Swarland Brickworks, Thrunton Landscape and Visual Appraisal
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
PUBLICATION TITLE: Swarland Brickworks, Thrunton Landscape and Visual Appraisal JOB NUMBER: 1248 (PJ2728) VERSION: Final Issue – March 2021 CLIENT: Mr C Blythe Prepared by: Sharon Lumb Checked by: Ros Southern This report has been prepared by Southern Green Ltd with reasonable skill, care and diligence, within the terms of the contract with the client National Trust. No part of this document may be reproduced without the prior written approval of the above parties. Page 1 of 27 CONTENTS FIG REF PAGE 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background 3 1.2 Site Location and Study Area Fig 1 3 1.3 Site Description and Context Fig 2 4 1.4 The Development Proposal Fig 3 4 2.0 METHODOLOGY 2.1 Methodology for Landscape and Visual Appraisal 5 2.2 Terminology 5 3.0 BASELINE CONDITION 3.1 Landscape and Planning Designations Fig 4-6 6 3.2 Landscape Character Fig 7-9 9 3.3 Visual Context Fig10-28 14 4.0 APPRAISAL OF PREDICTED EFFECTS 4.1 Landscape Character Appraisal Fig 7-9 16 4.2 Representative Viewpoint Appraisal Fig 10-28 17 5.0 MITIGATION and RECOMMENDATIONS Fig 29 23 6.0 SUMMARY and CONCLUSIONS 24 APPENDICES Appendix A – References Appendix B – Figures Page 2 of 27 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background 1.1.1 This Landscape and Visual Appraisal (LVA) has been prepared by Southern Green Ltd Chartered Landscape Architects, commissioned by Mr C Blythe (“the client”), to support the planning application for the development of the former Swarland Brickworks site for residential and tourism uses. 1.1.2 The LVA seeks to provide an understanding of the baseline landscape and visual conditions of the site and surrounding area, in order to determine likely effects that may arise as a result of the development. This LVA provides a combined approach that considers landscape and visual issues in order to gain a holistic understanding of the impact of the proposed development on landscape and visual receptors. 1.1.3 Due to the type of development proposed, and presence of existing buildings on the site, the appraisal has concentrated on a 3.5km radius study area, centred on the middle of the site, with particular focus paid to receptors and features within a 1km radius of the centre of the site. 1.1.4 The LVA appraisal is intended to provide a factual account of the predicted landscape and visual effects of the proposed development. 1.2 Site Location and Study Area Refer to Figure 1: Site Location Plan 1.2.1 Figure 1 indicates the study area we have reviewed when undertaking the appraisal of the development site, as it is important to understand the context of the surrounding area to be fully aware of the setting of the proposed development, and the current character of the site, including its built form, in relation to this. 1.2.2 The area is served by the A697 road which is the main route linking the larger villages within the study area, namely Thrunton, Edlingham and Whittingham via minor roads. This route provides the main link for settlements in this area to Longhorsley, Longframlington and Morpeth to the south and Wooler to the north. 1.2.3 The topography of the study area is defined by valleys and ridges, with the proposed site located in a bowl in one of the valley floors. The levels rise to the north east south and west of the study area at Titlington Pike, Corby’s Crag, Rimside Moor and Hard Nab respectively and vary from 233 – 271mAOD. The higher areas are characterised by craggy landscapes often covered with plantation woodland or moorland, with isolated farmsteads evident such as Overthwarts and Hillhead to the east. The site is located at a level of approximately 100mAOD. Page 3 of 27 1.2.4 The area to the south and south west of the site contains features associated with Thrunton Long Crag Fishery, such as the lakes and woodland compartments. Residential properties are located to the east, between the site and the A697 and are generally set within a wooded landscape. The wider site is surrounded by undulating farmland with hedgerow and fence field boundaries which run up to and beyond the A697 to the east, the road along Thrunton Wood to the west, up to Thrunton to the north and the B6341 to the south. 1.3 Site Description and Context Refer to Figure 2: Existing Site Context 1.3.1 The aerial plan shown in Figure 2 illustrates the current content of the overall site. The existing dis-used buildings associated with the former Swarland Brickworks operation are easily visible due to their scale, and are generally surrounded by areas of hardstanding which would have been the storage and loading areas for the facility. 1.3.2 Scrub and grassland is evident on the west facing slope which extends from the existing buildings to the fishing lakes and a large establishing woodland compartment is evident to the north west of the site. 1.3.3 The main building associated with Thrunton Long Crag Fishery and its infrastructure is located to the south of the brickworks with associated car parking area. This building is a relatively new addition and sits well with the surrounding landscape in terms of scale and appearance. The two lakes utilised by the fishery are located to the south west of the site and are set within fields bounded by scrub and hedge planting. 1.4 The Development Proposal Refer to Figure 3: Proposed Development 1.4.1 This LVA has been undertaken to inform a planning application for a proposed residential development of 17 units on the site, with associated infrastructure and landscaping. The site layout plan is shown on Figure 3: Proposed Development and shows 9 two-storey properties along the north boundary of the site and an additional 5 two-storey units positioned more centrally around a green. 3 one-storey properties are positioned to the south west of the site area, close to the fishery lake, and these are accessed from a road which extends west from the fishery car park. Further information on the design of the building is illustrated in a suite of drawings and documents provided by Elliot Architects Ltd. Page 4 of 27 1.4.2 From information provided the main effects of the development on landscape and visual amenity are anticipated to include: • Removal of the existing buildings associated with Swarland Brickworks and surrounding infrastructure; • Creation of a new access road into the development; • Minor earthworks during construction; • Construction of 17 no. properties with associated garden areas; • Construction of utilities infrastructure; • Establishment of landscaping (hard and softworks) in the surrounding area. 2.0 METHODOLOGY 2.0 Methodology for Landscape and Visual Appraisal 2.0.1 This study has been undertaken and reviewed with due diligence by chartered landscape architects. 2.0.2 This document is intended to discuss the broad landscape and visual issues that are likely to arise as a result of the development of housing units on the site - it is not a full Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment. The extent of the proposed development, as described in Section 1.4 is carefully considered in the context of the visibility of the site, the landscape of the site and the surrounding area. 2.0.3 The study area and viewpoints included in this report were determined using a combination of map analysis, digital ZTV mapping and field work. Panoramic photography was taken at 1.5m above ground level with a digital SLR camera. 2.0.4 Desktop research has been carried out in order to understand the context of the proposed development. This was based on a range of reference documents and online resources (see Appendix A). 2.0.5 The findings of the desktop and field studies are presented in the following text and represented on a sequence of figures (see Appendix B). 2.1 Terminology 2.1.1 Terms to describe landscape and visual matters in this report have been used in accordance with the Glossary of Terms pages 155 to 159 Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, (Third Edition, 2013), Landscape Institute and Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment. Page 5 of 27 3.0 BASELINE CONDITION Introduction 3.0.1 This section provides an overview of the baseline study undertaken and provides information on the following features within the study area: • Landscape and Planning designations; • Designated Sites and Features; • Landscape Character; • Visual Context. 3.1 Landscape and Planning Designations Refer to Figure 4: Access and Circulation Figure 5: Heritage Designations Figure 6: Landscape Designations Access and Circulation 3.1.1 The main vehicular networks within the Study Area are discussed in section 1.0. This section focusses on the designated Public Rights of Way and other routes evident, as illustrated on Figure 4; Public Rights of Way 3.1.2 The main concentration of footpath routes within is found to the north west and east of the study area. There closest footpath to the site extends from Thrunton Wood through Thrunton Red House before crossing the Thrunton Long Crag fishery, running parallel to the southern boundary of the site, before following the track to this facility towards the A697 to the east. 3.1.3 Other footpaths are generally beyond 1km of the site and generally provide links between villages, farmsteads and minor roads. The longest routes extend from Whittingham to the north west and Edlingham to the south east. 3.1.4 Bridleways are present to the east of the study area with a section following the Devils Causeway near Birsley Woodside approx.