Aerohub Business Park Newquay Cornwall AirportAerohub Enterprise Zone @ Newquay Cornwall Airport - SECTION 6 LANDSCAPE & VISUAL ASSESSMENT Environmental Statement Prepared by Parsons Brinckerhoff December 2012 - 107 - for Cornwall Development Company Aerohub Business Park Newquay Cornwall Airport 6 LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL ASSESSMENT 6.1 Introduction 6.1.1 The Landscape and Visual Baseline Assessment (LVIA) assesses the significance of effect by considering the sensitivity of the landscape or visual receptor, against the magnitude of change that would occur in the landscape or views as a result of the development. The assessment establishes the following; A clear understanding of the site and its wider landscape setting, identifying the landscape and historic landscape character, value and sensitivity to the proposed development; An assessment of the character of views from within the study area from visual receptors including residential properties and amenity landscapes, and their sensitivities; The nature of the development proposals and mitigation measures; and The potential direct and indirect effects of the proposal on the landscape resource (i.e. landscape elements and character) and on visual receptors. 6.1.2 The assessment includes a review of all relevant documents and landscape planning policy and guidance, field survey to assess baseline landscape character and views, development of generic and site specific mitigation and separate assessment of the predicted significance of effects on landscape resource/ character and visual amenity. 6.1.3 The area of the proposed Aerohub lies to the immediate south of the existing NQY; formerly RAF St Mawgan (refer to Illustrative Masterplan). 6.2 Planning Context 6.2.1 This section summarises the principal policies that are directly relevant to the LVIA. Refer to Figure 2.4 Landscape Planning Designations and Heritage Features. 6.2.2 The principal documents that comprise relevant landscape policies include the general protection of the landscape and historic landscape character and avoidance of adverse visual effects. These are: CSP 2004 RLP saved policies 2007; and Design Statement for Cornwall 2002. Cornwall Structure Plan 2004 6.2.3 Relevant policies include: Policy 2: Character Areas, Design & Environmental Protection requires planning proposals to have regard to the quality, character, diversity and local distinctiveness of the natural and built environment and respect local character. Environmental Statement Prepared by Parsons Brinckerhoff December 2012 - 108 - for Cornwall Development Company Aerohub Business Park Newquay Cornwall Airport Restormel Borough Council Local Plan saved policies 2007 6.2.4 Relevant policies include: Policy 14: Areas of Great Landscape Value (ALVA) - Relevant to the Watergate and Lanherne AGLV, approx 1.5km to the north east of the site, requires planning proposals to have regard for the landscape, features and characteristics of the ALVA. Policy 15: Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) - Relevant to a number of SSSIs that lie within the study area, valued for their geological or moorland characteristics. Policy 18: Protection of the Wider Countryside – Promotes protection and enhancement of landscape features to encourage conserving wildlife and landscape value. Policy 20: New Habitats – States that proposals for habitat creation will be promoted and supported where there is no conflict with other policies for the countryside. Policy 21: Trees – stipulates the provisions for the protection of trees; protected or subject to conditions on planning permissions. Policy 24: Areas of Great Historic Value – promotes the protection of features and characteristics of areas of AGLV. Policy 33: Listed Buildings - Relevant to a number of listed buildings within the study area that requires planning proposals to have regard to the historic value, quality and setting of listed buildings within the landscape. Policy 30: Local Historic Parks and Gardens – Proposals shall have regard to the conservation and setting of any local Historic Park and Garden. Design Statement for Cornwall 2002 6.2.5 This document serves to promote good/ appropriate design stressing the importance of responding to the site context, physical, biological features and human elements. 6.2.6 Landscape Designations 6.2.7 Figure 2.4: Landscape Planning Designations and Heritage Features illustrates designated landscapes and key features within the study area. Information has been collected from the following sources; Landscape and relevant heritage designations from Local Plans and internet sources including Magic, English Heritage, Natural England etc; and Ordnance survey maps to identify long distance recreational routes, Public Rights of Way, National Cycle Network routes etc. 6.2.8 There are no landscape designations associated with the site. 6.2.9 Within the study area, there is an AGLV (Watergate and Lanherene) approximately 1.5 km and the South West Coastal Path, which runs approximately 3.5km to the west and follows the cliff line through a Site of Great Historic Importance Environmental Statement Prepared by Parsons Brinckerhoff December 2012 - 109 - for Cornwall Development Company Aerohub Business Park Newquay Cornwall Airport 6.2.10 The site is in close proximity to two locally designated Historic Parks and Gardens; Nanswhyden (0.5km to the south) and Carnanton (1km to the north), and also to two Listed Buildings, one immediately adjacent to the south west corner of the site EH Ref 172579 and one at Trevithick Downs EH Ref; 173004 approximately 0.75km to the east, both milestones. No changes to settings or views are anticipated. 6.2.11 There are a number of other Listed Buildings within the 4km study area, mainly to the north and north west of NQY over 1km from the site. No changes to views or settings are anticipated. 6.2.12 There are four Scheduled Monuments (SMs) within the study area, the nearest being west of Trebarber. No changes to views or settings are anticipated. 6.3 Methodology 6.3.1 The assessment methodology is based on current best practice and guidance from the following sources: Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, published by the Landscape Institute and Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment, 2002 (GLVIA); and Landscape Character Assessment Guidance for England and Scotland (LCAG), published by Scottish Natural Heritage and Countryside Agency, 2002. Spatial Scope 6.3.2 A study area of 4km radius from the centre of the proposed site was determined based on desk-top analysis and field work. The proposed study area is shown on Figure 2.1 Site Location and Study Area. Temporal Scope 6.3.3 Landscape and visual impacts are assessed for the construction phase, the opening year for phase 1 of the Business Park (2014) and the assumed year for completion (2030). Baseline Data Collection 6.3.4 The baseline conditions have been established based on desk-based study and field survey carried out in April 2012 to record and analyse the existing landscape characteristics to establish the quality and value of the landscape and its capacity to accept change. The visual envelope was based on site survey analysis and denotes the approximate areas from where the undeveloped site is visible and is shown on Figure 2.3 6.3.5 To establish an approximate indication of the Zone of Theoretical Visibility (ZTV) of the proposed site, a computer generated a ZTV of the theoretical area of proposed development based on an average built height of 14m when viewed at 1.6 metres AOD, i.e. average eye level, was created (Figure 2.2 shows the ZTV). The ZTV has been created using Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 Digital Terrain Model (DTM) analysed using the Viewshed tool in the 3D Analyst extension of ESRI ArcGIS. It should be noted that the ZTV is approximate only and does not take account of the screening Environmental Statement Prepared by Parsons Brinckerhoff December 2012 - 110 - for Cornwall Development Company Aerohub Business Park Newquay Cornwall Airport effect of vegetation, buildings or structures; in some areas there are no views at all, there may also be views from outside the ZTV from localised areas of high ground. 6.3.6 Baseline information has been collected from the following sources: Field Survey (April 2012); Landscape and relevant heritage designations from Local Plans and internet sources including Magic; Published landscape character assessments at national and regional scale; Ordnance survey maps to identify public rights of way as well as landform, drainage, field pattern, settlement and transport patterns; and Aerial photographs (where available). Photomontages 6.3.7 A total of seven photomontages from viewpoint locations, chosen as representative of key views, were selected in consultation with CC’s Landscape Service. Refer to Photomontage Sheets PMon 1 -7. 6.3.8 Built form and materials have yet to be determined and will be subject to Design Codes, refer to the Design and Access Statement. For the purposes of the EIA, the photomontages aim to provide indicative visualisations of anticipated height and built mass, when viewed from specific viewpoints at operational Year 1.. 6.4 Baseline Conditions 6.4.1 Field and desk-based studies were carried out to record and analyse the existing landscape characteristics to establish the quality and value of the landscape and its capacity to accept change. Key areas of visibility of the proposed development site were also identified and categorised according to their sensitivity. Refer