Landscape & Visual Assessment
CEC landscape architects have extensive expertise in undertaking landscape and visual assessment work for a range of projects, and will work with you to design your project with landscape and visual constraints in mind.
The level and detail of assessment will depend on the requirements of an individual project and our landscape architects are happy to have an informal no obligation discussion with you prior to preparing a quotation.
Key services are;
Preliminary Landscape Appraisal
Landscape appraisal work is recommended at early project stages to identify key constraints and opportunities for a site and its surrounding landscape. It will aid the integration of proposals into the landscape and enable creation of schemes with good amenity and biodiversity value. This type of input would also be used for feasibility studies. CEC can provide a brief report, note or letter (depending on level of detail requested) and a series of drawings and photographs (if required).
The initial work can then be progressed into an LVIA if the scheme moves forward.
Landscape and Visual Assessment
CEC landscape architects deliver specialist Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) and Landscape and Visual Appraisal services for a range of developments including residential and commercial developments, leisure industry projects, renewable energy schemes and infrastructure proposals such as roads, powerlines and Park and Ride facilities. LVIA is a requirement for EIA projects whereas LVA is undertaken for non EIA projects.
A typical scope for this work would be to undertake desk study and field work, prepare a baseline description of landscape and visual resources including key receptors, feedback constraints and opportunities into the design process and liaise with architects on how to best incorporate a development into a given landscape, undertake the impact assessment when final proposal details are available.
Our reports are accompanied by a series of photographs and drawings and produced to a very high standard.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
For EIA projects we have landscape expertise to prepare inputs to them as follows:
- Preparing Screening Opinion requests or inputting to them
- Preparing Scoping Opinion requests or inputting to them
- Writing LVIA chapters for inclusion in Environmental Statements (ES) including assessment of alternatives, construction effects, significance and residual effects
- Compiling and submitting Environmental Statements for smaller projects.
Landscape Character Assessment Services
CEC can undertake landscape character assessment work for Local Authorities, Neighbourhood Plan groups and other entities such as National Landscapes (formerly AONBs) or Natural England to inform their strategic, management and development plans. It can also be undertaken on a site specific basis, for smaller land units, if a specific project requires this.Landscape character assessment work looks at defining local land description units, landscape character types and landscape character areas. This is done using desk based information on for example geology, soils, land form, land use, settlement pattern, historic landscape, in combination with field work and consultation.
Published landscape character assessment information is used by CEC’s landscape architects frequently to inform LVA and LVIA work.
If you require any further information please call us on 01872 245510 or contact us to discuss your project and requirements.
