Landscape Character Assessments (LCA)

Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) is a tool to assess and identify features and elements that contribute to the character of the landscape. LCAs are used to inform planning policies, the allocation of land for development, the assessment of planning applications and the process of Environmental Assessments.

The West Berkshire Landscape Character Assessment (2019) [33MB] provides an up-to-date assessment for the District. It has replaced the Newbury District Landscape Assessment (1993) and Berkshire Landscape Character Assessment (2003). It sits alongside the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) LCA [21MB] , which extends beyond West Berkshire.

The sensitivity of the character of the landscape to future development can also be assessed.

2009

In 2009, a Landscape Sensitivity Study was completed for the main towns of West Berkshire in order to inform the most appropriate options for the direction of sustainable growth across the district. 

The areas covered were:

• Newbury Landscape Sensitivity Study [3MB]
• Thatcham Landscape Sensitivity Study [2MB]
• West Reading Landscape Sensitivity Study [2MB]
• Hungerford Landscape Sensitivity Study [1MB]
• Landscape Sensitivity Study - Appendix 1 Methodology [171KB]
• Potential Strategic Sites Assessment [1MB]
   

2011

In 2011, a Landscape Sensitivity Assessment (LSA) was completed for the rural service centres (Burghfield Common, Hungerford, Lambourn, Mortimer, Pangbourne, Theale) and service villages (Aldermaston, Bradfield Southend, Chieveley, Cold Ash, Compton, Great Shefford, Hermitage, Kintbury, Woolhampton) in the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

You can read an introduction [957KB] , or download the full AONB Landscape Sensitivity Assessment study. [12MB]

You can view the individual site reports below:

• Bradfield Southend LSA [356KB]
• Chieveley LSA [1MB]
• Compton LSA [1MB]
• Great Shefford LSA [670KB]
• Hermitage LSA [975KB]
• Hungerford LSA [2MB]
• Kintbury LSA [2MB]
• Lambourn LSA [1MB]
• Pangbourne LSA [809KB]
   

2014

In 2014, a Landscape Capacity Assessment (LCA) was completed for potential housing sites in the AONB. You can read  an introduction and Phase 1 [300KB] of the Assessment.

The areas covered were:

• Bradfield Southend [2MB]
• Chieveley [691KB]
• Cold Ash [1MB]
• Compton [1002KB]
• Eastern Urban Area Part I [3MB]
• Eastern Urban Area Part II [9MB]
• Hermitage [1MB]
• Hungerford [736KB]
• Kintbury [979KB]
• Pangbourne [545KB]
• Land to the north west of Furze HIll, Hermitage [422KB]
   

2015

In 2015, a Landscape Capacity Assessment (LCA) was carried out for other potential housing sites in, or within the setting of, the AONB.

The areas covered were:

• Bradfield Southend [739KB]
• Cold Ash [2MB]
• Compton [2MB]
• Eastern Urban Area [1MB]
• Lambourn [1MB]
• Newbury [717KB]
• Thatcham [2MB]
• Theale [1MB]
   

2017

In January 2017, a Landscape Capacity Asessment (LCA) [2MB]  of potential housing sites in Stratfield Mortimer was prepared for Stratfield Mortimer Parish Council as part of work on the Stratfield Mortimer Neighbourhood Development Plan (NDP), adopted in May 2017.
 

2020

In November 2020, Landscape Capacity Assessments were carried out for potential housing sites.

The areas covered were:

• LCA for Land South of Newbury Racecourse (ref GRE3) [1MB]
• LCA for land north of Pangbourne Hill, Pangbourne [1MB]
   

2021

In September 2021, Landscape Capacity Assessments were carried out for potential housing and employment sites.

The areas covered were: 

• LCA for land west of Ramsbury Road Membury (ref LAM6) Sept 2021 [1MB]
• LCA for land at Whitehart Meadow Theale (ref THE1) Sept 2021 [3MB]
• LCA for former Sewage Treatment Works, Theale (ref: THE7) Sept 2021 [2MB]
• LCA for land off Hoad Way Theale (ref THE8) Sept 2021 [2MB]
• LCA for land at North East Thatcham Sept 2021 [6MB]

2022

During 2022, Landscape Capacity Assessments were carried out for potential housing and employment sites.  LCA methodology for potential housing sites [238KB]  and  LCA methodology for potential employment sites [196KB] set out the methodology used.

The areas covered were:

• LCA for Membury Industrial Estate - site 1 - Membury East (employment) June 2022 [969KB]
• LCA for Membury Industrial Estate - site 2 - South Trinity Grain (employment) June 2022 [1MB]
• LCA for Membury Industrial Estate - site 3 - Membury West (employment) June 2022 [1MB]
• LCA for Membury Industrial Estate - site 4 - Membury North West (employment) June 2022 [1MB]
• LCA for Membury Industrial Estate - site 5 - Membury North (employment) June 2022 [727KB]
• LCA for land at Membury Industrial Estate - overview of potential for employment development [449KB]
• LCA for Lowesdon Works - site 1 - Lambourn Business Park (employment) May 2022 [1MB]
• LCA for Lowesdon Works - site 2 - South of Lambourn Business Park (employment) May 2022 [817KB]
• LCA for Beenham Industrial Area - BEEN3 (employment) June 2022 [1MB]
• LCA for Beenham Industrial Area - BEEN4 (employment) June 2022 [1MB]
• LCA for Beenham Industrial Area - BEEN5 (employment) June 2022 [1MB]
• LCA for Beenham Industrial Area - BEEN6 (employment) June 2022 [1MB]
• LCA for Beenham Industrial Area - BEEN10 (employment) June 2022 [1MB]
• LCA for Beenham Industrial Area - BEEN11 (parcel 1) (employment) June 2022 [1MB]
• LCA for Beenham Industrial Area - BEEN11 (parcel 2) (employment) Aug 22 [1MB]
• LCA for Beenham Industrial Area - BEEN12 (employment) June 2022 [1MB]
• LCA for land at Beenham Industrial Area - overview of potential for employment land [558KB]
• LCA for land at Junction 13 - land south of M4 (ref CHI3 parcel 1) (employment) June 2022 [1MB]
• LCA for land at Junction 13 - land west of Oxford Road (ref CHI3 parcel 2) (employment) June 2022 [2MB]
• LCA for land at Junction 13 - land west of Chalky Lane (ref CHI1 parcel 3) (employment) June 2022 [1MB]
• LCA for land at Junction 13 - land east of Chieveley Services (ref CHI24) (employment) June 2022 [2MB]
• LCA for land at Junction 13 - Newbury Showground (ref CHI26) (employment) June 2022 [2MB]
• LCA for land at Junction 13 - land north of Priors Court Road (ref CHI27) (employment) June 2022 [1MB]
• LCA for land at Junction 13 - overview of potential for employment development [359KB]
• LCA for land at Whitehart Meadow Theale (employment) May 2022 [2MB]
• LCA for land north of Station Road Hermitage (ref HER4) May 2022 [2MB]
• LCA for land at North Hermitage (ref HER5) May 2022 [2MB]