Acting as landscape consultants to a Local Planning Authority, we prepared development concept plans and associated National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) compliant policies, and supporting text for proposed site allocations (residential and mixed uses) for the Main Modifications to a submitted Draft Local Plan.

Each of the annotated concept plans produced showed the main disposition of land uses and the site specific issues to be addressed, and appropriate, robust policies were devised to secure appropriate implementation. Key landscape, biodiversity, heritage and urban design considerations included:

• Protection and enhancement of town and village settlement landscape settings, of sensitive ridgelines, and of designated Countryside Gaps, taking account of local Landscape Character Assessment;

• Important view corridors to historic landmarks, and wider panoramic views available from higher ground;

• Protection of the setting of Listed Buildings with a rural function/character and of Conservation Areas;

• Taking the opportunity to achieve major integral landscape and biodiversity enhancements, as part of development proposals, including woodland, meadows, wetland and orchard planting;

• Provision of broad guidance in respect of the intended built form densities, scale, height and character, including rural edge treatments;

• Indicative locations for Community facilities and open space provision;

• Provision of green corridor footpath and cycling routes integrated with the wider green grid network of the area.