APPENDIX 2: VISUALLY IMPORTANT LOCAL LANDSCAPES

Relevance against Strategic Criteria

Need

• The proposed VILL abuts the Upper Rhymney and Gelligaer SLAs. These areas did not fulfil the new criteria required for SLA designation but several aspects (or their sub- criteria) are of High Visual and Sensory evaluation and therefore would benefit from VILL designation.
• The Visual and Sensory values are frequently only reduced by the adjacent urban development and VILL designation should serve to protect the landscape from further degradation , These areas are also currently of importance to those urban areas for their views out.  

Coherence

• The Northern Rhymney VILL has two proposed areas, separated by the urban development of Abertysswg.
• Adjacent areas of moderate evaluation are included within the VILL boundaries for cohesion and their locally important status.  

Consensus

• Three aspects within the proposed VILL were previously designated SLAs in the UDP. These areas did not qualify under the SLA designation methodology.

 Primary Landscape Qualities and Features

• The visual character of the VILL is a predominantly upland and open area. Distinctive rocky hillside with rock outcrops, upper valley sides and views across the Rhymney valley give it a strong upland character, occasionally limited by topography and/or vegetation.
• The upland sense of place is complicated by urban edges and visual detractors (pylons) but increases with elevation and views out.  Stonewalls are the usual boundary treatment in the area.
• Surrounding the VILL is a complex mix of broadleaf/coniferous woodland. Adjacent to the Nant Bargod Rhymni, Parc Cwm Darran is a very scenic area with high quality traditional buildings and good facilities in excellent repair.
• Scattered rural settlements and farms are the predominant built form in the area. Evidence of industrial and mining throughout the VILL.
• Wind noise is a dominant sensory feature, which evokes particular experiences of exposure and wildness on the upland areas.

Key Policy, Management and Development Control Issues

Long Term

• Prevent further loss of overall visual landscape quality and character on the settlement edge as a result of development. The settlement edges are sensitive and due care and consideration needs to be given to the wider visual landscape setting and character when making development decisions.
• Retain the open feel of the area, particularly the upland areas. Landscaping and planting to reduce the impact of the A465 and other development proposals may not be appropriate in this situation.
• Encourage reduced grazing. Possibly introduce the Tir Gofal scheme or current equivalent to the area, and/ or more long-term sustainable agricultural management practices.
• Seek to prevent the spread of bracken and coniferous plantations across the area through long-term sustainable management regimes.

Medium Term

• Restrict visual detractors such as pylons, industrial debris and turbines in the area to conserve the openness of the upland areas and valley sides.
• Removal of industrial debris and reclaim the post-industrial and mining sites, retaining some of the key industrial features as a link to the past.

Immediate

• Retain, enhance and promote the use of stonewalls as the primary boundary wall treatment in the area. Stonewalls or stock proof fencing should be promoted as the appropriate preference for all development proposals that involve boundary treatments.
• Seek to restore the natural landscape, maximising natural vegetation and removing fly tipping, litter, burnt/ dumped cars and illegal off roading etc which are major problems in many locations across the VILL.

 

Relevance against Strategic Criteria

Need

• This area is of high visual and sensory value. Despite high evaluations within other criteria, the size of the potential SLA designation, as a result of the SLA designation study, was too small to be coherent. However, some designation is still required to protect the visual importance of the area.

Coherence

• North, east and west boundaries are formed by the Unitary Authority boundary. The southern boundary vaguely follows the aspect layer boundary, although this has been taken to defensible boundaries in the forms of roads primarily.

Consensus

• The VILL closely follows the larger previously defined council approved UDP special landscape area.
• Ground truthing established the extent of the designations.

Primary Landscape Qualities and Features

• The VILL is predominantly an upland landscape with a strong sense of openness. The Upland feel of the landscape increases with elevation as views increase in quality. The upland area is characterised by rough grassland with scattered woodland, hedgerows and narrow lanes and affords views down valleys and to plantation woodland. Manmoel Common falls within this upland area and is characterised by the same landscape qualities. This upland area forms the northern tip of the VILL.
• It is generally a rolling hilly landscape with a distinctive field pattern/ mosaic of grown-out beech hedging and typical stonewalls. The conditions of the boundaries are poor but the former gives the impression of dense woodland from outside the area and has a strong, sculptural quality. Unsympathetic division into paddocks is threatening the existing field patterns.

Key Policy, Management and Development Control Issues

Long Term

• Seek to conserve and enhance the existing field patterns and sense of openness through the development process. Hedgerows should be promoted as the appropriate preference for all development proposals that involve boundary treatments
• Preserve and enhance the pastures, hedgerows and woodlands to protect and enhance the visual quality of the VILL. Consideration of a structured approach to boundary management, particularly the cycle of hedgerow cutting to maintain the distinctive pattern of hedgerow trees should be implemented.
• The sharp urban edges should be softened with additional landscaping and the enhancement of existing landscape features through the development process. Any development on these urban edges should respect the open nature of the VILL and be designed to respect the visual landscape qualities.

Medium Term

• Encourage reduced grazing and prevent overgrazing of rough grassland. Possibly introduce the Tir Gofal scheme or current equivalent to the area, and/ or more long-term sustainable agricultural management practices.
• Prevent the spread and encroachment of bracken.

Immediate

• Reclaim old industrial land and remove industrial debris, retaining some of the key industrial features as a link to the past.

Relevance against Strategic Criteria

Need

• The proposed VILL was previously an SLA in the Council Approved UDP. 
• The forested areas within the VILL boundary are of high visual and sensory value for rarity in the regional context.  The overall visual and sensory layer has the evaluation of moderate, which is classified as locally important.

Coherence

• The eastern boundary is defined by the Unitary Authority boundary and the other boundaries by the built form (Abercarn and Risca) and roads. 

Consensus

• The VILL closely follows the previously designated SLA.

Primary Landscape Qualities and Features

• The VILL includes Mynydd Maen and Mynydd Llwyd and consists of an upland area of ridges and valleys, much of which consists of a woodland mosaic of conifers (providing winter greenery) and mixed woodland, giving a sense of enclosure.
• Some views are restricted by forestry but open ridgelines afford views across adjacent wooded valleys. Coniferous plantation flanks areas of heath (which provide autumn colour) and grassland.
• The visual values of these aspects are, in part, dependent upon the contrast with each other.  Visual detractors (vertical elements including pylons) on the open ridgeline have reduced the visual and sensory evaluations for both. 

Key Policy, Management and Development Control Issues

Long Term

• Seek to conserve and enhance the existing field patterns and sense of openness through the development process. Hedgerows should be promoted as the appropriate preference for all development proposals that involve boundary treatments.
• Preserve and enhance the pastures, hedgerows and woodlands to protect and enhance the visual quality of the VILL. Consideration of a structured approach to boundary management, particularly the cycle of hedgerow cutting to maintain the distinctive pattern of hedgerow trees should be implemented.
• The sharp urban edges should be softened with additional landscaping and the enhancement of existing landscape features through the development process. Any development on these urban edges should respect the open nature of the VILL and be designed to respect the visual landscape qualities.

Medium Term

• Encourage reduced grazing and prevent overgrazing of rough grassland. Possibly introduce the Tir Gofal scheme or current equivalent to the area, and/ or more long-term sustainable agricultural management practices.
• Prevent the spread and encroachment of bracken.

Immediate

• Reclaim old industrial land and remove industrial debris, retaining some of the key industrial features as a link to the past.
• Seek to restore the natural landscape, maximising natural vegetation and removing fly tipping, litter, burnt/ dumped cars and illegal off roading etc which are major problems in many locations across the VILL

Relevance against Strategic Criteria

Need

• The proposed VILL was previously an SLA. 
• The parkland feel within the VILL boundary are of High Visual and Sensory value for rarity in the regional context.  The overall visual and sensory layer has the evaluation of moderate, which is classified as locally important.

Coherence

• The eastern boundary is defined by the Unitary Authority boundary of Cardiff City Council to the south and Newport County Borough Council to the east. The northern and western boundaries are formed by the South Caerphilly SLA. 

Consensus

• The VILL closely replaces the previously designated SLA boundary and links up with the County Boundary

Primary Landscape Qualities and Features

• This is a wide valley with a rolling rural landscape that gently slopes upwards to the south. The steepness of the slopes increase as the land rises up to areas such as Caerphilly and Rudry Common. On the slopes, bracken and coniferous plantations dominate.
• Land use is a mix of pastoral farmland with small/ medium sized fields, which is predominantly grazed. Scattered farmsteads sit within this attractive and fairly intact rural landscape. There is slight parkland/ estate feel to the whole area.
• The predominant boundaries are hedgerows with scattered blocks of broad leaved and mixed woodland.
• The area marks a visual boundary between Caerphilly and Cardiff.

Key Policy, Management and Development Control Issues

Long Term

• The openness of areas of higher ground should be preserved through the development process. No development proposals should result in unacceptable encroachment or erosion of this open character.
• Prevent urbanisation and encroachment into the VILL, particularly around the settlement edges where there is considerable pressure for development. All development should value the visual landscape quality and the rural parkland feel of the area.
• Protect and conserve individual trees of local importance and soften the edges of coniferous plantations with broadleaved planting.

Medium Term

• Seek to conserve and enhance the existing field patterns and boundary treatments through the development process. Hedgerows should be promoted as the appropriate preference for all development proposals that involve boundary treatments, with a strong emphasis on retention and strengthening where they currently exist.