Kilkenny County Development Plan 2008 - 2014 Appendix C Landscape Character Assessment Landscape Appraisal of County Kilkenny Document 1: Landscape Evaluation Document 2: Hypothesis Testing Document 3: Landscape Policies Landscape Appraisal for County Kilkenny Document One LLaannddssccaappee AApppprraaiissaall of CCoouunnttyy KKiillkkeennnnyy Document 1 Prepared for Kilkenny County Council By CAAS Environmental Services Ltd. 6 Merrion Square Dublin 2 Ph. (01) 661 8136 / 662 1182 Fax. (01) 676 9502 E-Mail: [email protected] October 2003 Landscape Appraisal for CountyLandscape Kilkenny Appraisal for County Kilkenny Document One Table of Contents 1.- Introduction ...................................................................................................... 4 1.1.- Terms of Reference......................................................................................... 4 1.2.- Introduction ............................................................................................... 5 1.2.1.- Legislation, Guidelines, Precedent ..................................................................................5 1.2.2.- Purpose, Objectives and Methodology ............................................................................6 1.2.3.- Limitations and Guidance................................................................................................8 1.3.- The Landscape ........................................................................................... 9 1.3.1.- Dynamic Landscapes...................................................................................................9 1.3.2.- Landuses and Landscapes ...........................................................................................9 1.3.3.- Landscape Stability..........................................................................................................9 1.3.4.- Managing Change .....................................................................................................10 1.3.5.- Landscape Impacts.........................................................................................................10 1.4.- The Landscapes of the County ............................................................... 12 1.4.1.- Natural Origins and Processes...................................................................................12 1.4.2.- Man made Landscapes ..............................................................................................13 1.4.3.- Historical and Cultural Landscapes...........................................................................13 1.4.4.- The Landscape Today ...............................................................................................13 1.5.- Landscape in Planning............................................................................ 15 1.5.1.- Development Planning ..............................................................................................15 1.5.2.- Development Control ................................................................................................15 2.- Evaluation......................................................................................................... 17 2.1.- Landscape Factors ..........................................................................................................17 2.1.1.- Geology and Soils .................................................................................................17 2.1.2.- Topography, Slope and Ridges..................................................................................18 2.1.3.- Drainage.....................................................................................................................19 2.1.4.- Vegetation and Land cover ........................................................................................19 2.1.5.- Land use.....................................................................................................................20 2.1.6.- Settlement, Population and Infrastructure..................................................................20 2.1.7.- Administrative Boundaries ........................................................................................21 2.1.8.- Placenames.................................................................................................................21 2.1.9.- Historic and Cultural Landscapes ..............................................................................22 2.1.10.- Natural and Scientific Factors..................................................................................23 2.1.11.- Climatic Factors.......................................................................................................26 2.2.- Landscape Character......................................................................................................27 2.2.1.- Introduction................................................................................................................27 2.2.2.- Methodology Landscape Types .................................................................................27 2.2.3.- Principal Identification...............................................................................................31 3. - Principal Landscape Character Areas .................................................. 32 3.1.- Lowland ........................................................................................................................32 3.2.- Steep slopes to upland areas .........................................................................................32 3.3- Upland Ridges, Peaks and Prominence .........................................................................32 3.4.- Upland Enclosures.....................................................................................................32 3.5.- Upland Plateau ..........................................................................................................32 3.6.- Foothills/Lower Slopes (Transitional Areas) ...........................................................32 3.7.- Transition Lowlands..................................................................................................33 3.8.- River Valleys.............................................................................................................33 4. - Landscape Character Areas.......................................................................................36 4.1.- The Slieveardagh Uplands ................................................................................................36 1 CAAS Ltd. Page 1 Document One Landscape Appraisal for CountyLandscape Kilkenny Appraisal for County Kilkenny Document One 4.1.1.- Description.................................................................................................................36 4.1.2.- Land Uses...................................................................................................................36 4.1.3.- Boundary Determinants .............................................................................................36 4.1.4.- Critical Landscape Factors.........................................................................................37 4.2.- The Castlecomer Plateau...............................................................................................39 4.2.1.- Description.................................................................................................................39 4.2.2.- Land Uses...................................................................................................................39 4.2.3- Boundary Determinants ..............................................................................................39 4.2.4.- Critical Landscape factors..........................................................................................40 4.3.- Brandon Hill Uplands.....................................................................................................42 4.3.1.-Description..................................................................................................................42 4.3.2.-Land Uses....................................................................................................................42 4.3.3.- Boundary Determinants .............................................................................................42 4.3.4.- Critical Landscape Factors.........................................................................................43 4.4.- The South Western Uplands ..........................................................................................45 4.4.1.- Description.................................................................................................................45 4.4.2.- Land Uses...................................................................................................................45 4.4.3.- Boundary Determinants .............................................................................................45 4.4.4.- Critical Landscape Factors.........................................................................................46 4.5.- The South Eastern Hills..................................................................................................47 4.5.1.- Description.................................................................................................................47 4.5.2.- Land Uses...................................................................................................................47