Landscape tools and techniques
Certain tools and techniques are used to ensure that landscape change driven by planning and development decisions is appropriate.
Landscape capacity and sensitivity assessment looks at a landscape’s ability to accept change without significantly altering its character. Landscape capacity studies can help to allocate development sites in development plans.
Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment is used to assess the effects of change on the landscape. The technique may be used to design a change – to reduce negative impacts – as well as to assess its effects.
Landscape evaluation can identify landscapes that justify special safeguarding or management efforts. It complements the Landscape Character Assessment approach.
Environmental assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment consider the environmental effects of certain types of development – including on landscape.
Masterplanning is an integrated approach to development design, often used for larger proposals such as settlement expansions and regeneration projects. Landscape will be considered as part of masterplanning.
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