LANDSCAPE SENSITIVITY AND CAPACITY STUDY AUGUST 2013 Prepared for the Northumberland AONB Partnership By Bayou Bluenvironment with The Planning and Environment Studio Document Ref: 2012/18: Final Report: August 2013 Drafted by: Anthony Brown Checked by: Graham Bradford Authorised by: Anthony Brown 05.8.13 Bayou Bluenvironment Limited Cottage Lane Farm, Cottage Lane, Collingham, Newark, Nottinghamshire, NG23 7LJ Tel: +44(0)1636 555006 Mobile: +44(0)7866 587108 [email protected] The Planning and Environment Studio Ltd. 69 New Road, Wingerworth, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S42 6UJ T: +44(0)1246 386555 Mobile: +44(0)7813 172453 [email protected] CONTENTS Page SUMMARY ................................................................................................................ i 1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................... 1 Background ............................................................................................................................... 1 Purpose and Objectives of the Study ........................................................................................ 2 Key Views Study ........................................................................................................................ 3 Consultation .............................................................................................................................. 3 Format of the Report ................................................................................................................ 3 2 APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY ............................................................................ 5 Introduction to Landscape Sensitivity and Capacity.................................................................. 5 Desk Study and Field Work ....................................................................................................... 6 Approach to Assessing Landscape and Visual Sensitivity .......................................................... 7 Assessment of Potential Capacity ............................................................................................. 8 Study Area................................................................................................................................. 9 3 REVIEW OF THE NORTHUMBERLAND LANDSCAPE CHARACTER ASSESSMENT, AUGUST 2010 ........................................................................................................ 11 Part A: Landscape Classification .............................................................................................. 11 Part B: The Changing Landscape ............................................................................................. 13 4 REVIEW OF THE NORTHUMBERLAND KEY LAND USE IMPACT STUDY, SEPTEMBER 2010 ...................................................................................................................... 15 Part A: Landscape Sensitivity at Settlement Edges ................................................................. 15 Part C: Landscape Sensitivity to key Land Uses ....................................................................... 16 Part D: Landscapes Potentially Requiring Additional Protection ............................................ 17 5 VISUAL ANALYSIS................................................................................................... 19 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 19 Iconic Features ........................................................................................................................ 19 Important Viewpoints ............................................................................................................. 21 Other Key Views ...................................................................................................................... 23 Key Views from Sensitive Routes ............................................................................................ 23 6 SENSITIVITY AND CAPACITY TO ACCOMMODATE COMMERCIAL SCALE WIND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT OUTSIDE THE AONB ......................................................... 25 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 25 Methodology .......................................................................................................................... 25 Sensitivity Assessment ............................................................................................................ 29 Capacity Assessment ............................................................................................................... 34 Comparison with the Northumberland Key Land Use Impact Study, September 2010; Part C: Landscape Sensitivity to key Land Uses .................................................................................. 36 7 SENSITIVITY AND CAPACITY TO ACCOMMODATE DOMESTIC / FARM-SCALE WIND TURBINES .............................................................................................................. 39 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 39 Methodology .......................................................................................................................... 39 Sensitivity Assessment ............................................................................................................ 41 Capacity Assessment ............................................................................................................... 44 8 SENSITIVITY AND CAPACITY OF SETTLEMENTS WITHIN THE AONB TO HOUSING DEVELOPMENT ...................................................................................................... 47 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 47 Assumptions ........................................................................................................................... 48 Approach and Methodology ................................................................................................... 48 Criteria to Assess Settlement Sensitivity ................................................................................. 49 Settlement Assessments: Lindisfarne and Holy Island ..................................................................................................... 50 Bamburgh ............................................................................................................................... 56 Seahouses (and North Sunderland) ......................................................................................... 62 Beadnell .................................................................................................................................. 70 Embleton ................................................................................................................................. 76 Craster .................................................................................................................................... 82 Longhoughton ......................................................................................................................... 88 Boulmer................................................................................................................................... 93 Lesbury and Hipsburn .............................................................................................................. 98 Alnmouth .............................................................................................................................. 104 Warkworth ............................................................................................................................ 109 9 SENSITIVITY OF EXISTING CAMPING/CARAVAN/CHALET PARKS WITHIN THE AONB ............................................................................................... 117 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 117 Approach and Methodology ................................................................................................. 118 Assessment of overall landscape and visual sensitivity and capacity of LCTs and LCAs within the AONB to accommodate new and extended camping/caravan/chalet development ......................................................................................................................... 119 Assessment of landscape and visual prominence of existing camping/caravan/chalet sites ....................................................................................................................................... 119 APPENDICES Appendix 1: Extracts from the NLCA Part A of LCT and LCA Descriptions within the AONB ......... 144 Appendix 2: Extracts from the NLCA Part A of LCT and LCA Descriptions within the Wider Study Area ............................................................................................................... 155 Appendix 3: Extracts from the NLCA Annexe A of Matrices for Recording Key Landscape Characteristics .......................................................................................................... 172 Appendix 4: Iconic Features,