LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT URBAN FRINGE SITE 42 ADJACENT TO OVINGDEAN ROAD, FALMER ROAD AND THE VALE, BRIGHTON.
Date: Prepared by:
March 2015. Landvision South East Ltd. Balfron, Cockmount Lane, Wadhurst. East Sussex. TN5 6UG.
Urban Fringe Site 42 - Land adjacent to Ovingdean Road, Falmer Road and The Vale Brighton, Landscape Assessment.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.
INTRODUCTION
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1.1
Site Details
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1.2
Statement of Authority
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1.3
The Approach to the Landscape Assessment.
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1.4
Purpose of The Assessment.
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1.5
Valued landscapes.
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1.6 Landscape Quality and Representativeness OF Open Downs LCA, A2. defined.
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1.7
Representativeness;
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1.8
Importance of the land;
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1.9 Location within SDNP, Sensitivity of Open Downs Landscape and Views. defined.
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1.10
Cumulative Development.
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1.11
Landscape effects.
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1.12
Landscape Character within Open Downs Setting.
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1.13 Assessment of Landscape Factors for Valued Landscape. Urban Fringe Site 42. Error! Bookmark not defined. 1.14
Landscape Quality (condition).
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1.15
Valued Landscapes; History and Cultural Heritage Conservation. Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.16
History
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1.17
Conservation Interests.
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1.18
Landscape Quality and Intactness of landform.
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1.19
Rarity
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1.20
Recreational Aspects;
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1.21
Perceptual aspects .
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1.22
Associations.
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1.23
Protection of Landscape Character of Urban Fringe Site 42.
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1.24
The Development Proposals and Key Impacts
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1.25
Biodiversity.
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1.26
"Urban fringe" classification.
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1.27
Landscape Designations
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1.28
Cultural Heritage Designations
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Urban Fringe Site 42 - Land adjacent to Ovingdean Road, Falmer Road and The Vale Brighton, Landscape Assessment.
2.
THE PROPOSALS.
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2.1
Landscape Management
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2.2
Landscape Features.
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2.3
Land Use Beyond the Site
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2.4
Settlement Pattern and Architectural Styles
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2.5
Landscape Character of the Study Area
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2.6
Sensitivity of the Land of Site within Landscape of LCA and SDNP. Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.7
Magnitude of Landscape Change
2.8
Evaluation of the Landscape Effects and Visual Impact SignificanceError! Bookmark not defined.
2.9
Conclusion.
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APPENDIX 1.
Representative Viewpoint Photographs 1 to 9.
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APPENDIX 2.
Maps.
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APPENDIX 3.
Summary of Landscape Effects
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APPENDIX 4.
Summary of Visual Impacts
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APPENDIX 5.
Method Statement
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APPENDIX 6.
Legislation and policy guidance.
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APPENDIX 7.
History.
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Urban Fringe Site 42 - Land adjacent to Ovingdean Road, Falmer Road and The Vale Brighton, Landscape Assessment.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Landvision are landscape architects and have been commissioned by the Deans Preservation Group to undertake a Landscape assessment report to assess Urban Fringe Site 42, Brighton. Landvision are an environmental consultancy specialising in landscape visual impact assessment and environmental assessment in Southern England. The assessment follows the methodology for Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) 3rd edition, by The Landscape Institute (LI) and Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment(IEEM.)This places greater weight on conservation and protection of history and cultural heritage through landscape assessment. The designations such as Conservation Areas and Listed Buildings are considered in this landscape assessment for this is a historic landscape. Urban Fringe Site 42 is a Valued Landscape. Factors which identify Valued Landscapes are interpreted to reflect legislative and policy context prevailing in the area. Factors which identify Valued Landscapes include; landscape character, landscape quality (condition), representativeness, scenic quality, perceptual aspects, history and cultural heritage, rarity, conservation interests and recreation value, associations, green infrastructure and role as green gap – all within the context of the legislation and policy which exist to conserve and protect valued landscapes. Landscape Character Area- The whole area of Urban Fringe Site 42 is highly representative of Sussex Downs National Character Area (NCA), Open Downs Landscape Character Area (LCA) in Adur to Ouse Open Downs Landscape type A2. This Open Downs LCA is a historic agricultural landscape of rolling downs. Landscape Quality (condition)- the physical state of the site ; site is within Happy Valley, with a natural rolling, undulating "wave like" landform, with a high degree of intactness of landscape and hence a high landscape quality. The condition of individual elements is high. Representativeness- The land is considered an important example of a natural dry valley rolling Open Downs landform, within the dry valley of the Happy Valley, of Open Downs landscape. This landform retains its original topography and undulations, with contiguity of land form due to continuity of agricultural land use, mainly grazing. Scenic Quality - The landscape has high scenic quality due to the natural, undulating undeveloped landform and ridges on site, due to its historical agricultural land use. Perceptual Aspects - The perception of the land is rural, part of the setting of the medieval village of Ovingdean, opposite the historic Woodendean Farm. The land is clearly shown on historic maps with the building of the church in 12th century AD setting a spiritual seal upon the creation of a new community of scattered farms which had no real centre until that date. (See Conservation Area details in Appendix 7.)The land is historic, agricultural Open Downs. Other perceptual qualities which this landscape is valued for, are its wildness and tranquillity.
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Urban Fringe Site 42 - Land adjacent to Ovingdean Road, Falmer Road and The Vale Brighton, Landscape Assessment.
The village along Ovingdean Road is still a "sleepy backwater". The land contributes to this timeless charm and has key characteristics and qualities of historic medieval villages in dry valleys of this Open Downs Adur to Ouse landscape type A2. History and Cultural Heritage -The undisturbed natural landform and its location close to the centre of a medieval village within Open Downs, Adur to Ouse A2 make this land form within the Happy Valley an important part of the history and cultural heritage of the land within the historic Open Downs landscape of the South Downs National Park (SDNP). The land form in its natural state could not be replaced nor its loss compensated for in terms of its value as historic landscape. The land opposite Woodendean Farm (now Meadow Vale) is shown on early maps (1789) The name Woodendean refers back to the post -conquest clearance of woodland(assarting); Wood- en-dean (dean- dry valley; wooden- wood cutting.) Dry valleys are favoured by the earliest settlers. The village is a hilltop village with ancient settlements around it. The land is thus of great antiquity and part of the historic agricultural landscape of Open Downs. A Domesday Book village within Open Downs. All these factors contribute to perceptions of the natural beauty of the historical rural land of the site and its vital contribution to the landscape setting of Ovingdean within SDNP. Rarity - The landform and landscape elements are in the form of the habitats, which include the rare species surviving on them. The natural land form surviving in its intact state in such a location, is rare. Continuity of agricultural use and undeveloped nature of the site from 1200AD to present day has enabled this landform to survive to present day as rural Open Downland. The continuity of traditional grazing also supports rare and critically endangered plants. Conservation Interests- There are numerous conservation interests on the land which add to the value of this landscape as well as each having a value in its own right; plants and insects of national rarity, important in terms of national biodiversity. Recreation Value- The land has high visual amenity for receptors within Happy Valley and on Mount Pleasant within the SDNP Open Downs landscape. The landscape of the site is valued as it is a green backdrop to the SDNP and has considerable recreational value as part of the wider landscape setting, as part of the adjoining Green Way in The Vale, SDNP and a green gap between the village of Ovingdean and nearby villages. Associations- Grazing is a traditional downland land use, associated with the Open Downs lowland calcareous grassland landscape. The topography of the land was inspiring for world class artists like Eric Ravilious and writers like Kipling, who worked in and on Sussex Open Downs' landscapes, for many years. Valued Landscapes- The land has been identified as a valued landscape due to the analysis of the above factors and the land's characteristics. It is part of the Open Downs LCA within the historic Open Downs agricultural landscape of Happy Valley. It adjoins the South Downs National Park, which surrounds the land and shares key characteristics with the Open Downs landscape of which it is quite clearly an integral part, having continuity of land from, rare species and continuing grazing land use (traditional in this Sussex Open Downs landscape type A2).
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Urban Fringe Site 42 - Land adjacent to Ovingdean Road, Falmer Road and The Vale Brighton, Landscape Assessment.
Green Infrastructure- (GI)- Land bridges such as this lowland calcareous grassland land are extremely important in biodiversity terms and in terms of ecology. Species that are rare and critically endangered with threats for lowland calcareous grassland loss are highly reliant on these remaining habitats surviving with integrity of land form and soils, hydrology and intactness. (See South Downs Way Ahead Nature Improvement Area.) Green Gap- The site is an important Green Gap between three historic downland villages, Rottingdean, Ovingdean and Woodingdean. If the site were developed this vital Green Gap would be lost and these villages would merge as one large conurbation. The Green Gap makes the Happy valley rural and gives it a strong sense of place. This perception of a rural dry valley within historic open downland would be lost if the Green Gap were removed. South Downs Way Ahead Nature Improvement Area- The site is a Nature Improvement Area in the South Downs Way Ahead Nature Improvement Areas. These seek to "protect and restore chalk downland"; the whole site should thus be conserved as chalk downland. The South Downs Way Ahead Nature Improvement Area also seek "to protect (the chalk downland) wildlife habitats and the environmental, economic and social benefits that they bring."
Conclusions;
The present land management is important in conserving and protecting this land within the historic Open Downs landscape character area. The land has contiguity of landform to the rolling Open Downs. It forms part of the historic green space within Happy Valley and contributes to the high scenic quality of the South Downs National Park (SDNP)and its landscape setting. A high magnitude of change would occur if the existing agricultural horse grazing on an Open Downs lowland calcareous grassland landscape was replaced by the proposed introduction of a modern housing development into this part of the Happy Valley. Change to the green field site would have adverse landscape effects and visual impacts on adjacent SDNP, residents and walkers ( who are receptors in SDNP.)This is as the land forms an important Green Gap between the historic Downland villages and this visual amenity would be adversely affected were this Green Gap to be lost. For this Open Downs landscape to continue to contribute so much to its SDNP setting and to offer high landscape quality and high scenic quality it requires continued protection in its original state, by conserving its natural landform fully intact. The site is also a South Downs Way Ahead Nature Improvement Area and it is thus a goal to protect and conserve its wildlife habitats. The whole site of chalk downland should therefore be protected and conserved intact. Urban Fringe Site 42, is part of the landscape of early settlements in dry valleys in the historic agricultural landscape of the Open Downs, A2. The proposals would result in loss of historic Open Downs land in this location and a loss of green space in the Happy Valley which is a coombe in Open Downs, A2. No changes however small can be tolerated because of the natural landscape of the land, as agricultural Open Downs,and its classification as a lowland calcareous grassland, with rare landscape elements. This is land of value in terms of history, cultural heritage,
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Urban Fringe Site 42 - Land adjacent to Ovingdean Road, Falmer Road and The Vale Brighton, Landscape Assessment.
unique landform characteristics and with an intactness of landform which is highly representative of the Open Downs LCA, Adur to Ouse Open Downs landscape character and landscape type A2. It is a classic example of a piece of land which should never be developed. ďƒ˜ Lastly, the land contributes in its natural undeveloped landscape state as a Green Gap and unique land bridge "crossover site" linking the grassland in the Open Downs to the east and west of Happy Valley. Due to the land's location, due to its natural intactness of landform and due to the rarity of landscape in its landform, in all its landscape elements, this land must be conserved and protected. The SDNP will thus continue to benefit from conservation and protection of the historic Open Downs agricultural landscape of Urban Fringe Site 42 within the Happy Valley. This will be in accordance with legislation and policy for landscape conservation and protection in this landscape character area.
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Urban Fringe Site 42 - Land adjacent to Ovingdean Road, Falmer Road and The Vale Brighton, Landscape Assessment.
1.1
CONCLUSION.
1.1.1
The present landscape of Urban Fringe Site 42 is a typical Open Downs landscape within a dry valley in the Sussex Downs. The site has the key characteristics of this historic downland andscape type; Adur to Ouse Open Downs, landscape type A2.
1.1.2
Equally the site has an intactness of landform and habitat (lowland calcareous grassland continuously grazed and supporting associated plants and animals of national rarity) that make this a valued landscape.
1.1.3
Neighbouring areas of land have SNCI status and enjoy SDNP protection. These areas share the same key landscape characteristics and the same management as Urban Fringe Site 42.
1.1.4
Ovingdean village is a historic village which like Rottingdean to the south, dates back to medieval times and the Open Downs landscape of this site is a historic landscape with nearby ancient settlements. Urban Fringe Site 42 was likely to have been settled at an early date (see Appendices 2 , historic maps and 7 for history of site and the village) and the land forms an important part of the landscape of the medieval village. The original topography, once lost, cannot be recreated; nor can the loss to the landscape character of the surrounding SDNP be mitigated for by planting or other measures.
1.1.5
A historic open downland of high to exceptional landscape quality such as this should be protected and conserved for future generations to enjoy.
1.1.6
There are many local plan policies which provide for the protection of high scenic quality of rural open downland.(See Appendix 5 for details.)
1.1.7
This land is reminiscent of rolling valley bottoms in dry valleys in this landscape type in Open Downs and it is these key characteristics, their associations with inspiration for artists and writers, such as Eric Ravilious, that make this an exceptional landscape.
1.1.8
Not only is the landscape condition and the landscape quality high, but the continued grazing, which is historic, has meant that a cluster of the rare Sussex species of plants and insects make it worthy of LNR and SNCI status.
1.1.9
The gently rolling valley bottom chalk topography, plus the grazing by horses give the site a feeling of tranquillity and wildness. These landscape perceptual qualities are highly valued and match those in the adjoining South Downs National Park.
1.1.10
The landscape context is one of historically grazed chalk grassland, within a rolling historic downland setting. This setting and location, opposite historic Woodendean Farm, is significant in terms of LVIA and the land's contribution as part of a valued landscape.
1.1.11
There are BAP species which are linked to and thus reliant on continuous horse grazing of the chalk grassland. These are also a part of the cultural heritage and are of national and regional biodiversity importance. A myriad of national, international and local plan policies are in place to protect the nature
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Urban Fringe Site 42 - Land adjacent to Ovingdean Road, Falmer Road and The Vale Brighton, Landscape Assessment.
conservation status of the rare plants and animals on site. These species include the Red Star thistle and Hornet Robberfly. The legislative and policy context for the protection of this site is examined. (See Appendix 6.) 1.1.12
The site provides poaching and bare patches associated with horse grazing for maintaining the favourable conservation status of a cluster of threatened and critically endangered species of calcareous chalk grassland linked to the grazing of the chalk grassland; BAP habitat for Sussex BAP species of Red Star Thistle and for Cut leaved Self Heal and Hornet Robberfly.
1.1.13
The report assesses the significance of the land as a site of lowland calcareous chalk grassland BAP habitat and its rare and critically endangered species, with recommendations for protection under the legislative and policy context prevailing. Associated pollution effects and increased traffic, noise and detrimental changes to the soils and hydrology by increased nutrient levels would have "knock on " effects of adverse nature for BAP species, the loss of lownland calcareous grassland and the loss of the horse grazing on which these species rely.
1.1.14
The assessment of landscape and visual impacts and landscape effects of random development of the site would include effects on South Downs National Park which adjoins the site east of Falmer Road (B2013) and north of the site at Mount Pleasant and landscape effects from the loss of green space within the Happy Valley.
1.1.15
Due to the location within a coombe chalk valley, any mitigation for sensitive views from north of site from the PRoW, would be largely ineffectual. This is because the landscape setting of the site would be entirely changed, with erosion of the landscape amenity and visual impacts on the whole site setting which adjoins the SDNP. Thus there would be a significant adverse landscape and visual impacts and landscape effects on the SDNP if the site were not conserved in its present state.
1.1.16
The site is traditional grazing land and is lowland calcareous grassland with its associated lower fertility and ancient seed bank, in agricultural use since medieval times. (See maps and historic extracts in Appendices 2 and 7.)
1.1.17
This historic landscape is irreplaceable and the land with its intact topography should be conserved in situ. (see Historic maps in Appendix 2, showing Urban Fringe Site 42 Farm.) Horse grazing has made the chalk grassland valuable in ecological terms and is thus of high ecological importance. This site should become an SNCI/LNR due to its having rare species for the Sussex Open Downs.
1.1.18
The site has escaped classification as an SNCI despite being effectively enclosed by SNCIs on horse paddocks to the north and north-east. Urban Fringe Site 42 has a greater number of the rare species (Red Star-thistle) than the other two sites. In addition two of the species found on Urban Fringe Site 42 are species found nowhere else in Sussex (Cut Leaved Self-heal and Hybrid Self-heal) and one is found nowhere else in Brighton & Hove (Corky Fruited Dropwort). A species of insect (Hornet Robberfly) is only found at one other
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Urban Fringe Site 42 - Land adjacent to Ovingdean Road, Falmer Road and The Vale Brighton, Landscape Assessment.
site in Brighton & Hove. This makes the site's species and biodiversity significant in terms of this landscape assessment. 1.1.19
The landscape effects from any development of any part of this site would have serious implications for the critically threatened species on this site, which rely on continuous grazing for their survival on the lowland calcareous grassland of the site.
1.1.20
It is thus recommended that this site is safeguarded by SNCI designation as a matter of urgency. This is due to the fragility of lowland calcareous grassland which is a BAP habitat, due to its proximity to the other SNCIs and to the location of the site adjoining the SDNP.
1.1.21
The site is considered to contribute to the landscape setting of both the village of Ovingdean and historic Woodendean Farm (now Meadow Vale) adjoining the SDNP in the Happy Valley.
1.1.22
The site within the Happy Valley has a high landscape sensitivity due to its location within the dry valley coomb, its Open Downs landscape character and the Open Downs landscape beyond it offering views into the site from above, from the PRoW of the SDNP. Its considerable contribution to the landscape setting of the Happy Valley, of which it is a part, and its contribution to the South Downs National Park, which it adjoins, should be safeguarded.
1.1.23
Any changes to the agricultural land use of the site would have an adverse effect on the historic and cultural heritage of the area and would adversely affect the local landscape character, in the South Downs, Adur to Ouse Open Downs, A2.
1.1.24
The need for conservation and protection of landscape character is based on the landscape assessment findings of this report.
1.1.25
This is in accordance with saved landscape policies of;
1.1.26
Brighton & Hove Local Plan saved policies, NC5 and NC6, the site being formerly AONB and beyond the village development boundary, as part of Happy Valley green space.
1.1.27
SDNPA Local Plan Joint Core Strategy.
1.1.28
Conservation of rare species on site should be based on the records submitted to the Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre.
1.1.29
Conservation and management recommendations of this report comply with the NPPF and SDPMP.
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