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Lincolnshire County Council

A46 AND WELTON JUNCTION IMPROVEMENT Proof of Evidence: Landscape and Visual

Andrew Williams (BA (Hons), Grad Dip, CMLI)

Public Inquiry in respect of the:

A46 Dunholme and Welton Junction Compulsory Purchase Order 2019

A46 Dunholme and Welton Junction (Classified Road) (Side Roads) Order 2019

Ref: NATTRAN/EM/LAO/195 A46 DUNHOLME AND WELTON JUNCTION IMPROVEMENT Proof of Evidence – Landscape and Visual OCTOBER 2019

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LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL

INTRODUCTION 1.1 I, Andrew Williams will say as follows:-

1.2 My name is Andrew Robert Williams. I am an Associate Director within the Environment Business Unit of WSP Ltd. I hold a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) and Graduate Diploma in Landscape Architecture and am a Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute. My specific responsibilities relate to landscape and visual impact assessment of development, with a focus on highway related schemes.

ROLE IN RELATION TO THE SCHEME 2.1 My statement is submitted as a member of the WSP Ltd landscape and urban design team. I have been involved in the project from its early development and have advised County Council (LCC) and the project engineer during the development of the design, providing advice on appropriate mitigation and landscape design with the intention of avoiding unnecessary land take. This has included input and support to the relevant planning applications (PL/0113/17, PL/0080/18 and subsequent non-material amendment referred to hereafter as "the Scheme"); including input into the Planning Statement, and the preparation and subsequent amendments to the Landscape Masterplan (refer to Figure 1).

SCOPE OF EVIDENCE 3.1 I appear at this Inquiry to give evidence in respect of the anticipated landscape and visual effects of the Scheme and the suitability of the approved mitigation measures in addressing these. I have undertaken an analysis of the approved improvements to the A46 Welton Road Junction and its relationship to the receiving landscape and visual context of the area immediately adjacent to the junction.

3.2 My statement relates to the effect of the Scheme on the character and appearance of the landscape and on the visual receptors who are considered to be affected. The effects will be considered in the context of the completed Scheme and the successful establishment of the approved mitigation measures. Construction effects have not been considered as these will be temporary in nature, that is, less than 12 months duration, and I have assumed that the mitigation as set out in Figure 1 is established, matured and performing its function. Ref: NATTRAN/EM/LAO/195 A46 DUNHOLME AND WELTON JUNCTION IMPROVEMENT Proof of Evidence – Landscape and Visual OCTOBER 2019

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3.3 I can confirm that the contents of my evidence are my professional opinion and true.

CONSTRAINTS AND ASSUMPTIONS 4.1 I have liaised with the engineering design team for the project and identified the following design, construction, and operational constraints to ensure that my review and appraisal properly acknowledges appropriate limitations on the delivery of the Scheme:

1. There is a need for an improvement at the junction of Welton Road (A46) with Lincoln Road;

2. Access to the adjacent commercial site will be maintained via a northern access road;

3. To manage surface water there will be a requirement to construct a swale and balancing pond to the west of the northern access road; and

4. A Landscape Masterplan has been prepared to mitigate the loss of existing landscape features that contribute to local character, and adverse effects on nearby visual receptors.

4.2 In establishing a significant effect, I have adopted the accepted approach that effects identified as being equal or greater than moderate are considered significant.

STUDY AREA 5.1 In order to analyse the potential effects on landscape character and visual receptors I have identified an area within which changes, and therefore effects, will be perceptible within the landscape. This is defined as a Zone of Visual Influence, and has formed the extent of the study area. The visual limitations are outlined in the following paragraphs.

5.2 To the north the gently rising landform, combines with the existing hedgerows to limit views to the first substantial hedgerow to the west of Lincoln Road, this also marks one of the access road to Dunholme Lodge. East of Lincoln Road, substantial hedgerows along Honeyholes Lane constrain views towards Welton to the north.

5.3 To the east of the Scheme, are medium sized arable fields, the eastern hedgerow boundaries forming a local horizon beyond which is the western fringe of the village

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of Dunholme. South of the village of Dunholme the landform flattens and views extend as far as Lane/Dunholme Lane.

5.4 Views south are limited immediately by the existing tall mature hedge that marks the highway boundary and runs along the south of the Scheme. Where glimpsed views exist beyond the hedge, the landform gently descends towards a ditch before rising gently towards a shallow crest, marked by Heath Road, which ties in at its western end with Welton Road and its eastern end with Dunholme Lane.

5.5 To the west the landform forms a shallow ridgeline, running broadly north – south and a local highpoint approximately 2km to the west and approximately 1km north of the property, . A small copse at the junction of Welton Road (A46) and Lane limits broader views to the south and west, with broader views to the west gradually being constrained by layers of hedgerows and mature trees.

REVIEW OF FINDINGS 6.1 I will now provide a review of the relevant planning policies where they apply to landscape and/or visual amenity in relation to the Scheme, along with the aspects of landscape character and visual amenity relevant to the development being considered, taking each aspect in turn, and drawing conclusions on the anticipated effects.

PLANNING POLICY 7.1 The Central Lincolnshire Local Plan (Document 3), adopted 24 April 2017, is the current Local Plan for the area. Policies relevant to landscape:

7.2 “Policy L17: Landscape, Townscape and Views” requires proposals to protect and enhance the intrinsic value of the landscape and townscape, having regard to maintaining and responding positively to natural and man-made features that contribute positively to the character of the area. With reference to the Scheme, this will include topography, trees and hedgerows and field patterns, which are reflected in the Landscaping Masterplan through the restoration of field boundaries, hedgerow trees and the use of low bunds to mitigate potential effects on the landscape setting.

7.3 “Policy LP25: The Historic Environment” seeks to protect, conserve and enhance the historic environment of Central Lincolnshire. Development proposals will be supported where they protect the significance of designated heritage assets, by

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protecting or enhancing landscape and townscape features through consideration of scale, design materials, siting, layout, mass, use, and views and vistas both from and towards the asset. The Scheme does not impact directly on known heritage assets, but has through its design avoided unnecessary impacts on historic field boundaries.

7.4 “Policy LP26: Design and Amenity” requires a high quality and sustainable design, contributing positively to the local character, landscape or townscape, supporting diversity, equality and access for all. As a result, development proposals will be required to ‘respect the existing topography, landscape character and identity’, relating to the site and surroundings, and incorporate appropriate landscape treatment to ensure development is assimilated into the surrounding area. The Scheme avoids unnecessary changes to the landform although it does remove the hump in the road which limits visibility, it proposes the restoration of field boundaries, hedgerow trees and bunds to mitigate potential effects on the landscape.

7.5 It is my professional opinion that the Scheme is not in contravention with the above policies, and through the design of the Scheme in combination with the approved mitigation, accords with those policies that require the protection or enhancement of historic and landscape features.

LANDSCAPE CHARACTER 8.1 The Scheme is located within the Lincoln Fringe landscape character area, defined within the Landscape Character Assessment, August 1999 ( Appendix A) . The character area is described in the character assessment as:

1. ‘Flat agricultural landscape with a number of expanded settlements

2. Medium sized fields with low hawthorn hedge boundaries and few hedgerow trees

3. Approaches to settlements generally dominated by the built form

4. Views to Lincoln Cathedral’

8.2 The landscape within the study area, as defined in paragraphs 5.2 to 5.5, reflects the characteristics outlined above, the landscape is broadly flat with a gentle rise from east to west of approximately 30m across the study area. The landscape is

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dominated by medium sized fields, regular in shape, and bounded by hedges which are frequently broken and fragmented, but within which there are numerous hedgerow trees.

8.3 The effect of the Scheme on the perception of landscape character would be limited to the landscape immediately adjacent to the existing road, comprising an arable field and hedgerow to the west, an arable field and roadside vegetation to the east, and existing highway verges bounded by a mature hedgerow to the south.

8.4 The Scheme will result in changes to the south-east corner of the arable field, and the formation of an earth bund, combined with a hedgerow to form a realigned highway boundary to the west of the Scheme. There will be further changes to the north-west corner of the arable field to the east of the Scheme, resulting in the removal of roadside vegetation as a result of the realignment of the existing Lincoln Road to the north and realignment of the hedgerow field boundary. There will be no change to the existing highway boundary to the south of Welton Road (A46) and the effect of the Scheme to the south will be highly constrained.

8.5 As a result, there will be the removal of approximately 655m of existing hedgerow of variable quality and approximately 35 hedgerow or individual trees, some of which are existing hybridised black poplars on the northern boundary of the commercial site and east of the existing junction; several of these have been recently felled by other parties. The formation of the new roundabout, associated swale and balancing pond will result in new features; however these are not considered to represent significant change in the context of the existing highway corridor.

8.6 Whilst there will be the loss of hedgerows and a number of mature trees within the existing highway boundary, the approved mitigation strategy will replace highway boundaries in the form of hedgerows and scattered trees, to comprise 710m of new hedgerow, 19 new individual trees and 1,134m2 of new wet woodland. Upon the successful establishment and maturation of the planting, the landscape features will be substantially restored and along with the feature of the balancing pond will restore and contribute positively to the features that contribute to local landscape character.

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VISUAL CONTEXT 9.1 The settlements of Welton to the north and Dunholme to the east represent the expanded settlements described within the West Lindsey Landscape Character Assessment (Appendix A) , and are represented by a defined delineation between the rural and urban land uses. Within the rural landscape are a number of dispersed farms and dwellings, the most substantial of which is Dunholme Lodge, a large farm complex, approximately 580m to the north west of the existing junction.

9.2 Commercial development within the study area consists of a car wash, and several single storey units immediately adjacent to the Scheme. Whilst the Scheme will result in substantial changes to the highway immediately adjacent to the receptor; due to the nature of the site activity and existing outlook onto Welton Road (A46) and its junction with Lincoln Road the receptor is not considered visually sensitive to the nature of the planned changes. The physical changes will comprise the addition of the roundabout, balancing pond, woodland planting and lighting, and whilst the local changes will be noticeable, these are considered within the current context and the existing junction, and will not give rise to a significant effect.

9.3 Dwellings that will be subject to a change in their outlook will be limited to residents of Dunholme Lodge to the north west – for whom the features of the view will not be substantially modified, the top of traffic being visible in the distance and partially screened by a combination of low earth bund, replacement hedge and hedgerow trees, broadly reflecting the current outlook.

9.4 A single two storey dwelling (Brickhill Cottage), is located at the junction of Welton Road (A46) and Horncastle Lane, approximately 170m to the west of the planned roundabout. The dwelling has views from its south east facing front elevation, screened immediately to the east by a tall boundary evergreen hedge and small pocket of woodland. Changes occurring in the distance to the east will be screened by the existing landscape features, and by the proposed bund and hedgerow to the west of the realigned Lincoln Road, and are not anticipated to give rise to a significant effect.

9.5 Scothern Cliff Farm, located on Heath Road and including a detached barn that is listed (Grade II), is approximately 270m to the south of the Scheme. Views to the north will be substantially screened by the retained highway boundary hedge and Ref: NATTRAN/EM/LAO/195 A46 DUNHOLME AND WELTON JUNCTION IMPROVEMENT Proof of Evidence – Landscape and Visual OCTOBER 2019

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woodland to the south of the existing Welton Road (A46). Whilst there will be an awareness of some of the tree cover having been removed, this will be replaced in the longer term by the proposed hedgerow trees and block of wet woodland. No direct impacts would arise on the listed building itself, and the retained highway boundary vegetation adjacent to the existing junction would limit potential effects on its physical setting.

9.6 Residential development to the north east, along Honeyholes Lane and from the western edge of Dunholme will have distant views (between 1 – 1.5km), whereby the removal of some existing roadside vegetation will be perceived but will in the longer term be replaced as part of the mitigation strategy.

9.7 Rights of way within the study area are limited to:

1. A footpath extending immediately south of the A46 junction of Welton Road and Lincoln Road, towards Heath Road;

2. A footpath, that at its closest point is approximately 1.5km to the south east, linking Heath Road with the edge of Dunholme and the A46; and

3. A bridleway linking two sections of Horncastle Lane to the west of the Scheme, the closest off-highway location being approximately 620m from the existing junction.

9.8 The footpath identified in bullet 1 above, will be subject to a change in outlook at its most northern point as it ties into Welton Road (A46), upon which the existing features of the landscape will be modified but will fundamentally remain a highway junction and associated traffic. Views from within the adjacent field to the south will be substantially screened by the existing highway boundary hedge and block of woodland to the west. The majority of the footpath being largely unimpacted as a result.

9.9 With the exception of the footpath to the south, which ties immediately into the Scheme, effects on footpaths will be limited to distant views, within which the removal of trees will not represent a readily noticeable change and will be substantially replaced by planting identified within the Landscape Mitigation Plan (Figure 1).

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9.10 The Scheme includes the addition of new lighting, this will comprise LED lamps and lighting columns. Whilst the lighting columns will represent a new element within views of the roundabout, these are not anticipated to extend significantly above the surrounding trees and form a new prominent element within views towards the junction. Night time effects will be mitigated through the lighting design, using directional lighting and operating a dimming regime, and whilst some awareness of the lighting will occur, this would be limited to ‘cones’ of light descending to the highway itself, and will not significantly modify what is a largely dark landscape.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 10.1 The existing junction, in association with Welton Road and Lincoln Road currently represents a detracting feature within the landscape. The Scheme will effectively represent a modification to an existing feature within the landscape, altering the alignment of the existing roads, and place the roundabout and associated lighting within the south east corner of the adjacent field to the west. The landscape mitigation strategy would restore the highway boundary to the west, in the form of a hedgerow set on the top of a low bund in order to reduce the impact of the junction on the wider landscape to the west.

10.2 My conclusion on the effects of the Scheme on landscape character is that whilst changes will occur at a local level, the features of the landscape will be largely unchanged, and subject to the successful establishment of the approved mitigation measures there will not be a significant effect on the perception of landscape character.

10.3 Similarly, for the majority of visual receptors there will not be a substantial change in their outlook. Dwellings are typically dispersed within the landscape of the study area and existing landscape features comprising hedgerows, woodland or landform combine with the orientation of buildings to limit views of the Scheme. Changes for the majority of dwellings will occur at a distance, the closest being Brickhill Cottage (approximately 170m to the west) the views from which are screened by its boundary hedge and associated woodland.

10.4 Footpaths and bridleways within the study area are typically screened by existing vegetation combined with longer distance views. The exception to this would be the northern end of the footpath that links the existing junction with Heath Road to the Ref: NATTRAN/EM/LAO/195 A46 DUNHOLME AND WELTON JUNCTION IMPROVEMENT Proof of Evidence – Landscape and Visual OCTOBER 2019

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south. However, the existing tall highway boundary hedge to the south of Welton Road (A46) provides an effective screening or filtering effect, such that changes as a result of the scheme would be limited to the northern tie-in with Welton Road (A46).

10.5 The Landscape Mitigation Plan identifies the replacement of hedgerows and trees, and includes an area of wet woodland to the north of the balancing pond. As a result, the landscape features including hedgerows and trees, removed as a result of the construction of the Scheme would be substantially replaced. In the longer term and upon the maturation of the planting strategy there would be additional landscape features that would provide interruption and screening to views of the Scheme and positively contribute to the landscape character.

10.6 For those visual receptors immediately adjacent to the Scheme, a commercial receptor to the east and the northern limit of a footpath to the south – changes will be readily perceptible however the components of the views will not be substantially different, and the visual effect will not be significant.

10.7 It is my professional opinion that the Scheme does not represent a substantial modification to the existing landscape, within which the existing junction currently represents a negative feature. The mitigation measures have been designed so as to avoid unnecessary land take, and are required to integrate the Scheme within the landscape and provide appropriate screening measures that reflect the nature and scale of the existing landscape.

I confirm that the opinions expressed are my true and professional opinions.

Signed.

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Figure 1 – Landscape Mitigation Plan

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