MOWBRAY FARM SANDHUTTON THIRSK Prepared for ACORUS
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Visual and Landscape Character Appraisal MOWBRAY FARM SANDHUTTON THIRSK Prepared for ACORUS RURAL PROPERTY SERVICES September 2010 Graham Hinton BA (Hons) Cedar Land Management Limited Contents 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Methodology 2.1 Description of Proposed Development 3.0 Landscape Character 3.1 Visual Character 3.2 Key characteristic features 4.0 Landscape Analysis 4.1 Inherent Landscape Sensitivities 4.2 Landscape condition and Strength of Character 4.3 Landscape Planning Guidelines 5.0 Field Survey 6.0 Identification and Assessment of Landscape and Visual Effects 7.0 Mitigation 8.0 Significance of Effects APPENDIX 1 Extent of Visibility APPENDIX 2 Representative Viewpoints APPENDIX 3 Photographs 1.0 Introduction This report was commissioned by Acorus Rural Property Services and is a Visual and Landscape Character Appraisal and forms part of the Environmental Statement for the proposed upgrading of an existing poultry unit at Mowbray Farm, Sandhutton, Thirsk, YO7 4RX. The report has been prepared in accordance with the ‘Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (second edition)’ produced by The Landscape Institute with The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment. Other published guidance includes:- Landscape Assessment for Hambleton District Council Woolerton Truscott 1992 The Vale of Mowbray National Character Area 24, produced by Natural England. 2.0 Methodology The methodology employed is in accordance with the published ‘Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment by the Landscape Institute’ and includes an Area Study, a Desk Study and a Field Survey. The degree of detail concerning the development and its visual impact is considered appropriate for the nature, location, and scale of the development. 2.1 Description of Proposed Development The first phase of the proposed development will comprise the erection of four new poultry houses (23.2 m x 103.7 m) to the west of the existing buildings. The hedge along the western side of the poultry buildings will be removed. The second phase of the development will comprise the demolition of the original four poultry buildings and their replacement with three more poultry buildings of the same design and construction as erected in the first phase of the development. The poultry buildings will have an eaves height of 2.54 m and the tallest part of the development will be the feed silos which will be 6.87m tall. The colour of the external cladding to the walls and the roof cladding is subject to local authority approval. 3.0 Landscape Character 3.1 Visual Character The site is within the Vale of Mowbray which is a distinct landscape type contained by the escarpment of the North Yorkshire Moors to the east and the undulating slopes and valleys of the Yorkshire Dales to the west. The Visual Character of The Vale of Mowbray is defined as follows: ‘Within the Vale the landscape is essentially flat or gently undulating. The area is predominantly arable although there is permanent pasture. There is variation in the character of the farmed landscape resulting from changes in topography and differences in land cover. Some areas have significant woodland cover and substantial hedgerows many of which are thick and well maintained. These landscapes appear quite enclosed especially when combined with more varied topography. Elsewhere fields are large, woodland limited, hedges low-cut and gappy with fences increasingly taking their place and hedgerow and field trees are widely scattered. This creates an open, simple landscape especially in the flat areas of the Vale.’ The Vale of Mowbray National Character Area 24, produced by Natural England The landscape character is also defined by the ‘Landscape Assessment for Hambleton District Council’ Woolerton Truscott 1992, as falling within Type 5 ‘Intensively farmed lowland’ which is an essentially flat or gently rolling modern landscape. Landscape type 5 is sub-divided and the site has been categorised as 5 c which is a more open landscape. With landscape type 5, landform does not play a significant part in defining the landscape which is generally flat with inter-visibility only reduced by intervening vegetation rather than landform. 3.2 Key Characteristic Features The characteristic features of the landscape are listed within the Landscape Assessment and the characteristics considered as relevant to the application site are as follows:- Hedgerows and hedgerow trees which provide incident and scale Trees and woodland belts Built elements including modern and traditional farm buildings 4.0 Landscape Analysis 4.1 Inherent Landscape Sensitivities The inherent landscape sensitivities for this landscape type have been defined within the Landscape Assessment and the existing or potential landscape detractors considered as relevant to the application site are as follows:- The loss of hedgerows and hedgerow trees due to clearance of failure to replant and the loss of hedgerows due to field enlargement. Trees and woodland belts and specifically the loss of fragmentation of woodland. Upgrading of the secondary road network. Intrusive commercial industrial or housing developments Intrusive large scale installations e.g. masts, pylons 4.2 Landscape Condition and Strength of Character The landscape condition of areas categorised as Type 5c is generally low and the areas have been considered for landscape enhancement. However, the condition of the landscape immediately around the site and its strength of character are quite strong and depend in part upon the substantial hedgerows which define the field boundaries. The hedgerows and shelterbelts help create a more enclosed landscape than the generally more open, simple, landscape more typical of the landscape character type 5c. The secondary road network is generally unobtrusive and although the landscape is generally flat, the inter-visibility is reduced by the hedgerows and hedgerow trees. 4.3 Landscape Planning Guidelines The enhancement strategy applicable to landscape character type 5c has a general policy:- ‘To encourage and promote the creation of a new landscape structure in order to develop and enhance landscape character and quality.’ Landscape Assessment for Hambleton District Council C. Enhancement Strategy para 6.26 Woolerton Truscott 1992 The Guidelines for Woodland Trees and Hedgerows includes:- ‘Encourage new hedgerow and tree belts planting of up to 0.5 h in particular around agricultural buildings and farmhouses to soften harsh outlines and for shelter in exposed landscape. Utilise any existing hedgerow as ‘core’ for planting.’ ‘Promote the retention, regeneration and sensitive management of existing hedgerows where these have particular visual or wildlife potential.’ Landscape Assessment for Hambleton District Council C. Enhancement Strategy para 6.29 Woolerton Truscott 1992 5.0 Field Survey 5.1 Extent of Visibility Mowbray Farm is situated within a generally flat landscape where visibility is limited by a network of hedges and hedgerow trees. The existing farm is only directly visible from off Sandhutton Lane by the farm entrance and also through a gap in the hedge used as an old field access just to the west of the entrance to Mowbray Farm bungalow,. The site is contained to the north by Carr Lane, a bridleway with thick hedges on both sides that runs off Sandhutton Lane towards Carr Plantation to the east. The thick hedges and hedgerow trees along Carr Lane effectively block all views back into the site from the north. The existing farm buildings are clearly visible from Carr Lane when directly north of the farm, as the hedgerow is completely absent and there is open access to the bridleway for the length of the farm buildings. The closest residence to the north of the farm is Breckenbrough Grange, which is quite distant, and all views from the north are obscured by the intervening hedges and hedgerow trees. The nearest village to the west is Sandhutton and there are no views of the site from Sandhutton, and no views of the site when approaching from Sandhutton along Sandhutton Lane. Similarly, the nearest village to the east is Carlton Miniott and there are no views from Carlton Miniott, or from the south generally, due to the intervening hedgerow network and the hedgerows along both sides of Sandhutton Lane. There are no direct views from the east from off Sandhutton Lane or from the east from Carr Lane due to the hedgerows surrounding the site, and particularly the hedge on the eastern boundary which separates Mowbray Farm from the neighbouring farm. The extent of visibility has been marked on the plan attached at Appendix 1. 5.2 Representative Viewpoints The principal representative viewpoints have also been identified and include views of the site from the public bridleway, roads, and also from the closest residences. The location of the representative viewpoints and photographs from the viewpoints are attached at Appendix 2 and Appendix 3. 5.3 Visual Receptors The visual receptors are limited to users of the Carr Lane bridleway when passing directly north of the farm, and to users of Sandhutton Lane when passing the farm to the south. The visual receptors from the south will be mainly motorists driving along Sandhutton Lane, and the visual receptors to the north will be walkers, horse-riders, and other recreational users of the bridleway. 6.0 Identification and Assessment of Landscape and Visual Effects The current farm buildings have a limited visibility within the landscape and are only directly visible as a passing view from along the road to the south, and from off the bridleway to the north. The proposed redevelopment of the site, although involving an expansion of the number of buildings, will also have limited visibility due to the network of hedgerows and hedgerow trees that restricts visibility. The visual impact of the new buildings will be minimised by their uniform design and construction and the maintenance of an uncluttered uniform external appearance. The redevelopment of the farm with modern large scale agricultural buildings will not change the scale of the visual impact, and will not change the character of any views into the farm.