Suffolk County Council has undertaken a
project to describe landscapes in detail, throughout Suffolk and
assessing what particular character and qualities make up the
different landscape areas of the county.
Government guidance requires the preparation of landscape character
assessments in order to review and replace local countryside
designations. The results of this assessment may be used as
supplementary planning guidance and help to produce landscape
management guidelines.
Assessment work has been led by Suffolk County Council in a
partnership with the Living Landscapes Project based at Reading
University and all District and Borough Councils in Suffolk.
The project is using Countryside Agency guidelines and
methodology developed by the Living Landscapes Project.
This has maintained a consistent approach across
Suffolk.
Over 300 individual Land Description Units (LDU's) have
been identified from information on geology, soils, landform,
vegetation, and settlement pattern. Field surveys have been carried
out to identify the strength of character and condition of the
LDUs. A draft Landscape Character Map of Suffolk, that arranged
these LDU's into 28 Landscape Typologies.
The preparation of the full written descriptions has refined the
understanding of the landscape of Suffolk further and the revised
map has 31 Landscape Typologies. The descriptions are now
complete and are available to view and download on
the
Landscape Character Types page along with a series of
static maps at various scales.
A web based interactive map has been prepared and is
available at
www.suffolklandscape.org.uk
that will include additional information and photography for
each of the landscape types
This work can make valuable contributions to:
- The creation of area based landscape studies within the
county
- The creation of a regional landscape typology
- Allocation of land for development
- Development control
- Environmental assessment
- Formation of planning policies
- Targeting of landscape restoration schemes
Natural England have recently let a contract for the
creation of level 2 landscape description units and a landscape
typology for the whole of the Eastern Region.
For more information contact the Landscape Development
Officer
Philip Watson
Suffolk County Council
Endeavour House (B2 F4 06)
Russell Rd
Ipswich
IP1 2BX
phil.watson@et.suffolkcc.gov.uk