LCA CUMNOR, UK

CASE STUDY

Landscape Character Assessment

Cumnor, Oxfordshire, UK

Project Type
Landscape Character Assessment
Client
Cumnor Parish Council
Location
Cumnor, Oxfordshire, UK
Keywords
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Radiohead
  • East Oxford Uplands
  • Landscape level planning

Lepus was appointed by Cumnor Parish Council to undertake a Landscape Character Assessment in order to help for plan future development within the Parish.

Cumnor Parish is very rural in nature, characterised by a sylvan landscape and varied architectural styles.  It is located east of Oxford and situated on high ground which includes striking long distance views to the Cotswolds and North Wessex Downs from certain locations.

Lepus was hired by the Parish Council to prepare an objective assessment of the landscape character of Cumnor Parish and to identify Landscape Character Areas.  A range of factors were taken into account when conducting this report. These were the Natural factors, Cultural and Social factors, and Perpetual and Aesthetic factors.  Fourteen Landscape Character Areas were identified during the survey.  

The purpose of the report was to inform the emerging Neighbourhood Plan. Lepus worked closely with the NDP team through face to face meetings and site visits which were undertaken together.  This helped shape a report that was comprehensively informed through stakeholder engagement, desk top assessment and field survey.

The report divides the parish into 14 separate areas. It describes landform, biodiversity, the built form, community assets, important views plus recommendations for managing and protecting distinctiveness. It brings together all recent studies relating to Cumnor's landscape such as the Oxfordshire County Council Green Belt Study, the Vale of White Horse's own LCA, a recent green belt assessment of Cumnor-specific land parcels, National Character Area profiles, Oxfordshire  Wildlife and Landscape Study (OWLS) information and detail of Local Wildlife Sites. 

The Landscape Character Assessment can be used to understand the distinctive landscape qualities of the area to give context to future development proposals. The prevailing character of the landscape will help to shape the design and layout of development.

Landscape character can be defined as the recognisable and consistent pattern of features in a certain landscape, distinguishing one landscape from another, giving a locality its sense of place. To find out more about landscape assessment, please visit our services page or click here.

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