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Landscape Character Assessment for Development

What is a Landscape Character Assessment?

A Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) refers to the process of identifying and describing any variation in the character of a landscape. LCAs detail the features and elements that make landscapes distinct from one another by describing the landscape character area and type. Landscape Character Assessments also help to show how a landscape is perceived, experienced and valued by people.

Landscape Character Assessments are typically undertaken when submitting planning applications for developments. They can be used to guide landscape change and help local planning authorities to visualise how potential developments may affect the landscape.

LCAs can be used as a baseline for many other landscape assessments and tools, such as Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments (LVIA).

landscape character assessment

Landscape Character Assessment process

Landscape Character Assessments analyse the three main landscape components, which include:

·        Landform – This details the visual properties of hills, glens, straths etc.

·        Land cover – Land cover describes any rivers, woodland and farmland that are found within the landscape

·        Settlement – This covers villages, towns and farmsteads that are based within the landscape

Firstly, you should define the purpose of your LCA and the area that it will cover. Following this, a desk study will be carried out to collect and analyse data. Then, a field survey will take place to research the results of the desk study in further detail.

The completed Landscape Character Assessment will be a document detailing all character of the landscape. This document will be accompanied by an annotated map showing the character types. Photographs, survey results and diagrams can all be included as part of the Landscape Character Assessment.

How can Collington Winter assist?

Collington Winter provides Landscape Character Assessments as part of our Landscape Planning services. We aim to meet the needs of developers whilst ensuring positive outcomes for wildlife. We provide a range of landscape management services, paying careful attention to the history and characteristics of each landscape. This helps to ensure the effective and sustainable care of each landscape.

We are passionate about landscape architecture and complete every project with a high level of professionalism. With current offices located in Manchester and Dumfries, the team are well served to work nationwide. Over the years, we have built strong relationships with key stakeholders across the UK.

We have experience in providing our services to English heritage projects, planners, architects, quarry companies, house building projects, and many more.

As well as providing landscape management services, we also provide landscape planning, landscape design and Landscape Character Assessments.

We work alongside Ecologists to ensure sustainability of each project we complete. The ecology services provided by Collington Winter Environmental include protected species surveys, ecological appraisal and assessment, and mitigation services.

Contact Us

Registered Address

23 Bark Street East, 1st Floor, Bolton, BL1 2BQ

Cambridge Office

Future Business Centre, Cambridge Campus, Kings Hedges Road, Cambridge, CB4 2HY

Telephone

Head Office: 01204 939 608

Dumfries Office: 01387 378208

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