Contextual map of LCT 5 - View map full screen

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Component Landscape Character Areas

• LCA 5A: Chiltern Wooded Chalk Ridges and Valleys

Pasture valley with wooded backdrop, near Maidensgrove

Historic agricultural buildings in the sloping landscape

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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 dipslope falls imperceptibly eastwards from the scarp giving the slope the character of a plateau. This is heavily dissected by steeply incised valleys, with only narrow ridges between, resulting in a strongly undulating landform. Valleys are predominantly dry with a limited number of watercourses.
• Heights range from 40 metres AOD to 250 metres AOD, with the lowest areas located to the far south around the River Thames; the highest areas include Bald Hill at 255 metres AOD and Britwell Hill at 230 metres AOD.
• The local topography is dominated by the Assendon and Stonor Valleys which merge to form the distinctive straight approach into Henley known as the ‘Fair Mile’.
• The scale and sense of openness is varied and strongly influenced by the presence or absence of woodland and hedgerows. Some areas (e.g. to the north-east of Cookley Green and around Turville) have a relatively open character with large fields and low hedgerows enabling long views across the undulating landscape. These contrast with more enclosed areas created by the blocks of woodland (e.g. near Greenfield Wood and Kitesgrove Wood).
• Human scale features include frequent blocks of woodland, in-field and roadside trees, hedgerows and occasional hamlets, villages and farm buildings.

Landcover (including field and settlement patterns)

• Comparatively open fields contained within a strong structure of woods, species-rich hedgerows or trees to form a loose mosaic. Farming is mixed with dominance of arable cultivation with pasture more typical of lower slopes or valley bottoms.
• Supports a mosaic of farmland and woodland; steep valley sides typically support woodland, with distinctive valley top ‘beech hangers’ framing the valley and emphasising its depth.
• Contains a variety of Nature Conservation designations, including Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and extensive areas of ancient woodland; the internationally important Aston Rowant SAC and Chilterns Beechwoods SAC extend into this area, designated for its flower-rich chalk grassland, beech woodland and juniper scrub.
• Priority habitats include deciduous woodland, wood-pasture and parkland, traditional orchards, semi-improved grassland and lowland calcareous grassland.
• A sparse settlement pattern of small villages, hamlets and farms is connected by a distinctive pattern of winding rural roads.

 

Historic landscape character

• Stonor Park, a Grade II* Registered Park and Garden, is located to the east of LCA 5A. The well-managed parkland landscape has formal features such as avenues and free-standing mature trees in pasture, blocks of mature woodland and estate boundaries.
• The ruins of St James’s Church (Scheduled Monument and Grade II listed building) are located adjacent to the Chiltern Way.
• Many settlements date from the early Middle Ages, which saw enclosure and clearance and colonisation of previously unpopulated areas with new fields ‘assarted’ from extensive common woods; further enclosure through the Tudor and Jacobean periods was accompanied by the development of grand mansions and manor houses, such as Stonor Park.
• Conservation Areas are located at Stonor and the edges of Henley in the south of LCA 5A.

 

Visual character (including skylines)

• Strong structure of woodland and incised valley landform creates an intimate and enclosed character. Tree-lined ridges are a common feature in the area and form wooded, undeveloped skylines.
• Some views available from ridges into valleys but landform and strong structure of woods and hedgerows generally restrict longer-range views.

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 and restricting long-range views.
• Almost 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 PRoW, including the Chiltern Way, Oxfordshire Way and Shakespeare’s Way.
• Small areas of open common or heath occur within the area, at Russell’s Water, Maidensgrove and at Bix.
• A distinctive pattern of winding rural lanes provides access to the landscape. A small section of the M40 motorway crosses through the area at the eastern side of the Stokenchurch Gap.

 

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Overall assessment of landscape sensitivity to solar PV developments

Statement of overall landscape sensitivity of Wooded Chalk Ridges and Valleys LCT 5

The plateau-like landform with steeply incised valleys creates a strongly undulating and distinctive landform which increases landscape sensitivity to solar PV. The sense of openness varies across the area, with some areas of large-scale fields with low hedgerows, increasing sensitivity, contrasting with areas of enclosure within the blocks of woodland that have reduced sensitivity. Landcover is a mosaic of open fields and woodlands, with extensive areas of semi-natural land cover including ancient woodland, chalk grassland and scrub, which increases sensitivity. The pattern of small-scale settlements, farmland and woodland largely retains its Medieval origins. Historic features are limited to the parkland at Stonor Park and scattered Listed Buildings, creating a variety of time-depths. The strong woodland structure and incised valley landform creates an intimate, enclosed landscape with limited intervisibility, reducing visual sensitivity. Skylines are wooded and undeveloped. This is a rural landscape with a strong sense of tranquillity and experience of dark night skies. The mosaic of woodland and farmland creates an attractive character and visual contrasts, increasing sensitivity. The landscape is visible from popular promoted routes including the Chiltern Way and Oxfordshire Way, which are sensitive receptors.

The location of the LCT within the Chilterns National Landscape increases landscape sensitivity to all scales of solar PV development. Representative features including beech yew woodlands, rare chalk grassland, 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 sites ‘very small’ and ‘small’ scale solar PV development scenarios in areas where existing woodland and thick hedgerows could be used to screen solar PV installations to reduce their landscape and visual impact. All solar PV development should be avoided on the steep slopes which are often highly visible from the surrounding landscape.

Sensitivity of Landscape Character Areas

There is only one LCA within this LCT, and there are no significant variations in landscape sensitivity to solar PV development.

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Overall assessment of landscape sensitivity to wind energy developments

Summary of overall landscape sensitivity of Wooded Chalk Ridges and Valleys LCT 5

The steeply incised plateau-like landform creates a strongly undulating landscape, which increases sensitivity to wind energy development. The topographic variety within the landscape creates some hidden areas, as well as some visible slopes. Extensive areas of woodland, and occasional hamlets and villages form frequent human-scale features in the landscape, increasing sensitivity. The mosaic of farmland and woodland, which is of nature conservation importance, increases sensitivity to wind energy development. The only urban influence on the landscape is a small section of the M40, which is an aural and visual detractor. The landscape largely retains its landcover pattern of Medieval origin, increasing sensitivity. Historic villages, individual buildings and the parkland at Stonor Park provide a variety of time-depths. The structure of woodlands and incised valley landforms creates an intimate and enclosed character, which reduces sensitivity to ‘very-small scale’ turbines, which could be screened by these features. However, the wooded landform provides an important backdrop to views from settlements, increasing sensitivity in locations where this occurs. Skylines are visible from lower-lying landscapes due to the elevated landform characteristic of the LCT. The mosaic of woodland and farmland creates an attractive character of visual contrasts. This is a highly tranquil landscape with limited signs of modern human activity, which increases sensitivity.

The location of the LCT within the Chilterns National Landscape increases sensitivity to all scales of wind energy development. Representative features including beech yew woodlands, rare chalk grassland, 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 or equal to the ‘small-scale’ development scenario. The LCT has moderate-high sensitivity to ‘very-small scale’ wind development and there may be limited opportunities for developments of this scale associated with existing farms/settlement.

Sensitivity of Landscape Character Areas

There is only one LCA within this LCT, and therefore there are no significant variations in landscape sensitivity to wind energy development.