HARROGATE DISTRICT SITES & POLICIES DPD Landscape Assessment (Housing and Employment Sites) May 2013 CONTENTS Introduction Page 1 Planning Policy Context Page 1 Methodology Page 3 Conclusions Page 6 Site Assessments: Askwith Page 7 Lofthouse Page 281 Birstwith Page 9 Long Marston Page 283 Bishop Monkton Page 17 Markington Page 290 Bishop Thornton Page 21 Marton cum Grafton Page 293 Boroughbridge Page 26 Masham Page 300 Burnt Yates Page 37 Melmerby Page 313 Burton Leonard Page 38 Minskip Page 318 Cundall Page 49 Pannal Page 324 Dacre Page 51 Pateley Bridge Page 334 Dacre Banks Page 52 Rainton Page 345 Darley Page 59 Ripley Page 346 Dishforth Page 68 Ripon Page 347 Follifoot Page 74 Scotton Page 376 Glasshouses Page 80 Sharow Page 382 Goldsborough Page 83 Sicklinghall Page 383 Great Ouseburn Page 86 Skelton on Ure Page 386 Green Hammerton Page 93 Spofforth Page 391 Hampsthwaite Page 101 Staveley Page 394 Harrogate Page 112 Summerbridge Page 397 Killinghall Page 196 Tockwith Page 402 Kirby Hill Page 218 Wath Page 415 Kirk Deighton Page 222 Whixley Page 416 Kirk Hammerton Page 227 Kirkby Malzeard Page 242 Knaresborough Page 251 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 The Sites and Policies DPD will make allocations of land for housing and employment uses and for a range of other land uses where appropriate. The Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) has been prepared as part of the evidence base to support the emerging Sites and Policies DPD and has been used to inform the choice of Draft Allocations. Full details of how sites have been selected can be found in ‘Site Selection – A Methodology Paper’. 1.2 This section sets out the approach adopted for the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment of sites put forward for settlement growth and distribution of new sites between settlements. The approach to the assessment is based on specific techniques and good practice guidance on landscape and visual impact assessment. A systematic approach has been adopted so that the procedure is replicable and as objective and impartial as possible. The basis upon which each judgement is made has used evidence that focuses the assessment upon key issues of relevance to the decision‐making such as landscape character, existing local plan policy, landscape and visual sensitivity, the existing urban edge and potential mitigation measures. Preliminary comparative judgement 1.3 The assessment is a preliminary exercise; it does not make judgements at this stage about whether sites are entirely suitable, or not suitable, for development since there are no specific development proposals to assess. Without the precise nature, design and disposition of the new development it would not be possible to make specific judgements regarding each site. The assessment provides an ‘in‐principle’ assessment of the appropriateness of a site to assist in guiding development to areas where the harm would be at a relatively low level and where it can be mitigated most effectively. The assessment is therefore primarily a comparative exercise in ranking sites according to landscape harm taking into consideration the potential for landscape mitigation where appropriate. 2.0 PLANNING POLICY CONTEXT National Planning Policy 2.1 The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) confirms the Government’s is commitment to protecting and enhancing the quality of the environment. The NPPF is positive in terms of considering impacts on the natural and local environment when developing policies and taking decisions on planning applications and supports new approaches to: Green Infrastructure; The designation of green spaces; and The protection of wildlife sites. Para 17: ‘Allocations of land should prefer land of lesser environmental value, where consistent with other policies in [the NPPF]’ Para 99: ‘Local plans should take account of climate change over the longer term, including factors such as flood risk, coastal change, water supply and changes to biodiversity and landscape. New development should be planned to avoid increased vulnerability to the range of impacts arising from climate change. When new development is bought forward in areas 1 which are vulnerable, care should be taken to ensure that risks can be managed through suitable adaptation measures, including the planning of green infrastructure.’ Para 109: ‘The planning system should contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by protecting and enhancing valued landscapes, geological conservations interests and soils;’ Para 110: ‘In preparing plans to meet development needs, the aim should be to minimise pollution and other adverse effects on the local and natural environment. Plans should allocate land with the least environmental or amenity value, where consistent with other policies in this Framework.’ Para 114: ‘Local planning authorities should set out a strategic approach in their local plans, planning positively for the creation, protection, enhancement and management of networks of biodiversity and green infrastructure.’ Para 115: ‘Great weight should be given to conserving landscape and scenic beauty in National Parks, the Broads and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, which have the highest status of protection in relation to landscape and scenic beauty.’ Local Planning Policy 2.2 The overall vision of the adopted Core Strategy seeks to protect and enhance the District’s built and natural environment. The following Core Strategy and Saved Policies from the Harrogate District Local Plan have been taken into account when considering the suitability of a site for new development and in the preparation of development guidelines: Policy EQ2: The Natural and Built Environment and Green Belt ‐ Ensures that the District’s exceptionally high quality natural and built environment will be given a level of protection appropriate to its international, national and local importance. Policy SG4: Settlement Growth: Design & Impact ‐ Requires that all development proposals in the District should comply with certain criteria including that development should: ‘be well integrated with, and complementary to, neighbouring buildings and the spatial qualities of the local area, and be appropriate to the form and character of the settlement and/or landscape character. Additionally visual, residential and general amenity should be protected and where possible enhanced.’ Policy HLP3: Affordable Housing Provision: Rural Exception Sites – Permission will be granted for the release of small rural exception sites for 100% affordable housing where the site is not protected for recreation, amenity, nature conservation, landscape or heritage value, and the proposed development is sympathetic to the form, character and landscape setting of the village. Policy C1 Conservation of the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Seeks to ensure that priority will be given to the conservation of the natural beauty of the landscape within the Nidderdale AONB. Policy C2 Landscape Character – Requires that development should protect existing landscape character. The Harrogate District Landscape Character Assessment (2004) is used in support of this policy. 2 Policy C9 Special Landscape Areas ‐ Seeks to provide long‐term protection to high quality landscape. Policy C10 Green Wedges in Harrogate ‐ Provides long‐term protection to “Green Wedges” in Harrogate. Development will not be permitted where it would adversely affect the character of a “Green Wedge”. Policy HD7a Parks and Gardens of Historic Interest ‐ Seeks to protect against proposals that would adversely affect the character or setting of parks and gardens included in the English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest. 3.0 METHODOLOGY 3.1 The methodology used is based on that set out in the ‘Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment Second Edition’, produced jointly by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment and the Landscape Institute. The document ‘Landscape Character Assessment, Guidance for England and Scotland, 2002’ (The Countryside Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage) and the Countryside Agency Topic Paper on landscape capacity and sensitivity were also referred to. Scoping study 3.2 An initial scoping exercise was carried out to establish the sites located entirely within urban areas. Where it was considered there are no obvious landscape constraints attached to these sites then they have been excluded/scoped out from the assessment. These are listed at below: Table of Scoped Out Sites Site Code Description Settlement H7 Starbeck Highways Dept. Harrogate North East H107 Station Parade Harrogate North East H107a Station Parade & Copthall Bridge House Harrogate North East H109 Prince of Wales Mansion, York Place Harrogate North East H1002 Harrogate DRA Sports Club, Starbeck Harrogate North East H1011 Park View Car Park, Harrogate Harrogate North East H1012 Knapping Mount, Harrogate Harrogate North East H1017 Grove Park Centre Harrogate North East H1020 Woodfield House & Woodleigh Family Centre, Harrogate North East H1027 Claro Road Depot, Claro Road Harrogate North East H2002 Harrogate Police Station Harrogate North East H4001 Station Avenue Harrogate North East H105(1) Land West of Harlow Moor Road Harrogate North West H1023 Spa Tennis Club, Kent Drive Harrogate North West H4006 Crescent Gardens Harrogate North West H1021 Harrogate & Meadowbank Centres, 'S' Beck Harrogate South East H108 Rossett Manor, Leadhall Lane Harrogate South West 3 H1015 Rear of 7 Rossett Drive Harrogate South West H1022 Harrogate Racquets