Contact:
  • Landscape Team
  • Address:
    Trimbridge House, Trim Street, Bath BA1 2DP
  • E-mail:
    andrew_sharland@bathnes.gov.uk  
  • Telephone:
    01225 477589
  • Fax:
    01225 477663
  • Minicom:
    01225 477535
  • Page Updated:
    21/11/2008
  • Author:
    Matthew Hawkins
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Introduction

Stanton Drew Stone

 1.1 Scope and Status of Document 

1.1.1 This document identifies and describes the component features and characteristics of the landscape within Bath and North East Somerset. This has been done through a landscape character assessment which is the process of dividing up the landscape into parcels of land with common characteristics. These characteristics are many and varied and will be different for each area. They include natural physical influences and human processes but can also include the cultural values that are placed upon an area.

1.1.2 This assessment recognises that development is an integral component of the landscape and is a key influence in contributing to landscape character and local distinctiveness. The design and location of new development is therefore an important factor in enhancing or contributing to landscape character. The assessment, however, excludes the city of Bath and the towns of Keynsham, Midsomer Norton and Radstock at this stage although it is planned to extend the assessment to include these areas in the future. Other settlements have been included in as far as they are part of the landscape but the assessment does not include an assessment of the built form from within the settlements.

1.1.3 Landscape assessment is an important tool in the planning process. It has been promoted by the Countryside Commission (now the Countryside Agency) from the late 1980’s. It has backing from central government in for example Planning Policy Guidance Note 7 1997 (PPG 7)(1), which encourages planning authorities to undertake comprehensive landscape assessments of their areas as part of the local plan process.

1.1.4 This assessment is also intended to be a guide to the landscapes of Bath and North East Somerset for the whole community including schools, developers, local interest groups, environmental bodies, walkers, tourists etc. In these pages is information about the way that the diverse landscapes have formed by natural and human processes, it touches on how each landscape is made up and what elements are most important to each area and culturally how the landscape has been perceived.

1.1.5 This assessment was consulted on between 27 May and 5 July 2002 . The responses were analysed and comments were taken into account in the preparation of this document. A statement of the consultation undertaken is available on request. The document was approved as Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) to the Development Plan on 17 February 2003 . A list of the key development plan policies which this document supplements are listed in Appendix 2. This document is a material consideration which will be taken into account in deciding planning applications. This assessment will be of use to the community as a whole in guiding the activities that impact upon the landscape, whether they are developers, environmental interest groups, landscape managers or individual householders.

1.1.6 This assessment does not seek to label areas as attractive or unattractive, high or low quality. However, all areas have features that contribute to or detract from their character or quality. Many of the features themselves may be in need of improvement so that they might have a more positive impact.

1.1.7 It is planned that this document will be used as a starting point for a number of further studies and guidelines. These may include detailed guidelines focused upon individual character areas or other defined areas or may include guidelines on specific issues. Complementary studies of the urban landscapes would complete the assessment of all the outdoor spaces within the area.

1.1.8 This assessment is a base-line survey of the character and condition of the landscape of the area in 2002. If reviewed on a 5 or 10 year cycle perhaps focusing on key indicators, sample areas or areas where there may be particular issues then a detailed picture of the change in landscape of the area will be built up. This would be most valuable for assessing sustainability, quality of life and biodiversity indicators for the years to come.

1.1.9 Chapter 2 gives the context of this assessment in relation to the national picture and other assessments carried out within and bordering the area. Chapters 3, 4 and 5 of this document give an overview of the physical 2 influences, historical development and nature conservation habitats across the area as a whole. Chapter 6 draws out some of the perceptions of the area by visitors and local residents. These are intended as an introduction to the individual character areas, which are described in detail in chapter 7. Chapter 8 is an analysis of change across the area drawing out some of the key issues.

1.2 Methodology

1.2.1 The assessment was undertaken following the Countryside Commission guidelines published in 1987 and 1993 and the draft guidelines of the Countryside Agency(2- 4). These draft guidelines are based upon the earlier guidelines and have been updated to include the experience of several years practice around the country and to incorporate more fundamental proposals for stakeholder participation. The draft guidelines have formed the basis for new guidance published in 2002(5).

1.2.2 The assessment was undertaken in the following stages: 

  • A desk top study was carried out to define initial character areas based upon map information about geology, soils, landform, drainage pattern, land use, vegetation, field pattern and settlement pattern. The research also included historical and cultural development and perceptions of the landscape. 

  •  Fieldwork was carried out between 1999 and 2000 to further refine the character areas based upon observations about landform, land use, vegetation, field boundaries, openness, enclosure, scale, visual relationships, features and building materials. An example of the survey form is found in Appendix 1. 

  • Final character areas were reviewed and further fieldwork was carried out to check their boundaries.

  •  Analysis of the landscape character and analysis of landscape change with reference to the First Edition Ordnance Survey Maps (surveyed 1881-1889) and aerial photos taken between 1946 and 1999.

1.2.3 Boundaries have been drawn between character areas as a single clear line following distinct features such as field boundaries. In reality however the change between one character area and another is not always so clear-cut. In most cases the drawn line must be considered to be at the changeover point where the characteristics of one area outweigh those of the next. In essence the lines should be seen as a mid-point of a transition zone rather than a hard and fast cut-off point.

1.3 Aims and Objectives

1.3.1 The landscape is continually evolving. Some changes are planned and some occur incidentally resulting from other decisions. These changes whether gradual or sudden can have significant impacts on both the quality and character of the landscape. This assessment has as its overarching objective the maintenance and enhancement of landscape character and local distinctiveness. A summary of ways it is planned to be used is listed below. 

  • To aid formulation of planning policies, to inform development control decisions, to contribute to allocation of land for development and to provide a baseline for more detailed assessments such as local community-led assessments and those required to support planning applications and to contribute to environmental impact assessments. 

  • To guide landscape change such as informing decisions about the location and design of new woodland. One of the most pressing challenges is the change affecting farming. Traditional family farms and their farming practices are under threat and at the same time there is recognition that the countryside offers a wider resource than just for intensive food production. This recognition provides opportunities for giving greater emphasis to other objectives such as habitat enhancement, management for greater species diversity, opportunities for improved access to the countryside, diversified use of farm buildings and developing local produce for local markets. 

  • To contribute to identifying landscape management priorities.

  • To provide a baseline for future guidelines on specific issues such as development at the edges of settlements. 

  • To provide a baseline for monitoring change and the condition of the landscape. The measurement of indicators is under development but includes issues such as biodiversity, tranquillity, heritage and landscape character. While components of the landscape such as hedges, stone walls and ponds can be measured; indicators for protection of the wider landscape are less easily measurable. This character assessment can be seen as contributing to the process of defining and recording local indicators.