Landscape Character Assessment SPD

The draft SPD is open for public consultation from Wednesday 6 December 2023 to Friday 16 February 2024

The original Landscape Character Assessment SPD was first adopted in 2005, and subsequently revised in November 2014. This information supports existing landscape polices in the Local Plan and provides a statement on the existing landscape character features and attributes to inform all stages of the planning, design, and development process.

The revised Landscape Character Assessment SPD describes provides an updated description of the 21-character areas within South Gloucestershire, as well as including two new annexes that describe associated visually important hillsides and strategic viewpoints. It will continue to be an important supporting document that reflects the Council’s latest planning policy, other recently adopted SPD guidance, and related background landscape publications and studies, as well as supporting our Climate Change Emergency Change Action Plan, emerging strategic green infrastructure network, and local nature recovery strategy work.

The SPD includes new mapping and illustrations, which present:

• The existing 21 landscape character areas grouped within their overarching landscape character types.
• Recent/ allocated areas of new development, renewable energy sites, land use change.
• Designated landscape areas including Cotswold National Landscape, registered historic parks and gardens, conservation areas and common land.
• Relationship of LCAs to the emerging green infrastructure and ecological networks.

• Characteristic landform features including visually important hillsides and river valleys.
• Strategic viewpoint locations.

The format of the SPD has also been updated to comprise:

Introductory Chapters 1 to 5 - with Chapter 4 providing overarching management guidelines for the whole district; and Chapter 5 the adopted classification of landscape character types and areas, with Figure 5.1 on page 57 shows the relationship of these areas to each other.

Appendix A – describes the 21 landscape character areas under their 8No. landscape character groupings, as show on Figure 5.1, together with specific management strategies.

Appendix B to E– User guide and other background information

Annex 1 – Visually important hillside description and analysis.

Annex 2 – Strategic viewpoint description and analysis.

The draft SPD is open for public consultation from Wednesday 6 December 2023 to Friday 16 February 2024 and we are now inviting your comments on this document.

To find out more you can:

• read the draft link SPD
• • Chapters 1 - 5 & Appendix A
  • Appendicies B to E
  • Annex 1 – Visually important hillside description and analysis
  • Annex 2 – Strategic viewpoint description and analysis.
• read the Landscape Character Assessment Environmental Assessment Report

You can send us your feedback by:

• Emailing us at policy.consultation@southglos.gov.uk 
• Write to: South Gloucestershire Council Local Plans Team, Council Offices, Badminton Road, Yate, Bristol,  BS37 5AF