Landscape Design Consultant

LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT
URBAN FRINGE SITE 42 ADJACENT TO OVINGDEAN ROAD,
FALMER ROAD AND THE VALE, BRIGHTON.
Date: March 2015.
Prepared by: Landvision South East Ltd.
Balfron,
Cockmount Lane,
Wadhurst.
East Sussex.
TN5 6UG.

Landvision; Landscape Design & Management (01892) 782200 | www.landvision.co.ukLandvision; Landscape Design & Management (01892) 782200 | www.landvision.co.uk
Urban Fringe Site 42 - Land adjacent to Ovingdean Road, Falmer Road and The Vale
Brighton, Landscape Assessment.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1
1. INTRODUCTION Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.1 Site Details Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.2 Statement of Authority Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.3 The Approach to the Landscape Assessment. Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.4 Purpose of The Assessment. Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.5 Valued landscapes. Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.6 Landscape Quality and Representativeness OF Open Downs LCA, A2. Error! Bookmark not
defined.
1.7 Representativeness; Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.8 Importance of the land; Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.9 Location within SDNP, Sensitivity of Open Downs Landscape and Views. Error! Bookmark not
defined.
1.10 Cumulative Development. Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.11 Landscape effects. Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.12 Landscape Character within Open Downs Setting. Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.13 Assessment of Landscape Factors for Valued Landscape. Urban Fringe Site 42. Error! Bookmark
not defined.
1.14 Landscape Quality (condition). Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.15 Valued Landscapes; History and Cultural Heritage Conservation. Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.16 History Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.17 Conservation Interests. Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.18 Landscape Quality and Intactness of landform. Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.19 Rarity Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.20 Recreational Aspects; Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.21 Perceptual aspects . Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.22 Associations. Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.23 Protection of Landscape Character of Urban Fringe Site 42. Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.24 The Development Proposals and Key Impacts Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.25 Biodiversity. Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.26 "Urban fringe" classification. Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.27 Landscape Designations Error! Bookmark not defined.
1.28 Cultural Heritage Designations Error! Bookmark not defined.

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2. THE PROPOSALS. Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.1 Landscape Management Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.2 Landscape Features. Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.3 Land Use Beyond the Site Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.4 Settlement Pattern and Architectural Styles Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.5 Landscape Character of the Study Area Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.6 Sensitivity of the Land of Site within Landscape of LCA and SDNP. Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.7 Magnitude of Landscape Change Error! Bookmark not defined.
2.8 Evaluation of the Landscape Effects and Visual Impact SignificanceError! Bookmark not defined.
2.9 Conclusion. 5
APPENDIX 1. Representative Viewpoint Photographs 1 to 9. Error! Bookmark not defined.
APPENDIX 2. Maps. Error! Bookmark not defined.
APPENDIX 3. Summary of Landscape Effects Error! Bookmark not defined.
APPENDIX 4. Summary of Visual Impacts Error! Bookmark not defined.
APPENDIX 5. Method Statement Error! Bookmark not defined.
APPENDIX 6. Legislation and policy guidance. Error! Bookmark not defined.
APPENDIX 7. History. Error! Bookmark not defined.

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
 Landvision are landscape architects and have been commissioned by the Deans
Preservation Group to undertake a Landscape assessment report to assess Urban Fringe
Site 42, Brighton.
 Landvision are an environmental consultancy specialising in landscape visual impact
assessment and environmental assessment in Southern England.
 The assessment follows the methodology for Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact
Assessment (LVIA) 3rd edition, by The Landscape Institute (LI) and Institute of
Environmental Management & Assessment(IEEM.)This places greater weight on
conservation and protection of history and cultural heritage through landscape
assessment. The designations such as Conservation Areas and Listed Buildings are
considered in this landscape assessment for this is a historic landscape.
 Urban Fringe Site 42 is a Valued Landscape. Factors which identify Valued Landscapes
are interpreted to reflect legislative and policy context prevailing in the area.
 Factors which identify Valued Landscapes include; landscape character, landscape
quality (condition), representativeness, scenic quality, perceptual aspects, history and
cultural heritage, rarity, conservation interests and recreation value, associations, green
infrastructure and role as green gap – all within the context of the legislation and policy
which exist to conserve and protect valued landscapes.
 Landscape Character Area- The whole area of Urban Fringe Site 42 is highly
representative of Sussex Downs National Character Area (NCA), Open Downs Landscape
Character Area (LCA) in Adur to Ouse Open Downs Landscape type A2. This Open Downs
LCA is a historic agricultural landscape of rolling downs.
 Landscape Quality (condition)- the physical state of the site ; site is within Happy Valley,
with a natural rolling, undulating "wave like" landform, with a high degree of intactness
of landscape and hence a high landscape quality. The condition of individual elements is
high.
 Representativeness- The land is considered an important example of a natural dry valley
rolling Open Downs landform, within the dry valley of the Happy Valley, of Open Downs
landscape. This landform retains its original topography and undulations, with contiguity
of land form due to continuity of agricultural land use, mainly grazing.
 Scenic Quality - The landscape has high scenic quality due to the natural, undulating
undeveloped landform and ridges on site, due to its historical agricultural land use.
 Perceptual Aspects - The perception of the land is rural, part of the setting of the
medieval village of Ovingdean, opposite the historic Woodendean Farm. The land is
clearly shown on historic maps with the building of the church in 12th century AD setting
a spiritual seal upon the creation of a new community of scattered farms which had no
real centre until that date. (See Conservation Area details in Appendix 7.)The land is
historic, agricultural Open Downs. Other perceptual qualities which this landscape is
valued for, are its wildness and tranquillity.

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 The village along Ovingdean Road is still a "sleepy backwater". The land contributes to
this timeless charm and has key characteristics and qualities of historic medieval villages
in dry valleys of this Open Downs Adur to Ouse landscape type A2.
 History and Cultural Heritage -The undisturbed natural landform and its location close
to the centre of a medieval village within Open Downs, Adur to Ouse A2 make this land
form within the Happy Valley an important part of the history and cultural heritage of
the land within the historic Open Downs landscape of the South Downs National Park
(SDNP).
 The land form in its natural state could not be replaced nor its loss compensated for in
terms of its value as historic landscape. The land opposite Woodendean Farm (now
Meadow Vale) is shown on early maps (1789) The name Woodendean refers back to the
post -conquest clearance of woodland(assarting); Wood- en-dean (dean- dry valley;
wooden- wood cutting.) Dry valleys are favoured by the earliest settlers. The village is a
hilltop village with ancient settlements around it. The land is thus of great antiquity and
part of the historic agricultural landscape of Open Downs.
 A Domesday Book village within Open Downs. All these factors contribute to perceptions
of the natural beauty of the historical rural land of the site and its vital contribution to
the landscape setting of Ovingdean within SDNP.
 Rarity - The landform and landscape elements are in the form of the habitats, which
include the rare species surviving on them. The natural land form surviving in its intact
state in such a location, is rare. Continuity of agricultural use and undeveloped nature of
the site from 1200AD to present day has enabled this landform to survive to present day
as rural Open Downland. The continuity of traditional grazing also supports rare and
critically endangered plants.
 Conservation Interests- There are numerous conservation interests on the land which
add to the value of this landscape as well as each having a value in its own right; plants
and insects of national rarity, important in terms of national biodiversity.
 Recreation Value- The land has high visual amenity for receptors within Happy Valley
and on Mount Pleasant within the SDNP Open Downs landscape. The landscape of the
site is valued as it is a green backdrop to the SDNP and has considerable recreational
value as part of the wider landscape setting, as part of the adjoining Green Way in The
Vale, SDNP and a green gap between the village of Ovingdean and nearby villages.
 Associations- Grazing is a traditional downland land use, associated with the Open
Downs lowland calcareous grassland landscape. The topography of the land was
inspiring for world class artists like Eric Ravilious and writers like Kipling, who worked in
and on Sussex Open Downs' landscapes, for many years.
 Valued Landscapes- The land has been identified as a valued landscape due to the
analysis of the above factors and the land's characteristics. It is part of the Open Downs
LCA within the historic Open Downs agricultural landscape of Happy Valley. It adjoins the
South Downs National Park, which surrounds the land and shares key characteristics
with the Open Downs landscape of which it is quite clearly an integral part, having
continuity of land from, rare species and continuing grazing land use (traditional in this
Sussex Open Downs landscape type A2).

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 Green Infrastructure- (GI)- Land bridges such as this lowland calcareous grassland land
are extremely important in biodiversity terms and in terms of ecology. Species that are
rare and critically endangered with threats for lowland calcareous grassland loss are
highly reliant on these remaining habitats surviving with integrity of land form and soils,
hydrology and intactness. (See South Downs Way Ahead Nature Improvement Area.)
 Green Gap- The site is an important Green Gap between three historic downland villages,
Rottingdean, Ovingdean and Woodingdean. If the site were developed this vital Green
Gap would be lost and these villages would merge as one large conurbation. The Green
Gap makes the Happy valley rural and gives it a strong sense of place. This perception of
a rural dry valley within historic open downland would be lost if the Green Gap were
removed.
 South Downs Way Ahead Nature Improvement Area- The site is a Nature Improvement
Area in the South Downs Way Ahead Nature Improvement Areas. These seek to "protect
and restore chalk downland"; the whole site should thus be conserved as chalk
downland. The South Downs Way Ahead Nature Improvement Area also seek "to protect
(the chalk downland) wildlife habitats and the environmental, economic and social
benefits that they bring."
 Conclusions;
 The present land management is important in conserving and protecting this land within
the historic Open Downs landscape character area. The land has contiguity of landform
to the rolling Open Downs. It forms part of the historic green space within Happy Valley
and contributes to the high scenic quality of the South Downs National Park (SDNP)and
its landscape setting.
 A high magnitude of change would occur if the existing agricultural horse grazing on an
Open Downs lowland calcareous grassland landscape was replaced by the proposed
introduction of a modern housing development into this part of the Happy Valley.
 Change to the green field site would have adverse landscape effects and visual impacts
on adjacent SDNP, residents and walkers ( who are receptors in SDNP.)This is as the land
forms an important Green Gap between the historic Downland villages and this visual
amenity would be adversely affected were this Green Gap to be lost.
 For this Open Downs landscape to continue to contribute so much to its SDNP setting
and to offer high landscape quality and high scenic quality it requires continued
protection in its original state, by conserving its natural landform fully intact. The site is
also a South Downs Way Ahead Nature Improvement Area and it is thus a goal to protect
and conserve its wildlife habitats. The whole site of chalk downland should therefore be
protected and conserved intact.
 Urban Fringe Site 42, is part of the landscape of early settlements in dry valleys in the
historic agricultural landscape of the Open Downs, A2. The proposals would result in loss
of historic Open Downs land in this location and a loss of green space in the Happy
Valley which is a coombe in Open Downs, A2.
 No changes however small can be tolerated because of the natural landscape of the land,
as agricultural Open Downs,and its classification as a lowland calcareous grassland, with
rare landscape elements. This is land of value in terms of history, cultural heritage,

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unique landform characteristics and with an intactness of landform which is highly
representative of the Open Downs LCA, Adur to Ouse Open Downs landscape character
and landscape type A2. It is a classic example of a piece of land which should never be
developed.
 Lastly, the land contributes in its natural undeveloped landscape state as a Green Gap
and unique land bridge "crossover site" linking the grassland in the Open Downs to the
east and west of Happy Valley. Due to the land's location, due to its natural intactness of
landform and due to the rarity of landscape in its landform, in all its landscape elements,
this land must be conserved and protected. The SDNP will thus continue to benefit from
conservation and protection of the historic Open Downs agricultural landscape of Urban
Fringe Site 42 within the Happy Valley. This will be in accordance with legislation and
policy for landscape conservation and protection in this landscape character area.

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1.1 CONCLUSION.
1.1.1 The present landscape of Urban Fringe Site 42 is a typical Open Downs
landscape within a dry valley in the Sussex Downs. The site has the key
characteristics of this historic downland andscape type; Adur to Ouse Open
Downs, landscape type A2.
1.1.2 Equally the site has an intactness of landform and habitat (lowland calcareous
grassland continuously grazed and supporting associated plants and animals
of national rarity) that make this a valued landscape.
1.1.3 Neighbouring areas of land have SNCI status and enjoy SDNP protection. These
areas share the same key landscape characteristics and the same management
as Urban Fringe Site 42.
1.1.4 Ovingdean village is a historic village which like Rottingdean to the south, dates
back to medieval times and the Open Downs landscape of this site is a historic
landscape with nearby ancient settlements. Urban Fringe Site 42 was likely to
have been settled at an early date (see Appendices 2 , historic maps and 7 for
history of site and the village) and the land forms an important part of the
landscape of the medieval village. The original topography, once lost, cannot
be recreated; nor can the loss to the landscape character of the surrounding
SDNP be mitigated for by planting or other measures.
1.1.5 A historic open downland of high to exceptional landscape quality such as this
should be protected and conserved for future generations to enjoy.
1.1.6 There are many local plan policies which provide for the protection of high
scenic quality of rural open downland.(See Appendix 5 for details.)
1.1.7 This land is reminiscent of rolling valley bottoms in dry valleys in this landscape
type in Open Downs and it is these key characteristics, their associations with
inspiration for artists and writers, such as Eric Ravilious, that make this an
exceptional landscape.
1.1.8 Not only is the landscape condition and the landscape quality high, but the
continued grazing, which is historic, has meant that a cluster of the rare Sussex
species of plants and insects make it worthy of LNR and SNCI status.
1.1.9 The gently rolling valley bottom chalk topography, plus the grazing by horses
give the site a feeling of tranquillity and wildness. These landscape perceptual
qualities are highly valued and match those in the adjoining South Downs
National Park.
1.1.10 The landscape context is one of historically grazed chalk grassland, within a
rolling historic downland setting. This setting and location, opposite historic
Woodendean Farm, is significant in terms of LVIA and the land's contribution
as part of a valued landscape.
1.1.11 There are BAP species which are linked to and thus reliant on continuous horse
grazing of the chalk grassland. These are also a part of the cultural heritage and
are of national and regional biodiversity importance. A myriad of national,
international and local plan policies are in place to protect the nature

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conservation status of the rare plants and animals on site. These species
include the Red Star thistle and Hornet Robberfly. The legislative and policy
context for the protection of this site is examined. (See Appendix 6.)
1.1.12 The site provides poaching and bare patches associated with horse grazing for
maintaining the favourable conservation status of a cluster of threatened and
critically endangered species of calcareous chalk grassland linked to the grazing
of the chalk grassland; BAP habitat for Sussex BAP species of Red Star Thistle
and for Cut leaved Self Heal and Hornet Robberfly.
1.1.13 The report assesses the significance of the land as a site of lowland calcareous
chalk grassland BAP habitat and its rare and critically endangered species, with
recommendations for protection under the legislative and policy context
prevailing. Associated pollution effects and increased traffic, noise and
detrimental changes to the soils and hydrology by increased nutrient levels
would have "knock on " effects of adverse nature for BAP species, the loss of
lownland calcareous grassland and the loss of the horse grazing on which these
species rely.
1.1.14 The assessment of landscape and visual impacts and landscape effects of
random development of the site would include effects on South Downs
National Park which adjoins the site east of Falmer Road (B2013) and north of
the site at Mount Pleasant and landscape effects from the loss of green space
within the Happy Valley.
1.1.15 Due to the location within a coombe chalk valley, any mitigation for sensitive
views from north of site from the PRoW, would be largely ineffectual. This is
because the landscape setting of the site would be entirely changed, with
erosion of the landscape amenity and visual impacts on the whole site setting
which adjoins the SDNP. Thus there would be a significant adverse landscape
and visual impacts and landscape effects on the SDNP if the site were not
conserved in its present state.
1.1.16 The site is traditional grazing land and is lowland calcareous grassland with its
associated lower fertility and ancient seed bank, in agricultural use since
medieval times. (See maps and historic extracts in Appendices 2 and 7.)
1.1.17 This historic landscape is irreplaceable and the land with its intact topography
should be conserved in situ. (see Historic maps in Appendix 2, showing Urban
Fringe Site 42 Farm.) Horse grazing has made the chalk grassland valuable in
ecological terms and is thus of high ecological importance. This site should
become an SNCI/LNR due to its having rare species for the Sussex Open Downs.
1.1.18 The site has escaped classification as an SNCI despite being effectively
enclosed by SNCIs on horse paddocks to the north and north-east. Urban
Fringe Site 42 has a greater number of the rare species (Red Star-thistle) than
the other two sites. In addition two of the species found on Urban Fringe Site
42 are species found nowhere else in Sussex (Cut Leaved Self-heal and Hybrid
Self-heal) and one is found nowhere else in Brighton & Hove (Corky Fruited
Dropwort). A species of insect (Hornet Robberfly) is only found at one other

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site in Brighton & Hove. This makes the site's species and biodiversity
significant in terms of this landscape assessment.
1.1.19 The landscape effects from any development of any part of this site would
have serious implications for the critically threatened species on this site,
which rely on continuous grazing for their survival on the lowland calcareous
grassland of the site.
1.1.20 It is thus recommended that this site is safeguarded by SNCI designation as a
matter of urgency. This is due to the fragility of lowland calcareous grassland
which is a BAP habitat, due to its proximity to the other SNCIs and to the
location of the site adjoining the SDNP.
1.1.21 The site is considered to contribute to the landscape setting of both the village
of Ovingdean and historic Woodendean Farm (now Meadow Vale) adjoining
the SDNP in the Happy Valley.
1.1.22 The site within the Happy Valley has a high landscape sensitivity due to its
location within the dry valley coomb, its Open Downs landscape character and
the Open Downs landscape beyond it offering views into the site from above,
from the PRoW of the SDNP. Its considerable contribution to the landscape
setting of the Happy Valley, of which it is a part, and its contribution to the
South Downs National Park, which it adjoins, should be safeguarded.
1.1.23 Any changes to the agricultural land use of the site would have an adverse
effect on the historic and cultural heritage of the area and would adversely
affect the local landscape character, in the South Downs, Adur to Ouse Open
Downs, A2.
1.1.24 The need for conservation and protection of landscape character is based on
the landscape assessment findings of this report.
1.1.25 This is in accordance with saved landscape policies of;
1.1.26 Brighton & Hove Local Plan saved policies, NC5 and NC6, the site being
formerly AONB and beyond the village development boundary, as part of
Happy Valley green space.
1.1.27 SDNPA Local Plan Joint Core Strategy.
1.1.28 Conservation of rare species on site should be based on the records submitted
to the Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre.
1.1.29 Conservation and management recommendations of this report comply with
the NPPF and SDPMP.

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