Visual impact assessment viewpoint analysis 1 Introduction In this section we analyse the most important viewpoints affected by this development. In each viewpoint where it is relevant we have cross referred to the LVIA to demonstrate these issues. In a concluding section we have a brief analysis of the full range of LVIA viewpoints The viewpoints we believe are most important in terms of this development are highlighted on the map overleaf. The following sections describe each viewpoint and assess it in terms of: Sensitivity of the view to people ie the value attached to the view, and the range of people affected by a change in the view. Importance of the visual effects of the development In each case we have applied a judgement of very high, high, medium, medium/low, low to scale the level of sensitivity and the importance. After assessing the impact from various viewpoints we comment on the potential visual impact of the measures that will be required to deal with water run-off and flood prevention, before providing an overall conclusion on visual impact. In reading this assessment it should be noted that in the photographs the red outline showing the site outlines the full extent of the two fields which would be built in. In practice only the upper (more visible) 50% of these fields would be built on, but it is also clear that the lower half of the fields may be affected by flood mitigation measures. 1
Viewpoints 2
2 Swifts Hill Point 1 on map Sensitivity of the view - very high It would be hard to overestimate the sensitivity of the views over the site from Swift s Hill. This the key walkers destination in the valley, and the most prominent landmark. It is a nature reserve and a Site of Special Scientific Interest. It is the location inevitably used by the BBC and others when coming to film the beauty of the Cotswolds near Stroud. In spring and summer its orchids and other rare flora and fauna attract visitors from near and far. From Swifts Hill, the view North and East takes in Slad village and the winding valley. The Westward view stretches over Stroud to the River Severn and Wales. As your glance turns further south you look straight down the green corridor into Stroud of which Baxter s Fields are a crucial component. Even in winter, the green wedge is what catches the eye, interweaving with the muted urban landscape, and as the eye follows the wedge it is drawn straight to the commanding hill of Rodborough behind and the illusion is created that one can see straight over green land to the hill. The evidence of the walkers survey described in Section Error! Reference source not found. directly demonstrates the value attached to this view by local people. Several different aspects of the view are available from all over the hill not just the ridged path up the summit but the paths on the side of the hill and the public footpath going from the top of the hill over fields towards Trantershill plantation. Magnitude of impact - very high adverse The development site is highly visible from Swifts Hill. The fields stand out in stark contrast to the surrounding woodland and housing. The development will erode the green wedge, break the line to Rodborough and urbanise what is currently a rural landscape. The retention of the country park will not sustain the green wedge as it is too low down, too small and too dark, compared to the bright green of the fields that will be lost. The extent of the blight of the view includes the loss of McNalley s field behind the development, as it will no longer be visible. The views of the green finger that will be lost are visible all over the height and the South West side of the hill, including most of the range of the public footpath over the hill, and then extending on the public footpath which continues from Swifts Hill summit up towards Catswood to the North. The photomontage provided in Error! Reference source not found. on page 8 clearly illustrates the negative impact. The developer has highlighted what it claims will be mitigation through tree planting, but this will not have a significant impact. Masking the development by trees will not address the problems caused, as although the housing may become less distinct, the loss of the contrast produced by bright green finger of the fields will be permanent, as the fields are replaced by a dark mass of housing and darker trees. In addition the proposed belt of trees are in a line against the grain of the landscape and would therefore negate any screening effect. (Note: this point applies to all subsequent views where the developer has suggested the proposed trees will mitigate the impact). The photographs overleaf provide a range of the views from the hill which will be damaged. 3
Views from Swifts Hill (footpath SO878066 and SO880066) Summer Views Viewpoint 1 4
Views from Swifts Hill - Winter viewpoint 1 5
3 Furner s Farm Round Slad path and Knapp Lane Points 2-4 Sensitivity of the view - high Furner s Farm is a key stopping point for many a walker using the main footpath up the Northern side of the Slad valley, and part of the well-trodden round-slad path that has a direct view onto the landscape in question. As you walk up from Steanbridge Lane, the bulk of Swifts Hill looms from the left while a vista opens directly ahead down the green corridor to Stroud (viewpoint 4) and up to the high woods beyond. Walk the footpath through the farm buildings and at the gate (viewpoint 2) in the land walkers naturally pause to enjoy the closer view. This is a walk featured in a number of walking books and is very regularly used. An alternative route takes the walker back through Reddings wood towards Swifts Hill. The path emerges from dark woods to a sudden vista with the green finger into Stroud as its centrepiece, just before the walker emerges onto Knapp Lane (viewpoint 3). This walk will be increasingly used as visitors come to the new Laurie Lee wood which has been established by the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. Another popular round route from Slad takes the walker through Catswood after climbing across the valley from Snow s Farm. An attractive wooded path runs along the escarpment, punctuated at intervals with direct views down the valley and the green finger including Baxter s fields (viewpoint 3a). Magnitude of impact high adverse Baxter s Fields is highly visible in the centre of all of these views. Housing there will destroy one of the better longer distance views, removing a key element of the distant contrast between the bright green of Baxter s fields and the surrounding woodland. This is clearly the case even though the photographs for viewpoints 2&4 were taken on a day with haze, on a clear day, as shown in the photographs for viewpoints 3 and 3a the contrast is even more marked. As with viewpoint 1 tree planting around the development will not mitigate the impact (and for the same reason). 6
Views from the path (SO877072 and SO87704) points 2 and then 4 7
Junction of Knapp Lane/ footpath into Reddings Wood (point 3) and path through Catswood (point 3a) 8
4 Down Mound Viewpoint 5 on map Sensitivity of the view high The further up Slad Valley the walker travels the more the tranquillity and the more unchanged from earlier eras. The main route from Slad village into the higher parts of the Valley is by walking up Steanbridge Lane and then continuing on the footpath by Down Mound which proceeds up Down Hill and then enters Longridge Wood. The popularity of the walk is born witness to by the presence of the wooden bench seat just off the path. As walkers returns down the hill they have fine views of the Valley extending ahead of them. This is the most long distance viewpoint from the higher parts of the valley for which the Baxter s fields development would have an impact. Magnitude of impact high adverse The development will have a surprisingly high impact, even though the view is from a long way away. From this distance Baxter s fields are small, but they are clearly visible, and is striking how important they are in providing the lighter green contrast that makes the landscape so attractive as the elements of wood, field and town interweave. As with many of the other views it is the loss of this contrast that is important. 9
View from Down Mound 5 B4070 road from Stroud to Slad and path above (points 6 & 7 on the map) Sensitivity of the view high From central Stroud people accessing the AONB are most likely to use the B4070 Slad road (rightly classified as a scenic road, and signposted as such from its junction with the A417/419. Drive down it on any day and almost at any time between Stroud and Slad and you will see walkers enjoying the landscape. The pavement runs the entire length along the country road from Stroud to Slad. This is very unusual and it is precisely because several generations of local people have enjoyed walking into and out of the valley whether simply to enjoy the landscape, or to wind their way to the popular country pub in Slad, the Woolpack. The view is of high sensitivity primarily because of the walkers using the pavement and paths while car drivers will enjoy the attractive landscape they are unlikely to do more than catch a glimpse of the fields. Magnitude of impact high/medium adverse For walkers returning from Slad to Stroud in particular there will be a loss of an important view. From Hazel Mill to the edge of Stroud the view is directly of Baxter s Fields, which 10
appears as a wide ribbon of green separating dark trees from the houses of Summer Street and above. The footpath opposite Hazel Mill leads up the hill towards Wickridge Farm and also has fine views back over the valley with Baxter s Fields in the centre. Take the fields away and the view is transformed into one of urban housing. From here the urbanisation resulting from the country park will also be clear. View from road pavement by Hazel Mill (SO867062- viewpoint 6) and footpath above (SO866062- viewpoint 7) 11
6 Folly Lane and the paths around it (points 8, 9 and 10) Sensitivity of the view high Folly Lane and nearby paths are the main access to the AONB from Uplands. Folly Lane is a rural lane and a popular walking route in its own right with spectacular views of the valley. It is high above the development on the opposite side of the valley, but from the lane and from these paths the upper Southern slopes of the fields on which the new houses will be built are prominent and their green grass stands out sharply against the narrow ribbon of housing in Summer Street above. The view is classed as high sensitivity overall. This reflects the fact of the numbers of people in Stroud for whom the lane and paths form good immediate access into AONB, and whole will therefore regularly enjoy it. However it is not classed as Very High as the current housing behind the fields means that the particular view over Baxter s fields is less important visually then views down the length of the green finger, and the view is not so extensive Magnitude of impact high adverse The view at the moment is a good mix of rural and landscape with reasonably well screened housing behind. The development will destroy this balance entirely and effectively urbanise a large part of the current views. The impact is not possible to mitigate over time with tree planting. 12
Folly Lane/Hawkswood footpath junction (SO863086) viewpoint 8 and Folly Lane to Wickridge Farm Path (SO864065) viewpoint 9 The picture below shows clearly how building on the fields will totally urbanise the view from the northern slopes Footpath from Folly Lane/Uplands towards Hawkwood (SO859063) viewpoint 10 13
7 Uplands point 11 Sensitivity of the view medium The view is of medium sensitivity because of the number of people who can currently enjoy it as the only rural view from their houses and the public roads and paths around them Magnitude of impact medium adverse The view at the moment is partially damaged by the ribbons of housing above the fields. However, the green fields below the housing provide a more rural counterpoint, and the loss of the higher elements of those fields will significantly diminish this. The photograph below is typical of the views available from Uplands streets and houses. 14
View from Uplands (point 11) 15
8 Whiteshill, Paganhill and surrounding paths (viewpoints 12-14) Sensitivity of the view very high The site is clearly visible from a number of distant locations to the North East and East. The sensitivity is high because of: The very high number of houses with good distant views which include the site from Whiteshill and Paganhill. The number of outside locations used regularly by large numbers of people including important public footpaths. The view from many of these houses and locations on the footpaths is excellent, with Stroud blending in with the rural landscape that is the opening into Slad valley Magnitude of impact medium adverse The view will be less good after the development the urbanisation will be quite evident, and will hide the green entrance to the Slad Valley provided by the fields. However, this will be partially mitigated because of the other green fields still visible in the view (more for viewpoint 12 than 13 and 14) From Whiteshill footpath (SO838078) viewpoint 12 16
View from footpath Whiteshill to Pitchcombe (SO842073) viewpoint 13 View from footpath by school playing field at Paganhill (SO842061) viewpoint 14 LVIA assessment None of these important viewpoints are considered within the LVIA. 17
9 View from playground by the Cotswold Playhouse Point 15 on map Sensitivity of the view medium At the extreme Stroud end of the Slad Valley green finger there is a public playground which also acts as a footpath down from the Cotswold Playhouse. This is a small but well used park often occupied by children and their parents, and by dogs and their owners. A view extends over the allotments, over Mcnalley s fields and then directly onto the site. The view extends out to take in Swifts Hill. It is considered the view is important because it is from a space which is highly accessible to many people from Stroud. However, given that the allotments provide some filtering and screening for the view from much of the park, the sensitivity is viewed as medium rather than high View from playground by Cotswold Playhouse Magnitude of impact high/moderate adverse 18
From a number of points in the park the view out towards Swifts Hill will be significantly damaged. The height of the houses on the green fields behind the allotments will significantly reduce the visibility of the countryside beyond. It is a fine point whether the impact is high or moderate. We have photographed the view before the leaves are out, and in this time of year the magnitude is clearly high. However, in summer the foliage of the trees will be provide more filtering and will therefore partially mitigate the impact. 10 View from public footpath next to Baxter s fields Point 16 on map Sensitivity of the view very high There is a beautiful view of Slad Valley from almost every point on this footpath. It provides a rare opportunity for the urban residents of Stroud to have a view as good as many others from within the AONB it is an excellent illustration of the fact that views into an AONB can be as important as views within it, or indeed out of it. The sensitivity is viewed as very high because the path is so accessible to so many people living close by. Magnitude of impact Very high adverse This path will simply stop having a view of the countryside for half of its length through the field. The best views of the valley will be lost The maintenance of the lower level country park will not address this impact, because the views from that lower level are not nearly so good. The path itself will cease to operate as a rural footpath, but be primarily going through a developed urban environment 19
Views from footpath by Baxter s fields viewpoint 17 20
21
11 View from footpath between Bisley Old Road and Summer Street (Viewpoint 17) Sensitivity of the view medium/low This steep footpath is well used by local people and it has good views across the valley over Stroud. However, we have classed the sensitivity as being medium to low because the fields do not from this angle form an important component of the view, although they are visible. Magnitude of impact low adverse There will be a permanent loss of the green field component in the foreground of the view for descending pedestrians, but the best parts of the view will not be significantly affected. Footpath Bisley Old Road to Summer Street (SO861052) 22