SG09 Landscape Character Assessment and Landscape
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Landscape Character Assessment and Landscape Designations Supplementary Guidance SG09 April 2021 Mains Kersie South KersieSouth DunmoreAlloa Elphinstone The Pineapple Tower Westfield Airth Linkfield Pow Burn Letham Moss Higgins’ Neuk Titlandhill Airth Castle Waterslap M9 Letham Brackenlees Hollings Langdyke M876 Orchardhead Firth Torwood Blairs Carron Glen Wellsfield Doghillock Drum of Kinnaird Wallacebank Wood North Inches Rullie Dales Wood Kersebrock Kinnaird House Bellsdyke of Broadside River Carron M9 Hill of Kinnaird Bensfield The M80 Hardilands Docks Langhill Rosebank Torwood Castle Bowtrees Topps Braes Stenhousemuir Howkerse Hookney Mains of Powfoulis Forth Carron Drumelzier Dunipace M876 North Broomage Barnego Denovan Forth Valley Chapel Burn Carronshore Skinflats Antonshill Bridge Fankerton Broch Tappoch Royal Hospital South Broomage Carron River Carron Zetland Crummock DennyHeadswood Kelpies The Darroch Hill Garvald Stoneywood Larbert House LarbertLochlands Langlees GlensburghPark Oil Refinery Myot Hill Blaefaulds Mydub River Carron Faughlin Coneypark Mungal Bainsford Chacefield Wood M876 Wester Grangemouth Doups Bankside Stadium Denny Muir Denny Castlerankine Grahamston Kinneil KerseBo’ness Carmuirs Middlefield M9 Bonnyfield Bonny Water Jupiter Inchyra Park Newtown Champany Drumbowie Bogton Antonine Wall AntonineBirkhill Wall Muirhouses Head of Muir West Mains Blackness Castle Bonnybridge Roughcastle Camelon Kinneil House Stacks Parkfoot Kinglass Dennyloanhead Falkirk Beancross Kinneil Arnothill Bog Road Wholeflats Rashiehill Wester Thomaston Seabegs Wood Forth & Clyde Canal Antonine Wall Borrowstoun Mains Blackness Longcroft Bowhouse Old Polmont Braeface Haggs Underwood High Bonnybridge Tamfourhill Bantaskin Woolstoun Burnshot South Drum CallendarWoodend Laurieston Milnquarter Howierig Rousland Mannerston Forth & Clyde Canal Greenrig Princes Park Park WestquarterPolmont Cauldcoats Banknock Woodlands Swordie Mains Grougfoot Lionthorn Lathallan Westerglen Paddockhall Greenhill Craigieburn Hallglen Overton Redding Gilston M9 Allandale Glenyards River Avon Lochdrum ReddingmuirheadTappernail Brightons The Haining M80 Bandominie Loanfoot Myrehead Lochgreen Glenavon Forresterquarter Pirleyhill Middlerig Rumford Castlecary Auchengean Glen Village Whitecross Drum Wood Wallacestone Manuel Whiterigg Blackhill Wheel Falkirk Shieldhill Union Canal Walton Burn Darnrig Moss Burnside Kendieshill Vellore Almond Tippetcraig Beam Greenwells Manuel House Wester Jawcraig Wester California Easter Jawcraig Gardrum Moss Gardrum Blackbraes Parkhead Craigend Tarduff Maddiston The Loan Nappiefaulds Jawcraig Loch Ellrig Muiravonside Country Park Heathery Knowe Threaprig Wester Jaw Standburn Candie Grangeneuk Broom Blackrig Windyrigg Melonsplace Dyke The Neuks Greyrigg Drumbroider River Avon Shielknowes JawhillsTodsbughts Shortrig Oakersdykes Hareburn Blackston Strathavon SlamannanBinniehill Bogo Avonbridge Hillend Balquhatstone Salterhill Loanrigg Bulliondale Stoneridge SG09 Middlerigg Craigend Linhouse Loch House Holehousemuir Limerigg Black Loch Burnhead Wester Whin A NE FOR A' SG09 Landscape Character Assessment and Landscape Designations April 2021 Supplementary Guidance A suite of 14 supplementary guidance notes (SG’s) is currently being produced by the Council in conjunction with LDP2. The number of SGs is reducing from seventeen to fourteen, as three of the adopted SGs are being consolidated to provide a more comprehensive and integrated approach to guidance. The SGs seek to provide more detailed guidance on how particular local development plan policies should be applied in practice. These SGs form a statutory supplement to LDP2, and are intended to expand upon planning policies and proposals contained in the plan. A full list of the supplementary guidance in this series is found below. SG01 Development in the Countryside SG02 Neighbourhood Design SG03 Residential Extension and Alterations SG04 Shopfronts SG05 Green Infrastructure and New Development SG06 Affordable Housing SG07 Biodiversity and Development SG08 Local Nature Conservation and Geodiversity Sites SG09 Landscape Character Assessment and Landscape Designations SG10 Trees and Development SG11 Frontiers of the Roman Empire (Antonine Wall) World Heritage Sites SG12 Listed Buildings and Unlisted Properties in Conservations Areas SG13 Developer Contributions SG14 Renewable and Low Carbon Energy SG09 Landscape Character Assessment and Landscape Designations April 2021 Contents Landscape Character Assessment and Landscape Designations Sites 1. Introduction 2. Planning Policy, Guidance and Initiatives 3. Landscape Character Assessment and Guidelines ( see Appendix 1) 4. Local Landscape Designations: Local Landscape Areas (LLAs) ( see Appendix 2) 5. National and Local Designed Landscapes 6. Appendices Appendix 1 Landscape Character Type and Local Landscape Character Area Descriptions Appendix 2 Statements of Importance and Descriptions for Special Local Landscape Areas Appendix 3 Further Guidance and Sources of Information for Developers SG09 Landscape Character Assessment and Landscape Designations April 2021 1. Introduction Why is Landscape Important? 1.1 The very varied rural landscape of the Falkirk area plays a vital role in providing a setting and backdrop for settlements, industry, transport routes and recreation. The key rural industries of farming and forestry make a major contribution to the appearance of this rural landscape. The rural landscape is a key element of the area’s image and identity and is valued by local residents and visitors to the area. )DONLUN¶VQDWXUDOUXUDOODQGIRUPUDQJHVIURPÀDWODQG around the Forth coast, to river valleys, areas of lowland plateau, hill fringes and lowland hills. The UXUDOODQGVFDSHFRQWDLQVDUDQJHRIGLႇHUHQWODQG uses and development. These include: open hill land, arable farmland, grazing land, broadleaf woodland, commercial forestry, agricultural buildings, equestrian centres, small rural industries, energy production and transmission, telecommunication apparatus, reservoirs, transport routes, minerals, former opencast areas, recreational land, water courses, water bodies, villages and dwellings. Increasing pressures for development in rural areas, together with other changes in land use and land management practices, can result in dramatic changes in the appearance of the rural landscape through the DGGLWLRQRIQHZIHDWXUHVDQGWKHORVVRIWKHGH¿QLQJ landscape elements that may make a particular landscape locally distinct or valued. The purpose of this supplementary guidance is to help developers, land managers and decision makers to take appropriate steps to protect, manage and enhance the rural landscapes of Falkirk. The guidance is intended to ensure that Falkirk’s rural landscape is protected, enhanced and well managed for future generations as a place to live and work. 01 SG09 Landscape Character Assessment and Landscape Designations April 2021 2. Planning Policy, Guidance and Initiatives Policy Context National Policy and Initiatives 2.1 This supplementary guidance document supports 2.3 The Scottish Planning Policy (2014) recognises European and national policies and initiatives relating the importance of landscape. It highlights that the to landscape. It also supports policies in the Council’s planning system should facilitate positive change Local Development Plan 2 (LDP2) together with while maintaining and enhancing distinctive landscape associated strategy documents that relate to protection FKDUDFWHU7KHSROLF\GRFXPHQWDOVRDႈUPVWKDWWKH and enhancement of landscape character, landscape purpose of local landscape designations should be to designations (Local Landscape Areas) and designed (a) safeguard and enhance the character and quality landscapes. The information below outlines the of a landscape which is important or locally valued, hierarchy of landscape policy guidance and initiatives. (b) to promote understanding and awareness of the distinctive character and special qualities of local European Initiatives landscapes or (c) to safeguard and promote important local settings for outdoor recreation and tourism. 2.2 The European Landscape Convention (ELC) is an In relation to development management, the policy initiative from the Council of Europe that highlights requires that siting and design of development should the importance of all landscapes and encourages take account of local landscape character and that further attention to their protection, management and GHFLVLRQVVKRXOGFRQVLGHUWKHSRWHQWLDOHႇHFWVRQ planning. In 2006, the UK signed up to the convention; landscapes and the natural and water environment, this now provides the framework for NatureScot’s work LQFOXGLQJFXPXODWLYHHႇHFWV7KHLPSRUWDQFHRI on Scotland’s landscapes. The ELC initiative is based protection and expansion of woodland and the need to on a set of principles that recognise: maximise green infrastructure are also issues covered (1) people from all cultures and communities lie at the in the SPP that relate to landscape. The policy also heart of work for landscape and that we all share requires planning authorities to protect and seek to an interest in and responsibility for its well being; enhance gardens and designed landscapes of national (2) all landscapes are important, whether beautiful or and local importance. degraded and not just in special places; Scotland’s Landscape Charter (2010) encourages (3) landscapes will continue to evolve in response to DFWLRQIURPHYHU\RQHWRIXO¿OLWVYLVLRQWRHQVXUHWKDW needs, but this change needs to be managed; all Scotland’s