Somerset Landscape Character Assessment

The Wooded Limestone Slopes LCT is located in the north of Somerset, and extends to the north-east and south-west from the Limestone Plateau (LCT 3). It is bounded by Bath and North East Somerset to the north and North Somerset to the north-west. The south-western extent of the Wooded Limestone Slopes LCT broadly extends from Axbridge (in the north-west) to Shepton Mallet (in the south-east), transitioning to the lower-lying landscapes comprising the Limestone Lowland Hills (LCT 12), and the Peat and Clay Moors (LCT 11) to the south and south-west respectively. Its north-eastern extent wraps around the Farmed Limestone Plateau Edge (LCT 1) between the eastern settlement edge of Midsomer Norton and Coleford, and transitions to the ridges and combes landscape of North Somerset to the north-west, and the varied landscape comprising plateaux, slopes, valleys, levels and open farmland within Bath and North East Somerset to the north. It also adjoins the Sandstone Slopes and Valley Heads (LCT 4) to the north-east. The western half of the Wooded Limestone Slopes LCT falls within the Mendip Hills National Landscape.

The Wooded Limestone Slopes LCT is characterised by steep scarp slopes, occasionally incised by gorges and combes, which define the edges of the central Limestone Plateau (LCT 3) of the Mendip Hills. Cheddar Gorge, small combes and dry valleys occasionally incise the escarpments. Settlements are generally nestled into the base of escarpments or valleys and influence its character. Escarpments, within the south-western part of the LCT, form the background and skyline in views from lower-lying LCTs, including the Levels (LCT 10) and Peat and Clay Moors (LCT 11). Several Scheduled Monuments, including remains of hillforts, barrows, rock shelters and mining sites, reflect early settlement and industry within the landscape.

Landscape Character Areas

The Wooded Limestone Slopes LCT is divided into three landscape character areas (LCAs) which are similar in character but geographically separate from one another:

• LCA 2a: located across the south of the LCT and extending between Compton Bishop and Shepton Mallet in the east. It contains Cheddar Gorge, a notable incised feature of the landscape.
• LCA 2b: located in the north and centre of the LCT (sharing a boundary with Bath and North East Somerset), falling away from the adjacent Farmed Limestone Plateau Edge (LCT 1) to the east.
• LCA 2c: located in the north-east of the LCT and includes the sloping landform surrounding Mells Stream.

Differences or specific characteristics that are more relevant to one of the LCAs above are noted in the profile below.

Key Characteristics

• Steep wooded scarp slopes descending from the Mendip plateau, occasionally incised by gorges, dry valleys, combes and watercourses. Cheddar Gorge, the largest gorge in England, is a particularly distinctive feature and contains a network of valued habitats.
• Chalky soils overlie predominantly mudstone/siltstone rock (Mercia Mudstone group) with some areas of limestone rock (Burrington Oolite Subgroup, Black Rock, Clifton Down subgroup) on upper slopes.
• Steep slopes and infertile (chalk) soils have resulted in predominantly pastoral land use, comprising predominantly irregular and small-scale fields bounded by mature hedgerows and woodland. Larger-scale fields of a more regular pattern are located near the break of the slope at its transition to the Limestone Plateau (LCT 3).
• Karst geomorphology has resulted in extensive cave systems such as Wookey Hole Caves, which bring a large number of tourists, as well as important remains of Palaeolithic rock shelters.
• Extensive deciduous and mixed woodland, some of which is ancient, flanks steep slopes and escarpments, supplemented by mature and wooded field boundaries. Area of wood pasture and parkland associated with Mells Park, Ston Easton Park and Milton Lodge and The Combe Registered Parks and Gardens (RPGs) provide unique habitats.
• Limestone grassland and meadow habitats extend across exposed, upper slopes and ridgelines, forming part of a wider mosaic pattern with contrasting areas of woodland.
• Settlement is mainly located at the base or top of the scarp and avoids steep slopes. Key settlements include Shepton Mallet, Axbridge, Cheddar, Holcombe, Coleford and Mells
• The A371 forms a key transport route in the west of the LCT, passing along the base of the escarpment, whilst a minor road networks generally passes within gorges or dry valleys across other parts of the landscape.
• Remains of hillforts, barrows, rock shelters and mining sites reflect the underlying topography and geology, contributing to the legibility of the wider historic landscape of the Mendip Hills.
• A dense concentration of historic settlements (Conservation Areas), listed buildings and historic designed landscapes (Registered Park and Gardens) reflect the rich history of settlement.
• Numerous recreational routes and offerings, passing between settlements and the surrounding Mendip Hills landscape and focused within geological features such as gorges, caves and combes.
• Varied views that are mostly enclosed by woodland and mature hedgerows, although with occasional glimpsed open and distant views that are available at elevated positions in between breaks in vegetation.
• Escarpments form a wooded, largely undeveloped, background and skyline in views from lower-lying LCTs to the south and south-east, as well as containing the valleys within the north of the LCT (LCA 2b and LCA 2c). The mast associated with the Mendip transmitting station at Pen Hill and wind turbines at Shooter’s Bottom forms distinct and recognisable skyline features.

Natural Influences

Chalky and slightly acidic loamy soils (including areas of lime-rich soils in LCA 2b), overlie predominantly mudstone or siltstone rock (Mercia Mudstone group) with some areas of limestone rock (Burrington Oolite Subgroup, Black Rock, Clifton Down subgroup) on upper slopes. Notable areas of limestone with subordinate sandstone and argillaceous rocks of the Carboniferous period are located within the LCT, especially in LCA 2c at Cookswood Quarry.

Steep scarp slopes within this LCT descend from the adjacent Limestone Plateau (LCT 3), which forms the interior Mendip Hills plateau. The elongated ridge between Crook Peak and Axbridge Hill and the steep south-facing scarp slopes of LCA 2a are particularly distinctive in contrast with the lower-lying landscape of the Levels (LCT 10) and the Peat and Clay Moors (LCT 11) to the south and south-west, respectively, and forms a special quality of the Mendip Hills National Landscape. LCA 2a forms a more distinctive south-facing escarpment, whereas the incised landform of LCA 2b and LCA 2c is focused around the valleys of Wellow Brook and Mells Stream, respectively. The topography within the LCT ranges from approximately 10-20 metres Above Ordnance Datum (AOD), along the lower reaches of the Mendip scarp (in the south of LCA 2a), whilst the upper reaches of the LCT, near its transition to the Limestone Plateau (LCT 3), is consistently between 220-250m AOD.

Erosion of underlying areas of limestone has resulted in a significant Karst geomorphology of dry valleys, gorges, sink holes and caves. Slopes are occasionally incised, including by Cheddar Gorge and dry valleys (within LCA 2a). Cheddar Gorge, the largest gorge in England, is a particularly distinctive feature, contributing to the diverse and visible geology of the landscape (a special quality of the Mendip Hills National Landscape). The Gorge was cut into Carboniferous Limestone via meltwater floods from multiple cold periglacial periods over the last 1.2 million years.

Due to the steep nature and soil classification of the LCT, pastoral agriculture dominates with the LCT mainly within Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) Grades 3 and 4. There are a few arable fields on gentler slopes at the base and top of the scarp in LCA 2a.

The topography and limited opportunity for arable cultivation within the LCT has resulted in a strong wooded character, with steep and wooded slopes of the LCT giving rise to a number of important designated habitats. Designated woodland habitats, including the Rodney Stoke and Edford Woods and Meadows Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), are focused within LCA 2a and LCA 2b and support a mosaic of ancient semi-natural broadleaved woodland, scrub and species-rich unimproved grassland. The network of hedgerows and mature trees across the LCT provide habitat connectivity. A large proportion of the woodland is of ancient origin, including those that can be found within combes (a special quality of the Mendip Hills National Landscape). Occasional areas of riparian woodland are located along streams that flow from the steep valley slopes, such as Mells Stream and Edford Wood in LCA 2c. Scattered traditional orchards (priority habitat) are predominantly located along settlement edges within LCA 2a.

Areas of wood pasture and parkland associated with the historic landscapes, including those at Milton Lodge and the Combe (LCA 2a), Ston Easton Park (LCA 2b) and Mells Park (LCA 2c) RPGs, provide unique habitats and are valued for the species that they support.

Other important habitats are predominantly concentrated in the west of the LCT, and contrast with wooded areas to form a wider mixed mosaic landscape pattern. The Cheddar Gorge Complex SSSI supports a wide range of semi-natural habitats, including unimproved grassland, calcareous dry dwarf-shrub heath, semi-natural broadleaved woodland and dense, scattered scrub. The Mendip Limestone Grasslands Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and SSSI extends across the ridge between Crook Peak and Axbridge Hill, with an outlier of this designated habitat also located at Brean Down (within LCT 8: Salt Marsh and Mudflats). This area supports the largest area of Festuca ovina – Carlina vulgaris grassland in England (a calcareous grassland) and contributes to the special qualities of the Mendip Hills National Landscape.

Cultural Influences

The strategic vantage provided by the steep escarpment of LCA 2a, overlooking the lower-lying landscape to the south, is reflected in a linear arrangement of historic settlement, defensive and ritualistic sites. The Westbury Camp Hillfort (Scheduled Monument) is a slightly univallate hillfort with earthworks enclosing an area of high ground on the edge of the plateau. Numerous prehistoric barrows (designated as Scheduled Monuments) extend across the upper slopes of LCA 2a near Pen Hill, indicating funerary and ritualistic use of the landscape. These survive as earthwork remains which form local features in the landscape and contribute to the wider legible historic landscape of the Limestone Plateau (LCT 3), a special quality of the Mendip Hills National Landscape. Evidence suggests that the extensive cave systems, reflecting the unique underlying Karst geomorphology, were used as Palaeolithic rock shelters (now designated as Scheduled Monuments). However, these form discreet features in the wider landscape. Elsewhere within LCA 2a, remains of Roman occupation are located to the east of Shepton Mallet in the form of a Roman-British linear village and a settlement site south of Cheddar. There is also a deserted medieval farmstead and field system north-west of Ebbor Wood. The monument includes farmsteads (dating back to medieval and post medieval times), and mining remains above the settlement of Westbury-sub-Mendip. However, these monuments survive predominantly as buried features and are therefore less discernible in the wider landscape.

Within LCA 2c, the remains of several historic coal mining sites dating to as early ‘as the Roman times (designated as Scheduled Monuments) are focused along the Mells Stream valley. These survive predominantly as localised earthworks, though ruins of buildings associated with Vobster Breach colliery (which was worked until the early 20th century) form local features in their wooded setting. In the west of LCA 2a, earthwork remains associated with the Blacker’s Hill multivallate promontory fort (Scheduled Monument) occupy a spur of the escarpment overlooking Mells Stream, though these form a subtle feature in the wider landscape.

The historic settlement pattern of distinct villages and towns, typically nestled into the base of escarpments or valleys, mostly survives, though modern expansion of the larger settlements of Cheddar and Shepton Mallet is evident. Numerous historic towns and villages are designated as Conservation Areas with a high concentration of listed buildings centred around the historic core, particularly within LCA 2a. Some settlements, such as Cheddar, have origins as early as the Roman era. A Conservation Area also covers the former Mendip Hospital, now forming the community of South Horrington, north-east of Wells. Traditional building materials include the local conglomerate stone, Forest Marble and Doulting stone, with old stone walls particularly contributing to the vernacular within Conservation Areas. The use of Bath stone from further afield has been used to build prestigious buildings, such as banks, in larger historic administrative centres such as Shepton Mallet. Traditional roofing materials are mostly slate or clay tiles.

Designed landscapes within the grounds of Mells Park, Milton Lodge and Combe, and Ston Easton Park are now designated as Registered Parks and Gardens (all Grade II RPGs). Mells Park RPG comprises 18th to 19th century parkland landscape on the grounds of a former 17th century deer park, with 20th century gardens laid out by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Gertrude Jekyll. Milton Lodge and the Combe RPG includes formal terraced gardens with parkland and a 19th century pleasure ground. The parkland and pleasure grounds of Ston Easton Park RPG were mostly developed in the 18th to 19th century and featured in a Humphry Repton Red Book in 1792-1793.

Field patterns within the LCT are predominantly irregular and small-scale across lower and mid slopes of the LCT, mainly resulting from ancient enclosure (pre-17th century). Contrasting areas of larger-scale and more regular pattern fields are located on gentler slopes at the transitional edges of the LCT. Pastoral farming remains the predominant land use within the LCT between areas of settlement. The more gently sloping parts of LCA 2a near Draycott are part of a strawberry production area with numerous polytunnels. Strawberry farming is now less widespread but once extended towards Cheddar (19th century), given the more fertile soils present in this part of the LCT. Field boundaries comprise hedgerows with mature trees, copses and blocks of woodland (some of which is ancient). Field boundaries transition to traditional drystone walls composed of local materials at higher elevations near the edges of the Limestone Plateau (LCT 3), a special quality of the Mendip Hills National Landscape.

Recent developments within the area include the expansion of residential and employment development within key settlements, including Cheddar and Shepton Mallet. Callow Hill Quarry and Cheddar Reservoir (located along the southern boundary of LCA 2a) were both developed in the early 20th century and form a noticeable influence within the west of LCA 2a. Settlements within LCA 2a are linked by the A371 which crosses north-west to south-east, following the base of the escarpment. The A39, A37 and A367 also pass through the LCT, ascending scarp slopes and connecting key settlements. A relatively dense and winding network of minor roads crosses the LCT, generally passing within gorges or dry valleys.

Perceptual Influences

Larger settlements, such as Cheddar and Shepton Mallet, and the settlement edge of Wells to the south of the LCT (located within the Limestone Lowland Hills (LCT 12)), detract from the rural character of the area and experience of dark night skies. Main roads including the A371, A39, A37 and A367 exert a localised visual and audible influence, especially during weekends due to the large influx of tourists visiting Cheddar Gorge, Wookey Hole, and other promoted locations within the wider Mendip Hills National Landscape. A stronger traditional rural character and higher levels of tranquillity and dark night skies can be experienced away from settlements, including from the exposed ridgeline extending between Crook Peak and Axbridge Hill and within sheltered woodlands.

Solar farms, including one in the east of LCA 2c and two to the north of Shepton Mallet in LCA 2a, detract from rural character. However, surrounding vegetation including Melcombe Wood and a network of tall hedgerows help to integrate these developments into the wider landscape. Two wind turbines are located near Shooter’s Bottom within the east of LCA 2b and form distinctive local skyline features. The mast associated with the Mendip transmitting station on Pen Hill forms a distinct manmade skyline feature and its aviation lighting can be viewed from most of the Somerset Levels, and as far as areas of South Wales. Quarries along the boundary with the Limestone Plateau (LCT 3) and to the north-west of Cheddar exert a local adverse influence on tranquillity due to the high volumes of lorries entering and leaving the sites.

The Mendip Hills National Landscape covers most of the west of the LCT (LCA 2a and 2b). The steep escarpment edge of LCA 2a allows panoramic views across the Levels (LCT 10), Peat and Clay Moors (LCT 11), along the Somerset coastline and across the Severn Estuary to Wales (a special quality of the Mendip Hills National Landscape). The wooded slopes of LCA 2a are a recognisable background in views from the lower-lying landscapes to the south (a special quality of the Mendip Hills National Landscape). Views are more contained within LCA 2b and LCA 2c, in comparison to LCA 2a, due to a combination of dense vegetation and woodland lining the road network and the enclosure of both sides of these valleys by rising, often wooded, slopes.

Walking routes within the LCT are well connected, particularly in the west of the LCT within the Mendip Hills National Landscape. Several long-distance footpaths including West Mendip Way, Monarch’s Way, East Mendip Way as well as local networks of PRoWs cross the LCT, in addition to the Strawberry Line Cycle path and Route 3 of the National Cycle Network. Walking routes are particularly dense around Cheddar Gorge, Wookey Hole and areas of open access land near Compton Bishop. The unique geology of the LCT can be appreciated at several promoted tourist destinations including Cheddar Gorge, Wookey Hole (cave), Jacobs Ladder and Cox’s Cave in LCA 2a. A dense network of interconnected PRoWs also passes along the Mells Stream valley within LCA 2c, connecting Holcombe and Coleford with the surrounding landscape. Within LCA 2b, PRoWs in the west provide connectivity within the Mendip Hills National Landscape, and a golf course is located at Ston Easton Park. The opportunities for recreation experienced within the landscape are a special quality of the Mendip Hills National Landscape.

Key Sensitivities and Valued Features

• Visually distinctive scarp slopes that mark the edge of the Limestone Plateau (LCT 3) form important skylines in views from lower-lying landscapes, contributing to the rural character of views, diversity of landscape pattern and sense of place. Views towards the Mendip Hills National Landscape is one of its special qualities.
• The Karst geology of the LCT has resulted in an extensive network of limestone caves which contribute to unique habitat, sense of place, and is a special quality of the Mendip Hills National Landscape. Remains indicating use of these caves as Palaeolithic rock shelters contributes to time depth.
• Cheddar Gorge (the largest gorge in England) contains a mix of meadow, grassland and woodland habitats. The unique landform and habitats contribute to the sense of place, and the special qualities of the Mendip Hills National Landscape.
• Large areas of grassland including important calcareous grassland habitats (which support diverse and species-rich flora), as well as traditional orchards, support habitat connectivity and create wildlife corridors. The south-facing slopes of flower-rich limestone grasslands is a special quality of the Mendip Hills National Landscape.
• Areas of dense deciduous woodland, including ancient woodland within combes (a special quality of the Mendip Hills National Landscape), are valued landscape features and ecologically important.
• Riparian woodland along streams provides shelter and enclosure, providing visual contrast with the open views experienced at high elevations.
• Estate parklands including at Milton Lodge and the Combe and Ston Easton Park create a locally distinctive historic landscape and contribute to time depth. The wood pasture and parkland associated with them provide unique habitat.
• The remains of prehistoric hillforts, barrows and former mining sites contribute to the time depth and sense of place. The historic evidence of human settlement is a special quality of the Mendip Hills National Landscape.
• Small-scale irregular pasture fields enclosed by hedgerows and drystone walls (a special quality of the Mendip Hills National Landscape) provide a strong landscape pattern and are valued for the habitat connectivity they provide.
• Recreational value provided by the West Mendip Way, Monarch’s Way and East Mendip Way, areas of open access land, promoted visitor facilities (notably at Cheddar Gorge) enable recreational access to the landscape.
• Open views across adjacent lowlands, experienced from elevated parts of the LCT including from the steep escarpment edge, contribute to the sense of place. The panoramic outward views afforded are a special quality of the Mendip Hills National Landscape.

The Changing Landscape

The following section sets out the changes and pressures to the Wooded Limestone Slopes LCT.

• Altered hydrology in cave sites may affect flood passages within the LCT and remove cave sediments. However, erosion may also expose new geological sites of interest.
• Loss of traditional orchards, in favour of settlement expansion or more intensive arable production, is influencing the rural character of the landscape, including around smaller villages and hamlets (particularly within LCA 2a).
• Potential changes in woodland and tree species composition due to climate change, with warmer conditions benefiting some small-leaved tree species that require warm weather for germination, may change the landscape pattern of the LCT and distinctive background it forms to the lower-lying Levels (LCT 10) and Peat and Clay Moors (LCT 11).
• Ash dieback has led to a decline in the number and structure of trees, and ash trees within the Mendips are suffering significantly from the disease. This is already impacting on biodiversity and the character of the landscape. The highly-valued woodland habitats could see further reduction in condition due to the effects of drought, waterlogging and wind damage. Woodland found on the south-facing slopes (LCA 2a) are likely to be the most affected, leading to further fragmentation of this habitat and a change to the recognisable background it forms to the lower-lying Levels (LCT 10) and Peat and Clay Moors (LCT 11). Ancient woodland may be particularly susceptible to damage from storms and drought.
• Drier summers, as a consequence of climate change, are expected to cause longer growing seasons and drought conditions which could significantly alter the flowering time and abundance of lowland grassland within the LCT. Drier conditions may also result in the loss of characteristic species-rich grassland, in favour of more generalist species due to seasonal weather pattern changes, leading to changes in landscape character (particularly on south-facing slopes within LCA 2a).
• Damage to traditional stone walls from repeated thermal expansion and contraction (during hotter summers and warmer winters) is likely to threaten the structural integrity of the stone walls. Limestone walls, as are characteristic within the LCT at higher elevations, are particularly sensitive to changes in pollution and the chemistry of the atmosphere, leading to further erosion.
• Erosion of steep slopes, escarpments, gorges and combes within the LCT, as a result of increased rainfall and more frequent severe droughts (creating constant drying and rewetting cycles), may change the visual character of these features and the sense of place they contribute to.
• Extreme weather events and temperatures could also damage remains of hillforts, barrows, rock shelters and mining sites, historic buildings associated with the Registered Parks and Gardens and the parkland/wood pasture within these designed landscapes.
• The escalating requirements of modern agriculture have resulted in a series of polytunnels along the fertile south-facing lower slopes within LCA 2a, contrasting with the more traditional character of pastoral farming along the mid-slopes of the LCT. Increased pressure for agricultural intensification may lead to a proliferation of polytunnels in this part of the LCT.
• Development pressure near settlements, particularly around Cheddar and Shepton Mallet, may result in expansion into the rural landscape and increased traffic influencing areas of rural tranquillity. Recreational pressure surrounding these settlements is also leading to footpath erosion and the degradation of the traditional rural setting to these settlements.
• Pressure to locate renewable energy developments, particularly extension of solar farms on south-facing slopes and wind turbines within elevated and exposed areas, would likely result in adverse effects on landscape and visual character.
• Increased visitor pressure during hotter and drier summers would increase the number of road users, potentially reducing tranquillity, and place an increased demand on walking trails, which may lead to footpath erosion and damage to habitats.

These guidelines recommend how the landscape can be managed to ensure future change respects the local character and should be read in conjunction with the overarching management strategy objectives of the Somerset Landscape Character Assessment.

Landscape Management

• Protect the key views to and from the scarp slopes and maintain their wooded character both in local views and as a backcloth to views across lower-lying landscapes.
• Protect the steep slopes, escarpments and gorges against the impacts of water and wind erosion by stabilising soils through extension and enhancement of woodland, mature hedgerows, and regeneration of scrub. This will change the vegetation pattern and textures found in some parts of the LCT.
• Manage the areas of caves from the increased pressures of tourism and recreational use, mitigating against the disturbance of nationally significant areas of geology and important species of wildlife, such as bats. Produce guidance on sustainable cave and underground recreation, providing facilitation between user groups.
• Manage and protect Wellow Brook and Mells Stream by planting trees and creating buffer strips in proximity to watercourses to reduce the runoff of fertilisers and organic material in arable and pastoral fields respectively. This will change the vegetation pattern and textures found in some parts of the LCT.
• Conserve and enhance the unique wooded habitats and the enclosed character in areas of steep valleys and combes (particularly within LCA 2b and LCA 2c). Extend and link existing woodlands in preference of creating new stand-alone woodland, where possible. Ensure new woodland responds to the scale and irregular form of the existing woodlands on the slopes.
• To reduce the impact of polytunnel farming within the LCT, increase natural windbreaks and shade coverage through the planting of trees, hedgerows and shrubs. This will change the vegetation pattern and textures found in some parts of the LCT.
• Conserve and enhance the existing unique grassland habitats and the variety of rare species they support. Ensure the network of lowland grassland along the scarp (within LCA 2a) remains intact and that woodland creation does not result in the loss of permanent pasture or unimproved grassland, but instead is designed to extend the mosaic of grassland and woodland.
• Protect and manage traditional orchards along the edges of settlements within LCA 2a. Where possible, connect and extend small orchards, and involve local communities in management of these spaces. This will change the land use, field pattern and vegetation pattern in some parts of the LCT which form the setting to settlements, enhancing sense of place.
• Restore, conserve and manage the drystone wall and/or hedgerow pattern in a manner that reinforces their biodiversity value and locally-appropriate landscape pattern.
• Conserve and manage the historic parklands within the landscape (including at Milton Lodge and the Combe (LCA 2a), Ston Easton Park (LCA 2b) and Mells Park (LCA 2c) RPGs), particularly areas of wood pasture and veteran trees. Planting associated with designed landscapes should use species characteristic of the historic landscape. Ensure new planting does not damage archaeological features or their setting.
• Respect and conserve elements of the historic landscape, including remains of prehistoric hillforts, barrows, former mining sites and areas of surviving ancient field pattern, which contribute to the character and legibility of the wider Mendip Hills historic landscape.

Development Management

• Conserve the rural and wooded background formed by LCA 2a to the lower-lying landscapes of the Levels (LCT 10) and Peat and Clay Moors (LCT 11), avoiding loss of woodland, vertical elements and associated lighting that could adversely impact on the special qualities of the Mendip Hills National Landscape including views towards the Mendip scarp and panoramic views out across the lower-lying adjacent LCTs.
• Ensure that any new development and structures are sensitively located and avoid the need for earthworks that disrupt the profile of steep slopes and escarpments. Locally-appropriate landscape mitigation should be proposed alongside new development to enhance the rural character of the locality and screen and filter views towards development.
• New development should use locally appropriate materials (such as local conglomerate stone, Forest Marble and Doulting stone) of the appropriate colour and texture that respect and enhances local distinctiveness and the traditional character of the area.
• Conserve the settlement pattern and vernacular features of distinct villages, avoiding amalgamation of settlements (particularly between Axbridge and Cheddar).
• Ensure that new development does not harm the character, significance or setting of the historic designed parklands and gardens associated with Mells Park, Milton Lodge and Combe, and Ston Easton Park RPGs.
• Ensure that any new renewable energy developments (including wind turbines and solar arrays) are sensitively designed and sited, avoiding the prominent slopes and ridgelines of the landscape. Consider and manage the potential for adverse cumulative impacts, particularly with existing turbines and masts.