Landscape Character Assessment - Chelmsford Borough Council

150(predominantly deciduous) parkland trees within Admiral’s Park are also sensitive landscape features.The skyline of the slopes of the Wid valley is visually sensitive, with potential new development beingvisible within several views to and from adjacent Landscape Character Areas. There is also a sense ofhistoric integrity, resulting from a dispersed and scattered settlement pattern, patches of enclosedmeadows along the valley floor and a few small areas of parkland. This landscape is moderately to -highly sensitive to change or new development.Proposed Landscape Strategy ObjectivesConserve - seek to protect and enhance positive features that are essential in contributing to localdistinctiveness and sense of place through effective planning and positive land management measures.Enhance - seek to improve the integrity of the landscape, and reinforce its character, by introducingnew and/or enhanced elements where distinctive features or characteristics are absent.Suggested Landscape Planning Guidelines Conserve the relatively tranquil and undeveloped character of the floodplain of the River Wid. Consider the visual impact of new farm buildings or extensions to existing settlements upon valleysslopes. Conserve the western landscape setting of Chelmsford and the eastern landscape setting of Writtle. Maintain cross-valley views and conserve characteristic views along the valleys. Ensure any new development on valley sides is small-scale and responds to historic settlementpattern, form and building materials. Maintain views to Hylands Park and House to the west. Screen visually intrusive urban-edge development within Chelmsford (especially large warehousebuildings within the industrial estate at the eastern edge of the town) with selective tree plantingwhich is appropriate to local landscape character.Suggested Land Management Guidelines Conserve and manage existing hedgerows. Seek to manage and control potential fertiliser run-off from nearby farmland. Seek to enhance existing floodplain habitats. Encourage the planting of native alder, willow, ash and oak in groups along the riverside whereappropriate.Section 5.0 – Landscape Character of Chelmsford Borough11100101R Final LCAs_09-06