North Ayrshire Council Landscape Capacity Asessment Arran and Cumbrae Landscape Assessment of Potential Development Areas July 2008 North Ayrshire Council Landscape Capacity Assessment - Arran and Cumbrae Landscape Assessment of Potential Development Areas July 2008 Entec UK Limited Copyright and Non-Disclosure Notice The contents and layout of this report are subject to copyright owned by Entec (© Entec UK Limited 2008) save to the extent that copyright has been legally assigned by us to another party or is used by Entec under licence. To the extent that we own the copyright in this report, it may not be copied or used without our prior written agreement for any purpose other than the purpose indicated in this report. The methodology (if any) contained in this report is provided to you in confidence and must not be disclosed or copied to third parties without the prior written agreement of Entec. 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Document Revisions No. Details Date 1 Draft Issue April 08 2 Final Issue 10/07/8 i Executive Summary Purpose of this Report This report has been produced for the purpose of the preparation of a ‘Landscape Capacity Assessment of Potential Development Areas’ for areas around settlements that had been identified by the Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan as suitable for expansion. The project brief required a detailed landscape assessment that took account of a range of environmental criteria and local landscape character for areas around the settlement boundaries of Milllport, Brodick, Lamlash and Whiting Bay. The Landscape Assessment will contribute to the Long Term Development Strategy in the next Local Development Plan and its Strategic Environmental Assessment. h:\common\environmental current projects & bids\21856 - landscape capacity assessment-arran and © Entec UK Limited cumbrae\c000\rr003i2.doc July 2008 ii h:\common\environmental current projects & bids\21856 - landscape capacity assessment-arran and © Entec UK Limited cumbrae\c000\rr003i2.doc July 2008 iii Contents Purpose of this Report i 1. Introduction 1 1.1 Project Brief 1 2. Methodology 3 2.1 Landscape Capacity Assessment 3 2.1.1 Landscape Capacity Assessment Methodology 3 2.1.2 Description of the Existing (Baseline) Landscape Resource 4 2.1.3 Assessment of Local Landscape Character 5 2.1.4 Development and Potential Landscape Effects 7 2.1.5 Landscape Capacity 9 3. Landscape Character Assessment 11 3.1 Introduction 11 3.2 Seascape 11 3.3 Landscape Character Types 11 3.3.1 Coastal Fringe with Agriculture 11 3.3.2 Rugged Moorland Hills and Valleys with Forest 15 3.3.3 Rugged Granite Upland. 17 3.4 Local Landscape Character 20 3.4.1 Local Seascape 20 3.4.2 Local Landscape Character 20 3.5 Landscape Designations 22 3.5.1 North Arran National Scenic Area 22 3.5.2 Sensitive Landscape Character Areas 22 3.5.3 Coastal Designation 23 3.5.4 Designed Landscapes and Historic Gardens 23 3.5.5 Conservation Areas 23 3.5.6 Urban fringe and Countryside Development 24 3.5.7 Other Environmental Policies 24 3.5.8 Other Guidance 24 4. Settlements and Landscape Capacity 25 h:\common\environmental current projects & bids\21856 - landscape capacity assessment-arran and © Entec UK Limited cumbrae\c000\rr003i2.doc July 2008 iv 4.1 Millport 25 4.1.1 Historical Context 25 4.1.2 Townscape and Urban Form 25 4.1.3 Landscape Character: Coastal Fringe with Agriculture 26 4.1.4 Local Landscape and Seascape Setting 26 4.1.5 Existing Urban Edge Character 27 4.1.6 Urban Development: North Ayrshire Council Local Plan Adopted 2005 27 4.1.7 Landscape Capacity 27 4.1.8 Landscape Strategy: Preservation of Setting 29 4.2 Brodick 31 4.2.1 Historical Context 31 4.2.2 Townscape and Urban Form 31 4.2.3 Landscape Character 32 4.2.4 Local Landscape and Seascape Setting 32 4.2.5 Existing Urban Edge Character 33 4.2.6 Urban Development: North Ayrshire Council Local Plan Adopted 2005 34 4.2.7 Landscape Capacity 34 4.2.8 A Landscape Strategy: Preservation of Setting 35 4.3 Lamlash 37 4.3.1 Townscape and Historical Context 37 4.3.2 Townscape and Urban Form 37 4.3.3 Landscape Character 37 4.3.4 Local Landscape and Seascape Setting 38 4.3.5 Existing Urban Edge Character 39 4.3.6 Development: North Ayrshire Council Local Plan Adopted 2005 39 4.3.7 Landscape Capacity 39 4.3.8 Landscape Strategy: Preservation of Setting 40 4.4 Whiting Bay 43 4.4.1 Historical Context 43 4.4.2 Townscape and Urban Form 43 4.4.3 Landscape Character 43 4.4.4 Local Landscape and Seascape Setting 44 4.4.5 Existing Urban Edge Character 44 4.4.6 Urban Development: North Ayrshire Council Local Plan Adopted 2005. 45 4.4.7 Landscape Capacity 45 4.4.8 Landscape Strategy: Preservation of Setting 46 5. Summary and Conclusions 47 5.1 Summary 47 h:\common\environmental current projects & bids\21856 - landscape capacity assessment-arran and © Entec UK Limited cumbrae\c000\rr003i2.doc July 2008 v 5.1.1 Methodology and Landscape Assessment 47 5.1.2 Summary of Landscape Capacity 48 5.2 Assessment Conclusions 50 Table 1 Millport: Landscape Capacity 28 Table 2 MIllport: Landscape and Woodland Strategy Areas 29 Table 3 Brodick: Landscape Capacity 35 Table 4 Brodick: Landscape and Woodland Strategy Areas 35 Table 6 Lamlash: Landscape and Woodland Strategy Areas 41 Table 7 Whiting Bay: Landscape Capacity 45 Table 8 Whiting Bay: Landscape and Woodland Strategy Areas 46 Table 9 Summary of Landscape Capacity 48 Figure 1 Study Area After Page 10 Figure 2a Study Area: Isle of Arran After Page 10 Figure 2b Study Area: Great Cumbrae Island After Page 10 Figure 3 Landscape Character: Arran and Cumbrae After Page 10 Figure 4a Landscape Designations: Isle of Arran After Page 10 Figure 4b Landscape Designations: Great Cumbrae Island After Page 10 Figure 5a Survey Study Areas Great Cumbrae Island: Millport After Page 24 Figure 5b Local Landscape Character Areas Great Cumbrae Island: Millport After Page 24 Figure 5c Capacity Concept and Protection Areas: Millport After Page 24 Figure 5d Landscape Capacity Areas Great Cumbrae Island: Millport After Page 24 Figure 6a Survey Study Areas isle of Arran: Brodick After Page 30 Figure 6b Local Landscape Character Areas Isle of Arran: Brodick After Page 30 Figure 6c Capacity concept and Protection Areas; Brodick After Page 30 Figure 6d Landscape Capacity Areas Isle of Arran; Brodick After Page 30 Figure 7a Survey Study Areas Isle of Arran: Lamlash After Page 36 Figure 7b Local landscape Character Areas Isle of Arran: Lamlash After Page 36 Figure 7c Capacity Concept and Protection Areas: Lamlash After Page 36 Figure 7d Landscape Capacity Areas Isle of Arran: Lamlash After page 36 Figure 8a Survey Study Areas Isle of Arran: Whiting Bay After Page 42 Figure 8b Local Landscape Character Areas Isle of Arran: Whiting Bay After Page 42 Figure 8c Capacity Concept and Protection Areas: Whiting Bay After Page 42 Figure 8d Landscape Capacity Areas Isle of Arran; Whiting Bay After Page 42 Figure 9a Photos of Local Landscape Areas After Page 52 Figure 9b Photos of Local Landscape Area After Page 52 Appendix A Character Assessment Survey Forms h:\common\environmental current projects & bids\21856 - landscape capacity assessment-arran and © Entec UK Limited cumbrae\c000\rr003i2.doc July 2008 vi h:\common\environmental current projects & bids\21856 - landscape capacity assessment-arran and © Entec UK Limited cumbrae\c000\rr003i2.doc July 2008 1 1. Introduction 1.1 Project Brief North Ayrshire Council commissioned Entec UK Ltd to undertake the preparation of a ‘Landscape Capacity Assessment of Potential Development Areas’ for areas around settlements that had been identified by the Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan as suitable for expansion. The project brief required a detailed landscape assessment that took account of a range of environmental criteria and local landscape character for areas around the settlement boundaries of Milllport, Brodick, Lamlash and Whiting Bay. The extent of the required study area is illustrated in Figures 1a to 1d. The Landscape Assessment will contribute to the Long Term Development Strategy in the next Local Development Plan and its Strategic Environmental Assessment. The principle aims and objectives of the Long Term Development Strategy are: • To provide guidance to developers and statutory service providers on future land release and inform investment decisions; • To identify sufficient land, primarily for housing, in the optimum locations to meet the future long term needs of the main towns on Arran and Cumbrae; • To identify future need for additional educational, retail, recreational and other community facilities, required to support future populations within the area and to identify the broad areas within which these should be provided; • To establish a phased programme of fully integrated development at the main towns within Arran and Cumbrae which ensures maximum benefit to the area is obtained through properly programmed service and infrastructure provisions; • To ensure that the future land uses and transportation networks can be fully integrated in such a way as to enable the development of an efficient and effective public transport system throughout the areas; and • To ensure that the future development throughout the area is of the highest possible standard and quality and that it adheres fully to the principles of sustainable development.