RSS East Of England Plan - Broads Authority

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Section 8 Environment
POLICY ENV2: Landscape Conservation
In their plans, policies, programmes and proposals planning authorities and other agencies should, in accordance
with statutory requirements, afford the highest level of protection to the East of England’s nationally designated
landscapes (Figure 5) – the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads, the Chilterns, Norfolk Coast, Dedham Vale, and Suffolk
Coast and Heaths Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs), and the North Norfolk and Suffolk Heritage
Coasts. Within the Broads priority should be given to conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife and
cultural heritage of the area, promoting public enjoyment and the interests of navigation. Within the AONBs priority
over other considerations should be given to conserving the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of each
area.
Planning authorities and other agencies should recognise and aim to protect and enhance the diversity and local
distinctiveness of the countryside character areas identified on Figure 6 by:
• developing area-wide strategies, based on landscape character assessments, setting long-term goals for
landscape change, targeting planning and land management tools and resources to influence that change, and
giving priority to those areas subject to most growth and change;
• developing criteria-based policies, informed by the area-wide strategies and landscape character assessments,
to ensure all development respects and enhances local landscape character; and
• securing mitigation measures where, in exceptional circumstances, damage to local landscape character is
unavoidable.
8.8 This is a region of contrasts. Its landscape varies in character from the long, low-lying coastline, with beaches, dunes,
saltmarsh and estuaries, to the large scale open fen landscapes, the Norfolk and Suffolk heaths, and the rolling farmland
with woodland and hedgerows characteristic of much of the rest of the region.
8.9 Some 7.5% of the land area is designated as nationally important landscape: the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads, which has
equivalent status to a National Park, and the four areas of outstanding natural beauty (only part of the Chilterns AONB is
within the East of England). The Broads Management Plan and AONB Management Plans set out the visions for these
areas and provide more detailed context for Local Development Documents. The character of the Broads has
implications for decision makers beyond the Broads Authority’s boundaries and local authorities should be aware of the
requirement to take account of the statutory purposes of the Broads, particularly in planning for adjacent areas. Figure 5
shows the main landscape and nature conservation areas designated in the region.
8.10 National policy for sustainable development in rural areas in PPS7 emphasises the continuing need to protect the
countryside for the sake of its intrinsic character and beauty. Countryside character areas have been mapped and
described by Natural England, see Figure 6. Many local authorities have also published landscape strategies, supported
by character assessments and related studies that provide a finer level of analysis and these should inform Local
Development Document preparation. Further work is proposed, aimed at developing a regional landscape strategy to
inform the next RSS review.