Landscape Appraisal for Strategic Development Site Durham JOB
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PUBLICATION TITLE: Landscape Appraisal for Strategic Development Site Durham JOB NUMBER: 672 VERSION: V3 DATE ISSUED: 14/02/11 CLIENT: George F. White 8 Front Street Wolsingham County Durham DL13 3AA Prepared by: Louise Hudspith / Andy Clarke / David Gray Approved by: Ros Southern, Director This report has been prepared by Southern Green Ltd with reasonable skill, care and diligence, within the terms of the contract with the client George F White Ltd. No part of this document may be reproduced without the prior written approval of the above parties. 1 LANDSCAPE APPRAISAL FOR STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT SITE LANDSCAPE & VISUAL ASSESSMENT AT HAG HOUSE FARM, PITY ME Contents 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Method of Assessment & Assessment Criteria 3.0 Landscape and Visual Context 4.0 Assessment of Residual Effects 5.0 Mitigation Measures 6.0 Conclusions Appendix A – Viewpoints Photomontage Sheet 1 - Viewpoints 1, 2 and 3 Photomontage Sheet 2 - Viewpoints 4, 5 and 6 Photomontage Sheet 3 - Viewpoints 7, 8 and 9 Photomontage Sheet 4 - Viewpoints 10,11and12 Photomontage Sheet 5 - Viewpoints 13, 14 and 15 Photomontage Sheet 6 - Viewpoints 16, 17 and 18 Appendix B – Figures Fig. A – Site Context Plan Fig. B1 – Viewpoint Locations 1 km radius Fig. B2 – Viewpoint Locations and Visual Envelope 5 km radius Fig. C – Existing Site Features Plan Fig. D – Vegetation and Field Boundary Survey Plan Fig. E – Effects on Visual Amenity Plan Fig. F – Mitigation Measures Plan Appendix C – SITE COMPARISON Fig. G – Site Comparison Diagram 2 1.0 INTRODUCTION Purpose of the study This assessment examines the potential effects of a possible new development on the landscape and visual amenity of an area of farmland at the northern fringe of Durham City. The proposed site is identified in the document ‘The County Durham Plan: Consultation Report, Durham City Green Belt Assessment, Phase 2’, which is the most recent part of Durham County Council’s assessment of potential development sites within the Green Belt around Durham City. The consultation report was released in December 2010 and provides an analysis of eight potential new development sites, with land at Hag House Farm defined as Sites 2(i) and 2(ii). The sustainability appraisal recommendation is that these sites be taken forward as Priority 1, to be considered for provision of a strategic site in line with housing options in the County Durham Plan Core Strategy. This assessment is based on a study area within a 5km radius and has been carried out to determine the following: • the landscape quality of the proposed development site • sensitive viewpoints that may be affected by such a development • possible development cells within the site and how a potential development might be mitigated • a brief overview of the qualities of other proposed development sites in comparison with this one The report is divided in to the following sections: Method of assessment and assessment criteria – a brief explanation of how the assessment has been carried out, with reference to standard methodologies; Landscape and visual context – a description, classification and evaluation of the existing landscape character and an assessment of the baseline visual amenity; Assessment of residual effects – A broad assessment of the magnitude and significance of the potential residual landscape and visual effects of the potential development; Landscape character analysis and potential mitigation measures – a review of the proposed development in the context of the landscape character assessment, along with suggested measures by which the effects of development might be mitigated; Site comparison – a brief comparison of the qualities of this site against other potential housing sites nearby; Summary and conclusions – a summary of the assessment results and their significance accompanied by a concluding discussion on the acceptability of the proposed building in landscape and visual terms. 3 2.0 METHOD OF ASSESSMENT AND ASSESSMENT CRITERIA The landscape and visual assessment has involved a desk study, field work, data processing and analysis, and interpretation using professional judgement. Desk Study The aim of the desk study is to establish the key landscape features and landscape planning designations affecting the proposed development site and its surrounding landscape (see Fig. A Site Context). The landscape and visual assessment has drawn on information provided in the following: • The County Durham Plan: Consultation Report, Durham City Green Belt Assessment, Phase 2 (December 2010) • The County Durham Plan (the Local Development Framework for Durham – currently being phased in) • The County Durham Structure Plan (1991-2006 – currently being phased out) • The Durham Landscape Character Maps, County Durham Landscape Character Assessment 2008. • Durham Relief Road Study: Northern Route (Final Version, June 2010) Baseline Visual Assessment The aim of the baseline visual assessment is to ensure that an appropriate range of viewpoints is included in the visual assessment. A range of viewpoints was selected by Southern Green in order to reflect views into and out of the site from a variety of receptors (see Fig. B1 Viewpoint Locations (1km) ). The viewpoints represent views from a range of potential visual receptors which have been classified according to their associated land use, for example the occupants of settlements, footpaths users, roads users etc. Having identified the receptors in the study area it was possible to identify, through a site survey, those likely to be most affected by future development. The initial selection of viewpoints includes a representative range in relation to the following criteria: Selection of receptors: • A range of distances of receptor from proposed development to a maximum distance of 5km; and • A range of locations of receptors from proposed development, with the aim of achieving a reasonable distribution from different compass points around the site. The desk study and baseline assessment therefore provided the basis for subsequent field survey work. It defined the potential zone of theoretical visibility (ZTV) by using “Key Terra Firma” software which generates the extent of visibility of the site from the surrounding areas to a resolution of 30m. This enabled identification of the principal viewpoints and receptors within the 5km radius study area, which were subsequently confirmed during the field survey. (see Fig. B1 Viewpoint Locations (1km) and Fig. B2 Viewpoint Locations (5km) and Visual Envelope) Field Survey The baseline visual assessment included field survey work, carried out to verify and refine the viewpoints and receptors identified in the desk study, and to gain a full appreciation of the relationship between the proposed development and the landscape. A series of photographs was taken by Southern Green Ltd in January 2011 from eye level at a range of representative viewpoints, as identified in the baseline visual assessment. 4 The field survey also helped establish the existing condition and quality of the landscape within the study area (see Fig. C Existing Site Features Plan) Visual Assessment Methodology The visual assessment considers the site and its surroundings focussing on a maximum radius of 5km from the approximated centre of the proposed development site. It was considered that observers beyond this distance would be unlikely to obtain clear views of the site because of the surrounding built fabric, topography and tree cover within the landscape. Photography of viewpoints was carried out by Southern Green Ltd and views were assessed from an average height of approximately 1.5m above ground level. In visual assessment greater weight is given to the visual effects upon public viewpoints than upon private properties. Table 1.1 (below) provides a definition of visual receptor sensitivity. Table 1.1: Definition of visual receptor sensitivity High Users of outdoor recreation facilities including strategic recreational footpaths, cycle routes or rights of way, whose attention may be focus sed on the landscape; the principal views from residential buildings; beauty spots or picnic areas; important landscape features with physical, cultural or historic attributes. Medium Other footpaths, secondary views from residential buildings; people tr avelling through or past the landscape on roads, train lines or other transport routes. Low People engaged in outdoor sports or recreation (other than the appreciation of the landscape), commercial buildings or commercially engaged pedestrians, whose att ention may be focussed on their work or activity rather than the wider landscape. Negligible Views from industrial areas. Analysis and reporting Analysis and reporting of the baseline assessment takes place after completion of the desk and field surveys. The baseline landscape assessment provides a description, classification and evaluation of the landscape of the study area, from which to assess the potential landscape effects of the proposed development. Assessment of residual effects A selection of viewpoints was chosen to represent a range of receptors around the study area, as described above. However, because the proposed development is still hypothetical, it was not possible to produce meaningful photomontages to illustrate specific effects. Instead, panoramic photographs have been annotated to show the following: • the approximate position of future development, based on the site boundary • a commentary on the potential visual effects that future development might have on the landscape