Update of Landscape Character Assessment for Northumberland National Park
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Final Report Northumberland National Park Authority Update of Landscape Character Assessment for Northumberland National Park June 2019 Alison Farmer Associates 29 Montague Road Cambridge CB4 1BU 01223 461444 www.alisonfarmer.co.uk ii iii Contents 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Landscape Character Assessment .............................................................. 1 1.2 Background .................................................................................................. 2 1.3 Purpose of the Landscape Character Assessment ...................................... 2 1.4 Benefits of Landscape Character Assessment ............................................ 5 1.5 Methodology ................................................................................................ 5 1.6 Content and Structure of the Report ............................................................ 5 2 THE EVOLUTION OF THE LANDSCAPE .......................................................... 7 2.1 Physical Influences ...................................................................................... 7 2.1.1 Geology .................................................................................................... 7 2.1.2 Glaciation ................................................................................................. 9 2.1.3 Landform, drainage and climate ............................................................. 10 2.2 Human Influences ...................................................................................... 12 2.2.1 Prehistoric .............................................................................................. 12 2.2.2 Roman .................................................................................................... 13 2.2.3 Medieval ................................................................................................. 14 2.2.4 Post-medieval ......................................................................................... 16 2.2.5 Twentieth century ................................................................................... 17 2.3 The Modern Landscape ............................................................................. 19 2.3.1 Land cover .............................................................................................. 19 2.3.2 Habitats .................................................................................................. 21 2.3.3 Field patterns and boundaries ................................................................ 22 2.3.4 Settlement and buildings ........................................................................ 24 3 UNDERSTANDING LANDSCAPE CHARACTER AND GUIDING CHANGE .... 27 3.1 The Landscape Classification .................................................................... 27 3.2 Cheviots ..................................................................................................... 29 3.3 Cheviot Fringe ............................................................................................ 39 3.4 Border Moors and Forests ......................................................................... 44 3.5 Northumberland Sandstone Hills ............................................................... 58 3.6 Tyne Gap and Hadrian’s Wall .................................................................... 67 4 A STRATEGY FOR THE LANDSCAPE ............................................................ 82 4.1 Key Features and Qualities ........................................................................ 82 4.1.1 A distinctive geology ............................................................................... 82 4.1.2 A rich natural heritage ............................................................................ 86 4.1.3 A wealth of historic monuments and landscapes .................................... 86 4.1.4 Strong farming and vernacular building traditions .................................. 87 4.1.5 Cultural associations .............................................................................. 87 4.1.6 Tranquillity, Dark Night Skies and Wildness ........................................... 88 4.1.7 Outstanding recreational landscapes ..................................................... 89 4.2 Overview of Changes and Issues Affecting the Landscape ....................... 89 4.2.1 Landscape changes within the National Character Areas ...................... 90 4.2.2 Principal issues affecting the landscape character types ....................... 90 4.3 Broad Strategy ........................................................................................... 92 4.3.1 Aims ....................................................................................................... 92 4.3.2 Strategic priorities ................................................................................... 92 iv 4.4 Sustainable Land Management Guidelines ............................................... 95 4.4.1 Forestry and woodland ........................................................................... 95 4.4.2 Farming and Estates .............................................................................. 98 4.4.3 Field boundaries ................................................................................... 101 4.4.4 Moorlands ............................................................................................. 103 4.4.5 Rivers and wetlands ............................................................................. 105 4.4.6 Historic sites and built environment ...................................................... 106 4.4.7 Tourism, recreation and access ........................................................... 108 4.5 Sustainable Development Guidelines ...................................................... 110 4.5.1 Housing and economic development ................................................... 110 4.5.2 Military training ..................................................................................... 113 4.5.3 Transport .............................................................................................. 116 4.5.4 Energy and telecommunications .......................................................... 118 4.5.5 Minerals and waste .............................................................................. 120 Bibliography ........................................................................................................... 123 Annex 1: Landscape Guidelines for Key Settlements within the Setting of the National Park .......................................................................................................... 127 v Figures Figure 1: The National Park………………………………………………………………..3 Figure 2: Solid Geology………………………………………………………………….....8 Figure 3: Landform and Drainage………………………………………………………..11 Figure 4: Land Cover………………………………………………………………………20 Figure 5: Historic Landscape Character Types…………………………………………23 Figure 6: Landscape Classification………………………………………………………28 Figure 7: Natural Heritage Designations……………………………………………….142 Figure 8: Cultural Heritage Designations………………………………………………142 Figure 9: Tranquillity……………………………………………………………………...142 Tables Table 1: Landscape Classification……………………………………………………….29 Table 2: Landscape Character Types by Administrative Area………………………..30 Table 3: Principal Issues Affecting the Landscape Character Types……………….150 vi 1 1 INTRODUCTION This report is an update of an earlier landscape character assessment undertaken in 2007 by Julie Martin Associates, with Alison Farmer Associates and Countryscape, on behalf of Northumberland National Park Authority and the former Tynedale District Council. The update has been commissioned by Northumberland National Park Authority and undertaken by Alison Farmer Associates in order to ensure it reflects an up to date evidence base for use in the emerging Local Plan for the National Park. The initial character assessment included Tynedale District plus all of Northumberland National Park. In 2009 Local Authority reorganisation resulted in the creation of a single unitary authority, Northumberland County, which encompassed six districts including Tyndale. Subsequently a study to consolidate existing landscape character assessments for the new unitary authority was commissioned in 2010 and drew heavily on the former Tyndale District and Northumberland National Park assessment and assessments for the other relevant districts. This update document contains only the landscape character areas and types relating to the National Park area. Care has been taken during this update to ensure revisions to this document remain consistent with the Northumberland County LCA. All drawings have been updated. 1.1 Landscape Character Assessment Landscape character is the distinct, recognisable and consistent pattern of elements that makes one landscape different from another. Variations in geology, soils, landform, land use, vegetation, field boundaries, settlement patterns and building styles all help give rise to different landscapes, each with its own distinctive character and sense of place. These differences are the product of both natural and human influences. Within the National Park there is enormous landscape diversity, including (from north to south) the smooth, rounded uplands of the Cheviots; the wild Border moors and forests; the craggy sandstone hills around Simonside and the distinctive linear landscapes of the Tyne