Hertfordshire County Council The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and...

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Hertfordshire County Council www.hertsdirect.org/landscape The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications

Transcript of Hertfordshire County Council The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and...

Page 1: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment

Applications and implications

Page 2: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

This presentation

• Introduction to 2001-5 landscape character assessment

• How it differs from the predecessors

• Using landscape character assessments– current applications– potential applications– implications of increased use

Page 3: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

Introduction to the 2001-5 landscape character assessment

Page 4: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

What is it?

• process of looking at the landscape systematically, based on national guidance – analysis (physical,historical,cultural,social)– classification of landscape into types, or areas– careful description– evaluation - as a separate strand

• leads to a mosaic of areas on a map and relevant information about each area

Page 5: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

Why do it?

• not a statutory requirement but…

• promoted by Countryside Commission/ Agency

• strongly encouraged by PPG7 & GPG

• regarded as an improved basis for strategy/policy for the wider landscape

• seems to be popular with stakeholders and other authorities, e.g. CPRE, HBF

Page 6: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

Who is involved?

• Nationally: Countryside Agency has produced guidance on methodology

• Locally: – County & District councils– Landscape planning consultants– Community representatives

• Very locally: Town/Parish Councils & Developers

Page 7: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

How much has been done so far?

67%

rural

Herts

since

2001

100%

by

2005

Page 8: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

What does an area statement look like?

See

http://www.hertsdirect.org/landscape

Page 9: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

Why the latest assessments are better than their predecessors

Page 10: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

1969 Countryside Appraisal

Page 11: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

1969 Tracts were schematic

Page 12: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

New boundaries follow physical landscape

Page 13: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

Boundaries are not the only mismatch

Page 14: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

This plain area was rated v.highly in 1969

Page 15: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

Whereas places like Nomansland were not

Page 16: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

Current application of landscape character assessments

Page 17: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

Testing landscape change for impact on landscape character

Just one example: Tewin plotlands

Page 18: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

View of Tewin plotlands

Page 19: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

This is what the character description says

• A consistent parkland character overlies any change in topography throughout this sinuous ribbon of floodplain pasture and woodland. Twentieth-century development and the busy transport network mask this character in some places.

Page 20: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

These should be the key characteristics

• ribbon of floodplain pasture/woodland

• isolated farms/mills along + on slope foot

• dense boundary planting stopping views

• limited commercial diversification in valley

• pasture in river valley with some arable

• arable on gentle valley slopes

• abrupt transition to urban edge

Page 21: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

This is the expected field pattern

• Field boundaries are either estate fencing or overgrown hedgerows, usually of oak or ash. Boundaries are more often oak or ash copses or plantation, to screen views in, frequently mature or over-mature. Field sizes vary from small (pasture) to medium (arable).

Page 22: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

This is what the community thinks

• This is a distinctive and valued valley landscape. (HCC/MORI survey 2001)

• 'The whole of the beautiful valley from Welwin (sic) to Hertford, including Digswell, Tewin Water, Panshanger and Cole Green, belonging to the same noble family...while each possesses its independent privacy and seclusion, their united woods and lawns will by extending through the whole valley, enrich the general face of the county.' (Repton)

Page 23: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

These are the strategic guidelines

• protect historic parkland character

• screen from neighbouring development

• retain and manage pasture

• maintain watercourse and riverbanks

• link wetland habitats

• support agri-environmental schemes

Page 24: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

But this is what plotlands do

• Reduce the validity of character summary

• Affect more than 2 key characteristics

• Introduce an untypical field pattern

• add nothing towards the strategic guidelines

• affect a significant part of Area 42

VERDICT: Plotlands are not in character

Page 25: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

Some limitations of the character approach

Page 26: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

Some limitations of character approach

• Reliant on planning context including – extent of Article 4 declarations, – uptake by change agents (e.g landowners,

DEFRA) and regulators – community support

• Incomplete coverage (e.g. nr Stansted, and urban areas)

Page 27: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

What are they being used for?

• Advise Local plan policy

• Provide a context for other documents (e.g. WCCF Plans, Parish Plans, EIAs)

• Countryside Interpretation

• Helping classify the suitability of areas for mineral extraction (this required a further evaluation stage undertaken by HCC’s CDU)

Page 28: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

Potential applications

Page 29: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

Testing AONB & Conservation areas

Page 30: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

Guiding habitat creation

Page 31: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

Refining high biodiversity area boundaries

Page 32: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

What else might they be used for?

• Educating e.g. re. historic environment

• Informing AONB action plans

• Storing other data

• Inspiring local “Friends” groups or area wardens (?)

Page 33: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

Implications

Page 34: Hertfordshire County Council  The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and implications.

Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape

Some implications

• Early to say, but

• New lease of life for landscape policies; there was no “do nothing” option

• Systematic & inclusive = more acceptable

• Detailed and networked data resource

• Offers win-win “sustainable” solutions

• May lead to better designated areas