ANGUS LOCAL PLAN REVIEW FINALISED PLAN - Angus Council

Policy ER4 : Wider Natural Heritage and BiodiversityThe Council will not normally grant planning permission fordevelopment that would have a significant adverse impact onspecies or habitats protected under British or European Law,identified as a priority in UK or Local Biodiversity Action Plansor on other valuable habitats or species.Development proposals that affect such species or habitats willbe required to include evidence that an assessment of natureconservation interest has been taken into account. Wheredevelopment is permitted, the retention and enhancement ofnatural heritage and biodiversity will be secured throughappropriate planning conditions or the use of Section 75Agreements as necessary.Landscape Character3.10 The landscape of Angus is one of its most important assets. Itranges in character from the rugged mountain scenery of the AngusGlens, through the soft rolling cultivated lowland landscape ofStrathmore to the sandy bays and cliffs of the coast.3.11 A small part of north-west Angus is statutorily designated aspart of a larger National Scenic Area (NSA). The character andquality of this landscape is of national significance and special careshould be taken to conserve and enhance it. Part of the upland areaof Angus, including the NSA, is contained within the CairngormsNational Park which is excluded from the Angus Local Plan Review.The guidance provided by the adopted Angus Local Plan will remainin force until it is replaced by a Cairngorms National Park Local Planprepared by the National Park Authority. The Cairngorms was made aNational Park in September 2003 because it is a unique and specialplace that needs to be cared for – both for the wildlife and countrysideit contains and for the people that live in it, manage it and visit it. It isBritain’s largest national park.3.12 In seeking to conserve the landscape character of the area it isimportant to assess the impact of development proposals on all partsof the landscape. To assist in this the “Tayside Landscape CharacterAssessment (1999)” commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritageestablishes landscape character zones and key character featureswithin the local plan area to provide a better understanding of themand thus to enable better conservation, restoration, management andenhancement. Landscape Character Zones for the Local Plan Areaare shown in Figure 3.2.National Scenic Area:Nationally important area ofoutstanding natural beauty,representing some of the bestexamples of Scotland’s grandestlandscapes particularly lochsand mountains.National Park (Scotland) Act2000 sets out four key aims forthe park:• To conserve and enhancethe natural and culturalheritage of the area;• To promote sustainableuse of the naturalresources of the area;• To promote understandingand enjoyment (includingenjoyment in the form ofrecreation) of the specialqualities of the area by thepublic;• To promote sustainableeconomic and socialdevelopment of the area’scommunities.Tayside Landscape CharacterAssessment 1999:A detailed hierarchicalassessment based on variationsin the Tayside landscape, with aseries of management andplanning guidelines designed toconserve and enhance itsdistinctive character.Angus Local Plan Review60Finalised Plan