Eight Ash Green Park and Ride Proposals – Landscape Report
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Eight Ash Green Park and Ride Proposals – Landscape Report Contents 1 Location 2 Designations, Constraints and Policies 3 Landscape Character and Land Use 4 Access and Circulation 5 Views from the site 6 Impact of Proposed Development on Landscape 7 Visual Intrusion on Properties and Rights of Way 8 Objectives of the Proposals 9 Detailed Landscape Proposals Figures Fig 1 Location and Context Fig 2 Designations and Constraints Fig 3 Landscape Character Areas and Types Fig 4 Access and Circulation Fig 5 Views Fig 6 Landscape Structure Fig 7 Sections Appendix 1 Appendix 2 1 Location biologically through hedgerow trees, hedges and wild flora at The site for the proposed park and ride facility is located by the field margins. Two further county wildlife sites, Fordham the hamlet of Eight Ash Green, approx 320 metres from Heath and Iron Latch lie further from the development site. junction 26 on A12 (See Fig 1). It covers an area of Policy CO5 states that development and land use changes approximately 3.9 ha (9.6 acres) and is sited behind likely to have an adverse effect on nature conservation sites properties in Halstead Road and Spring Lane with vehicular will generally not be approved. This policy will not be in and pedestrian access proposed from Halstead Road. conflict with this application. (Ref EECOS Preliminary Wildlife Assessment 2006) 2 Designations, Constraints and Policies There are a number of designations and policies relevant to this development (see Fig 2) 2.1 Nature Conservation Sites Eight Ash Green Wood is a county wildlife site, comprising 14.6 ha of woodland on the site of an old pit, located approximately 300 metres to the east of phase 1 application. It is predominantly oak/silver birch woodland with willow in wetter areas and hawthorn and gorse scrub. Several herbaceous ancient woodland species have begun to invade. It is located to the east of the site and is connected 2.2 Countryside Conservation Area The area to the north of the site around the River Colne and its slopes is designated a countryside conservation area up to the northern edge of the site in the local plan. The whole area is described as being of ‘high landscape value, with numerous woodlands of nature conservation interest…The Borough Council proposes to give special protection to the important natural, social and cultural resources’, also to ‘promote public enjoyment of these areas where it can be done without detriment to CCA’s resources’. The policy CO3 states ‘The Countryside Conservation Areas are defined on the Proposals Map. These areas will be given special protection from any development likely to be prejudicial to their natural, social or cultural resources. The proposals must address this by 2.3 Proposed Open Space containing the area the area of development to protect the The area of the county wildlife site and land north of it are visual quality of this countryside conservation area, even shown as proposed open space in the local plan. There is a though this lies beyond the edge of the site. high use of the woodland by local residents and others for informal recreation. It is well connected by rights of way and close to Eight Ash Green and Beacon End. The proposals must address that the informal use of the woodland and field margins will be encouraged in the future by the designation of 2.5 Protection of the Countryside this area as public open space. Policy CO1 states ‘There will be a continuing commitment to the protection of the open countryside in the borough for its 2.4 Retaining Landscape Features own sake…’ Policy CO4 states that ‘Development schemes should protect The response to the countryside conservation area policy will existing landscape features such as those listed in the also address this policy, albeit there is loss of countryside reasoned justification wherever possible. Additional planting from agriculture to the park and ride facility. may be necessary to maintain and enhance these features. Where this is considered necessary, planting will be carried 3 Landscape Character and Land Use out with species native to the locality’. This has been adhered to by retaining all the existing trees and hedgerows on the 3.1 The site comprises agricultural land, used for arable site, except where they are cut through by the access road. crops. It lies on high ground at a level of approx 41.5m and slopes gently down towards the north to a level of approximately 40m at the north edge of the site. The site is bordered by hedgerows and hedgerow trees along field boundaries, but with some gaps in hedging and with evidence of loss of hedgerows which would have effectively separated the fields. There is a prominent ditch along the length of the hedgerow at the south of the site. The hedgerow trees in the area are mainly oak pollards as recoded in the EECOS report. Regarding the historic development of the landscape, 1770 3.3 Key Characteristics are: mapping (Chapman and Andre) shows an agricultural pattern A mosaic of medium to large-sized irregular and of landscape with a few farms, houses and related buildings regular, predominantly arable fields with medium around the junctions of roads. A large area of woodland lies to hedgerows containing semi-mature/ mature hedgerow the east of the proposed site (of which Eight Ash Green Wood trees; is a remnant). The present field pattern remains largely as Some larger semi-enclosed arable fields…and shown in the first edition OS mapping 1870’s, and the historic concentrations of smaller fields with intact hedge maps indicate that this has been a productive landscape for boundaries adjacent to settlements; several centuries. Settlement pattern consists of small linear village settlements such as Wakes Colne and Eight Ash 3.2 The landscape character of the general area is Green, adjacent to the north-south roads, which cross described in the Landscape Assessment for Colchester the River Valley; small hamlets and farmsteads. Borough, by Chris Blandford and Associates, 2006, as part of the Colne River Valley Slopes (see Fig 3). 3.4 The Overall Character of the area is described as: The aspects relevant to this site are described below and the The v-shaped, relatively steep valley sides enclose the full extract for the area is included in Appendix 1. meandering course of the River Colne….Woodland cover consists of a mixture of small patches and large regular blocks of woodland …which are spread across the valley slopes. Many of the narrow (sometimes sunken) lanes, which traverse are predominantly farmland with a few pockets of woodland of the valley slopes in a north-south direction, are enclosed by ecological interest. hedges, which are generally in reasonable condition. Several single mature deciduous trees are also present in 4 Access and Circulation field boundaries (for example within fields to the south of Eight At present there is informal access around the fields which are Ash Green) …Settlement pattern within the area consists of proposed for the development of the park and ride. These small linear roadside village, such as Wakes Colne and Eight fields have access from a track off Halstead Road lane and Ash Green, combined with a number of small hamlets and people walk through to surrounding rights of way of Iron Latch farmsteads, dispersed across the character area. Lane (bridleway) no 19, and down to footpaths no 20 and 21. The network connects the nearby Eight Ash Green Wood with 3.5 Visual Characteristics are described as: Fordham Heath, and is well used by local residents, particularly for dog-walking and informal recreation. Attractive framed and panoramic views of the (See Fig 4) meandering river channel and associated floodplain from higher points along the valley sides. 5 Views from the site Views along the river valley corridor. The are good views within the site of the well vegetated southern edge of the fields with old hedgerow trees, and good 3.6 Ecological Features are described as views down the valley to the north toward the River Colne. To The ecological character of these slopes is combined within a the east, hedgerows lead towards the Eight Ash Green Wood woodland, heath and farmland mosaic. The northern slopes which forms a varied skyline and visual containment to the 8 Objectives of the Proposals site. (See Fig 5) 8.1 To mitigate the potential impacts of the development, and implement environmental policies in the local plan, the 6 Impact of Proposed Development on Landscape landscape will aim to: The change of use from agriculture to car parking is a major potential landscape impact. The scale of the car Screen development from properties parking development in relation to the scale of the Screen development from rights of way surrounding residential developments is a major factor. Soften the impact of the development in the landscape 7 Visual intrusion from properties and rights of way Strengthen existing landscape pattern The development has a medium visual impact from the Improve nature conservation in the area properties on the west and south sides of the site. Whilst Retain public circulation and access through the site the views are often from first floor windows, the nature of Be complimentary to the existing landscape the development and its lighting will make this impact character substantial for affected properties unless the development To comply with local plan policies is screened. Section AA’ and CC’ are from the closest properties showing additional screening to reduce visual 8.2 The proposals will also aim to fulfil these landscape intrusiveness. management objectives in the Landscape Character Assessment (CBC): Ensure that new woodland planting is designed to planting.