52 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 <strong>East</strong> of <strong>England</strong>’s nationally designated landscapes (Figure 5) – the Norfolk and Suffolk <strong>Broads</strong>, 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 <strong>Broads</strong> 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. <strong>Plan</strong>ning 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 <strong>Broads</strong>, 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 <strong>East</strong> of <strong>England</strong>). The <strong>Broads</strong> Management <strong>Plan</strong> and AONB Management <strong>Plan</strong>s set out the visions for these areas and provide more detailed context for Local Development Documents. The character of the <strong>Broads</strong> has implications for decision makers beyond the <strong>Broads</strong> <strong>Authority</strong>’s boundaries and local authorities should be aware of the requirement to take account of the statutory purposes of the <strong>Broads</strong>, 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 <strong>England</strong>, 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 <strong>RSS</strong> review.
<strong>East</strong> of <strong>England</strong> <strong>Plan</strong> 53 Figure 5: <strong>East</strong> of <strong>England</strong> Environmental Designations