User Guide

Perceptual aspects of landscape character

Summary

People's perceptions have a key role to play in defining a landscape. Such perceptions are affected by demographic and temporal factors.

Explanation

People's perceptions have a key role to play in defining a landscape. These perceptions vary depending on who perceives the landscape. Landscapes are valued in different ways and in different places, at different times and for different reasons. Demographic factors such as age and gender affect how people experience the landscape and thus how it is perceived.

Landscape is perceived through sight, sound, smell and feel, and can be influenced by the weather, the seasons or time of day.

What is Landscape Character Assessment?

Summary

Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) is the tool that is used to help us to understand, and articulate, the character of the landscape.

Explanation

Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) is an approach to understanding the differences between landscapes. It is defined as 'The tool that is used to help us to understand, and articulate, the character of the landscape. It helps us identify the features that give a locality its 'sense of place' and pinpoints what makes it different from neighbouring areas.'

It provides more detailed descriptions and analysis at a local level within the national framework of National Character Areas. Communities, developers, farmers and land managers, landscape and planning professionals and others all have a role in identifying the characteristics that make a particular landscape unique, and using this understanding to plan and manage landscape change.

Landscape Character Assessment Guidance

Summary

Explanation

The Landscape Character Assessment Guidance, published by Natural England and Scottish Natural Heritage, provides advice on how to identify and express the different elements, such as woodlands, hedgerows, moors, mountains and farmland, building styles, and historic artefacts, which give a place its unique character.

The document sets out the full scope of activity potentially involved in a LCA, but recognises that it may be possible to undertake a more modest exercise that will still inform decision-making. The guidance has two parts

a basic guide to the approach and methods of LCA
a series of topic papers offering more detail on particular uses and policy contexts

The Landscape Character Assessment Guidance is currently being reviewed and updated.

How can Landscape Character Assessment be used?

Summary

Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) can serve as a framework for decision-making that respects local distinctiveness.

Explanation

Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) can serve as a framework for decision-making that respects local distinctiveness. As such, LCA is a useful tool for engaging stakeholders in sustainable development.

LCA can be used in many situations, for example in devising indicators to gauge landscape change and to inform planning, development, environmental assessment and the management of protected landscapes.

LCA is also important for the UK's implementation of the European Landscape Convention (ELC) - the first international convention on landscape, dedicated exclusively to the protection, management and planning of all landscapes in Europe. It provides a method to identify and assess landscapes and a framework for developing landscape quality objectives in partnership with stakeholders - all specific measures of the ELC.

What is Historic Landscape Characterisation?

Summary

Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC) helps to manage change in the historic environment by tracing the imprint of history.

Explanation

Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC) is a tool that helps to manage change in the historic environment and understand the inherited qualities, character and interest of landscape. It uses a non-judgemental, methodical approach, piecing together information from new and historic maps, from aerial photos, and from the wealth of data that we already have about archaeology and buildings. It builds up area-based pictures of how places in town and country have developed over time and explains the cultural, historic and archaeological attributes of the landscape. It shows how the past exists within today's world.

English Heritage's HLC programme provides a framework for broadening our understanding of the whole landscape and contributes to decisions affecting tomorrow's landscape.

How can Historic Landscape Characterisation be used?

Summary

Historic Landscape Characterisation is a vital tool that should be used by developers and planners.

Explanation

The process of gathering information in Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC) is not about the past, it is about the future and informing future change. HLC is an important tool that should be used by developers and planners to make sure that the historical identity of a place plays a central role in planning for the future and contributes properly to everyone's quality of life.

What is Geodiversity Characterisation?

Summary

Geodiversity Characterisation helps to manage change in the natural environment by understanding the contribution that geodiversity makes to landscape.

Explanation

Geodiversity Characterisation is a tool for managing change in the natural environment by understanding the contribution that geodiversity makes to landscape. It uses GIS-based mapping of the geology, topography, soils, hydrology, mineral working and Historic Environment datasets to define broad Geodiversity Character Areas in the landscape, and their component Geodiversity Character Zones.

How can Geodiversity Characterisation be used?

Summary

Geodiversity Characterisation is a tool for use by developers and planners.

Explanation

Geodiversity Characterisation is a tool to facilitate the integration of geodiversity objectives into spatial planning as part of sustainable development. It provides baseline information about the diversity of Earth heritage assets, their location, extent, significance and capacity to absorb change.

What is the East of England Landscape Framework?

Summary

The East of England Landscape Framework comprises a range of information sources aimed at aiding the planning and management of landscape, both urban and rural, in the East of England.

Explanation

The East of England Landscape Framework comprises a range of information sources aimed at interpreting landscape character for the purpose of aiding the understanding, planning and management of the East of England landscape, both urban and rural.

How can the East of England Landscape Framework be used?

Summary

The Framework can be used at different resolutions as an integrated framework for decision making regarding landscape in the East of England.

Explanation

The Framework can be used at different resolutions as an integrated framework for understanding landscape, aiding and informing landscape decision making, as well as being a key tool for planning and management of East of England landscapes. It facilitates a joined up approach to landscape issues: enabling co-operation across administrative boundaries and enables landscape issues to be integrated into policies, programmes and projects.

Landscape East

User Guide

Perceptual aspects of landscape character

What is Landscape Character Assessment?

Landscape Character Assessment Guidance

How can Landscape Character Assessment be used?

What is Historic Landscape Characterisation?

How can Historic Landscape Characterisation be used?

What is Geodiversity Characterisation?

How can Geodiversity Characterisation be used?

What is the East of England Landscape Framework?

How can the East of England Landscape Framework be used?

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