Sherfield-On-Loddon North Hampshire
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Gladman Developments Ltd and Sentinel Housing Association Sherfield-on-Loddon North Hampshire Landscape and Visual Impact Appraisal January 2016 FPCR Environment and Design Ltd Registered Office: Lockington Hall, Lockington, Derby DE74 2RH Company No. 07128076. [T] 01509 672772 [F] 01509 674565 [E] [email protected] [W] www.fpcr.co.uk This report is the property of FPCR Environment and Design Ltd and is issued on the condition it is not reproduced, retained or disclosed to any unauthorised person, either wholly or in part without the written consent of FPCR Environment and Design Ltd. Ordnance Survey material is used with permission of The Controller of HMSO, Crown copyright 100018896. Rev Issue Status Prepared / Date Approved/Date - Draft 1 JJ / 09.07.2014 Draft 2 JJ / 06.01.2015 Draft 3 JJ / 07.07.2015 Draft 4 JJ / 22.07.2015 Draft 5 JJ / 11.01.2016 Landscape and Visual Appraisal fpcr CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 3 2.0 METHODOLOGY .................................................................................................................. 5 3.0 BASELINE CONDITIONS ................................................................................................... 11 4.0 PLANNING CONTEXT ....................................................................................................... 23 5.0 SCHEME DESCRIPTION AND LANDSCAPE MITIGATION ............................................. 33 6.0 ASSESSMENT OF EFFECTS ............................................................................................ 35 7.0 SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................... 43 FIGURES Figure 1: Site Location Figure 2: Aerial Photograph Figure 3: Topography Figure 4A: National Landscape Character Figure 4B: Hampshire County Character Assessment Figure 4C: BDBC Character Types Figure 5: Designations & Policy Figure 6: Photo Viewpoint Locations & Zone of Visual Influence Figures 7: Photograph Viewpoints Figure 8: Site Photographs Figure 9: BDBC Green Infrastructure Strategy Figure 10: BDBC Landscape Capacity Study APPENDICES Appendix A: Landscape Effects Schedule Appendix B: Visual Effects Schedule J:\6300\6346\LANDS\LVIA\6346 LVIA.docx 1 Landscape and Visual Appraisal fpcr PAGE LEFT DELIBERATELY BLANK J:\6300\6346\LANDS\LVIA\6346 LVIA.docx 2 Landscape and Visual Appraisal fpcr 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 This is a Landscape and Visual Impact Appraisal prepared by FPCR Environment and Design Ltd as part of an Outline Planning Application for residential development on land north of Goddards Lane, Sherfield-on-Loddon, North Hampshire. 1.2 Gladman Developments Ltd proposes a residential development and associated green infrastructure with public open space. The proposed development is described within the Design and Access Statement submitted as part of the planning application. 1.3 The site location and its context are shown in Figures 1 and 2. 1.4 For ease of description and for clarity, the report refers to the application site as the site and the development proposals as presented by the outline planning application and by the Masterplan as the Proposed Development. 1.5 The purpose of the report is to provide an assessment of the Proposed Development and the resulting landscape and visual effects on the receiving landscape and visual resource. The landscape and visual effects have been considered in relation to the proposed land uses and parameters that are defined on the application’s Masterplan. J:\6300\6346\LANDS\LVIA\6346 LVIA.docx 3 Landscape and Visual Appraisal fpcr PAGE LEFT DELIBERATELY BLANK J:\6300\6346\LANDS\LVIA\6346 LVIA.docx 4 Landscape and Visual Appraisal fpcr 2.0 METHODOLOGY Principles and Overview 2.1 The report is undertaken as a standalone ‘appraisal’ and is based upon the guidance contained within the Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, Third Edition (GLVIA3)1, published by the Landscape Institute and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment, April 2013. 2.2 In summary the GVLIA3 states : "Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA), is a tool used to identify and assess the significance of, and the effects of, change resulting from development on both landscape as an environmental resource in its own right and on people's views and visual amenity (1.3)" LVIA may be carried out either formally as part of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), or informally, as a contribution to the 'appraisal' of development proposals and planning applications. Both are important and the broad principles and the core of the approach is similar in each case (1.3). As a standalone 'appraisal' the process is informal and there is more flexibility, but the essence of the approach -specifying the nature of the proposed change or development; describing the existing landscape and the views and the visual amenity in the area that may be affected; predicting the effects, although not their likely significance; and considering how these effects might be mitigated- still applies (3.2) 2.3 There are two components which are described separately within this report:- Assessment of landscape effects; assessing effects on the landscape as a resource in its own right; and Assessment of visual effects; assessing effects on specific views and on the general visual amenity experienced by people. 2.4 The GLVIA3 recognises that professional judgement is a very important part of the process, and states that whilst there is some scope for quantitative measurements of some relatively objective matters, much of the assessment must rely on qualitative judgements (para 2.23). 2.5 In terms of baseline studies, the assessment provides an understanding of the landscape in the area to be affected, its constituent elements, character, condition and value. For the visual baseline this includes an understanding of the area in which the Proposed Development may be visible, the people who may experience views, and the nature of views. 2.6 Effects are determined by making judgement about two components:- The nature of the receptor likely to be affected (known by the shorthand 'sensitivity') and; The nature of the effect likely to occur (known by the shorthand 'magnitude'). 2.7 Judgements on sensitivity are made by considering:- The susceptibility of the receptor to the type of change arising from the specific proposal; and The value attached to the receptor. 2.8 Judgements on magnitude are made by considering:- 1 Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, Landscape Institute and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment, April 2013 J:\6300\6346\LANDS\LVIA\6346 LVIA.docx 5 Landscape and Visual Appraisal fpcr The size and scale of the effect, for example whether there is a complete loss of a particular element of the landscape or a minor change; The geographical extent of the area that will be affected; and The duration of the effect and its reversibility. 2.9 In terms of mitigation, primary measures to prevent/avoid, reduce and, where possible, offset or remedy any adverse effects are developed through the iterative design process of the Proposed Development. This is described by the report and is included within the overall assessment of effects. Assessment of Landscape Effects 2.10 GLVIA3 states that “An assessment of landscape effects deals with the effects of change and development on landscape as a resource”. 2.11 The baseline landscape is described by reference to existing landscape character assessments, and by a description of the site and its immediate context. 2.12 A range of landscape effects can arise through development. These can include: Change or loss of elements, features, aesthetic or perceptual aspects that contribute to the character and distinctiveness of the landscape; Addition of new elements that influence character and distinctiveness of the landscape; and Combined effects of these changes. 2.13 These are discussed in the assessment. Susceptibility to Change and Value of the Landscape Receptor 2.14 The characteristics of the existing landscape resource are considered in respect of the susceptibility of the landscape resource to the change arising from the development. 2.15 The value of the existing landscape is also considered. GLVIA3 indicates information that contributes to understanding landscape value. This information is set out in paragraph 5.20 of the GLVIA3 and includes:- Information about areas recognised by statute such as National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty; Information about Heritage Coasts, where relevant; Local planning documents, for local landscape designations; Information on individual or groups of features such as conservation areas, listed buildings, special historic or cultural sites; Art and literature identifying value attached to particular areas or views; and Material on landscape of local or community interest. 2.16 Where there is no clear existing evidence on landscape value, an appraisal is made based on the following factors, based on the guidance in GLVIA3:- J:\6300\6346\LANDS\LVIA\6346 LVIA.docx 6 Landscape and Visual Appraisal fpcr Landscape quality (condition); Scenic quality; Rarity; Representativeness; Conservation interest; Recreation value; Perceptual aspects; and Associations. Magnitude of Landscape Effects 2.17 Each effect on landscape receptors is assessed in terms of size or scale, geographical extent of