Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Botany Bay, Chorley th 17 February 2021 Report No: Date Revision Author 10510_R04 17th February 2021 a Jack Jewell BA (Hons) MLA CMLI This report, all plans, illustrations and other associated material remains the property of Tyler Grange Group Ltd until paid for in full. Copyright and intellectual property rights remain with Tyler Grange Group Ltd. The contents of this report are valid at the time of writing. Tyler Grange shall not be liable for any use of this report other than for the purposes for which it was produced. Owing to the dynamic nature of arboricultural resources, if more than twelve months have elapsed since the date of this report, further advice must be taken before you rely on the contents of this report. 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Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Botany Bay, Chorley 10510_R04a_17th February 2021_JJ_HM Contents Section 1: Introduction 1 Section 2: Landscape Planning Policy Context 4 Section 3: Landscape Character Baseline 9 Section 4: Visual Context 15 Section 5: Landscape Strategy Proposals 20 Section 6: Receptor Sensitivity and Impact Assessment 21 Section 7: Summary and Conclusions 35 Appendices Appendix 1: LVIA Methodology and Tyler Grange LVIA Assessment Criteria (Sensitivity of Receptors: Landscape & Visual / Magnitude of Change: Landscape & Views) Plans Topography (10510/P20a) Landscape Planning Context and Public Rights of Way (10510/P25a) Published Landscape Character Context (10510/P26a) Photoviewpoint Locations and Visual Analysis Plan (10510/P21a) Photosheets for Photoviewpoints 1 to 17 (10510/P27) Landscape Strategy (10510/P22c) Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Botany Bay, Chorley 10510_R04a_17th February 2021_JJ_HM Section 1: Introduction 1.1. This report has been prepared by Tyler Grange Group Ltd (TG) on behalf of FI Real Estate Management to inform a planning application for a proposed development of industrial and commercial buildings, main and secondary circulation roads, car and HGV parking, landscaping and ancillary works and infrastructure at land Canal Mill, Botany Bay Chorley (hereafter referred to as ‘the site’). The site is located to the east of the M61 Junction 8, west of Great Knowley and south of the A674 at the north-eastern edge of the built-up area of Chorley (OS Grid Reference SD 590 192). 1.2. The site is allocated for employment use under Policy EP1 of the Chorley Local Plan. The site also benefits from an extant outline planning consent for proposed re-development works including demolition and retail use with associated car parking, highways works and landscaping (ref. 17/00715/OUTMAJ). Planning permission was granted in October 2019. 1.3. The site boundary is shown at Figure 1.1 below. It comprises 8.17 hectares and contains the existing Canal Mill building (Botany Bay) and associated hard surfacing and access roads. It is predominantly flat with the land rising to the north, north-west forming an embankment along the A674. The north and south eastern parcel slope up from west to east towards Blackburn Road to approximately 110 - 115m Above Ordnance Datum (AOD). Figure 1.1 – Aerial Imagery / Site Boundary (Aerial Imagery © Google 2020) Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Botany Bay, Chorley Page 1 10510_R04a_17th February 2021_JJ_HM 1.4. This report sets out the baseline landscape and visual context of the site and provides an assessment of the changes (in terms of the visual context and current landscape character) and the impacts that are likely to be derived following the proposed development of the site. 1.5. TG were instructed at the inception and feasibility stage of the project to undertake landscape character and visual appraisal work to formulate the initial design parameters. This preliminary work comprised a site visit and a desktop study to identify the policy, character, and visual context of the site. 1.6. The assessment process is set out in further detail at Appendix 1, to the rear of this report, but involves the following steps: • Baseline Appraisal • Classification of Resources • Assessment of Effects 1.7. The methodology and guidelines used in the preparation of this assessment has been developed from the following documents: • Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (GLVIA), Third Edition, Landscape Institute and IEMA, 2013; • An approach to landscape sensitivity assessment – to inform spatial planning and land management, Natural England, 2019; and • An Approach to Landscape Character Assessment – Natural England, 20141. Approach and Background to Report 1.8. The planning application for Botany Bay Business Park is a detailed planning application. Accordingly, the planning application is supported by a set of detailed drawings prepared by the applicant’s architect, MCAU. These depict key details of the proposed development including access, layout, footprint and floorspace of proposed buildings, building heights, uses of buildings, circulation roads, light and heavy goods vehicle parking and manoeuvring areas, servicing arrangements and areas of landscaping. 1.9. In addition, the application is supported by a suite of documents, including this one, to demonstrate that the development proposals are acceptable with regard to landscape and visual matters. 1.10. This report has also had regard to the key findings and conclusions of the environmental statement (“ES”) and its technical appendices that set out the findings of an environmental impact assessment (“EIA”) of a previously granted and still extant planning permission for the site, namely, planning permission ref no. 17/00715/OUTMAJ, granted in October 2019. This was for an extensive retail development in the form of a factory outlet village and related uses. 1 The explanation of Landscape Character Assessment is included in the ‘Landscape Character Assessment – Technical Information Note 08/2015, Landscape Institute, (2016)’ Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Botany Bay, Chorley Page 2 10510_R04a_17th February 2021_JJ_HM 1.11. We understand that it was agreed in principle during pre-application discussions on the current proposals with the council, led by JFP, the applicant’s planning consultant, that the new proposals for the site, with specific reference to associated impacts and effects of the development, remained in broad conformity with the parameters of the approved ES, and that as such there would be no requirement to produce either an addendum to the approved ES that supported planning permission 17/00715/OUTMAJ or a new ES. 1.12. It was further agreed that an ES Compliance Statement would be submitted demonstrating that the revised proposals remain in compliance with the assessment of effects and associated mitigation set out in the approved ES. We understand that an ESCS has been produced by JFP and has been submitted in support of the planning application. 1.13. As is demonstrated in the conclusions of our report/statement, the impacts and effects of the current development when compared to those associated with the still extant permission (ref no. 17/00715/OUTMAJ) are largely unchanged and as such further additional information in the form of either an addendum to that ES or a new ES is not justified. 1.14. This approach is explained in and supported by Section 8(2) of the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 [EIA Regulations (2017)] which states that where it appears to the relevant planning authority that environmental information already before them is adequate to assess the environmental effects of a development, they shall take that information into account in their decision on subsequent consents. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Botany Bay, Chorley Page 3 10510_R04a_17th February 2021_JJ_HM Section 2: Landscape Planning Policy Context 2.1 The site falls within the local planning authority of Chorley Council. The applicable local planning policies are currently contained within the following documents: • The Central Lancashire Core Strategy (adopted 2012); and • The Chorley Local Plan (adopted 2015). 2.2 The specific local level policies applicable to the site in relation to landscape and visual matters are illustrated on the Landscape Planning Context and Public Rights of Way plan (10510/P25a) contained to the rear of this report. This section includes a review of planning policies relevant to landscape and visual issues at a national and local level. National Planning Policy Context 2.3 The Revised NPPF was published on 24th July 2018 and updated 19th February 2019. It outlines the Government’s planning policies for England, setting out how these are expected to be applied. The Revised NPPF is a material consideration in planning decisions and any development would need to accord with the planning provisions set out therein. 2.4 Footnote 6 provides examples of the protected landscape areas or assets of particular importance that the NPPF policies refer to, these are: • Habitat sites (and those sites listed in paragraph 176); and/ or • Designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest; • Land designated as Green Belt, Local Green Space, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty; • A National Park (or within the Broads Authority); or • Defined as Heritage Coast, irreplaceable habitats;