AAprilpril 22008008 WWaveneyaveney DDistrictistrict LLandscaandscappee CChaharracteracter AAssessmentssessment FFiinaall RReporteport forfor WWaveneyaveney DDistrictistrict CCouncilouncil bbyy LLandand UseUse ConsultantsConsultants WAVENEY DISTRICT LANDSCAPE CHARACTER ASSESSMENT - FINAL REPORT Prepared for Waveney District Council April 2008 43 Chalton Street London NW1 1JD Tel: 020 7383 5784 Fax: 020 7383 4798 [email protected] CONTENTS Executive Summary................................................................................... i What Is LCA?................................................................................................................................................ i What does the Waveney District LCA contain? ................................................................................. ii Who is the LCA aimed at?........................................................................................................................ ii How should the Waveney District LCA be used? .............................................................................. ii 1. Introduction ......................................................................................... 1 The Landscape of Waveney......................................................................................................................1 Purpose of the report................................................................................................................................2 Structure of the report..............................................................................................................................2 2. Method Statement .............................................................................. 5 Introduction..................................................................................................................................................5 Data collation...............................................................................................................................................5 Characterisation..........................................................................................................................................6 Survey ............................................................................................................................................................6 Evaluation......................................................................................................................................................7 Key Positive Features/ Inherent Landscape Sensitivities ....................................................................7 Inherent Visual Sensitivity..........................................................................................................................7 Landscape Condition and Quality/Current State of the Landscape ................................................8 Landscape Change.......................................................................................................................................8 Consultation.................................................................................................................................................8 3. Landscape Character Context........................................................... 9 The Broads Plan (Management Plan for the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads).....................................9 Suffolk Coast AONB Management Plan, 2008-13 ...............................................................................9 The National/Regional Character Context...........................................................................................9 County Landscape Character Context – LDU’s................................................................................10 The District wide assessment – this study..........................................................................................10 4. Physical Influences and Ecological Context.................................... 15 Geology and Topography........................................................................................................................15 Ecological context.....................................................................................................................................16 Key countywide ecological habitats ......................................................................................................17 Ecological Network (Econet) Mapping Project ..................................................................................17 Heathland Opportunity Mapping...........................................................................................................18 5. Human Influences.............................................................................. 27 introduction................................................................................................................................................27 The Neolithic Period and the Bronze and Iron Ages (c4500 BC to AD43)................................27 The Romano-British and the Anglo Saxon Periods (AD43-1066) .................................................27 The Early Medieval Period (1066-1499)...............................................................................................28 Post Medieval Period (1499-1800)........................................................................................................28 i Modern Period (1800 to date)...............................................................................................................29 6. The Landscape Characterisation..................................................... 37 Introduction................................................................................................................................................37 Landscape Types........................................................................................................................................37 Table 6.1: Landscape Classification of Waveney District.................................................................38 Areas excluded from the Broads Authority LCA and relationship to Waveney District Character Areas........................................................................................................................................40 A: Rural Wooded Valleys ....................................................................... 43 Key Characteristics...................................................................................................................................44 A1: Waveney Rural Wooded Valley ..................................................... 47 Location and Boundaries.........................................................................................................................47 Relationship to the Broads Authority Executive Area.......................................................................................47 Key Characteristics...................................................................................................................................47 Landscape Character Description.........................................................................................................48 Physical/Natural .........................................................................................................................................48 Historic Character....................................................................................................................................49 Settlement and Built Character .............................................................................................................49 Perceptual/Visual .......................................................................................................................................50 Evaluation....................................................................................................................................................50 Positive Landscape Features of Significance and Inherent Landscape Sensitivities.....................50 Inherent Visual Sensitivities.....................................................................................................................51 Landscape Condition and Quality/Current State of the Landscape ..............................................51 Landscape Change.....................................................................................................................................51 Past Change................................................................................................................................................................51 Potential Future Change..........................................................................................................................................51 Strategic Objectives..................................................................................................................................51 Landscape Management.........................................................................................................................................52 Considerations in relation to development .........................................................................................................52 B: Rural River Valleys.............................................................................. 53 Key Characteristics...................................................................................................................................53