and this cannot be mitigated in our view. The earlier section on page 17 sets out the key landscape characteristics of the land within and surrounding the SPD Additional text has been added. site. The established district scale landscape character assessment set out in the District Design Guide and Character Map covers a broad area, although relevant in order to better understand the landscape character of the site and to address and support the principles set out in Policy CS5 a more detailed scale of landscape character assessment required. In the section, Character Zones” on page 21, the “Landscape description of the Chesterton Windmill view is minimised in The description is considered accurate. value and reportage. … Clear guidance and clarification of buffer zone to ancient woodlands on the site needs to be given. It is evident from various responses that the width of a buffer zone needs to be determined to recognise individual circumstances. The SPD correctly identifies this as an issue, but the specific requirements should be determined through the application process. Natural England Landscape Character We welcome the enhancement of the local landscape Noted. character, consideration of local distinctiveness and avoidance of detrimental impacts. Reference could also be made to the National Character Area. An up-to-date Landscape Character Assessment coupled with Agreed. techniques such as Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) provide a robust basis for defining issues and responding to them and for assessing proposed development. planning authorities should take into account the ‘Local economic and other benefits of the best and most versatile agricultural land. Where significant development of agricultural land is demonstrated to be necessary, local planning authorities should seek to use areas of poorer quality land in preference to that of a higher quality.’
and this cannot be mitigated in our view. The earlier section on page 17 sets out the key landscape characteristics of the land within and surrounding the SPD site. The established district scale landscape character assessment set out in the District Design Guide and Character Map covers a broad area, although relevant in order to better understand the landscape character of the site and to address and support the principles set out in Policy CS5 a more detailed scale of landscape character assessment required. In the section, “Landscape Character Zones” on page 21, the description of the Chesterton Windmill view is minimised in value and reportage. … Clear guidance and clarification of buffer zone to ancient woodlands on the site needs to be given. Additional text has been added. The description is considered accurate. It is evident from various responses that the width of a buffer zone needs to be determined to recognise individual circumstances. The SPD correctly identifies this as an issue, but the specific requirements should be determined through the application process. Natural England Landscape Character We welcome the enhancement of the local landscape character, consideration of local distinctiveness and avoidance of detrimental impacts. Reference could also be made to the National Character Area. An up-to-date Landscape Character Assessment coupled with techniques such as Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) provide a robust basis for defining issues and responding to them and for assessing proposed development. ‘Local planning authorities should take into account the economic and other benefits of the best and most versatile agricultural land. Where significant development of agricultural land is demonstrated to be necessary, local planning authorities should seek to use areas of poorer quality land in preference to that of a higher quality.’ Noted. Agreed.