LANDSCAPE

All policies are superseded by policies from the Core Strategy

 

124. Havant Borough Council recognises the importance of protecting and enhancing the varied urban and rural landscape of the Borough because of its value to the quality of the environment both visually and in terms of biodiversity. The policies in this Chapter aim to protect and enhance the principal landscape features which contribute to the character of the Borough, including the remaining areas of ancient woodland that are remnants of the Forest of Bere.
 
DESIGNATED AREAS
 

L1 CHICHESTER HARBOUR AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY (AONB)

 
Development which would harm the natural beauty of the landscape will not be permitted within or adjacent to the Chichester Harbour AONB. Major development will only be permitted where there is an overriding national interest and a lack of alternative sites.
 
125. The Chichester Harbour was designated as an AONB by the Countryside Commission in 1964, in order to conserve the natural beauty of the landscape of the area. Any development proposals will be considered against their likely effect on the quality of the landscape. Development will be resisted unless there are compelling reasons for its location and no alternative sites available.
 

L2 LANDSCAPE CHARACTER AREAS

 
Within the landscape character areas shown on Plan L2, development will be assessed for its impact on the intrinsic character of the landscape. New development must respect and enhance the key characteristics of the eleven landscape character areas .
 
126. Havant Borough Landscape Assessment, which is currently under review, identified a range of different landscape types within the Borough. A landscape type is a distinct landscape with a set of characteristics which can occur in different parts of the country, influenced by underlying geology, topography, vegetation and human factors. The Landscape Assessment differentiated the Borough's countryside into eleven landscape character areas, which are geographically specific landscape types or groups of landscape types with a local place name and identity:
 
 
The key characteristics of the landscape character areas which new development must respect and enhance are:
a) scenic quality,
b) sense of place,
c) tranquillity,
d) landscape elements and historic features that contribute to local distinctiveness,
e) semi-natural vegetation that is characteristic of the locality.
 
L2 Local Plan policy
 
127. Development should be sensitively related to the local landscape character and use materials sympathetic to the locality. The conservation and enhancement of local landscape features such as trees, hedges, copses, wetlands and ponds, will be encouraged. It is recognised that the cumulative effect of successive small developments could be as detrimental over time as one large development, therefore all proposals for development in the countryside will be assessed for their impact on the surrounding area, both landscape and seascape.
 

L3 PORTSDOWN HILL

 
Portsdown Hill is a feature of historic, landscape and ecological interest which is visually prominent within the Borough. Development will only be permitted on Portsdown Hill where it is for recreation or agricultural purposes and does not detract from the landscape, historic or wildlife value of the Hill.
 
128. Portsdown Hill on the western Borough boundary is visually important both as a vantage point for views over the coast and northwards over open countryside and as a green backdrop to the surrounding development. A Management Plan for Portsdown Hill was prepared in co-operation with neighbouring District Councils, Hampshire County Council, the Countryside Commission and English Nature in 1989, to safeguard the ecology of the Hill while simultaneously promoting its recreational use. This policy is intended to complement the aims of the Management Plan and enhance the landscape, historic and ecological value, and agricultural use of this prominent feature within the Borough.
 
ENVIRONMENTAL ENHANCEMENT
 

L4 STREAM CORRIDORS

 
Development proposals will be required to include measures that protect and enhance the Hermitage Stream, Lavant Stream, Lymbourne Stream, River Ems and all tributaries and outlets in the Borough, in recognition of their importance to aesthetics, amenity, recreation potential and wildlife interest.
 
129. The Council recognises the importance of the water environment and the need to protect and enhance the stream corridors in the Borough for landscape and nature conservation value, water related recreation and public access, whilst maintaining the current standard of flood protection and water quality.
 

L5 INITIATIVES TO IMPROVE THE COASTAL ENVIRONMENT

 
Planning permission will be granted for schemes which include improvements to the coastal environment by:
(i) Maintaining and enhancing the appearance and distinctiveness of settlements and landmarks along the coast.
(ii) Screening or removing eyesores and degraded sites.
(iii) Upgrading existing footpaths and providing new public access to the waterfront where appropriate.
(iv) Signing and interpretation of coastal processes, local history and nature conservation, where appropriate.
(v) Protecting and enhancing the nature conservation value of designated sites and creating new wildlife habitats through sympathetic landscape improvements.
In particular improvements will be promoted at the following locations:
 
130. The coast is one of Havant Borough's most important assets and the Council is committed to protecting the remaining areas of undeveloped coast and improving the environment of the developed areas. The landscape and nature conservation importance of both Langstone and Chichester Harbours and Beachlands are of principal concern and the Borough Council wishes to carry out or facilitate sympathetic enhancement work where opportunities arise. The Broadmarsh Landscape Strategy (February 2002) aims to link business development, recreational open space and wildlife habitat in the Broadmarsh Coastal Park.
 
LANDSCAPE OF NEW DEVELOPMENT
 

L6 CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF EXISTING

NATURAL FEATURES

Development will not be permitted if it would damage or destroy natural features of nature conservation and/or amenity importance on a site, e.g. trees, woodlands, hedgerows, streams, ditches or ponds. Some of these features may have additional protection under the Hedgerow Regulations, by Tree Preservation Order or by location in a Conservation Area. Existing natural features shall be protected during development and sympathetically incorporated into the overall design of the scheme with measures taken to ensure their continued survival.
 
131. Existing trees, woodlands, hedgerows, streams, ditches and ponds are significant to the overall landscape quality of an area, both as landscape features and as individual habitats. Trees can define spaces, routes or views, screen out noise or unsightly development, provide shelter on a site and improve local air quality. The Borough Council will introduce Tree Preservation Orders as necessary to protect existing trees. If the removal of one or more trees is permitted as part of a development a condition may require that replacement trees be planted on or near the site. Developers will be required to protect existing trees to be retained during site clearance and building operations.
 

L7 NEW LANDSCAPE WORKS

 
Planning permission for new development proposals will be granted subject to provision being made for new landscape works to enable the development to integrate successfully into the local environment. Landscape proposals should incorporate and enhance existing landscape features, where appropriate and complement them with new landscape works using local materials and plant species. Provision should also be made for future maintenance of new landscape works associated with new developments.
 
132. The Borough Council requires all development proposals to include a landscape scheme which should be incorporated in the layout design from the start and not put in as an afterthought to fill in left over spaces.
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Havant Borough Council, Civic Centre Road, Havant, Hampshire PO9 2AX