LANDSCAPE CHARACTER AND CAPACITY STUDY SITE CLASSIFICATIONS – EMPLOYMENT CAPACITY 2.0 EMP 1 – INLAND PORT Rossington Main Colliery; beyond this are the large woodland Holmes Carr Great Wood and the settlement of New Rossington. 2.1 Site Context The site is bordered to the north by the M18 motorway which runs on a low 2.2 Site Description embankment, and to the east by the River Torne within an engineered The site covers a large area of agricultural land between the former channel that fronts the former Rossington Main Colliery. The southern site Rossington Colliery, the M18, the village of Loversall and the A1 corridor boundary borders Carr Lane and Carr Bank and open agricultural fields, the amounting to an area of 425 hectares (ha). In broad terns the area consists of western boundary borders agricultural fields which rise to Wadworth and the a mix of arable and grass agricultural fields. Landform is relatively flat at A1 in the south west and Loversall in the northwest. Figure EMP 1.1 is a around 5 m AOD with land rising with land rising to 15 m in the northwest location plan of the site. corner of the site, east of Loversall, and 20 m in the southwest corner. There are several scattered farmsteads on the site and in the surrounding area. A At a borough level, this site is located predominantly within LCA E1 Thorne bridleway crosses the site following Rakes Lane and links Loversall with the River Carrlands and within a small section of LCA C1 Stainton to Edlington Bessacarr area of Doncaster. To the south there is a permissive right of way Limestone Plateau. DMBC LCCA describes the character in detail. In on Carr Bank that links Rossington to Wadworth. A single track goods railway summary; LCA E1 covers the flat valley floodplain and alluvial peat deposits of line crosses the site on a south west to north east orientation. The railway is the River Torne. Arable farmland covers much of the LCA and consists of in cutting in the southern area and at grade through the rest of the site. To the medium to large geometric fields in an irregular pattern with fragmented or northeast of the site, beyond the M18, is the Potteric Carr nature reserve. missing hedge boundaries. Many fields are bordered by ditches which are a Located to the north western edge of the site, the village of Loversall contains subtle feature of the character area. Mature trees are present along the a Conservation Area. On the eastern edge of the village, closest to the site former hedge lines and occasional small blocks of deciduous woodland are boundary is the listed church of St Katherine. Views are possible from the scattered across the area. The River Torne along the eastern boundary of the church grounds (between the mature vegetation) towards the north western LCA is fed by a series of drains and streams that cross the LCA from the boundary of the site. west. Access within the LCA is restricted mainly to public rights of way and farm tracks. There are long distance views to collieries and associated spoil heaps outside the LCA including New Rossington to the east. Residential development within EMP 1 is limited to two isolated farmsteads surrounding the site. The village of Loversall is the closest settlement, 200 m from the north western boundary. Wadworth is found 1.2 km to the southwest, on the rising ground of the Limestone Plateau of LCA C1. The eastern edge of the site is bordered by the large elevated spoil heap of August 2010 Report No. 08514520255.501/v.A.0 10 LANDSCAPE CHARACTER AND CAPACITY STUDY Following field work the site can be split into four distinct landscape character eastwards towards the spoil heaps of Rossington Main Colliery and the large units: The illustrative boundaries are shown on the plan and Figure EMP 1a. electricity transmission line on a north to south orientation crossing the site in front of the spoil heap. Fields within the area are of a medium scale and of grassland and arable use. No public roads are found within the LCU however access is gained by one bridleway along Rake’s Lane. The lack of public roads helps give the area a feeling of isolation, however, this is tempered by the constant traffic noise and movement of the M18 motorway to the north, negatively affecting the tranquillity of the area. The now semi derelict Low Farm is an attractive example of the local vernacular building style, constructed from the local limestone with a red pantile roof. The local building style is in further evidence in the village of Loversall itself. The fields are enclosed by fragmented hedgerows which become more fragmented and sparse to the open area to the east. This area is located on the border of two LCA’s, E1 and C1 and as such has a variety of landscape characteristics linked to both LCA’s that enhance the landscape quality. The landscape character sensitivity of this LCU is assessed to be Medium. EMP 1.2 This LCU is located through the central area of the site; the area is wholly agricultural with medium to large scale fields and reasonably isolated as there are few access tracks found within the area. Landform is almost flat ranging between 4 m to 8 m AOD. Woodland cover is very sparse with only the small Mombrick Wood found in the central area of the LCU. Small numbers of EMP 1.1 hedges or hedge trees are present; with the exception of one prominent line of This landscape character unit (LCU) is located to the western edge of the site 10 mature trees along the field boundary to the south of the M18, Junction 3. area bordering the village of Loversall. The area is distinct as it has is a There are no settlements within the area and buildings are limited to a two relatively large amount of mature tree cover when compared to the agricultural storage barns. The tranquillity of the area is negatively influenced surrounding areas. Mature trees are found within the remnant parkland areas by the M18 motorway to the north and to a lesser degree by the railway line, of Loversall Hall and Low Farm. The largest woodland block on the site area, the boundaries of which are well vegetated dissect the LCU. An electricity Washing Dike Plantation, is found, in addition to the tree lined Rake’s Lane (a transmission line crosses the south eastern edge of the LCU in front the public Bridleway) and St Catherine’s Well Stream area. Landform is gently elevated colliery spoil heap of Rossington Main Colliery. Water drains through undulating descending to the flatter areas of the site to the east, between 10 the LCU from the higher ground to the west along St Catherine’s Well Stream m and 5 m AOD. As the landform is slightly elevated, views are possible and Huxter Well Drain. The River Torne borders the area to the south east, August 2010 Report No. 08514520255.501/v.A.0 11 LANDSCAPE CHARACTER AND CAPACITY STUDY beneath the spoil heap. This LCU is characteristic of the wider LCA E1 within the eastern boundary in front of the derelict Rossington Main Colliery area. which it is located. Public access through the area is limited to the bridleway which crosses a footbridge over the railway line and is an elevated feature within the flat The landscape character sensitivity of this LCU is assessed to be Medium. landscape. There is no settlement within the LCU, with the only built features EMP 1.3 being a small number of agricultural barns that border the bridleway and track. The small scale character of this area is heavily influenced by the constant This LCU is located in the south western corner of the site area. The landform noise and views of the M18 to the north providing a major detractor. This LCU rises to the south west from approximately 6 m AOD, gently rising to 30 m contains features that are characteristic of the wider E1 LCA; fields bordered AOD at Wadworth Carr. The area is wholly agricultural under arable and by ditches within a wholly agricultural open landscape. grassland production. The fields are of a medium scale surrounded by fragmented Hawthorn hedges and a small number of hedge trees, two mature The landscape character sensitivity of this LCU is assessed to be Low. trees within the field by Carr Bank act as prominent local landscape features. One access track, Dow Lane, runs through the LCU, Carr Lane and Carr Bank 2.3 Visual Sensitivity form the southern boundary. Both tracks are bordered by mature historic The site is relatively low lying and flat averaged around 5 m AOD with higher hedgerows. The railway dissects the area, both in vegetated cutting in the ground rising to 20 m in places on the western boundary. The site is clearly south and on embankment in the central area. No buildings are found within visible from the M18 which is on embankment to the north. The well used the LCU; however Mill Farm overlooks the western boundary. Distant views Rakes Lane Bridleway crosses the site offering users low level views over the are possible to Wadworth Church tower to the west, but there are no views to northern part of the site. Due to the intervening vegetation, views from the M18 or A1. A line of electricity poles are also visible, in addition to a Loversall are screened and there are likely to be only distant views from a communication mast.