Contextual map of LCT 1 - View map full screen

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Component Landscape Character Areas

• LCA 1A: Wessex Downs Open Chalk Escarpment and Upper Slopes
• LCA 1B: Aston Upthorpe Downs Open Chalk Escarpment and Upper Slopes

LCA 1B Large arable fields on Aston Upthorpe Downs

LCA 1A View east along open undulating grassland on Whitehorse Hill

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Assessment of landscape sensitivity to renewable energy development

Landscape sensitivity assessment

Landform and scale (including sense of openness/ enclosure)

• Complex topography of open downland with rounded hills, steep slopes and dry valleys which dissect the chalk downs. Distinctive landform features include Dragon Hill near Woolstone (197 metres AOD) and the Devil’s Punchbowl near Letcombe Bassett (225 metres AOD).
• A large-scale landscape which can feel remote in places, with a strong sense of openness owing to the limited tree cover and open, hedge-less field boundaries.
• There is a sense of openness and exposure as a result of the relatively sparse woodland cover, which is generally limited to valley sides and hill tops.
• Human scale features include occasional trees and tree groups, hedgerows, farmsteads, horse stabling and gallops.

Landcover (including field and settlement patterns)

• Landcover primarily consists of grazed pasture, rough grassland and scrub on the steeper slopes and large arable fields on the gentler slopes. Horse paddocks are common next to farmsteads and settlements.
• Small tree groups are frequent, and occasional linear lengths of woodland appear as ‘hangers’ along the slopes. Woodland cover is more extensive in LCA 1B, including at large tracts at Unhill Wood and Ham Wood, with scattered blocks across the Downs often associated with farmsteads.
• The LCT contains numerous nature conservation designations, including a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and extensive areas of ancient woodland (as at Ham Wood and Unhill Woods). There are remnant areas of unimproved chalk grassland at Aston Upthorpe Downs and Moulsfor Downs SSSI, as well as internationally significant Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) at Hackpen Warren and Gramp’s Hill.
• Priority Habitats include deciduous woodland and unimproved chalk grassland.
• Settlement within the LCT is limited to occasional farmsteads and isolated dwellings, except for Ashbury and the nucleated hamlet of Letcombe Bassett.
• Horse rides and gallops are a common feature on the elevated downland plateau, particularly in LCA 1B.
• Road access is limited to a few rural lanes that traverse the slopes, some enclosed by hedgebanks with mature trees. Other lanes cross the exposed landform and are more open with low roadside vegetation.

Historic landscape character

• A landscape of strong time-depth, including the prehistoric Uffington White Horse chalk figure on Whitehorse Hill (Scheduled Monument) is a prominent feature and well-known landmark on the scarp which provides a distinctive sense of place.
• Other prehistoric features include Iron Age hillforts, a Bronze Age cemetery on Churn Hill, and a Roman Temple on Lowbury Hill. Grim’s Ditch is a distinctive linear earthwork running parallel to the Ridgeway, likely dating from the Iron Age. These are all Scheduled Monuments.
• Predominantly modern field patterns, with some remnant medieval, post medieval and pre-18th century field patterns on the plateau and some parts of the scarp slopes.
• The Ridgeway, an important prehistoric route, runs along the southern boundary of the LCT.

Visual character (including skylines)

• An open landscape with panoramic views from the top of the ridge over the Vale to the north and towards the Corallian Limestone Ridge. There are often panoramic views towards elevated downland beyond the district boundary to the south.
• The scarp itself forms a distinctive backdrop in views south from the lower-lying Vale, and forms an immediate setting to several small villages located below the foot of the scarp.
• Skylines are generally undeveloped, occasionally marked by trees and woodland blocks. The transition to the smooth rounded form of the Downlands to the south (in LCT 3) creates a broad horizon.
• Views are occasionally shortened by topography and tree cover.

Perceptual and scenic qualities

• The LCT is located entirely within the North Wessex Downs National Landscape, and displays several of the special qualities including remote chalk landform, arable habitats, chalk grasslands, prehistoric monuments, and extensive public rights of way.
• Public rights of way climb the slopes and connect to the prehistoric route of the Ridgeway National Trail which forms part of the southern boundary of the LCT. Small areas of the downs are open access land, including at White Horse Hill and south-west of Letcombe Bassett.
• A strongly rural and peaceful landscape with limited human influences. Major roads including the A417 and A34, as well as frequent aircraft passing overhead reduce the sense of tranquillity locally.
• The Tranquillity Assessment for South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse categorises 47% of the LCT in Zone 1 (‘areas of high tranquillity’) and 53% in Zone 2 (‘areas of some tranquillity’).

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Overall assessment of landscape sensitivity to solar PV developments

Summary of overall statement on landscape sensitivity of Chalk Escarpment LCT 1

A complex, rolling landform of valley and round or flat-topped hills with some exposed slopes, and a sense of openness due to the limited woodland cover. The limited enclosure and irregular, dramatic topography increase sensitivity to solar PV development as there are few existing features to screen any development. The landscape has a mixture of smaller-scale fields used for pasture, grassland, scrub and horse grazing, and larger arable fields on the more gentle slopes. The significant areas of unimproved chalk grassland are sensitive to solar development which would have adverse impacts on the rare habitat, often protected as SAC or SSSI. The limited settlement and built development within the landscape increases sensitivity as solar PV would introduce new built development into an otherwise rural landscape. Important historic and prehistoric features including Iron Age hillforts and the Uffington White Horse are prominent features within the landscape, creating a strong sense of place and time depth and further increasing sensitivity. The elevated landscape allows for panoramic views to the north and south, while the scarp slope also provides a rural backdrop to historic settlements in adjacent lower-lying areas, increasing sensitivity. Skylines are generally undeveloped, and solar PV development may detract from the prominent topography which is visible over a large area.

The location of the LCT within the North Wessex Downs National Landscape increases landscape sensitivity to all scales of solar PV development. Representative examples of the special qualities within this landscape include the remote chalk landform, arable habitats, significant chalk grasslands, prehistoric monuments, and extensive public rights of way. Promoted routes that are popular for recreation including the Ridgeway National Trail are sensitive receptors to solar PV development due to the high number of people who use this route and the expansive views that can be experienced.

This LCT generally has ‘high’ landscape sensitivity to solar energy development greater than the ‘very small-scale’ development scenario. There may be some opportunities for ‘very small-scale’ solar PV developments to be integrated into hidden slopes and undulations on the rolling downland, avoiding steep and/or visually prominent slopes which are often highly visible from the surrounding landscape, including recreational users of The Ridgeway National Trail. Existing vegetation including hedgerows should be utilised to help screen new developments.

Sensitivity of Landscape Character Areas

LCA 1A: This landscape is highly sensitive to all scales of solar PV development due to the steeply sloping landform of the north-facing scarp slopes, the visual prominence of the landform with high intervisibility with surrounding lower-lying landscapes (including in views from historic settlements such as Kingston Lisle and Letcombe Regis), and the presence of extensive archaeological assets, particularly focused around Uffington, many of which are nationally designated for their cultural importance. The LCA lies within the North Wessex Downs National Landscape, which also increases sensitivity.

LCA 1B: This landscape is highly sensitive to all scales of solar PV development greater than 1 hectare in size due to its location within the North Wessex Downs National Landscape, the sloping landform which is visually prominent in views from lower-lying areas (including in views from historic settlements such as Blewbury and Upton) and the presence of nationally-designated grassland habitats including at Aston Upthorpe Downs SSSI and Moulsford Downs SSSI. The sensitivity of some parts of the LCA to ‘very-small scale’ solar is reduced slightly by the presence of large areas of woodland which could be used to screen developments if appropriately designed and sited.

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Overall assessment of landscape sensitivity to wind energy developments

Summary of overall landscape sensitivity of Chalk Escarpment LCT 1

A complex and distinct landform of slopes, dry valleys, and hills creates a strongly undulating landscape, which increases sensitivity to wind energy development. The frequent human-scale features within the landscape, including small tree groups and woodland, hedgerows and farm buildings also increase sensitivity, particularly to turbines greater than 25 metres in height. Considerable areas of important chalk grassland habitat, and smaller-sized fields on steeper slopes have greater levels of sensitivity, although arable land use in larger-scale fields are slightly less sensitive. The variety of land cover across the landscape, with limited built development, also results in a higher sensitivity to wind energy development. A number of historic and prehistoric features, including the Uffington White Horse and Iron Age hillforts create a strong sense of time-depth, which increases sensitivity to wind energy development. The elevated nature of the landscape, which is visible from the surrounding lower-lying land is sensitive to change from wind energy development, as is the undeveloped skylines with prominent historic features. The landscape forms an important backdrop to views from villages below the foot of the scarp, and is highly visible from public rights of way including the Ridgeway National Trail. The rural and tranquil character of the LCT means wind energy development may be perceived as intrusive in an area with little modern human influence.

The location of the LCT within the North Wessex Downs National Landscape increases landscape sensitivity to all scales of wind energy development. Representative features include special qualities such as the remote chalk landform, arable habitats, significant chalk grasslands, prehistoric monuments, and extensive public rights of way.

The presence of woodland blocks on the plateau may slightly lower the sensitivity to appropriately sited very-small scale wind energy development.

This LCT has ‘high’ landscape sensitivity to wind energy development greater than the ‘very small-scale’ development scenario.

Sensitivity of Landscape Character Areas

LCA 1A: This landscape would be highly sensitive to wind energy development due to the complex, steeply sloping landform that is visual prominent in view from surrounding lower-lying landscapes, the undeveloped skylines which contribute to the sense of openness on the escarpment, the setting the landscape provides to heritage features including Uffington White Horse as well as several other nationally designated prehistoric assets, the rural backdrop the landscape provides to settlements in adjacent lower-lying areas, as well as the rural setting and sense of tranquillity experienced from public rights of way and open access land, including The Ridgeway National Trail. The LCA has slightly lower (moderate-high) sensitivity to very small-scale turbines as they would be less out-of-scale in this landscape.

LCA 1B: This landscape would be highly sensitive to wind energy development due to the visually prominent landform which form a rural backdrop in views from lower-lying settlements to the north, the undeveloped skylines which contribute to the sense of openness on the escarpment, and the presence of nationally-designated habitats including extensive ancient woodland at Unhill Wood and Ham Wood. The presence of woodland blocks on the plateau reduces landscape sensitivity to appropriately sited very-small scale wind energy development.