Supplementary Planning Document Mole Valley Local Plan Landscape SPD July 2013 This document can be made available in large print, on audio cassette, in Braille and in other languages Contents 1 Introduction 1 2 Policy Context 3 3 Using the Landscape SPD 5 4 The Landscape of Mole Valley - An Overview 11 5 Character Profiles 21 5.1 Thames Basin Lowlands 23 5.1.1 Character Profile: Esher and Epsom 24 5.1.2 Character Profile: Ockham and Clandon 26 5.1.3 Character Profile: Lower Mole 29 5.2 North Downs 31 5.2.1 Character Profile: Box Hill 33 5.2.2 Character Profile: Mole Gap 37 5.2.3 Character Profile: Ranmore and Hackhurst Downs 40 5.3 Wealden Greensand 42 5.3.1 Character Profile: Holmesdale 43 5.3.2 Character Profile: Pippbrook and Tillingbourne 46 5.3.3 Character Profile: Reigate Greensand 49 5.3.4 Character Profile: Leith Hill Greensand 51 5.4 Low Weald 54 5.4.1 Character Profile: Open Weald 55 5.4.2 Character Profile: Wooded Weald 57 6 Glossary and Sources of Further Information 61 1 Appendices 62 Mole Valley District Council Mole Valley Local Development Framework Landscape SDP Contents Mole Valley Local Development Framework Landscape SDP Mole Valley District Council 1 Introduction Chapter 1 Introduction 1.1 The landscape of Mole Valley is cherished by its residents and visitors alike. Large extents are protected through European, National and local designations. Substantial areas are owned or managed by organisations whose focus is primarily conservation and informal recreation, such as the National Trust and the Surrey Wildlife Trust. 1.2 Safeguarding and enhancing the highly attractive and diverse environment of Mole Valley is a key objective of the LDF and is strongly supported by the community as a whole. Goal 1 of the LDF Core Strategy is "To safeguard and enhance the highly attractive and diverse natural, built and historic environment of the District." This is carried forward into Core Strategy Policy CS13 which sets out a strategic framework for landscape protection. 1.3 The Core Strategy included a commitment to prepare a "Mole Valley Landscape Character Assessment" in order to assist applicants in understanding what is important about the landscape. This Landscape SPD is published to fulfil that commitment. Methodology 1.4 Extensive studies of the landscape of Mole Valley have been Box Hill from Pixham undertaken over the past 10 years, by a variety of bodies including Surrey County Council and the Surrey Hills AONB Board. They have not always covered the same areas or gone into the same levels of detail, but they have been based on two key sources: The Future of Surrey’s Landscape and Woodlands (1997), Surrey County Council National Character Areas, Countryside Agency (and supporting area descriptions) 1.5 Revised profiles for all 159 National Character Areas are due to be published by April 2014. 1.6 In view of the availability of these existing studies, and the limited resources available to undertake widespread field studies, the Council has decided to draw together information from existing sources, rather than commission a full-scale Landscape Character Assessment. A similar exercise was incorporated into the Mole Valley Local Plan, 2000 (Appendix 1: Landscape Character Areas). Once adopted, this Landscape SPD will supersede the Local Plan Appendix and provide a more detailed analysis. 1.7 Although the Council is not undertaking a full-scale Landscape Character Assessment, account has been taken of guidance from the former Countryside Agency. The Guidance also informed the preparation of the Future of Surrey's Landscape and Woodlands and the Surrey Hills Management Plan 2009 - 2014 (which includes a detailed assessment of the landscape character of the various parts of the AONB across Surrey). In addition to these studies a review of the Surrey ‘Area of Great Landscape Value’ (1) has been undertaken and the results are fed into this SPD. 1 Surrey AGLV Review, June 2007, Chris Burnett Associates Mole Valley District Council Mole Valley Local Development Framework Landscape SDP 2 Introduction Purpose and Scope 1.8 By drawing together information from existing landscape character studies, the SPD provides a more accessible overview of the landscape character of Mole Valley than was previously available. This provides area-specific information, to support landscape protection and enhancement, in line with Core Strategy policy CS13, Landscape Character. 1.9 The information in Landscape SPD will inform preparation of Local Development Documents, including the Land Allocations Development Plan Document (DPD) and Development Management policies. It will also be a material consideration in determining planning applications, to ensure that the local distinctiveness of the various parts of the District is recognised and reflected in development proposals. In the case of significant development proposals, in locations where landscape impact is a key consideration, the Council will also expect developers to undertake site-specific landscape appraisal and the contents of this SPD will help to inform the preparation and consideration of site-specific analysis. 1.10 The SPD will also be available as a resource for others, including prospective developers, local amenity bodies, Parish Councils and Neighbourhood Forums. It will provide a tool for neighbourhood planning, as well as for the preparation and consideration of new development proposals. 1.11 The SPD recognises that some areas of the District are of a higher landscape quality than others. However, the mosaic of different landscape forms, each with its own character, combines to create an environment that is highly valued by those who live, work and spend their leisure time within the District. Although some areas are subject to special protection, all types of landscape have their own particular character, which should be understood in order to safeguard the quality of the whole. 1.12 Where maps are referred to in the SPD, it should be noted that most landscape character areas will not have clearly-defined boundaries on the ground. In most locations, there will be a gradual transition from one landscape type to another. Characteristics of neighbouring landscape character areas may also overlap. This study should be used as a framework within which to judge landscape character and the issues it may raise. Judgements about the impact of specific development proposals will always have to be made on a case by case basis. 1.13 The main focus of the SPD is on the rural landscape. Brief consideration is given to the main characteristics of settlements which fall within each Character Area. A more detailed analysis of the character of the built environment can be found in the following documents: Built Up Areas Character Appraisals for Ashtead, Bookham and Fetcham, Dorking, Pixham and North Holmwood and Leatherhead. Larger Villages Character Appraisal (covering Beare Green, Brockham, Capel, Charlwood, Hookwood and Westcott) 1.14 Both documents can be accessed from the Local Plans pages of the Council's website, www.molevalley.gov.uk. Taken together, the Built Up Areas and Larger Villages Character Appraisals and the Landscape SPD will provide a suite of documents to support analysis of landscape and townscape character throughout the District. 1.15 It is intended that the Landscape SPD will be updated as new issues arise or new information is made available e.g. through reviews of documents such as the Surrey Hills AONB Management Plan or the anticipated review of AONB boundaries. Mole Valley Local Development Framework Landscape SDP Mole Valley District Council 3 Policy Context Chapter 2 Policy Context National Planning Policy Framework 2.1 The National Planning Policy Framework sets out twelve "core planning principles" which include taking account of the "different roles and character of different areas", including "recognising the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside and supporting thriving rural communities within it". 2.2 Paragraph 109 goes on to state that the planning system should "contribute to and enhance the natural and local environment by, among other things, "protecting and enhancing valued landscapes ..." (para 109) Special priority is given to the protection of nationally designated areas, including Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (para 115) and Planning Authorities are to recognise the hierarchy of international, national and locally designated sites, so that the level of protection is commensurate with their importance. The NPPF places landscape conservation in the context of a wider environmental agenda, which recognises the links between the aesthetic aspects of landscape and the protection of biodiversity and this SPD aims to make those connections through consideration of biodiversity issues where they have a landscape dimension. Local Policy Framework 2.3 The local policy framework for landscape protection is set out in Core Strategy Policy CS 13, Landscape Character (see below). CS13 is in line with the guidance in the NPPF, inasmuch as it recognises the intrinsic character and beauty of all character areas (point 1), while setting out special protection for the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (point 2). 2.4 The Area of Great Landscape Value (AGLV) is a local designation, which will be retained until such time as there has been a review of the AONB boundary. This is in light of the Surrey AGLV Review, undertaken in 2007, which concluded that most of the AGLV within Mole Valley could be classified as having identical characteristics