Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment
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Castle Farm Free-range Egg Unit Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment April 2018 Viento Environmental Limited www.viento-env.co.uk Castle Farm Free-range Egg Unit Landscape and Visual Assessment INTRODUCTION 1. This report presents the findings of a landscape and visual impact assessment that has been undertaken to identify the likely effects of the proposed free-range egg production development on the landscape character and visual amenity of the locality. 2. The assessment has concentrated on a 3.0km radius study area for landscape character, landscape designations and visual amenity, which is considered sufficient to identify all likely impacts on landscape character and visual amenity given the limited height and extent of the development (see Figure LV1 for the extent of the study area). 3. The assessment is illustrated by Figure LV1 and by Viewpoints 1 - 6. METHOD OF ASSESSMENT Assessment Approach 4. The assessment is a study identifying the key views towards the proposed development and describing how these views could change as a result of the proposal. In addition, the study identifies the landscape character of the site and surroundings and sets out the potential changes to landscape character that could occur as a result of the proposal. 5. The methodology used in this study conforms to the Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, Third Edition (GLVIA3). GLVIA3 recommends that for non-EIA development, the assessment should be proportionate to the scale of the project and the nature of its likely effects and that an assessment of significance is not required. Good Practice Guidance and Data 6. As mentioned above, the assessment has utilised guidance set out within the GLVIA3. Photographs illustrating views from each viewpoint have been taken using a Canon EOS 6D digital camera using a fixed lens with a 50mm focal length. Individual frames from the viewpoints have been stitched together to provide a panoramic image giving context to the viewpoint and the locality. Other photographs are used to illustrate the text within the report and are shown as single frame images. The viewpoints cover varying horizontal widths of view and so no set viewing distance should be ascribed to individual views. The viewpoint images are provided for information purposes and are labelled with relevant notes and should not be considered as a substitute to visiting a viewpoint in the field. Viento Environmental Limited 2 Castle Farm Free-range Egg Unit Assessment Process 7. The assessment has involved information review, fieldwork observations and photography, and has been undertaken in several stages, as presented in the following sections of this report: • Predicted effects and mitigation – a review of the visual characteristics of the proposed development to identify the aspects with the potential to give rise to visual effects and a description of the measures incorporated into the design to mitigate these effects. • Landscape and visual context – a review of the existing landscape and visual baseline of the study area, to identify landscape character, landscape designations and visual receptors in the study area. • Viewpoint analysis – to illustrate typical local views and to predict the changes to views as a result of the proposed development from a selection of viewpoints that represent the main visual receptors in the study area. • Landscape assessment – an assessment of the potential effects of the proposed development on landscape fabric, landscape character and landscape designations in the landscape study area. • Visual assessment – an assessment of the potential effects of the proposed development on the visual amenity of receptors in the visual study area. • Conclusions – a summary of the findings of the landscape and visual assessments. Prediction Methodologies 8. The prediction methodologies for the viewpoint analysis, landscape assessment and visual assessment are provided at the beginning of these sections. PREDICTED EFFECTS AND MITIGATION 9. A detailed description of the proposed development and information on the installation of the various components of this proposed development are provided in the Design and Access Statement of the Planning Application. 10. It is the visual appearance of the proposed development and associated activities and any proposed changes to the existing landscape fabric of the site that are the main aspects of the development with the potential to affect landscape and visual amenity and these are summarised below. 11. The main elements of the proposed development that would be visible would be: • Built form – measuring 149.35m x 20.10m and 5.88m to ridge of roof. Roof pitch of 15 degrees and an eaves height of 3.00m. Eight high velocity mechanical fans would Viento Environmental Limited 3 Castle Farm Free-range Egg Unit thermostatically control the building at a height of 80cm above the ridge of the roof. Three silos would be located adjacent to the northeastern corner of the building and would be of a height of 6.68m. The building, roof and silos/hoppers would all be juniper green (or similar) in colour. (Final colours to be agreed with the Council). • Access track – access to the new building would be via an existing field gate access point from the local road, incorporating a hardstanding area adjacent to the southwestern and southern ends of the building and extending to surround the building at a width of approximately 5m on all sides. This access would require some limited alterations to the roadside hedgerow in order to provide a suitable width of access and visibility splay onto the public highway. • Deliveries to and from the site (as set out within the Design and Access Statement). • Landscape enhancement proposals – a detailed planting scheme would be submitted post permission. Drawing RJC-MZ194-06 indicates the broad proposals for the landscaping measures including a mixed native tree belt along the western site boundary and scattered individual trees to the east of the building. These measures are proposed to aid in the integration of the building into the area as well as adding enhancements to local landscape fabric. 12. From a landscape and visual perspective, the number of elements visible has been minimised by the limited height of the development, the suggested juniper green colour for the built form, good levels of mature vegetation within the local landscape and a comprehensive set of landscape enhancements associated with the proposal. LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL CONTEXT 13. The proposed development would be situated within an agricultural field to the east of a local road which runs between Underwood and Bishton. The site field is an agricultural field of irregular shape and bounded by a mixture of hedgerows, tree belts and post and wire fencing. On its southern end, the field is adjoined by a dense deciduous tree belt, with post and wire fencing on the eastern boundary and hedgerows on the western boundary. 14. The nearest residential properties to the proposed building are at Castle Farm, located approximately 250m to the southwest. The barn conversion at Castle Farm is located on the eastern side of the farm complex, comprising four properties in separate ownership. Castle Farmhouse is located further to the west within the complex and is owned by the applicant. Beyond this, the nearest residential properties are located within the village of Bishton, approximately 360m to the south of the site at its closest point. Viento Environmental Limited 4 Castle Farm Free-range Egg Unit Landscape Fabric 15. The field within which the proposed development would be located is currently used for rough grazing, having been infilled some years ago with surplus subsoil from the construction of the local brewery at Magor. As a result, it is understood that the land is not particularly productive and of poor quality. As already mentioned, on its southern end, the field is adjoined by a dense deciduous tree belt, with post and wire fencing on the eastern boundary and hedgerows on the western boundary. Further agricultural fields extend out to the east and would be utilised for the ranging of the hens. 16. The local road is bounded on both sides by hedgerows in the vicinity of the site, with hedgerows of varying heights typical as field boundaries in the locality. Several hedgerows in the area are quite gappy and are backed by post and wire fences. However, there are several distinct areas of mature trees including along the roadside immediately south of the site and a number of woodland blocks surrounding Bishton and Underwood including Ridings Wood, Poolhead Wood, Pant-yr-eos Wood, The Routs Wood, Great Wood, Stock Wood, Longditch Wood and woodland around Llanwern Hill and Park. All of these woodlands are located within 1.5km of the site, with the closest located within 350m of the proposed building. 17. The landform of the site itself is low lying and broadly flat, located at approximately 20m AOD. Beyond the site the landform gently rises to the east and west to heights of approximately 40m and 60m AOD, respectively. The village of Bishton and the local road between Bishton and Underwood are situated in the bottom of the valley, with the valley slopes rising on either side. Beyond this the landscape forms a series of low hills to the north, east and west, but to the south the landform is extremely low lying and flat across the site of the Llanwern Steel Works and further south. 18. A reservoir is located approximately 400m to the northwest of the site, close to Underwood, and a watercourse follows a course through much of the valley floor, immediately east of the local road in the vicinity of the site. Numerous drainage ditches, or reens, are located within the study area, mainly around Green Moor and to the south of Llanwern Steel Works. The nearest footpaths to the site are located to the west, across nearby pasture fields.