A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 3 – Appendices APPENDIX 10C LANDSCAPE CHARACTER SUB-ZONE (LCSZ) INFORMATION SHEETS Introduction This appendix provides data sheet summaries of the detailed analysis work undertaken in assessing the landscape character of the Proposed Scheme Study Area. The landscape is divided into local character zones (LCZs) and constituent sub-zones (LCSZs) each with a summary assessment of sensitivity to change of the type proposed. © Mouchel 2016 A.10D-1 A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 3 – Appendices Figure 10C 1 Local Landscape Character Sub Zones © Mouchel 2016 A.10D-2 A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 3 – Appendices Character Zones and Character Sub Zones LCZ 1 – Lower Foyle Valley LCZ 8 – Omagh Drumlin Farmlands LCSZ 1.1 – New Buildings and Ballougry LCSZ 8.1 - Wooded River Strule Valley LCSZ 1.2 – River Foyle Meander LCSZ 8.2 - Fairy Water Drumlins LCSZ 1.3 - Burn Dennet and Glenmornan River LCSZ 8.3 - Crockavanny Drumlins Valleys LCSZ 8.4 - South Omagh Drumlin Farmlands LCSZ 1.4 - Foyle Floodplain LCSZ 8.5 - Eskragh Water & Routing Burn LCZ 2 – Gortmonly Hill Drumlins LCSZ 2.1 – Gortmonly Hill LCZ 9 – Brogher & Slievemore Ridge LCZ 3 – Lifford Hills LCSZ 9.1 - Slievelahan Farmlands LCSZ 3.1 - Binnion & Black Hill LCSZ 9.2 - Crocknatummoge Hillform LCSZ 3.2 - Cavan & Dramore Hills LCSZ 9.3 - Garvaghy Valley LCSZ 3.3 - Croaghan Hill LCSZ 9.4 - Beltany & Tullanafoile Farmlands LCSZ 3.4 – Southern Lifford Hills LCSZ 9.5 - Knockmany Ridgeline LCSZ 9.6 - Ballymackilroy Moraines LCZ 4 – Upper Foyle Valley LCSZ 4.1 - Knockavoe & Meenashesk Hill Slopes LCZ 10 – Clogher Valley LCSZ 4.2 – Enclosed Mourne River Valley LCSZ 10.1 - Clogher & Augher Drumlin Farmlands LCSZ 4.3 – Newtownstewart Floodplain LCSZ 10.2 - Ballygawley & Ballyreagh A4 Corridor LCSZ 4.4 - Owenkillew Valley & Plateau Bogs LCZ 11 – Blackwater Valley LCZ 5 – Lower Derg Valley LCSZ 11.1 - Black Hill & Aughnacloy Drumlins LCSZ 5.1 – Derg Valley Farmland LCSZ 11.2 - Blackwater Drumlins LCSZ 11.3 - Favour Royal Forest LCZ 6 – Western Sperrins LCSZ 6.1 - Meenashesk Highland Bogs and Forest LCZ 12 – Branny Hill LCSZ 12.1 - Branny Hill LCZ 7 – Strule Valley and Bessy Bell LCSZ 7.1 - Baronscourt Valley LCZ U – Urban Areas LCSZ 7.2 - Bessy Bell LCSZ U.1 – Strabane and Lifford LCSZ 7.3 - Enclosed River Strule Valley LCSZ U.2 – Sion Mills LCSZ 7.4 - Sperrins Lower Slopes LCSZ U.3 – Newtownstewart LCSZ U.4 – Omagh LCSZ U.5 - Aughnacloy © Mouchel 2016 A.10D-3 A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 3 – Appendices LCSZ 1.1 – New Buildings and Ballougry Hill Plate 10C.1 View from the western margin of the River Foyle at Ballougry Hill, showing the setting of New Buildings and its relationship with the River Foyle. Plate 10C.2 View west across Magheramason from Gortmonly Hill, look across the Foyle valley. © Mouchel 2016 A.10D-4 A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 3 – Appendices Plate 10C.3 View across the River Foyle towards New Buildings, from Ballougry Road. Key Features: Undulating landform of low ridgelines broadly orientated in a south west – north east direction but broadly falling to the west towards the Foyle River Commonly pastoral land use comprising irregular shaped fields bounded by fragmented hedges with scattered hedgerow trees Scattered farmsteads with groups of mature trees in elevated locations Awareness of the river Foyle extending to the west and rising landform beyond Distinctive hill to the west of the River Foyle affording views across the river and the hills to the east. Much of zone designated as an Area of High Scenic Value (AoHSV) Description This character zone is dominated by the River Foyle as it flows to the north and marks the transition from countryside to urban settlement as the influence of Londonderry/Derry extends along the river banks to the south. The importance of this transition and the effect of urban pressures for development is highlighted by much of the zone being designated as an AoHSV in order to safeguard its quality and value as a landscape resource. The majority of the zone is farmland comprising irregular shaped fields bounded by frequently fragmented hedgerows whilst woodland is limited to small copses commonly associated with farmsteads or large country houses, particularly to the west of the zone. The landform rises sharply from the river banks particularly to the west of the River Foyle to form Ballougry Hill, these hills mark a transition from river valley to the uplands to the east and represent the north west extremities of the Sperrin range of mountains, although these hills are frequently interrupted by local watercourses that flow towards the River Foyle. © Mouchel 2016 A.10D-5 A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 3 – Appendices Settlements occur along the banks of the main river valley and mark the local break in slope from the river valley to local hills, New Buildings and Magheramason are representative of these settlements, linked by the existing A5, smaller settlements or clusters of properties occurring throughout the zone linked by a network of local roads and lanes. Sensitivity to Change The landscape represents a locally important landscape as a setting to the River Foyle and the approach to Londonderry/Derry from the south as a gateway into the city, part of the zone being designated at the local level as an AoHSV. The relatively strong vegetation framework would suggest that the zone has limited capacity to accommodate change. It is a high quality landscape with a value which is recognised at a county level by virtue of its designation in the Area Plan and which has a high sensitivity to change. © Mouchel 2016 A.10D-6 A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 3 – Appendices LCSZ 1.2 – River Foyle Meander Plate 10C.4 View west across the River Foyle and marginal landscape. Plate 10C.5 View from the existing A5 corridor, showing the shallow grade of landform and mixed hedge management. © Mouchel 2016 A.10D-7 A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 3 – Appendices Plate 10C.6 View from Black Hill, looking east across the Foyle towards Gortmonly Hill. Key Features: Low lying landform of low drumlins and gentle ridgelines that are heavily influenced by the River Foyle as it flows through the zone Gently undulating landform of predominantly pastoral fields and scrubby hedgerows, becoming more heavily managed to the west Small settlements and scattered farmsteads typically occurring at the local break in landform, older properties occupying local high points along the low ridgelines Numerous local watercourses that drain to the east and flow into the Foyle Gently undulating slope from final and highest ridgeline to the bank of the Foyle Description The zone is defined by the Dooish mountains to the west, Holywell Hill to the north and Gortmonly Hill to the east and is represented by a relatively low lying landform that is heavily influenced by the wide River Foyle as it meanders between low hills and gently sloping ridgelines. Landform is less pronounced in comparison to the north and areas of the zone are represented by low lying floodplain and frequent land drains and small watercourses that extend across the landscape. The majority of the land use is as farmland, predominantly pastoral although some arable farming takes place on the more fertile floodplains, fields are typically irregular and bounded by a variety of hedgerow forms, although these tend to become more fragmented to the edge of the zone as slopes rise and hedgerow management is less intensive. Woodland is generally sparse although some coniferous plantations to the west represent locally distinctive features. In common with LCSZ 1.1 settlements typically occur at the local break in landform from floodplain to hill slopes and typically comprise small villages such as Coxtown, Tirrody and Bready, elsewhere scattered farmsteads and individual dwellings occur along an extensive network of local lanes bounded by hedgerows. © Mouchel 2016 A.10D-8 A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 3 – Appendices Sensitivity to Change The area has a good landscape quality and local value, which has a moderate sensitivity to change. © Mouchel 2016 A.10D-9 A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 3 – Appendices LCSZ 1.3 – Burn Dennet and Glenmornan River Valleys Plate 10C.7 The undulating landform and heavily managed landscape, comprising large fields and scattered farms. Plate 10C.8 View of the River Dennet from the existing bridging point on the A5. © Mouchel 2016 A.10D-10 A5 Western Transport Corridor Volume 3 – Appendices Plate 10C.9 View showing the setting of Artigarvan on the fringe of the Foyle valley. Key Features: River valley bounded by a series of hills Gortmonly Hill to the north and Knockavoe to the south Contrast in land cover from woodland to open arable Represents a transition from river floodplain to upland hill forms Distinctive settlements feature on higher ground Fields typically comprise pasture bounded by managed and unmanaged hedgerow Description This zone represents the most distinctive of the river valleys that flow towards the River Foyle to the west, the River Dennet and Glenmornan are wooded watercourses that gradually descend from the higher slopes to the east and flow west across the floodplains that form LCSZ 1.4. The northern and southern edges of the zone is represented by a more open landscape featuring an open field pattern and bounded by a coherent hedgerow pattern that rises on the bounding hill slopes, tree cover is relatively sparse on the higher ground becoming increasingly common in association with the river corridors. Hedgerows typically become less heavily managed in association with the fringes of the settlements and water courses creating an impression of a wooded landscape. The settlement pattern is varied, the higher slopes feature only scattered farmsteads and dwellings, these small clusters gradually become more frequent in association with the watercourses and the settlements of Ballymagorry and Artigarvan that represent two of the largest settlements between New Buildings and Strabane.