The Landmark Practice’s Landscape Architects prepared Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments (LVIAs) and landscape masterplans to inform planning applications for residential development for three sites totalling 89 homes on the edge of Wedmore, Somerset.
Two of the schemes were granted planning consent in January 2019 and received positive comments from the Landscape Officer at Sedgemoor District Council. The third is currently in planning pending decision.
Description
The sites lie on the western edge of the village, within the gently undulating rural backwater known as the Mid Somerset Hills, rising above the Somerset Levels. The sites themselves are not covered by statutory landscape designation but lie close to Wedmore Village Conservation Area and a number of Listed Buildings. They also form part of the approach to the village from the surrounding areas and the transition from the settlement to surrounding countryside.
The Landmark Practice was involved from project inception and was therefore able to provide early opportunities and constraints advice to the client and design team. This ensured that the residential schemes respond well to the exiting settlement and site features, providing high quality schemes that are sensitive to the village edge location and preserve visual amenity.
Public open spaces were strategically incorporated into the layouts to create a ‘green gateway’ to the village and conserve the Conservation Area setting. The open spaces were designed to be attractive and multi-functional, incorporating drainage basins, footpaths, areas of play, wildlife habitat and amenity planting. The schemes also presented an opportunity to include areas of new orchard, comprising local cider apple and pear varieties, a landscape feature which is typical of the area.
“Strongvox Homes have used The Landmark Practice for landscape design and assessment at a number of sites in our region. The practice establishes very good working relations with Local Authorities, which helps us to reach agreement on specifications for public open space, play equipment and other aspects of landscape design and assessment. This means that critical points of agreement can be reached, which limits uncertainty and the need for landscape planning conditions post planning permission. Landmark works well within our project teams and always delivers on time, often to tight planning programmes. I can strongly recommend the practice.”
