9.1 National Policy4 states the importance of conserving the landscape and scenic beauty or our National Parks, the Broads and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs).
9.2 The landscape of Three Rivers is a complex mix of rural and urban areas, woodlands, wildlife habitats, farmland, water features and other land forms. The landscape has been heavily altered by human activity so many distinctive features such as field boundaries are of historical interest as well as visual and ecological merit. Wildlife habitats such as meadows, woodlands, hedgerows, orchards and wetlands are valued components of the landscape and have their own special management requirements.
9.3 Three Rivers incorporates 546ha of the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), an area of national landscape importance, generally made up of a mosaic of woodland, copses, enclosed pastures, arable fields, wooded and open heath and scattered farms and villages, overlying rolling hills and valleys. The parts of AONB located within the District consist largely of chalk stream, river, valley, and adjacent hillsides and woods.
9.4 New development should either conserve and/or enhance the special character and natural beauty of the AONB. Proposals should also protect the setting of the AONB and safeguard views into and out of the area. The areas of the District within the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty are shown on the Proposals Map.
9.5 Hertfordshire County Council's Landscape Character Assessment identifies three landscape regions in Three Rivers (shown on the Proposals Map):
9.6 These landscape regions contain a variety of landscape character areas, for which assessments have been produced identifying key characteristics and influences. A Landscape Strategy (2001) has been produced which includes suggestions for managing future change (further details can be seen at http://enquire.hertscc.gov.uk/landscsh/ ).
9.7 Information on historic landscape features can be found through the Hertfordshire Historic Environment Record available online at http://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/gateway/.
9.8 The Council will seek to ensure that development complements the surrounding local landscape of Three Rivers as identified in the current Landscape Character Assessment, through the siting, layout, design, appearance and landscaping of development. When preparing applications, consideration should be given to:
9.9 Applicants are encouraged to refer to the Landscape Character Assessment and the Landscape Strategy for information in relation to these matters.
9.10 For developments in or near to the Chiltern's AONB, the Council will have regard to The Chilterns Buildings Design Guide and Supplementary Technical Notes on Chilterns building materials (flint, brick and roofing materials) available from office@chilternsaonb.org which provides further information on acceptable design in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the issues facing the area and the management actions required. Further guidance on the design of development shall also be provided in the Council's Design SPD.
DM7 Landscape Character |
a) Chiltern's Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty In considering proposals for development within or near the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Council will support development unless the proposal would:
b) Landscape Regions In all landscape regions, the Council will require proposals to make a positive contribution to the surrounding landscape. Proposals that would unacceptably harm the character of the landscape in terms of siting, scale, design or external appearance will be refused planning permission. The Council will support proposals that:
c) When considering proposals for development which may affect the management of an area of particular feature of the landscape, details of management proposals to protect or enhance the contribution of the site to the wider landscape will be required. |
| Policy Links | |
| National Policy (others may also be relevant) |
National Planning Policy Framework |
| Related Core Strategy Policies | CP1: Overarching Policy on Sustainable Development CP9: Green Infrastructure CP12: Design of Development |
| Core Strategy Strategic Objective | S1, S9, S12 |
| Further Guidance | |
| Supplementary Planning Documents | Green Infrastructure and Landscape SPD (Forthcoming) |
| Additional Information | Chilterns Buildings Design Guide and Supplementary
Technical Notes on Chilterns building materials (flint, brick and
roofing materials) Hertfordshire County Council's Landscape Character Assessment |
9.11 As there will be increasing pressure for development across the District, it is important that all landscape, including the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is conserved or enhanced. The preferred policy approach ensures that the design of development proposals is sensitive enough to ensure that schemes make a positive contribution to the landscape.
9.12 This policy will contribute directly to achievement of the Core Strategy Objective 9: to protect and improve the countryside and the diversity of wildlife and habitats and part of the Core Strategy Objective 10, ensuring that new development respects the unique character and identity of the towns and villages in the District.
4National Planning Policy Framework
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