Cork County Draft Landscape Strategy Table of Contents Table of Contents Type 3 – Indented Estuarine Coast Type 11 – Broad Marginal Middleground (Rosscarberry-Timoleague-Kinsale)...……..…23 Valley…………………………………………..83 1.1. Introduction ………………………………1 Type 4 – Rugged Ridge Peninsulas Type 12a – Rolling Marginal and Forested 1.2. Landscape Character Assessment (Castletownbere-Bantry-Schull)………………29 Middleground (Ballyvourney Gaeltacht)…….87 Methodology……………..………………………1 Type 5 – Fertile Plain with Moorland Ridge Type 12b - Rolling Marginal and Forested 1.3. Landscape Character……………………....2 (Mallow-Mitchelstown-Fermoy)………………35 Middleground……………………………….…91 1.4. Landscape Value……………………………2 Type 6a – Broad Fertile Lowland Valleys Type 13a – Valleyed Marginal Middleground (Blarney – Ballincollig – Carrigaline – West (Macroom and Environs)……………………..95 1.5. Landscape Sensitivity………………………3 Dunmanway)……………………………………41 Type 13b – Valleyed Marginal Middleground Methodology for the Landscape Assessment Type 6b - Broad Fertile Lowland Valleys (Glenville and Environs)………………………99 Process…………………………………………...4 (Cloyne - Castlemartyr - Killeagh and Environs)………………………………………. 47 Type 14a – Fissured Marginal and Forested Map 1 – Landscape Character Areas………….5 Rolling Upland (Northwest – Rockchapel)…..103 Type 6c - Broad Fertile Lowland Valleys Map 2 – Landscape Character Types………….6 (Castlelyons – Rathcormack)………………… 51 Type 14b - Fissured Marginal and Forested Rolling Upland (Lyre and Nad)………………107 Map 3 – Landscape Character Types Value…..7 Type 7a – Rolling Patchwork Farmland (Bandon – Clonakilty – Leap and Environs)……………55 Type 15a – Ridged and Peaked Upland Map 4 - Landscape Character Types (Mullaghanish to Millstreet)………………….111 Sensitivity ……………………………………….8 Type 7b - Rolling Patchwork Farmland (Dunderrow – Belgooly and Environs)………..59 Type 15b - Ridged and Peaked Upland Map 5 - Landscape Character Types (Millstreet)…………………………………….115 Importance………………………………………9 Type 8 – Hilly River and Reservoir Valley…...63 Type 16a – Glaciated and Forested Cradle Landscape Character Types Type 9 – Broad Marginal Middleground and Valley (Gouganne Barra)……………………119 Lowland Basin…………………………………67 Type 1 – City Harbour and Estuary…………..11 Type 16b - Glaciated and Forested Cradle Type 10a – Fissured Fertile Middleground Valley (Cullenagh Lake)……………………..123 Type 2 – Broad Bay Coast (Youghal-Shanagarry (South of the Gearagh)………………………..73 – Ballycotton.………………………………..….17 Type 10b – Fissured Fertile Middleground Type 16c - Glaciated and Forested Cradle Valley (Rylane east to Waterford)…………………...77 (Foilanumera)…………………………………125 Cork County Council i Planning Policy Unit Cork County Draft Landscape Strategy Methodology The Draft Landscape Strategy for Cork County 1.2 Landscape Character 1.1 Introduction incorporates for each of the 16 landscape Assessment Methodology types: Landscape Character Assessment is a process The Landscape Character Assessment for of assessment, which focuses on 1) An evaluation of each Landscape Character County Cork was based on the methodology characterisation i.e. the discernment of the Type in terms of; principles defined by ‘The Landscape and character of the landscape based on its land Landscape Assessment Draft Guidelines for cover and landform but also on its values such Landscape Value- the environmental or Planning Authorities’, which was published by as historical, cultural, religious and other cultural benefits, including services and the Department of the Environment in 2000. understandings of the landscape. It functions, which are derived from various Landscape Character Assessment is a GIS concentrates on the distinctiveness of different landscape attributes. based multi-criteria evaluation. landscapes and an understanding of how The assessment methodology has three main different kinds of development can be Landscape Sensitivity- the measure of a landscape’s ability to accommodate change or stages: Landscape Character, Landscape Value accommodated within them. and Landscape Sensitivity (Figure 1). intervention without suffering unacceptable Landscape Character Assessment included the effects to its character and values. preparation of this Landscape Strategy. This draft strategy aims to provide an explanation of Landscape Importance- importance of a Cork County’s landscape by way of describing landscape rated as Local, County, or National. what the landscape actually entails, while highlighting how areas within the county have 2) A description of the landscape type, its key their own distinctiveness and character. It also characteristics and the pressure for change aims to provide a better understanding and within the landscape type. appreciation of the county’s landscape and of the importance of managing development into 3) A number of recommendations for each the future. landscape type. Due to the expanse and variety of Cork This document forms the basis of identifying County’s landscape the focus of the overall the sensitivity of Cork’s various landscapes to evaluation was of the 16 landscape character development having regard to the character types identified. and values associated with each of the landscape character types. Cork County Council 1 Planning Policy Unit Methodology Cork County Draft Landscape Strategy Character Areas represent smaller physical 1.4 Landscape Value units with more detail in their physical LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT description. Landscape Character Types are The assessment methodology for Landscape bigger, generic units with similar physical and Value was based on the particular assessment visual characteristics. The physical of Natural Value (NV), Scenic Value (SV) and Landscape Character characteristics concern physical elements and Cultural value (CV). The result of the analysis components that are principally based on of NV, SV and CV, provides the Overall landform and landcover. LCT and LCA Landscape Area Value (Map 3). Generally, Landscape Values boundaries and their descriptions are the value represents aesthetic, ecological, results of the first stage of the Landscape historical, socio-cultural, religious and other Character Assessment and external characteristics of the LCA. These Landscape Sensitivity consultants, MosArt, carried out this stage. characteristics were categorised into three groups: Natural, Cultural and Scenic. For each Cork County is divided into 16 Landscape group indicators and criteria were defined for Types (Map 2). Some of the Landscape types their valuation. Policy Responses have sub-divisions marked with letters (a,b,c). Landscape types represent generic areas of Natural value indicators include: proposed Figure 1. distinctive character based on large-scale Natural Heritage Areas, candidate Special characteristics. Landscape Character Types are Areas of Conservation, Special Protection Key concepts of Landscape Character Assessment sub-divided into 76 Landscape Character Areas, Areas of Geological Interest, landform Areas (Map 1) that present geographically and landcover characteristics. similar complexes. Scenic Value indicators include: scenic 1.3 Landscape Character The source of data used was based on the Cork landscapes and scenic routes. County Council desk and Site Survey data, The Landscape Character stage entails the OSI data, Geodirectory data and Corin data. Cultural Indicators include: Architectural identification of physical and visual Collected data was organised into a Landscape Conservation Areas, Archaeological sites and characteristics of the county. Landscape Character Assessment database. Landscape Gaeltacht areas. characteristics were mapped and organised into Type and Landscape Area Profiles include sets datasets. Similar characteristics of the of attributes that were used for the spatial As a result the LCA were ranked into 5 landscape are assigned to the following spatial analysis. categories: very low, low, medium, high and units: Landscape Character Types (LCT) and very high. Landscape Character Areas (LCA). Landscape 2 November 2007 Cork County Draft Landscape Strategy Methodology multi-criteria analysis, which are accompanied Landscape Character Types are ranked into 5 Very low value: Deteriorating landscapes by a decision support matrix. categories based on the sensitivity of the without scenic quality and without any natural landscape: low, medium, high and very high. and cultural heritage elements. Landscape Character Sensitivity identifies the Low value: Monotonous landscapes without possibility of a landscapes ability to particular scenic quality, local level of natural accommodate change without adverse impact Low sensitivity landscapes are robust or cultural heritage on its character. Landscape Character landscapes, which are tolerant to change, and Medium value: Landscapes with positive Sensitivity assessment of LCT is based on the which have the ability to accommodate characters and with local or county evaluation of pressure types (forces for development pressure. importance. changes) and vulnerability of the landscape Medium sensitivity landscapes can High value: Picturesque landscapes with elements to these changes (Figure 2.). accommodate development pressure, but with scenic routes, natural and cultural heritage of limitations in the scale and magnitude of the county or national importance. Visual Sensitivity is about identifying the development. In this rank of sensitivity the Very high value: Scenic landscapes with visual effect which some development pressure landscape can accept some changes while highest natural and cultural