Author: simonelswood

HDA has provided landscape support for a number of local authorities, include South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) which is local to our Wallingford office. Support included landscape advice for planning applications, pre-applications within sensitive landscape locations (The North Wessex Downs and Chilterns National Landscapes) and scoping responses.

Through a separate commission, as part of the preparation for the SODC Local Plan review, HDA undertook a review of the Council’s landscape evidence base which considered the landscape and visual sensitivity of 10 strategic sites being promoted for allocation with the Local Plan. The initial part of the study considered previous evidence submitted for each site and whether the findings of that evidence was considered sound. Advice was provided in relation to the existing landscape quality and sensitivity of each site, strategic Green Infrastructure (GI) to be protected within each site and opportunities for additional strategic GI. A final assessment of Landscape Capacity was provided.

HDA has undertaken a high level landscape and visual assessments of a number of potential site allocations, all of which were considered to represent major development sites within the High Weald AONB (now National Landscape). The study provided clear and concise advice concerning the potential landscape and visual issues of each study site. Mitigation measures were put forward as part of the assessment.

A further study was produced, which considered the potential effects of other potential strategic allocations on the setting to the High Weald. The work involved consultation with the Council and Natural England and HDA provided support at Examination In Public (EIP) as a follow-up to the publication of the documents. The reports formed part of the council’s evidence base and have been used successfully in a number of planning appeals since publication.

HDA’s landscape architects helped clients, Rivar Ltd, achieve the successful discharge of a reserved matters application for hard and soft landscape proposals for 157 dwellings at Greenham near Newbury. 

The application was approved by West Berkshire Council after the site was granted outline approval in January 2018. 

Landscape contractors, Nicholsons, have just completed the planting of 8,250 transplants to create two areas of native woodland on land near Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire.

HDA designed the woodland, sought tenderers and undertook contract supervision.  The former landfill site presented some unique challenges, including the need to adjust fence post positions to avoid underground obstructions, but the end result was a sturdy perimeter fence to keep out cattle, which will continue grazing the remainder of the site.

Michaela Pozzetti has joined HDA’s landscape team.

With qualifications in both landscape architecture and geography, and experience in horticulture, GIS analysis, planning, ecological monitoring and conservation, Michaela has a well-rounded knowledge base, and is perfectly suited to the range of work undertaken by HDA.

Remote working is allowing Michaela to work from home during the current restrictions, but we hope to see a lot more of her in person very soon.

West Berkshire Council (WBC) has granted permission for the installation of an artificial gallops for equestrian use at Compton Downs, located in the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), immediately adjacent to the long-distance byway of The Ridgeway National Trail. HDA incorporated the following changes to the proposals into its supporting Landscape and Visual Appraisal, in order to allay initial concerns from WBC and the AONB Board:

• Change the original 3m wide ‘Capita fibre surface’ to wood chip surface;
• Removal of two 10m diameter turning circles at either end of the 965m long proposed gallop;
• No proposed additional fencing, and replacement of the existing white tape fencing (as seen in the photo below) adjacent to The Ridgeway to a green or brown fence;
• Additional planting of ‘woody’ (e.g. hawthorn) vegetation in selected locations along the proposed gallops, whilst conserving the open character of the Downs.

HDA prepared a landscape and visual appraisal to support a full planning application for the conversion of a cluster of traditional and modern barns on the Carrington Estate outside Flackwell Heath.  Permission has just been granted by Buckinghamshire Council (formerly Wycombe District Council) to create two dwelling houses, two B1 class offices and a flexible B1/B8 class business unit.  The permission, which includes a realigned site access together with associated parking provision and landscaping, was considered to be acceptable development in this Green Belt and Chilterns AONB location.

The site near Yearby, had become a victim of its own success, and having helped our client, obtain planning permission for the site back in 2014, we are now pleased that permission for additional car parking and widening of the existing vehicular access has just been granted by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.  The current metal entrance gates are proposed to be replaced by timber gates, which will be more in keeping with the site’s rural setting.

HDA has been overseeing hard and soft landscape works undertaken by Vascroft Contractors Ltd at Bhaktivedanta Manor, off Hilfield Lane, Aldenham, for the construction of a new Haveli (community halls) on behalf of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness. Vascroft has just been awarded practical completion on the building, though landscape snagging will continue into the next planting season. The main courtyard includes Indian Bean trees.

HDA is proud to have provided ecological input in support of Berkeley Homes’ successful planning application for the redevelopment of the former Horlicks factory in Slough.

This included an assessment of the effects of the 1300 home scheme on features of ecological interest, and the agreement of a package of mitigation and avoidance measures with Natural England and SBC to protect the ecology of the site and the off-site Burnham Beeches SAC.