Contextual map of LCT 8 - View map full screen

Back to top

Component Landscape Character Areas

• LCA 8A: Faringdon to Frilford Ridge Slope.
• LCA 8B: Frilford to Sandford Ridge Slope.
• LCA 8C: Cumnor to Abingdon Ridge Slope.

LCA 8B: View across flat arable land towards woodland at Appleton Upper Common.

LCA 8C: Large-scale, open arable fields south of Cumnor, with wooded skyline.

Back to top

Assessment of landscape sensitivity to renewable energy development

Landscape sensitivity assessment

Landform and scale (including sense of openness/ enclosure)

• A low ‘ridge’ landform which rises above the Thames and Ock Valleys, with steeper north-facing slopes (reaching 112 metres AOD in the west near Littleworth and 159 metres AOD in the east near Hurst Hill). Gentler south-facing slopes form a transition to the adjacent vale landscapes, lying at around 60 metres AOD.
• The rolling topography and tree cover, including large areas of woodland at Appleton Upper Common, Tubney Wood, and Buckland Warren provide a sense of enclosure. In contrast, land around Abingdon Airfield is open.
• Human scale features include hedgerows, mature trees and traditional farm buildings.

Landcover (including field and settlement patterns)

• Mixed field pattern of large-scale arable and pastoral farmland with small paddocks near settlements, and areas of estate land. Hedgerow boundaries are generally intact.
• Field patterns are predominantly of post medieval and modern origin, with some remnant areas of medieval field patterns. Field boundaries of hedgerows and mature hedgerow trees are largely intact and contribute to the sense of enclosure.
• The land is drained by minor watercourses which are often defined by riparian woodland, further contributing to the sense of enclosure.
• Supports a mosaic of farmland and woodland, with large areas of woodland (including ancient woodland) at Pusey Common Wood, Buckland Warren, Appleton Upper Common, and Tubney Wood.
• Contains numerous semi-natural habitats designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) including at Fernham Meadows, Barrow Farm Fen and Frilford Heath. Cothill Fen is internationally designated as a SAC, and is also a National Nature Reserve.
• There are several active and disused quarries across the landscape, most of which are designated as Local Geological Sites.
• Urban land uses in the west include lengths of runway, hard standings and hangers associated with Abingdon Airfield and fairways/putting greens at Frilford Heath Golf Course.
• Settlement comprises historic nucleated villages and hamlets, with scattered country houses and farmsteads elsewhere.

Historic landscape character

• Many of the villages comprise a cluster of listed buildings located around a historic core and have Conservation Areas, reflecting their historic significance.
• Areas of parkland associated with historic country houses at Pusey House, Buckland House (both Registered Parks and Gardens) and Kingston Bagpuize House locally influence the landscape character, with grassland, plantations, tree lines and groups, mature in-field trees, and lakes.
• Scheduled Monuments include Cherbury Camp Iron Age Hill Fort, a prehistoric settlement site north-east of Marcham, and a likely medieval enclosure in Ewedown Copse.
• Some medieval field patterns remain, notably around Hatford, Littleworth and Buckland, while the majority of the field pattern is of modern origin.

Visual character (including skylines)

• Woodland cover and hedgerows provide a sense of enclosure and limits the distance of views within the area. In some areas larger fields have boundaries which are low, gappy or absent (e.g. along Kingston Road), allowing open views across the landscape.
• Skylines are often wooded, however the presence of built features in some views (including pylons and settlement edges) exerts urban influence on the landscape.
• Infrastructure associated with Abingdon Arfield including runways, hard standings, hangers and associated buildings and security fencing exert an urban influence on the landscape.
• The south-facing slopes provide a backdrop to the vale to the south, and are part of the wider, albeit more distant, northern setting of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape.

Perceptual and scenic qualities

• A generally rural area with some sense of peace and tranquillity, particularly in more wooded areas.
• Human influences including pylons, settlement, and major roads locally limit the sense of tranquillity, notably in the east near larger settlements such as Abingdon on Thames.
• The LCT features a good network of PRoW, including the Oxford Greenbelt Way and Vale Way long distance footpaths.
• The rural landscape of pastoral fields interspersed with woodland and occasional parklands provides a rural setting to the historic villages and hamlets, and contributes to the sense of separation between settlements.

Back to top

Overall assessment of landscape sensitivity to solar PV developments

Summary of overall statement on landscape sensitivity of Ridge Slopes LCT 8

The undulating landform with a rolling topography, drained by minor watercourses, increases sensitivity to solar PV development. Large areas of woodland provide a greater sense of enclosure and offer potential for visual screening, which reduces sensitivity. The mosaic of farmland, woodland and high levels of heathland creates a rural landscape of ecological importance, which increases sensitivity. The mixed field pattern and non-rural land uses at Abingdon Airfield, active quarries and golf courses locally reduce landscape sensitivity. The landscape retains a historic settlement pattern, and a number of estates and parklands which are visible historic features of importance to the character and provide a variety of time-depths. Woodlands and hedgerows provide a sense of enclosure and limit views with other landscapes, reducing sensitivity to solar PV development. However, skylines are often wooded and generally undeveloped, and the south-facing slopes provide a backdrop to the surrounding vale as well as a distant setting to the North Wessex Downs National Landscape. Popular public rights of way including the Oxford Greenbelt Way and Vale Way run through the landscape, and are sensitive receptors. A largely rural landscape with an attractive combination of farmland, woodland, heathland and small settlements, which increases sensitivity. Some human influences include active quarries, the urban settlement edge at Abingdon and busy roads which locally reduce tranquillity and the rural character, reducing sensitivity.

This LCT generally has ‘high’ landscape sensitivity to solar energy development greater than the ‘medium-scale’ development scenario. There may be opportunities to accommodate carefully sited solar PV development (up to ‘medium’ scale) where existing areas of woodland and intact hedgerows could be used to screen installations to reduce their landscape and visual impact.

Landscape sensitivity of Ridge Slope Landscape Character Areas

LCA 8A: Features which increase sensitivity to solar PV development include significant areas of ancient woodland at Pusey Common Wood and Buckland Warren, the variety of time-depths created by the historic settlement pattern of nucleated villages and hamlets and parkland character at Buckland House and Pusey, and the backdrop the landscape provides to the vale to the south. Features which decrease sensitivity to solar PV development include the active quarries and proximity to the urban edges of Faringdon and Stanford in the Vale, which reduce rural character and tranquillity, and busy roads which reduce tranquillity. The areas of woodland could be used to provide screening to solar PV developments, reducing sensitivity.

LCA 8B: Features which increase sensitivity to solar PV development include the prevalence of important semi-natural habitats including ancient woodland and heathlands, which are internationally and nationally designated. A number of nature reserves provide public access to the landscape and are sensitive receptors. Features which locally decrease sensitivity to solar PV development include the Frilford Heath golf course and intact hedgerows around the arable and pasture fields, which could be used to screen development.

LCA 8C: Features which decrease sensitivity to solar PV development include Abingdon Airfield, which although more open, has a more urban character with considerable hardstanding. The LCA is also in close proximity to the urban edge of Abingdon, which reduces rural character and tranquillity.

Back to top

Overall assessment of landscape sensitivity to wind energy developments

Summary of overall landscape sensitivity of Ridge Slopes LCT 8

A low ridge landform, with some visually prominent slopes, and human-scale features including hedgerows, mature trees and small settlements, which increase sensitivity to wind energy development. A varied land cover as a result of arable and pasture fields, woodlands, heathland and settlements, as well as considerable coverage by semi-natural habitats increases sensitivity. Areas of urban influence on the edge of Abingdon and at active quarry sites locally reduce the rural character and decrease sensitivity. Parklands and estates and historic villages provide visible historic features of importance to landscape character and a variety of time-depths, which increases sensitivity. The LCT often has wooded skylines which are prominent in views from the surrounding vale and in longer views from the North Wessex Downs National Landscape, increasing sensitivity. However, woodlands and hedgerows limit intervisibility with neighbouring areas, which decreases sensitivity to smaller turbines. Popular recreational routes including the Oxford Greenbelt Way run through the landscape and are sensitive receptors. The woodland, parklands, heathland, and elevated landform form an attractive character with some combinations of visual contrasts, which increases sensitivity to wind energy development. A rural landscape with some human influences, which locally reduce rurality including active quarries and the adjacent settlement edges of Abingdon and Stanford in the Vale.

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

 

Sensitivity of Ridge Slopes Landscape Character Areas

LCA 8A: Features which increase sensitivity to wind energy development include significant areas of ancient woodland at Pusey Common Wood and Buckland Warren, which are important semi-natural habitats as well as human-scale features, a variety of time-depths from the historic settlement pattern and parkland character, and the wooded skylines which provides a setting to the surrounding vale landscapes as well as forming a long-distance setting to the North Wessex Downs National Landscape. The Carswell golf club and active quarry sites are modern influences on the land cover, which with the urban edges of Faringdon, Stanford in the Vale and Southmoor/Kingston Bagpuize decrease sensitivity to wind energy development.

LCA 8B: The extensive semi-natural habitats including ancient woodland at Appleton Upper Common and Tubney Wood, and heathland habitats including internationally important habitats at Cothill Fen increase sensitivity to wind energy development. Other features which increase sensitivity are the limited settlement pattern, and distant setting the landscape provides for the North Wessex Downs National Landscape. Features which locally decrease sensitivity include Frilford Heath golf course, the busy main roads, which reduce tranquillity, and views to Abingdon Airfield to the east.

LCA 8C: Features which increase sensitivity to wind energy development include the frequent human-scale features including small blocks of woodland, settlement and hedgerows. Features which decrease sensitivity to wind energy development include the hard standing of Abingdon Airfield and proximity to the urban edge of Abingdon which reduce the rural character, and the busy roads which reduce tranquillity.