PLANNING ADVICE 12/2012 LANDSCAPE CHARACTER ADVICE FOR SMALL SCALE DEVELOPMENT
CONTENTS Knock Hill and Aberchirder - 23 Northern Rolling Lowlands - 27 The Cromar Farmlands - 29 1. Introduction Upland Ridges South of the Deveron - 33 2. Process Wooded Estates Around Old Deer - 36 3. Policy Review Ythan Strath Farmland - 37 4. General Advice The Farmed Moorland Edge: 5. Landscape Character Advice (by Type): Daugh of Cairnborrow - 5 The Coast: Lumsden Valley - 24 Cliffs of the North and South East Coasts -3 The Cromar Uplands - 30 Dunes and beaches from Fraserburgh to Uplands and Moorland Plateaux: Peterhead - 10 Grampian Outliers - 15 Formartine Links and Dunes - 12 The Mounth - 31 Kincardine Cliffs - 20 The North Eastern Hill Ranges - 32 Kincardine Links - 21 The Straths and River Valleys: The Coastal Farmland: Deeside - 6 Coastal Farmland East of Macduff - 4 Deveron and Bogie Straths -7 Eastern Coastal Agricultural Plain - 11 Deveron and Upper Ythan Valleys - 8 North Eastern Coastal Farmland – 26 Donside - 9 Sandstone Ridges and Valleys South of Muir of Dinnet - 25 Troup - 28 Upper Deeside Estates - 34 Western Coastal Farmland - 35
The Agricultural Heartland:
Agricultural Heartland - 1
Central Wooded Estates - 2 Formartine Lowlands - 13 GLOSSARY Garvock and Glenbervie - 14 For a Glossary of Landscape Terms, the SNH Howe of Alford - 16 website contains a comprehensive list: Howe of Cromar - 17 http://www.snh.gov.uk/protecting-scotlands- Howe of the Mearns - 18 nature/looking-after-landscapes/landscape- Insch Basin - 19 resource-library/glossary-of-terms/ Kincardine Plateau - 22 MAP OF LANDSCAPE CHARACTER AREAS
3 4 28 26 35 10
23 8 1 11 36 5 7 33 27 37 15 15 33 27
19 13 24 15 12
16 9 2 15
30 29 17 15 15 2 25 6 34 22 31 20 32
31
14
18 21
See contents page above for corresponding areas. 1. INTRODUCTION used as a basis for making judgements on the potential for adverse landscape impacts This non-statutory planning advice provides guidance on the key characteristics of landscape character areas. It provides from proposed development. It should be specific advice for small scale development noted that the boundaries are not rigid, and and how to fit this in the landscape. Policy a development in one character area may 12 Landscape Conservation recognises the have an impact on another character area. landscapes of Aberdeenshire are valuable This is particularly relevant where the assets and aims to promote protection, neighbouring areas are identified as being management and planning of all of increased sensitivity. landscapes in order that the overall quality of the landscape can be improved or One such sensitivity is the adjoining maintained. SG Landscape1: Landscape Cairngorms National Park. Whilst this Character provides a policy context for advice focuses on the parts of achieving this. The supplementary guidance Aberdeenshire outwith the national park, requires all development to be appropriate there are a number of character areas to the landscape character of the area and which overlap and adjoin it and therefore not have an adverse impact on key features cross boundary impacts must be or the overall composition and quality of considered. landscape character. For these Landscape Character areas, The Local Development Plan (LDP) has reference should also be made to guidance changed the way we deal with landscape. provided by the Cairngorms National Park Areas of Landscape Significance are no through their Landscape Toolkit. longer be the primary geography used to determine potential impacts, but instead a www.cairngorms.co.uk/landscape-toolkit/ more comprehensive approach will be used by adopting Landscape Character Areas.
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) have defined landscape character areas within three Landscape Character Assessments. The descriptions of the character areas contained therein provide a basis for considering impacts on landscape character. The three relevant assessments completed as part of the National Programme of Landscape Character Assessment are; South and Central Aberdeenshire: Banff and Buchan and the Cairngorms Landscape Assessment. These can be viewed on the Scottish Natural Heritage website.
http://www.snh.gov.uk/protecting-scotlands-
nature/looking-after-landscapes/lca/
This advice encompasses information contained with SNH’s landscape character assessments. It provides a short overview of each character area and its key characteristics. This information should be
officers in considering the impact that development has on landscape character The advice provides guidance to applicants and providing guidance on minimising on the key characteristics of a landscape, impacts on landscape character. In general how small scale development is best fitted the impact of development on the in that character area, and in some cases landscape character will be considered in what should be avoided. The advice will the following way: also be used by Development Management
Identify those features or characteristics which make the landscape special (identified in the Identify sensitivity of landscape / advice). Sensitivity is the capacity the landscape has to accommodate development. The higher landscape characteristics the sensitivity of a landscape to a particular type of change, the lower its capacity to accommodate change.
Identify the magnitude of change This is the degree to which the landscape would (significance) be altered by the proposal, the scale of change.
Make a judgement on whether the Is the impact acceptable? Make a judgement on impact is acceptable (the the significance of the development based on the combination of the landscape sensitivity and significance of the above two the magnitude of change. Higher design quality factors) could mean less landscape impact. The advice is for all types of small scale • Policy review, which details the development such as single houses, small landscape planning policies of the Local groups of houses, agricultural buildings, Development Plan. and small scale employment proposals. • General advice, which sets out broad principles that should be considered in When assessing wind turbine proposals, the location, siting and design of all the advice should be taken account of, but small scale development. the advice does not provide specific • Landscape character area advice, guidance as to the siting of these. which sets out the characteristics and Supplementary guidance is being advice for the 37 character areas. developed separately for wind turbine proposals. In most cases it will be For each landscape character area the necessary for large scale developments to key landscape features of the landscape undertake a landscape and visual impact are described. The advice includes; a assessment. However, consideration of the map showing the boundaries of the key characteristics and qualities of a character area with areas of particular character area are still important regardless sensitivities shaded where applicable; of development scale. The advice does not specific guidance of the most appropriate provide guidance on cohesive groups as way to fit new small scale development these vary across a character area in terms into the landscape; and also anything that of size, shape, and cohesive should specifically be avoided. The characteristics. specific guidance may not apply to every circumstance and the guidance is The advice is split into four sections: therefore not prescriptive. An application • Process, which sets out the method to for development should only be follow when considering the impact a considered against the aspects of the development will have on the landscape guidance relevant to its situation. character.
2. PROCESS What impact will the development have on the key landscape This section outlines the process which features? Will it remove any? Will it should be followed when assessing an dilute the prevalence of these? Will application against landscape character. it have no impact? How significant is the impact? How will this impact on 1) Identify which landscape character area the overall quality of the landscape the site lies in. Identify if the area is of (its beauty/historical value). increased landscape sensitivity, and if so Could the scale, layout, siting and/or assess whether the proposal will potentially design be more appropriate to the have an adverse impact on the features character area? which make the area sensitive (as Where the area is identified as being described in the advice). sensitive, are any of the sensitivities affected? Also consideration of the landscape type Have the general principles as set will provide a general idea about the out in the “General Guidance” been characteristics of the area (i.e. upland, considered? agricultural). Could any adverse impacts be mitigated? 2) Consider the impact on neighbouring Could landscaping or planting help character areas, particularly if these are mitigate impacts? identified as of increased sensitivity. If the Are there opportunities to enhance site is located at or near the boundary of any of the key landscape features? two areas, it will be necessary to consider both neighbouring character areas. 4) Identify the scale of change and whether Although the character areas have specific it is appropriate to the landscape character. boundaries, in practice the landscape Is the level of impact acceptable? doesn’t suddenly change, and there will be Can the landscape accommodate an element of overlap between areas. the development without loosing its intrinsic character or sense of place 3) Review the advice and while on site (what is the degree of impact and consider the following points: could any impact be mitigated). Which key landscape features are Is the scale, location and design of present on the site and within the development appropriate to the surrounding area? Are any of these landscape character. particularly prominent? Will there be no adverse impact on natural or historical features. 3. POLICY REVIEW Policy 12 Landscape conservation sets out The Aberdeenshire Local Development the Councils aim to promote the Plan 2012, which was adopted on 1 June improvement and protection of all 2012 sets out policy in respect of landscapes within Aberdeenshire by using landscape. The aim of these policies is to landscape character as a basis for promote protection, management and planning. planning of the landscape, so the overall quality of the landscape can be maintained.
Policy 12 Landscape Conservation Aberdeenshire Council will plan for and promote the improvement and protection of all landscapes in Aberdeenshire by recognising and using landscape character areas. All the landscapes of Aberdeenshire are valuable assets and vulnerable resources, which are facing various pressures of change. We will use the Landscape Character Area framework as a basis for our future planning and management policy. We will also take into consideration particular opportunities, sensitivities and vulnerabilities of different landscapes, and make sure that the implications of development on these are managed in an appropriate and sensitive way. The way we will do this is set out in the following supplementary guidance. SG Landscape 1: Landscape character SG Landscape 2: Valued views
SG Landscape1: Landscape character sets out the specific landscape criteria against which development proposals will be assessed.
SG Landscape1: Landscape character We will approve development, subject to other policies, where: 1) its scale, location and design are appropriate to the landscape character of the area, as identified in Appendix 1; AND 2) the proposal will not have an adverse impact on:- (i) the key natural or historic features of the landscape character; OR (ii) the overall composition or quality of the landscape character, particularly if the landscape is currently largely unspoiled by obtrusive or discordant features; OR (iii) any combination of the above, when considered with other recent developments, resulting in the possibility of an adverse cumulative impact on the local landscape character.
4. GENERAL ADVICE The general advice below sets out broad principles that should be considered in the location, siting and design of all small scale development. 1. Working with the landform Aim to nestle into • Sit low in the landscape avoiding the landscape prominent positions, such as hilltops and ridges • Work with contours for shelter • Site buildings in the natural lie of the land • Working against contours can mean significant ground levelling is necessary
Use the slope of • Avoid mounding as this can make the site buildings unduly prominent • Balance cutting and filling if groundworks are essential 2. Consider local development patterns Consider the • Follow the established pattern for the relationships of area existing buildings • Assess proximity and relationship of to each other and buildings to the road e.g. close or set the surroundings back, parallel or perpendicular. • Assess the spacing between existing buildings • Assess the orientation and building lines • Avoid anonymous suburban patterns Ensure the • Take account of how adjacent properties building fits well occupy their plots within the plot • Avoid dominating a plot by ensuring there is sufficient space around the building • Provide sufficient open garden space in proportion to dwelling size
3. Respond to local characteristics Consider • Consider shape and proportions massing, characteristic of the area proportion and • Break up the mass of the house scale • Reducing the width of gable can help reduce the scale of the building. • Size should be relative to the landscape – often large buildings are not compatible with small enclosed landscapes Ensure access • Create access from existing entrance and parking do points not dominate • Avoid long or sweeping lengths of new proposals road • Lower the visual impact of parking - position it to the rear or side of the building • Avoid hard surfaces dominating the plot Ensure • Take account of how adjacent buildings boundaries are are bounded sensitive and in • Avoid high fences or concrete block walls keeping • Retain existing boundaries where
possible Planting and • Maintain existing planting or gardens renew/replace with appropriate / native species • Avoid very formal or ornamental gardens Further information on siting and design is available on the Scottish Government website: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Built-Environment/AandP/Projects/RuralDesign The advice below highlights more specific advice which is common to all landscape areas: Specific Guidance Dwellings • New dwellings are generally in the form of single and 1½ storey farmsteads and cottages. Modern interpretations can be incorporated without affecting the landscape character. • Where groups of housing are a feature, adding to existing groups of houses is a successful way of accommodating new development within the countryside. • New housing should be sensitively located, corresponding to traditional patterns. Siting • Development should seek to retain woodland where it exists. Where trees are grouped around buildings, this should be continued. • New planting should reflect the variety of species present in the character area and where possible new planting (screening, shelterbelts etc.) should aim to link up to existing woodland or plantations. • New housing in prominent locations, such as on dunes or in the middle of large flat fields should be avoided.
• Urbanising elements such as excessive signage, excessive lighting and ornamental planting is best avoided. • Brownfield sites should be utilised. Agricultural Buildings • Agricultural buildings should be well related to existing farm buildings.
• The landform should be used to help screen large buildings and buildings should be tucked into the landform. Where appropriate, farm buildings should be located, designed and engineered to sit in low in the landscape as practical, and they should avoid breaking the skyline. • Screening with embankments and trees is appropriate. • The colour of cladding on new buildings should be appropriate to the area. Boundaries • Suburban style fencing and wooden ranch fencing should generally be avoided as it is not in-keeping with rural characteristics. • Dry stone dykes and post and wire fencing are the common boundary treatments in most areas. However, there are some areas to the north where beech hedging is more of a feature.
5. LANDSCAPE CHARACTER ADVICE