Appendix 10.3 LCA Extracts arc21 Residual Waste Treatment Project: Hightown Quarry Appendix 10.3: Landscape Character Landscape Character – National – ‘Landscape’ extracts from Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) Landscape Character Assessment LCA Key Characteristics Landscape Description Landscape Condition and Sensitivity Principles for Landscape Principles for Accommodating to Change Management New Development Belfast/Lisburn Belfast and Lisburn lie within the The Belfast/Lisburn LCA encompasses the Belfast The quality of the environment within Management of land and field Development sites which Landscape (97) lowland basin of the River Lagan and Lisburn urban areas, together with their broader the urban districts is increasingly boundaries near the urban edge define the inner green belt which is enclosed by steep landscape setting. It is defined by the steep ridges degraded by traffic congestion, will ensure its rural character boundary should be required to ridges and escarpments. and escarpments which enclose the Lagan Valley at pollution, waste management and robust landscape pattern is comply with demanding Docks at head of Belfast Lough; the head of Belfast Lough. Belfast is mostly problems and a lack of accessible maintained and will promote a development briefs which seek principal industrial areas along contained within the valley, although urban public open spaces. Belfast also has high quality landscape setting for to achieve an attractive, firm the Lagan and new Laganside development has spread along the narrow coastal a relatively high proportion of derelict the city. urban edge which reinforces development focusing towards strips to the north and south of the Lough and land and there is much scope for Increasing public access to the the surrounding landscape the river. inland along the Lagan and Enler Valleys. The town continued regeneration. Within the surrounding hills would improve character and maximises Long red brick terraces and large of Lisburn is also sited on the River Lagan but is wider context, the landscape setting the quality of life for city opportunities for public access. red brick warehouses and further upstream and enclosed by slightly lower of the city is increasingly marred by dwellers. Urban regeneration is industrial buildings are slopes. There are long views over both urban areas the scattered development of preferable to urban expansion characteristic. from the surrounding upland landscapes. Belfast's buildings and infrastructure, the scars and the green belt boundary Formal parks such as Ormeau principal industrial areas are concentrated along the of industrial sites and quarries, and should be considered an Park, the Botanic Gardens, banks of the Lagan and the docks are prominent at the neglect or under-management of absolute limit to development Victoria Park and Wallace Park. the head of Belfast Lough. farming. Public access to the in order to conserve Belfast's Informal open space such as the surrounding hills and coastline is also natural containment within the Lagan Valley Regional Park and The older residential areas are characterised by red relatively poor, particularly to the lowland basin. the linear Connswater Park brick buildings, which add a warm colour to the north and west of the city. The most Scope for new building on reach into the urban centre. urban landscape and contrast with the surrounding sensitive parts of Belfast/Lisburn are derelict sites, with scope for Elevated views over urban areas green hills. The dense terraces are sometimes the historic centres, the riverside and innovative designs which may from the surrounding escarpment overshadowed by vast red-brick industrial buildings, the urban edges which have create new focal points and slopes. many of which are derelict. The steep escarpments expanded onto the higher ridges landmarks. and ridges on the margins of the city provide a enclosing Belfast. Development on series of landmarks. The Belfast Basalt Escarpment the lower slopes of the basalt to the north has a rugged, untamed character; escarpment is perhaps in the most Carmoney Hill, an outlier to the north west of the sensitive location in the city. Belfast basalt escarpment, dominates the landscape setting and Lisburn are overlooked by hills in of Newtownabbey; the Craigantlet Escarpment on all directions and the siting and the fringes of the Holywood Hills encloses East design of all major developments Belfast and the slopes of the Castlereagh should be carefully considered in Escarpment provide a continuous backdrop to the relation to these wider views. urban districts of South Belfast and Castlereagh. Belfast's formal parks, such as Ormeau Park, the Botanic Gardens and Victoria Park and Lisburn's Wallace Park, provide welcome breathing space for the city centre but are relatively small in relation to the city as a whole. The Lagan Valley Regional Park LCA Key Characteristics Landscape Description Landscape Condition and Sensitivity Principles for Landscape Principles for Accommodating to Change Management New Development is on a completely different scale. This and the other smaller river corridor parks, such as the Connswater, Lagmore and Collin Glen linear parks, have a more natural character and provide a valuable link between the urban areas and their wider landscape setting. The Laganside walkways now extend the footpath links along the Lagan right through to the city centre. Carrickfergus Undulating landscape of low The landscape reaches an elevation of 200-250m. This relatively remote landscape has Further afforestation may be Existing new houses may be Upland ridges and shallow valleys. The area is underlain by basalt, but the shallow not been subjected to the same level accommodated with careful sheltered and integrated within Pastures (98) Small fields of pasture enclosed soils, rocky exposures and wet climate create less of residential development siting and design. the landscape by blocks of by gappy hedges, earth banks productive farmland than elsewhere. Shallow ridges experienced by the low-lying areas The repair and management of woodland. and neglected stone walls; extend from the basalt escarpment to the south to close to the coast. However, the few hedges, walls and shelterbelts The design of housing is beech and conifer shelterbelts create an undulating plateau. The land use is recent examples of new housing are should be encouraged to especially sensitive in an along roads. predominantly pastoral with small, regular fields often sited in exposed locations, conserve the landscape upland landscape; ad hoc Small, wind-blown trees on enclosed by gappy hedges, as well as by earth detracting from the more traditional structure. housing development in the exposed upland pastures. banks and stone walls. These are often neglected settlement pattern of stone buildings Careful visual analysis should countryside with disparate and Extensive tracts of plantation and have been reinforced with post and wire sheltered by trees. Plantation forests accompany any plans to site new incongruous styles should be forest, often enclosing loughs fencing. There is a large scale pattern of plantation have been introduced along the ridge windfarms or pylons in this avoided. and reservoirs. forests and exposed pasture on the uplands, with tops, but generally conform with the upland landscape. Visitor facilities such as Some fields encroached by scrub dramatic contrasts in colour and scale. A number of landform. This type of upland pastoral Provision of public access to the parking places and picnic and heather; rushy bogs in small loughs are also found within this character area, landscape is not rare in Northern reservoirs and provision of picnic spots should be designed to hollows. including the dammed South and North Woodburn Ireland and landscape sensitivity may facilities and viewpoints will reflect the rural setting, using Pylons and transmission lines reservoirs and Lough Mourne with its thin enclosing be described as moderate. Although ensure maximum use is made of natural materials and avoiding along the skyline. ring of coniferous forest. The visual influence of this is an upland area, views are this rural area for a large number unnecessary clutter. This will New houses and bungalows in these waters on the landscape is limited owing to restricted by landform and tree of people from the nearby help to retain the contrast exposed locations. the forest screen, but they are significant local enclosure. settlements. between surrounding lowland features. urban areas and the countryside. The wind-blown profile of small hedgerow trees and shelterbelts, emphasises the exposed feel of this landscape. The uplands seem relatively remote in comparison to nearby, low-lying areas, although transmission lines from the Kilroot Power Station extend up from the coast and, with a telecommunications mast, exert a strong presence along the skyline. Settlement is scarce but new houses, often in exposed locations, contrast with the sheltered locations and unassuming styles of stone farm buildings. The landscape is of a moderate scale; views within the area are restricted by the enclosure of landform and woods. However, due to its elevated position, some longer views are LCA Key Characteristics Landscape Description Landscape Condition and Sensitivity Principles for Landscape Principles for Accommodating to Change Management New Development possible from the edges of this area. Bangor Undulating shoreline topography. The Bangor