The human version (we wrote this, not the council)
This section explains why Special Landscape Areas are designated. National policy supports protecting the natural landscape, and these designations protect the best countryside outside the Cotswolds National Landscape. The five areas were identified through a landscape study and represent particularly high quality countryside at a district level. The section notes that all landscapes matter, but labelling the whole of South Warwickshire as special would undermine the point of picking out specific areas for their landscape and scenic quality.
An unofficial plain English summary. The official wording below is
what counts at examination; check it before you rely on anything here.
The text below is extracted automatically from the official PDF and may
contain artefacts; the PDF is authoritative.
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Policy DS.15
Special Landscape Areas
A. Protecting Landscape Character
The high landscape quality of the Special Landscape Areas, including their
associated historic and cultural features, will be protected by resisting development
proposals that would have a harmful effect on their distinctive character and
appearance which make an important contribution to the image and enjoyment of
South Warwickshire. The cumulative impact of development proposals on the quality
of the landscape will be taken into account.
Development proposals relating to settlements that lie within a Special Landscape
Area must respect the current and historic relationship of that settlement within the
landscape.
B. Special Landscape Areas
The following Special Landscape Areas are identified and their extent is shown on the
Policies Map:
• Arden
• Cotswold Fringe
• Feldon Parkland
• Ironstone Hills Fringe
• River Leam and Surrounds
Policy Justification
2.11.8 One of the NPPF’s overarching objectives is to protect and enhance our natural,
built and historic environment. NPPF Paragraphs 20, 135 and 187 all express the
importance of protecting the natural landscape and utilising Special Landscape Areas
is one way to protect the distinctive character of an area.
2.11.9 Special Landscape Area designations are a response to an areas defined
qualities and these have been identified as part of a study looking at landscape
designations. The purpose of the Special Landscape Area designation is to protect,
enhance and facilitate better management of the best of the area’s landscapes outside
the Cotswolds National Landscape. The Special Landscape Areas are focussed on
larger scale areas which are of generally higher landscape value.
2.11.10 Special Landscape Areas have to be, by definition, ‘special’ at a district level to
merit inclusion. All landscapes are important, especially to their local residents,
and Policy DS.15 (above) emphasises the importance of assessing thoroughly the
impact of proposed development on all parts of South Warwickshire’s countryside.
However, to define entirety of South Warwickshire as ‘special’ would potentially
undermine the purpose of designating specific areas for their landscape quality.
Designation must be driven by the key qualities of a particular area of landscape. On
that basis, the Special Landscape Areas identified represent particularly high-
quality countryside in the context of South Warwickshire, based on their landscape and
scenic quality,