Birmingham Eastside Extension ES Volume 2 Technical Appendix P1: Townscape and Visual Amenity Technical Information MMD-300207-HS30-DOC-0000-1039 October 2016 West Midlands Combined Authority Birmingham Eastside Extension Townscape and Visual Amenity Technical Information Issue and revision record Revision Date Originator Checker Coordinator Approver Description A June 2016 NI CP CS KL First draft JM B October 2016 NI CP CS KL Final for submission JM Information class: Standard This document is issued for the party which commissioned it We accept no responsibility for the consequences of this and for specific purposes connected with the above-captioned document being relied upon by any other party, or being used project only. It should not be relied upon by any other party or for any other purpose, or containing any error or omission used for any other purpose. which is due to an error or omission in data supplied to us by other parties. This document contains confidential information and proprietary intellectual property. It should not be shown to other parties without consent from us and from the party which commissioned it. MMD/300207/HS30/DOC/0000/1039/B October 2016 http://pims01/pims/llisapi.dll?func=ll&objId=2093542628&objAction=browse&viewType=1 Birmingham Eastside Extension Townscape and Visual Amenity Technical Information Contents Chapter Title Page 1 Townscape and Visual Amenity 1 1.1 Background _______________________________________________________________________ 1 1.2 Legislation, Policy Guidance and Best Practice ____________________________________________ 1 The European Landscape Convention (Florence, 2000) _____________________________________ 1 National Planning Policy Framework (2012) _______________________________________________ 1 Birmingham Big City Plan – City Centre Masterplan, (2011) __________________________________ 1 Birmingham Development Plan (Emerging) _______________________________________________ 2 Birmingham Curzon HS2 Masterplan - Masterplan for Growth (2015) ___________________________ 2 1.3 Methodology _______________________________________________________________________ 2 Assessment criteria _________________________________________________________________ 2 1.4 Baseline Conditions _________________________________________________________________ 2 Townscape resource ________________________________________________________________ 2 Visual amenity _____________________________________________________________________ 4 1.5 Magnitude of impact _________________________________________________________________ 5 Townscape resource ________________________________________________________________ 5 Visual amenity _____________________________________________________________________ 5 1.6 Assessment of Significance ___________________________________________________________ 6 1.7 Baseline Information _________________________________________________________________ 7 Visual receptors ____________________________________________________________________ 7 MMD/300207/HS30/DOC/0000/1039/B October 2016 http://pims01/pims/llisapi.dll?func=ll&objId=2093542628&objAction=browse&viewType=1 Birmingham Eastside Extension Townscape and Visual Amenity Technical Information i MMD/300207/HS30/DOC/0000/1039/B October 2016 http://pims01/pims/llisapi.dll?func=ll&objId=2093542628&objAction=browse&viewType=1 Birmingham Eastside Extension Townscape and Visual Amenity Technical Information 1 Townscape and Visual Amenity 1.1 Background 1.1.1 This chapter should be read in conjunction with ES Volume 1 Main Statement Chapter 13 Townscape and Visual Amenity. The purpose of the townscape and visual assessment is to recognise, understand and interpret the character and value of the townscape setting of the BEE and the visual amenity of identified visual receptors. The assessment identifies the predicted impacts of the proposed design and assesses their significance. 1.2 Legislation, Policy Guidance and Best Practice The European Landscape Convention (Florence, 2000) 1.2.1 The European Landscape Convention introduced a Europe-wide concept centring on the quality of landscape protection, management and planning and covering the entire territory, not just outstanding landscape. It complements the Council of Europe's and UNESCO's heritage conventions. National Planning Policy Framework (2012) 1.2.2 The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) attaches importance to the character of the built environment, emphasising that developments should add to the overall quality of the area, respond to local character and history and reflect the identity of local surroundings and materials. The provisions relevant to the proposed development are included in the following sections: Section 2: Ensuring the vitality of town centres; Section 7: Requiring good design; and Section 11: Conserving and enhancing the natural environment. Birmingham Big City Plan – City Centre Masterplan, (2011) 1.2.3 The Birmingham Big City Plan - City Centre Masterplan is a non-statutory planning and regeneration framework for Birmingham City Centre. The masterplan sets out Birmingham City Council’s vision for Birmingham City Centre over the next 20 years. 1.2.4 The provisions relevant to the BEE are included in the following extracts from the plan: 1.2.5 Eastside Section: “Eastside City Park will create a key focal point for the area providing a catalyst for regeneration. The park will create a pleasant and walkable route connecting the different elements of Eastside to the City Core and eastwards to beyond the Middleway. The delivery of the Eastside City Park will be a priority (page 50: Public Realm)”. 1.2.6 Digbeth: “The High Street (including Digbeth High Street Deritend and High Street Bordesley) currently acts as a major block to movement in and through the quarter. We will support the 1 MMD/300207/HS30/DOC/0000/1039/B October 2016 http://pims01/pims/llisapi.dll?func=ll&objId=2093542628&objAction=browse&viewType=1 Birmingham Eastside Extension Townscape and Visual Amenity Technical Information remodelling of this road to reduce car dominance, introducing an improved pedestrian environment and create space for activity along its length (page 54: Connected City)”. Birmingham Development Plan (Emerging) 1.2.7 Policies relevant to the BEE are: Policy PG3 - Place making Policy GA1 - City Centre Policy TP7 - Green infrastructure network Policy TP12 - Historic environment Birmingham Curzon HS2 Masterplan - Masterplan for Growth (2015) 1.2.8 The Birmingham Curzon HS2 Masterplan sets out the approach to future development, building upon the work of the Eastside Masterplan and the Birmingham Big City Plan. It provides a vision and framework for the future development of the HS2 city centre terminus and the wider regeneration of Eastside, Digbeth and the eastern fringe of the city centre core. 1.3 Methodology Assessment criteria 1.3.1 The townscape and visual impact assessment (TVIA) was undertaken in accordance with the guidance contained in the ‘Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment’, Third Edition (GLVIA 3) published by the Landscape Institute with the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment in 2013.Although the above refers to ‘landscape’, the European Landscape Convention’s definition of landscape confirms that it includes the landscapes of villages, towns and cities, i.e. townscapes. ‘Townscape’ is defined as the landscape within the built-up area, including the buildings and the relationships between them (paragraph 2.7 in GLVIA 3). 1.3.2 The assessment used structured, informed and reasoned professional judgement, taking into account data derived from desk study and fieldwork. This provided the basis of information against which to predict levels of potential impacts and effects and to assess the significance of such effects. 1.4 Baseline Conditions Townscape resource 1.4.1 The baseline study identified the existing character of the townscape, its constituent elements, features and its geographical and historical context. It assessed the condition of the 2 MMD/300207/HS30/DOC/0000/1039/B October 2016 http://pims01/pims/llisapi.dll?func=ll&objId=2093542628&objAction=browse&viewType=1 Birmingham Eastside Extension Townscape and Visual Amenity Technical Information townscape, the way it is experienced, the value attached to it and its susceptibility to change – defined as the ability of the townscape receptor to accommodate the BEE without undue consequences for the maintenance of the baseline situation. 1.4.2 Key sources of information included Ordnance Survey (OS) mapping, aerial photography, local authority plans, conservation area appraisals and existing character assessments. The Landscape Character Area Profile (Natural England, 2014) provided the wider landscape context of the site area. The findings of the desk study were reviewed in conjunction with the site survey to identify local townscape character areas - broadly homogeneous units of distinct features and elements – based on the quarters identified and described in the Birmingham Big City Plan (BCC, 2011), (the planning and regeneration framework for Birmingham City Centre) through which the BEE passes. 1.4.3 The resources that were considered for townscape comprise: context and relationship with the wider landscape; topography; patterns and types of land uses past and present; designated land or designated townscape features, for example conservation areas, historic parks and gardens, listed buildings etc; pattern and grain of built form; layout