Somerset Landscape Sensitivity Assessment

Landscape sensitivity assessment is a process that assesses the resilience/robustness of landscape character and the visual resource – and what we value – to a defined change, or changes. (An approach to landscape sensitivity assessment)

The Somerset Landscape Sensitivity Assessment assesses the sensitivity of areas surrounding key settlements in Somerset to residential and commercial development. By determining the ‘robustness’ or ‘resilience’  of the landscape character and the visual resource of these areas to these potential changes, the assessment provides a robust evidence base to guide future decision making.

The study follows Natural England’s 2019 guidance and reflects LUC’s established methodology. It focuses on areas within a 500m radius of key settlements, which are divided into assessment parcels based on changes in landscape character. The assessment considers the landscape surrounding the following settlements: Chard, Cheddar, Crewkerne, Frome, Glastonbury, Highbridge & Burnham-on-Sea, Ilminster, Midsomer Norton & Radstock, Minehead/Alcombe, North Petherton, Shepton Mallet, Street, Taunton, Wellington, Wells, Wincanton, and Yeovil. In total, 49 assessment parcels were defined.