Landscape and Visual Appraisal

HE December 2013 Landscape A Visual and HELENA ROMANES SCHOOL HELENA GREAT DUNMOW

L ENA ROMANES SCHOOL, ENA ROMANES SCHOOL,

ppraisal

Landscape and Visual Appraisal

LAND AT HELENA ROMANES SCHOOL, GREAT DUNMOW Helena Romanes School

December 2013

Prepared by: Ben Spurden

Position: Senior Landscape Architect

Qualifications: Chartered Landscape Architect BA MLA CMLI File name: 1587 L&VA revA_14.01.06.docx

Date issued: 6th January 2014

Checked by: Dr Liz Lake

Landscape and Visual Appraisal: Helena Romanes School

CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 The Purpose of this Report 1

1.2 Site Context 1

1.3 Site Description 1

2 THE EXISTING SITUATION: BASELINE DATA 3

2.1 Landscape Character 3

2.2 Landscape Resource – The Site 4

2.3 Visual Resource 6

3 THE PROPOSALS 10

3.1 Proposal 10

3.2 Approach to Mitigation 10

4 ASSESSMENT OF LIKELY LANDSCAPE EFFECTS 12

4.1 Susceptibility 12

4.2 Identifying the Landscape Effects 12

5 ASSESSMENT OF LIKELY VISUAL EFFECTS 14

5.1 Identifying the Visual Effects 14

5.2 Likely Visual Effects 14

6 ASSESSMENT OF LIKELY CUMULATIVE EFFECTS 16

6.1 Sector 4 – Woodlands Park development 16

7 CONCLUSION 17

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APPENDIX A FIGURES

FIGURE 1 – SITE LOCATION FIGURE 2 – TOPOGRAPHY FIGURE 3 – DESIGNATIONS FIGURE 4 – SITE CONTEXT PHOTO LOCATIONS FIGURE 5.1-5.5 – PHOTOGRAPHIC SHEETS

APPENDIX B PUBLISHED LANDSCAPE CHARACTER ASSESSMENTS

APPENDIX C LIZ LAKE ASSOCIATES METHODOLOGY FOR LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL APPRAISAL

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1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 The Purpose of this Report

1.1.1 Liz Lake Associates has been commissioned by the Helena Romanes School to prepare a Landscape and Visual Appraisal of a proposal for residential development of land currently occupied by the Helena Romanes School, Great Dunmow, Essex. The report accompanies a delivery statement to be submitted to Uttlesford District Council.

1.1.2 The assessment was carried out by Ben Spurden, Chartered Landscape Architect of Liz Lake Associates, on 9th December 2013. Weather conditions were clear.

1.1.3 The following documents were used in the assessment and should be read in conjunction with this report:

 Go Planning Report: Design Concept Proposal

1.2 Site Context

1.2.1 The proposed development site (the Site) is located to the north of Great Dunmow, Essex and is approximately 11 hectares in size. It lies within the Uttlesford District Council Local Authority.

1.2.2 The Site lies to the west of the B184 on the northern edge of Great Dunmow. Access from the B184 is via Parsonage Downs, a minor access road.

1.2.3 To the east of the Site are a number of detached residential properties, fronting a green (Parsonage Downs) on the western edge of the B184. Newton Hall (a Grade II Listed building) lies to the south western corner of the Site, within the southern edge of a block of woodland running along the western Site boundary.

1.3 Site Description

1.3.1 The Site includes the existing school buildings and associated car park occupying the southern part of the Site, and grass playing fields occupying the northern and south western parts of the Site. Also lying within the grounds of the school but outside of the Site boundary are a number of hard surfaced outdoor courts associated with the school. The

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Great Dunmow Leisure Centre and associated car park also lies within the southern part of the existing school grounds but lie outside of the proposed development Site boundary.

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2 THE EXISTING SITUATION: BASELINE DATA

2.1 Landscape Character

2.1.1 The Site is located within National Character Area (NCA) 86 South Suffolk and North Essex Clayland. The NCA covers a vast area, extending to Ipswich in the east, Stevenage in the west, Bury St Edmunds in the north and Chelmsford in the south. The area is characterised by undulating country with small river valleys flowing east and sporadic areas of flat land.

2.1.2 Key relevant characteristics of the character area include;

 Broadly flat, chalky, boulder clay plateau dissected by undulating river valley topography, particularly marked in upper valley reaches, which are much smaller in scale.

 Winding road pattern away from major routes, often with wide verges and strong hedgerows. Sunken hollow lanes are a feature, lined with hedgerows, but impact of Dutch Elm disease apparent.

 Predominantly arable with wooded appearance. Some pasture in valley floors. Irregular field pattern despite rationalization; remnant Ancient Countryside.1

2.1.3 At a county scale the Site lies within the Chelmer Valley character area, as defined by the Essex Landscape Character Assessment 2003. The character area is predominantly rural, although includes the built-up area of Great Dunmow. The character area is defined as a narrow valley with ‘an enclosed character with many riverside and hedgerow trees and a string of small wet woodlands.’2 Typically views are framed and confined by the valley vegetation. Vegetation along the valley sides is predominantly gappy hedgerows, creating a more open character, with very occasional woodland.

2.1.4 At a local scale the Site lies within the Upper Chelmer River Valley character area, as defined by the Uttlesford Landscape Character Assessments 2006. This local character area

1 National Character Area 86: South Suffolk and North Essex Clayland 2 Essex Landscape Character Assessment, 2003, Chris Blandford Associates

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is very similar to that of the Chelmer Valley county character area, characterised by a narrow river valley, with an open & tranquil character away from Great Dunmow, Chelmsford and the A120.

2.1.5 The local landscape character area outlines strategies and guidelines for the future, with the overall landscape strategy objective within the area being to Conserve and Enhance the existing landscape. New residential development should consider the visual impact upon valley sides and cross-valley views should be conserved and enhanced.

2.1.6 The Site is typical of some of the characteristics of the county and local landscape character areas, being located on a river valley slope with tree lined hedgerow field boundaries and small pockets of adjacent woodland. The Site does however have an existing peri-urban character due to the presence of the school, sports centre, car parking and hard surfaced playing pitches.

2.1.7 The Site is assessed as having a limited contribution to the local landscape character given its peri-urban character of school buildings, car parking, playing fields and hard surfacing.

2.2 Landscape Resource – The Site

Topography

2.2.1 The Site lies on the north facing slope of the River Chelmer valley, which slopes down to the River Chelmer, around 0.5km north and east of the Site (see Figure 2 – Topography). The landform then rises up to the north and east of the river to locally high points of around 95m AOD, around Bigod’s Wood and Ridley Wood.

2.2.2 The topography of the Site itself varies considerably, with the southern part of the Site lying at around 80m AOD, sloping down to the northern part of the Site at around 60m AOD. Large areas of the Site have been levelled out in order to accommodate the sports playing pitches, resulting in a series of narrow banks and terraces which divide up the Site and accommodate the changes in level (photographs 1 and 2).

Public Rights of Way

2.2.3 There are no public rights of way crossing the Site itself, although a public footpath (PROW 18_87) runs west and north from the B184, parallel to the southern Site boundary, past

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Newton Hall and joins Park Road to the north. There are also several public footpaths leading north and east from the B184 to the north of the Site (including PROWs 18_1, 18_2 and 18_3).

Built Elements

2.2.4 There are several buildings associated with the Helena Romanes school in the southern part of the Site, the majority of which are 2 – 3 stories in height with flat roofs, with part of the main school building being 3 – 4 stories in height. The Great Dunmow Leisure Centre building also lies south of the development Site and is a two storey building with a sloping roof.

Vegetation Cover

2.2.5 Vegetation is predominantly limited to the Site boundaries, with some large specimen oak trees, scattered along the northern and western boundaries. A large specimen oak and clumps of younger tree planting are located in the centre of the Site, along the line of the bank which separates the central and northern parts of the Site (photograph 2). A wooded copse in the western part of the Site containing predominantly scrub, also contains two large oak trees and two large silver birch trees. This copse adjoins a larger area of woodland, running along the majority of the western Site boundary. A smaller area of woodland; Graces Wood lies outside of the north eastern corner of the Site.

Tree Preservation Orders

2.2.6 There are no Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs) covering any trees within the Site, although a line of trees lying on the southern Site boundary and part of the woodland adjacent to the north east corner of the Site are both covered by TPOs. There are also a number of TPOs covering trees lying outside of the Site boundary, around Parsonage Downs and around properties to the south of the Site. These TPOs are shown on Figure 3 – Designations.

Designations and Strategies

2.2.7 High Wood is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and lies approximately 1.5km south west of the Site, immediately north of the A120. The area of woodland including Broomhills and Hoglands Wood lying approximately 0.4km to the west of the Site is designated as Ancient and Semi-Natural Woodland.

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Human Features

2.2.8 There are no designated or undesignated heritage assets, or sites scheduled as Ancient Monuments lying within the Site. Heritage assets in the area surrounding the Site are shown on Figure 5 – Designations and are described below.

2.2.9 There are seven Grade II Listed buildings lying immediately outside of the Site’s eastern boundary, between the Site and Parsonage Downs. Newton Hall, to the south western edge of the Site also contains two Grade II Listed buildings.

2.2.10 There are two Scheduled Ancient Monuments to the east of the Site at Parsonage Farm, around 0.5km from the Site.

2.2.11 The area to the immediate east of the Site lies within the Great Dunmow Conservation Area, which includes land either side of the B184 stretching north up to the Pump House adjacent to the northern part of the Site and south towards the town centre. The access road serving the Helena Romanes School and the Listed Buildings described above are included within the Conservation Area.

2.3 Visual Resource

2.3.1 The site is assessed as having a fair visual amenity where the quality of existing views is such that there are a number of incongruous elements and local people are likely to be indifferent to the view.

Views from the Site

2.3.2 Views from the Site are largely limited by existing boundary vegetation and built form along the Site’s southern, eastern and western boundaries. The large area of woodland to the west of the Site screens views to the west, although views into the grounds of the private residence at Newton Hall are possible (photograph 3). Views looking south are screened by established boundary tree and hedgerow vegetation. To the east the adjacent detached properties are visible above the boundary fences and vegetation, screening all views further east.

2.3.3 Views to the north are more open, looking down the valley and at the rising land on the opposite side of the valley. Vegetation along the northern boundary is limited; the adjacent arable to the north field (south west of Brookfield Farm) is visible from the Site and is

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currently being developed for residential use. Views beyond the adjacent field extend northwards, with Bush Wood, the surrounding countryside and several farm dwellings visible from northern, more open parts of the Site.

Views of the Site

2.3.4 The visual amenity experienced by people (visual receptors) in the locality of the Site differs according to many factors. Visual receptors of higher sensitivity with limited susceptibility to change include residents at home (private viewpoints), people engaged in outdoor recreation (including use of PROWs), visitors to heritage assets and other attractions, travellers on recognised scenic routes (public viewpoints) and people at their work place where views are an important contributor to the setting and quality of their working life.

2.3.5 Travellers on road, rail or other transport routes and people engaged in outdoor sport or recreation are considered less sensitive to changes in visual amenity.

2.3.6 Consideration of the study area, via desk research and field survey, has identified locations from which the proposed development will potentially be visible. The following specific, representative and illustrative viewpoints have been selected for inclusion in the assessment:

Private Viewpoints

 Residential properties – The detached properties on Parsonage Downs, east of the Site

 Residential property – Newton Hall, immediately west of the Site

 Residential property – A small number of detached properties along the track to the south of the Site.

Public Viewpoints

 Views from the west and south along PROW 18_87

 Views from the north along PROWs 18_1 and 18_3.

Transport Routes

 Views over a short distance from the B184 to the east of the Site

 Views over a short distance from Park Road to the north west of the Site.

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Private Viewpoints

2.3.7 Residential properties to the east of the Site overlooking Parsonage Downs have views of the Site from their first floor rear windows. These are filtered by existing vegetation and boundary fences along the Site boundary. Existing views are over the sports pitches in the northern part of the Site although the floodlit pitches are also visible from some properties. The southernmost dwellings in this group, adjacent to the school buildings have more extensive screening vegetation and views westwards to the Site are limited.

2.3.8 A complex of buildings make up Newton Hall and views from the easternmost buildings overlook the existing playing field in the south eastern part of the Site, the floodlit pitches, the Great Dunmow Sports Centre and car park. Newton Hall is generally well contained by woodland vegetation although there is a break in vegetation along this stretch of the Site boundary and views are possible from ground and first floor windows of the easternmost cottages (photograph 3).

2.3.9 Properties along the private access track to the south of the Site are set back from the access track and have established vegetation to their front garden boundaries. Tree cover along the Site’s southern boundary is also well established and this screens views of the school and leisure centre from these properties.

Public Viewpoints

2.3.10 PROW 18_87 leads west from the B184, to the south of properties along the private access track and north west past Newton Hall. Views of the Site are limited due to boundary vegetation and the residential properties. The sports centre building and the floodlights to the north of the building can however be seen through gaps in the boundary vegetation from PROW 18_87 to the south of the Site (photographs 8, 9 & 10).

2.3.11 PROWs 18_1 and 18_3 both lead north and east from the B184, rising up the valley slope. The school and sports centre buildings can be seen through gaps in existing tree cover, from higher ground along these footpaths. The grass playing fields in the northern part of the Site can also be glimpsed in these views. Vegetation provides some screening (photograph 13) although screening will increase in summer months when trees have foliage.

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Transport Routes

2.3.12 Views of the Site from the B184 are predominantly screened by the detached properties overlooking Parsonage Downs and associated vegetation. The existing school buildings can be glimpsed above the line of the boundary vegetation, between houses at several points along the road (photograph 6).

2.3.13 Views of the Site from Park Road, lying to the north and west of the Site are limited due to intermittent vegetation. The tops of the existing school buildings can however be seen above the line of vegetation (photograph 11).

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3 THE PROPOSALS

3.1 Proposal

3.1.1 The proposed residential development is illustrated within Go Planning’s Design Concept Proposal and includes the following elements:

 Removal of existing school buildings and associated car parking

 Up to circa 135 dwellings, and the provision of amenity space

 Footpath and pedestrian access routes

 Open space and play facilities

 Landscape proposals

3.1.2 The existing three to four storey school buildings will be removed along with the associated school car parking. The Great Dunmow Leisure Centre building and car park will be retained in the proposals.

3.1.3 The proposed residential development is assumed to consist of houses predominantly two stories in height, with some up to a maximum of three stories in height. Proposed access to the development will be via the existing school access road.

3.2 Approach to Mitigation

3.2.1 In consideration of the landscape and visual issues relevant to the Site an approach to the mitigation of the proposals has been developed. The mitigation strategy aims to avoid, reduce and if possible remedy the identified landscape and visual effects.

3.2.2 Recommendations have been incorporated into the proposed Master Plan which aim to mitigate potential adverse landscape and visual effects and help to integrate the proposed development into the surrounding landscape.

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3.2.3 Within the Uttlesford Landscape Character Assessments proposed guidelines for future development within the area, applicable to the Site include to ‘Consider the visual impact of new residential development and farm buildings upon valley sides’3.

3.2.4 The following landscape and visual strategy has been developed based on the guidelines for managing change in the Uttlesford area:

3.2.5 Consider the visual impact of new residential development and farm buildings upon valley sides. The following is proposed in response to this objective:

 Provide a landscape buffer to the northern Site boundary to include significant screen planting, to reduce visibility of the development from the north

 Break up the proposed built form with generous open space provision running through the Site, approximately 4 hectares of the 11 hectare Site.

3.2.6 Conserve and enhance the existing hedgerow pattern, and strengthen through planting where appropriate to local landscape character. The following is proposed in response to this objective:

 Retain all existing boundary hedgerows and where key specimen trees exist, provide a setting of proposed open space around these trees

 Reinforce boundaries with additional native hedgerow planting where appropriate.

3 Braintree, Brentwood, Chelmsford, Maldon and Uttlesford landscape character assessments, 2006, Chris Blandford Associates

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4 ASSESSMENT OF LIKELY LANDSCAPE EFFECTS

This section of the appraisal considers the results of the initial baseline work in the context of future potential residential development of the Site. The landscape effects are the changes to the Site, quantitative or qualitative, compared with a scenario without the Proposals. Effects can be adverse or beneficial, direct, indirect or cumulative. The following assessment of landscape effect should be read in conjunction with the approach to mitigation (refer Chapter 3).

4.1 Susceptibility

4.1.1 An important element in identifying the effects of a Proposal is to assess the ability (the susceptibility) of the existing landscape to accommodate the specific proposed changes with regard to the consequences on the local landscape character.

4.1.2 The Site (landscape resource) has been deemed to be of medium susceptibility to accommodate proposed development; this is an established landscape where change of an appropriate nature could be absorbed without the loss of key characteristics, individual elements or features (i.e. hedgerows and significant vegetation).

4.2 Identifying the Landscape Effects

4.2.1 The Site is located on a river valley slope with tree lined hedgerow field boundaries and small pockets of adjacent woodland. The Site does however have an existing peri-urban character due to the presence of the school, sports centre, car parking and hard surfaced playing pitches.

4.2.2 There will be a significant change in the landscape character of the Site as it will change from a peri-urban character of grass playing pitches and school buildings to an urban character of residential development. The role of the landscape architect has been to suggest strategies to integrate the proposals into the landscape and retain as much of the landscape resource as is practical. Although the scheme is considered to have an adverse effect on the local landscape character, mitigation proposals have been recommended in order to compensate for this adverse effect. The proposals also include substantial public

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open space provision, which will reduce the impact of the development and help to compensate for the loss of open playing fields.

4.2.3 The inclusion of generous areas of open space and a woodland buffer to the north of the Site will help to create a more sensitive integration of the urban development into the landscape.

4.2.4 The development proposals have been developed to retain the key features of the Site. The mature trees lying along the Site boundary and the semi mature oak tree in the centre of the Site will all be retained in the proposals; the areas of public open space have been concentrated around these trees to ensure their setting is not compromised by the proposals. These mature trees have been given significant buffers from the built development, in order to prevent future damage to the trees root systems. If some minor encroachment of the proposed development within the root protection area of trees occurs, a no-dig construction will be used (in accordance with arboricultural recommendations).

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5 ASSESSMENT OF LIKELY VISUAL EFFECTS

The visual effects are the changes to the Site, quantitative or qualitative, compared with a scenario without the proposals. Effects can be adverse or beneficial, direct, indirect or cumulative. The assessment involves a systematic identification and description of the likely visual effects, supported by plans and photographs.

The following assessment of visual effect should be read in conjunction with the approach to mitigation (refer Chapter 4).

5.1 Identifying the Visual Effects

5.1.1 The likely value placed upon views by people or the visual amenity of the locality is evaluated to help assess the effects of proposed development.

5.1.2 Consideration of the views and visual amenity has been undertaken in the winter months when deciduous vegetation is without leaf cover. The photographs represent the ‘worst case’ views, when vegetation offers the least in terms of screening. As such, the assessment has endeavoured to make informed judgements applicable to visual amenity throughout the year.

5.1.3 This report does not consider the assessment of night views. If required, the significance of changes at night is generally assessed separately when detailed lighting proposals have been defined.

5.2 Likely Visual Effects

5.2.1 Views from the east will be limited to properties overlooking Parsonage Downs and users of the B184. The existing school building which can be seen from above the line of vegetation will be removed from these views. New residential development is likely to be seen from first floor rear windows of properties overlooking Parsonage Downs and glimpsed views of the development may be seen from sections of the B184, adjacent to the eastern Site boundary.

5.2.2 Views from the south will be almost entirely screened by existing vegetation and boundary treatments of existing properties along the private access track. The leisure centre and

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associated car park which occupy most of the southern area of the Site will be retained, screening the northern parts of the Site from view. Glimpsed views of the proposed residential development in the south west corner will be possible from the public footpath PROW 18_87 although these will be filtered views, through the existing boundary vegetation.

5.2.3 Views from the west will be limited to the easternmost buildings of Newton Hall and occasional glimpsed views from public footpath PROW 18_87. Views from Newton Hall have been a key consideration in the design process and the residence is generally well contained by woodland planting, except for the boundary with the south western corner of the Site, where there is a break in the vegetation. As a result, the area of the Site immediately adjacent to this boundary will be proposed as an area of public open space, reducing the effect on visual amenity of residents of Newton Hall. The boundary here will also be reinforced with native hedgerow planting to provide additional privacy to Newton Hall.

5.2.4 Views from the north will be more extensive and are likely to include users of public footpaths 18_1 and 18_3, residential properties along the B184 leading north and road users along the B184 and Park Road. The existing school buildings currently visible on the horizon of these views will be removed from view. The proposed residential development will be visible behind and above the line of vegetation on the valley side, although mitigation planting along the Site’s northern boundary will help to reduce the visibility of the proposals. The proposals have also been designed to include substantial open space in the central part of the Site, reducing the visual intrusion of built form in views from the north.

5.2.5 Although the new development will introduce built form to a larger area of land than the school buildings currently occupy, the new buildings will be lower in height than the existing school buildings.

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6 ASSESSMENT OF LIKELY CUMULATIVE EFFECTS

Cumulative effects are the effects on both landscape character and visual amenity, resulting from adding the effects of the project being assessed to the effects of other projects or from their combined effect.

This assessment takes into account one other project in the vicinity, which has been recently granted permission under a separate planning application.

Cumulative visual effects have been split into two main types of view, ‘in combination’ (where two or more developments would be visible to the observer at the same time) and ‘in succession’ (where the observer would have to turn their head to see the various developments).

6.1 Sector 4 – Woodlands Park development

6.1.1 The land immediately adjacent to the Site’s northern boundary, extending west and south, is the subject of a planning application, for which permission was recently granted for a residential development comprising 125 units (application number: ‘UTT/13/1663/DFO’).

6.1.2 The development, once complete, will alter the baseline conditions of this study as described in Section 2, in terms of both landscape character and visual amenity.

6.1.3 The Woodlands Park development will be visible in front of the Site in views from the north (photographs 11 – 14) with an increased amount of built form introduced into the landscape, although this will be also be partially screened by existing vegetation. Cumulatively the Woodlands Park development will screen much of the Site from view and any of the proposed development of Site visible, will appear to be a continuation of the Woodlands Park development.

6.1.4 The two developments will increase the urbanisation of the local landscape character, extending the existing built form edge of Great Dunmow further north. Retention of existing boundary vegetation and additional mitigation planting will help to integrate the development into the existing landscape.

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7 CONCLUSION

7.1.1 The Landscape and Visual Appraisal has reviewed the existing landscape and visual resource relevant to the development proposals.

7.1.2 The proposals have been designed to retain key landscape features within the Site and provide an open space setting to retained oak trees. Although the proposed development will have an adverse effect on the local landscape character, this will be mitigated through the design of large areas of public open space running through the centre of the Site. This will help to create a new local landscape character, bringing benefits to the nearby surroundings in the form of useable public open space.

7.1.3 The Site is well contained by boundary vegetation and views looking into the Site are limited. There will be an adverse effect on the visual amenity of some receptors to the north of the Site, although mitigation proposals will help to reduce these through the use of planting to the Site’s northern boundary, partially screening the proposed development.

7.1.4 The cumulative effects of the two developments will increase the urbanisation of the local landscape character, extending the existing built form edge of Great Dunmow further north. Retention of existing boundary vegetation and additional mitigation planting will help to integrate the development into the existing landscape.

1587 L&VA revA_14.01.06.docx Appendix A LAND AT HELENA ROMANES SCHOOL, GREAT DUNMOW

FIGURES 1 – 5.5

December 2013

1587 LVIA FIGURE 1 Site Location

LEGEND

Site boundary

8_1 W 1

PROPR 3 8_3

W 1 RO PRO

Grar cesess WooWoood

87 18_ OWW PR

Project: Helena Romanes School

Client: Helena Romanes School

Date: December 2013

Scale: See Bar Scale

0 1km

Reproduced from Ordnance Survey map data by permission of Ordnance Survey © Crown copyright 2013 Licence No.100007196 © Crown copyright and database rights 2013 Ordnance Survey Licence No.0100031673 1587 LVIA FIGURE 2 Topography

LEGEND

Site boundary

100-105m AOD

95-100m AOD

90-95m AOD

85-90m AOD

80-85m AOD

75-80m AOD

70-75m AOD

65-70m AOD

60-65m AOD

55-60m AOD

50-55m AOD

45-50m AOD

Project: Helena Romanes School

Client: Helena Romanes School

Date: December 2013

Scale: See Bar Scale

0 1km

LEGENDLEGEND

Site boundary

Listed Building

Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI)

Scheduled Ancient Monument (SAM)

Conservation Area

Ancient and Semi-Natural Woodland

Tree Preservation Order (TPO)

Project: Helena Romanes School

Client: Helena Romanes School

Date: December 2013

Scale: See Bar Scale

High Wood 0 200m 400m 600m 800m

LEGEND

Site boundary

VIEWPOINTS

5 LVIA Viewpoints

_1 8_1881 1 W 1 12 PRO 13

8_3

W 1

PRO

B1 1 884

5 2 1 6 4 3 7

10 8 PRO W 1 9 8_888 7

Project: Helena Romanes School

Client: Helena Romanes School

Date: December 2013

Scale: See Bar Scale

0 1km

Great Dunmow Sports Pitch Properties overlooking Parsonage Downs School Building Leisure Centre Floodlighting

Photograph 1: Internal view of the Site looking south towards the school

Properties overlooking Parsonage Downs

B184

Helena Romanes School Playing Fields

Photograph 2: Internal view of the Site looking north across the playing fi elds

Newton Hall

Helena Romanes School Playing Fields

Photograph 3: Internal view of the Site looking west towards Newton Hall

Project: Helena Romanes School Client: Helena Romanes School Date: December 2013 LIZ LAKE ASSOCIATES FIGURE 5.2 Chartered Landscape Architects Urban Designers Landscape Planners Photographic Sheet 2 of 5

School Building Properties overlooking Parsonage Downs

Site Access Road

Photograph 4: View along the Site access road from the B184

Properties overlooking Parsonage Downs

School Building

B184

Photograph 5: View from the B184 to the east of the Site, adjacent to Parsonage Farm

School Building Properties overlooking Site Entrance Parsonage Downs

B184

Photograph 6: View from the B184 to the east of the Site

Project: Helena Romanes School Client: Helena Romanes School Date: December 2013 LIZ LAKE ASSOCIATES FIGURE 5.3 Chartered Landscape Architects Urban Designers Landscape Planners Photographic Sheet 3 of 5

School Building B184

Site Entrance Properties overlooking Private access track Parsonage Downs

Photograph 7: View from the private track serving properties to the south of the Site

Great Dunmow Sports Pitch Leisure Centre Floodlighting Private access drive to Newton Hall

PROW 18_87

Photograph 8: View from the public footpath immediately south of the Site

Great Dunmow Residential properties Leisure Centre along the access track

PROW 18_87

Photograph 9: View from the public footpath immediately south west of the Site

Project: Helena Romanes School Client: Helena Romanes School Date: December 2013 LIZ LAKE ASSOCIATES FIGURE 5.4 Chartered Landscape Architects Urban Designers Landscape Planners Photographic Sheet 4 of 5

PROW 18_87 Newton Hall Sports Pitch Floodlighting

Photograph 10: View from the public footpath south west of the Site looking through to Newton Hall

School Buildings

Park Road

Photograph 11: View looking south and east from Park Road

Leisure Centre Building

School Building

B184

PROW 18_1

Photograph 12: View looking south from the public footpath, just south of Maysland

Project: Helena Romanes School Client: Helena Romanes School Date: December 2013 LIZ LAKE ASSOCIATES FIGURE 5.5 Chartered Landscape Architects Urban Designers Landscape Planners Photographic Sheet 5 of 5

School Building

B184 Great Dunmow Leisure Centre

PROW 18_3

Photograph 13: View looking south from the public footpath connecting the B184 to Bigods Hall

School Building

Great Dunmow B184 Leisure Centre

PROW 18_3

Photograph 14: View looking south from the public footpath connecting the B184 to Bigods Hall

Project: Helena Romanes School Client: Helena Romanes School Date: December 2013 Appendix B LAND AT HELENA ROMANES SCHOOL, GREAT DUNMOW

LANDSCAPE CHARACTER AREAS

December 2013

Character Area South Suffolk and 86 North Essex Clayland

Key Characteristics Landscape Character

● Broadly flat, chalky, boulder clay plateau dissected The South Suffolk and North Essex Clayland, while part of by undulating river valley topography, particularly the same boulder clay plateau as the South Norfolk and High marked in upper valley reaches, which are much Suffolk Claylands, is distinguished by differences in smaller in scale. topography, vegetation cover, settlement pattern and size. To the north it follows the valley of the river Gipping north- ● Predominantly arable with wooded appearance. west from Ipswich in a broad transition zone as far as Some pasture in valley floors. Irregular field Stowmarket, then loops southwards before skirting the pattern despite rationalization; remnant northern fringe of Bury St Edmunds. To the north and west Ancient Countryside. of Bury it abuts Breckland. The western boundary continues ● Scattered farmsteads, deep ditches and moats, southwards to include Saffron Walden, a valley town on the parishes with scattered, small settlements around edge of the chalk. The southern edge of this area is ‘tyes’ (commons) or strip greens, with isolated delineated by the Northern Thames Basin: a shallow wooded hamlets. Concentration of isolated moated sites. ridge sweeps round in a curve from Tiptree to Epping Forest, marking the northern extent of the London Clay and ● Timber-framed and colour-washed houses, the western extent of the lighter soils of the Essex coastal sometimes faced with Georgian red brick. Impressive heathlands. Also within the area lies the Dedham Vale, with churches. Large villages and frequent towns, most its variable topography and more pastoral character. with medieval street plans and elaborate timber- frame houses. Rich heritage of barns. Fewer settlements and more 20th century development towards coast, with several large estates.

● Cultural association with Constable and tourist honey pot of Dedham Vale. Preserved, archetypal, lowland pastoral, English countryside coupled with attractive vernacular buildings dating from period of industrial wealth.

● Hedgerow tree of area is elm (with hornbeam) in Essex. Oak and ash in Suffolk. Few large woods (20 acres plus), but some ancient coppice woods and typical pattern of copses connected by hedgerow. Trees and woods appear to join together to give wooded skyline, with some bare ridgelines.

● Winding road pattern away from major routes,

often with wide verges and strong hedgerows. AGENCY JOHN TYLER/COUNTRYSIDE Sunken hollow lanes are a feature, lined with Barrow Hill in Suffolk.This character area is undulating country, hedgerows, but impact of Dutch Elm incised by small river valleys which combine with an endowment of hedgerows, copses and a few larger woodlands to give an open disease apparent. but wooded feel throughout.

7575 5 4 10km 3 6 82 level in feet level

Ipswich 83 District

Claydon A137 sea- height above 0-200'

IPSWICH A1120 200-400'

A140 A14 400-600' A12

River Gipping Manningtree 0 District Stowupland Mid Suffolk Capel Elmsett St Mary East Hintlesham Market Dedham Needham Bergholt District Babergh Hadleigh Great Bricett

Bildeston

Polstead A1017 District

Colchester

TL 0 TMTL 0 1 River Stour River

A1141 STOWMARKET A1088 River Brett Felsham Nayland 111 Stoke-by-

A14 Eleigh Monks A134 Nayland Boxford 2 Lavenham

Great Waldingfield

Wakes Colne A12

9 A134 Bradfield Combust

Great Welnetham

A134 Bures

A143 A604 Long Melford Kelvedon A134 1 River Colne Coggeshall District Maldon

Alpheton Hartest Wickham St Paul SUFFOLK A131 Witham Brockley Green Earls Colne Halstead SUDBURY BURY ST EDMUNDS BURY

Silver End

A120 Risby A143 Hatfield Peverel River Blackwater 8 Castle Hedingham Foxearth

A1101 District Cavendish Braintree

Glemsford A1092 Barrow

Great Yeldham River Brain

District River Ter A12 A414 St Edmunds Sible A1017 Fuller Street Thorns Hawkedon Beazley End Clare

85 River Pant A131 Hedingham

A14 Little Waltham

CHELMSFORD A12

Kedington River Stour

Pods Brook Lakes Leez Lodge BRAINTREE ESSEX Cheveley Felsted Cornish Hall End Great Thurlow

Great Bardfield A11 Great Bradley Great

Cowlinge A120

District Waltham Helions Bumpstead A1016 Chelmsford

River A130 A1304 Chelmer

A1060 Writtle Pleshey Good Easter Haverhill Finchingfield Horseheath Thaxted Great Easton Great High Roding West Wratting Withersfield

A1307 67 Sampford A414 Ashdon Great Balsham District Dunmow Roding District Debden Uttlesford 87 Leaden Roding Chipping Ongar East Cambridgeshire Hatfield Oak Broad Saffron Walden Beauchamp Henham Elsenham

River Cam District Linton A120 Hatfield Heath or Granta Takeley Sheering

M11 District South Cambridgeshire Green North Weald Bassett Epping Forest 5 het Matching

Clavering M11 A1184 HARLOW Stanstead Bridge Green River Stort Mountfitc

Manuden

Harlow District

BISHOP’S Ash River A414 STORTFORD A120 Sawbridgeworth elham Much Braughing P 4 Furneux Stanstead Abbots Barkway

River Quin Hadham River Rib River End

CAMBRIDGESHIRE Ware

Buntingford

A10 Bakers

Reed A10 Dane End Puckeridge A602 Hoddesdon North District East 3 Hertfordshire

District A119 A414 Hertfordshire Holl’s Green 87 STEVENAGE A602 Watton Stone at A507 HERTFORD District

Stevenage A1072 A1(M)

A602 110 Area 86 boundary Area Area Adjacent Motorway A Road B Road and station Railway County boundary District boundary Character Area 86 Area Character Clayland NorthEssex and Suffolk South HERTFORDSHIRE

76 This area has an open yet wooded character, demonstrating aspects of medieval enclosure and the impact of 20th century field rationalization and Dutch Elm disease. Although the north-western part of Essex was historically not as forested as the ridge that sweeps round in an arc from Tiptree to Epping Forest, it is now sufficiently endowed with copses and woods to have wooded horizons, which give a large, distantly enclosed character to the landscape – an enclosure that is missing at close quarters due to the loss of hedges and hedgerow trees. This pattern varies slightly in the northern part of the area, where the hedgerow tree is oak and there are a number of larger woods. Within the Stour valley the main impression is of the blocks of willows and poplars planted on the valley floor and sides. The willow pollards along the river are also a notable landscape feature of this area. It is undulating country, incised by small river valleys flowing east to the North Sea, with sporadic flat areas. It AGENCY JOHN TYLER/COUNTRYSIDE This photo near the river Chelmer shows the characteristic is an area of exceptional medieval towns and villages, wooded ridge with arable cropping dominating the valley floor. frequently photographed examples being settlements such as Typically soils are variable with chalky boulder clays common on the plateaux and gravels more common in the river valleys. Lavenham, Finchingfield, Cavendish and Thaxted. When Remnant hedgerows are common but hedgerow trees persist in the woollen trade declined after 1700, to focus on northern many areas. and western England, the area became fossilised. Although Its river valleys are deeper and more numerous and the many villages and towns have accommodated significant headwaters of some streams are so close together that the post-war housing the historic cores remain intact; little interfluve is no more than a narrow ridge in many places. local industry has developed and the beauty and charm of The area is bounded to the north-west by the lighter soils these towns and villages have ensured their preservation. of Breckland and to the east by the transition to former Twentieth-century development in Chelmsford followed heathland on lighter soils, a boundary marked by a low the sale of land for railways, and the broad, shallow ridge which relates approximately to the line of the A12 Chelmer valley is now obliterated by recent development. between Chelmsford and Colchester and then swings round The north-western part of Essex has largely avoided the in an arc marked by Galleywood, Thorndon, Hainault and massive 20th century outward migration from London Epping Forest, which is noticeably crowned with woodland. which is so pronounced a feature of the London Clay to the In the south-east, this ridge slopes to the coastal region of south. This is largely due to the effectiveness of Green Belt straight boundaries and the planned character of late policy in preventing the coalescence of towns. South Suffolk enclosure, whereas in the south it overlooks the heavy has seen very little recent development except around London Clay of what is now a huge urbanized area forming Stowmarket which, being on the mainline railway line, now London’s northern fringe. The countryside ceases abruptly has some characteristics of a commuter town, and the in Essex. An increase in the size of villages and reduction significant expansions of both Sudbury and Ipswich. in the area of countryside between them in a narrow band adjacent to the urban areas is the main indicator, together Physical Influences with an increase in major roads. A large part of North Essex, however, is still surprisingly rural, relating well to Like the South Norfolk and High Suffolk claylands this is the generally rural character of South Suffolk. an area of chalky boulder clay (glacial till), but with more topographical variation than the area to the north. This is Historical and Cultural Influences particularly notable in the upper reaches of the Stour and its tributaries, which are deeply incised, revealing The dominant historical impact on this area is that of the underlying gravel and sand deposits on the valley sides. It, wealth generated by the woollen trade in the 14th to 16th too, is Ancient Countryside, and appears in many areas to centuries, manifested in the medieval timber-framed houses have undergone little rationalization to excessively large clustered in towns and villages, and in the ostentatious but field sizes. It is more wooded than its northern magnificent churches of North Essex and South Suffolk. counterpart, especially towards its southern boundary, and Between the 15th and early 17th centuries this was the more densely settled. wealthiest part of England. The peak of prosperity was

77 1450-1550, with a minor boom in the 17th century, and toll on agriculture here as elsewhere. There was a drift of there was little post-17th century architecture until the labour to the capital, balanced in this century by increased advent of 20th century housing and commercial estates. mechanization and the southern drift of Scottish farmers who were prepared to take on derelict farms. Since 1945 this Towns such as Braintree, Great Dunmow, Halstead and region has been well farmed, producing a wide range of food Coggeshall were ‘bays and says’ towns, so called because of crops and dairy products, often for the London, and latterly their production of baize-serge-like cloths from the 14th the European, market. This has resulted in significant losses century onwards. Chelmsford was the county town by the of semi-natural vegetation, especially lowland grassland. early 13th century despite Colchester’s position as capital of south eastern Britain when the Romans invaded. John Constable gave the world the quintessential lowland Settlements owe their charm to idiosyncratic street English landscape of Dedham Vale and there is a persistent patterns, the juxtaposition of splendid large church with appreciation of the beauty of the landscapes he depicted. The village green, usually with duckpond, and the groups of Stour was canalized for transport in the 18th century but colour-washed medieval houses with steeply-pitched pegtile subsequent growth of riverside vegetation has softened it. roofs and the occasional Georgian brick front. Gainsborough, too, painted the landscape around his Sudbury home (cf. ‘Cornard Wood’). More recently Cedric Morris (1889-1982) at Hadleigh and John Nash at Wormingford have been influential. Both Alfred Munnings and Lucien Pisarro painted ‘Constable’ scenes and many artists, amateur and professional, continue to depict this landscape.

Buildings and Settlements

The existing pattern of towns and villages was laid down by the time of Domesday, when the area was already densely settled. This pattern intensified with the development of the woollen trade, which was mainly home-based, and its collection of interdependent tradespeople within each town or village. Villages tend to be larger than in the South Norfolk and High Suffolk JOHN TYLER/COUNTRYSIDE AGENCY JOHN TYLER/COUNTRYSIDE Claylands due to this industrial growth but are still quite The area was already densely settled by the time of Domesday. Timber-framed and colour washed houses, roofs traditionally widely spaced. They are most often found near the top of thatched but later replaced with clay-tile, are still abundant here the valley slopes while isolated farmhouses are found on the at Belchamp St Paul.These are often grouped around narrow clay plateau. From the time of the Norman Conquest until greens or ‘tyes’. the 19th century spread of London, the north-west part of One distinguishing etymological and historical feature is still Essex was the most densely populated part of the county. displayed in differences between village names: in Essex This Ancient Countryside contains an intricate maze of groups of villages took the name of the lord of the manor, narrow, often sunken, lanes bounded by deep ditches which as at Woodham Ferrers/Woodham Mortimer/Woodham take surprising right-angle turns. Many parishes contain Walter, while the more independent Suffolk folk used their moated farmhouses and they are concentrated in the north- local church’s patron saint’s name, as in Creeting St Mary, western part of the county where they flow into a similar Creeting All Saints, etc. Norman influence on placenames concentration that spreads throughout High Suffolk and into was much greater in Essex than further north and this lives South Norfolk, numbering over 2,000 in all. This is an area on in the great number of Norman placenames, such as of scattered parishes, which often feature greens or ‘tyes’ and Beauchamp Roding. development away from the church. The greens are smaller Although the woollen trade declined in the 17th century, than in High Suffolk and South Norfolk and tend to be more at the beginning of the 18th century the Golden Age of strip-like, reflecting the narrower interfluves. Essex differs in local agriculture was beginning. The average landholding its development of ‘Ends’, hamlets that grew up away from was probably 150 acres but improved drainage techniques, the main village. There are 150 such hamlets on the boulder increasing mechanization and the influence of the proximity clay of north-west Essex but only a handful in Suffolk. of the London market spread throughout the area by late Timber is the main building material of this area, with brick Georgian times and brought new wealth. in the valleys, often pink-buff Georgian brick facing a timber However, the agricultural depressions, of the mid- and late- frame. This contrasts with the flint used in the coastal region 19th century and the between-wars 20th century, took their and the clunch (building chalk) or brick used to the west.

78 Traditional timber construction used an infill of ‘loam and enjoyed the rewards of both cloth and Crocus sativus (used laths’ between vertical timber studs, which was then lime- to dye cloth) until the 19th century, when artificial washed to protect it from the elements. Coloured lime wash substitutes destroyed this latter trade. is a feature of villages in this area, as are exposed timbers The Anglo-Saxon origins and medieval character of Ipswich, for example Paycockes House, Coggeshall (NT). Pargeting which lies at the point where the Gipping becomes the is a form of raised plaster decoration on the external walls; Orwell, have been replaced by Victorian neo-Italianate good examples can be seen in Clare, Ipswich and Saffron Gothic buildings (Norman Scarfe) and 20th century car Walden. Pegtiles rather than pantiles are seen in this area parks. It does, however, contain one of the few post-1970s and there is a significant amount of wheat straw thatch. Clay buildings to be listed by English Heritage, a curving black ‘lump’ is also a distinctive building material, used for farm glass structure with a lawned roof, designed by Sir Norman buildings and cottages. Foster and used as offices.

Land Cover

This is wooded arable countryside, where hedgerows, copses and woodland blocks combine to give a wooded horizon and sense of distant enclosure, despite the sometimes huge size of the intervening fields. It is primarily agricultural, except on parts of the river valley floors, where pasture and willow pollards contribute to a pastoral quality that is uncommon elsewhere in East Anglia. Oak, ash and field maple are the main species with some cherry while, around Higham and Stoke-by- Nayland, holly is a dominant hedgerow tree or shrub. CLARE WALKER\EAST OF ENGLAND TOURIST BOARD TOURIST OF ENGLAND WALKER\EAST CLARE This area contains numerous large villages and towns with extant The remnants of small-scale irregular medieval enclosure medieval street plans and a wealth of elaborate timber-framed are still visible despite some rationalization of field sizes and buildings, built on the prosperity of the woollen trade during that many examples of ancient woodland survive. The dominant period. One of the best known examples is Lavenham in Suffolk. hedgerow tree in Essex was elm, and Dutch Elm disease The area has relied solely on agricultural wealth since the has had a profound effect on hedgerow and field boundaries demise of the wool trade and has changed little since 1700. which are now lost, gappy or decrepit. In the Suffolk part This area is not one of great landowners and magnificent of the area hedgerow oaks and dense hedgerows continue houses, an exception being Audley End. Thomas Howard, Earl to give a more treed and hedged character. of Suffolk and Lord Treasurer to James 1, built himself a Although huge areas of cereals or oil-seed rape can appear magnificent and enormous house in the early 17th century that to dominate the landscape, especially in early summer, this subsequently became a royal palace of Charles II. It was area also provides dairy products and sugar beet, with peas, substantially remodelled and reduced in size in the 18th century fruit farms and market gardening on areas of lighter land. by Vanbrugh, Adam and Brown and the grounds have recently undergone restoration. There are a few substantial estates, such The Changing Countryside as Ickworth, Kentwell, Long Melford and Chadacre. Bury St Edmunds, on the northern edge of this regional ● Development relating to the possible expansion of area, is a fine old market town (significantly expanded in Stansted airport, expansion of local settlements and the 20th century) that owes its name, its early fame and development of the road transport infrastructure (A14) consequent monastic wealth to possession of the remains of and associated retail and commercial outlets. King Edmund who was martyred by Vikings in 869. By the ● Agricultural change. Field rationalization and change to early Middle Ages this place of pilgrimage was one of the arable is now regarded as largely complete although five richest and most powerful abbeys in England, a power there are still some isolated examples. Within the Stour that ended at the Dissolution. The town contains a fine valley, areas of pasture have increased although, in other blend of medieval and Georgian-fronted houses set within valleys, there have been losses of pasture. a late 11th century gridiron street pattern. ● Neglect of ancient woodland and other woodland Other towns, such as Long Melford, Lavenham, Thaxted, planting, and increase in poplar and willow plantations. Halstead and Coggeshall also contain remarkable buildings, demonstrating the wealth founded in wool, and frequently ● Predominance of winter cereals has resulted in a loss of retain their medieval street patterns. Thaxted also winter field stubble which has seasonal landscape and prospered from its cutlery trade and Saffron Walden ecological implications.

79 ● Conversion of historic farm buildings to residential use Essex County Council, County Planning Department has been found to lead to a change of character, but (1992), The Essex Environment, Essex C.C., Chelmsford. change of use may not be the only way to prevent these Fincham, P (1976), East Anglia, Faber, London. buildings becoming derelict. Gentrification is perceived as a threat to local character. Jarvis, S M & Harrison C T (undated), In Search of Essex, Essex Countryside, Letchworth. ● Proliferation of mobile telephone transmitter masts and National Grid power lines particularly near the Gipping Jebb, M (1995), Suffolk, Pimlico County History Guides, Valley and in parts of Essex. London.

● Visitor congestion at honey-pot sites, with pressure to Mee, A (ed) (undated), Suffolk, Our Farthest East, Caxton, accommodate cars and coaches. London. Milton, P (1989), Ancient Landscapes, Essex County Council, Shaping the Future Chelmsford.

● The conservation and management of hedgerows is Milton, P (1985), Countryside Conservation Plan, Essex important to the area. This should include the County Council, Chelmsford. encouragement of trees from existing hedgerow stocks Milton, P (1991), Essex Landscape Conservation Programme and managing and replanting hedgerows. 1972-1989 Review, Essex County Council/Task Force ● Tree planting would help maintain the traditional wooded Trees, Chelmsford. appearance and character of this landscape. Planting on Milton, P (1991 reprint), Protected Lanes, Essex County pastures and greens needs careful consideration. Council, Chelmsford. ● The maintainence and extention of river valley pasture Ravendale, J & Muir, R (1984), East Anglian Landscape, should be considered. Michael Joseph, London.

● Planning and design guidelines would encourage Salmon, J (1977), The Suffolk-Essex Border, Boydale Press, alternative uses for redundant farm buildings to respect Ipswich. the character of this agricultural area. Scarfe, N (1968), The Shell Guide to Essex, Faber & Faber, ● The conservation of ancient sunken lanes and botanically- London. rich and historic grass verges should be addressed. Scarfe, N (1988, 4th edn), The Suffolk Guide, Alastair Press, ● Visitor pressures and car parking in popular areas such Suffolk. as Dedham Vale would benefit from management. Tennyson, J (1939), Suffolk Scene, Blackie, London. ● Moated sites are an important characteristic of the area. Timpson, J (1990), Timpson’s Travels in East Anglia, Heinemann, London. Selected References Trist, P J O (1969), A Survey of the Agriculture of Suffolk, R.A.S.E. Arnott, W G (1950), Suffolk Estuary, The Story of the River Deben, Adlard & Co, Ipswich. Beardall, C & Casey, D (1995), Suffolk’s Changing Countryside, Suffolk Wildlife Trust, Ashbocking. Corke, D (1984), The Nature of Essex, Barracuda, Buckingham. Dedham Vale Joint Action Committee (1977-79), Dedham Vale Landscape Study, Dedham Vale Joint Action Committee. Dymond, D & Martin, E (eds) (1988), An Historical Atlas of Suffolk, Suffolk County Council and SIAH, Ipswich. Dymond, D & Northeast, P (1985), A History of Suffolk, Phillimore, Cheltenham. AGENCY SIMON WARNER/COUNTRYSIDE Dedham Vale is one of the smallest AONBs in England but it contains Edwards, A C (1958), A History of Essex, Darwen Finlayson, a great variety of all the features that combine to produce the classic English lowland landscape. Rolling hills and gentle valleys, trees, London. riverbank willows, floodplain meadows, ancient lanes, traditional villages and farm buildings and the meandering river have together Essex County Council (1991), Landscape Conservation inspired writers and painters such as Constable to capture the Programme, Essex C.C., Chelmsford. beauty and peace of the Vale, illustrated here at Stratford St Mary. 80 Essex & Southend-on-Sea Replacement Structure Plan Review

ESSEX LANDSCAPE CHARACTER ASSESSMENT

Final Report

2003

CHRIS BLANDFORD ASSOCIATES Environment Landscape Planning 4.4 River Valley Landscapes (C)

4.4.1 The River Valleys are a significant component of the county’s topography, character and identity. The valleys to the north are steeper and more deeply cut, becoming shallower as the rivers flow either south into the Thames or east into the North Sea. Only the Cam flows northwards. The Stour, Colne, Blackwater, Chelmer and their tributaries rise in the Glacial Till Plateau to the north, and flow east to form extensive estuaries at the coast. The Crouch flows east across the south of the county, and joins the Roach to form a further estuary. The Rivers Lee, Mardyke and Roding flow southwards into the River Thames estuary. The valleys contain river corridors that are frequently of landscape, nature conservation and heritage value.

4.4.2 The key characteristics of this division can be summarised as:

The river valleys dissect the boulder clay plateau. They are smaller and steeper in the upper valley reaches, revealing underlying gravel and sand deposits on the valley sides. Parts of the valleys are extensively modified by reservoirs, current and reclaimed gravel pits, landfill sites, artificial wetlands, river realignments and canals. Smaller, intimate tree-lined valleys with small rural settlements contrast with the more developed major river valley floodplains.

1179902R Essex LCA Final Report_07-02 Page 67 Organic field shapes are common as they are defined by the valley topography. The high ground of the plateau allows ‘tunnelled’ views through deciduous woodland to the valley bottom. The river courses are often marked by their associated vegetation. Settlements along the valleys reflect the historic use of them for access into the county.

4.4.3 Typical hedgerow species are Hawthorn, Oak, Ash, with occasional White Poplar, Crack Willow, White Willow, Alder, Oak, Field Maple, Goat Willow, Black Poplar, Elm.

4.4.4 The River Valleys comprise eight Landscape Character Areas within the study area:

Cam Valley (C1) Stort Valley (C2) Lee Valley (C3) Roding Valley (C4) Chelmer Valley (C5) Blackwater & Brain Valley (C6) Colne Valley (C7) Stour Valley (C8)

Page 68 1179902R Essex LCA Final Report_07-02 4.4.9 Chelmer Valley (C5)

Key Characteristics

Narrow valley, with a restricted valley bottom. Dense riverside trees. Arable valleysides with a fairly open character. Small linear settlements occupy the upper valleysides or straggle down to a few bridging points. Historic watermills and Second World War pillboxes are distinctive features. Mostly tranquil character.

Overall Character

The Chelmer Valley character area extends from the north west of Essex to the edge of Chelmsford. It is a narrow valley within the surrounding very gently undulating glacial clay plateau. The valley bottom has an enclosed character with many riverside and hedgerow trees and a string of small wet woodlands. As a result available views are quite confined and often framed. The valleysides have a more open character with low gappy hedgerows, scattered hedgerow trees and only occasional woods. The majority of the settlements are small with very limited modern development. Only a few major roads cross the valley so this contributes to its substantially tranquil character.

1179902R Essex LCA Final Report_07-02 Page 91 ghelmer2lley This map is reproduced from This map is reproduced Survey material with the Ordnance Survey on permission of Ordnance of Her behalf of the Controller Stationery Office. © Crown Majesty’s Copyright. Unauthorised infringes Crown reproduction copyright and may lead to or civil proceedings. prosecution Essex County Council 076619 2001.

Page 92 1179902R Essex LCA Final Report_07-02 Character Profile

Geology - Glacial Till (Chalky Boulder Clay), London Clay, Sands and Gravels

Soils - Deep well drained fine loamy, coarse loamy and sandy soils, slowly permeable calcareous clay soils.

Landform - Narrow and shallow valley. - Moderately sloped valleysides in the north, becoming more gentle south of Great Dunmow. - Narrow valley floor.

Semi-natural vegetation - Flood meadows, valley fen. - A few ancient woodlands.

Pattern of field enclosure - Small to medium size irregular often gappy hedged fields on valleysides. - Linear fields divided by drainage ditches and hedges on valley floor.

Farming pattern - Mainly arable, some pasture on valley floor.

Woodland/tree cover - Occasional small woods/copses on valleysides. - Localised concentrations of wet woodland with poplar plantations on the valley floor, e.g. near Little Waltham. - Dense riverside trees.

Settlement pattern and built form - Dispersed small villages and hamlets on valleysides often associated with bridging points, e.g. Duton Hill. - A small number of isolated farmsteads on the valleysides. - Market town of Gt Dunmow. - Local vernacular of half timber, colour wash plaster with some decorative pargetting, thatch and pantile roofs.

1179902R Essex LCA Final Report_07-02 Page 93 Communications - A130 skirts the edge of the valley and crosses it in a few places. - A120 traverses the valley at Great Dunmow.

Other landscape features - Langleys Historic Park. - Historic watermills. - Small humpbacked bridges. - Brewery at Hartford End. - Second World War pillboxes. - Sand and Gravel Pits near Belstead.

Landscape Condition

The condition of valleyside vegetation is mixed with many fragmented hedgerows.

On the valley floor there is some evidence of abandonment of grazing of valley floor meadows.

Past, Present and Future Trends for Change

The landscape has remained relatively stable over long periods of time. Agricultural intensification since the Second World War has resulted in the loss of some valleyside hedgerows.

Future trends for change may include urban development pressures near Great Dunmow and Chelmsford, and transportation improvements. Agricultural change may lead to alternative uses being sought for less viable agricultural land in valley bottom, although there may also be opportunities for landscape enhancement as a result of alterations to subsidy regimes.

Page 94 1179902R Essex LCA Final Report_07-02 1179902R Essex LCA Final Report_07-02 Page 95 BRAINTREE, BRENTWOOD, CHELMSFORD, MALDON AND UTTLESFORD LANDSCAPE CHARACTER ASSESSMENTS

September 2006

CHRIS BLANDFORD ASSOCIATES Environment Landscape Planning 285

A6 UPPER CHELMER RIVER VALLEY (shared with Chelmsford Borough)

Key Characteristics x Narrow valley, with a restricted valley floor. x Small meandering river channel on the left side of the valley close to the rising ground of the valley side. x Dense riverside trees. x Arable valley sides with a fairly open character. x Small linear settlements occupy the upper valley sides or straggle down to a few bridging points. x Historic watermills and Second World War pillboxes are distinctive features. x Mostly tranquil away from Great Dunmow, Chelmsford and the A120.

Overall Character

The River Chelmer and its valley stretches from the southern edge of the historic town of Thaxted with its tall church spire and wind mill, southwards to the point at which the river meets the urban edge of Chelmsford. It is a narrow valley within the surrounding gently undulating boulder clay plateau. There are several small tributary streams that form valley sides such as the Stebbing Brook that joins the River Chelmer north of Felsted. The gently undulating valley floor has an enclosed character and restricted views often framed by the many riverside and hedgerow

11100101R Final LCAs_09-06 Section 7.0 – Landscape Character of Uttlesford District 286 trees, a string of small wet woodlands and the sloping valley sides. The undulating valley sides which are steep in places, have a more open character with low thick but fragmented hedgerows, scattered hedgerow trees and only occasional woods separating the large arable fields that line the valley sides meeting at the river. The fields to the east of the River Chelmer tend to be larger and more regular in shape. Those to west of the river tend to be smaller pastoral fields or areas of rough pasture or wet meadow in the small floodplain with larger arable fields dominating the valley sides. As the River Chelmer approaches Chelmsford it becomes more sinuous and meanders further from the east valley side. The majority of the settlements excluding Great Dunmow are situated high on the valley sides with very limited modern development. Great Dunmow is located within the western side of the river valley with the urban edge crossing the river and forming a finger of new development on the east side of the valley to the south of the main town. The new development dominates views across the valley south of the town. The river valley is lined by roads running parallel to the valley along the top of the valley sides. There are also a few small narrow lanes that cross the river before joining the road on the opposite valley side. Variety and interest is provided by the presence of a number of local vernacular buildings with timber-frames, bright colour washed walls and thatched roofs. Examples of such houses include a group of 17th century timber-framed houses clustered around the Manor in Little Easton. The motte and ditch of Great Easton castle with the ground so Easton Hall also provides a visible landmark. Barnson Hall and Lodge, Liberty Hall, Chatham Hall and associated deer park also contribute to the character and overall strong sense of place. There is an overall sense of tranquillity within the river valley, with a comprehensive network of public rights of way and narrow lanes winding through the landscape. The river valley permeates Chelmsford introducing an important green corridor of ‘natural’ character into the urban fabric of the town.

Visual Characteristics x The church tower at Great Easton (St. John and St. Giles), Little Easton (St Mary the Virgin), Little Dunmow (St. Mary the Virgin) and Barnston (St. Andrews) and the spire of the church in Thaxted form landmarks within views into and across the valley slopes. x Generally open views from the valley sides into the gently meandering valley floodplain, which are framed in places by small patches of woodland. x Enclosed and framed views along the valley corridor.

Historic Land Use

Evidence of historic land use within the Character Area is dominated by extensive enclosed meadow pastures along the river valley floodplains and pre-18th century generally irregular fields, probably of medieval origin and some maybe even older. Whilst much 20th century development has occurred, particularly in and around Little Waltham, the original medieval pattern of dispersed settlements and scattered farmsteads largely survives, with isolated farms, moated sites, and small hamlets strung out along linear greens. The main historic landscape features include: x Several areas of Ancient woodlands, particularly in the Ter valley. x A limited number of small historic parklands. x Occasional common fields, which has been later enclosed piecemeal by agreement. x A number of parks or former parks including Easton Lodge at Little Easton, which subsequently became a World War II airfield. x The line of the Roman road from Chelmsford to Braintree, which effectively bisects the area.

Ecological Features

This Character Area is dominated by widespread arable agriculture within the valley of the River Chelmer. The area contains 23 sites of nature conservation value. These include: x Nine CWSs with ancient and semi-natural woodland habitats including: Eseley Wood, Home Wood, Bush Wood, Hoglands Wood/Frederick's Spring, Markshill Wood, Clobbs Wood. x Three CWSs of woodland habitats to the south.

Section 7.0 – Landscape Character of Uttlesford District 11100101R Final LCAs_09-06 287 x Fourteen CWSs with unimproved grassland, scrub and wetland habitat including Flitch Way and Felsted Fen. x Twelve CWSs with species-rich hedgerows and copses; and along the River Chelmer and its tributaries including Stebbing Brook.

Key Planning and Land Management Issues x Potential for pollution of the River Chelmer and its tributaries from fertilizer and pesticide run-off from agricultural valley slopes and floor. x Potential for erection of new farm buildings on the valley slopes, which would be conspicuous on the skyline. x Potential residential expansion of villages onto valley slopes, which would be conspicuous on the skyline. x Increasing traffic on minor roads. x Potential further decline in condition of field boundaries through further agriculture intensification.

Sensitivities to Change

Sensitive key characteristics and landscape elements within this character area include dense riverside trees and a string of small wet woodland on the sloping valley sides, which are sensitive to changes in land management. The skyline of the valley slopes is visually sensitive, with open and framed cross- valley views and long views along the river corridor potentially affected by new tall or non-screened new development. Views to the valley sides from adjacent Landscape Character Areas are also sensitive. Historic integrity is strong, with a largely surviving pattern of medieval dispersed settlements, isolated farms, moated sites and small hamlets strung out along linear greens, small historic parklands and a number of churches and local vernacular buildings with timber-frames, bright colour-washed walls and thatched roofs. Several important wildlife habitats are scattered throughout the area (including 23 sites of importance for nature conservation, comprising ancient woodland, unimproved grassland, species-rich hedgerows and copses). Overall this character area has relatively high sensitivity to change.

Proposed Landscape Strategy Objectives

Conserve - seek to protect and enhance positive features that are essential in contributing to local distinctiveness and sense of place through effective planning and positive land management measures.

Enhance - seek to improve the integrity of the landscape, and reinforce its character, by introducing new and/or enhanced elements where distinctive features or characteristics are absent.

Suggested Landscape Planning Guidelines x Consider the visual impact of new residential development and farm buildings upon valley sides. x Conserve and enhance cross-valley views and characteristic views across and along the valley. x Ensure any new development on valley sides is small-scale, responding to historic settlement pattern, landscape setting and locally distinctive building styles. x Protect and enhance the role of the river valley in providing a network of informal open space and nature conservation sites.

Suggested Land Management Guidelines x Conserve and enhance the existing hedgerow pattern, and strengthen through planting where appropriate to local landscape character. x Conserve and manage areas of ancient and semi-natural woodland as important historical, landscape and nature conservation features. x Conserve and manage the ecological structure of woodland, copses and hedges within the character area. x Strengthen the recreational role of the woodland resource.

11100101R Final LCAs_09-06 Section 7.0 – Landscape Character of Uttlesford District 288 x Conserve and promote the use of building materials, which are in keeping with local vernacular/landscape character. x Conserve and enhance the green ‘natural’ character of the river valley through appropriate management of wildlife habitats.

Section 7.0 – Landscape Character of Uttlesford District 11100101R Final LCAs_09-06 Appendix C LAND AT HELENA ROMANES SCHOOL, GREAT DUNMOW

LIZ LAKE ASSOCIATES METHODOLOGY FOR LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL APPRAISAL

December 2013

Liz Lake Associates Lake Liz December 2013 AND VISUAL LANDSCAPE FOR: METHODOLOGY

APPRAISAL

1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background 1.1.1 This document sets out the Methodology used by Liz Lake Associates, Chartered Landscape Architects, Urban Designers and Landscape Planners to prepare a Landscape and Visual Appraisal (an Appraisal). It is based on the Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, Third Edition 2013 (the Guidelines) published by the Landscape Institute/Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment.

1.2 Scope of a Landscape and Visual Appraisal 1.2.1 An Appraisal is undertaken to identify the landscape and visual issues of a potential development site (the Site) and to help inform the design process. 1.2.2 The data on the Landscape or Visual Baseline that describes the existing situation could be used for any form of development on the Site. The Proposals, the assessment of the effects of the Proposals, and the assessment of the ability of the Site to absorb change are specific to the development under consideration. 12.3 Photographs are taken on a digital camera with a fixed lens that approximates to a standard 50mm lens in accordance with the Landscape Institute Technical Advice Note 01/11. 1.2.4 The Guidelines emphasize that any Appraisal should be in proportion to the scale of the project that is being assessed and the nature of its likely effects. This Methodology sets out the range of potential activities for an Appraisal; for smaller projects principles will be followed but the scope of work may well be reduced.

2. THE EXISTING SITUATION: BASELINE DATA 2.1 Scope of work 2.1.1 The Guidelines (3.15) outline the scope of the baseline studies as follows: • ‘For the landscape baseline the aim is to provide an understanding of the landscape in the area that may be affected – its constituent elements, its character and the way this varies spatially, its geographic extent, its history (which may require its own specialist study), its condition, the way the landscape is experienced, and the value attached to it. • For the visual baseline the aim is to establish the area in which the development may be visible, the different groups of people who may experience views of the development, the places where they will be affected and the nature of the views and visual amenity at these points.’ The effects of a proposed development on visual amenity are classified as effects on population. 2.2 Establishing the Landscape Baseline 2.2.1 The location of the Site is identified in published National Character Areas, Local Landscape Character Assessments, supplementary planning documents such as green infrastructure proposals, countryside strategies, and published mapping. An assessment of the Local Landscape Context is undertaken to identify how representative the locality of the Site is of the local landscape character type/area. Field work is undertaken in good weather conditions, by a Chartered Landscape Architect, from a car, bicycle or on foot.

2.3 The Value of the Landscape 2.3.1 Desk and field surveys are undertaken to establish the baseline conditions of the Site itself, the ‘fabric’ of the landscape. Features, elements, combinations of elements and less tangible attributes such as the aesthetic qualities of the Site are considered. These attributes are assessed against criteria that indicate the value of the landscape including landscape quality (condition), scenic quality, rarity, representativeness, conservation interests, recreation value, perceptual aspect including tranquillity, and cultural association. Other criteria include replaceable / substitutable, frequency and dominance of incongruous elements, importance placed on the Site by stakeholders, local accessibility to the Site and its role in wider pattern of accessibility and its importance at a local, national or international level.

2.4 Contribution to the Local Landscape Character 2.4.1 Having described and evaluated the attributes of the Site, some methodologies apply a high/ medium or low value to the landscape. It is considered that for smaller sites it is more useful to express value as the contribution that the Site makes to the local landscape character. The definitions for this evaluation are: • Outstanding contribution: Where the existing character of the Site is representative of the local landscape character and the structure of the landscape is intact • Very positive contribution: Where the existing character of the Site contains many attributes representative of the local landscape character and the structure of the landscape is apparent • Positive contribution: Where the existing character of the Site contains some attributes representative of the local landscape character and some incongruous elements but the Site does not detract from the local landscape character • Limited contribution: Where the existing character of the Site contains some attributes representative of the local landscape character but also incongruous elements that detract from the local landscape character

LLA LVIAppaisal Methodology 13.12.02 Landscape and Visual Impact Appraisal: Methodology 2

• Negative contribution: Where the existing character of the Site contains no attributes representative of the local landscape character and the incongruous elements detract from the local landscape character. 2.5 Establishing the Visual Baseline 2.5.1 If the Visual Baseline survey is made when vegetation is in leaf, an assessment is also made of the likely winter views. The survey is generally illustrated on a plan accompanied by a photographic record.

2.6 Identifying Viewpoints 2.6.1 The Visual Baseline is an evaluation of the existing visual amenity in the locality and the contribution that the Site makes to existing visual amenity. Specific evaluations from identified viewpoints are used for the assessment of visual effects. A viewpoint is a place from where there is a potential view of the Proposals and the visibility of the Proposals is the extent to which they may be seen from public viewpoints and private properties. Viewpoints fall broadly into three groups, representative viewpoints, specific viewpoints and illustrative viewpoints. 2.6.2 All public places and residential properties that might have a view of the Proposals are assessed. Eye level is taken as 1.5m to 1.7m above ground level for pedestrians and one metre above ground level for car occupants. Unless special circumstances prevail, access is not made to the interior of residential properties. The orientation of dwellings and surrounding vegetation that may influence views are noted. 2.6.3 If the Visual Baseline survey is made when vegetation is in leaf, an assessment is also made of the likely winter views. The survey is generally illustrated on a plan accompanied by a photographic record.

2.7 Visual Receptors 2.7.1 The location of people who may experience changes in views (visual receptors) is identified; the most susceptible/sensitive receptors are considered to be: residents at home; people, whether residents or visitors, who are engaged in outdoor recreation including public rights of way whose attention or interest is likely to be focused on the landscape and on particular views; visitors to heritage assets, or to other attractions, where views of the surroundings are an important contributor to the experience; communities where views contribute to the landscape setting enjoyed by residents in the area; travellers on recognised scenic routes and people at their place of work where views are an important contributor to the setting and to the quality of their working life. 2.7.2 Visual receptors moderately susceptible/sensitive to change are considered to be travellers on road, rail or other transport routes. 2.7.3 Visual receptors likely to be less susceptible/sensitive to change are considered to be: people engaged in outdoor sport or recreation which does not involve or depend on the appreciation of views of the landscape; people at their place of work whose attention may be focused on their work or activity, not on their surroundings, and where the setting is not important to the quality of working life.

2.8 Assessing the Existing Visual Amenity 2.8.1 The existing visual amenity from principal viewpoints is assessed using published surveys if they exist or using the professional judgement of an experienced landscape architect using the following definitions to define the value attached to particular views: • Exceptional visual amenity – where the quality of existing views is such that people would travel some distance to experience them • High visual amenity – where the quality of existing views is such that local people would go out of their way to experience them • Good visual amenity – where the quality of existing views is such that there are few incongruous elements and the views are enjoyed by local people on a day to day basis • Fair visual amenity – where the quality of existing views is such that there are a number of incongruous elements and local people are likely to be indifferent to the view • Poor visual amenity – where the quality of existing views is such that the incongruous elements dominate and the view is not likely to be valued by local people. 3 ASSESSMENT OF LIKELY EFFECTS 3.1 The Proposals 3.1.1 The Proposals are the development envisaged for the Site and an Appraisal helps guide the design team as to the extent and form of the development and to create new landscapes that make a positive contribution to the local landscape character.

3.2 Identifying the Landscape Effects 3.2.1 The effects are the changes to the Site, quantitative or qualitative, compared with a scenario without the Proposals. Effects can be adverse or beneficial, direct, indirect or cumulative. 3.2.2 An assessment is made of the ability (the susceptibility) of the existing landscape to accommodate the specific proposed changes without undue negative consequences on the local landscape character. This is combined with the value of the

LLA LVIAppaisal Methodology 13.12.02 Methodology for: Landscape and Visual Appraisal 3

landscape receptors identified in the Landscape Baseline to judge the sensitivity of the landscape receptors. The characteristics of the Proposals and the magnitude of change is identified and judged against the sensitivity of the landscape receptors; these factors all combine to assess the significance of the landscape effect. For an Appraisal the potential likely effects are identified but in the absence of detailed proposals significance is not determined.

3.3 Magnitude of Change 3.3.1 The description of the magnitude of change will include the likely extent, scale and duration of: • Changes to the existing landscape fabric (eg the loss of trees and hedges or other landscape features) • New elements introduced to the Site (built and natural) • Changes to local perceptions of the Site. 3.4 Assessing Susceptibility for Landscape Effects 3.4.1 The following definitions are used to assess susceptibility, as there are always many variables, it is sometimes necessary to review these for specific development proposals. The core definitions which are reviewed for individual assessments are:

• High Susceptibility: A finely balanced landscape where the landscape character is so well defined that even a small-scale development might cause a significant loss of, key characteristics, individual elements or features and specific aesthetic or perceptual aspects or, overall landscape character • Medium/High: An established landscape with a well-defined character where only well-considered changes could be accommodated without loss of key characteristics, individual elements or features and specific aesthetic or perceptual aspects or, overall landscape character • Medium Susceptibility: An established landscape where change of an appropriate nature could be absorbed without loss of key characteristics, individual elements or features and specific aesthetic or perceptual aspects or, overall landscape character • Medium/Low Susceptibility: A damaged or robust landscape where appropriate change can be absorbed and could contribute to the restoration of key characteristics, individual elements or features and specific aesthetic or perceptual aspects or, overall local landscape character • Low Susceptibility: A damaged landscape where change would bring opportunities for the significant enhancement of key characteristics, individual elements or features and specific aesthetic or perceptual aspects, the overall local landscape character or the creation of a new landscape. 3.5 Identifying the Visual Effects 3.5.1 The visual effects are the potential changes to the Site, quantitative or qualitative, compared with a scenario without the Proposals. Effects can be adverse or beneficial, direct, indirect or cumulative. 3.5.2 The likely nature of the view of the development is assessed at identified viewpoints, or groups of representative viewpoints; for example the elevation of the view; a full, partial or glimpsed view; the proportion of the development that would be visible; the distance of the viewpoint for the development; the scale and proximity of the view of the development; whether the view is stationary, transient or sequential; changes in the existing skyline profile, creation of a new visual focus in the view, introduction of new man-made objects, changes in visual simplicity or complexity, alteration of visual scale, and change to the degree of visual enclosure. 3.5.3 The likely potential of the visual effects of a Proposal is assessed against the susceptibility of the existing visual receptors (people who see the view) to changes in views and visual amenity as outlined above. For an Appraisal the potential likely effects are identified but in the absence of detailed proposals significance is not determined.

3.6 Providing a way forward 3.61.1 Using professional judgement, an Appraisal is undertaken at the early stages of a project to identify the landscape and visual issues of a potential development site and to help inform the design process. The results of the Appraisal are presented in a written report and/or plans. This could be a Landscape Strategy, Mitigation Strategy or an Opportunities and Constraints plan prepared to include measures designed to avoid, reduce, remedy, or compensate for potential landscape and visual effects either as mitigation or enhancement and may include proposals for the future landscape management of the Site.

7. THE METHODOLGY 7.1 The Methodology 7.1.2 This Methodology has been developed by Liz Lake Associates over a number of years. It has been revised regularly and the most recent revision was in November 2013. Experience shows that the Methodology has to be regularly reviewed as it is tested against individual projects and continuing developments in this field of work. Liz Lake Associates reserve the right to amend the Methodology as the technique becomes more established.