Area 14 KingswoodArea Landscape Character Assessment Draft Proposed for Adoption 12 November 2014

Landscape Strategy

Area 14 Kingswood

Contents

Sketch map 196

Key characteristics 197

Location 198

Physical influences 198

Land cover 198

Settlement and infrastructure 200

Landscape character 201

The changing landscape 204

Landscape strategy 206

Photographs

Landscape character area boundary

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Figure 43 Kingswood Sketch Map

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Area 14 Kingswood

The Kingswood landscape character area is a heavily built up area of residential, commercial and industrial uses and roads, interspersed with pockets of open N space.

Key Characteristics

¡ Dominated by residential settlement, ¡ Small formal parks and informal open developed around an historic core of roads spaces break up the urban fabric, provide and former industrial activity, surrounded setting and local identity. by extensive late 19th and 20th century development. ¡ Frequent urban trees and some remnant orchards are scattered within the urban ¡ Extensive more recent residential area. development extends up to the north eastern boundary. ¡ Gardens are important for their visual amenity, the relief they bring to the urban ¡ Former village settlements, with Pennant area and biodiversity, particularly where stone buildings and walls, industrial there is little public open space. heritage features, churches and chapels, form distinct features within the urban ¡ Extensive views to the east and south fabric. extend over the area towards adjacent prominent rural hills, ridges and scarp. ¡ Large open spaces relate to steeper slopes, valley landforms and drainage ¡ Relics of pre-urbanisation land use pattern systems, generally retaining an agricultural and buildings exist, some associated with and semi-natural vegetation framework. former coal/brass/pin/shoe industries, an historic estate or remnant agricultural field ¡ Open areas include a diversity of habitat patterns. including wetland, open standing and flowing water with bankside vegetation and broadleaf woodland providing habitat for notable species including European protected species. Also areas of neutral and calcareous grassland, supporting a diverse range of flora including species rich grassland.

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steep sided river valley, with a narrow floodplain Location corridor at Bottom to the south. The Kingswood landscape character area is located in the south of South Gloucestershire Also flowing into the River Avon is the Stroud and forms the eastern urban fringe of the Brook, which flows southwards along a small conurbation. valley feature (forming part of the south western boundary of this area, shared with Bristol). The The northern boundary is defined by the A4174. upper valley includes Magpie Bottom (a village The western boundary follows the Authority limits green), and the valley as a whole is hemmed in by with Bristol beyond. The southern boundary residential development. The brook discharges marks the limits of the urban area and the rural into the River Avon at Wharf. Avon Valley further south. (Figure 49) The eastern boundary follows the well defined edge of the The Leap Valley to the north forms a very shallow urban area. (See Figures 37). depression, with a small stream course draining north beyond this area to the River Frome. The stream follows a green corridor of varying width, Physical Influences contained by housing. The underlying geology largely consists of Coal Measures, Pennant sandstone and shales, Land Cover overlain with alluvium. In association with the drainage pattern, this creates a gently sloping and The majority of this character area is dominated undulating landform between approximately 50 to by settlement. There are however, a variety of 115 metres a.o.d., with some steeper slopes. green spaces and vegetation cover which break up and punctuate the area. The landform comprises a ridge of hills running approximately north/south. A few small valley The largest open spaces are associated with features cut into and are perpendicular to the steep, natural landform and valleys, which bisect ridge, forming hilltops on which Kingswood and or physically separate the urban area. Staple Hill are located. Small pockets of open space created by parks, A steep slope falls from the southern end of school grounds, linear roadside spaces, some Kingswood at Mount Hill, towards the A4174 and remnant common land and some allotments are forms a slight scarp running from , south scattered within the area. westwards to Hanham. Churchyards form numerous green spaces within Further south, the Hanham Hills rise beyond the the area, typically comprising grassland around urban edge of and the character the gravestones and edged by mature trees. area boundary. To the north east lies a broad shallow bowl occupied by Cadbury Heath, New parks and informal open spaces are contained to the east by the Oldland Ridge associated with recent residential development. beyond the area’s boundary. Landscape infrastructure planting occurs along the A4174 and the shopping centre at Longwell Brook cuts through this bowl fed by Green. Private gardens to houses vary in size, Warmley Brook and one tributary. Siston have a variety of vegetation, but can have mature Brook flows south to the River Avon, within a trees which contribute to the streetscape. green corridor contained by dense residential Remnants of orchards are often found adjacent to development. The brook is channelled through older cottages and former farmhouses. Warmley, then follows its natural, tightly meandering course, before following a small

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The linear corridor below Mount Hill, along the Traditional school playing fields and college A4174 to the west of Warmley, physically bisects grounds largely comprise open mown grassland, the urban area, comprising steep slopes and with little or no vegetation structure, however rough grassland of former agricultural fields, more recent school redevelopments such divided by overgrown hedgerows (Photos 6 & 8). as Park School in Kingswood and Courtney Primary have been designed to include a robust Siston and Warmley Brook flow within green landscape framework. Sports grounds are corridors, often including informal linear parks, also typically simple open spaces, with limited riparian vegetation of trees and scrub with rough built infrastructure of clubhouses and pavilions grassland (Photo 12), or abutting a small golf and mature trees often associated with older course above Siston Brook at Cadbury Heath. cricket grounds (Photo 4), providing structure or The Siston Valley at Oldland Bottom to the south, enclosure to these spaces. physically separates the urban fabric, comprising a steep sided wooded valley. Biodiversity

The Leap Valley to the north, forms a linear Although Kingswood is an urban area, the green corridor of grassland, with a varied framework spaces and riparian habitats present within this of overgrown and intermittent former hedgerows area include a diversity of habitat, as well as a and scattered mature treecovers, contained by resource to urban wildlife which may include a dense residential fringe. It includes an area of species of conservation concern. These species wetland near Baugh Farm and is a designated are likely to be particularly vulnerable to changes Site of Nature Conservation Importance. impacting upon these habitats.

Within Downend there is a concentration of open There are only 13 hectares of woodland within spaces and vegetation at Cleeve Hill, comprising this area and these woodlands are very sparse mature woodland adjacent to allotments, tennis and scattered across the area with generally courts and large residential gardens. few linkages between habitats. While the area may still support many species of conservation Just to the north, along the A4174 (Bromley Heath concern but the diversity will be much lower than Road) lies a broad asymmetric green corridor of that in the more rural character areas. mown grass, ornamental trees and shrub beds. Along the northern boundary, adjacent to the There are however 13 SNCIs within this character A4174 (Avon Ring Road) and contained by the area, comprising a mosaic of habitats including residential edge of Bromley Heath, lies a linear grassland (neutral, acidic and calcareous), small area of open space comprising sports pitches, plots of broadleaved woodland likely to be rough grassland, scrub and trees. remnants of old orchards and flowing open water represented by the Siston Brook to the south east Page Park and Kingswood Park are formally laid of the area and other small tributaries of the River out parks with walled and railing boundaries, Frome in the north. This designation recognises ornate gateways (Photo 5), tennis courts, mown the importance of these habitats within the lawns, pathways, ornamental planting and mature national context for flora and fauna and their trees. Hill House Park is an area of public open particular importance within the urban setting of space that was formerly a playing field associated this area. Key species likely to be associated with with Down End Lower school. the wooded and riparian areas include bats which are present across the District and are UK priority The recent village parks within Emerson’s Green species with associated Biodiversity Action Plans typically comprise linear and irregular informal (BAP). open spaces of grassland and tree clumps (Photo 2 & 3).

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Eight of the SNCIs are designated for their Kingswood. Many of these villages grew in neutral, acidic and calcareous grassland, association with the former industrial activities including areas of species-rich grassland. This associated with coal mining, the brass/pin works diverse habitat supports a range of invertebrates and the shoe industry. and ant hills are a regular feature. These invertebrates in turn provide a food source for Older stone properties are also scattered mammals including bats. throughout the area, absorbed within more recent phases of urban expansion. Some distinctive The water courses in the Leap and buildings and structures include churches, Valley are amongst the few watercourses found chapels, monuments and Sunday Schools in this character area. As a result species (which (associated with Methodism), small industrial may include water voles) within these habitats are buildings, warehouses and old factories. Stone likely to be sensitive to any changes impacting bridges are associated with the disused Bristol- upon the water body. The scattered ponds and Bath railway and Dramway, with station platforms pools within the area will support amphibians and buildings at North and South such as great crested newts (a European and at Willsbridge. Protected Species). In Hanham, Longwell Green and towards Oldland, Gardens and amenity spaces are likely to present the older stone housing is often associated with a potential habitat for a range of species in such large gardens and mature trees which abut the an urban area, and the provision of tree cover, road network, or form the southern boundary other planting and the retention of ‘wild corners’ with the Avon Valley. Some early 20th century takes on additional importance. housing has mature gardens and street trees which contribute greatly to the streetscape (Photo 10 ). Settlement and Infrastructure

Settlement is the predominant land use in Later residential development is largely of brick this character area. The historic core of road (some rendered), detached, semi-detached pattern, settlement and former industrial activity and flats, varied in density and tends to lack is extensively surrounded by late 19th and 20th structural tree planting or designed open spaces. century residential, industrial and commercial Open space is largely incidental, retained along development, creating a dense urban area with hedges, watercourses and footpaths, or related to relatively few open spaces. schools, sports centres and community facilities.

The pre-urbanisation field pattern and road More recent large scale residential development network is evident over much of the area and, in lies to the north east at Emerson’s Green. places, largely defines the shape and pattern of Dense, brick estate housing (Photo 3) extends settlement and open space seen today. eastwards to the A4174, which in conjunction with the industrial/commercial sheds at Emerald Older development within the area is typically Park within the adjacent area (Photo 1), abruptly a mix of grey Pennant sandstone cottages, defines the urban edge here. Former farmhouses farmhouses, and individual houses, with gardens on the edge of this development area have been and some remnant orchards contained by stone put to new uses such as public houses. walls. Settlement of this age is either clustered within recognisable former village centres, as The new housing areas include some strategic seen in Downend, Hanham, Warmley, North opens space corridors and are occasionally Common and , or elsewhere broken by village parks. is mixed with the occasional addition of recent brick infill, as at Mangotsfield, Staple Hill and

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The character area is punctuated with retail before turning south, entering the adjacent centres, comprising a number of linear streets or character area, before passing through the urban centres located on major roads leading to Bristol areas of Warmley, Willsbridge and the Avon Valley City Centre. A large retail centre at Longwell beyond. Green forms a concentration of large commercial sheds, within a framework of roads, roundabouts, The southern section of the railway path is partly car parks, grass verges and ornamental planting followed by the Dramway (an historically important structure (Photo 8). tramway associated with the former coal mining industry) and the Community Forest Path. Both The adjacent multiplex development below Mount these routes leave the railway line south of Hill is cut into the steep hillside and includes a large Oldland Common, entering the rural Siston Valley warehouse type building, car park and peripheral to Willsbridge Mill and the Avon Valley beyond. steep earth banks/retaining structures, while the more recent leisure centre takes a lower profile. The urban area also includes many short sections of public footpath within pockets of open space. Industrial works are concentrated within the These connect with the widespread, dense local centres of Kingswood, Warmley and also along road network. Kingswood’s eastern rural fringe. Some have been redeveloped to residential uses. A number The area is intensely dissected by numerous of historic sites are absorbed within or on the lanes, roads and major routes such as the A432, edge of the urban area. A431, A420, A4174 and A4175, connecting the residential districts. Warmley House and gardens, together with the Clock Tower (originally a pin mill), form the The A4174 Avon Ring Road follows a broad core of the internationally important Champion’s corridor, generally containing the urban edge to Brassworks. The factory is partly constructed the north and north east and passing through the with slag block quoins and coping stones, a bi- urban/semi-rural areas in the south. Generally product of the industrial process (Photo 11). contained for much of its length within a maturing framework of trees, the road is being absorbed The use of distinctive slag quoins and coping within the wider landscape. stones is widely distributed within the South Gloucestershire area, generally limited to older Landscape Character individual stone buildings and walls. Distribution is evident within the adjacent character areas of The overall character of this area is dense Ridge and Boyd Valley, settlement, with distinct areas comprising Vale and Oldland Ridge, as well as Kingswood, former village centres and linear hamlets Bristol and as far west as the Severn Ridges and linked by the road network, phased residential Oldbury Levels. development, concentrations of industrial works and commercial areas, interspersed with a mix of The historic estate of Barr’s Court in Oldland, is a various ages and style of development. partially moated manor site (Scheduled Ancient Monument) and still retains much of its park Industrial heritage features and distinct boundary wall and moat, largely absorbed within buildings provide landmarks and contribute residential development (Photo 9). Also within the to the distinctive character of the various Siston Valley at Oldland Bottom is Willsbridge Mill. neighbourhoods within the urban fabric.

The Bristol and Bath Railway Path follows a disused railway line west to east through the urban area of Staple Hill, in tunnel and cutting

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A variety of open spaces punctuate the urban Planned formal open spaces are limited, area, the character of which are diverse, often comprising scattered areas of varying size and providing relief and contrast, contributing to local character contained within the urban fabric. identity and the setting of built development. These include ornamental parks at Page Park and Kingswood Park; allotment gardens at The ridge and hill landform of the character several locations; school/college grounds, playing area is generally marked by the dominance and and sports fields; graveyards (some neglected) enclosure created by the urban development associated with the many chapels and churches, over much of this area. However, landform all of which provide seasonal variations in pattern and elevated position is very apparent along and texture. some road corridors and from open spaces, where views out beyond the character area are The concentration of woodland at Cleeve Hill obtained. (Downend) associated with a break within the urban streetscape, produced by allotments and The steepest landforms have hindered the tennis courts, large gardens, together with street spread of urban development and are therefore trees, forms a distinct local identity. typically the most extensive, open and visible green spaces within the area. These comprise Informal open spaces with their former agricultural the largely rural, open steep slopes and ridgeline framework partly intact, include the linear Leap of Mount Hill above the A4174, a prominent local Valley Park and wood fringed field at Charn Hill. backcloth; the Siston Valley, a small enclosed and sinuous rural wooded valley, at its southern The presence of large private gardens, garden end largely undisturbed by development; and the vegetation, street trees, wide verges and planting prominent landmark of the Hanham Hills, to the infrastructure along some roads contribute to a south within the Avon Valley character area. suburban character. In contrast, areas of more modest Victorian housing, typically with small or Breaks in the urban fabric on the elevated no gardens, without the presence of public open landform frequently allow long distance spaces, form very dense, uniformly built areas. views eastwards of the adjacent rural fringe, Pucklechurch and Oldland Ridge and the Village parks, created as part of the Emerson’s Cotswold Scarp beyond. Views southwards Green development, have attempted to include the Hanham Hills, which forms a distinct incorporate existing landscape features of open hill beyond the settlement edge (Photo 14). hedgerows and trees into the structure of the From the southern settlement edge, some views new development. These features, where extend over and beyond the Avon Valley. retained and well managed, provide an immediate framework and mature landscape setting to this The urban area of Kingswood is also prominent development that has now been supplemented within panoramic views from the Pucklechurch by the more recent planting that is now maturing. and Oldland Ridge to the east. The industrial heritage features of villages, linear The urban area contains numerous mature trees hamlets and buildings associated with coal which include both remnants of pre-urbanisation mining, pin and shoe making industry, historic agricultural land use and planned tree planting remains of Barrs Court Estate and the distribution along streets, within parks and gardens. The of architecturally diverse chapels, churches and visual contribution this “urban forest” makes is their churchyards, significantly contribute to local significant locally and in the wider landscape, identity. particularly from beyond the urban area to the east of this character area.

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Warmley Church is a prominent distinctive framework, or forming a defined urban edge. landmark and focus to the village settlement, nestled within the landform. The adjacent brass The adjacent landform of the Pucklechurch and works also forms a prominent local feature. Oldland Ridge forms a prominent and distinctive backcloth within many views from this urban The pattern of stone cottages, unified by stone edge. boundary walls within Downend, has a distinct rural village character within an otherwise urban The convoluted urban edge along the southern area, reinforced by the Downend Cricket Field boundary is largely influenced by the landform adjacent to Christchurch. of the Siston Valley, the Avon Valley and its floodplain and the Hanham Hills. The various The eastern and southern urban/rural fringes phases of residential development are intermixed have varying built characteristics. The open with the large retail area at Longwell Green and setting provided by the adjacent rural fringe is an the more recent redevelopment of Hanham Hall important visual characteristic. (former hospital) and grounds to residential use, both of which visually influence the urban edge The north eastern boundary at Emerson’s Green and adjoining rural fringe. comprises recent dense housing, commercial and retail development off the A4174 junctions, The edge of Willsbridge and older edge of with formerly derelict farm houses being put Hanham have a distinctive rural village character. to new uses. The planting associated with However, in contrast, the more recent residential the A4174 corridor has matured to absorb the development around Hanham Hall creates a new road, however where timber boundary sharp, defined urban edge without integration. fencing remains visible this forms an abrupt and (Photo 2). Longwell Green has both prominent hard edge to the development compromising linear urban edges (Photo 13) and better the landscape character of the locality. The integrated sections, achieved through long rear commercial development of Emerald Park, within gardens and associated vegetation. The recent the adjacent character area, is also prominent large scale commercial development below and visually confines part of this area. Further Cock Road Ridge, at Mount Hill, is located in an south, the degree of integration along the urban elevated position, compared with the older retail edge varies, largely determined by the adjacent development area. The scale and nature of this land use and vegetation cover which abut this development contrasts sharply with the adjacent character area’s boundary. housing. The multiplex development is prominent from a wide area due to its location, scale and The older residential edge, intermixed with light colour, and is visible from the Cotswold an industrial complex and school grounds, is Scarp and from the hills to the south of the Avon in places partially contained by woodland at Valley, while the lower level timber clad leisure Rodway Hill. Adjacent recreational land uses, centre achieves a significantly higher degree of remnant common and agricultural land in integration with its surroundings. Westerleigh Vale and Oldland Ridge area, creates in places a transitional boundary between the The Hanham Hills are a prominent and distinctive abrupt development edge of this area and the landmark within this area. adjacent, more rural countryside to the east.

The village settlement pattern of Warmley, North Common and Oldland Common, located within this area along the eastern boundary, form a distinct, intricate and varied edge to the rural fringe, variably integrated by the rural vegetation

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high quality urban street furniture and features The Changing Landscape designed to reinforce and improve the character The Kingswood landscape character area has a and appearance of the street. dense urban fabric with a surrounding rural fringe. Distinct areas of local character are influenced by Existing parks provide important open spaces settlement age, pattern and materials used within and in some cases valuable wildlife habitat within a number of communities; landmark architecture; the urban fabric and influence local character. historic remnants of early settlement and the The landscape amenity of these spaces relies on industrial past; intermixed with a variety of open their continued maintenance and management. spaces and wildlife habitats. There has been an increasing trend towards community engagement with the management Recent years have seen the increasing re- and maintenance of such open spaces with the development of brownfield sites such as former formation of ‘Friends’ groups, a more recent employment sites, chapels and their grounds, move away from the more traditional play or graveyards, as well as the redevelopment of equipment to ‘natural play’ that utilises natural houses with large gardens to make way for higher features such as rocks, logs and trees, as well as density housing. increased tree planting and provision of play and gym facilities to suit a wider age group. Opens This has affected local character and in some spaces such as Grimbsbury Farm have seen cases reduced wildlife habitat. Where green improvements that have resulted in a move away spaces previously provided valuable visual from traditional mown grass to meadow and amenity and physical breaks within the urban greater diversity of habitat. Other traditional parks fabric, as well as softening the urban form, some are seeking to ensure restoration of their historic locations have seen a reduction in openness features such as band stands and railings. within the area. This has increased the density of the built environment and introduced a variation in Scattered ponds and pools, including potentially architectural style, form, massing and colour, that those in gardens are vulnerable to any loss of has in some cases affected the distinctiveness of habitat including the terrestrial habitat around the locality. ponds as well as the ponds themselves.

A further change affecting the character area is Open space within new developments often the paving of front gardens and loss of associated incorporates mature trees, often that are remnant boundary treatments. In other locations hedged features from the former agricultural land use, boundaries have been replaced by harsh close pre-urbanisation. These contribute greatly to boarded fences. Cumulatively these small the area’s ‘Urban Forest’ and local streetscape. changes often result in a significant erosion of These features are however sensitive to a number the traditional character and biodiversity of the of potentially damaging operations and types of locality, replacing low stone walls and associated change, e.g. work relating to underground and garden planting with the harshness of a fence or overhead services, site development and site a predominance of parked cars. This can also access and especially where insufficient space is result in the replacement of soil with impermeable allowed for either existing mature trees or semi- paving, leading to increased runoff and potential mature trees to develop further. problems with drainage capacity. The majority of open spaces are crossed by, or Kingswood High Street has however seen a connected to, the urban area by public footpaths. significant improvement in the urban fabric of This accessibility provides not only an important the town centre. The introduction of a one way recreational and amenity resource for the local system was taken as an opportunity to reclaim community, but with new development increasing urban space for the pedestrian, introducing the numbers of users also potentially exerts an

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increasing physical pressure on these spaces and The southern and eastern urban areas exert a their features. potential pressure for change in the adjacent rural landscape. Such change could have a The more recent housing development at potentially widespread visual influence, eroding Emerson’s Green has introduced new urban the distinctive rural character of the agricultural elements along the edge of Kingswood, within landscape and common land which lie just a former agricultural landscape. The retained beyond the eastern boundary. As much of vegetation framework has only a limited ability to the area is elevated, development within the integrate such extensive built development. While Kingswood character area has the potential to a softening of the transition between the housing influence views from the surrounding rural areas edge and adjacent open space/rural fringe such as Redfield Hill, Siston Common, Bridge has been achieved as the new landscape has Common and the Hanham Hills. matured, there remain places where the housing and/ or boundary fencing remains visually Infill remains a significant pressure across this prominent thereby eroding the character of the character area, including on both larger and adjacent landscape. smaller plots and gardens. Such infill can result in the loss of significant albeit often private areas The large scale commercial/retail and leisure of green space, increasing the urban character developments at Longwell Green and below and resulting in the loss of space and landscape Mount Hill has had a significant effect on the features which impart a particular character to urban character locally. The elevated and the area and/or provide visual relief and wildlife sloping nature of the site means that this habitat in an otherwise dense urban environment. development has not effectively integrated with its surroundings, with the result that the large The distinct village patterns seen in many places, scale built forms, together with the associated such as Warmley, Oldland Common, Willsbridge car parking and road infrastructure, contrasts and Hanham, are sensitive to change such markedly with the character of adjacent housing as from infill, which might dilute or erode their areas and the remnant landscape framework. individual character.

The corridor of remnant agricultural land at Mount The proposed large scale extension to Emerson’s Hill, Cock Road Ridge and Grimsbury Farm are Green, north east of the A4174 in the adjoining important and prominent recreational areas which character area, for residential and employment separates Kingswood and Oldland. These areas purposes, will result in a significant change to the have seen further infill development and are under present character of the rural fringe. The current potential pressure for further change. Hedgerows urban edge will extend northwards, beyond this are not actively managed. The likely long-term character area boundary, with the inevitable loss decline of these features would weaken their of the adjoining open rural landscape. visual contribution to the landscape framework of the area, as well as their ability to provide integration of both existing development and future change.

The Hanham Hills beyond the southern urban edge in the adjoining character area are a distinct rural landmark, visually prominent within many local views. They are particularly sensitive to change, or a decline of their hedgerow framework.

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Landscape Strategy

¡ Protect and extend the Kingswood ‘urban ¡ Within the tight urban environment of forest’ character imparted by street trees this character area careful planning of and maintain, manage and extend other new developments is vital to ensure that tree cover within the urban environment. proposed levels, service runs etc do not damage existing retained trees or ¡ Protect key views and skylines that compromise proposed new landscape contribute to the distinctive character of schemes. Also ensure that lighting the locality, whether in this or adjacent schemes particularly at the urban edge do character areas. not disturb wildlife.

¡ Where key to the character of the locality, ¡ Secure the sensitive management and ensure that the critical balance between enhancement of existing civic parks, the existing urban built form and green formal and informal open spaces to protect open space and/ or planting is maintained and enhance their landscape character, and enhanced, and distinctive local heritage value, recreational function and character is retained and enhanced. This biodiversity value, and their resilience to includes consideration of the role that increased use. private open space places in the urban environment. ¡ Active management of remnants of the former agricultural landscape, including ¡ Carefully control boundary treatments hedgerows and hedgerow trees will help particularly for road facing gardens, to ensure the conservation of these features protect the character of place and enhance and their continued function as habitat and the biodiversity value and visual quality of connectivity in the long term. the public realm. ¡ Preserve views to Warmley church spire ¡ Ensure that new development incorporates an adequate landscape framework and ¡ Protect and enhance open space and open space network to provide relief to biodiversity links between existing open the urban environment, wildlife habitat and spaces, recognising the value of gardens wherever possible connectivity of habitat. in this.

¡ Ensure that open space areas within new ¡ Look for opportunities to address the development are of adequate size to be current shortfall in allotments and public useable and effective, and that sufficient open space within Kingswood and Staple space is incorporated around retained Hill. landscape features and wildlife habitats, to facilitate their effective protection and management into the future.

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1 Avon Ring Road separating the business park at Emerald Park to the left and the new housing of Emerson’s Green 2 Emerson’s Green North, looking towards Blackhorse Pond and Westons 3 Emerson’s Green Common looking towards Green Lane. North. The Pucklechurch Ridge is on the skyline. Brake.

4 Christ Church, Downend, viewed across Downend Cricket 5 Page Park, formal park at Staple Hill used for many 6 Grimsbury Farm open space towards Cock Road Ridge. 7 Allotments at Hollyguest Road looking across retail Club Ground, with historic connections with W.G. Grace. community events. development towards the Cotswolds.

8 Avon Ring Road, showing the commercial development below the wooded scarp of Mount Hill. 9 Remains of Barr’s Court Estate set against modern retail and 10 Cadbury Heath Road, early 20th century residential development. residential development.

14 View south from Mount Hill, 11 Warmley Clock Tower, part of Champion’s Brassworks, 12 Siston Brook and linear parkland 13 Hanham Hills, Lynch Pit looking to Kingswood with Hanham Hills rising Figure 44 – Area 14 now used by the community. Slag quoins and copings within Cadbury Heath. on the horizon. Pockets of open space include above housing at Longwell have been frequently used within many local buildings. playing fields and green scarp at Mount Hill. Green in the middle distance. Kingswood Figure 45 Area 14 Kingswood