National Landscapes and their setting

NE19: National Landscapes and their setting 1. The Chilterns National Landscape is a nationally designated landscape with the highest status of protection for conserving and enhancing landscape. Scenic beauty and wildlife and cultural heritage are also important. 2. Within the National Landscape the scale and extent of development should be limited whilst in the setting, development should be sensitively located and designed. 3. Proposals for all development within and in the setting of the Chilterns National Landscape must demonstrate how they address all the following: a) take a landscape-led approach to development. b) conserve and enhance the Chiltern National Landscape’s special qualities in accordance with national planning policy, the purposes of its designation and local landscape character assessments. c) meet the aims of the Chilterns National Landscape Management Plan, making practical and financial contributions as appropriate. d) respond to the Chilterns Building Design Guide, Technical Notes and Position Statements, including that on the setting of the Chilterns National Landscape. e) avoid adverse impacts from individual development proposals and any cumulative effects, unless these can be satisfactorily mitigated and f) are appropriate to the economic, social, health and environmental wellbeing of the area. Major Development 4. Major developments will be refused unless exceptional circumstances can be demonstrated as defined by national planning policy and where it is demonstrated to be in the public interest. Consideration of such applications should include an assessment of al the following: a) the need for the development, including in terms of any national considerations, and the impact of permitting it, or refusing it, upon the local economy. b) the cost of, and scope for, developing outside the designated area, or meeting the need for it in some other way. c) any detrimental effect on the environment, health, the landscape and recreational opportunities, and the extent to which that could be moderated. 5. Proposals for major development will need to be accompanied by a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) produced in accordance with current guidance from the Landscape Institute. At the Council’s request, where the landscape visual impact is expected to be moderate or higher, non-major development may also require a LVIA or landscape appraisal. The scope of any LVIA or landscape appraisal, including methodology, study area and representative viewpoints, should be agreed with the Council prior to its preparation and submission with a planning application. Chilterns National Landscape 7.277 The primary legislation for National Landscapes is the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (CROW Act). National Landscapes incorporate areas of the highest scenic quality, and, in landscape terms, are intended to enjoy equal status with National Parks. The primary purpose of National Landscape designation is the conservation and enhancement of the landscape and scenic beauty, which is also supported by the National Planning Policy Framework. 7.278 The Chilterns National Landscape was designated in 1965 and extended in 1990, covering 27% of the Buckinghamshire Council area. It is managed by the Chilterns Conservation Board, who is responsible for reviewing and implementing the Chilterns National Landscape Management Plan. The Board also publishes the Chilterns Building Design Guide along with a series of Technical Notes and Position Statements, including that relating to the setting of the Chilterns National Landscape. These documents are a material consideration in planning decisions. 7.279 The Chilterns National Landscape covers nine local authorities, who work together to safeguard the future of this valued landscape in conjunction with the Chilterns Conservation Board. It is a living landscape that supports homes, economic activities and leisure uses that complement and contribute to its distinctive character and natural beauty. 7.280 The setting of the Chilterns National Landscape has no defined geographical boundary, but is the area within which developments, by virtue of their nature, size, scale, siting, materials or design have scope to impact upon the natural beauty and special qualities of the Chilterns. The council will support development in the setting of the National Landscape that is sensitively located and designed to avoid or minimise adverse impacts on the designated area. 7.281 All development in the National Landscape or its setting should demonstrate a landscape-led approach to site selection and development design. A landscape-led approach begins with an appraisal of the site's contribution to the character and cohesiveness of the wider landscape, including relevant Landscape Character Area(s) and designations such as the Chilterns National Landscape. Public views to, from and across the site should also be assessed. Subsequent development proposals should then retain, enhance and supplement valuable landscape features, connections and views/vistas, responding with sensitive high-quality design that reinforces or complements established landscape character and visual amenity. Development proposals should demonstrate how any adverse impacts on landscape character or visual amenity have been avoided, minimised or mitigated. 7.282 Where required, assessment of likely landscape and visual effects of development should be carried out in accordance with the 'Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment' ("GLVIA"), currently in its third edition, published by the Landscape Institute (LI) and Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA). This document is supported by a series of Technical Guidance Notes (TGNs) also published by the Landscape Institute, which should also be addressed where relevant. 7.283 The term “major development” for this policy does not refer to the familiar planning application thresholds (10 dwellings) or any other numerical threshold but instead requires the Council to judge the significance of a proposal in its specific context.