Landscape Character Assessment - Chelmsford Borough Council

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160A network of narrow winding lanes also cross the plateau, providing differing views across theundulating landscape. Open views across the Wid valley to wooded horizons in the east and southfrom the southeastern half of the area; give a sense of the raised nature of this area of farmland plateau.Visual Characteristics Open views across the Wid valley to wooded horizons in the east and south from the southeasternhalf of the area. Open views into the floodplain of the Rivers Can and Wid from eastern edge of the area. Open views to the western urban edge of Chelmsford from the eastern edge of the area. Landmark church spires of Writtle and Roxwell churches visible across the farmland plateau.Historic Land Use Evidence of historic land use within the Character Area is dominated by any small irregular fieldsof ancient origin, with pockets of sinuous co-axial fields. This area was part of Writtle Forest, amedieval hunting forest. Substantial pockets of ancient woodland survive, as does the historicsettlement pattern of dispersed villages focussed on greens and commons, and scattered farmsteadsin an irregular field and woodland pattern. Only within Writtle itself has development graduallyspread to encompass two greens and take on the characteristics of a nucleated settlement inrelatively modern times.Ecological FeaturesThis Character Area is dominated by widespread arable agriculture and pasture. The area contains 10sites of nature conservation value. These include: Three CWSs with ancient woodland habitat. Seven CWSs comprised of grassland, semi-natural woodland habitats.Key Planning and Land Management Issues Visually intrusive signage associated with garden centres and nurseries. Highway improvements or potential widening of the A414 and A1060. Disturbance of sense of tranquillity as a result of noise and traffic associated with the A414 andA1060. Potential pressure for expansion of Writtle settlement. Potential future decline and loss of field boundaries through lack of management and furtherintroduction of intensive agricultural practices. Increased pressure on minor roads and rural lanes. Potential for the introduction of new visually intrusive farm buildings. Ensure any extensions to existing housing developments avoid visual intrusion.Sensitivities to ChangeSensitive key characteristics and landscape elements within this character area include single maturedeciduous trees within hedgerows and ditches at field boundaries, (which are sensitive to changes inland management). The open nature of the skyline of several areas of the plateau is visually sensitive,with new development potentially visible within expansive views across the plateau and also withinviews to and from the Wid Valley. There is a strong sense of historic integrity, resulting from adispersed historic settlement pattern of small hamlets and villages and several visible historic features(including Newney Hall, Moor Hall and Newland Hall). The comprehensive network of quiet rurallanes, which cross the landscape are sensitive to potential increased traffic flow, associated with newdevelopment. There are also several important wildlife habitats within the area (including 10 sites ofimportance for nature conservation, comprising ancient woodland and grassland habitats) which aresensitive to changes in land management. Overall, this character area has moderate sensitivity tochange.Section 5.0 – Landscape Character of Chelmsford Borough11100101R Final LCAs_09-06
161Proposed 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 Protect the setting of Writtle (including the floodplains of the Can and Wid to the east), whichseparates the settlement from Chelmsford. Ensure that any appropriate new development responds to the historic settlement pattern and usesmaterials which are appropriate to local landscape character. Conserve views into the Can and Wid valleys from the eastern edge of the area. Conserve the mostly rural character of the area.Suggested Land Management Guidelines Conserve and enhance existing hedgerow network by planting hawthorn and strengthening elm. Establish arable field margins as an important nature conservation habitat. Seek ways to reduce the visual impact of the main road corridors (A414 & A1060), throughintroducing new and strengthening existing parallel shelterbelts where appropriate. Conserve historic lanes and unimproved roadside verges.11100101R Final LCAs_09-06Section 5.0 – Landscape Character of Chelmsford Borough
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BRAINTREE, BRENTWOOD, CHELMSFORD,MA
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8.0 RECOMMENDATIONS8.1 General8.2 K
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARYBackgroundIn Octob
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Executive Summary iv 11100101R Fina
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11.0 INTRODUCTION1.1 Background and
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3spatial planning approach should b
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5Proposals Map - expresses geograph
Page 19 and 20: 7 View types and composition Landma
Page 21 and 22: 9 the highlighting of landscape iss
Page 23: 2.0 OVERVIEW OF THE STUDY AREA
Page 26 and 27: 122.2.8 On the hills above the Lond
Page 28 and 29: 142.2.22 The Essex Estuaries cSAC i
Page 30 and 31: 16and have been found to have been
Page 32 and 33: 18 Medieval settlement, in the pari
Page 34 and 35: 20Historic Environment Designations
Page 36 and 37: 22and drainage of other coastal wet
Page 38 and 39: 24character. Upgrading of the rail
Page 40 and 41: 26alternative sources from outside
Page 42 and 43: 282.5.7 Together with the Joint Cha
Page 44 and 45: 302.5.13 The seventy Landscape Char
Page 46 and 47: 32Section 2.0 - Overview of the Stu
Page 49 and 50: 1395.0 LANDSCAPE CHARACTER OF CHELM
Page 51 and 52: 141A6 UPPER CHELMER RIVER VALLEY (s
Page 53 and 54: 143 Fourteen CWSs with unimproved g
Page 55 and 56: 145A7 LOWER CHELMER RIVER VALLEY (s
Page 57 and 58: 147Suggested Landscape Planning Gui
Page 59 and 60: 149to designed character and sense
Page 61 and 62: 1515.3 Farmland Plateau Landscapes5
Page 63 and 64: 153and Good Easter in the lower lyi
Page 65 and 66: 155B16 FELSTED FARMLAND PLATEAU (sh
Page 67 and 68: 157B17 TERLING FARMLAND PLATEAU (sh
Page 69: 159B20 WRITTLE FARMLAND PLATEAUKey
Page 73 and 74: 163Visual Characteristics. The A12
Page 75 and 76: 1655.4 Drained Estuarine Marsh Land
Page 77 and 78: 167well screened in the landscape.
Page 79 and 80: 1695.5 Wooded Farmland Landscapes5.
Page 81 and 82: 171enclosure and tranquillity and a
Page 83 and 84: 173F6 WOODHAM WOODED FARMLAND (shar
Page 85 and 86: 175enclosed meadows within river va
Page 87 and 88: 177north, south and east. Therefore
Page 89 and 90: 179F10 HEYBRIDGE WOODED FARMLAND (s
Page 91 and 92: 181Suggested Landscape Planning Gui
Page 93 and 94: 183and Ramsden Heath). Church tower
Page 95 and 96: 185F12 EAST HANNINGFIELD WOODED FAR
Page 97 and 98: 187 Potential major road improvemen
Page 99 and 100: 189Historic Land UseEvidence of his
Page 101: 8.0 RECOMMENDATIONS
Page 104 and 105: 3428.2.3 Planners, developers, arch
Page 106 and 107: 344Drafting Core Policies and Suppo
Page 108 and 109: 346 Make the link between planning
Page 110 and 111: 348 change in the degree of key fac
Page 112 and 113: 350Section 8.0 - Recommendations111
Page 115: APPENDIX ASTAKEHOLDER CONSULTATION
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Fit with adjacent classificationsCB
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Chelmsford - Key threats to valued
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Appendix A - Stakeholder Consultati
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CBA gave a brief overview of the st
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9. Summary and Recommendations/Appl
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development planning with conservat
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GLOSSARYCommunity StrategyAll local
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APPENDIX CSOURCES OF FURTHER INFORM
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English Heritage, 2003, Register of
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HISTORIC LANDSCAPE CHARACTER AREAS
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APPENDIX ECURRENT LOCAL PLANNING SI
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Appendix E - Current Local Planning
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APPENDIX FDRAFT CORE STRATEGY LANDS
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