Think about the parameters of change.
Type: e.g. housing, employment, renewables
Scale/size: area, height, scale, bulk, mass
Somerset Council
User Guide
This User Guide is designed for Development Managers at Somerset Council to inform their review of applications, to ensure landscape character and visual amenity is considered. The guide is relevant to landscape and visual considerations only and it should be recognised that the suitability of proposals overall will come down to need, commercial considerations and the wider planning balance.
The steps set out below should also be considered by applicants before submitting a planning application in order to ensure that key characteristics, key sensitivities and valued features, and landscape guidelines are considered at an early stage and taken into account in the planning and design of the proposed development.
Development proposals must demonstrate, as part of a planning application, how landscape character has influenced their siting, scale and design. Proposals which are likely to have a significant impact on the landscape and/or visual amenity will require a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) to be undertaken. For proposals which are not likely to result in significant effects on the landscape and/or visual amenity, an informal landscape assessment can be undertaken in agreement with the Council.
If yes, the relevant Management Plan should be consulted, with particular reference to the special qualities of the designated landscape.
If the proposal is close to the edge of two or more landscape character types, all relevant profiles need to be consulted. This is because boundaries are usually zones of transition with shared characteristics and because a change within one area can also affect neighbouring areas.
If so, which ones and how? And does this matter to overall character? Think about impact on natural, cultural and perceptual/experiential characteristics of the landscape.
If so, which ones and how? Can adverse effects be avoided through better location or design? Can any of the key sensitivities and valued features of the LCT be enhanced or restored?
If so, which ones and how? Can better location or design reduce or remove conflicts with the landscape or development management guidelines?
Summary
- Can the proposal be altered in any way to avoid adverse effects on key characteristics, sensitivities, valued features or landscape and development management guidelines?
- If not, can the adverse effects be reduced or mitigated? How? Use the information in the relevant LCT profile to inform appropriate mitigation.
- What new elements of local character could be created in association with the change?
Checklist
The following general prompts can also be considered:
- Does the proposal reinforce and enhance local distinctiveness and local landscape character?
- Does the proposal enhance the sense of place through careful design (including consideration of siting, massing, scale and materials)?
- Does the choice of materials and colours for structures reflect the landscape around them, as well as traditional building styles?
- Does the proposal retain key views within, to and from LCTs, including views to and from Exmoor National Park or the Quantock Hills, Mendip Hills, Blackdown Hills, Dorset or Cranborne Chase National Landscapes? Or does the proposal detract from skylines, landmark features and focal points within the landscape?
- Does the proposal retain key views into, out of, and across settlements including Conservation Areas?
- Does the proposal retain existing vegetation and enhance with new planting that is in keeping with local landscape character?
- Does the proposal use existing roads and tracks for site access? Do new roads and tracks fit in with the landscape character and complement the pattern of existing road networks?
- Does the proposal improve access to the public rights of way network and/or open access land?
- Does the proposal include aspects of Green Infrastructure, integrated with biodiversity enhancement where suitable?
- Does the proposal minimise effects on tranquillity relating to light pollution/dark skies?
- Have cumulative effects (including in-combination effects) with other existing or planned developments been considered?