490000mE 500 510 520 530000mE Key: Study Area Outer Boundary District Borough Boundary Land Parcel Boundary Percentage Built 0 - 0.20% 0.21 - 0.30% 0.31 - 0.40% Count: 66 0.41 - 0.50% Min: 0.07 0.51 - 0.60% Max:2.52 Sum: 44.74 0.61 - 0.70% Mean: 0.68 S/D: 0.5 0.71 - 0.80% N m 0 0 0.81 - 0.90% 0 0 2 2 0.91 - 1.00% 0.21% 1.01 - 1.50% 60 59 1.32% 1.51 - 2.52% 0.55% 0.32% 19 0.71% 40 58 0.42% 41 2.52% 01 0.34% 57 0.48% 0.23% 55 0.43% 18B 0.46% 56 ± 18A 20 42 0.58% 0.26% Coordinate System: British National Grid 0.59% 37 Projection: Transverse Mercator 0.34% 08 17 43A Datum: OSGB 1936 02 04 0.59% 0.31% 39 46 Units: Meter 0.48% 0.21% 0.2% 03 0.6% 22 0.54% 0.32% 38 0.14% REVISION: D 0.21% 23 0.6% 43B 0.32% 16B 21A 21B 0.48% 44 210 0.62% 09 0.77% 05 1.11% 0.49% 0.38% 0.54% 06 07 0.7% 16A 47 0.65% 0.23% 36 0.5% 0.23% 0.39% 10 24B 1.1% 11 35 1.53% 24A 0.47% 29 1.69% 1.02% 48 t 0.07% 33 34 n 0.57% 0.25% 32 0.94% m 12 0.84% 0.48% p 15 30 49 0.73% 45 Green Belt Review for o 28 l 0.36% 1.73% 54 e 1.35% 0.18% v 14A 25 53 St Albans, Dacorum and e 1.02% 1.75% d 14B 0.39% 31 t l 0.91% 50 i 2.23% 0.69% Welwyn Hatfield u 1.47% b 26 51 f 0.69% o 1.16% n 0.81% 52 0.32% o i FIGURE 7.4. t 13 r o 27 p N Proportion of o m r 0 0 P 0 _ 0 Built Development (%) 4 0 . 2 7 e r SCALE PROJECT CODE u g i F JE30761 1:145,000 @ A3 : e m a CONTENT DRAWN N Ordnance Survey KW CHECKED DATE s o RB 30/11/2013 r i v n E M K S t h 0 2 4 6 8 10 g i r y p Kilometres o C Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2013 Green Belt Review: Purposes Assessment for Dacorum, St Albans and Welwyn Hatfield 7.5. NPPF Purpose 4: To preserve the setting and special character of historic towns 7.5.1. Figure 7.5 shows the contribution of each parcel towards preserving the setting and special character of historic towns. It can be seen that many parcels make a significant or partial contribution towards this purpose. This is because the study area is in itself a rich and diverse historic environment, with Green Belt frequently providing a setting for conservation areas and historic parks and gardens. Overall, almost half of all parcels significantly contribute to this purpose. 7.5.2. Key networks of parcels which preserve setting and special character are identified as being: around Berkhamsted (GB04, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10 & 11) which contains three conservation areas and is surrounded by historic villages as well as Berkhamsted Common. The Grand Union Canal and valley landform makes a key contribution towards preserving setting; to the south, west and north of St Albans (GB23, 24B, 30, 37, 38 & 39), especially to preserve views to the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban; to the south, east and west of Welwyn Garden City (GB42, 44 & 55) to preserve the Garden City setting as well as surrounding Historic Parks and Gardens; and, to the east of Hatfield (GB47) to preserve the historic setting of Hatfield House. 7.5.3. The absence of historic places within or adjacent to a parcel accounts for any limited contribution towards this purpose. PAGE 49 490000mE 500 510 520 530000mE Key: District Borough Boundary Land Parcel Boundary Study Area Outer Boundary Setting Limited or No Contribution Partial Contribution Significant Contribution N m 0 0 0 0 2 2 59 60 19 40 58 01 41 57 56 20 18A 42 55 ± 18B Coordinate System: British National Grid 02 37 Projection: Transverse Mercator 17 39 Datum: OSGB 1936 08 22 43A Units: Meter 03 04 38 46 16B 21B 43B 44 REVISION: F 23 210 07 21A 09 05 16A 36 06 10 24B 47 g n i 35 t t e s 24A 11 g 34 n 33 i v r 28 e 15 32 s 12 29 45 54 e 48 r 25 30 49 Green Belt Review for p s d 14B r St Albans, Dacorum and a 50 w 14A o 26 51 t 31 Welwyn Hatfield n o i t 27 52 53 u 13 b i r t n FIGURE 7.5. o N m C 0 Contribution towards _ 0 0 5 . 0 7 Preserving Setting 0 e 2 r u g i F SCALE PROJECT CODE : e m 1:145,000 @ A3 JE30761 a N e l i CONTENT DRAWN F Ordnance Survey KW CHECKED DATE s o RB 30/11/2013 r i v n E M K S t h 0 2 4 6 8 10 g i r y p Kilometres o C Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2013 Green Belt Review: Purposes Assessment for Dacorum, St Albans and Welwyn Hatfield 7.6. Local Purpose: To maintain the existing settlement pattern 7.6.1. Figure 7.6 shows the contribution of each parcel towards maintaining the existing settlement pattern. It highlights that the majority of Green Belt land contributes towards this local purpose. A series of primary and secondary local gaps separate 1st, 2nd and 3rd tier settlements throughout the study area, as distinct from the strategic gaps identified by the second purpose to prevent merging of neighbouring towns. 7.6.2. The pattern of local gaps includes an inner network of parcels and two outer networks to the north and south. The inner band contains the majority of primary local gaps which separate 1st tier settlements from2nd and 3rd tier settlements, whereas the two outer bands accommodate most of the secondary local gaps which separate 2nd and 3rd tier settlements only. 7.6.3. This pattern mirrors the spatial distribution of 2nd and 3rd tier settlements of which ten are located in Dacorum, 19 in St Albans and 22 in Welwyn Hatfield. This distribution of settlements shows that there are more towns and villages closer to London. Therefore the majority of parcels providing a significant contribution are located in the centre and east of the study area. PAGE 51 490000mE 500 510 520 530000mE Key: District Borough Boundary Land Parcel Boundary Study Area Outer Boundary Pattern Limited or No Contribution Partial Contribution Significant Contribution N m 0 0 0 0 2 2 59 60 19 40 58 01 41 57 56 20 18A 42 55 ± 18B Coordinate System: British National Grid Projection: Transverse Mercator 02 37 Datum: OSGB 1936 17 Units: Meter 08 22 39 43A 03 04 38 46 REVISION: D 16B 21B 43B 44 23 210 07 21A 09 05 16A 36 06 10 24B 47 35 11 24A n 34 r 33 e t t 28 a 15 32 45 p 12 54 29 t 48 Green Belt Review for n 25 30 49 e m 14B St Albans, Dacorum and e l t 50 t e 14A Welwyn Hatfield s 26 51 31 g n i n 53 i 13 27 52 a t n i FIGURE 7.6. a N M m Contribution towards Maintaining _ 0 6 0 . 0 7 0 the Settlement Pattern e 0 r 2 u g i F SCALE PROJECT CODE : e m 1:145,000 @ A3 JE30761 a N e l i CONTENT DRAWN F Ordnance Survey KW CHECKED DATE s o RB 30/11/2013 r i v n E M K S t h 0 2 4 6 8 10 g i r y p Kilometres o C Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2013 Green Belt Review: Purposes Assessment for Dacorum, St Albans and Welwyn Hatfield 7.7. Assessment of Non-Green Belt Land 7.7.1. The study area includes a network of non-Green Belt parcels located in Dacorum comprising GB01, GB08, GB17, GB18A & part of GB19. The purposes assessment demonstrates that this non-Green Belt land makes a contribution towards Green Belt purposes. This land most significantly contributes towards the national Green Belt purpose of safeguarding the countryside from encroachment. This is the primary reason for its national landscape designation as The Chilterns AONB. It is important to recognise the distinction between the Green Belt and AONB designation. The Green Belt serves five purposes, and was primarily established to achieve urban containment, whereas the AONB designation mainly relates to protecting the landscape only. This area exhibits strong countryside and rural characteristics and levels of openness are generally high. This is demonstrated as the proportion of built development is very low at 0.4%. 7.7.2. The characteristics of the non-Green Belt land differ from Green Belt land in the rest of the study area in so far as it does not directly adjoin any 1st tier settlements and only contains a total of three settlements listed in the Hierarchy Table 3.225, which represents a very sparse scattering given the scale of the area.