Landscape and Visual Appraisal
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Landscape and Visual Appraisal Park & Ride, Barfield Close, Bar End ('Vaultex' site) Winchester 15 January 2021 Revision P02 Reference VTX-STL-XX-00-RP-A-XXXX-RP02 Park & Ride, Barfield Close, Bar End (‘Vaultex’ site) Landscape and Visual Appraisal Site name Proposed Multi-Storey Car Park, Barfield, Winchester Type of report Landscape and Visual Appraisal Prepared by Landsmith Associates Ltd On behalf of Wilmot Dixon Issue status Preliminary Planning Site address Coventry House, Barfield Close, Winchester SO23 9SQ Date of Issue P01 11 December 2020 P02. 15 January 2021 2 Park & Ride, Barfield Close, Bar End (‘Vaultex’ site) Landscape and Visual Appraisal Contents 1. Executive Summary 5 2. Introduction 6 2.1. Background 6 2.2. Scope 6 3. Methodology 7 3.1. Approach 7 3.2. Best Practice 7 3.3. Viewpoint Selection 7 3.4. Study Area 7 3.5. Field survey work 8 3.6. Desktop Study 8 4. Landscape Analysis 9 4.1. Site Location 9 4.2. Site description 9 4.3. Site context 9 4.4. Landscape Character 10 4.5. Landscape Planning Context 11 4.6. Landscape, Environmental and Historic Designations 12 5. Visual Analysis 14 5.1. Introduction 14 6. Opportunities for the Landscape Development Strategy 17 6.1. Opportunities and Constraints 17 7. Project Appraisal 19 7.1. Project Description 19 7.2. Landscape Planning Context Appraisal of the proposals 19 7.3. Character appraisal of the proposals 20 7.4. Vegetation appraisal of the proposals 20 7.5. Visual Appraisal of the proposals 20 7.6. Summary 22 3 Park & Ride, Barfield Close, Bar End (‘Vaultex’ site) Landscape and Visual Appraisal 8. Conclusion 23 9. Appendices 24 9.1. Appendix – Landscape Character 24 9.2. Appendix – Planning Policy 27 9.3. Appendix – Viewpoint Section Criteria 30 9.4. Appendix – Sources of Information 31 10. Figures 32 Figure 1. Site Location Figure 2. Landscape and Townscape Character Figure 3. Landscape Planning Context Figure 4. Topography Figure 5. Viewpoint Location and Public Rights of Way Figure 6. National and Recreational Trails and National Cycle Routes Figure 7 - v1. to Figure 7 – v2 Viewpoint Photographs Figure 8. Illustrative Layout 4 Park & Ride, Barfield Close, Bar End (‘Vaultex’ site) Landscape and Visual Appraisal 1. Executive Summary The purpose of this Landscape and Visual Appraisal (LVA) is to consider the potential landscape and visual effects that the development of the Vaultex site would have on the existing landscape and visual environment. This LVA provides the Local Planning Authority (LPA) further clarity on specific landscape issues brought forward by the development proposals as part of the broader planning application and provides a tool to inform and guide the design proposals. The methods used in this report follow the Landscape Institute and IEMA (2013) Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment 3rd edition (GLVIA3) This LVA has been prepared in response to feedback from the Local planning Authority (LPA) Overall, the baseline analysis found three key aspects requiring careful consideration to bring forward development on the former Vaultex Building / Coventry House site. These three aspects are the public rights of way along Domum Road, the South Down National Park closely situated west of the site: and further afield on high ground to the south, St Catherine's Hill and Pilgrim Trail. This LVA recommends that there be landscape and building design mitigation to the proposed development to reduce the impact of the nearby South Downs National Park and Public Rights of Way. The report concludes that by bringing forward the development as outlined, would have the following effects on the existing landscape and visual environment: • The reinforcement and enhancement of the planting to the site's western and southern boundary would reduce the visibility of development and neighbouring Industrial buildings from close and distant viewpoints • Enhancements to the site's western boundary would strengthen the wider strategic buffer that separates Bar End Industrial Estate from the South Downs National Park • A visually recessive development against the surrounding area and read the context of the wider built environment. • Limits change to close and distant viewpoints in designated landscapes, achieved through the landscape proposals and careful consideration of; buildings siting, roofscape design, elevational façade treatment and material finishes. • Adverse effects that would be minimised by retention of existing trees, the implementation of the landscape proposals, safeguarded by the Landscape Maintenance and Management Plan 5 Park & Ride, Barfield Close, Bar End (‘Vaultex’ site) Landscape and Visual Appraisal 2. Introduction 2.1. Background Stride Treglown on behalf of Wilmot Dixon and Winchester City Council, appointed Landsmith Associates to undertake a Landscape and Visual Appraisal (LVA) to be submitted as part of the planning application for a new multi-storey car park on Coventry House, Barfield Close, Winchester SO23 9SQ (referred to as 'the site'), Ordnance Survey Grid Reference SU 48647 28589. The development includes the erection of car park to provide 287 park & ride car parking spaces including 800m2 of photovoltaic panels, 16 Electric Vehicle (EV) charging bays, with associated access, turning and landscape proposals. The site is an approximately 0.52ha area of land, formerly occupied by The Vaultex Building / Coventry House (now demolished) and situated to the north of the East Winchester park and ride, Barfield. Coventry House was a two-storey, brick building around 13m high, with a dark tiled pyramidal-shaped pitched roof before demolition. To provide information for the landscape and visual appraisal process, the following plans have been prepared: • Figure 1. Site Location • Figure 2. Landscape and Townscape Character • Figure 3. Landscape Planning Context • Figure 4. Topography • Figure 5. Viewpoint Locations and Public Rights of Way • Figure 6. National / Recreational Trails and National Cycle Route The representative viewpoints which inform the visual analysis are presented in Figures 7 – v1 to Figures 7 – v9. 2.2. Scope This LVA does not form part of an Environmental Impact Assessment, nor is it a formal Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment. This document is a standalone Landscape and Visual Appraisal. This document provides the LPA specific landscape and visual aspects to review as part of the development proposals planning application. The report has been prepared at an appropriate and proportionate level of detail that reflects the proposed development scale and nature. As England's ancient capital, Winchester and its surrounding countryside, has an abundance of historical sites and significant natural features reflected in the extent and structure of this Appraisal. This report's scope does not cover any analysis or appraisal of lighting, acoustics, noise, or ecology brought forward by the development. Refer to specialist consultant's reports as listed below: • Middlemarch Environmental's Preliminary Arboricultural Report, October 2020. • Middlemarch Environmental's Preliminary Ecological Appraisal, November 2020 • Stroma Built Environment, Noise Impact Assessment, November 2020 • DDA, External Lighting and Energy Report, December 2020 6 Park & Ride, Barfield Close, Bar End (‘Vaultex’ site) Landscape and Visual Appraisal 3. Methodology 3.1. Approach The landscape and visual appraisal is informed by; desktop studies, field survey work, view analysis, site appraisal, and working in consultation with the Local Authority and an iterative manner with the design team. The LVA aims to determine the likely effects of the proposed development on the existing landscape and visual receptors identified within the study area. In this respect, the following receptors have been appraised: • Landscape character, including physical landscape elements and features (trees, hedges, etc.). • Views and visual amenity experienced by residents and users of public rights of way, public open spaces and local roads. The overall approach to the identification, evaluation and assessment of landscape and visual effects is summarised as follows: • Determining the scope of the appraisal. • Collating baseline information for landscape and visual analysis. • Reviewing the proposed development and identifying the nature and duration of likely impacts. • Consideration of likely landscape and visual impacts against the baseline information. • Identification of measures to avoid or remedy impacts, and inclusion of these measures into the design and landscape strategy. 3.2. Best Practice The methodology for this Landscape and Visual Appraisal follows best practice guidance as set out in the following documents: • Landscape Institute and IEMA (2013) Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment 3rd edition (GLVIA3) • The Landscape Institute (2019) P Visual Representation of Development Proposals Technical Guidance Note 06/19 3.3. Viewpoint Selection An approximate 1km radius for viewpoint locations was agreed with the Local Authority due to scale of development, site context and location. The sites also informed the viewpoint selection of historical features found in Winchester District Local Plan Part 2 Policies Map, as well as consideration of the views recorded in the South Downs National Park: View Characterisation and Analysis. Further information on viewpoint selection criteria can be found in Appendix 9.3. 3.4. Study Area The study area's geographical scope includes the site, and an approximate 1km radius from the site boundary