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Hertfordshire County Council The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and...
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Transcript of Hertfordshire County Council The Hertfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Applications and...
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape
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
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape
Introduction to the 2001-5 landscape character assessment
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
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
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
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape
How much has been done so far?
67%
rural
Herts
since
2001
100%
by
2005
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape
What does an area statement look like?
See
http://www.hertsdirect.org/landscape
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape
Why the latest assessments are better than their predecessors
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape
1969 Countryside Appraisal
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape
1969 Tracts were schematic
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape
New boundaries follow physical landscape
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape
Boundaries are not the only mismatch
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape
This plain area was rated v.highly in 1969
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape
Whereas places like Nomansland were not
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape
Current application of landscape character assessments
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape
Testing landscape change for impact on landscape character
Just one example: Tewin plotlands
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape
View of Tewin plotlands
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.
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
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).
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)
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
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
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape
Some limitations of the character approach
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)
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)
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape
Potential applications
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape
Testing AONB & Conservation areas
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape
Guiding habitat creation
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape
Refining high biodiversity area boundaries
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 (?)
Hertfordshire County Councilwww.hertsdirect.org/landscape
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