Proposed Development on Land at East Surrey Hospital, Surrey Landscape & Visual Baseline Appraisal September 2017 DLA/1801/LVA/RPT/01/Rev B Land at East Surrey Hospital, Surrey Landscape & Visual Baseline Appraisal Contents Executive Summary 1 1.1 Purpose 2 4 Visual Assessment 20 1.2 Site Location 2 4.1 Visual Envelope 20 1.3 Proposals 3 4.2 Views from the North 22 1.4 Study Area and ZTV (zone of theoretical visibility) 4 4.3 Views from the East 28 2 Methodology and policy overview 5 4.4 Views from the South 34 2.1 Assessment Methodology 5 4.5 Views from the West 42 2.2 Policy Context and the Emerging Evidence Base 6 5 Landscape Capacity 49 3 Baseline Assessment 7 6 Landscape Constraints and Opportunities 52 NOTICE 3.1 Resources 7 6.1 Constraints 52 This document has been produced on behalf of the Surrey and Sussex Healthcare Trust, by Davies 3.2 Statutory and Non-statutory Designations 7 6.2 Landscape Strategy 53 Landscape Architects for the sole purpose of providing information for the for the project below: 6.3 Site’s Contribution to Green Belt 54 Document Title: Proposed development of Land at East Surrey Hospital, Surrey 3.3 Relationship to the existing Settlement 8 3.4 Access and Public Rights of Way (PRoW) 8 Document Reference: DLA/1801/LVA/RPT/01/Rev B 3.5 Landscape Character 10 This document may not be used by any person for the purpose other than which it is intended without the express written permission of DLA. Any liability arising out of use by a third party for a purpose not 3.6 Opportunities 11 wholly connected with the above shall be of that party who shall indemnify DLA against all claims, costs, damages and losses arising out of such use. 3.7 Topography, Hydrology and Geology 12 Document History 3.8 Landuse 13 Rev. Purpose Author Checked Reviewed Authorised Date DRAFT SH NP SH/NP MD 21.07.17 3.9 Built Form 14 A DRAFT SH NP SH/NP MD 16.08.17 B DRAFT SH NP SH/NP MD 13.09.17 3.10 Key Landscape Features 15 3.11 Aesthetics and Perceptions 18 Revision Description Of Changes A Height info & illustrative plan added - refined landscape and GB strategy B Text amendments DLA, Suite F1 & F2, Stroud House, Russell Street, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 3AN, Tel: 01453 760380 Email: [email protected] Land at East Surrey Hospital, Surrey Landscape & Visual Baseline Appraisal EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This Landscape and Visual Baseline Appraisal (LVBA) has of further expansion within the next plan period - A landscape framework, appropriate to the scale, will be been prepared to support the promotion and emerging the overall removal of the MEDS (15.7ha/0.18%) introduced to provide a quality setting and improve the Development Brief for the proposed expansion of the East and additional area (8.6ha – 0.09%) equates to current low quality incoherent approaches and setting of the Surrey Hospital and its facilities. 0.27% of the Reigate and Banstead Green Belt; hospital. and The development boundary has been driven by the initial • Providing significant enhancement of the current The landscape appraisal has concluded that the landscape, ecological and historical constraints and has landscape and ecological baseline. development site has a slight sensitivity and value which taken into consideration the following aspects: equates to a high capacity for development. The initial baseline and development strategies have identified • Retention of all key and quality landscape and that the current influence, both in visual and character terms, ecological features such as the Ancient Woodland is heavily restricted to its immediate boundaries by significant and hedgerows; woodland, hedgerow and built form. • Preserving the current setting of The Royal Earlswood Institute building and views from The development parcel is not viewed or associated within housing to the north; the wider higher quality agricultural landscapes to the east and south. • Locating the majority of development within the Major Existing Development Site (MEDS) and surrounding areas that have been disturbed/ Views of the hospital are primarily restricted to the chimney affected by historic and existing development; with only glimpsed views of the three storey elements within the site afforded. Any further development will be viewed • Definition of a defensible parcel that could against these and kept to a similar scale. potentially be removed from Green Belt, whilst allowing the surrounding area to retain its current contribution to Green Belt and perceived openness and accomodating for future-proofing Page | 1 Land at East Surrey Hospital, Surrey Landscape & Visual Baseline Appraisal 1 LANDSCAPE & VISUAL BASELINE 1.1 Purpose 1.1.1 This Landscape and Visual Baseline Appraisal (LVBA) has been prepared to support the promotion and emerging Development Brief for the proposed expansion of the East Surrey Hospital and its facilities. 1.2 Site Location 1.2.1 East Surrey Hospital is located between the settlements of Earlswood to the north and Whitebushes to the south. The small residential development of Royal Earlswood Park lies directly north of the hospital and incorporates the former Grade II listed Royal Earlswood Institution buildings. 1.2.2 The hospital and its surrounds lie within the Metropolitan Green Belt. 1.2.3 The proposed area for consideration of development is shown on Figure 1. The area equates to 34.6ha, 15.7ha of which is allocated as a Major Existing Developed Site (MEDS) within the Local Plan and forms 0.18% of the Reigate and Banstead Green Belt. The area identified for potential removal within the development framework (outside of the MEDS) equates to 8.6ha – 0.09% of the Green Belt. Figure 1 - Location Plan Page | 2 Land at East Surrey Hospital, Surrey Landscape & Visual Baseline Appraisal 1.3 Proposals 1.3.1 At this stage of the process the NHS are looking at the potential development of the following: • Private Patients Hospital; • Rehabilitation Centre; • Outpatients Centre; • MRI centre expansion; and • Potential residential development (for key workers). 1.3.2 The main aspiration is to provide a comprehensive masterplan that will afford the Trust the capacity to adapt to the ever-changing needs but have an assurance of a well designed and legible landscape framework. Figure 2 - Illustrative Masterplan produced by David Lock Associates Page | 3 Land at East Surrey Hospital, Surrey Landscape & Visual Baseline Appraisal 1.4 STUDY AREA AND ZTV (ZONE OF THEORETICAL VISIBILITY) 1.4.1 The study area and potential receptors have derived from ZTV analysis. The Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (GLVIA) recognises ZTV analysis as an appropriate approach for defining study areas of large scale developments and potential Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) development and is therefore considered appropriate for this site. 1.4.2 The ZTV has been prepared using a Digital Terrain Model (DTM) 5m NEXTMap data sets which provide an elevation accuracy of +/-1m. A transmitter has been located within the highest part of the site to provide a more accurate spread of data over the site. Vegetation and buildings have been included to provide a more accurate representation of the potential study area. 1.4.3 The process has been repeated at existing levels (bare earth) and the transmitter set at 12m AOD heights to provide an indication of the range of potential receptors. This would equate to a 3 Figure 3 - Initial ZTV with transmitter set a 12m above bare earth storey building. Royal Earlswood Institute tower (28m height) 1.4.6 This data, along with cross sectional and further were visible from these locations. This is due to site analysis, will be used to identify the potential 1.4.4 This has resulted in identification of potential significant mature intervening vegetation that is height parameters within the site. locations for further site investigation to record not interpolated into the Ordnance Survey (OS) and analyse the potential availability of views and mapping. influential factors. The ZTV assessments identified views to the west of the railway line and Earlswood 1.4.5 Following on from observations made during site to the north. South Nutfield to the northeast visits, additional information regarding screening and areas east of the M23 were discounted as (both vegetation and built form) will be entered neither the hospital chimney (26.8m height) or into the ZTV to provide a more accurate ‘View Page | 4 Shed’. Land at East Surrey Hospital, Surrey Landscape & Visual Baseline Appraisal • A review of all relevant landscape planning polices 2 METHODOLOGY AND POLICY Green Belt and local examination evidence bases; OVERVIEW 2.1.3 The assessment into the site’s contribution has • A review of all relevant landscape character been based on the methodology set out within the 2.1 Assessment Methodology assessments; Reigate and Banstead Development Management Plan (Regulation 18 Stage) Green Belt Review 2.1.1 The baseline and capacity assessment is • A thorough understanding of the site context - June 2016. Additional criteria has also been undertaken by fully chartered (CMLI) and through a combination of desk study and field included to identify and define existing and new experienced landscape professionals using visits, including landscape designations, landuse, boundaries and to provide a further level of techniques and best practice guidance in development patterns, landscape character and assessment to consider against the purposes of accordance with the following guidelines: locally important features; Green Belt (Appendix E). • ‘Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact • Identification of likely receptor groups including Assessment’ (GLVIA) - Landscape Institute & residences, Public Rights of Way (PRoW), Landscape Capacity and Sensitivity the Institute of Environmental Management and transport routes and historical or cultural 2.1.4 Reigate and Banstead currently have no such Assessment, 2013 (Third edition); landmarks and settings.