Freemantle Farm North Oakley Hampshire
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Freemantle Farm Barns Project For: Sir Timothy Sainsbury November 2016 FREEMANTLE FARM NORTH OAKLEY HAMPSHIRE LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL ASSESSMENT Freemantle Farm Barns Project Landscape and Visual Assessment Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction 1 1.1 The Site 1 1.2 Scope of the Assessment 1 1.3 Assessment Methodology 1 2.0 The Proposed Development 3 3.0 Landscape Planning Context 5 3.1 National Planning policy Framework 5 3.2 Local Planning Policy 5 3.3 Landscape Designations 7 4.0 Landscape Character 12 4.1 National Character Area 12 4.2 Local Landscape Character 15 4.3 Landscape Sensitivity 20 5.0 Predicted Landscape Effects 22 5.1 Site 1: Freemantle Farmstead 22 5.2 Site 2: New Cottages west of Freemantle Farm Cottages 23 5.3 Site 3: West Dwelling 25 6.0 Visual Assessment 28 6.1 Zone of Theoretical Visibility 28 6.2 Visibility of the Sites 28 6.3 Viewpoint Assessment 28 6.4 Visual Effects Site 1 (Freemantle Farmstead) 32 6.5 Visual Effects Site 2 (New Cottages west of Freemantle Farm Cottages) 32 6.6 Visual Effects Site 3 (West Dwelling) 32 6.7 Effects on Views from Residential Receptors 33 6.8 Effects on Views from Public Rights-of-Way 33 6.9 Effects on Views from Public Roads 33 6.10 Effects on the Visual Setting of Listed Buildings 33 6.11 Effects on the Visual Setting of Scheduled Monuments 34 6.12 Effects on the Visual Setting of Conservation Areas 34 6.13 Night-time views 34 7.0 Construction Effects 34 8.0 Compliance with landscape Policy /Guidance 34 9.0 Mitigation 35 10.0 Summary 37 11.0 Conclusion 38 Appendix 1 LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY Appendix 2 LANDSCAPE CHARACTER AREAS Page i Freemantle Farm Barns Project Landscape and Visual Assessment Appendix 3 ZONE OF THERORETICAL VISIBILITY MAPPING Appendix 4 VIEWPOINT ASSESSMENTS Appendix 5 OUTLINE MITIGATION MEASSURES Page ii Freemantle Farm Barns Project Landscape and Visual Assessment 1.0 Introduction This report presents the findings of a Landscape and Visual Assessment (LVA) undertaken to support an ‘enabling development application’ for the restoration of a listed barn and farm buildings, along with the construction of residential dwellings at Freemantle Farm, Hampshire. The aim of the assessment was to identify, and where possible mitigate, any ‘significant’ changes to the landscape, or to the views, resulting from the proposed development. 1.1 The Site Freemantle Farm is located at North Oakley approximately 5 km south of Kingsclere and 9 km west of Basingstoke (Refer Figure 1). Site Figure 1: Site Location 1.2 Scope of the Assessment The assessment comprises: ● A description of the existing baseline conditions including identification of; key Landscape characteristics, relevant planning designations /constraints and potential visual receptors, who may be affected by the proposals; ● An assessment of the potential landscape and visual effects of the proposed development; and ● Outline mitigation measures proposed to offset or reduce any adverse impacts. 1.3 Assessment Methodology The appraisal accords with the current best practice guidance, namely: ● ‘Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment’, (GLVIA) produced by the Landscape Institute with the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (Third Edition, 2013); and Page 1 Freemantle Farm Barns Project Landscape and Visual Assessment ● ‘An Approach to Landscape Character Assessment’ by Natural England (October 2014). 1.3.1 Terminology Landscape Effects relate to changes in the fabric, character and quality of the landscape. These could include direct impacts such as loss of vegetation, or less perceptible effects such as changes to tranquilly. Landscape effects do not need to be visible. Visual Effects relate to specific changes in views and the effects on visual receptors (e.g. residents, users of public rights of way or recreational facilities). Changes to the visual setting of protected cultural heritage features are also considered (e.g. Scheduled Monuments, Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas). Detailed landscape and visual assessment methodologies and scoring criteria are provided at Appendix 1. 1.3.2 Limitations Details of the proposed residential dwellings have not been finalised at this stage. Therefore this assessment is based on ‘typical building heights’ and assumes the architectural style and finishes would be appropriate to the locality and would not be visually intrusive. Without detailed architectural proposals this report should be regarded as a preliminary assessment. The assessment has been limited to the effects at ‘opening year’ only. A detailed assessment of construction, traffic and long-term effects has not be undertaken at this stage. 1.3.3 Study Area The study area for the assessment is defined by a 1.5 km offset from the development area boundary, although the effects on important landscape features/designations further afield, including the Harrington Conservation Area are also included. 1.3.4 Desk-Based Study Information for the landscape and visual assessment was gathered from the following sources: ● National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), March 2012; ● Basingstoke and Deane Local Plan (2011 to 2029), Adopted May 2016; ● Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council Landscape and Biodiversity Supplementary Planning Document, Adopted June 2008; ● National Character Area Profile130. Hampshire Downs (NE549); ● Hampshire County Integrated Character Assessment, May 2012; ● Basingstoke and Deane Landscape Assessment, LDA and Wessex Archaeology, June 2001; ● The North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan 2014- 2019; ● Landscape Institute Advice Note 01/11 ‘Photography and photomontage in landscape and visual impact assessment’, March 2011; ● The Multi-Agency Geographical Information for the Countryside (MAGIC) database; ● Ordnance Survey 1:25,000 scale site-centered digital raster map; Page 2 Freemantle Farm Barns Project Landscape and Visual Assessment ● 1:250,000 Agricultural Land Classification Map – ‘London and the South Eastern’ (ALC007); and ● Aerial photography: Google Maps (http://maps.google.co.uk/). 1.3.5 Field Study A field survey was undertaken on the 27th August 2016 to assess: ● The landscape characteristics; ● Views of the site from the surrounding areas; ● The location and sensitivity of visual receptors; and ● The potential visual effects arising from the proposed development. The survey was undertaken from roads, bridleways, tracks, footpaths and publicly accessible viewpoints within 1.5 km of the site, although due to screening afforded by the landform and intervening vegetation the viewpoint assessments are mostly located with 500 m of the site. 1.3.6 Consultations No consultation has taken place for the purpose of this report with the LPA, or the statutory undertakers in relation to landscape or visual issues. 2.0 The Proposed Development The proposed development comprises the repair/restoration of traditional farm buildings at Freemantle Farm, including a Grade II Listed barn. In addition residential dwellings are proposed at three separate development areas within the farm holding (Referred to in this report as Sites 1, to 3). Site 1 (Feemantle Farmstead) Site 1 encompasses the group of agricultural buildings associated with Freemantle Farm (‘the Farmstead’). The development comprises the restoration of existing barns/outbuildings for storage (including the Grade II Listed Barn), and the replacement of existing farm buildings on the northern edge of the farmstead with a single residential dwelling (Refer Figures 2 and 3). Site 2 (New Cottages west of Freemantle Farm Cottages) Site 2 comprises three new-build residential cottages within the paddock to the east of the farm complex. The cottages would be similar size and proportion to the adjacent semi-detached cottages (Nos 1 and 2 Freemantle Farm Cottages), built in a traditional style with red brick and slate roofs. Site 3 (West Dwelling) Site 3 is located on higher ground, approximately 200m west of the farmstead and comprises a single low-lying, contemporary and exemplar sustainable new dwelling in landscaped grounds. Figure 2 below shows the three development sites with indicative dwellings ‘digitally superimposed’ on to Site 2 (East Cottage) and Site 3 (West Dwelling) for illustrative purposes. Page 3 Freemantle Farm Barns Project Landscape and Visual Assessment Site 1 Site 2 Site 3 Figure 2: Proposed Development (The dwellings illustrated at Sites 2 and 3 are ‘artist’s impressions’) Figure 3: Proposals for Freemantle Farmstead (Site 1) Figure 3 shows the ‘L’-shaped dwelling to the north and the Grade II Listed barn to the west. Page 4 Freemantle Farm Barns Project Landscape and Visual Assessment 3.0 Landscape Planning Context 3.1 National Planning policy Framework The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) provides specific guidance for plan makers and decision takers in relation to designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). It confirms that “great weight” should be given to conserving their landscape and scenic beauty; and that they have the highest status of protection in relation to landscape and scenic beauty. The NPPF (paragraph 116) states that planning permission should be refused in AONBs, except in exceptional circumstances and where it can be demonstrated they are in the public interest. A core principle of the NPPF (paragraph 17) is that the planning system should contribute to conserving and enhancing the natural environment and reducing pollution. 3.2 Local Planning Policy The development sites lie within the administrative