Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Denis Lambert Spout Farm Preston Road Longridge Lancashire Contents 1. Introduction ______________________________________________________________ 4 1.1. Background ______________________________________________________________________ 4 1.2. The Site and Proposals ____________________________________________________________ 4 1.3. The Study Area ___________________________________________________________________ 5 2. Planning policy ___________________________________________________________ 6 2.1. National Planning Policy ___________________________________________________________ 6 2.2. Local Planning Policy _____________________________________________________________ 6 2.3. Saved policies from the Districtwide Local Plan _______________________________________ 7 3. Report Structure _________________________________________________________ 11 4. Methodology ____________________________________________________________ 12 4.1. Introduction _____________________________________________________________________ 12 4.2. Best Practice Guidance ___________________________________________________________ 12 4.3. Landscape and Visual Effects _____________________________________________________ 12 4.4. Assessment of Significance _______________________________________________________ 13 4.5. Steps in the Assessment Process __________________________________________________ 14 5. Baseline Conditions _____________________________________________________ 15 5.1. Introduction _____________________________________________________________________ 15 5.2. Topography _____________________________________________________________________ 15 5.3. The Site and its Context __________________________________________________________ 15 5.4. Landscape Character Baseline ____________________________________________________ 16 5.5. Landscape Designations Baseline _________________________________________________ 16 5.6. Landscape Features _____________________________________________________________ 17 5.7. Visual Baseline __________________________________________________________________ 18 5.8. Visual Environment of the Site _____________________________________________________ 18 5.9. Public Rights of Way _____________________________________________________________ 18 5.10. Residential Receptors ____________________________________________________________ 19 6. The Proposed Scheme ___________________________________________________ 20 6.1. The Proposal ____________________________________________________________________ 20 7. Effects __________________________________________________________________ 21 7.1. Timescales and Nature of Effects __________________________________________________ 21 7.2. Effects During Construction _______________________________________________________ 21 7.3. Effects on Landscape Character ___________________________________________________ 21 7.4. National Landscape Character Areas _______________________________________________ 21 7.5. A Landscape Strategy for Lancashire, December 2000. _______________________________ 23 7.6. Visual Effects ____________________________________________________________________ 24 7.7. Desktop Mapping Study __________________________________________________________ 24 7.8. Viewpoint Analysis _______________________________________________________________ 25 7.9. Effects on Designated Landscapes _________________________________________________ 25 7.10. Effects on Landscape Features ____________________________________________________ 26 7.11. Public Rights of Way _____________________________________________________________ 26 7.12. Residential Receptors ____________________________________________________________ 27 8. Summary and Conclusion ________________________________________________ 28 8.1. Assessment Summary ____________________________________________________________ 28 8.2. Landscape Effects _______________________________________________________________ 28 8.3. Viewpoints ______________________________________________________________________ 28 8.4. Effects on Landscape Resources __________________________________________________ 28 Spout Farm, Longridge prepared for Mr Denis Lambert Rev 2 LVIA 10399 – 27th August 2013 2 Appendix 1 – Methodology ______________________________________________________ 29 Appendix 2 – Glossary _________________________________________________________ 40 Appendix 3 – References _______________________________________________________ 42 Appendix 4 – Extracts from National, Regional and Local Landscape Character Assessments ____________________________________________________________ 43 Appendix 5 – Viewpoint Analysis ________________________________________________ 44 Appendix 6 – Summary of Effects upon Completion _______________________________ 45 Appendix 7 – Drawings _________________________________________________________ 46 Appendix 8 – Photograph Panels ________________________________________________ 47 Spout Farm, Longridge prepared for Mr Denis Lambert Rev 2 LVIA 10399 – 27th August 2013 3 1. Introduction 1.1. Background 1.1.1. This report presents the findings of a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) study undertaken in conjunction with proposals for an outline planning application for a 32-unit housing development at Spout Farm, Preston Road, Longridge, Lancashire. The report is written by Bana Elzein, CMLI, and forms part of a suite of documents supporting the outline planning application for this development proposal. 1.1.2. This report defines the existing landscape and visual baseline environments; assesses their quality and sensitivity to change; describes the key landscape- and visual-related aspects of the proposed development; describes the nature of the anticipated change upon both the landscape and the visual environments; assesses the magnitude and significance of the changes for both the construction and operational stages; and describes the mitigation measures that will be incorporated within the proposed development to assist in reducing effects upon particularly sensitive receptor groups and landscape environments. 1.1.3. It is important to note that the current proposals may change in varying significance upon submission for reserved matters. This LVIA may require updating at a later date in response to such changes. This could include elements such as the selection of building materials, arrangement and height of the structures, and arrangement of proposed landscape treatments amongst others. 1.1.4. At the time of writing, the outline planning application seeks only to establish the access to the site within the application and all other matters reserved for future approval. 1.2. The Site and Proposals 1.2.1. The site of the proposals is a relatively flat parcel of land approximately 1.8hectares in area. It is bounded by Preston Road, Alston Reservoir No. 2, a County Biological Heritage site (CBH) wetland created from a former reservoir and an existing garden centre/nursery, with which it is associated. 1.2.2. A combination of existing hedgerows and mature trees form the boundary treatments against the wetland edges and a mortared stone wall against the reservoir edge. A low hedge runs along Preston Road with an existing buffer of naturalised and ornamental trees and shrubs. The remaining boundary is shared with the existing farm buildings at Spout Farm and the proposals intend to share the access at this point to the proposed housing estate with the existing farm/nursery which will remain. 1.2.3. The proposals site is currently in use as a managed Christmas tree farm plot and a yard area supporting the garden centre. Spout Farm, Longridge prepared for Mr Denis Lambert Rev 2 LVIA 10399 – 27th August 2013 4 1.3. The Study Area 1.3.1. The study area has been limited to 2km radius due to the site's relatively small scale. This radius was established following a review of mapping and topographical data and a visibility analysis on site and was considered to be the maximum distance at which the development could potentially be perceptible in views. Potential for viewing the development at a distance greater than 2km is considered improbable. Spout Farm, Longridge prepared for Mr Denis Lambert Rev 2 LVIA 10399 – 27th August 2013 5 2. Planning policy 2.1. National Planning Policy 2.1.1. The Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) have adopted the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) with effect from March 27, 2012. The NPPF makes the following statements: always seek to secure high quality design and a good standard of amenity for all existing and future occupants of land and buildings; take account of the different roles and character of different areas, promoting the vitality of our main urban areas, protecting the Green Belts around them, recognising the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside and supporting thriving rural communities within it; contribute to conserving and enhancing the natural environment and reducing pollution. Allocations of land for development should prefer land of lesser environmental value, where consistent with other policies in this Framework; encourage the effective use of land by reusing land that has been previously developed (brownfield land), provided that it is not of high environmental value; the design of developments should aim to: o respond to local character and history, and reflect the identity of local surroundings and materials, while not preventing or discouraging appropriate innovation;