Wilnecote Quarry Proposed Eastern Extension

Wilnecote Quarry Proposed Eastern Extension Landscape and Visual Assessment Wilnecote Quarry Proposed Eastern Extension Landscape and Visual Assessment CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION 1 2 GUIDELINES 1 3 ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY 2 4 PLANNING POLICY CONTEXT 3 5 BASELINE CONDITIONS 3 6 DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS 12 7 LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL EFFECTS 13 8 MITIGATION 17 9 CONCLUSION 18 TABLES Table 1 - Landscape Baseline Sensitivity Table 2 - Representative Viewpoint Baseline Table 3 - Summary of Landscape Effects Table 4 - Summary of Visual Effects FIGURES 20 Fig 1 - Landscape Character Assessment Fig 2 - Visual Assessment Fig 3 – Viewpoint Panoramas APPENDICES 22 Appendix 1 - Landscape and Visual Assessment Methodology Wilnecote Quarry Proposed Eastern Extension Landscape and Visual Assessment 1 INTRODUCTION Terms of Reference 1.1 This report assesses potential landscape and visual effects in respect of proposals to vary the approved quarry development scheme including construction of a small length of internal site haul road at Wilnecote Quarry, Tamworth operated by Hanson Brick. 1.2 Mineral working at the quarry, which is lies wholly within Staffordshire, has been authorised by a series of planning permissions dating back to 1994. These permissions authorise clay extraction followed by infilling using imported wastes. The currently approved working scheme is Figure 3, which was approved by planning permission T 05/08/905MW. 1.3 The planning submission, for which this assessment is required, seeks to allow: • the limited working of an additional 140,000 tonnes (approximately) of Etruria Marl from the eastern quarry benches within the existing quarry and • Construction of a small length of internal site haul road on the eastern site boundary 1.4 This report describes the methodology used to assess the potential impacts, includes an assessment of the baseline conditions and identifies the receptors likely to be affected by the proposed development. It also makes recommendations for mitigation, if any is required, to minimise the effect of the potential impacts identified. Objectives of the Assessment 1.5 The objectives of the landscape and visual impact assessment presented in this report are to assess the character of the existing ‘baseline’ landscape and visual resources and then identify the magnitude and significance of change which would arise from the proposed development. 1.6 Two broad categories of impact are considered: • Landscape impacts are changes in the fabric, character and quality of the landscape. These could include direct impact upon specific landscape elements (such as loss of woodland or hedgerows) or effects on landscape character and designated areas of landscape. • Visual impacts relate to specific changes in the character of views and the effects of those changes on visual receptors (for example, users of roads or rights of way, residents or users of recreational facilities). Visual impact to the setting of cultural heritage features is also considered (e.g. Historic Parks and Gardens, Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) as these interests are protected by planning policy. 2 GUIDELINES 2.1 This landscape and visual impact assessment (LVIA) has been undertaken by a chartered landscape architect (CMLI) with significant experience of landscape and visual assessment across a range of development sectors. 1 Wilnecote Quarry Proposed Eastern Extension Landscape and Visual Assessment 2.2 The methodology which has been employed accords with relevant professional standards and guidelines, including the ‘Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment’ (Landscape Institute and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment, 2nd Edition 2002); the ‘Landscape Character Assessment Guidance for England and Scotland’ (Countryside Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage, 2002); ‘The Guidelines for Environmental Impact Assessment (Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment, 2004). 3 ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY 3.1 The methodology of this assessment aims to systematically appraise the existing landscape condition, to identify all the significant physical and visual characteristics and assess their quality or value as well as the perceived, visual amenity value. These then provide a baseline against which the key landscape and visual effects can be predicted and evaluated and their magnitude and significance assessed in a logical and well reasoned fashion. 3.2 In order to undertake a full assessment, a number of clear stages of work have been identified and addressed in accordance with the prescribed methodology. These stages include the following: • a desk study of current plans policy and designations in respect of the site and surrounding area; • a desk study of existing landscape character assessments for the site and surrounding areas; • site assessment and identification of the range of landscape and visual receptor groups within the study area; • an assessment of the sensitivity of the landscape and visual receptors to change; • an assessment of the magnitude and significance of effects upon the landscape character and visual environment arising from the proposed development; • an assessment of any mitigation measures incorporated within the proposals to help reduce identified potential landscape and visual effects. 3.3 For full details of the landscape and visual assessment methodology refer to Appendix 1 of this report. Terminology 3.4 The following terminology is used in this assessment: • Landscape: those physical components that together form the appearance of land, including its shapes, colours and textures. Landscape also reflects the way in which these various components combine to create distinctive landscape character particular to specific localities. • Landscape Character Area (LCA): an area of homogenous landscape character specific to a local area. Typical landscape components defining character include landform, land cover, vegetation, settlement pattern, remoteness and degree of tranquillity. 2 Wilnecote Quarry Proposed Eastern Extension Landscape and Visual Assessment • Visual Receptors: people or groups of people such as residents, pedestrians and motorists who would experience an effect on views resulting from the proposed development. 4 PLANNING POLICY CONTEXT 4.1 The Landscape and Visual Assessment undertaken in this report is considered within the context of NPPF and local policies (Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent – Saved Policies Extended beyond 28 September 2007) relevant to assessing the landscape and visual impact of the proposal. An appraisal of the planning policy context is contained in Section 7 of the planning application supporting statement. 5 BASELINE CONDITIONS Site Description 5.1 The proposal site, hereafter referred to as ‘the Site’ (central point Grid Reference SP 22083 99912) is located within the existing Wilnecote Quarry located about 3 km south east of Tamworth in Staffordshire. 5.2 Wilnecote Quarry is an active and part landfilled/restored Etruria Marl quarry which extends to approximately 30Ha in area. 5.3 The quarry has been worked to a base depth of approximately 43m AOD which is 45m to 50m below the ground level at the eastern perimeter of the quarry. 5.4 The extraction of an additional 140,000 tonnes (approximately) of Etruria Marl will take place from the eastern quarry benches within the existing quarry. Extraction operations will require a 30m width land take at ground level on the eastern quarry perimeter. This will require part removal of an existing screen bund with regrading to the remaining outer remnant bund to create a similar feature but with a narrower footprint. 5.5 Additional clay would be extracted from a base depth of approximately 40m AOD to approximately 80m AOD (some 15m below ground level) from the eastern embankment of the existing quarry void. Description of the Surrounding Area Location 5.6 The quarry is located in an urban fringe area which is characterised by residential and industrial development to the west and north, by open countryside to the east and by a mix of industry and countryside to the south. The closest residential areas to the site are as follows; • Wilnecote - the centre of the residential area is approximately 1.3Km to the north. • Hockley - the centre of the residential area is 700m to the north east. • Dosthill - the centre of the residential area is 0.5Km to the west. The quarry lies 700m east of the A51 and 1.5Km west of the M42. It also lies immediately to the east of the rail line which links Birmingham with Burton and Derby. 3 Wilnecote Quarry Proposed Eastern Extension Landscape and Visual Assessment Landform 5.7 Slopes and ridgelines are very prominent in the local landscape, helping to contain this part of the Tamworth fringe and separating it from the wider countryside to the south. The land rises from Hedging Lane (70 to 90m AOD) and Gorsy Bank Road (90 to 110m AOD) with up to the highest points of the Whateley area at 120m AOD, which lies within North Warwickshire. A slightly lower ridge lies to the west of Rush Lane on agricultural land, prominent above the current quarry workings when viewed from within Wilnecote or Dosthill. 5.8 From within the urban areas, in Hockley, Wilnecote and parts of Dosthill, the ridgelines form an important skyline landscape feature to the south which enables views of open countryside from within residential areas. The south and east faces of the existing quarry are also visible beneath this skyline. 5.9 This relationship of landform to the current limits of the town means

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