Landscape Character Assessment Database
By Matt Jarvis | 17.07.23
The landscape character assessment database - the first of its kind in the UK and Ireland, is now available to view and open for feedback.
Developed by the Landscape Institute with the support of Natural England, NatureScot, Natural Resources Wales, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and DAERA Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), the database offers a single resource of landscape character data and other benefits for environmental professionals.
The draft resource is available via the Landscape Institute website https://www.landscapeinstitute.org
A single resource
The UK and Ireland's first comprehensive landscape character assessment (LCA) database provides huge benefits to those working in landscape, design, and environmental sectors. It forms a single resource focusing on existing published landscape character data and includes over 500 LCAs from a local to regional scale across the UK and Ireland.
Feedback and updates are critical for the success of the database in the long term; the Landscape Institute has included a response feedback form to allow users to inform them of broken links and, or new landscape character assessments that need to be added.
A landscape-led approach
"We regularly reference landscape character assessments in our design work to establish the existing baseline conditions of a site."
Our landscape-led approach ensures that every Rural Solutions development is sensitively integrated within its rural location and protected landscape. We regularly reference landscape character assessments in our design work.
Our specialists assess the existing baseline conditions of a site and its wider environs, this includes undertaking a detailed review of all relevant literature, combined with a field appraisal and follow-up detailed analysis.
Unlocking a site’s full potential
An important component of the overall landscape, planning and design process are Landscape and Visual Appraisal (LVAs) and Impact Assessments (LVIAs). These help to establish a comprehensive overview of landscape character and visual amenity, and are essential as part of the initial feasibility for new developments.
To ensure the best ‘environmental fit’ for any given development, we regularly produce LVAs and LVIAs. A method, which allows us to identify opportunities and constraints very early on within the design process and to unlock a site’s full potential.
Enhancing the landscape
While LVAs and LVIAs support the planning application process, they also play a key role in the evolution of design proposals, often influencing the layout, massing, and the material aesthetic of a new development.
Our team ensures that a suitable range of design enhancements and mitigation measures are employed to help reduce the impacts of any proposed development and ultimately help to enhance the existing landscape character and visual amenity.
Working in partnership
While we provide a full-service solution including strategy, concept development, planning and design, we also often work with specialists in ecology, highways, arboriculture, archaeology, and heritage.
Partnership working results in a thorough and detailed understanding of a site and its context and ensures that any design work responds to a key set of development principles.
Get in touch
We’re always happy to have a chat about a potential or existing project, please call 01756 797501 or email info@ruralsolutions.co.uk.
Matt Jarvis is an Associate Director of Landscape at Rural Solutions.
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