Proposed Campsite Land at Glororum, Bamburgh
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PROPOSED CAMPSITE LAND AT GLORORUM, BAMBURGH Landscape and Visual Assessment Stephen Laws Chartered Landscape Architect November 2020 Campsite, Land at Glororum, Bamburgh Page 1 Proposed campsite Land at Glororum, Bamburgh Landscape and visual assessment November 2020 CONTENTS PAGE SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION 3 SECTION 2 METHODOLOGY 6 SECTION 3 APPRAISAL CRITERIA 7 SECTION 4 BASELINE CONDITIONS 13 SECTION 5 LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL APPRAISAL 21 SECTION 6 CONCLUSION 45 Stephen Laws Chartered Landscape Architect BA (Hons) DipLA CMLI 07841 579297 Campsite, Land at Glororum, Bamburgh Page 2 SECTION 1; INTRODUCTION 1.1 This report has been prepared by Stephen Laws, a Chartered Landscape Architect with over 30 years’ experience in landscape architecture and environmental assessment. The report has been commissioned by Edesign to support the Planning Application for a small campsite facility on land to the south east of Glororum Farmhouse, Bamburgh. 1.2 The Application Site is located on part of the field adjoining Glororum farmhouse, to the south-east. The site would be accessed from the lane between Glororum and Burton. 1.3 The level of assessment undertaken for this Appraisal is considered to be appropriate to the scale and nature of the development and the level of information currently available. Field work for this assessment was undertaken on 25 October 2020 and 1 November 2020. The weather conditions were changeable with intermittent cloud and clear skies or overcast. Visibility was generally good and occasionally fair. Scope of this assessment 1.4 This appraisal will consider the following potential effects of the development. a) Potential effects on local landscape character. b) Potential effects on the site and immediate area. c) Potential visual effects. Development description 1.5 The proposed development comprises a small campsite facility of ten, yurt style tents (beige/sand colour) located in part of the field adjoining Glororum farmhouse, to the south-east. See Figure 2. The tents will be erected on. The tents will be a maximum height of 3.3m. The tents will be spaced equally, across the campsite area in an informal arrangement, linked with gravel paths. The campsite will operate from March- October. 1.6 The car park and toilet/shower block will be located in the north-east corner of the site, partly enclosed with native hedging. Hardstandings will be in gravel. The toilet/shower block will be approximately 18m in length by 3.0m depth and between 2.4m - 2.7m high, with a mono pitch roof falling to the roadside. The finish will be vertical timber cladding with insulted metal profile roof. 1.7 There will be no external campsite lighting within the tented area. Head torches will be provided. The toilet block will have external bulkhead and internal light. Yurts will have low level internal. A non-illuminated sign will be provided at the site entrance. All lighting will be solar powered. 1.8 Grassland areas between the tents will be partly sown with native flower seed mix and managed to create a species rich grassland. Existing hedges around the Application Site will be gapped-up and replanted with native species to repair field boundaries. Native, hedgerow trees will be introduced around the boundary. Campsite, Land at Glororum, Bamburgh Page 3 Page 4 SECTION 2; METHODOLOGY 2.1 The approach adopted in this study for assessing landscape and visual effects follows the guidelines contained in The Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (GLVIA), Third Edition (2013), published by the Landscape Institute and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment. 2.2 This study utilises source data from the government website www.magic.gov.uk which combines a range of environmental information provided by partner organisations including Historic England. Reference has also been made to planning policy, landscape character studies and other relevant information including digital mapping, satellite imagery and aerial photography. Visual envelope 2.3 The study area shown on Figure 1 was largely defined by the extent of land within which the site and proposed development would be visible and would potentially experience significant visual effects. The predicted visual envelope shown on Figure 3 generally covers land within 1200m of the Application Site. There may be views of the development beyond this distance, but such views are unlikely to be significant, due to the scale and nature of the development and the diminishing effects of distance. 2.4 The study area has been extended beyond the predicted visual envelope to show the wider context and local designations. The study area covers part of the coastal margins around Budle Bay which falls within the Northumberland Coast, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and the Bamburgh Conservation Area. The study area extends up to 3.0km from the Application Site. Field work for this study was undertaken in October and early November 2020 when deciduous vegetation was partially in leaf. It is not expected that visibility would substantially change throughout the year due to the extent vegetation screening, especially hedgerows and local topography although some visual effects may increase due to a reduction in screening. References The Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, Third Edition (2013). Landscape Institute and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment. An Approach to Landscape Character Assessment (2014). Natural England. National Character Area Profiles. Natural England. September 2014. The Northumberland Landscape Character Assessment (NLCA); Parts A and B. August 2010. Northumberland County Council. Northumberland AONB Landscape Sensitivity and Capacity Study. August 2013.Northumberland AONB Partnership. Northumberland Key Land Use Impact Study; Part A. Landscape Sensitivity at Settlement Edges. September 2010. Northumberland County Council. North Northumberland Coast Neighbourhood Plan 2017-2023. Made Version (July 2018). Design Guide for the Bult Environment. Northumberland Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Campsite, Land at Glororum, Bamburgh Page 6 SECTION 3; APPRAISAL CRITERIA Landscape appraisal 3.1 An assessment of landscape effects deals with the effects of change and development on landscape as a resource. This includes how the proposal will affect the elements that make up the landscape, the aesthetic and perceptual aspects of the landscape and its distinctive character. 3.2 An appraisal of landscape sensitivity is made by combining professional judgements in relation to the susceptibility of the landscape to change (particular to the proposed development type) and the value of the landscape receptor. 3.3. Professional judgements are made in relation to the susceptibility of the landscape receptor to change. This is the capacity of a landscape receptor to accommodate the proposed development without undue consequences for the maintenance of the baseline situation and/or the achievement of landscape planning policies and strategies (whether the landscape receptor contributes to the overall character of a particular landscape type/area, or an individual element/feature or designation within it). 3.4 Judgements in relation to the value of the landscape receptor should reflect; • The value of the landscape character types or areas that may be affected based on a review of any designations at both national and local levels. Where there are no designations, judgements are based on criteria that can be used to establish landscape value. • The value of individual contributors to landscape character, especially key characteristics, which may include individual elements of the landscape, particular landscape features, notable aesthetic, perceptual or experiential qualities, and combinations of these contributors. 3.5 The appraisal of value is based on professional judgement and includes consideration of factors such as; • Landscape quality (condition): A measure of the physical state of the landscape. It may include the extent to which typical character is represented in individual areas, the intactness of the landscape and the condition of individual elements. • Scenic Quality: The term used to describe landscapes that appeal primarily to the senses (primarily but not wholly the visual senses). • Rarity: The presence of rare elements or features in the landscape or the presence of a rare Landscape Character Type. • Representativeness: Whether the landscape contains a particular character and/or features or elements which are considered particularly important examples. • Conservation Interests: The presence of features of wildlife, earth science or archaeological or historic and cultural interest can add to the value of the landscape as well as having value in their own right. • Recreational Value: Evidence that the landscape is valued for recreational activity where experience of the landscape is important. • Perceptual Aspects: A landscape may be valued for its perceptual qualities, notably wildness and / or tranquility. • Cultural Associations: Some landscapes are associated with particular people, such as artists or writers, or events in history that contribute to perceptions of the natural beauty of the area. Campsite, Land at Glororum, Bamburgh Page 7 3.6 The resulting landscape sensitivity is described using a four-point scale (very high, high, medium or low) based upon the criteria set out in Table 1. The magnitude of change on landscape receptors is described using a four point scale ranging from high to negligible,