Contextual map of LCT 10 - View map full screen

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Component Landscape Character Areas

• LCA 10A: Sinodun Lower Vale Hills

Open pasture with views to Sinodun Hills

Long views north to the River Thames and its floodplain

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Assessment of landscape sensitivity to renewable energy development

Landscape sensitivity assessment

Landform and scale (including sense of openness/ enclosure)

• An isolated chalk ridge at the Sinodun Hills, an outlier of the Wessex Downs chalk escarpment. Isolated outcrops of greensand and chalk form prominent rounded hills including Round Hill (121 metres AOD) Castle Hill (121 metres AOD), and Brightwell Barrow (113 metres AOD).
• The River Thames meets the northern boundary of Wessex Downs and Western Vale Fringes at Little Wittenham (in LCA 13C), from where the landform rises steeply to form Sinodun Hills.
• The scale and sense of openness are varied and strongly influenced by the presence or absence of woodland and the topography; the landscape is mostly open owing to the large-scale arable farmland and dispersed woodland, however, some areas have a stronger sense of enclosure where species-rich hedgerows are more intact and woodland belts feature more regularly. The localised hills contain views in some directions and allow long-range vantage points in others.
• Human scale features include dispersed woodland blocks, mature hedgerow trees, small linear settlement at Little Wittenham, occasional farmsteads and the Hadden Hill golf course.

Landcover (including field and settlement patterns)

• Predominantly agricultural land use in large-scale fields, comprising mainly arable land transected by species-rich hedgerows in parts, with some small areas of pasture on the northern edges of the area and the hillsides of Whittenham Clumps.
• Sparsely settled, with the linear village of Little Wittenham (including a Conservation Area) in the north, and scattered farmsteads elsewhere, typically located along the lower slopes of the hills.
• Deciduous woodland occurs in scattered blocks and belts around farms, and in larger blocks at Little Wittenham Wood and Long Wittenham Wood. Two clumps of beech trees on Round Hill and Castle Hill (Wittenham Clumps) are distinctive features. Wittenham Clumps are internationally and nationally valued for their ancient woodland and grasslands, and are designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
• Priority habitats include lowland calcareous grassland, semi-improved grassland, lowland meadows, deciduous woodland, and traditional orchards.
• The greens, fairways and buildings associated with Hadden Hill golf club in the west have a localised influence on the landscape character.

Historic landscape character

• Little Wittenham is covered by a Conservation Area designation and contains a number of Listed Buildings. Parts of the area are overlain by clay with flints, producing distinctively ‘grey’ and flinty soils; flint is conspicuous in the soils and buildings, forming part of the architectural vernacular.
• Evidence of a long history of settlement is indicated by the presence of prehistoric earthworks and hillforts including Castle Hill fort and Brightwell Barrow (Scheduled Monuments), as well as the Roman Road which connects Brightwell-cum-Sotwell to the Thames floodplain.
• Remnant areas of orchards to the north of Brightwell-cum-Sotwell also provide links to historic land uses and contribute to historic landscape character.

Visual character (including skylines)

• Wittenham Clumps is a key landscape feature in this area and in views from surrounding lower-lying landscapes, forming a prominent and distinctive feature on the skyline. Open Access Land at Wittenham Clumps allows for panoramic views across the surrounding vale landscapes.
• The open landscape results in extensive views from the hilltops and downs across the vale to the north, east and west. Hedgerows, trees and woodlands provide visual enclosure and restrict intervisibility in some places.

Perceptual and scenic qualities

• An overall rural character with few detractive features. However, features outside of the LCT, such as tall industrial features at Didcot (including Didcot B power station), recent and ongoing development on the eastern edge of Didcot (as part of the Didcot North East Strategic Allocation), and nearby transport corridors, including the A4130 and A4074 and railway line, are visual and/or aural detractors.
• Located almost entirely within the North Wessex Downs National Landscape, and displays several of the special qualities including ancient woodlands, chalk grasslands, arable habitats, prehistoric monuments and Roman relicts, sparse settlement pattern and extensive public rights of way.
• Areas of open grassland, meadows and orchards contrast with the intensively managed arable land, providing texture and scenic interest to the landscape.
• The Dark Skies / Light Impact Assessment for South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse indicates that this area has some of the darkest skies in the district.

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Overall assessment of landscape sensitivity to solar PV developments

Summary of overall statement on landscape sensitivity of Lower Vale Hills LCT 10

The landform is an outlier of chalk and the Wittenham Clumps are highly distinctive landform features, which increases sensitivity to solar PV development. This is a highly rural landscape with areas of woodland and grassland semi-natural habitats, which increases sensitivity. The large-scale field pattern slightly reduces sensitivity. The prehistoric earthworks and hillforts are important to the area, and provide a strong sense of time-depth and increase sensitivity. The LCT has high intervisibility with the lower-lying vales, and with the wider North Wessex Downs National Landscape to the south, which increases sensitivity. This is a rural landscape with Haddon Hill golf club forming the only detracting modern feature. However, views to the industrial and residential edges of Didcot reduce the rural character, while close proximity to major transport corridors reduces tranquillity.

The location of the majority of the LCT within the North Wessex Downs National Landscape increases landscape sensitivity to all scales of solar PV development. Representative features including ancient woodlands, chalk grasslands, arable habitats, prehistoric monuments and Roman relicts, sparse settlement pattern and extensive public rights of way may be adversely impacted by the installation of solar PV development.

This LCT has ‘high’ landscape sensitivity to solar energy development greater than the ‘medium-scale’ development scenario. There may be opportunities to accommodate carefully sited ‘very small’ and ‘small’ scale solar PV development in the west where the LCT interfaces with the more developed, eastern side of Didcot, outside of the National Landscape. Existing woodland and thick hedgerows could provide screening, to reduce the landscape and visual impact of solar PV installations. Solar PV development should be avoided on the steep slopes which are highly visible from the surrounding landscape.

Landscape sensitivity of Lower Vale Hills Landscape Character Areas

LCA 10A: As noted above, there may be slightly lower sensitivity to ‘very small’ and ‘small’ scale solar PV development in the west of the LCA, outside of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape.

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Overall assessment of landscape sensitivity to wind energy developments

Summary of overall landscape sensitivity of  Lower Vale Hills LCT 10

The LCT is a distinct landform feature rising out of the surrounding low-lying vale, with the Wittenham Clumps prominent and visible slopes, which increases sensitivity to wind energy development. Frequent human-scale features of woodland, hedgerow trees, and small settlement at Little Wittenham also increase sensitivity. Although the landscape has a large-scale field pattern, which reduces sensitivity, large areas of semi-natural woodland and grassland habitats form variety in land cover and increase sensitivity. Prehistoric monuments are important to the character of the area and a strong sense of time-depth, increasing sensitivity. The elevated landform is highly visible from the surrounding landscapes, including the North Wessex Downs National Landscape to the south. The skylines are undeveloped, and Wittenham Clumps are important landmark features on the skyline. Open Access Land on Wittenham Clumps provides recreational access, and the LCT is visible from a number of surrounding public rights of, which are sensitive receptors. The landscape is highly rural, with limited human influence within the LCT. Views to the residential and commercial edge of Didcot reduces the rural character on the western edge, while proximity to major transport corridors reduces tranquillity. These locally reduce sensitivity to wind energy development.

The location of the majority of the LCT within the designated landscape of North Wessex Downs National Landscape increases sensitivity. Representative features including ancient woodlands, chalk grasslands, arable habitats, prehistoric monuments and Roman relicts, sparse settlement pattern and extensive public rights of way may be adversely impacted by the installation of wind energy development.

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

Sensitivity of Lower Vale Hills Landscape Character Areas

LCA 10A: There are no significant variations in landscape sensitivity to wind energy development within this LCT.