Shetland Local Landscape Designation Review: Final Report

Ordnance Survey mapping at 1:50,000 and 1:25,000 scale;
Natural heritage designations (National Scenic Areas, National Nature
Reserves, Ramsar sites, Special Areas of Conservation, Special Protection
Areas, Sites of Special Scientific Interest);
Cultural heritage designations (Inventory of Gardens and Designed
Landscapes, Scheduled Ancient Monuments, listed buildings);
Local designations and policies defined in the Shetland Local Plan (2004);
and
Access information (public rights of way, Core Paths).
Audit of Existing Landscape Designations
3.7 A brief audit was carried out of the existing suite of local and national
landscape designations in Shetland. This focused on the LPA designation, and
sought to identify their purpose, function, reasons for designation, and, where
appropriate, the landscape qualities they embody and aim to protect. A key
feature of the LPAs is their ‘community-led’ focus, whereby suggestions for
potential areas are submitted by Shetland residents or community groups.
The LPAs are therefore a potential source of information on the type of
landscapes which are valued locally.
3.8 The audit also looked at the Shetland National Scenic Area and its special
qualities as set out in The special qualities of the National Scenic Areas. 3 The
audit is included in Section 6 of this report.
Landscape Evaluation
3.9 The main part of the LLDR was the desk-based quantitative evaluation of the
landscape of the study area. The methodology for the evaluation is based on
Guidance on Local Landscape Designations, and was developed based on LUC’s
past experience, and through consultation with SIC.
Evaluation criteria
3.10 The evaluation was based on the landscape classification set out in A
Landscape Assessment of the Shetland Isles, as refined for this review (see
Section 5). Each of the landscape character units (LCU) were individually
evaluated against a series of agreed criteria.
3.11 The criteria used are based on those suggested in the Guidance, and further
informed by the requirements of SIC and the needs of the present study.
They were developed into a series of evaluation questions, with four possible
‘ranks’ for each question: low, medium, high or very high. Three additional
non-ranked criteria identify differences in relative value within LCUs, and
important relationships with other LCUs, as well as noting other designations
present in each LCU. The criteria were discussed and agreed with SIC during
the course of the project. The criteria are defined in Table 3.1, and the
evaluation questions and decision rules are set out in Table 3.2.
3 Scottish Natural Heritage (2010). The special qualities of the National Scenic Areas. SNH
Commissioned Report No.374.
Shetland Islands Local Landscape Designation Review
Land Use Consultants
Final Report 7 October 2011