Landscape and Visual Impact (Operational Phase)
Introduction etc.
Landscape results from the way that different components of the land, both natural (such as geology) and cultural (such as land use), interact together and are perceived by people. Some of the reasons why landscape is important are given in Table 1.
Table 1. Reasons why landscape is important.
| A natural resource (and for the way that the resource is used by society). |
| An environment for plants and animals (including humans). |
| A reservoir of archaeological and historical evidence. |
| A resource that evokes human responses and contributes to our urban and rural quality of life. |
| A valuable recreation resource. |
The minerals industry is virtually unique amongst all forms of development, in that it can both utilise the resource and yet restore a "greenfield" use and appearance, in contrast to permanent built development. Understanding the inherent structure of the landscape enables the industry to design the extent, working method and restoration of quarries, such that they reflect and enhance local landscape character.
The Landscape Institute has published an extremely useful "Guide for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment" 247 which is not available on-line but can be obtained through the publications section of the Landscape Institute website.
Potential Effects
Landscape changes and visual intrusion can be major planning problems but do not give rise to as many complaints as might be expected during operation. When complaints are made, they are more likely to arise from abrupt changes, such as the erection of a noise fence or bund, or the arrival of process plant, than from the slow changes brought about by excavation. A freshly exposed rock face is noticeable by contrast with its surroundings and a break in the skyline is particularly obvious. The size of a mine/quarry is not itself necessarily the problem unless it is out of scale with its surroundings. Vehicles on access roads and especially processing plant can be very visually intrusive. Lights in workings frequently give rise to complaints due to their adverse effects on amenity, the glare they cause and the distraction and danger to traffic.
The potential effect of mineral workings on the landscape and visual environment needs to be assessed before permission to work a site is granted. Although there is a strong link between them, landscape and visual impact assessments involve different procedures because the possible effects being investigated are different.
Landscape effects arise where a development causes change in the physical landscape. Changes or removal of elements in the landscape (e.g. tree, slope, and field boundary vegetation) may give rise to changes in the character of the landscape and how it is experienced.
Visual effects arise where a development causes changes in the composition and extent of available views, as a result of changes to the landscape.
The landscape baseline, its analysis and assessment of landscape effects all contribute to the baseline for the visual assessment.
The potential landscape/visual effects of mineral working differ markedly during the extraction phases and post restoration. Landscape effects during the extraction phases (Table 2) are associated with loss of features and temporary changes in local character. Permanent landscape effects arise post restoration (Table 3) and may have a visual dimension, particularly if rock faces are left bare, as has often been the case in the past. However, the majority of adverse visual effects are caused by the extraction phases of mineral working and are therefore temporary. Sometimes it is the landscaping measures themselves which cause concern. Some people might rather have a view of the site than nothing but the face of the screening mound.
Table 2. Potential landscape/visual effects during operations.
| Introduction of potentially discordant feature into the landscape resulting in visual intrusion and changes to landscape character, e.g. quarry face, soil stockpile, plant, lighting, signage (Photographs 1 and 2). |
| Excavation and associated working resulting in loss of landscape feature e.g. topographical changes, loss of vegetation (woodland, hedges), interruption of field pattern (hedge/wall removal) which causes changes in landscape character (Photograph 3). |
| Mineral operations block existing views across the local area (e.g. soil bunds and stockpiles). |
Table 3. Potential landscape/visual effects post restoration.
| Introduction of new landscape features. |
| Creation of landscape with different character to that which existed prior to mineral working (correlates with introduction of new features). |
| Changes in character of views associated with different landscape character. |
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Photograph 1. Exposed quarry face; major impact on high quality landscape. |
Photograph 2. One well designed and positioned sign should be adequate! |
| Legacy sites (which have ceased working and had little or no restoration) are not directly relevant to this website, but a number of ALS projects have considered how the problems associated with them can be addressed. Problems include large abandoned faces, and poor quality soil conditions giving rise to plant growth which may be out of character with the surrounding area. It is likely that people's individual perception of a quarry (whether active or post restoration) will be influenced to some extent by their involvement with it. ALSF projects have attempted to enhance community engagement through a variety of arts and education activities, so that people see the operational or restored quarry as a resource, rather than a problem. |
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Photograph 3. Loss of landscape features causing substantial changes. |
Design Issues
Development of an extent and form related to the site
The Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations require the Environmental Statement (ES) to demonstrate how significant environmental effects have been avoided, reduced and, if possible, remedied.
In landscape terms, that means landscape being an integral part of the project design process, with the quarry extent, form and design emerging from local assessment. Having "landscaping" added at the end as mitigation or for screening inappropriate development, does not meet the EIA Regulations.
A landscape assessment of the setting to the proposed quarry will identify features such as landform, vegetation, settlement pattern and visibility. If the quarry can be designed within that framework, respecting local features, then it will be more successfully accommodated.
Development with least achievable adverse impacts
Having achieved development in the right place and of an extent and form related to the site, the next objective is development with the least achievable adverse impacts. In minerals development, the greatest environmental impacts are during the working period. Again, landscape issues should be considered as an integral part of project design. The direction of working; the location, alignment and height of plant and soil storage mounds and the phasing of restoration need to be carefully integrated so that visual impact is minimised.
Development related to the local landscape
Restoration design should also be considered at the earliest stage. There are an enormous variety of options which can be considered as part of a restoration scheme, which will be agreed between the operator, the MPA and the local communities and interest groups. It will obviously have to fit in with other development plans. For example there may be a need for residential housing or an industrial estate. Restoration to include some aspect of public amenity is possible, and most schemes now contain an element of habitat conservation or creation, to enable Local Authorities to fulfil some of the objectives in their Biodiversity Action Plans.
In rural settings, the most successful restoration schemes are those that look to be part of the local landscape. They need to emerge from the right extent of working and a working method that allows appropriate landforms, water areas, soils, vegetation and land use to be implemented.
Local landscape assessment will identify the landforms, land uses, and vegetation patterns that are locally characteristic. Restoration can then be designed to introduce appropriate land uses and vegetation into the site. The restoration does not have to exactly replicate the previous appearance of the site; but it should respect local characteristics. In some cases entirely new elements, such as water or rock faces, may be introduced. If the shape of the water body, the new landform and vegetation respect local character, then that degree of change can also be accommodated.
It is important that safety aspects of final slopes and landforms are taken into consideration at the design stage. A number of ALSF L0056 and other projects 325 326 327 have discussed this aspect in some detail, including the desire to leave final faces and slopes which meet geoconservation objectives, which may itself not meet with everyone's approval.
Community Engagement
It is vital that operators engage fully with the community and take account of their views in the design of the restoration plan, which will have to be agreed before permission is granted to start operations (although adjustments may subsequently be agreed).
A website called Explore Quarry Restoration has been designed by the BGS and partners as part of an ALSF project L0141 to develop a tool to aid community engagement. This website (also available as a CD) uses three virtual quarries to explore the effects of different types of restoration, with 3-D models allowing the user to examine a landscaped area from different viewpoints. In this way, it aims to educate the user in the techniques of restoration, which includes matching the landscape and visual character with the surrounding area.
An educational resource L0132 L0136 aimed mainly at Primary age children (Virtual Quarry) also has an element of restoration in it, which leads the students consider the desired outcomes at the end of the operational stage of a quarry.
Continued with Planning Considerations TOP Return to Introduction