Barratt Homes South Wales WYG Land at Heol Pentre Bach, Gorseinon [OFFICE ADDRESS] [TEL NO] Landscape and Visual Amenity Statement [EMAIL ADDRESS] www.wyg.com Februarycreative minds 2017 safe hands LVAS Contents 1 Introduction 3 1.1 Scope of the statement 3 1.2 Methodology 4 1.3 The Proposed Development 5 2 Landscape Policies and Designations 5 2.1 Planning Policy 5 2.2 Landscape Designations 8 2.3 Ecological Designations 8 2.4 Interim Summary 8 3 Potential effects on the Landscape 9 3.1 Landscape baseline 9 4 Effects on the Landscape 12 5 Effects on Visual Amenity 17 5.1 Visual baseline 17 5.2 Effects on Visual Amenity 18 6 Conclusion 22 Appendix 1: Figures 23 Appendix 2: LVIA Methodology 25 1 LVAS Tables Table 3-1 LANDMAP 10 Table 4-1 Magnitude of change – potential landscape effects 14 Table 5-1 Indicative criteria for assessing Visual Sensitivity 18 Table 5-2 Magnitude of change – potential visual effects 19 Table AP-6-1 Indicative criteria for Landscape Sensitivity 26 Table AP-6-2 Indicative criteria for Magnitude of Landscape Change 26 Table AP-6-3 Indicative criteria for assessing Landscape Effects 27 Table AP-6-4 Indicative criteria for Visual Sensitivity 27 Table AP-6-5 Indicative criteria for Magnitude of Visual Change 28 Table AP-6-6 Indicative criteria for assessing Visual Effects 28 2 LVAS 1 Introduction 1.1 Scope of the statement 1.1.1 WYG are instructed by Barratt Homes South Wales to prepare this Landscape and Visual Amenity Statement. It relates to the proposed housing development on land to the west of Gorseinon, Swansea. The site extends to approximately 1.25 hectares and is currently agricultural pasture. 1.1.2 The appraisal provides the baseline against which the effects of the proposed development on the landscape of the site and its context and on visual amenity are outlined. The potential for effects on features identified as important to the landscape quality, or effects on the landscape character of the site and its setting are identified. Potential effects on views of the site and its setting, or visual amenity, are also identified. 1.1.3 For the purposes of landscape and visual effects of this proposal, study areas have been defined: The “site” extends to the boundaries of the site identified on the Site Location plan, Figure LA.01 The “landscape context” extends to a radius of about 2.0 kilometres from the site. Given the scale of the proposal the visual study area was limited to 2.0km, a distance beyond which the proposal would either not be visible or barely perceptible in the view. 1.1.4 The objectives of this Landscape and Visual Amenity Statement (LVAS) are to: Describe and evaluate the landscape of the site and surrounding landscape context and visual amenity of the surrounding area, which may be affected by the proposed development. Set out possible mitigation / enhancement measures which could be incorporated into the proposals to avoid, reduce or offset potential adverse effects. Identify potential landscape and visual effects of the proposed development. 1.1.5 The LVAS is presented with separate chapters dealing with landscape character and visual amenity. It is supported by plans and photographs, as follows: LA.01 Site Location LA.02 Landscape Appraisal LA.03 Site Context LA.04 Site Appraisal LA.05 Appraisal Photographs LA.06 Character photographs LA.07 Site photographs 3 LVAS 1.2 Methodology 1.2.1 The methodology followed for this LVAS is based on the recommendations in Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment 3rd Edition published by The Landscape Institute and the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment in April 2013 (GLVIA3). 1.2.2 This statement is for a “non-EIA project”. The Landscape Institute has advised in relation to Landscape and Visual Appraisals / Statements outside a formal EIA process in its “Statement of Clarification 1/13”: In carrying out appraisals, the same principles and process as LVIA may be applied but, in so doing, it is not required to establish whether the effects arising are or are not significant given that the exercise is not being undertaken for EIA purposes. … The emphasis on likely ‘significant effects’ in formal LVIA stresses the need for an approach that is proportional to the scale of the project that is being assessed and the nature of its likely effects. The same principle – focussing on a proportional approach – also applies to appraisals of landscape and visual impacts outside the formal requirements of EIA. 1.2.3 This Statement provides an assessment of the degrees of the effect without commenting on their “significance”. The assessment process comprises a combination of desk studies and field surveys, with subsequent analysis, and involved: A review of landscape designations and planning policies for the landscape, and of other landscape studies relevant to the area, including national and local landscape character; A survey of the site and landscape context study areas and inspection of views of the site from publicly accessible viewpoints, including a photographic survey; Evaluation of the features and elements of the landscape and their contribution to the landscape character, context and setting, based on these studies; Consideration of potential landscape and visual effects of the proposed development; Examination of the development proposals and analysis of the potential effects on the landscape and visual amenity associated with the scheme’s design or operation; and Assessment of the sensitivity of the landscape and visual amenity to the changes likely to arise from the development along with the potential impacts. 1.2.4 The effects of the development, whether beneficial or adverse, may vary in nature and degree through its lifecycle. Mitigation measures are proposed to be incorporated in the design of the development, or measures such as management of the construction and operational processes are proposed. The purpose of mitigation measures is first, to prevent the potentially adverse impacts identified, and if that is not possible, to reduce the potential adverse effect, or where adverse effects are unavoidable, the purpose is to offset or compensate for the effect. 4 LVAS Photography 1.2.5 In addition to GLVIA3, the Landscape Institute’s Advice Note 01/11 Photography and photomontage in landscape and visual impact assessment was referred to. 1.2.6 Photographs have a special role in describing landscape character and illustrating key views. In order for photographs to be representative and to create an image that is as similar as possible to that which is seen with the human eye, accepted practice is to use a lens with a focal length equivalent to 50 mm for a 35 mm Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera, and a horizontal field of view of a little under 40 degrees1. The camera used for the appraisal photography was a Canon EOS 5D III digital SLR camera. Photographs were taken with a focal length equivalent to 50mm on a conventional SLR camera. 1.2.7 Landscape photography includes wide angle or panoramic views requiring a sequence of photographs to be taken across the view. Where this approach is taken, a series of overlapping photographs are digitally spliced together in Adobe Photoshop CS using a cylindrical projection to provide a panorama approximating to the normal field of view in a landscape context. Where necessary, the contrast and brightness of individual photographs is slightly manipulation in order to create a consistent panorama without visible joins. The viewpoints are located with their Ordnance Survey grid reference and height above Ordnance Datum. 1.3 The Proposed Development 1.3.1 The proposed housing development of 41 no Houses is as shown on the accompanying planning application drawings, including Planning Layout 1619-100 Rev C. 1.3.2 Existing vegetation around site boundary is to be largely retained, although several small areas would be removed to form the site vehicular access points from Heol Pentre Bach. The mature trees and hedgerow in the southern part of the site would be removed. The dense scrub vegetation and several trees would be removed from the northern part of the site. Some trees along Heol Pentre Bach would need to be removed to accommodate the services corridor. Wherever possible, planting has been incorporated into the proposal to supplement retained vegetation and mitigate for the removed vegetation. 2 Landscape Policies and Designations 2.1 Planning Policy 2.1.1 The Swansea Local Development Plan is currently at Deposit stage, with the Deposit Plan consultation taking place in 2016, and the Plan is expected to replace the Unitary Development Plan (UDP) within the next few years. The UDP was adopted in 2008 and is the authorities’ most up to date Development Plan covering the administrative area. 2.1.2 The Proposals Map of the UDP indicates that the site lies within an area designated as Green Wedge (Policy EV23) and is also covered by Policy EV20 New Dwellings in the 1 The Landscape Institute, Landscape Institute Advice Note 01/11, Photography and photomontage in Landscape and Visual Assessment, March 2011 5 LVAS Countryside. Within the Draft Deposit LDP the site is allocated as a non strategic housing site (site UL002). Strategic policies and policies of relevance to the site are: 2.1.3 Policy SP2 - Creating a quality environment: The countryside will be protected and conserved, with green wedges shaping the urban form and safeguarding the distinctive interplay of town and country. Village character will be protected. 2.1.4 Policy SP7 – Providing homes and community facilities: Land will be made available for the development of 14668 new homes over the period from 2001 to 2016 to support a population of 233,000 by: Maximising the use of the existing committed landbank and previously developed land and buildings within settlements, Appropriate infill and rounding off within and at edge of settlements with good transport links, Securing appropriate provision to meet the County’s need for affordable housing, Making allowance for the creation of 500 new homes through the maintenance, improvement, redevelopment and reoccupation of void properties.