Landscape Appraisal Proposed Residential Development Adj. Freshfields, Lambs Lane, Lawshall for Ray Debenham October 2019 Issue i Issue Contents page no: 1/ Introduction 3 2/ Site context 4 3/ Proposals - layout plan 5 4/ Aerial view - context 6 5/ Designations and historic landscapes 7 6/ Planning Policies 8 7/ Landscape Character and Sensitivity 9 8/ Methodology & Receptors 11 9/ Approx. visual envelope 12 10/ Visual appraisal results 13 11/ Summary and Conclusions 22 12/ Mitigation measures 24 Appendices 25 Report by chartered Landscape Architects Lucy Batchelor-Wylam CMLI and Isolde Cutting CMLI Landscape planning and landscape architecture services. Tel: 07905 791207 email: [email protected] 2 Landscape and Visual Appraisal (LVA) Adj. Freshfields, Lambs Lane, Lawshall June 2019 1. Introduction The purpose of Landscape and Visual Appraisal (LVA) 1. Landscape and Visual Appraisal (LVA) is a tool for predicting and evaluating the effects of a development on the surrounding landscape character, heritage features and on views from the surrounding area. It aims to achieve avoidance, reduction or mitigation of detrimental effects identified. The appraisal follows the principles set out in GLVIA 31. In line with the current guidance, the effects on landscape and on views/visual amenity are appraised separately. 2. Lucy Batchelor-Wylam was initially appointed in September 2018 to provide a Landscape and Visual Appraisal to support outline planning application (DC/18/02155), for land adjacent to ‘Freshfields’, on Lambs Lane, Lawshall. That application was successful and permission was granted in November 2018 for 5no. dwellings. 3. This report now jointly supports 5 seperate individual full applications (2 bungalows and 3 houses) in more or less the same positions as before, collectively henceforth referred to as ‘the Site’. This report is resubmitted with no fundamental changes and treats the 5 houses as a single development for the purposes of the assessment. 4. The report aims to judge the effects the development might have on the landscape, its features and character, and to explore how visible the site will be. The report also aims to address the policies set out in the Lawshall Neighbourhood Plan (accepted by Babergh District Council in October 2017) which have implications for landscape. 5. The report first provides baseline information about the landscape context and character of the area. This follows a desktop exercise to review relevant designations and policies, available landscape character assessments and aerial mapping. This is followed by Figure 1: Location plan fieldwork which aims to predict what effects the development will have on the character Professional credentials of the village, and on those living in or using the area. 7. This report was undertaken by Chartered Landscape Architects Lucy Batchelor-Wylam, 6. The concluding section of this report describes the mitigation measures proposed to help CMLI (Mem.No. 16639) and Isolde Cutting, CMLI (Mem. No. 15342). minimise and reduce landscape and visual impacts, and judge the significance of the 8. A site visit was first undertaken on 17th September 2018. Weather conditions were sunny remaining residual impacts that cannot be mitigated. and bright. 9. A relatively concise approach is employed in this report, as appropriate for the appraisal of planning applications that fall outside the EIA regulations, and given the limited nature of the impacts proposed. 1 - Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment - 3rd Edition. Landscape Institute and IEMA. 2013. 3 Landscape and Visual Appraisal (LVA) Adj. Freshfields, Lambs Lane, Lawshall June 2019 2. Site context 1. Lawshall is a dispersed village which takes the form of a string of linear settlement clusters and hamlets, with its main cluster to the northwest of the parish. The village services are distributed between this cluster, and the historic linear settlement around the Hall and church to the southeast, where the Swan Inn and the primary school are found. The clusters are separated by gently rolling farmland which sometimes offers scenic sweeping views across the countryside. 2. The Site is located on the southern edge of the main village cluster and residential landuse lies to the north and east of the Site. It is the northern-eastern part of a larger agricultural field that lies to the south of Lambs Lane and is separated visually from the road by a ditch and mature hedge. The Site is currently under grass. 3. Proposal 1. The proposal is for full permission for 5 new residential properties (separate applications). The site plan shows two detached 2 bedroom bungalows and three 2-storey cottages. The Residential properties along Lambs Lane, opposite the proposal Site materials are expected to be a typical Suffolk vernacular palette of brick, render, pantile or slate roofs that will be in keeping with the local character. 2. Access will be created from Lambs Lane (approximately opposite No.7 Lambs Lane), a new shared drive serving the properties. While the access is through an existing gap in the boundary hedge, it may be necessary to remove some mature hedgerow plants. Visibilty requirements permitting, it is proposed to augment the existing hedge at the newly created access and to fill any existing gaps within the hedge along the Site boundary with a mix of native hedge plants. 3. Further hedges (including hedgerow trees) are proposed along the western, southern and eastern edges of he development with the aim to provide a strong edge towards the open countryside. These hedges are set within a 10m wide strip of wild flower meadow, which will contain additional trees. This will create a much improved biodiversity of the field margin and also provide effective screening of the development to the wider landscape. 4. The layout is not subject to agreement at this stage, but an indicative arrangement is presented on the following page. It forms the basis of the visual appraisal. Lawshall Hall and the tower of All Saints Church from Harrow Green (road) 4 Landscape and Visual Appraisal (LVA) Adj. Freshfields, Lambs Lane, Lawshall June 2019 3. Proposals - layout plan (Five separate applications) N 6 Design Layout drawing no. 783-02, by @the drawing board - not to recognised scale 5 Landscape and Visual Appraisal (LVA) Adj. Freshfields, Lambs Lane, Lawshall June 2019 4. Aerial view - context KEY Approx. site area Ancient hedgerows (Neighbourhood Plan) Settlement envelope Frithy Wood (Ancient) SSSI and Woodland TPO Churchill Grade II Listed Building Close Meadow Grade II* Listed Building Grade I Listed Building Harrow Important Gap Green (Neighbourhood Plan) Frithy Important View Wood (Neighbourhood Plan) Area of Local Landscape Sensitivity (Neighbourhood Plan) Lawshall Hall All Saints Chuirch Imagery © Digital Globe, Map Data © 2018 Google UK 6 Landscape and Visual Appraisal (LVA) Adj. Freshfields, Lambs Lane, Lawshall June 2019 5. Designations and historic landscape Landscape designations that the ‘ proposed construction zone was very low Historic mapping 1. The Site is not subject to any statutory landscape in ecological value with regular disturbance including 8. Lawshall once comprised a dispersed series of farms and designations. cutting, ploughing and sowing’, that ‘signs or evidence cottages. Its focus used to be to the south of today’s main of protected, priority or rare species were not observed 2. The nearest Special Landscape Area (SLA) is an isolated village, around the medieval Hall and church complex. associated with the site’ and that ‘with recommendations pocket, approximately 900m to the east of the Site, Lawshall Hall is a 16th century Grade II* Listed building followed as described, the proposed development could centred on Frithy Wood, an area of ancient woodland, (rebuilt 1557) and there is a cluster of other grade II listed proceed with a minimal risk of harm or significant impact covered by a Woodland TPO and also subject to a SSSI buildings, including the Swann Inn, to the east. In the to protected, priority or rare species and habitats’ .(p.2) designation. 20th century, the village changed substantially with the 5. The report was accompanied by recommendations to infill of both roadside plots along the lanes, and larger, 3. The Lawshall Character Assessment identifies an ancient minimise any potential negative effects on wildlife and planned estate infill happening in the main village cluster, hedge along the northern boundary of the Site (Lambs suggestions to enhance the development for wildlife. filling much of the triangular area formed by Lambs Lane, Lane). Although there are some gaps, this is a mature and These include careful choice and specification for Bury Road and Lawshall Row, interspersed by sizeable thriving hedge. external lighting; replacement of any removed tree with recreational greenspaces. Ecological designations new native broad-leaved tree of high ecological value; 4. The Site was subject to a Preliminary Ecological Appraisal precautionary measure prior and during construction by Skilled Ecology Consultancy Ltd1. The appraisal found to protect reptiles, amphibians, hedgehogs and birds; installation of bat and bird boxes and the use of native OS map form plants in landscape proposals. (Please refer to the ecology 1884 with current report for full details.) settlement boundaries shown Heritage in blue: 6. There is one Listed Building ( Little West Farm, Grade II) SITE within 500m of the proposal Site and 8 Listed Buildings within 1Km. These include Lawshall