Wates Developments Land at Worting Farm, Worting, Basingstoke, Hampshire Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment by Catherine Shelton Associates Ltd The Old Vicarage Mayland Hill Mayland Essex CM3 6DZ Tel: 01621 774465 email: [email protected] Ref: 831/L1b/CAS/dc Date: 14 November 2013 CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction and Methodology 2.0 Landscape Context 3.0 Landscape Appraisal of the Application Site 4.0 Visual Appraisal 5.0 Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment 6.0 Summary and Conclusions ILLUSTRATIVE MATERIAL Figure 1: Site Context Plan Figure 2: Aerial Photograph of the Study Area Figure 3: Topography Plan Figure 4: Site Appraisal Plan Figure 5: Landscape Strategy Plan Photographs of the Site and its surroundings – • Site Appraisal Photographs A to F inclusive • Site Context Photographs 1 to 14 inclusive APPENDICES Appendix 1: Methodology for the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment of the Proposed Development on Land at Worting Farm, Worting, Basingstoke, Hampshire. Appendix 2: Extracts from the Hampshire County Integrated Character Assessment, Hampshire County Council. Appendix 3: Extracts from Basingstoke and Deane Landscape Assessment, Landscape Design Associates in association with Wessex Archaeology, June 2001. Appendix 4: Extracts from Basingstoke, Tadley and Bramley Landscape Capacity Study, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, February 2008. 831/L1b/CAS/dc Page 1 14 November 2013 Appendix 5: Extracts from Landscape Capacity Study 2010: Site Options – A Report for Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, The Terra Firma Consultancy Ltd and Kirkham Landscape Planning Ltd, November 2010. Appendix 6: Visual Impact Table 831/L1b/CAS/dc Page 2 14 November 2013 1.0 INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY 1.1 Catherine Shelton Associates Ltd was instructed by Wates Developments (the applicant) in November 2012 to carry out a landscape and visual appraisal of their development proposals on land (the application site) at Worting Farm, Worting, and prepare a landscape strategy for the proposed housing scheme.. 1.2 As set out in the Planning Statement prepared Genesis Town Planning, who are acting as planning consultants for the applicant, the application site is the subject of a previous application (Application Reference BDB/71886) – this was a detailed application, hereafter referred to as the ‘refused application’ was for 134 dwellings on the site. This was refused in May 2010 for a number of reasons including, inter alia, the impact of the proposed development on the Conservation Area, the impact on the character of Worting village and the impact on the landscape setting of the area. The application scheme, which comprises 70 dwellings, and which has been the subject of extensive pre-application consultation, seeks to overcome these reasons for refusal, and specifically addresses the matters that were of concern to the consultees as set out in the Committee Report for the refused application. 1.3 Wates Developments’ proposals for the application site, which comprises three fields of rough grassland and two pony paddocks to the south of the village of Worting, is for 70 dwellings, open space areas and landscaping, with the provision of a vehicular access from the B3400 Worting Road at the eastern end of the site. We have been instructed as landscape consultants by the applicant to advise on the landscape and visual aspects of the proposed development of the application site and to prepare the appropriate documentation to support the detailed planning application. 1.4 More specifically our brief was as follows: • To carry out a detailed landscape and visual appraisal of the application site and its surroundings, and to advise the applicants of any landscape or visual constraints to accommodating the proposed development on the site; • To work with the architects in developing a scheme of residential development for the site; • To develop a landscape strategy for the site; • To carry out a landscape and visual impact assessment of the development proposals in accordance with best practice guidelines; • To prepare a landscape and visual impact assessment report for submission with the application; • To consider the suitability of the development proposed in the context of the relevant landscape policies of the Development Plan; 831/L1b/CAS/dc Page 3 14 November 2013 • To devise a landscape strategy for the site which is appropriate for the site and the proposed development, and addresses the landscape issues set out in the Committee Report for the refused application. Purpose of the Report 1.5 The purpose of this report is to consider the impact of the application proposals on the character and appearance of the area, including the views towards the development site from the surrounding area. In addition it is to assess whether the proposed development would be sympathetic to the landscape character and quality of the area and the setting of the settlement. It will also consider whether the development proposals would have a design and layout which is of a high quality and includes a comprehensive landscape scheme. The effect of the application proposals on the character and setting of the Worting Conservation Area, which includes the field in the north-west part of the site, is set out in the Heritage Statement. 1.6 The report also addresses the landscape and visual amenity matters set out in the Committee Report for Application Reference BDB/71886. This Committee Report comments on the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) that was submitted with the refused application, the impact of the application scheme on landscape character and visual amenity and detailed comments on the layout, concluding that the scheme of 134 dwellings would have adverse and unacceptable impacts on landscape character and visual amenity. Methodology 1.7 This assessment has been undertaken in accordance with the “Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment”, published by the Landscape Institute and Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment in 2002. The Methodology for this assessment is set out in Appendix 1. This Methodology was submitted in draft to the Natural Environment Team Leader at BDBC on 11 January 2013 with a plan showing the viewpoints to be included in the visual assessment of the site. This Officer confirmed that that he is generally happy with the content of both the Methodology and the range of viewpoints, subject to three minor comments, as follows – Comment Response 1. Viewpoints – these are generally 1. The visual assessment considers acceptable for an assessment of the views towards the application site from existing site. However, the nature of a range of receptors - residential any proposal may result in the properties, roads and rights of way - inclusion of views from other from which there may be views of the locations. site and/or the proposed development. These receptors are listed in the Visual Impact Table which is included in the appendices to the LVIA report. The photographs, taken from a 831/L1b/CAS/dc Page 4 14 November 2013 selection of viewpoints, represent views towards the site from some of these receptors and are included to illustrate these views. 2. Mitigation – there needs to be 2. The visual impact assessment now assessment of visibility between Year includes assessment of the visual Year 15 as this is a significant period o effects of the proposed development as Year 15 is a point where much plant at Year 7 - this was agreed with the a development is at its advance stag Natural Environment Team Leader Year 5 is suggested. (see his email of 14 February 2013). 3. There should be reference to 3. The maintenance and management of adequate ongoing maintenance at the existing and new landscape point 5 of paragraph 1.37 of the features on the site will be the subject Methodology – both in terms of a of a Landscape Management Plan Management Plan setting out the (LMP) - this is described in the LVIA aims of the landscape strategy and report. making sure there is adequate financial provision available from the start of the scheme. 1.8 A Third Edition of the Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (GLVIA3) was published on 17 April 2013 and has now replaced the second edition (GLVIA2: the Blue Book). In general terms, the approach and methodologies in the two editions are the same - the main difference is that GLVIA3 places greater emphasis on professional judgement and less emphasis on a formulaic approach. The Landscape Institute issued guidance to the 'transition' to GLVIA3, advising that an assessment started using GLVIA2 should be completed using that edition. The landscape and visual assessment of the site at Worting was started (prior to April 2013) using a methodology which is based on the guidance set out in GLVIA2. 1.9 The initial step in assessing the likely significant landscape and visual effects of any scheme is to carry out baseline studies to establish the landscape features and characteristics of the application site and the value and importance of the landscape and visual resource in the vicinity of the site. This data forms the basis from which the magnitude and significance of the landscape and visual impacts of the proposed development may be determined. 1.10 Desk top studies, for example an examination of maps and aerial photographs, are used to define the approximate Zone of Visual Influence (ZVI) of the application site, and this is backed up by field survey work which identifies and records specific sensitive receptors, for example properties or rights of way, from which there may be views of the site or the proposed development. 1.11 The landscape impacts of a development include direct and indirect impacts on individual landscape elements (eg hedges, streams, landform etc.), as well as changes in landscape condition and changes in general character and quality of the surrounding area. Visual impacts are changes in the character of available views resulting from a 831/L1b/CAS/dc Page 5 14 November 2013 development, and changes to the visual amenity of visual receptors, which include residents, users of public open spaces, rights of way and roads and railways.