Research and analysis

R136 - Seascape quality, value and capacity for change

Published 19 December 2018

1. Requirement overview

1.1 Requirement detail

The Marine Policy Statement (MPS) details considerations in marine spatial planning, Section 2.6.5.2 states ‘When developing Marine Plans, marine plan authorities should consider at a strategic level visual, cultural, historical and archaeological impacts not just for those coastal areas that are particularly important for seascape, but for all coastal areas, liaising with terrestrial planning authorities as necessary. In addition, any wider social and economic impacts of a development or activity on coastal landscapes and seascapes should be considered.’

It goes on to state 2.6.5.3 ‘In considering the impact of an activity or development on seascape, the marine plan authority should take into account existing character and quality, how highly it is valued and its capacity to accommodate change specific to any development. Landscape Character Assessment methodology may be an aid to this process.’

These paragraphs together add clarity that when developing marine plans the marine plan authority should take into account of:

• the existing character and quality
• how highly it is valued
• it’s capacity to accommodate change specific to any development

The previous evidence requirement R095 established seascape character assessments for all of the English marine plan areas (project MMO1134), this fulfils the initial part of the Marine Policy Statement seascape requirements, namely “existing character”. This requirement seeks to fulfil the remaining considerations: quality, value and capacity for change. This is an emerging area of policy development however some work has already been considered by other government agencies. This is the next major step in ensuring that proposals take place in the right area and in the right way, a fundamental principle of planning.

Natural England definitions:

• Seascape Quality - The physical state of the seascape. It includes the extent to which typical character is represented in individual areas, sometimes referred to as strength of character, the intactness of the seascape from visual, functional and ecological perspectives and the condition or state of repair of individual elements of the seascape.

• Protected Landscape - Areas deemed to be of particular landscape value are usually designated as protected landscapes including National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (England).

• Seascape Sensitivity - The ability of a seascape to respond to and accommodate change. It reflects seascape character, the nature of change and the way both are perceived and experienced by people.

1.2 MMO use

Marine Planning: This evidence will enable those using marine plans to make more informed decisions as to where a proposal takes place, therefore adding value to the marine plans and helping the MMO meet its legal obligations under the MPS.

Marine Licensing: a methodology will help applicants submit marine licensing applications which address seascape considerations more easily and effectively which will in turn help the processing of the applications by marine licensing.

1.3 External interest

Natural England, Environment Agency, Cefas, Historic England, National Trust, Local Planning Authorities

2. Aims and objectives

2.1 Aim

Create a methodology to enable those using marine plans to make decisions regarding an area’s Seascape quality, value, and capacity for change.

2.2 Objectives

The objectives of this requirement are to create a Methodology (or series of complimentary methodologies) to:

a) assess the quality of a seascape (character and visual) b) establish how highly a seascape (character and visual) is valued c) establish the impacts of different development types on seascape (character and visual) d) (based on the above) establish an area’s capacity to accommodate change e) create methods for valuing an area’s natural capital and eco-systems services

We will then look to test this approach in a geographical region

The outputs from MMO1134, which describes existing character of each marine plan area will be used as baseline evidence. Areas designated for landscape protection such Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty or National Parks will provide a good starting point for assessment. As is Natural England’s methodology for valuing a landscapes natural capital.

3. Existing evidence

3.1 MMO

MMO1134 was the initial piece of MMO work in this area to establish the baseline of seascape character for all of England, this consolidated previous seascape character assessments and completed the work for the remaining Marine Plan areas.

3.2 Academic

One method of assessing value of seascape could come from the book Valued Environments by Burgess and Gold (1982) which looked at environmental psychology, nature aesthetics, landscape assessment and landscape protection. Work to consider the value of landscape is more advanced than seascape therefore work in this area may prove useful. An example being Trilbot et al 2018 which looked at Integrating the aesthetic value of landscapes and biological diversity.

3.3 Other

Natural England produced an approach to identify and describe seascape types 2012.

Land Use Consultants (LUC) produced a guide to Understanding and assessing seascape character. LUC produced all of the seascape character assessments for the English marine planning regions (apart from the East).

4. Further details

For more information or to add further research to the existing evidence list please email evidence@marinemanagement.org.uk