Truro & Threemilestone Landscape Strategy · the landscape makes up the fundamental structure of...

Truro & ThreemilestoneLandscape StrategySeptember 2008

1Truro Landscape Strategy

1.0 Introduction and Methodology

Purpose of Study and Study Context

MethodologyBaseline DataCollaborative VisioningLandscape StructureLandscape Framework

2.0 Landscape Baseline

Baseline Descriptions and Implications for the Masterplan

1. Basic Geography

Natural Systems2. Landform3. Geology and Hydrology4. Vegetation5. Biodiversity

Land Use and Human Systems6. Heritage and Culture7. Access and Movement

Environmental Character8. Visual Setting 9. Historic and Current Landscape Character

Landscape Change and Development10. Development Pressures and Directions for Growth

3.0 Collaborative Visioning

Vision and Objectives for Truro’s Landscape

4.0 Landscape Framework for Truro

Spatial VisionAccess and Movement NetworkBiodiversity NetworkLandscape Framework Plan

5.0 Delivery

Conditions for Delivery Actions for Delivery

Appendix

Contents

2 Truro Landscape Strategy

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Purpose of Study and Study Context

Truro is a City that has been long defined by the iconic image of the Cathedral and viaduct sitting within the bowl. With a potential growth in households of 50% together with new community and commercial uses it is inevitable that this relationship with its landscape is going to be redefined in some way.

Truro has already outgrown its landscape setting once before. The direction of growth towards Threemilestone has protected the ‘bowl’ but it is probably fair to say that, whilst there has been a clear vision of how the historic city should relate to its setting, there has not been a correspondingly clear vision for how this new urban entity should sit on the Highertown ridge.

The landscape surrounding Truro is fundamental to providing a strong structure for both the historic settlement and the urban extension. The Issues and Options Version of the Truro and Threemilestone Area Action Plan (January to March 2007) highlights significant challenges in the integration of the proposed growth of the city with the surrounding landscape. In addition to fundamental questions (for example how landscape features such as nature reserves, hedges, and trees can be meaningfully integrated into what will become an urban area) there are also major choices for the future with regard to where potential development occurs. This study starts to provide answers to some of these major challenges in a positive way that embraces the concept of sustainable development by integrating social, economic and environmental issues. The study avoids the ‘traditional’ landscape approach which might simply provide a series of constraints to development. It provides a landscape framework which shows how the most important parts of the landscape resource surrounding the town can be used to provide a structure and as an asset for future growth. Where appropriate the landscape strategy also defines the limits to the growth of Truro.

This study complements other studies also being prepared at the time of writing:• A Sustainable Urban Drainage Strategy• A Movement Framework for the City and Urban

Extension Area• An Open Space and Leisure Provision Strategy• The Energy and Sustainability Strategy • A Conservation Area Strategy• A Contributions Strategy

Methodology

Integration with the Landscape Strategy for Truro, Falmouth and PenrynThis study follows from the Landscape Strategy for Truro, Falmouth and Penryn (LDA Design, 2000), which was prepared to inform the review of the Carrick District Local Plan, to assist the Council with making decisions regarding the prospect of future development beyond the existing settlement boundaries of the three towns. In particular, the 2000 study aimed to identify where new development would be more or less acceptable from a landscape perspective and, in those areas which were thought more able to accommodate development, to provide guidance on how it might be designed to fit with its immediate landscape and townscape setting. This new report is intended to be consistent with the 2000 report, but focuses on Truro and Threemilestone. This study has found that the character assessment in the 2000 report remains valid.

A new landscape framework for TruroThe methodology has been developed by LDA Design to ensure that the Truro and Threemilestone Masterplan is prepared with a full understanding of the landscape resource of the city. The approach has also been designed to provide opportunities for a range of stakeholders and members of the public to contribute meaningfully and transparently into the masterplanning process.

The image, identity, economic success and quality of life of any city is often strongly influenced by how it relates to its landscape setting. For example, an iconic town such as Oxford would not be what it is were it not for the way that the floodplains of the Thames and Cherwell Rivers interact with town helping to give it its distinct character. In addition to accommodating biodiversity, providing open space needs, protecting cultural assets and so on, the landscape makes up the fundamental structure of any city and helps to define it as a place. The

methodology has been developed to enable an interrogation of the baseline data so that the potential for the landscape to inform the structure of the city is clearly identified.

The landscape strategy ultimately needs to be deliverable, and the study identifies ways in which the key elements can be delivered through a combination of private sector, public sector and community-led investment.

The main subsections of the methodology are:

• Baseline data (Section 2.0 of the report)• Collaborative Visioning (Section 3.0)• Landscape Framework (Section 4.0)• Delivery Strategy (Section 5.0)

Section 2: Baseline Data

Baseline data were collated in GIS using ArcView 9.2. Data were sourced from the District Council, County Council and consultants working on the Sustainable Urban Drainage Strategy. Data was also sourced from previous work undertaken by LDA Design (The Landscape Strategy for Truro, Falmouth and Penryn; LDA Design, 2000). The following data have been compiled:

1. Basic Geography

Natural Systems2. Landform3. Geology and Hydrology4. Vegetation5. Biodiversity


Environmental Character8. Visual Setting 9. Historic and Current Landscape Character

Landscape Change and Development10. Development Pressures and Directions for Growth

In the baseline analysis the data is compiled into the above categories. Key layers are taken from the baseline analysis to form the spatial vision and landscape framework plans in sections 4 and 5 respectively.

Section 3: Collaborative Visioning

A vision is the intended result of a set of objectives. It is capable of being represented graphically and can be used to convey the aspirations a client or community has for a place. The need to deliver sustainable development means that any vision should address social, economic and environmental issues. A good start for any visioning process therefore is to consider social, economic and environmental objectives and develop a compelling picture of how these can be integrated by the vision for the place. The process of setting objectives and developing the vision is a good opportunity to engage stakeholders and members of the community in a collaborative process.

A series of three workshops was held to identify objectives, develop the vision and inform the masterplan for Truro and Threemilestone.

Stakeholder Workshop 1This workshop involved representatives of the key authorities and agencies concerned with the development of Truro. The aim was to develop clarity about how the landscape setting of Truro should perform as a resource and setting for the city. The session identified the key environmental, economic and social functions of the landscape, particularly those identified by Natural England’s Countryside In and Around Towns Initiative. The following questions were considered:

• How should the landscape setting of Truro provide benefits to the community?

• How can the landscape contribute to the economy and competitiveness of Truro?

• How should the landscape setting of Truro contribute to the quality of the natural and cultural environment of the City?

• Drawing it all together - A vision for the landscape setting of Truro

The second part of the workshop started to identify the key elements of the landscape framework for the City. It involved discussing how the existing landscape resource, groups of trees, hedges, watercourses, and so on, can be brought together with development to ensure that the City continues to have a great setting.

Community Workshop 1Community Workshop 1 was held at the Highertown Church Hall on the 17 November. The workshop included presentations by LDA Design, Cornwall Sustainable Energy Partnership and New Masterplanning, which led on to a series of workshops in small groups looking at the following topics:

• From a landscape perspective what makes Truro the place it is?

• How do we make Truro a sustainable community over the next 20 years?

• What sort of place do we want Truro and Threemilestone to be in 20 years?

Each group identified a set of key priorities for the masterplanning study under each of the topic areas. These are included in Appendix 2. These priorities were used by LDA Design to develop a set of core objectives to underpin the development of the landscape strategy.

Community Workshop 2Community workshop 2 was held at Highertown Church Hall on 19th January 2008. The workshop included presentations by LDA Design and New Masterplanning, which led to a series of workshops in small groups looking at specific areas of change in and around Truro and Threemilestone, including opportunity sites in the city centre, Treliske, Gloweth, Threemilestone, Kenwyn and Higher Newham.

The groups were invited to scrutinize sketch scheme proposals for each of the above areas which were presented by New Masterplanning.

1. Introduction and Methodology

Truro Landscape Strategy

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Section 4: Landscape Framework

The landscape framework section draws on all previous sections. Firstly, it proposes a spatial vision showing how Truro could relate to its landscape setting in the future. It then provides a rational interpretation of this vision for access & movement and biodiversity networks.

A series of plans were compiled, under the following themes:

• Spatial Vision• Access and Movement Network• Biodiversity Network

These three plans come together into a single illustrative landscape framework plan.

The Spatial Vision sets out Truro should sit within its landscape context. The Spatial Vision aims to provide a design-led physical framework for the growth of Truro that is informed by the landscape in which it is set. It identifies those attributes of the landscape surrounding the city that are fundamental to its image and identity as an settlement and shows how they might inform future growth.

The landscape framework shows how Truro can grow whilst preserving its image, identity and key environmental assets. The framework was identified by mapping and linking the most important aspects of the visual, ecological and cultural attributes of the landscape that surround the City. Consideration has also been given to how the landscape contributes to the image and identity of the City and the quality of life it offers its residents. Future character descriptions (pages 38 - 42), which conclude section 5, articulate these qualitative aspects.


5

The following section describes the existing landscape surrounding Truro and Threemilestone through a series of themes:

1. Basic Geography

Natural Systems2. Landform: Elevation, Aspect and Slope3. Geology and Hydrology4. Vegetation5. Biodiversity


Environmental Character8. Visual Setting 9. Current Landscape Character

Landscape Change and Development!0. Development Pressures and Directions for Growth

1. Basic Geography

The basic geography is illustrated in the plan opposite. The features marked are: • The main A and B roads - the A39, A390 and B3284• The railway line - the main line to Penzance and the Falmouth branch line• The four plateaus - the St. Clements, the Kenwyn, the Highertown and the Calenick• The four rivers - the Allen, the Kenwyn, the Calenick and the Truro Rivers• A selection of landmarks - the Cathedral, the railway viaducts, the hospital, new County Hall and the new David Lander School


2. Landscape Baseline

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Basic Geography

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Landmark buildings

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New County HallNew School

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NATURAL SYSTEMS

2. Landform: Elevation, Aspect and Slope

At the macro scale, Truro sits within a natural ‘bowl’ formed by the junction of the Rivers Allen and Kenwyn at their confluence with the Truro River.

The dramatic setting of the City is actually created by the coming together of four ridges: the St. Clements ridge to the east, which marks the eastern boundary of the City; the ridge which terminates at Kenwyn; the Highertown ridge, which has been the focus of much recent development; and the Calenick ridge, which is highly visible from the settlements in Highertown, but which lies outside the landscape setting of the City.

The hills and ridges which surround Truro contain the city, determine its setting and to the north, south and east have naturally limited the extent of built development. In contrast Highertown extends westwards from Truro along a narrow ridgeline. The landform falls away steeply from the Highertown to Threemilestone ridge north and southwards toward the Kenwyn and Tinney river valleys. North of the hospital the land falls away particularly steeply.

At the micro scale there is considerable local complexity in the topography which is closely related to hydrology and drainage patterns. To the south of Highertown the landform sloping down from the ridge is dissected by minor tributaries creating attractive undulations which fall in all directions. Slopes are generally convex which provides a roundness and softness to the undulations in landform.

Implications for the Masterplan:• The form of new development should reflect the

topographic structure of the City’s setting. The convergence of four ridges and three river valleys provides distinctive contrasting settings for the historic City and newer settlement on Highertown ridge.

• Ridges and valleys are natural limits, constraining the outward spread of development. For Truro, the edge of the bowl performs this function. For Highertown, the valleys of the River Kenwyn and the River Tinney do so, although within these broader topographic constraints development must integrate with landscape structure in extent, form and pattern.

• In the City, characteristic views are defined by the green edge to the Truro bowl. These are generally inward looking views which don’t extend beyond the City in the bowl, although there are also some important views along the Truro River. Along the Highertown ridge, settlement has a much more outward looking perspective, with more distant views possible to the Calenick and Kenwyn ridges. In the landscape framework it is therefore important to consider how topography defines views.

• The lower slopes to the north of the hospital fall away steeply to the Kenwyn valley floor. These north facing slopes act as natural constraints to expansion. The landscape framework needs to consider the steepness and shape of the slopes and their appropriateness for development.

• The edge of the Truro bowl contains views of the city and has historically contained its growth. Opportunities should be sought to make use of sites on the edge of the bowl to improve the city’s landscape setting. The masterplan / landscape framework needs to take account of hills and ridgelines which contain views and act as viewsheds.

• Development must respond to the complexity of local topography. The form of new urban areas in Highertown, for example, should reflect the fine variations in slope and aspect formed by the Gloweth Stream and other local drainage lines.

• South-facing slopes, particularly along the Highertown ridge, give the opportunity to optimise solar gain through passive design. The south-facing aspect also has potential for siting photovoltaic arrays.

Aspects of landform are taken forward in the landscape structure analysis (section 4).

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Aspect

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North-facing

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Slope

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© Crown copyright, All rights reserved. 2007 License number 100023554

Treliske Hospital

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Elevation

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Elevation (metres)

100 - 110

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ST CLEMEN

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TINNEY/CALENICK VALLEY

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NATURAL SYSTEMS

3. Geology and Hydrology

Geology Geology strongly influences the character of Truro’s landscape. The bedrock geology of the Variscan belt of strata dictates the landform as well as influencing local soil and habitat types and providing the opportunities for mining which have shaped the area’s cultural landscape (see Land Use and Human Systems 5. Heritage and Culture).

The Variscan belt of Strata extends across Europe from the edge of the Carpathian mountains to south-west England. A common feature of parts of the Variscan belt is the presence of folded strata, such as slate, together with locally extensive granite masses. This association is the product of a period of violent earth movement that occurred some 300 million years before the present, when two continental masses were in collision along an extensive common boundary. The period of compression that resulted in the folding and fracturing of the Earth’s crust, and also in melting of the deeper crust, was followed by an uplift of the deformed strata to form a mountain chain. Erosion followed over a long period during the Permian and Triassic eras, when the area that is now South West England was an arid desert in equatorial latitudes. The grey slate and crystalline granite that are seen around the coasts and in inland quarries in present day Cornwall represent the roots of the former mountain range exposed by deep erosion. (County Minerals Local Plan, 1998)

Soilscape (accessed through www.magic.gov.uk, February 2008) indicates the soil geology to be primarily composed of freely draining slightly acid loams. The main land cover associated with these is arable and grassland. The soil type is consistent with the locally characteristic habitats of neutral and acid pastures, deciduous woodlands and acid communities such as bracken and gorse in more upland areas.

HydrologyTruro lies at the confluence of the River Allen and River Kenwyn where they combine to form the tidal Truro River. The River Tinney, also known as the Calenick Stream, flows into Calenick Creek which merges with the Truro River to the south of the City. The river valleys provide a setting for the City and are a strong linear feature in its wider landscape.

The River Kenwyn flows eastwards, north of the Highertown – Threemilestone ridge, into Truro. The river is heavily modified and culverted in places, before its confluence with the River Allen. It then flows southwards into the intertidal area at Garras Wharf. The River Tinney flows eastwards, south of the Highertown - Threemilestone ridge, and discharges to Calenick Creek. The watershed between the main watercourses lies close to the route of the A390 with the River Kenwyn draining land to the north and the River Tinney draining land to the south.

Tributary streams add to the complexity in landform, draining land to the north and south before joining with the River Kenwyn and River Tinney respectively. More detail on the baseline hydrology is given in the SUDs Strategy.

Implications for the Masterplan:• The river valleys structure the landscape and

have influenced the urban form. This should be emphasized by defining and enhancing the character of the River Valleys, strengthening their role in providing a landscape setting for Truro and Threemilestone. For Truro the Rivers Allen, Kenwyn and the Truro River itself are important. For Highertown, the focus should be on the Kenwyn and the Tinney, their tributaries and the landscape structure these provide for Threemilestone and its connection to Truro.

• Reconnect Truro to its river and harbour front. The river is the economic reason for Truro’s location and is an under-performing asset. Masterplanning of the city and quay area would be big factors in re-connecting the town to its landscape. Areas of landscape near the Truro River, such as Higher Newham and Boscawen Park should be significant components of this masterplan.

• Improve accessibility to and along the Rivers for people wildlife. The River Valleys, in particular the Kenwyn and the Tinney should be principal links connecting Threemilestone to Truro for walking and cycling. Containing river and woodland habitats, and linking to heathland and grassland on the valleysides, for example Carrine Common, Bussavean Meadows or Nansavallen Wood, the valleys are key connectors in Truro’s habitat network.

Aspects of this baseline hydrological information are taken forward in the landscape structure analysis (section 4) and biodiversity network plans (section 5).

Truro River from Boscowen Park


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Hydrology

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Kea Stream

River Allen

River TruroRiver Tinney

Carrine Stream

Gloweth Stream

Treliske StreamRiver Kenwyn

River Kenwyn

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Truro River

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Rivers and streams

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NATURAL SYSTEMS

4. Vegetation

As well as some large woodland blocks (Nansavallan and Treworder Wood) the Allen, Kenwick and Tinney Valleys form low lying wooded corridors providing strong structure and enclosure within the landscape. Intact hedgerows define medium sized fields with a particularly intimate pattern of small field and mature hedgerows to the south of the Truro to Redruth Railway line.

Heathland: Consistent with the geology of the area, heathland is evident in the landscape to the south of Highertown, along roadsides and at Carrine Common. The heathland habitats are of value in biodiversity terms.

Principal woodland blocks: The vegetation plan opposite differentiates from OS Mastermap data the principal woodland blocks, which have been verified against aerial photography. Most of the woodland in the Truro and Threemilestone area is contained within the lower lying valleys. There are some dominant blocks on slopes visible from the Highertown Ridge, for example, Nansavallan Wood to the south of Penwithers Junction.

Landmark groupings of trees: Within the setting of Truro and Threemilestone, there are several prominent groupings of trees which are located on higher ground, or on the visible slopes which line the edge of Truro’s bowl. These groups include: • the ring of trees at the ancient settlement to the

north of Treliske, when viewed from the Highertown Ridge.

• the golf course provides a parkland setting to Treliske with prominent groups of pines, especially when viewed from the north.

• prominent tree groupings north west of Penventinne, at Killagorden and Malpas (Trennick Parkland).

Hedgerow patterns: There are areas of distinctive hedgerow patterns in the landscape surrounding Truro. The area to the south and southwest of the Highertown Ridge contains areas of post-medievel

farmland with intricate and complex small-scale fields, often surrounded by tall hedgerows. There are strongly recognisable patterns on some of the slopes on the edge of Truro, including on the steep slopes either side of Kenwyn / Pencarrick and near Trennick Lane and the Truro River. By contrast, many of the plateaus have larger fields and less intricate hedgerow structures, due to being better suited to modern farming.

Implications for the Masterplan:• Vegetation is an important structural element in the

landscapes surrounding Truro and Threemilestone. The network of wooded river valleys, the vegetation which lines green lanes, hedgerows and particular blocks of landmark vegetation will form an important layer within the landscape framework.

• At the scale of Truro, the River Kenwyn and Tinney are the principal west to east corridors. More locally, the tributaries of these and the other main rivers tend to provide local corridors which are well vegetated. This is complemented by the hedgerow structure of the landscape. The masterplan needs to ensure green infrastructure is part of the new development and that it connects new and existing development.

• The masterplan needs to consider the existing hedgerow pattern and its role in informing the layout of new development. Keep important hedgerows, enhancing the hedgerow structure where supportive of distinctive character, for example in certain areas to the south of Threemilestone.

• Differences in the character of vegetation to the north and south of Highertown should encourage different characters to come through in urban development.

• The ring of trees surrounding the ancient settlement to the north of Gloweth is important, as are significant blocks of woodland at Nansavallen and Newbridge.Elsewhere, distictive groupings of individual trees such as the pines on the Treliske golf course and east of Boscawen Park act as important landmarks, particularly if they are seen as part of the setting of build development. The masterplan should preserve landmark groupings of trees.

Aspects of this baseline vegetation information are taken forward in the biodiversity network plans (section 5).

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Hedgerows and Field Patterns

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Landmark tree groupings on the golf course Nansavallen Wood from new County Hall


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Coniferous treesNon-coniferous treesScrubHeathMarsh and reedsRough grasslandOrchardRivers and streamsMM_Truro_inland_water

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NATURAL SYSTEMS

5. Biodiversity

Rivers (the mudflats of Upper Truro River), woodlands (Nansavallon Wood, Treworder Woods), heathland (Carrine Common Halbullock Moor) and hedgerows provide a rich mosaic of habitats in the landscape surrounding the City.

Designated sitesThere are a number of European and Nationally designated nature conservation sites in Truro’s landscape setting shown on the plan opposite.

Fal and Helford estuary, to the south and east of Higher Newham, and Carrine Common, are both designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC). SACs are areas which have been given special protection under the European Union’s Habitats Directive.

Carrine Common is one of only four known outstanding localities in the United Kingdom of Temperate Atlantic wet heaths with Erica ciliaris and Erica tetralix. It has a large area of Dorset heath Erica ciliaris and is important for the representation of the full geographical distribution of temperate Atlantic wet heaths. This site also takes account of the ecological variation of the habitat type, as E. ciliaris at Carrine Common occurs on soils that appear to be more free-draining than is usually the case in Dorset and elsewhere in Cornwall. The occurrence of this habitat type under such conditions is thought to reflect the highly oceanic climate of Cornwall. (www.jncc.gov.uk, accessed February 2008).

The following habitats are the primary reasons for designating The Fal and Helford SAC: • Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time - the low tidal range and a wide range of substrates results in biologically one of the richest examples of sandbanks in the UK. • Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide - the SAC supports examples of sheltered intertidal mudflats and sandflats representative of south-west England, and is particularly recognised for the importance of the species living in the sediments,

including amphipods, polychaete worms, the sea cucumber Leptopentacta elongata and bivalve molluscs. •Large shallow inlets and bays - the SAC is a ria system in that supports a wide range of communities representative of marine inlets and shallow bays. The rias of the Fal and Helford have only a low freshwater input and as a result the area contains a range of fully marine habitats from extremely sheltered in the inlets to the wave-exposed, tide-swept open coast. • Atlantic salt meadows (Glauco-Puccinellietalia maritimae) - The Fal and Helford is an example of saltmarsh vegetation in a ria (drowned river valley), a physiographic type restricted to south-west England and west Wales. There is a narrow saltmarsh zonation typical of rias, from pioneer to upper marsh, and transitions to woodland where the fringing trees overhang the tidal river, an unusual juxtaposition of vegetation in the UK. (www.jncc.gov.uk, accessed February 2008).

Carrine Common/Penweathers, the Malpas Estuary to the east of Higher Newham and Carrick Heaths, south of Shortlanesend and east of Roseworthy are all designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). A SSSI is an area of special interest within the United Kingdom by reason of its flora, fauna, geographical or physiological interest.

County Wildlife Sites are designated at Bussavean Meadows to the south of Shortlanesend and east of Roseworthy, Treworder Woods to the north of Treliske, Halbullock Moor to the north of and adjoining Newbridge Farm, Nansavallon Wood to the south and on the other side of the River Tinney to Trethowan and Tregothnan Estates, Carrine Common and the Upper Truro River.

Halbullock Moor is also a Cornwall Wildlife Trust Reserve, as is Fox Corner located in the grounds of New County Hall between the Richard Lander and Tregothnan Estates sites.

Implications for the Masterplan:• The River Valleys of the Kenwyn and the Tinney and

their tributaries are particularly important aspects of the habitat network and development should ensure their enhancement. The landscape framework should enhance connectivity of habitats to create green corridors for wildlife and people.

• The masterplan should knit biodiversity into the urban fabric, through green character areas which structure new development in greenfield sites, and through re-naturalising parts of the river system in the city which have lost their landscape and wildlife interest.

• In certain parts of the landscape, extensive ‘re-wilding’ should be considered to increase the local cover of biodiverse habitats, such as heathland, typified locally by Carrine Common.

• Biodiversity permeates the wider agricultural and urban landscape. Whilst the plan opposite shows only the designated / more important sites, a critical aspect of future work on biodiversity networks (see Section 5) will be the consideration of this wider biodiversity asset.

Aspects of the biodiversity baseline are taken forward in the biodiversity network plan (section 5).

Carrine Common

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