9.0 Magham Down
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Status: Issued South Wealden Growth Area Landscape and Ecology Studies _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 9.0 Magham Down 9.1 Context Location 9.1.1 The existing village of Magham Down lies approximately 1km from the north-eastern edge of Hailsham. The sites assessed in the Magham Down area comprised four sites around the village centre and two sites on the outskirts of the village. (Refer to Figure 9.1 for location of sites). Landscape Character Context 9.1.2 Magham Down lies on the southern edge of the South Slopes of the High Weald County Landscape Character Area (LCA) and overlooks the Pevensey Levels to the south. (Refer to Figure 2.1 for County Landscape Character Context). A summary of the landscape character of the South Slopes of the High Weald County LCA and its key characteristics is provided below with those characteristics which are particularly evident in the Magham Down area underlined for emphasis. This summary is taken from the East Sussex County Landscape Assessment1: “This is an intricate, small scale landscape with a strong pattern of hedgerows, falling southward from the Heathfield to Battle ridge towards the Low Weald and Pevensey Levels. This landscape of gentle valleys and slopes affords good views of the Downs. Key Characteristics • High Weald landscape at its most intricate; a very detailed landscape. • Deeply dissected into innumerable north-south ridges, valleys and ghylls. • Streams drain mainly into River Cuckmere or Pevensey Levels waterway systems. • Close network of ghyll woodland, small woods, shaws and hedges; 15% woodland. An abundance of hornbeam (‘horebeech’). • Close network of winding lanes with scattered farms, cottages and linear settlements, often on ridges. • Varied villages, most with remote rural character and on ridges. • Secluded, often shady valleys with remote feel. • Substantial remote areas in the east. • Parkland and designed landscapes. • Numerous hammer ponds and other iron industry relics. • Chestnut post and rail fencing is characteristic of this area.” 1 East Sussex County Council (2010). The East Sussex County Landscape Assessment. http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/environment/landscape/download.htm __________________________________________________________________________________ The Landscape Partnership April 2017 156 Status: Issued South Wealden Growth Area Landscape and Ecology Studies _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 9.1.3 Two Local Landscape Character Areas (LLCA) extend across the area: B1 ‘Cowbeech Hill’ and B2 ‘Magham Down and Flowers Green’ which both fall within the ‘Ridges and Slopes’ Local Landscape Character Type (LLCT). (Refer to Figure 9.2 for the local landscape character areas in the vicinity of Magham Down). 9.1.4 Overall, the Ridges and Slopes LLCT is assessed as having High Landscape Sensitivity and Very High Landscape Value, as detailed in the Wealden Landscape and Settlement Character Assessment (2014). It is predominantly an ancient landscape with a strong sense of place arising from its distinct pattern of sloping pastoral fields, linear ridge-top settlements, dispersed scattered settlements and panoramic views southwards. 9.1.5 All of the sites assessed within Magham Down fall within LLCA B2 Magham Down and Flowers Green. This LLCA has a strong rural character with some human influence in the form of Magham Down itself and several interconnecting rural roads. The key characteristics of this LLCA are detailed below with those characteristics which are particularly evident in the Magham Down area underlined for emphasis: • There is a strong landscape pattern of small scale, predominantly pastoral fields, lined with mature hedgerows, often containing hedgerow trees. • Panoramic, open views southwards across the lower Open Levels LLCT, with its network of flat, drained fields, contribute to recognisable sense of place. • There is a strong sense of enclosure within the centre of the LLCA as a result of the hedgerows and small patches of woodland. • The landscape is crossed by several interconnecting rural road corridors, several of which have ecologically diverse verges. • There is a very strong sense of remoteness and tranquillity throughout the area. • The small linear hamlet of Magham Down has a strong vernacular of red tiled/white painted houses. • From the eastern edge of the area, glimpsed views eastwards towards woodland associated with Herstmonceux Castle contribute to recognisable sense of place. Photo 9.1 – Topography and vegetation provide a strong sense of enclosure __________________________________________________________________________________ The Landscape Partnership April 2017 157 Status: Issued South Wealden Growth Area Landscape and Ecology Studies _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Photo location: View west from Old Road Photo 9.2 - Small scale pastoral fields, lined with mature hedgerows provide a strong landscape pattern Photo location: View east across site 391-3110 (Onslow House) Photo 9.3 – Villages have a remote rural character Photo location: view south from the village centre of Magham Down __________________________________________________________________________________ The Landscape Partnership April 2017 158 Status: Issued South Wealden Growth Area Landscape and Ecology Studies _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Photo 9.4 - Rural road corridors and secluded often shady valleys are characteristic of the area Photo location: View north along Old Road towards site 793/3110 (Orchard Cottage) Existing Settlement Pattern 9.1.6 The existing settlement pattern of Magham Down is of a small village/hamlet centred around the junction of Squab Lane, Old Road and Nodes Lane, and an outlying intermittent line of settlement along Featherbed Lane. Further afield are scattered farmsteads including Deudney’s Farm, Gildridge Farm and Carter’s Corner Place. Twentieth and twenty-first century residential development has been limited to occasional individual dwellings within and around the main village. (Refer to Figure 9.1 for existing settlement pattern.) Visual Context 9.1.7 In general terms, the Magham Down sub-area is relatively enclosed by vegetation and local variations in topography. Most sites within the sub-area are therefore not visually exposed and are not prominent in views from the wider area. However, from some points there are long distance views to the south with the distinctive ridge of the South Downs forming a notable feature on the horizon. These views contribute to the sense of place within the area. However, in views from within the South Downs National Park the village of Magham Downs and the sites within the sub-area are not discernible in long distance views north due to the distance in between and the small size of the sites. Green Infrastructure Context Accessible Natural Greenspace 9.1.8 Accessible natural greenspace has been considered and evaluated in a separate report produced by Chris Blandford Associates (CBA 2016 Wealden Green Infrastructure Study). The CBA study identifies the key Green Infrastructure (GI) links in terms of movement of people through the landscape and also identifies a number of areas of GI deficit, these mainly being associated with the existing urban areas of Polegate and Hailsham. The CBA report also identifies a number of Green Infrastructure opportunities and these are considered further in the context of the Magham Down sub-area below. __________________________________________________________________________________ The Landscape Partnership April 2017 159 Status: Issued South Wealden Growth Area Landscape and Ecology Studies _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ PRoW 9.1.9 A number of PRoW extend across the sub-area providing recreational routes and access to the countryside. This includes two footpaths (Hailsham/28a and 29) which provide a connection between the centre of Magham Down with Featherbed Lane/Park Wood, and several routes to the south which connect with footpaths across the Pevensey Levels to the south-east (e,g, Hailsham 32) and provide a traffic-free route to Hailsham town centre (e.g. Hailsham 27a). Figure 9.6 illustrates the location and reference name for all the PRoW within the sub-area. Strategic infrastructure context 9.1.10 There are no Strategic Green Corridors or Strategic Green Access Links in the Magham Down sub-area. 9.1.11 At a more local scale, a network of Local Green Links connects the Hailsham & Polegate Urban Green Grid to the Strategic Green Access Links, Green Infrastructure and Blue Infrastructure within the countryside in and around the towns. This network includes local GI linkages connecting the town centres with open spaces throughout the built-up areas and in the surrounding countryside. The Magham Down sub-area lies to the south of a Local Green Link which runs from Hellingly to Herstmonceux. 9.1.12 Protection of corridors of undeveloped land/countryside as green wedges between the built- up area of Hailsham & Polegate and the surrounding villages, to safeguard the towns’ character and landscape setting, provides the opportunity to locate accessible natural greenspace in these areas. None of these Proposed Areas of Search for New Accessible Natural Greenspace lies within the sub-area. 9.1.13 Further