Landscape and Visual Impact (Operational Phase)
Landscape Character Assessment
National landscape guidance seeks to identify how best to accommodate appropriate development, based on local diversity and distinctiveness, as identified by landscape character assessment. A definition given in the Landscape Character Assessment Guidance L0212 is:
"The distinct and recognisable pattern of elements that occurs consistently in a particular type of landscape. It reflects particular combinations of geology, landform, soils, vegetation, land use and human settlement. It creates the particular sense of place of different areas of the landscape."
The Countryside Character Network was established by the Countryside Agency in 1999, but is now called the Landscape Character Network and is hosted by Natural England. They provide a map of National Character Areas. The features that define the landscape of each area are recorded in individual descriptions which explain what makes one area different from another and show how that character has arisen and how it is changing. Natural England also provides a database of all the Landscape Character Assessments which have been carried out across England, for records entered before 11/11/2010. Records added or amended after this date can be accessed via the relevant local authority website.
The strong correlation between geology and landscape character is seen for example in the granite that underlies Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor; the chalklands of the Chilterns and the Downs; the difference between the Oolitic Limestone of the Cotswolds and the Magnesian Limestone scarps; and the Millstone Grit of the Pennines.
This correlation emerges because geology is the basis of geomorphology and landform and it also defines soils. Landform and soils in turn affect how the land can be used for arable, pasture or woodland. Geology also traditionally influenced field boundaries and building materials locally; whether hedges could grow, or stone was available for walling; whether houses were built of limestone, flint or brick.
Landscapes of different character are widely recognised and appreciated. "The Pennines" evokes open moorland, dry stone walls, sheep and stone villages; great, wild landscapes. "The Chilterns" evokes beech woodlands, flint-and-brick cottages; a softer landscape.
Landscape character can be defined at different scales:
- National scale: by Natural England
- County and District scale: by local authorities
- Local scale: by local authorities, developers, landowners.
Many local Landscape Character Assessments are available on the internet (e.g. Durham). The minerals industry is well-placed to understand and implement the "landscape character" policies in Development Plans that have emerged from PPS7 L0254. Both the minerals industry and the character of the landscape emerge very largely from the underlying geology.
Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments (LVIA)
These assessments are usually carried out at the same time, as they are considering aspects that are closely related.
Desk study
A preliminary desk study is required to establish the physical components of the local landscape and to identify boundaries of the 'study area'. The extent of the area that needs to be covered for the purposes of assessment is project specific and related to the scale of development and the characteristics of the local area, in particular landform and vegetation cover (Table 6).
Table 6. Materials that may be useful for the desk study section of the LVIA.
| Ordnance Survey mapping (current). |
| Site survey plans (e.g. topographical survey, tree survey). |
| Aerial photography (ideally they should be recent, vertical, colour at 1:10,000 scale). |
| Geology and soil maps. |
| Hydrology and hydrogeology data (e.g. floodplain, groundwater level and drainage). |
| Published Landscape Character Assessment (National/County/District). |
| Development Plan: landscape policies. |
| Policy and Mineral Planning Statements and Guidance notes (e.g. PPS, MPS, and PPG, MPG). |
| Informal planning documents, e.g. countryside strategies. |
| Management plans (e.g. National Park or AONB, Listed Parks). |
| Definitive Rights of Way. |
| Listed Buildings. |
| Historic maps. |
Topographical analysis is used to identify the extent of potential visibility. This can be achieved manually by taking contour information from Ordnance Survey plans and checking specific points with cross-sections. Digital terrain modelling (DTM) is now commonly used to generate a zone of theoretical visibility, but this is likely to require refinement if it is to be used as a basis for judgements about visual impact. In practice, a combination of manual and digital techniques is likely to give the most reliable result.
Field survey
A landscape survey of the site and surrounding area is likely to involve walking the site in order to understand the immediate setting of the proposed development. This will include local landform, existing land uses and vegetation structure, position and condition of trees, hedgerows and stream courses, and architectural styles, together with the extent and nature of views from local properties, rights of way and roads. Walking local public rights of way and driving around the study area is necessary to further verify the range of landscape character, site visibility and visual receptors identified through desk study.
Survey information should be collected using photography and noted on survey sheets, tabulated, and/or annotated on plans. Photographs and photomontages often form an important part of the information presented to decision-makers. The Landscape Institute issues advice on these subjects, which has recently been updated L0371.
Landscape and visual baseline studies
The landscape and visual baseline are presented in the form of a written report supported by plans of topography, land use, landscape character, site survey/analysis and existing visibility as well as sketches, photographs and tables as appropriate (Figures 4 and 5).
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Figure 4. Topographic baseline study. |
Figure 5. Land-use baseline study. |
Landscape baseline
The objective of the landscape baseline is to schedule, describe, and where possible, quantify the landscape resource that could be affected by the proposed development. For the purposes of assessment, the landscape resource is considered in two ways; landscape features and landscape character. Existing landscape features in and immediately adjacent to the site are identified, quantified and their condition assessed (area of scrub or arable farmland, number of trees and length of hedgerow, together with information about species mix, condition, maturity, height etc). Local landscape character variation across the site (and wider study area) is described and evaluated. A judgement is made as to the sensitivity of each unit of the landscape resource to the proposed development. Sensitivity of the landscape resource emerges from consideration of the factors in Table 7.
Table 7. Factors affecting the sensitivity of the landscape.
| Degree to which the landscape can accommodate change without unacceptable detrimental effects on character. |
| Consensus about the importance of the landscape/landscape feature, either nationally or locally and other conservation interest or cultural associations. |
| Condition or state of repair of landscape features and the integrity and intactness of the landscape. |
| Ease with which the landscape resource can be replaced or recreated. |
| Scarcity of the landscape resource. |
Visibility baseline
Visual receptors (VR) are listed and the extent, character and appearance of their views described. Where appropriate, the existence of temporary structures or features in the landscape that vary with the seasons and that may therefore affect visibility should be noted in order to evaluate the worst case situation in the assessment (e.g. deciduous vegetation).
The visual baseline serves to establish the extent to which the site or proposed development is visible from one or more Visual Receptors.
Sample categorisation of degrees of visibility
The appraisal is based on a grading of degrees of visibility, from not visible to fully open in close views. To indicate the degree of visibility of the site/proposed development from any location, that continuum has been divided into the six categories shown in Table 8.
Table 8. Degrees of visibility.
| None | No view (no part of the site or proposed development is discernible). |
| Negligible | Only a minor area of the site or proposed development is discernible and/or the view is transient or at such a distance that it is difficult to perceive in the wider view, or sequence of views. |
| Slight | The site or proposed development forms a relatively small proportion of a wider view. The site/proposed development does not make a marked contribution to visual amenity. |
| Moderate | There are open views of part of the site or proposed development such that it is easily visible as part of the wider view. |
| Substantial | There are open views of the site or proposed development such that it forms a substantial part (is a dominant element) of the overall view and affects its overall character and visual amenity. |
| Major | The site or proposed development is the dominant feature of the view, to which other elements become subordinate and where the site/proposed development significantly affects or changes the character of the view. |
In addition to degree of visibility, the sensitivity of each VR needs to be assessed; for example, a public right of way in an AONB is likely to be more sensitive than a road through undesignated open countryside. The viewing distance from the site (or proposed development) affects the sensitivity of the VR and should be stated. The rationale for attributing relative sensitivity to each VR type should be explained, and where categories are used to describe the degree of visibility or sensitivity, they should be defined.
Landscape Impact Assessment
The proposed mineral operations should be described in full, including all phases of working from site preparation through to decommissioning of the plant site and final restoration, and any offsite operations (e.g. haul route/conveyor). Alternatives that have been considered should be described. These may include reference to other studies on alternative sites; and alternative extent, working method and restoration within the site itself.
The landscape impact assessment addresses both direct and indirect impacts of the proposed mineral working. The direct effects of mineral extraction on the site itself are categorised, through an assessment of the magnitude of effects. Landscape effects during the extraction phase are generally associated with loss of landscape features, and post restoration relate to changes in landscape character. The effects should be described separately, stating whether they are adverse, beneficial or neutral.
A schedule describing the effect on each landscape feature should be included, summarising the nature of the effect with quantification (of losses) as appropriate, together with a schedule of new landscape features that would be provided as part of the proposed restoration scheme.
Secondly, the effects on local landscape character that would result from the proposed mineral operation are assessed (e.g. Table 9). The effect on site landscape character directly correlates with the impact on landscape features (extent and duration). The effect on landscape character in the environs of the site is dependent on a range of factors (sensitivity). Changes to landscape character may be adverse, beneficial or neutral. The erosion of character equates to an adverse impact, whilst strengthening of characteristics is regarded as beneficial. The substitution of a landscape character unit with another that is different but locally appropriate may be assessed as a neutral impact.
Table 9. Example of Landscape Features Assessment.
| Feature | Copse (south-east corner, adjacent to road) | Tree belt (alongside footpath across site) | Remnant hedge along footpath 5 | Roadside hedge |
| Condition / character | Elm, oak, ash, large-leaved lime and horse chestnut with a hazel and hawthorn understorey | No large mature trees; typically semi-mature/young ash, poplar, willow | Gappy, poor condition | Intact, with trees |
| Area/length/no. (approx) | 3300m2 | 370m | 150m | 300m |
| Sensitivity | Substantial | Moderate/Slight | Slight | Substantial |
| Summary description of effect of scheme / landscape proposals | Retained within the proposed development with its connection to the vegetation along brook maintained. Needs protective buffering during construction work. | There is the potential to retain significant trees within the development. | Retained as part of the historic alignment. | 55m of the hedge containing 2 mature trees will be lost to create site access. The rest of the hedge should be retained and protected by a buffer zone during construction work |
| Mitigation | 25m of hedge replanted at the back of sight lines and by the substantial increase in native tree and shrub planting east of road | |||
| Impact assessment (adverse unless stated) | Slight positive | Moderate | Slight | Slight |
Visual Impact Assessment
The visual impact assessment needs to address the temporary effects on views that occur during the working phases, together with the long term changes to the character of views post restoration. The degree of significance of visual impact is assessed at two levels:
- the significance of the impact on each individual VR;
- the overall significance of the visual impact in the context of the zone of visual influence and the range of VRs as a whole.
The degree of visibility of the proposed development from each VR is assessed and mapped. The expected view during extraction and post-restoration is described and compared with the existing situation to establish the magnitude of change to the view (visual intrusion). It can be useful to categorise or grade the magnitude of effect on each VR, during construction and operation, so long as the categories are defined.
Conclusion
Significant landscape and visual impacts should be identified in this section. Matrices such as those in Table 10 may be used as a basis for the identification of significant effects. However they require supporting text and illustration (e.g. schedules, photographs, photomontages).
Table 10. Significance matrix for landscape impact (features and character).
| Sensitivity | ||||||
| Major | Substantial | Moderate | Slight | Negligible | ||
| Magnitude of effect | Major | Extreme | Very high / High | High | Medium | Medium / Low |
| Substantial | Very high / High | High | High / medium | Medium / Low | Low | |
| Moderate | High | High / medium | Medium | Low | Low / Negligible | |
| Slight | High / medium | Medium | Medium / Low | Low / Negligible | Negligible | |
| Negligible | Low | Low / Negligible | Low / Negligible | Negligible | Negligible | |
The interpretation of the terms given in the significance matrix (Table 10) is given in Table 11 for landscape impact and in Table 12 for visual impact.
Table 11. Levels of significance for Landscape Impact.
| Extreme / Very high significance: | Impact of international/national importance. |
| High significance: | Impact of regional significance; irrevocable change or widespread loss of characteristic features in a sensitive landscape with little capacity for change. |
| Medium significance: | Impact of local significance; noticeable change in an average, ordinary landscape with some capacity to accommodate development. |
| Low significance: | Impact of very local significance; small scale or temporary changes in a low sensitivity landscape with capacity to accommodate development. |
| Negligible significance: | Impact not significant; changes to landscape barely perceptible. |
Table 12. Levels of significance for Visual Impact.
| Extreme / Very high significance: | Impact of international/national importance. |
| High significance: | Impact of regional significance; prominent changes to many sensitive views. |
| Medium significance: | Impact of local significance; noticeable change to a number of views. |
| Low significance: | Impact of very local significance; small scale or temporary changes to views. |
| Negligible significance: | Impact not significant; barely perceptible change to views. |
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