Contextual map of LCT 3 - View map full screen

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Component Landscape Character Areas

• LCA 3A: Wessex Downs Open Chalk Dipslope

Large-scale open fields on the plateau near Sparsholt Down.

Woodland at The Warren provides a backdrop to views across large-scale arable

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Assessment of landscape sensitivity to renewable energy development

Landscape sensitivity assessment

Landform and scale (including sense of openness/ enclosure)

• An elevated rolling plateau, with topography becoming more complex to the south. Ridges descend broadly south from the top of the steep scarp. High points include Cuckhamsley Hill at approximately 205 metres AOD, and Idstone Down at approximately 215 metres AOD.
• A large-scale, open landscape. The limited hedgerow structure with field boundaries predominantly delineated by post and wire fences contributes to the sense of openness.
• Woodlands and distinctive linear shelterbelts, notably in the west, provide a localised sense of enclosure.
• Human scale features include blocks and belts of woodland, occasional farmsteads, and historic buildings and structures associated with Ashdown House.

Landcover (including field and settlement patterns)

• Land use mainly consists of large-scale, rectilinear, open arable fields, with hedgerow boundaries often absent or gappy. There are occasional grassland fields, which are often small-scale.
• Semi-natural land cover is predominantly rough grassland, with areas of surviving chalk grassland and lowland calcareous grassland, including on Woolstone Down, Kingstone Down, Lang Down, and Knollend Down.
• Varied woodland cover including ancient woodland (as at Swinley Copse, Moss Hill and Nut Wood), more recent mixed plantations (often in geometric shapes), copses on hilltops, and occasional woodland ‘hangers’ along steep slopes.
• Part of Middle Wood contains the Ashdown Park Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), designated for the lichen flora associated with a large number of naturally situated sarsen stones.
• A sparsely populated landscape, with settlement limited to isolated farmsteads. Road access is limited, with a small number of roads orientated broadly north-south including the A338 and B4001.
• Rides and gallops associated with horse racing are frequent features, along with fields subdivided into paddocks and associated stabling.

 

Historic landscape character

• Extensive evidence of prehistoric settlement and land use, including Iron Age Hillforts at St Alfred’s Castle and Letcombe Castle (designated as Scheduled Monuments), Wayland’s Smithy Long Barrow, as well as several scattered burial mounds and further non-designated assets including Rams Hill Fort and Idlebush Barrow.
• Later settlement is indicated by the presence of surviving Romano-British field systems at Mere End Down.
• The Scutchamer Knob artificial mound located on Cuckhamsley Hill is a Scheduled Monument and forms a local landmark.
• The Ridgeway, an important prehistoric route, runs along the southern boundary of the LCT.
• Ashdown House (Grade I Listed), a distinctive manor house recorded as having post-medieval history is set within woodland at Ashdown Park (Grade II* Registered Park and Gardens (RPG)).

 

Visual character (including skylines)

• Extensive panoramic long-distance views are possible across the rolling plateau, including rural views from the Ridgeway north across the Vale landscapes towards the Corallian Limestone Ridge, and south across the North Wessex Downs (beyond the district boundary).
• Provides a rural backdrop above the ridge scarp in views from within the lower-lying vale landscapes to the north, as well as from the Corallian Limestone Ridge.
• Skylines are wide, open and are generally undeveloped. Blocks of linear woodland frame, or form a backdrop to views across the large-scale fields, in contrast to the more expansive views available from public rights of way across the downs.

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, ancient broadleaved woodlands, significant chalk grasslands, prehistoric monuments, country houses and landscape gardens, extensive public rights of way, dark night skies, and high levels of tranquillity.
• Features an extensive network of public rights of way, including parts of the Ridgeway National Trail and a significant number of bridleways which connect with the wider network of public rights of way across the downs.
• Ashdown House and woodland is a popular visitor attraction managed by the National Trust.
• An open and exposed landscape with a sense of remoteness and tranquillity. Dark night skies are experienced across much of the area.
• Generally a strongly rural character, with few urban influences. Human influences including the B4000 main road, gallops and horse training establishments locally reduce the sense of rural tranquillity.

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Overall assessment of landscape sensitivity to solar PV developments

Summary of landscape sensitivity of Open Chalk Dipslope LCT 3

A complex, elevated landform that is distinct and irregular in topographic appearance, which increases sensitivity to solar PV development. Open fields with often absent hedgerow boundaries result in little sense of enclosure, although woodlands are more common in the west. The limited screening by vegetation increases sensitivity. Large-scale arable fields are less sensitive to solar PV development in terms of land use than the areas of woodland cover and surviving chalk grassland, many of national significance, are of higher sensitivity. However, the lack of screening in large-scale arable fields increases visual sensitivity. This is a largely rural landscape, with few built elements, which increases sensitivity. Extensive evidence of historic land use are important to the character of the landscape, and create a strong sense of time-depth, increasing sensitivity. These include prehistoric monuments (many designated as Scheduled Monuments), Romano-British field systems, and Ashdown Park Registered Park and Garden. The elevated landscape is prominent in views from lower-lying areas, and provides an important backdrop to the vale and wider North Wessex Downs. The landscape is highly visible from promoted routes including the Ridgeway National Trail, which are sensitive receptors to solar PV development. Skylines are wide, open and generally undeveloped, which increases sensitivity. The high levels of tranquillity and dark night skies create a rural landscape with limited modern development.

The location of the LCT within the nationally designated landscape of North Wessex Downs National Landscape increases landscape sensitivity to all scales of solar PV development. Representative features including ancient broadleaved woodlands, chalk grassland habitats, prehistoric monuments, country houses and parklands, extensive public rights of way, dark night skies, and high levels of tranquillity may be adversely impacted by the installation of solar PV development.

This LCT has ‘high’ landscape sensitivity to solar energy development greater than the ‘very small-scale’ development scenario. There may be limited opportunities to accommodate ‘very small’ scale solar PV development, using the existing woodlands and shelterbelts to provide screening. Solar PV development should be avoided on the north-facing slopes which are often highly visible from the surrounding landscape.

Sensitivity of Landscape Character Areas

• There is only one LCA in the Open Chalk Dipslope LCT, and therefore there is no variation in landscape sensitivity to solar PV development.

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Overall assessment of landscape sensitivity to wind energy developments

Summary of landscape sensitivity of Open Chalk Dipslope LCT 3

The distinctive slopes of this elevated landscape increase sensitivity to wind energy development, although there are fewer human-scale features than other landscapes in the districts, which slightly reduces sensitivity. Large-scale open arable fields are less sensitive than the occasional small-scale pasture fields in terms of land use, while the areas of nationally important semi-natural habitat including chalk grassland and woodland have a higher sensitivity. The lack of screening in large-scale arable fields increases their visual sensitivity. This is a rural landscape with few urban influences beyond the road network. Many historic features, including prehistoric Scheduled Monuments, and parkland at Ashdown Park are important to the character of the area, and create a strong sense of time-depth. This increases sensitivity to wind energy development. The elevated rolling plateau is visible from many surrounding landscapes, and provides a prominent undeveloped skyline to these areas. This increases sensitivity to wind energy development. Visually prominent slopes that provide a backdrop in views from lower-lying areas and open undeveloped skylines also increase sensitivity to wind energy development. The landscape is highly visible from popular promoted routes including the Ridgeway National Trail, which are sensitive receptors. The landscape has a strong sense of rurality, high levels of tranquillity and good experience of dark night skies, increasing sensitivity to wind energy development.

The location of the LCT within the North Wessex Downs National Landscape increases landscape sensitivity to all scales of wind energy development. Representative features including ancient broadleaved woodlands, chalk grassland habitats, prehistoric monuments, country houses and parklands, extensive public rights of way, dark night skies, and high levels of tranquillity may be adversely impacted by the installation of wind energy development.

This LCT has ‘high’ landscape sensitivity to any wind energy development larger than the ‘very small-scale’ development scenario. The large-scale, simple landcover pattern, presence of existing infrastructure associated with horse training facilities, and scattered woodland belts on the plateau reduces sensitivity to very-small scale wind energy development.

Sensitivity of Landscape Character Areas

• There is only one LCA in this LCT, and therefore there is no variation in landscape sensitivity to wind energy development.