iCP Asset Management Ltd Land South of Bedford Road, Moggerhanger Landscape and Visual Appraisal June 2017 iCP Asset Management Ltd Land South of Bedford Road, Moggerhanger Landscape and Visual Appraisal Approved Stephen Kirkpatrick Position Director Date 05-06-2017 CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 1 1.1 Study Background .......................................................................................... 1 1.2 Report Structure ............................................................................................. 1 2.0 LANDSCAPE CONTEXT .................................................................................. 2 2.1 Site Location .................................................................................................. 2 2.2 Local Topography and Drainage ..................................................................... 2 2.3 Local Geology and Soils ................................................................................. 2 2.4 Moggerhanger Village .................................................................................... 2 2.5 Local Vegetation............................................................................................. 3 2.6 Access and Movement .................................................................................... 4 2.7 Designations Reflecting Natural or Cultural Value ......................................... 4 3.0 LANDSCAPE PLANNING POLICY AND GUIDANCE ..................................... 6 3.1 National Planning Policy Framework .............................................................. 6 3.2 Central Bedfordshire Planning Policies ........................................................... 7 3.3 Central Bedfordshire Design Guide .............................................................. 10 4.0 LANDSCAPE CHARACTER ........................................................................... 11 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 11 4.2 National Level Character Assessment ........................................................... 11 4.3 District Landscape Character Assessment ..................................................... 13 5.0 SITE APPRAISAL ........................................................................................... 16 5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 16 5.2 Site Context .................................................................................................. 16 5.3 Site Topography and Drainage ..................................................................... 16 5.4 Site Features ................................................................................................. 16 5.5 Site Access ................................................................................................... 17 5.6 Site Character............................................................................................... 17 6.0 VISIBILITY OF THE EXISTING SITE .............................................................. 19 6.1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 19 6.2 Extent of Site Visibility ................................................................................. 19 6.3 Visually Sensitive Receptors ......................................................................... 19 6.4 Existing Views............................................................................................... 20 7.0 THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ................................................................. 24 7.1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 24 8.0 VISUAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT .................................................................... 29 8.1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 29 8.2 Views from the east ...................................................................................... 29 8.3 Views from the north ................................................................................... 30 8.4 Views from the west ..................................................................................... 32 8.5 Views from the south ................................................................................... 34 9.0 LANDSCAPE IMPACT ASSESSMENT ............................................................. 37 9.1 Introduction ................................................................................................. 37 9.2 Effects on the Physical Landscape ................................................................. 37 9.3 Effects on Landscape Character .................................................................... 38 9.4 Effects on Moggerhanger Park ...................................................................... 42 9.5 Effects on the Visual Setting of Listed Buildings ............................................ 42 10.0 COMPLIANCE WITH PLANNING POLICIES AND GUIDANCE ................... 43 10.1 Central Bedfordshire planning policies ......................................................... 43 10.2 Central Bedfordshire Design Guide .............................................................. 48 11.0 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ................................................................ 49 11.1 Design Approach .......................................................................................... 49 11.2 Visual Effects ................................................................................................ 49 11.3 Effects on the Physical Landscape ................................................................. 51 11.4 Effects on Landscape Character .................................................................... 51 11.5 Effects on Moggerhanger Park ...................................................................... 54 11.6 Effects on the Visual Setting of Listed Buildings ............................................ 54 Figures Figure 1: Site Location Figure 2: Local Topography Figure 3: Local Landscape Aerial Photograph Figure 4: Heritage Resources Figure 5: Site Landscape Aerial Photograph Figure 6: Site Appraisal and Near Distance Photographic Viewpoints Figure 7: Middle Distance Photographic Viewpoints Appendices Appendix A: Extracts from Description of the Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Claylands NCA Appendix B: Map of the Mid Greensand Ridge LCA Appendix C: Site Appraisal and Site Context Photographs Appendix D: Methodology for Assessing Landscape and Visual Effects Appendix E: Development Parameter Plan Appendix F: Indicative Landscape Masterplan 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Study Background 1.1.1 iCP Asset Management Ltd is seeking outline planning permission to develop land for housing and open space at the rural village of Moggerhanger in northern Bedfordshire. This village is located approximately 5km east of Bedford and 2.6km west of Sandy. This land is located on the western edge of the village and is hereafter referred to as “the Site” (Figure 1: Landscape Location). 1.1.2 Scarp Landscape Architecture Ltd was commissioned by iCP Asset Management Ltd to (a) undertake a landscape and visual appraisal of the site and its surroundings, (b) guide the preparation of an indicative master plan for the proposed development, including identification of landscape and visual integration measures, and (c) prepare a landscape and visual impact assessment (LVIA) for the planning application. 1.1.3 This report presents the findings of the assessment of potential landscape and visual effects that will result from the development proposal. 1.2 Report Structure 1.2.1 The report is set out under the following headings: (1) Introduction (2) Landscape Context (3) Landscape Planning Policy and Guidance (4) Landscape Character (5) Site Appraisal (6) Visibility of The Existing Site (7) The Proposed Development (8) Visual impact Assessment (9) Landscape Impact Assessment (10) Compliance with Planning Policies (11) Summary and Conclusions Land South of Bedford Road, Moggerhanger June 2017 1 Landscape and Visual Appraisal 500156_Moggerhanger_LVA_SK_05-06-2017.doc Scarp Landscape Architecture 2.0 LANDSCAPE CONTEXT 2.1 Site Location 2.1.1 The site is located on the southern edge of the Bedford Road and the eastern edge of Park Road (Figure 1: Site Location). Existing housing lies to the north, south, east and west of the site. 2.2 Local Topography and Drainage 2.2.1 Moggerhanger lies on the far northern end of the Bedfordshire Greensand Ridge (Figure 2: Local Topography). The west-facing and north-facing slopes of this ridge descend from the edge of the village and form part of the East Marston Clay Vale. The River Great Ouse lies approximately 2km to the northwest. 2.3 Local Geology and Soils 2.3.1 The drift geology of the Greensand Ridge comprises boulder clay. The soils in and around Moggerhanger are typically clayey. 2.4 Moggerhanger Village 2.4.1 The name of Moggerhanger appears to derive from the Old English ‘hangar’ meaning wooded slope (Mills 2011). As identified in the Cultural Heritage Assessment, the core of the Late Medieval settlement formed a linear arrangement set along both sides of St. John’s road and it is likely that the site formed part of the immediate agricultural hinterland of the settlement during