Land at Rose Farm, Longwick, Buckinghamshire Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment
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L H L A Louise Hooper Landscape Architect Land at Rose Farm, Longwick, Buckinghamshire Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment April 2021 Louise Hooper CMLI BA (Hons) L Arch Louise Hooper Landscape Architect Latterhams Penshurst Tonbridge Kent TN118DL L H L A t: 01892 870211 m: 07711820575 e: [email protected] w: http://www.louisehooper.co.uk Louise Hooper CMLI BA (Hons) L Arch Latterhams Penshurst Tonbridge Kent TN118DL t: 01892 870211 m: 07711820575 e: [email protected] w: http://www.louisehooper.co.uk Notice: Report reference & issue This report was prepared by Louise Hooper Landscape Architect (LHLA) solely for use by J Walker and Son (Developments) Ltd (the client) and Sawkings Harper Architects to address the reserved matters for 287- LVIA Baseline doc 001 draft issued 3rd August 2020 approved outline planning application ref 16/06673/OUT for residential development at Rose Farm, Long- 287- LVIA doc 002 draft issued 8th March 2021 wick. This report is not addressed to, and may not be relied upon by any person or entity other than by the 287 - LVIA doc 003 issued 19th April 2021 client and their design team for any purpose without the prior written permission of LHLA. 287-LVIA doc 004 issued 20th April 2021 LHLA accepts no responsibility or liability for reliance upon or use of this report (whether or not permitted) other than by J Walker and Son (Developments) Ltd and their design team for the purposes for which it was originally commissioned and prepared. In producing this report, LHLA has relied upon information provided by others. The completeness or accu- racy of this information is not guaranteed by LHLA. The Environmental Design team included: Louise Hooper CMLI Chartered Landscape Architect Luke Engleback CMLI Chartered Landscape Architect All photographs, drawings and text in this report have been produced by, and are the copyright of, LHLA unless otherwise stated. Louise Hooper Landscape Architect Rose Farm, Longwick, Landscape & Visual Impact Assessment April 2021 L H L A 2 Louise Hooper CMLI BA (Hons) L Arch Latterhams Penshurst Tonbridge Kent TN118DL t: 01892 870211 m: 07711820575 e: [email protected] w: http://www.louisehooper.co.uk Contents 1 Introduction p5 5 Landscape Baseline p16 8 Landscape Impacts p57 The Site Geology Landscape Fabric Site Context Topography and Water Landscape Character Access Biodiversity Sensitivity of Landscape and Landscape Fabric History Landscape Impact Assessment 2 Methodology p7 The Site Mitigation for Landscape Effects Site Context Landscape Effects before and after Mitigation 3 Landscape & Village Character p8 Views from the site Visibility and Views of the Site National Character Areas 9 Summary p61 Close Neighbours County Landscape Character Assessment Visual Effects District Landscape Character Assessment Landscape Effects Chilterns AONB 6 Proposed Development p45 Conclusions Longwick 7 Visual Impacts p47 4 Planning Policy p14 Visual Receptors Zone of Visual Influence Appendices Introduction Sensitivity of Visual Receptors National & International Policy Visual Impact Assessment Relevant National Legislation Mitigation for Visual Effects A1 Assessment Methodology p66 Local Policy Visual Effects before and after Mitigation A2 Tree Report by GRS Arboricultural p72 Consultant Louise Hooper Landscape Architect Rose Farm, Longwick, Landscape & Visual Impact Assessment April 2021 L H L A 3 Louise Hooper CMLI BA (Hons) L Arch Latterhams Penshurst Tonbridge Kent TN118DL t: 01892 870211 m: 07711820575 e: [email protected] w: http://www.louisehooper.co.uk Figures and Tables 1 Introduction p5 Figure 21 Geology 6 Proposed Development p45 Figure 22 Topography Figure 1 Site Location Figure 23 Flood risk Figure 55 Masterplan Figure 2 Site Boundary Figure 24 Flood risk Figure 56 Landscape masterplan Figure 3 Context Figure 25 Groundwater vulnerability Figure 57 Masterplan Figure 26 Priority habitats Figure 58 Landscape masterplan 2 Methodology p7 Figure 27 Habitat networks Figure 28 Historic photographs Figure 29 Historic maps Figure 4 Guidelines for LVIA Figure 30 Historic maps 7 Visual Impacts p47 Figure 31 Historic maps Figure 59 Location of viewpoints Figure 32 Historic map and aerial overlay 3 Landscape Character p8 Figure 60 Likely zone of visual influence Figure 33 Aerial photo Table 3 Sensitivity of Visual Receptors Figure 34 Aerial photo and Chilterns Figure 5 Natural Areas - England Table 4 Sensitivity of Close Neighbours Figure 35 Longwick and surroundings Figure 6 Natural Areas - NCA 108 Figure 61 Close Neighbours Figure 36 Site and immediate context Figure 7 Bucks Landscape Assessment Table 5 Magnitude of Change to VRs Figure 37 Annotated site survey Figure 8 Bucks Landscape Assessment Table 6 Magnitude of Change to Neighbours Figure 38 Site landscape character Figure 9 Wycombe Landscape Assessment Table 7 Visual Impact on VRs Figure 39 Site assets and landscape fabric Figure 10 Wycombe Landscape Assessment Figure 62 VR1 Figure 40 Site context and landscape fabric Figure 11 Chilterns Landscape Assessment Figure 63 VR2 Figure 41 Site context and landscape fabric Figure 12 Wycombe Landscape Assessment Figure 64 VR3 Figure 42 Site context and landscape fabric Figure 13 Chilterns AONB Management Plan Table 8 Visual Impact on Neighbours Figure 43 Location of viewpoints Figure 14 Longwick Figure 65 Close Neighbours Figure 44 Views towards the site Figure 15 Longwick Figure 16 Longwick Figure 45 Views from the site Figure 46 Viewpoint 1 8 Landscape Impacts p57 Figure 47 Viewpoint 2 Figure 48 Viewpoint 3 Table 9 Sensitivity of Landscape Fabric 4 Planning p14 Figure 49 Viewpoint 4 Table 10 Magnitude of Change to Fabric Figure 50 Viewpoint 5 Table 11 Magnitude of Change to Fabric Figure 17 Neighbourhood Plan Figure 51 Location of viewpoint 6 Table 12 Visual Impact on Landscape Fabric Figure 18 Neighbourhood Plan Figure 52 Whiteleaf Hill Figure 19 Neighbourhood Plan Figure 53 Viewpoint 6 9 Summary p61 Table 1 Visual receptors 5 Landscape Baseline p16 Table 2 Close neighbours Figure 54 Location of close neighbours Figure 20 Geology Louise Hooper Landscape Architect Rose Farm, Longwick, Landscape & Visual Impact Assessment April 2021 L H L A 4 Louise Hooper CMLI BA (Hons) L Arch Latterhams Penshurst Tonbridge Kent TN118DL t: 01892 870211 m: 07711820575 e: [email protected] w: http://www.louisehooper.co.uk 1 Introduction Farm is in the centre of the village, to the south west of the A4129. It is bordered by existing and newly built housing, with open farmland on the remaining sides. This landscape is a flat and gently undulating lowland farmland with large arable fields interspersed with a mosaic of smaller paddocks; frequent shelterbelts with poplar are a remnant of former orchards. There are long views towards the Chiltern escarpment from the village. 0 0.5 1 2 2.5km Figure 1 Site Location (Source: OS Explorer 181) LHLA has been appointed by J Walker & Son (Development) Limited to undertake a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment of land at Rose Farm, Longwick. The site has existing outline planning permission for 65 dwellings, with all matters apart from access reserved. The site fronts onto Thame Road with an existing farm access. It is predominantly pasture with some distinctive tree groups, a partially culverted water course and some agricultural barns. The village of Longwick lies some 2 kilometres northwest of Princes Risborough. The site at Rose Figure 2 Site Context (Source: GoogleEarth Pro) Louise Hooper Landscape Architect Rose Farm, Longwick, Landscape & Visual Impact Assessment April 2021 L H L A 5 Louise Hooper CMLI BA (Hons) L Arch Latterhams Penshurst Tonbridge Kent TN118DL t: 01892 870211 m: 07711820575 e: [email protected] w: http://www.louisehooper.co.uk 1 Introduction 0 1km Owlswick Small field system Wayfarers End New development ROSE FARM SITE Walnut Tree Lane Railway embankment New development site Footpath PRINCES RISBOROUGH Figure 3 Location of Rose Farm and immediate context Image: Google Earth elaborated by LHLA Louise Hooper Landscape Architect Rose Farm, Longwick, Landscape & Visual Impact Assessment April 2021 L H L A 6 Louise Hooper CMLI BA (Hons) L Arch Latterhams Penshurst Tonbridge Kent TN118DL t: 01892 870211 m: 07711820575 e: [email protected] w: http://www.louisehooper.co.uk 2 Methodology Appendix 1 sets out the methodology and terminology of ecosystem services include provisioning, regulating used for establishing a Landscape Baseline, against and supporting. Provisioning services include water, which a systematic assessment of the potential foods, timber and fuels; regulating services include estimated effects of the proposed development can pollination, decomposition, water and air purification, be measured. This follows the guidance for Landscape flood control, carbon storage and climate regulation; and Visual Impact Assessment set out in GLVIA 3rd supporting services include photosynthesis, nutrient edition 2013. Only Chartered Landscape Architects and cycling and soil creation. chartered members of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment are permitted to carry The visual assessment considers views, visibility and out this work. visual receptors - the people who will see those views such as local residents, close neighbours, walkers and The assesment begins with a desk study to consider the cyclists. context, topography, landcover and planning policies in place at national, district and local levels. There follows a field survey to establish views of importance The criteria for judgements on sensitivity of landscape and a zone of visual influence. Data from this excercise fabric, landscape character and visual receptors are is then assessed using the GLVIA guidance. divided into high, medium and low impacts. How these judgements are made is set out in Appendix 1. It There is an appreciation of the proposed scheme should be notied that impacts can be positive, neutral to be assessed and a visual and landscape impact or adverse; there are also direct and indirect effects. assessment is made of these proposals, followed by mitigation recomendations. These recomendations are then incorporated into the developing design prior Figure 4 Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact to planning application.