Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment consultants - where can I find one?
If you need a Landscape and Visual Assessment (LVA) or Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) but have no idea where to start, you’re in the right place. JFA Environmental Planning has been at the forefront of environmental planning consultancy across Kent and the South East for over 30 years and has delivered a plethora of LVA/LVIAs across a wide variety of projects. Let’s break down briefly what an LVA/LVIA is and how to obtain one for your project. LVA/LVIA: A Brief Overview LVA stands for ‘Landscape and Visual Assessment’. This is an assessment undertaken during the planning stages of a development and is used to determine whether the local landscape will be negatively impacted by said development. For example: will the development block any landmark views or harm the landscape? The assessment is presented in a report which can accompany a planning application. Occasionally, a local authority or one of their statutory consultees may identify that significant impacts could arise to landscape character or visibility in relation to the development. As such, a full LVIA would be required which follows guidelines developed jointly by the Landscape Institute/Institute of Environmental Management. This is a much more involved process and requires a systematic evaluation of the landscape and proposals, and a structured evaluation of the viewpoints. Why do I need an LVA/LVA? All local authorities have clear policies identifying landscape character throughout their districts. These are generally underpinned by broad landscape character descriptions. Nearly every locality fits within a Local Landscape Character Area (LLCA). As well as defining a character area, the descriptions will have identified typical characteristics of it, and will have defined management goals to ensure that the character is maintained or enhanced. When it comes to planning applications, planning officers need to be satisfied that proposals have taken account of the LLCA in which the site is located, and the applicant must demonstrate that the proposals will be in keeping with the local landscape character and not harm the landscape. In addition to seeking demonstration of the above, the local authority may also need information about any effects on the visibility of a proposal. Will it increase the prominence of the site in views from public locations? Will it block key or landmark views already identified by the LPA? An applicant must then be prepared to demonstrate that their proposals will not have effects on visibility and will be in harmony with the local landscape. That’s where an LVA or LVIA would come in. How to obtain an LVA/LVIA Both an LVA and LVIA should be carried out by a Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute (CMLI). This means you’ll need the expertise of an experienced and accredited ecological expert. If you’re based in the South of England, the team at JFA Environmental Planning are ready to deliver an LVA or LVIA, accurately and swiftly. Get in touch at enquiries@jfa.co.uk and let’s discuss your project together.
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