Landscape Consultancy LIS/A

1.0 Requirements

1.1 The following considerations need to be applied when drafting any strategic (concept) landscape proposals, generally required as part of a planning application:

2.0 Site specific design requirements

2.1 Any strategic landscape proposals (for both major and minor applications) need to take account of, and generally complement, the existing structure, pattern and character of the landscape local to the site in question; this to ensure compatibility with the established wider landscape structure, particularly with relation to tree cover, external works and enclosure. Where the landscape is in a deteriorated condition then proposals should look to strengthen and reintroduce relevant landscape characteristics.

2.2 When initial strategic landscape proposals are formally submitted to the Council, they are checked by the Landscape Advisor to ensure the Council’s design ambitions are met, and against any current requirements, i.e., the relevant policies, recommendations and guidelines at a national and a local level. This may result in amendments being required by the Council before the scheme can be fully agreed.

2.3 Generally, the services of a Landscape Consultant (preferably a member of the Landscape Institute) should be considered when compiling strategic landscape proposals required as part of a planning application.

3.0 Generic design requirements

3.1 Where strategic landscape proposals are required then this needs, as a minimum, to comply with the Council’s following baseline standard requirements (as applicable):

3.2 Proposals need to comprise copies of co-ordinated and numbered drawing(s) (plan(s) and if applicable sections) to a clearly readable scale, with a corresponding symbol key for each relevant drawing.

3.3 For full applications, include an indicative layout clearly and concisely illustrating proposed landscape elements overlaid against the footprint of the proposed development (refer to guidance sheet for minimum requirements – see 3.2 above), this clearly identifying the proposed layout/location of (as applicable):

1. Tree planting location(s) and preferably tree type (giving botanic ID) – see section 4 below for detail requirements.
2. Shrub beds, hedges, grassed areas, and other areas of soft landscape.
3. External works: including roads, footpaths, parking areas, hard surfacing, furniture, bollards and any other principal external works elements – see section 5 below for detail requirements.
4. Enclosure: including fences, walls, railings and any other principal form of enclosure – see section 6 below for detail requirements.
5. Boundary of the site and areas of proposed open space, both private and public (separately identified) – see section 7 below for detail requirements.
6. Boundary of the site and areas of proposed open space, both private and public (separately identified) – see section 7 below for detail requirements.

4.0 Tree planting requirements for full applications

4.1 Tree positions need to be cross-checked against the following ‘rule of thumb’ requirements to allow for development of a full mature crown spread and adequate light penetration in compliance with BS 5837:

1. Larger principal trees should (unless variety specifically identified) be planted a minimum 6m from any building frontage requiring light penetration and 5m from any other (i.e. main stem to frontage).
2. Secondary trees should (unless variety specifically identified) be planted a minimum 4m from any building frontage requiring light penetration and 3m from any other (i.e. main stem to frontage).

Where relevant, other considerations, such as the leaving of of a safe distance between mature crowns and roads or services, needs to also be considered.

4.2 Where tree types are identified, any tree type/position proposed needs to allow for an anticipated mature crown spread & height and be at a sufficient distance to avoid potential root damage to existing structures with, where applicable, allowance given for adequate light penetration, in compliance with BS 5837. Maturity should be considered as 25yr for trees used for early impact & fast establishment and as full maturity for principal trees proposed for their long-term impact and structural importance.

4.3 defunct

4.4 defunct

4.5 In order to maximise favourable conditions for establishment, any tree planting preferably needs to be designed to be within soft rather than hard landscape, i.e., within their own planting bed a minimum 1.5m wide (be it planted or with a permeable & self-binding hard surface) rather than a specialist tree pit in the hardscape.

4.6 Any tree type/position proposed needs to:

1. Ensure main stem planting positions are proposed at least 1-1.5m away from enclosure/features over 1.8m high, this to allow the tree sufficient space to establish through to maturity.

It needs to be confirmed (verbatim) as drawing notes that:

2. ‘Lighting positions (columns) have/will been/be set outside the mature crown spread of existing and proposed trees’. This to help avoid any future conflict between the two.
3. ‘Tree planting positions have/will been/be set away from principal service/drainage routes and mature spreads are set outside the impact zones of high-sided vehicles.’ This to help avoid any future conflict between these elements

5.0 External Works requirements for full applications

5.1 External works proposals need to be cross-checked against the Council’s generic requirements, as follows:

5.2 The surface materials within the public and semi-public realm needs, in the interests of legibility, to generally have a simple structure with two basic colours and material types used. The first defining the pedestrian zones (principally: footpaths, crossovers and very narrow frontages) and other shared surfaces in paviours or a material complementary to the location (usually grey), and secondly for the principal vehicular realm zones usually in ‘blacktop’, (with overruns and ramps in granite sett); subject to Highways Authority agreement where relevant.

5.3 defunct

5.4 Any rear parking courts need to take account of the standard requirement regarding vehicular manoeuvrability, i.e., 3m rather than 2.4m wide parking bays where they run alongside a wall or other form of enclosure (including bollards).

6.0 Enclosure requirements for full applications

6.1 Enclosure proposals need to be cross-checked against the Council’s generic requirements, as follows:

6.2 Shallow plot frontages need to be proposed in a hard landscape (complementary with the adjacent footway) where they front main & principal access roads. Away from the principal routes this hard edge to narrow frontages should be softened through the inclusion of open soft frontages. Sufficient room needs to be left between the building face and any Highways boundary for windows to open without overhanging the Highway and to accommodate any private services within the private realm. Where plot frontages are set back (allowing for a frontage in excess of 2m+ deep) these can be laid out with soft or hard landscape but will generally need to be adequately enclosed (‘wall, railing and/or hedge of at least waist height’ i.e. 1m+). The design effect envisaged is essentially a uniform enclosed and/or hard approach to units fronting principal routes, with generally an eclectic pallet of frontages to the development beyond these principal routes, this structure helping foster a sense of place, diversity and establishment.

6.3 Within the rural environment soft enclosure is generally required to the outer edge of plot frontages and plot enclosure (space permitting), this generally comprising hedging and, space permitting, tree(s). This soft enclosure needs to be complementary to its setting.

6.4 Generally enclosure of private space facing public or semi-public space, e.g., onto rear parking courts, needs to be enclosed with walling to ensure a suitable quality to the boundary between private space and public/semi public space.

6.5 Any proposed frontage railing enclosure in the urban environment generally needs to be in a vertical bar, this to complement the fenestration of the built form.

7.0 Public Open Space (POS) requirements for full applications

7.1 POS proposals need to be cross-checked against the Council’s generic requirements, as follows:

7.2 The boundaries and calculated square meterage for all POS scheduled for adoption by the Council needs to be clearly identified on any proposal, on plan.

7.3 All railings (including knee-rail), seating, lighting and other relevant external works adjacent/within grassed areas needs to be illustrated, or specified through a drawing note, as set within a hard landscape strip, this to ease maintenance and help prevent mower damage.

7.4 The footpaths network within areas of open space need to be a minimum 2.0m to allow adequate room for social transition of the space. Where paths meet the resulting angles should be rounded off and meeting and exit points broadened to prevent undue wear of any soft edges at these junctions.

7.5 Play areas need to be so orientated as to leave a minimum 2m grass edge between play area surface and planting (including trees), mounding, railings, paths etc, this to allow sufficient space for mowing maintenance.

7.6 Seating needs to be included within the POS (particularly within play areas) and to be located a minimum 1m away from any railings or bins.

7.7 The location of the POS maintenance access(es), its associated access gate(s) or lockable drop bollard(s) (which need to match the proposed enclosure) and corresponding drop kerb(s) need to be clearly identified on plan and by symbol in the drawing key (generally a minimum of 1 maintenance access per area of separate POS). Any maintenance access area needs to be separate from any pedestrian route and have space left around it to safely unload maintenance equipment.

7.8 A suitable number of dog and litter bins need to be included to service each area of recreational POS.

8.0 Play area requirements for full applications

8.1 Play area proposals need to be cross-checked against the Council’s generic requirements, as follows:

8.2 The design of any play area needs to be broadly in accordance with the DCMS’s ‘Design for Play’ guidelines and where appropriate ‘Beyond The Six Acre Standard’.

8.3 When play areas are enclosed this needs to be with a bow/hoop-top railing, with two access/egress points, self-closing gates and with play equipment proposed in line with the following general points:

1. The play area to be so orientated as to leave a minimum 2m grass edge between play area surface and any feature/border planting to allow for mowing maintenance.
2. Seating within play areas to be set a minimum 1m away from any railings or bins.

9.0 Landscape & Visual Impact Assessment and Landscape/ Townscape & Visual Appraisal requirements (note: these are required for most major applications and particularly sensitive minor applications):

9.1 Both Landscape & Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) & Landscape or Townscape & Visual Appraisals (LVA or TVA) need to be professionally carried out by a qualified landscape practitioner (preferably a landscape architect) and make reference to the Landscape Institutes Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, 3rd edition (GLVIA3), they need to follow the guidelines in full for LVIAs where an Environmental Impact Assessment is required as part of a planning application, and the relevant sections of the guidelines for L/TVA (i.e. GVLIA3 paragraphs 3.2, 3.3 & table 3.1) for other planning applications where such an Appraisal is proposed. As a minimum any Appraisal should professionally and impartially:

1. Assess the proposed developments visibility. Dependant on the scale of the development this would be either:
   • Assess the proposed developments visibility. Dependant on the scale of the development this would be either:
   • By approximately identifying potential visual envelope through professional desk and field evaluation/assessment (principally for minor, less prominent or some allocated development & Townscape & Visual Appraisals).

(See GLVIA3 clauses 6.2 to 6.7).

2. Identify, and preferably agree in advance of formal submission, principal public viewpoints within the ZTV/visual envelope (e.g. roads, footpaths and public rights of way) and the visualisation Type(s) proposed from those agreed viewpoints. Visualisations will need to be carried out in accordance with the Landscape Institute’s Advice Note 06/19 and be confirmed as such. It should be noted that (as a minimum) Type 1 visualisations will need to show the extent of the proposed development in relation to the landscape/skyline by illustrating, usually by line, both its proposed height and width when viewed from agreed principal viewpoint(s) (for outline applications these may have to be approximated dependant on the matters being reserved).
3. Assess sensitivity of receptors and relevant impacts on them.
4. Propose any mitigation and preferably demonstrate through photomontage, particularly for screen planting at the plantings initial, intermediate and mature stages.
5. Clearly assess and tabulate landscape and visual effects.

9.2 LVIAs/LVAs relating to the Borough’s rural/rural-edge landscape need to draw principal reference to landscape character from the Colchester Borough Landscape Character Assessment (CBLCA), unless agreed otherwise, and landscape protection status from the Local Development Framework mapping. Any LVIA/LVA needs to identify the relevant CBLCA Character Area and describe clearly how the development proposal integrates with the relevant character definitions and follows/meets the planning & management guidelines therein.

9.3 TVIAs relating to the Borough’s urban landscape need to draw principal reference to townscape character from the Colchester Borough Townscape Character Assessment, unless agreed otherwise and describe clearly how the development proposal integrates with the relevant character definitions and follows/meets the evaluations therein, see the Landscape Institute’s TIN 05/17.

10.0 Biodiversity Net Gain

10.1 Confirmation should be given that the landscape proposals have been and will be worked up through engagement and collaboration with an ecologist from the concept stage, and that they will comply with the Councils guidance and requirements on Biodiversity Net Gain.