Contextual map of LCT 4 - View map full screen

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Component Landscape Character Areas

• LCA 4A: Chiltern Wooded Chalk Plateau and Valleys

Pasture fields with woodlands in the background

Designed parkland landscape at Greys Court

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Assessment of landscape sensitivity to renewable energy development

Landscape sensitivity assessment

Landform and scale (including sense of openness/ enclosure)

• The Chilterns plateau is incised by an irregular pattern of small-scale dry valleys, resulting in an undulating landscape.
• Heights range from 60 metres AOD in the valleys and adjacent to the River Thames, up to 212 metres AOD at Nuffield.
• Heavy woodland cover and species-rich hedgerows and trees containing fields create an enclosed character.
• Human scale features include frequent woodlands, a scattered settlement pattern of small hamlets and farms, commons, trees and hedgerows.

Landcover (including field and settlement patterns)

• A heavily wooded landscape, featuring extensive areas of ancient woodland. Many of the beech woodlands are nationally designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). A number of commons are dominated by acid grassland, some recorded as priority habitat.
• A strong, irregular field pattern of arable and pasture fields. Several golf courses are found across the LCT.
• Settlement pattern of small villages, hamlets and farms scattered among the woods and commons. Larger, more modern settlements of Sonning Common, Henley-on-Thames and Woodcote lie on the edge of the area.

Historic landscape character

• The Historic Landscape Characterisation shows a varied historic field pattern, with areas of pre-18th century enclosure, post-medieval enclosure, 19th century reorganised enclosure and more recent amalgamation. Commons are found across the LCT, and are an important part of the landscape. Some, such as Kingwood Common were originally wasteland, while others have been reconverted to commons after previous land uses.
• The historic landscape character is also evident in the clear strip parish pattern, where communities linked lower summer grazing pasture, fuel supply from woodlands and the spring-line streams water supply.
• Occasional prehistoric archaeological monuments show the considerable time-depth across the landscape. These include Iron Age hill forts and a possible Roman enclosure, designated as Scheduled Monuments.
• A strong medieval settlement pattern provides time-depth. The settlements contain clusters of Listed Buildings and are often covered by Conservation Areas. Outside of settlements, frequent farmsteads contain Listed Buildings.
• Distinctive estates, including Nuffield Place, Crowsley Park, Checkendon Court, Friar Park and Greys Court. The latter two are both Grade II Registered Parks and Gardens. The manor houses are often still standing, with brick and flint common materials. Historic parkland features, such as formal avenues, free-standing trees in pasture and estate boundary treatments create a sense of place and time-depth.

 

Visual character (including skylines)

• Strong structure of woodland and incised valley landform creates an intimate and enclosed character, with very limited long-distance views. Tree-lined ridges are a common feature in the area and form wooded skylines.
• A largely undeveloped skyline, although electricity pylons north of Caversham are locally intrusive in views.
• The whole LCT is part of the Chilterns National Landscape, and so all internal views are of a nationally important landscape.

Perceptual and scenic qualities

• A generally rural and unspoilt landscape, with a strong structure of woodland and incised valley landform creating an intimate and enclosed character.
• The entirety of the LCT is part of the Chilterns National Landscape. Special qualities represented in this landscape include the distinctive beech yew woodlands, rare chalk grassland, tranquillity and dark night skies, extensive recreational routes and a strong structure of hedgerows, parkland and farmland.
• The LCT features an extensive network of public rights of way, including the Chiltern Way and the Ridgeway. Areas of Open Access Land are also found within the commons and woodlands, concentrated in the north.
• Distinctive pattern of narrow rural lanes, enclosed by tall hedgerows. Busy A roads cross the landscape, and are detracting modern additions. Localised areas of suburban land uses including golf clubs and educational facilities are found on the edges of Caversham and Henley-on-Thames.

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Overall assessment of landscape sensitivity to solar PV developments

Summary of overall landscape sensitivity of Wooded Chalk Plateau and Valleys LCT 4

The irregular pattern of small-scale dry valleys results in an undulating landscape, which increases sensitivity to solar PV development, although undulations in the land could also be used to screen views of small-scale development in some locations. Considerable woodland coverage and hedgerow boundaries provide enclosure and slightly reduce sensitivity as they could provide screening. The woodlands are often of ancient origin and many are nationally designated as SSSI, which increases sensitivity. The irregular field pattern and small-scale settlement pattern create a rural landscape. The golf courses have a slightly lower sensitivity to solar PV development. Several historic features are still visible within the landscape, including commons, the strip parish pattern, medieval settlement pattern and estates and parklands. These are important to the character of this landscape, and provide a strong sense of time-depth. The wooded skyline is visible from neighbouring areas, although there are limited views out due to the woodland cover. The skylines are largely undeveloped, with the exception of electricity pylons north of Caversham, which slightly reduce sensitivity to solar PV development. The generally rural character of the landscape, with good levels of tranquillity elevates sensitivity to solar PV development. Popular promoted routes including the Chiltern Way and the Ridgeway pass through this landscape, and are sensitive receptors. Localised areas of modern development are found on the edges of Caversham and Henley-on-Thames, which slightly reduce the sensitivity.

The location of the majority of the LCT within the Chilterns National Landscape increases landscape sensitivity to all scales of solar PV development. Representative features including beech yew woodlands, tranquillity and dark night skies, extensive recreational routes and a strong structure of hedgerows, parkland and farmland may be adversely impacted by the installation of solar PV development.

This LCT has ‘high’ landscape sensitivity to solar energy development greater than the ‘small-scale’ development scenario. There may be opportunities to accommodate carefully sited ‘very small’ and ‘small’ scale solar PV development scenarios in areas where existing woodland and thick field hedgerows could be used to screen solar PV installations to reduce their landscape and visual impact.

Sensitivity of Landscape Character Areas

There is only one LCA in this LCT. Although the south of the LCT is outside of the Chilterns National Landscape, there are no significant variations in landscape sensitivity to solar PV development within this LCT.

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Overall assessment of landscape sensitivity to wind energy developments

Summary of overall landscape sensitivity of Wooded Chalk Plateau and Valleys LCT

The distinct plateau landform incised by valleys creates an irregular topographic appearance and strongly undulating landscape, which increases sensitivity to wind energy development. The woodlands and scattered settlement pattern create frequent human-scale features. Woodlands interspersed with commons and fields creates a variety in land cover, with areas of important woodlands and grasslands also increasing sensitivity. Golf courses and the suburban edges of adjacent larger settlements locally impact rurality and therefore slightly decrease sensitivity. Extensive ancient woodland, an irregular historic field pattern, strong medieval settlement pattern and designed parkland landscapes creates a landscape with a strong sense of time-depth, which increases sensitivity. The elevated landform has a largely undeveloped, wooded skyline, although there are limited outward views due to enclosure from the woodlands. An overhead pylon line north of Caversham is the only locally intrusive element in views. The visual contrasts between the open commons and fields and the extensive woodland provides an attractive character, with a good sense of tranquillity and experience of dark night skies. Modern influences are limited to some suburban influence on the edges of settlements adjacent to the LCT. The location of the majority of the LCT within the Chilterns National Landscape increases sensitivity to wind energy development. Representative features including beech yew woodlands, tranquillity and dark night skies, extensive recreational routes and a strong structure of hedgerows, parkland and farmland may be adversely impacted by 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

There is only one LCA in this LCT. Although the south of the LCT is outside the Chilterns National Landscape, there are no significant variations in landscape sensitivity to wind energy development within this LCT.