Bryn Quarry Extension, Gelligaer Landscape and Visual 6. LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL Introduction 6.1 This chapter of the ES assesses the likely significant effects of the Development on the environment in respect of landscape and visual effects. 6.2 This chapter has been prepared by McQuitty Landscape Design (MLD). The lead author is David McQuitty CMLI, Dip. LA, BA(Hons), Chartered Landscape Architect, principal of MLD. He has extensive experience of working throughout the UK and has been involved in a wide range of projects, including strategic landscape advice for major urban and rural design projects and environmental impact assessments. He has lectured on Landscape Design and Practice at the Architectural Association, Sheffield University and Oxford Brookes University. He has been a member of the Environment Committee of the Landscape Institute. 6.3 He has been supported in the preparation of this chapter by John Campion, CMLI, a Chartered Landscape Architect who has contributed to the appraisal in both fieldwork and document review. John has been involved in a wide range of commissions, including major infrastructure and building projects within designated landscapes. He has provided strategic landscape advice for major rural design projects and worked on preparing and reviewing environmental impact assessments, particularly for Natural Resources Wales (and its predecessor, the Countryside Council for Wales). He has lectured on Landscape Design, Management and Professional Practice at the University of Manchester, Edinburgh College of Art (Heriot-Watt University), Sheffield University and Bristol University. For over twenty years, he was an examiner for the final professional practice examinations of the Landscape Institute. 6.4 Both David McQuitty and John Campion have provided landscape and visual consultancy advice to Bryn Quarry over many years and have visited the Site on numerous occasions in the course of carrying out this assessment. They both have extensive experience of working at the Bryn Quarry site and a detailed working knowledge of the receiving landscape. Policy Context Planning Policy Wales (December 2018) Edition 10 i 6.5 Published in December 2018, Planning Policy Wales (PPW) Edition 10 sets out the land use planning policies of the Welsh Government. It is supplemented by a series of Technical Advice Notes (TANs), Welsh Government Circulars, and policy clarification letters which together with 20635/A5/ES2020 July 2020 Bryn Quarry Extension, Gelligaer Landscape and Visual PPW provide the national planning policy framework for Wales. 6.6 Section 6 of PPW refers to distinctive and natural places (pages 118 -163). Paragraph 6.3.11, within section 6.3: Landscape, sets out that landscape policy is guided by the European Landscape Convention which underpins all landscape guidance in the UK. 6.7 LANDMAP is an important information resource, methodology and baseline for the landscapes of Wales. LANDMAP describes and evaluates the physical, ecological, visual, cultu ral and historic aspects of the landscapes of Wales, and provides the basis of a consistent, quality assured national approach to landscape assessment. Planning Practice Guidance 6.8 This section of the assessment highlights those aspects of current planning policy which are considered to be most relevant to the assessment of landscape and visual effects predicted to arise from the Development. There are also short commentaries on how the Development relates to the identified policies. The main planning context is presented within the Planning Statement (prepared by Barton Willmore, reference: Document 2) submitted in support of the planning application. The primary national planning guidance is provided by Minerals Planning Policy Wales, supplemented by Minerals Technical Advice Note (MTAN) Wales 1: Aggregates. Relevant sections from Minerals Planning Policy Wales include: • “Other Environmentally Important Areas (e.g. Special Landscape Areas, Areas of Nature Conservation Value or protected species); • Proposals which fall within locally designated areas will need to be given careful consideration, and the degree of protection should be commensurate with their relevant importance to the biodiversity and/or landscape of the area concerned.” MLD commentary: The proposed landscape and ecological mitigation strategies have been developed in close collaboration from a full understanding of the specific characteristics of the local landscape and its biodiversity. It is our view that the combination of appropriate landscape and ecological mitigation measures will enable the earth bunds to fit sensitively into the local and wider landscape. • “D. To achieve a high standard of restoration and aftercare and provide for beneficial after-uses when mineral working has ceased. • Restoration and Aftercare ………. Restoration and aftercare should provide the means 20635/A5/ES2020 July 2020 Bryn Quarry Extension, Gelligaer Landscape and Visual to at least maintain, and preferably enhance, the long-term quality of landscapes taken for mineral extraction. This will be to the benefit of local communities and ensure that a valuable natural asset will be passed on to future generations.” MLD commentary: A restoration plan, integrating landscape and ecological proposals, has been submitted as part of this planning application. 6.9 The supplementary advice provided by MTAN1 includes sections on visual impact and on restoration and after use. Relevant abstracts from these sections are set out below: • “Visual Impact: Proposals for new aggregates extraction or significant extensions to existing operations should be assessed carefully to determine the potential impact on the landscape character of the setting. This assessment will enable a comprehensive understanding of the visual impact of the proposed development from various locations to determine the acceptability of the development, the phasing and layout of the development, and, the most appropriate restoration strategy”. MLD commentary: A full ‘best practice‘ Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) has been carried out as part of this planning application, prepared by two highly experienced Chartered Landscape Architects with a detailed knowledge of the local and wider landscape obtained over a protracted period of working on various development projects at the Bryn Quarry site and waste recycling facility. This assessment has made full use of the current published LANDMAP Landscape Character data and LANDMAP methodology, in accordance with current guidance published by Natural Resources Wales (NRW). • “D. To achieve a high standard of restoration and aftercare, and provide for a beneficial after-use • ……” It is the responsibility of the mineral operator to design and implement a high quality restoration and aftercare scheme that must be an integral part of any mineral extraction application”. MLD commentary: The Development includes a full restoration scheme which will have significant landscape and ecological benefits. 6.10 National planning policies are interpreted at a more local level within the current Caerphilly County Borough Council Local Development Plan (LDP), which was adopted for development control purposes in November 2010. There are various general policies for the Countryside within the LDP relevant to the Site which include: “SP10 The Council will protect, conserve, enhance and manage the natural heritage of the 20635/A5/ES2020 July 2020 Bryn Quarry Extension, Gelligaer Landscape and Visual County Borough in the consideration of all development proposals within both the rural and built environment. Paragraph 1.72 The term Natural Heritage covers the geology, geomorphology, biodiversity, and landscape and amenity value of the County Borough. It embraces the relationships between landform and landscape, habitats and wildlife and the natural and built environment. It also includes natural features such as trees, woodlands, hedgerows and rivers. The natural heritage is not confined to the countryside or designated sites and is just as prevalent and important in our urban areas. The natural heritage is a positive asset that enriches people’s quality of life and promotes the regeneration of areas.” MLD commentary on Policy SP10: The scheme has been developed with the protection, conservation and management of the natural heritage as integral objectives. Great care has been taken in the landscape design to minimise the resulting landscape and visual effects and, indeed, to ensure that, wherever possible, the Development makes significant long-term positive contributions to the landscape character of the area. 6.11 “NH1 Special Landscape Areas are identified and will be protected at the following locations: • NH1.2 Gelligaer Common; NH1.3 Mynydd Eglwysilan. Paragraph 3.100 Special Landscape Areas (SLAs) are local non-statutory designations that seek to protect areas that exhibit distinctive landscape, historical, cultural, biodiversity and geological features and characteristics within the County Borough. They are locally important elements of the natural heritage of the rural and urban environments and provide a living history of the evolution of the area’s landscape as well as cultural backdrop and visual setting. The designation of SLAs highlights the holistic consideration of the landscape, with emphasis placed on the ‘special’ nature of the distinctive landscape features and characteristics in these areas. Paragraph 3.101 Two Special Landscape Areas have been identified in the NCC 1 area. These areas