Liz Lake AssociAtes Chartered Landscape Architects Urban Designers Landscape Planners Landscape and Visual Impact Appraisal LAND AT FEN DITTON, CAMBRIDGE Carter Jonas September 2013 Western House t +44 (0)1279 647044 Chapel Hill e [email protected] Stansted Mountfitchet www.lizlake.com Essex CM24 8AG Landscape and Visual Impact Appraisal LAND AT FEN DITTON, CAMBRIDGE Carter Jonas September 2013 Prepared by: Chris Jackson Position: Landscape Architect Qualifications: BSc (Hons) Ma (Hons) Revision: FINAL File name: 1548 LVIA 13.09.25 Date issued: 25th September 20013 Checked by: MF Landscape and Visual Impact Appraisal: Land at Fen Ditton, Cambridge CONTENTS 1 INTRODUCTION 1 2 METHODOLOGY 2 3 EXISTING SITUATION 3 3.1 Context 3 3.2 Published Landscape Character Assessments 4 3.3 Landscape Resource – West Parcel 8 3.4 Landscape Resource – East Parcel 10 3.5 Visual Resource 12 3.6 Views from the Site 12 3.7 Views of the Site 13 4 LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL APPRASIAL 16 4.1 Proposal 16 4.2 Landscape Effect 16 4.3 Visual Effect 18 4.4 Visual Considerations 22 5 POTENTIAL LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL STRATEGY 23 5.1 General Principles 23 5.2 Opportunities 23 APPENDIX A FIGURES 1- 5 APPENDIX B PHOTOSHEETS 1 - 4 1548 LVIA 13.09.25 2 Landscape and Visual Impact Appraisal: Land at Fen Ditton, Cambridge APPENDX C PUBLISHED LANDSCAPE CHARACTER ASSESSMENTS APPENDIX D PHOTOGRAPHIC ARCHITECTURAL EXAMPLES 1548 LVIA 13.09.255 Landscape and Visual Impact Appraisal: Land at Fen Ditton, Cambridge 1 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1.1 This Landscape Report has been prepared by Liz Lake Associates on behalf of Carter Jonas to provide information and guidance with regards to the landscape and visual issues relevant to the land at Fen Ditton, Cambridge, (the Site). The principle objectives of the study are to provide guidance on landscape and visual matters associated with the promotion of the land for future development through the local plan process. 1.1.2 The report considers the existing baseline conditions and seeks to identify the relevant landscape and visual issues applicable to the site. A landscape and visual appraisal has been undertaken to assess the likely effects upon the landscape resource, specific views and visual amenity. 1.1.3 Liz Lake Associates are a multi-disciplinary environmental and design consultancy with over 25 years’ experience of master planning, landscape, ecology, urban design, heritage and environmental impact assessment. The practice is a member of the Landscape Institute. 1548 LVIA 13.09.25 2 Landscape and Visual Impact Appraisal: Land at Fen Ditton, Cambridge 2 METHODOLOGY 2.1.1 An initial landscape and visual appraisal of the site has been conducted, encompassing the ‘Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment’ (GLVIA) 3rd edition published by the Landscape Institute and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment 2013, and ‘Landscape Character Assessment: Guidance for England and Scotland’ (LCA) published by the Countryside Agency and Scottish National Heritage 2002. In summary, the approach combines information and desktop reviews with on-site surveys and appraisal.) 2.1.2 The site based assessment involves the recording of both objective description and subjective impressions of the landscape, as well as details of the existing landscape condition. It includes an appraisal of the extent and nature of views to and from the site and the type of receptors that experience these views. 2.1.3 The following relevant studies and documents have been considered as part of the desk based review and subsequent appraisal: • Countryside Agency – Character Area Map of England (1998-1999) • Cambridge Landscape Character Assessment (2003) 1548 LVIA 13.09.255 Landscape and Visual Impact Appraisal: Land at Fen Ditton, Cambridge 3 3 EXISTING SITUATION 3.1 Context 3.1.1 The land at Fen Ditton (referred to as the Site) is located to the north east of the City of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, within and surrounding the village of Fen Ditton. (refer to Figure 3 Phasing Plan) 3.1.2 The Site is divided into two main parcels. The first parcel is located to the west of the Horningsea Road (B1047) (the west parcel) and the second parcel is located to the east of the Horningsea Road and to the north of the High Ditch Road (the east parcel). 3.1.3 The west parcel (see Figure 1 Opportunities and Constraints) is located to the west of the B1047 and to the east of Green End. Within the parcel the landform falls gently to the north from 10m AOD to 5m AOD as the landform falls towards the River Cam which runs south to north approximately 200m to the west. The west parcel is approximately 16.5ha and is characterised by open agricultural land bounded on 3 sides by native hedgerows of and occasional trees. The eastern boundary is predominantly open and bounded by a ditch apart from some singular dispersed trees and associated ruderal vegetation. 3.1.4 Land use adjacent to the east of the west parcel is primarily residential along the B1047, with development being concentrated around Musgrave Way. Further to the south along the B1047 and still adjacent to the west parcel is a primary school and allotments. Land use to the parcels southern boundary is associated with paddocks and equine activity. To the west of the west parcel land use is split between residential at Green End and Wright’s Close and Public Open Space. To the north of the parcel, land is within agricultural use. 3.1.5 The east parcel is approximately 70ha and is located to the south of the A14, to the north of the High Ditch Road with Low Fen Drove Way demarking the eastern boundary, the western boundary runs along, and is contained by the development within Fen Ditton. (See Figure 2 Opportunities and Constraints) Within the parcel the landform is generally flat at 10m AOD. There are a series of drainage ditches running across the parcel, however these are flat features within a very open landscape. 1548 LVIA 13.09.25 4 Landscape and Visual Impact Appraisal: Land at Fen Ditton, Cambridge 3.1.6 Surrounding land use to the south and west is primarily residential with agricultural land being the dominating land use beyond the A14 and the Low Fen Drove Way. 3.1.7 The parcel is bounded on three sides by well-established native hedgerows and associated trees. The boundary to the west is more open and less vegetated, and characterised by edge of settlement garden boundaries; this is also typical of a section of the parcels south west boundary where it adjoins residential development at Fen Ditton. The parcels northern boundary, although well vegetated is dominated by the A14, which is elevated above the height of the surrounding landscape. 3.1.8 The eastern parcel is divided into 2 smaller parcels by the route of a disused railway line running north to south. This route is now a well vegetated green corridor cutting through the parcel. 3.1.9 The village's history is closely connected to its position on the River Cam, which provided trade throughout the medieval period and its principal connection to other settlements. The village structure has a traditional ribbon pattern along two main streets, the B1046 and the High Ditch Road/Green End. Infilling has occurred over time along these routes with varying ages of property noted within the village however it still largely retains its linear pattern. More recent changes are less in keeping with this, such as the development at Musgrave Way and much more recently the development of 14 homes at the Blue Lion Site. The architectural character of Fen Ditton is varied due to this ‘infil’ development taking place throughout the village; this has had the effect of deteriorating any individual village character that Fen Ditton may have had prior to these isolated developments taking place. More recently developments along the High Ditch Road and at the village cross roads have also added to a loss of individuality. See Appendix 3 for examples. 3.2 Published Landscape Character Assessments 3.2.1 A brief summary of the published landscape character assessments in the context of the Fen Ditton site are detailed below. Refer Figure 4, Cambridge Landscape Character Areas. 1548 LVIA 13.09.255 Landscape and Visual Impact Appraisal: Land at Fen Ditton, Cambridge 5 3.2.2 National Character Area: The Site lies on the edge of National Character Area (NCA) 88 Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Claylands (Appendix B). The Site is also within close proximity to NCA 87 and 46. 3.2.3 NCA 88 comprises of most of central and northern Bedfordshire and western Cambridgeshire. Key characteristics include; • Gently undulating topography and plateau areas, divided by broad shallow valleys. • Predominantly an open and intensive arable landscape. Fields bounded by either open ditches or sparse closely trimmed hedges both containing variable number and quality of hedgerow trees. • River corridors of Great Ouse and Ivel compose cohesive sub-areas characterised by flood plain grassland, riverine willows and larger hedges. • Woodland cover variable. Clusters of ancient deciduous woods on higher plateau area to northwest between Salcey and Grafham Water. Smaller plantations and secondary woodland within river valleys. • Settlement pattern clusters around major road and rail corridors (A1 and M1) many with raw built edges. Smaller, dispersed settlements elsewhere. Village edge grasslands an important feature. • Generally a diversity of building materials, including brick, thatch and stone. Limestone villages on the upper Great Ouse.1 The Site is generally in keeping with these key features. 3.2.4 Cambridge Landscape Character Assessment (2003): The Cambridge Landscape Character Assessment (Cambs LCA) identifies the Site as falling within two identified landscape character areas; The River Corridor - Open Rural and Rural Lowland Mosaic - Eastern Transition Lands, (see Figure 4 CAMBS LCA).