Landscapes into Planning
Prior to the Countryside and Rights of Way Acts 2000, there was no effective way for the AONB to influence planning processes. The planning authorities' protection of Natural Beauty was largely confined to policies and development control activities that severely limited development.
Now, with national funding of AONB teams and the availability of Landscape Character Assessment, the AONB is able to play a much more proactive role in providing positive landscape information, including landscape character assessment, and advice to the Local Planning Authorities on policy and development control matters.
Making relevant information and the views of the AONB known are ways that the AONB Partnership can influence the planning system and enable it to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of the area.
This page describes the ways in which landscapes and planning are integrally linked.
The Planning and Transportation Topic Group
The Planning and Transportation Topic Group is the working element of the partnership that deals with matters associated with roads, development, tranquility and similar aspects related to the landscapes of this AONB.
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Planning Reports
The following planning reports have been prepared for the AONB partnership
Planning Protocol - The protocol, prepared in 2005, forms the basis for effective consultation between the AONB Partnership and the local authorities on planning matters.
Market Towns Growth - This report explores the level of growth and development currently planned within, and on the boundaries, of the AONB. It draws attention to the location and scale of planned developments as well as their potential significance.
Permitted Development Rights- A guide to outline the scope, operation and process for exercising permitted development rights as set out in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (the GPDO) and to explore the potential impacts of these rights on the AONB.
Roads and Planning - The report explores the extent to which the highway authorities involve other parties when reparing, widening, and generally improving roads under there permitted development rights. The aim of this report is to make recommendations regarding consultation on road improvement schemes and for those schemes that require planning permission within the AONB.
Farm Diversification - Forthcoming
Light Pollution - The AONB Partnership has recognised the significance of Light Pollution within the AONB. This report looks at mechanisms for reducing light pollution and providing advice on the techniques for doing so where lighting is essential. It provides an initial statement of the AONB's position on this topic.
Download: Planning Protocol October 2005 (PDF, 44kB)
Download: Market Towns Growth - Figure One (PDF, 4663kB)
Download: Light Pollution Study Final June 2007 (PDF, 7034kB)
Download: Roads and Planning Report (PDF, 5093kB)
Download: Guide to Permitted Development Rights 2006 (PDF, 260kB)
Download: Market Towns Growth - Figure Five (PDF, 1460kB)
Download: Market Towns Growth - Figure Four (PDF, 1527kB)
Download: Market Towns Growth - Figure Two (PDF, 6520kB)
Download: Market Towns Growth - Main Report (PDF, 268kB)
Download: Planning Protocol and Refinement Sept 2006 (PDF, 35kB)
Download: Market Towns Growth - Figure Three (PDF, 1951kB)
Download: Roads and Planning - Figure One (PDF, 4663kB)
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Position Statements
The AONB positions statements set out its current position on a variety of topics. These include light pollution, historic parks and gardens, the relevance of the setting for the AONB and Historic Landscape Characterisation.
Download: Historic Landscape Characterisation Position Statement 4 (PDF, 30kB)
Download: Relevance of the Setting for AONB Postition Statement 3 (PDF, 89kB)
Download: Historic Parks & Gardens Postition Statement 2 (PDF, 90kB)
Download: CCWWD AONB Position Statement 1 Light Pollution (PDF, 75kB)
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Fact Sheets and Good Practice Notes
The AONB fact sheets and good practice notes provide information on topics of relevance to landscape and planning within the AONB. Current documents provide information on Section 85 duties, the Local Development Framework, the European Landscape Convention and Historic Landscape Characterisation.
Download: Historic Landscape Characterisation Fact Sheet & Good Practice Note No4 (PDF, 21kB)
Download: European Landscape Convention Fact Sheet & Good Practice Note No3 (PDF, 33kB)
Download: Section 85 Factsheet & Good Practice Note No1 (PDF, 26kB)
Download: Local Plan & LDF Fact Sheet & Good Practice Note No2 (PDF, 29kB)
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Planning Seminars
The AONB holds an annual Planning and Transportation Seminar, this provides a useful tool in highlighting important issues in the AONB which can only be addressed by bringing togther a cross section of agencies, interested parties and local communities.
The 2008 seminar at Langford Lakes in February was based around the AONB Historic Landscape Characterisation Project. It aimed to introduce the main concepts behind HLC and the major features of the dataset.
The theme of the 2007 seminar held at Dammerham was entitled "Rural Roads and Local Distinctiveness" and was well attended by Highway Officers, Egineers, Planners, Conservation Officers and Parish Representatives. The AONB's Management Plan reflects that road safety, retaining village character and the speed of traffic are key concerns to people living in the area. This seminar was held therefore as a first step in influencing how rural roads and traffic are considered in the future.
The 2006 Seminar was held at Dinton and was entitled "Planning and the AONB - Sustaining the Landscape" and aimed to allow people to become better aquainted with the AONB Landscape Character Map and its role in planning.
The first AONB Planning Seminar held in 2005 at Steeple Langford focused on the draft Planning Protocol and aimed to forge a better working relationship between the AONB Partnership and the Local Authority Planning Departments.
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Advice on planning – who to contact
The Planning Protocol provides the framework for the AONB Partnership to contribute to the evolution of planning policies and the determination of planning applications. This means we provide responses to all relevant policy consultations, such as White Papers and local authority consultations. We normally only comment on major applications that would have a significant effect on the AONB or involve 10 or more dwellings or 0.5 hectares or greater of land.
The AONB is not a planning authority, is unable to intervene on small applications, and so individual planning enquires should be directed to the relevant local planning authority in the first instance.
The AONB team will, of course, always try to provide advice and information where needed.
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South West Protected Landscapes
A member of the AONB team regularly attends the meeting of the South West Protected Landscapes Forum (SWPLF). This is the umbrella body for the most prized places of natural beauty in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, the Isles of Scilly, Somerset and Wiltshire. It aims to promote best practice in Protected Landscapes management through networking, co-ordination and joint working that reduces duplication of effort and resources whilst more effectively and efficiently influencing regional and national decision-making that affects Protected Landscapes in the South West.
In addition, because the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs AONB also includes part of Hampshire, an AONB team member also attends meetings of the South East Protected Landscapes Forum where relevant.
Please Note: Some of the above documents may require Adobe Acrobat Reader to view them, you can download this free software here.
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