Winchfield Garden Community: Landscape and Visual Appraisal
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Winchfield Garden Community: Landscape and Visual Appraisal Prepared on behalf of Gallagher Estates Ltd June 2017 Winchfield Garden Community: Landscape and Visual Appraisal Prepared on behalf of Gallagher Estates Ltd Project Ref: 20997/A5 Status: For Issue Issue/ Rev: - Date: June 2017 Prepared by: RH/WL Checked by: MDC Authorised by: MDC Barton Willmore LLP Ref: 20997/A5 Date: June 2017 Status: For Issue COPYRIGHT The contents of this document must not be copied or reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of Barton Willmore LLP. All Barton Willmore stationery is produced using recycled or FSC paper and vegetation oil based inks. CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1 2.0 Methodology ................................................................................................................. 2 3.0 Site Context .................................................................................................................. 4 4.0 Published Landscape Character ....................................................................................... 8 5.0 Relevant Policy ............................................................................................................. 13 6.0 Site Appraisal ............................................................................................................... 26 7.0 Opportunities for Development ....................................................................................... 36 8.0 Review of Hart's 2016 Landscape Capactiy Study .............................................................. 38 9.0 Review of Hart's 2017 Sustainability Appraisal .................................................................. 47 10.0 Review of Murrell Green ................................................................................................ 50 11.0 Summary and Conclusion ............................................................................................... 64 ILLUSTRATIVE MATERIAL Figure 1: Site Context Plan Figure 2: Topographical Features Plan Figure 3: Landscape Character Plan Figure 4: Site Appraisal Plan Figure 5: Hart Landscape Capacity Study Figure 6: Murrell Green Site Context Plan Site Appraisal Photographs A-F Site Context Photographs 1-12 Winchfield Garden Community Introduction 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Barton Willmore Landscape Planning and Design (BWLPD) were commissioned by Gallagher Estates Ltd to undertake a Landscape and Visual Appraisal (LVA) of land at Winchfield ('the Site') in the context of Hart District Council's Drat Local Plan: Strategy and Site 2011-2032 Regulation 18 Consultation (26 April to 9th June 2017). 1.2 The LVA has included for a review of a number of documents which form the evidence base for the Regulation 18 Consultation, including Hart's Landscape Capacity Study (2016) and Interim Sustainability Appraisal Report (April 2017) which notes in relation to the Site that: "the topography of the site is suited to development insofar as it may prevent long views into developed areas." 1.3 Whereas the Interim Sustainability Appraisal Report (April 2017) has considered the Site in respect of 3,000 new dwellings, this LVA considers the Site in respect of 1,800 new dwellings, set within a robust landscape strategy and within the red line boundary as illustrated in Figure 1: Site Context Plan. 1.4 As a result of the reduction in the number of dwellings, the Site is comparable in terms of the number of dwellings at Murrell Green, which is included in the Draft Local Plan. The LVA has therefore undertaken a landscape and visual review of Murrell Green to identify whether the inclusion of Murrell Green in the Draft Local Plan is sound and to compare the likely landscape and visual effects between 1,800 dwellings at Murrell Green and Winchfield. 1.5 The LVA should be read in combination with the following illustrative plans and photographic material: Figure 1: Site Context Plan Figure 2: Topographical Features Plan Figure 3: Landscape Character Plan Figure 4: Site Appraisal Plan Figure 5: Hart Landscape Capacity Study Figure 6: Murrell Green Site Context Plan Site Appraisal Photographs A-F Site Context Photographs 1-12 20997/A5 1 June 2017 Winchfield Garden Community Methodology 2.0 METHODOLOGY 2.1 The Landscape and Visual Appraisal has been prepared with reference to the guidelines as set out in the 'Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment 3rd Edition', prepared b y the Landscape Institute and the Institute of Environment Management and Assessment. 2.2 A desktop review of the study area was undertaken, including for a review of the published landscape character information, landform, landscape features, relevant landsca pe and visual policy and landscape designations. This information was used as the initial basis against which to appraise the Site. A visit to the Site and surroundings was subsequently undertaken to verify the desk-based review and add further information to the landscape and visual context of the Site. 2.3 A description of the existing land use of the study area is provided and includes reference to existing areas of settlement, transport routes and vegetation cover, as well as local landscape designations, elements of cultural and heritage value, and local landmarks or tourist destinations. These factors combine to provide an understanding of landscape value and sensitivity and provide an indication of particular key views and viewpoints that are available to visual receptors. 2.4 To determine the extent of visual influence, a visual appraisal was undertaken of the Site to consider the nature of existing views from publicly accessible viewpoints including roads, Public Rights of Way (PRoW) and public open space. Consideration was given to private views, however access to private properties was not obtained. Views were considered from all directions and from a range of distances. The viewpoints chosen are not intended to be exhaustive, but rather to represent the potential views obtained towards the Site in order to identify areas of higher visual sensitivity that may not be best suited for development. 2.5 The sensitivity of the Site is considered in terms of the following: Landscape Character: i.e. landform, vegetation cover, land use, scale, state of repair of individual elements, representation of typological character, enclosure pattern, form/line and movement; Landscape Value: i.e. national designations, local designations, sense of tranquillity/remoteness, scenic beauty and cultural associations; and Visual Influence: i.e. landform influences, tree and woodland cover, numbers and types of residents, numbers and types of visitors and scope for mitigating potential for visual impacts. 20997/A5 2 June 2017 Winchfield Garden Community Methodology 2.6 From the above a judgement is made on the sensitivity of the Site in relation to residential development based on a range of low (suitable for development), medium (partially suitable for development) and high (limited opportunities for development). All development is based upon being based upon new dwellings set within a robust landscape framework with the retention of existing woodlands (including ancient woodland). 20997/A5 3 June 2017 Winchfield Garden Community Site Context 3.0 SITE CONTEXT 3.1 As demonstrated by Figure 1: Site Context Plan, the Site is consolidated around the existing settlement of Winchfield, extending from the north of the M3 to the Basingstoke Canal. The Site covers 217 hectares. 3.2 The Site is therefore set in the vicinity of the M3 motorway and the main London to Southampton railway, as well as between the settlements of Hook and Fleet, to the west and east of the Site respectively, with Hartley Wintney to the north and Winchfield Hurst to the south-east. Topography and Hydrology 3.3 Figure 2: Topographical Features Plan demonstrates that the Site is in a low lying position relative to the surrounding landscape, being enclosed from the north, west and south by ridgelines. 3.4 To the east of the Site the landform falls towards the River Hart before rising again to a ridgeline across the west of Fleet. 3.5 The combination of these ridgelines locate the Site within a bowl shaped landform surrounded by higher landform, much of which is well vegetated. 3.6 In relation to the wider landscape the Site is set within a gently undulating plateaux between the River Whitewater valley to the west and the River Hart Valley to the east. Vegetation 3.7 With reference to Figure 1: Site Context Plan, for the most part the Site is farmland bound by hedgerow vegetation with mature hedgerow trees with localised areas of woodland. To the east of the Site the grassland is noted as a Coastal and Floodplain Grazing Marsh BAP Priority Habitat. 3.8 The western parts of the Site are covered by woodland, notably in the vicinity of Winchfield train station and at Round Copse which is an area of ancient semi-natural woodland. The western part of the Site comprises predominantly broadleaved woodland, whilst the eastern part of the Site comprises for the most part open grassland/heathland and shrub vegetation. 3.9 To the east of the Site lies a Lowland Meadows BAP Priority Habitat approxima tely 50m from the Site boundary. In the wider landscape, the lanes and roads which traverse the area are generally bordered by mature trees and dense hedgerow vegetation with pockets of extensive woodland, notably in the vicinity of Odiham Common.