventing or discouraging appropriate innovation; - are visually attractive as a result of good architecture and appropriate landscaping. Paragraph 61: - although visual appearance and the architecture of individual buildings are very important factors, securing high quality and inclusive design goes beyond aesthetic considerations. Therefore, planning policies and decisions should address the connections between people and places and the integration of new development into the natural, built and historic environment. Paragraph 109: The planning system should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by: - protecting and enhancing valued landscapes, geological conservation interests and soils; 6 | Enplan ref 05-715 Fernbank Nursery, Lower Nazeing Landscape Report November 2017 - recognising the wider benefits of ecosystem services; - minimising impacts on biodiversity and providing net gains in biodiversity where possible, contributing to the Government's commitment to halt the overall decline in biodiversity, including by establishing coherent ecological networks that are more resilient to current and future pressures; - preventing both new and existing development from contributing to or being put at unacceptable risk from, or being adversely affected by unacceptable levels of soil, air, water or noise pollution or land instability; and - remediating and mitigating despoiled, degraded, derelict, contaminated and unstable land, where appropriate. Paragraph 113: Local planning authorities should set criteria based policies against which proposals for any development on or affecting protected wildlife or geodiversity Appeal Sites or landscape areas will be judged. Distinctions should be made between the hierarchy of international, national and locally designated Appeal Sites, so that protection is commensurate with their status and gives appropriate weight to their importance and the contribution that they make to wider ecological networks. Local Epping Forest District Local Plan (1998) and Alterations (2006) 2.3 The Appeal Site lies within the Green Belt, and forms part of the Lee Valley Regional Park (LVRP) as confirmed by the Council’s adopted (saved) Proposals Map. All relevant designations identified on Figure 3 Designation Plan 2.4 Within the Local Plan Policy RST24 – Design and Location of Development in the LVRP sates: All developments within or adjacent to the Lee Valley Regional Park should:- (i) have regard to the importance of the Park for leisure, recreation and nature conservation and make provision, where appropriate, for improved public access and landscaping; (ii) safeguard the amenity and future development of the Park; and (iii) conserve and, where possible, enhance the landscape of the Park or its setting. Developments which are likely to result in a significant adverse impact upon the character or function of the Park will not be permitted. | 7