East Dorset Landscape Character Assessment - Dorsetforyou.com

UsersIt is intended to be used by the following audiences and associatedpurposes:• Residents and community groups in developing communityplans;• Local businesses, farmers and landowners in performing landand landscape management;• Developers, architects, planners and designers in taking intoaccount planning, management and design considerations;• Local planning authorities in developing Planning Policy anddetermination of planning applications;• Highway engineers in developing highway schemes;• Elected members and officers of local and parish councils informulating responses to development proposals;• Public utilities in performing works;• Countryside management organisations in delivering landscapescale projects.Landscape Character Assessment has been successfully applied inmany areas nationally, e.g. West Sussex CC, Huntingdonshire DC andHigh Peak BC. In preparing this assessment we have been keen to learnfrom the experience of others.3. Planning Policy Framework for LandscapeCharacter AssessmentNational Government guidanceThe following national Government guidance provides a background tothe assessment:PPS1: Sustainable Development, February 2005Planning policies should seek to protect and enhance the quality,character and amenity value of the countryside and urban areas as awhole.Policies and decisions should be based on up to date information on theenvironmental characteristics of the area.Refers to ‘By Design’ on design/local distinctiveness matters.PPS7: Sustainable Development in Rural Areas, August 2004Objectives include: Good quality sustainable development that respectsand, where possible, enhances local distinctiveness and the intrinsicqualities of the countryside and continued protection of the opencountryside for all with the highest level of protection for our most valuedlandscapes. Advises that ‘local planning authorities should preparepolicies and guidance that encourage good quality design throughouttheir rural areas utilising tools such as Landscape CharacterAssessments’.PPS12: Local Development Frameworks, September 2004Emphasis is placed on frontloading key strategic decisions andstakeholder involvement to develop consensus.This approach requires the preparation of an evidence base to informdecisions early on and should help to slim down the length of policies.PPG15: Planning and the Historic EnvironmentRefers to the wider historic landscape, in particular in defining policies forthe countryside.East Dorset District Council District Landscape Character Assessment 20083