Bratton Road Westbury
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bratton road westbury Landscape Strategy June 2016 Outline Planning Application Rev Issue Status Date - Outline Planning Application 27.06.2016 A Reference to 3 storey buildings omitted 09.09.2016 040-ID-102 page 2 bratton road, westbury CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Background and Context 2.1 Site Context 2.2 Approaches 2.3 Planning Policies and Landscape Designations 2.4 Landscape Character 2.5 Ecology 2.6 Topography and Access 2.7 Visual Appraisal 3.0 Constraints and Opportunities 4.0 Recommendations 5.0 Illustrative Landscape Plan 6.0 Illustrative Sections 7.0 Planting Proposals 8.0 Play Strategy 040-ID-1012 page 3 bratton road, westbury 1.0 Introduction The site occupies an area circa 2.63ha (6.51 acres) of Grade 3 agricultural land currently used for horse grazing on the eastern side of Westbury, Wiltshire. Greenhalgh Landscape Architecture have been appointed to carry out a Landscape Strategy of the site to assess its potential for redevelopment. This report focuses on the Landscape and Visual aspects of the site and how any development will be received in the immediate and wider context. The site assessments and observations were undertaken in September 2015. Following this stage constraints and opportunity were developed to inform the outline planning application proposals. This a standalone report and should be read in conjunction with the supporting submissions. Fig 1. Site location plan, based on the OS base - Site Area N 0m 1Km 040-ID-102 page 4 bratton road, westbury 2.0 Background and Context 2.1 Site Context The site is situated on the east side of Westbury and is currently used as horse grazing paddocks. The site lies to the north of the B3098 that runs from Westbury to Bratton, with a mature hedgerow separating the site from the road. Its western boundary is defined by a A. hedgerow with a triangular area of woodland planting behind, separating the site from the Overhead power line Bitham Park Distributor Road. The south east corner of the site is identified by existing detached and semi-detached roadside dwellings with a mature planted shelterbelt running northwards, along the eastern boundary of the site. The northern boundary is identified by a hedgerow with an overhead power line running parallel to the hedge within B3098 C. the site. B. Beyond the site boundaries, the area to the west of the site is occupied by low density sub-urban development serviced via the Bitham Park Distributor Road. Westbury Westbury Cemetery lies on the other side of the B3098, to the south-west of the site. Cemetery To the north lies agricultural fields with hedgerow boundaries, laid to pasture and arable crops. The Westbury to Newbury railway line lies approximately 700m to the north of the site with the Lafarge Cement Works beyond. Fig 2. Local Context N 0m 100m 040-ID-1012 page 5 bratton road, westbury 2.2 Approaches Approaching the site from the north, via the Bitham Park Distributor Road, the site is very well contained by mature hedgerow planting. The main identifiers of the site are the residential dwellings on the south east corner (accessed from the B3098) and the overhead power lines that run within the site in close proximity to its northern boundary. Photo A. View towards the site from the Bitham Park Distributor Road Approaching the site from the west along the B3098 Bratton Road, the adjacent sub- urban development turns it back on the road and the experience is mostly of high timber garden fencing. The entrance gates and of Westbury Cemetery provide a node of formality, whilst the combination of mature trees within the Cemetery Grounds and the woodland strip on the other side of Bratton Road create a sense of a threshold leaving Westbury. Photo B. Approaching the site along the B3098 from the west Approaching the site from the east along the B3098 Bratton Road, the site is very well contained with mature hedgerow planting, A glimpsed view of the site can be seen through the access gate to the field, showing the topography falling to the north, away from Bratton Road. The roadside dwellings create a buildup to the settlement of Westbury. Photo C. Approaching the site along the B3098 from Bratton 040-ID-102 page 6 bratton road, westbury 2.3 Planning Policies and Landscape Designations + + + The site sits within 2.63ha and, as described above is surrounded by open space to the + + north and south in the form of farmland and Cemetery. A large residential development + + + + lies to the west, containing primarily semi-detached dwellings. Large semi-detached and detached dwellings lie to the east along the B3098 (Fig 2 Local Context). + + + + Based on this the following landscape related policy is applicable. + + + Wiltshire Core Strategy policy: CP51 + + + + + + + Core Policy 51 - Landscape + + + + + Development should protect, conserve and where possible enhance landscape character + + + and must not have a harmful impact upon landscape character, while any negative + + impacts must be mitigated as far as possible through sensitive design and landscape + + + measures. Proposals should be informed by and sympathetic to the distinctive character + + + + areas identified in the relevant Landscape Character Assessment(s) and any other + relevant assessments and studies. In particular, proposals will need to demonstrate that the following aspects of landscape character have been conserved and where possible enhanced through sensitive design, landscape mitigation and enhancement measures: i. The locally distinctive pattern and species composition of natural features such as trees, SITE BOUNDARY DESIGNATIONS hedgerows, woodland, field boundaries, watercourses and waterbodies. Sites of special scientific interest units: ACCESS ii. The locally distinctive character of settlements and their landscape settings. Note: Road & footpath network shown on topography Favourable condition & access plan) iii. The separate identity of settlements and the transition between man-made and natural Countryside and Rights of Way Act, Section 15 Land Unfavourable recovering landscapes at the urban fringe. Unfavourable declining Countryside and rights of way act 2000 - Access Layer iv. Visually sensitive skylines, soils, geological and topographical features. Listed Building (Group of Listed Buildings) ADMINISTRATIVE GEOGRAPHIES + + v. Landscape features of cultural, historic and heritage value. Scheduled monuments Catchment abstraction management strategy (CAMS) vi. Important views and visual amenity. Reference Boundaries Special Landscape Areas (SLA) vii. Tranquillity and the need to protect against intrusion from light pollution, noise, and motion. Rural areas within local enterprise partnerships N 0m 1Km viii. Landscape functions including places to live, work, relax and recreate. Fig 3. Planning Constraints 040-ID-1012 page 7 bratton road, westbury continued ix. Special qualities of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and the New Forest National Park, where great weight will be afforded to conserving and enhancing landscapes and scenic beauty. Proposals for development within or affecting the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs), New Forest National Park (NFNP) or Stonehenge and Avebury World Heritage Site (WHS) shall demonstrate that they have taken account of the objectives, policies and actions set out in the relevant Management Plans for these areas. Proposals for development outside of an AONB that is sufficiently prominent (in terms of its siting or scale) to have an impact on the area’s special qualities (as set out in the relevant management plan), must also demonstrate that it would not adversely affect its setting. The existing development is not covered by any heritage designations with the nearest listed buildings in the centre of Westbury Cemetery, some 100m away and the closest conservation area more than 400m from the site. The site lies outside, but next to the Special Landscape Area (SLA) designation. To the south and east of the site are three Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI); Upton Cow Down, Bratton Downs and Salisbury Plain. In addition to this the Salisbury Plain is designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). 040-ID-102 page 8 bratton road, westbury 2.4 Landscape Character As detailed in the Wiltshire Landscape Character Assessment (2005) the site is identified in the Rolling Clay Lowland, sub area 11C - Trowbridge Rolling Clay Lowland. The extract below is taken from the final report. However, the site is situated at the southern edge of this classification and will be influenced by the character areas 6A - Greensand Terrace and 3A High Chalk Plain to the south. Key Characteristics of 11C - Rolling Clay Lowland • Gently rolling lowland based on Clay. • Mixed arable and pastoral land use with pasture concentrated around the water courses. • Variable field pattern with network of full hedgerows and mature hedgerow trees. • Presence of streams marked by lines of willows and crossed by modest bridges. • Woodland blocks including some ancient woodland and wet woodland of high ecological value plus scattered mature trees. • Small number of meadows of neutral and unimproved grassland. • Scattered settlement of towns, small villages and farmsteads, many using vernacular materials of brick, half timber, stone, tiles and thatch. • Roads largely minor and rural with a few trunk roads and sections of motorway. • Views vary from semi-enclosed by intact hedgerows, riparian vegetation and woodland SITE BOUNDARY blocks to more open with views to the rising scarps of the chalk uplands. LANDSCAPE CHARACTER AREAS • A largely peaceful, rural landscape. 3A - High Chalk Plain 6A - Greensand Terrace 11C - Rolling Clay Lowland N 0m 1Km Fig 4. Landscape Character 040-ID-1012 page 9 bratton road, westbury 2.5 Ecology Ecology consultants, Stark Ecology Ltd, conducted an ecological appraisal for the land at Bratton Road. The site was attended in September 2015. The ecological appraisal comprised an extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey, searching for signs of protected species, and a desk study to identify protected or notable sites, habitats or species potentially affected by the proposed residential development.