Policy information sourced from the Mole Valley Local Plan

EN8: LANDSCAPE CHARACTER

Landscape Principles
1. To achieve a strategic approach to the conservation and enhancement of local landscape character, the Council will:

  • Encourage developments, where appropriate, that are sensitive to their landscape and cultural context;
  • Work with partners within the Surrey Hills National Landscape Management Board to fulfil the statutory purposes of the National Landscape designation to conserve and enhance its natural beauty and implement the statutory management plan;
  • Work with partners in the Catchment Partnership to conserve and enhance the Mole Catchment and raise the quality of wetland landscapes in line with the Water Framework Directive;
  • Encourage access to and appreciation of the local landscape;
  • Support the countryside management partnerships in initiatives to manage the landscape and engage with volunteers in doing so;
  • Require applicants for development that has the potential to impact adversely on local landscape character and its cultural significance to include with their proposals a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, a reasoned justification of their proposals, with any mitigation measures set out clearly.

The Surrey Hills National Landscape (NL)
2. The Surrey Hills NL as shown on the Policies Map, is a nationally important landscape designation and development proposals that fail to conserve and enhance the landscapes and scenic beauty within the NL, their cultural significance and wildlife habitats will be refused.

3. The scale of development within the NL should be limited and any development within its setting should be sensitively located and designed to avoid or minimise adverse impacts. Proposals for major development within the NL will be refused unless there is an overriding public interest. Proposals will be judged in line with the exceptional circumstances tests set out in national policy, namely the need for the development; the cost or scope for meeting the need in another way and the extent of the detrimental effect on the landscape after moderation.

4. When determining development proposals within the NL or affecting its setting, regard must be had to the Surrey Hills (National Landscape) Management Plan, as a statutory document, and account will be taken of the Environmental Design Guidance published by the Surrey Hills Board.

5. Development proposals lying outside the NL but which would spoil its setting by harming public views into or from the NL will be refused.

The Area of Great Landscape Value (AGLV)
6. Development proposals falling within the AGLV, as shown on the Policies Map, will be required to demonstrate they would not harm the distinctive character and scenic beauty of the AGLV and/ or the setting of the adjacent National Landscape.

Non-designated Landscapes
7. Proposals that have an impact on the distinctive landscape character in which they are set will be required to demonstrate that they have taken into consideration the key characteristics, attributes and sensitivities of the landscape type in which the proposed development is to be located. Regard should be had to the landscape guidelines set out in the Surrey Landscape Character Assessment for Mole Valley.

8. New development will be required to reinforce the scenic quality and distinctiveness of the landscape in which it is located and to be influenced by the local landscape context. Development proposals will be assessed in relation to the following:

  • Visual impact from public roads, footpaths and viewpoints;
  • Integration into the landscape setting so as to sit comfortably within the topography, trees and woodlands, field boundaries and the settlement pattern;
  • Cumulative impact in relation to other built development;
  • Scale and design, including the choice of external materials;
  • Visual impact of associated infrastructure such as car parking and access roads;
  • Additional noise that will intrude on the tranquillity of the area;
  • Lighting that would be visually intrusive, disrupt wildlife or result in a diminution of dark skies in remoter locations;
  • Design of hard and soft landscaping around buildings and structures, including any screening measures and boundary treatments;
  • Retention of visual linkages between settlements and their landscape setting;
  • Restoration of landscape features, including wetlands and woodlands, and the removal of eyesores; and,
  • Safeguard or enhance the existing network of statutory bridleways and footpaths or create new links in the network to facilitate access to into the landscape

For more information please see the Mole Valley Local Plan