Review of East Dunbartonshire Local Landscape Areas, A Light Touch Review

Review of East Dunbartonshire Local
Landscape Areas, A Light Touch Review

Local Landscape Area (LLA) Review in Local
            Development Plan Process
• 2011 - SNH advise existing landscape designations are reviewed and
  statements of importance prepared
• October 2012 – Work with SNH & W Dunbartonshire - Statement for
  Kilpatrick Hills
• Main Issues Report 2013 – the preferred option included updating
  environmental designations, in line with Scottish Planning Policy. One
  response welcomed the intention to review landscape designations
• Autumn 2014 – Working with SNH on Campsie Fells Statement
• Proposed Plan 2015 - Policy 8 Natural Environment, LLA boundaries in
  Map. Evidence Reports Statements for Campsie Fells and Kilpatrick Hills
• June & July 2016 – Review of Lowland LLA by LUC
• Scottish Ministers’ Examination 2016
• LDP Adoption 2017
• March 2017 Planning Guidance on Natural Env.

Initial In House Review for Kilpatrick Hills &
                 Campsie Fells LLA

• No Planning Guidance Note 2011 for Regional Scenic Areas
• Local Plan 2 boundary of Kilpatrick Hills indicative – landscape
  consultants defined it by Rugged Moorland Hills Landscape Character
  Area, for Proposals Map in Summer 2012.
• Local Plan 2 - no justification for Regional Scenic Areas designation
• Stirling Council’s Statements of Importance for Southern Hills, beside
  Campsie Fells
• West Dunbartonshire was leading work on a statement for Kilpatrick Hills

In House Review Findings

Special Qualities
Kilpatrick Hills - Strong sense of remoteness, wildness and open horizons;
distinctive landforms; and a unique diversity of views
Campsie Fells - Distinctive landform of the Campsie Fault; striking views and
diversity of landscape experience

Purpose of Review of LLA in Lowland Part of
                  Council Area
• Provide more information on the special qualities of LLA to support LDP
  Policy 8: Protecting and Enhancing Landscape Character and Nature
  Conservation.
• Ensure that the designation of all LLA is justified and supported by
  Statements of Importance, prepared in line with SNH guidance
• Provide more detail on the special qualities of LLA for applicants,
  development management colleagues and any other interested parties or
  stakeholders.
• Identify suggested changes to existing LLA and their boundaries to inform
  the next LDP review.

Why Choose A Light Touch Review for Remaining
                    LLA?
• Existing Planning Guidance Note 2011 on the three lowland designations
  forms a basis
• The Council has no in house Landscape Architect
• In house work for Campsie Fells LLA was carried out over three months.
  Needed additional resource to get the other three existing LLA reviewed.
• The in house work informed the production of a brief for consultancy
• Timescale –Consultation on Planning Guidance on Natural Environment
  planned for August 2016.

Review - Approach
• May 2016 - Request for Quotes
• brief sent to Landscape Institute firms
• Fee in £5000 to £15000 range
• Three responses – decision based on
cost, LUC won. Also informally checked
quality of proposal
• Research and Report done June and July 2016
A. Desk top review – Set evaluation Criteria (landscape character and quality),
landscape baseline – character and designations, evaluation of potential
areas at Bar Hill & Milngavie Reservoirs and existing LLA
B. Landscape & Visual Assessment at key viewpoints in East Dunbartonshire
C. Produce three Statements of Importance

Field Survey Assessment

• Objective Checklist –
e.g. landform, land cover
• Subjective Checklist
- Aesthetic Qualities Perception/Impressions, Boundary – robust or weak, Key
positives &/ or negatives
• Perceived naturalness including borrowed views to adjacent LLA
• Identifying Potential Key Qualities

Light Touch Review – Findings

• Badenheath – Not enough special qualities -remove designation
• Glazert Valley Special Qualities - Distinctive broad valley landform;
   contrasting views in relation to elevation; & a diverse range of land uses &
   recreational opportunities
   Bardowie, Baldernock and Torrance Special Qualities - Unique drumlin
landform; variety of views; a high standard of land management and
recreational opportunities
• Revised boundaries focus on core areas which have the special qualities
• Proposed New LLA at Bar Hill - Distinctive rounded landform; dramatic
   views; and a diverse range of landscape and historical features

Reflection on Light Touch Review
• Doing an in house review of the most popular LLA – the Campsie Fells
  helped planning staff’s understanding and management of the light touch
  review of the other areas
• Use of specialist landscape staff gives professional input into the
  monitoring and review of designations through the public LDP process.
• Reviewed boundaries and Proposed New LLA was produced over three
  months in time to be included in draft Planning Guidance for consultation.
• Guidance a material consideration for planning applications and Forestry
  Strategy
• Informed consultation response to North Lanarkshire Council - on their
  draft Statement of Case for the adjacent Kilsyth Hills
• Formal amendment to designations in Supplementary Guidance this year
  and in future LDP Review process, currently 5 years time.

Further Information

East Dunbartonshire Local Development Plan
www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk/LDP

East Dunbartonshire Planning Guidance on Natural Environment
www.eastdunbarton.gov.uk/residents/planning-and-building-
standards/planning-policy/planning-guidance

Contact: development.plan@eastdunbarton.gov.uk