SMR/06011/LA3-BP

LANDSCAPE APPRAISAL

of land at

CHELVESTON FORMER AIRFIELD NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

PROPOSED BIOMASS PLANT

for

CHELVESTON RENEWABLE ENERGY LIMITED

September 2007 (plus additional appendices)

by

THE LANDSCAPE PARTNERSHIP

A Practice registered with The Landscape Institute

and The Royal Town Planning Institute

and Members of the Institute of Environment Assessment & Arboricultural Association

Greenwood House, 15a St Cuthbert's Street, Bedford MK40 3JG (Tel: 01234-261315) Ancient House Mews, Church Street, Woodbridge, Suffolk IP12 1DH (Tel: 01394-380509)

Tunnel Wharf, 121 Rotherhithe Street, London SE16 4NF (Tel: 020-7252-0002) Jonathan Scott Hall, Thorpe Road, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 1UH

3 Molesworth Place, Dublin 2 (Tel: 00353-1661-0419)

Copley Hall, Cotters Street, Cork, Ireland (Tel: 00353-21496-9224) No. 13 Galway Technology Park, Parkmore, Galway, Ireland (Tel: 00353-9173-5050)

The Landscape Partnership Limited. Registered Office: Greenwood House, 15a St Cuthbert's Street, Bedford

MK40 3JB Registered in England No 2709001

SMR/06011/LA3-BP

CONTENTS

SECTION PAGE NO.

1. Introduction and Scope of Report 1

2. Site Description 3

3. Local and Wider Setting 8

4. Views towards the Former Airfield 21

5. Landscape Planning Policy Context 25

6. Description of the Proposed Biomass Development and Landscape

Proposals 29

7. Implications of the Proposed Biomass Plant and Landscape Scheme

on the Local and Wider Landscape Setting and Views Towards the Site 31

APPENDICES

1. A3 Booklet of Drawings and Photographs

2. Table 1a: Cultural Heritage Features within 3km of the Centre of the Site

Table 1b: Cultural Heritage Features beyond 3km of the Site

3. Table 2: Views towards the Site and Implications of the Biomass Proposals

Additional Tables

Table 3: Views within the site

Table 4: Local Residential Views from Eastern and South-Western

Boundaries

Table 5: Views towards the site

Table 6: Landscape Character Area Impact Assessment

4. Bedfordshire Landscape Character Assessment (Consultation Draft 2007)

5. Northamptonshire Environmental Characterisation Process – Current Landscape

Character Assessment (2006)

6. Huntingdon Landscape and Townscape Assessment (2004)

7. Countryside Agency / Natural England Countryside Character Assessment Area 91

Yardley – Whittlewood Ridge

Additional Appendices

8. Review of Landscape & Receptor Sensitivity

9. Method Statement for Photomontages

10. Landscape Planning Policy Context

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SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION AND SCOPE OF REPORT

1.1. The Landscape Partnership was appointed in February 2006 to undertake and

landscape a visual assessment of land at the Chelveston former airfield and to

advise on the suitability of the land to provide a renewable energy park. The

Landscape Partnership has undertaken this appraisal and fed into the

production of an Environmental Statement for a proposal, which has been

presented for public consultation. The proposals have not been the subject of

a planning application.

1.2 The Landscape Partnership has presented to Northamptonshire County Council

a Landscape Appraisal as a supporting document for the allocation of the

former airfield in the forthcoming Mineral and Waste Local Plan. The

Landscape Appraisal was a resume of the relevant parts of the landscape

aspects of the aforementioned Environmental Statement.

1.3 The former airfield is the subject of a detailed planning application for a

Biomass Plant facility within the central part of the site with access from the

southern former airfield access road leading from Newton Road. The proposed

development is detailed in Section 6 of this report.

1.4 The report considers six issues: firstly the site description of the former airfield;

secondly the local and wider setting; third the views towards the former

airfield; fourth the landscape planning policy context; fifth the description of the

proposed development and landscape proposals; and finally the implications of

the development on the local and wider setting and views towards the site.

1.5 Within the report the Landscape Appraisal considers the cultural heritage

features within the local and wider setting in Table 1, Appendix 2, and on the

views towards the site in Tables 2-5 Appendix 3.

1.6 The Landscape Appraisal considers the existing Countryside Character

Assessment undertaken by the Countryside Agency (Natural England) as

detailed in Appendix 7 and the Landscape Character Assessments undertaken

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within Bedfordshire (2007) Northamptonshire (2006) and Huntingdon (2004)

with details in Appendices 4 to 6 and Appendix 3 Table 6

1.7 The report refers to a number of drawings and photographs, which form

Appendix 1. These are mostly printed at A3 as follows:-

Drawings

06011/110: Landscape Survey of the Site – Scale 1:5,000 (A1)

/111: Landscape Character Areas

/112: Landscape Policy designation context

/113: Landscape Planning Policy context

/114: Rights of Way

/115: Topography and cross section locations

/116: Photograph locations and Visual Context of the Site

/117: Photograph locations within Site (revised to include R-W & X-Y)

/118: Overlay of Historical Use of the Site

/119: Northamptonshire Historic Landscape Character Map

/120 Cross Sections A-A1

/121 Cross Sections B-B1

/122 Cross Sections C-C1

/123 Cross Sections D-D1

/124 Cross Sections E-E1

/125 Cross Sections F-F1

/126 Landscape Proposals – Scale 1:5,000 (A1) (revised to include

agreed additional planting)

Photographs

P – Q Within the Site (extended to include R-W)

1-2, 5, 7-11, A-C Local views towards the Site (extended to include X-Y)

3-4, 6, 12, D-N Distant views towards the Site

Photomontages

1, 5, 7, 9 and 11 (refer to photographs above)

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SECTION 2: SITE DESCRIPTION

2.1 The former RAF base totals approximately 305 hectares, of which 144 hectares

lie with Northamptonshire. The former airfield lies 2km to the south of

Chelveston village and 1.6km to the north of Yelden. Rushden is approximately

4.8km to the west (Drawings 115 & 117).

Boundaries

2.2 The boundaries of the site are fairly irregular, with obvious protrusions where

the runways of the former airfield were extended at various stages of the sites

history. The northern boundary of the site follows a series of woodland belts

that are approximately 25 years old and were planted to provide enclosure to

the airfield. Species within these belts include willow, ash, oak, cherry and

poplar. The remainder of this boundary consists of stretches of incomplete and

poorly clipped hedgerows and post and wire fences.

2.3 The eastern boundary has a similar woodland belt at its southern end and runs

along the edge of the plateau area. The remainder of the boundary is a

combination of low clipped hedgerows and post and wire fencing. High Barn

Farm and Manor Farm are located at the centre of this eastern boundary but

beyond the site, along with a residential property known as Top Cottage.

2.4 The southern boundary of the site follows a track/bridleway. The westerly

portion of this track provides access to the site, through a locked gate. The

easterly portion of the track is blocked to prevent vehicular access, but allows

pedestrian/equestrian access to Yelden. The boundary is a fence line with

areas of young planting similar to the belts found on the other boundaries.

2.5 The western boundary of the site is indented and runs almost along the edge of

the plateau. It follows the boundary of a group of houses comprising married

quarters for USAF and MOD personnel, and then the edge of Hare Spinney, an

area of mature woodland. It then follows a field boundary hedgerow with

occasional hedgerow trees, before following another of the approximately

25 year old woodland belts planted to screen the airfield.

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Landscape History

2.6 The airfield was opened in August 1941 and a year later it was established as a

USA Air Force base for the 301st Bomb Group. Further expansion of the base

took place in 1942 to 1943. In 1945 at the end of the War the airfield returned

to the RAF and was officially closed in 1947. In 1951 it was re-commissioned

to accommodate the USAF B47 Bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons

with the construction of a large concrete apron and runway headquarters

building, control centre, crash tender shed, dispersal and taxiways. The base

remained operational until 1962 (Drawing 118).

2.7 Following the second decommissioning and removal of some of the runways

the former airfield was then used in 1977 as a radio transmitter site

accommodating 22 masts within the central compound of buildings on an area

totalling 82 hectares.

Current Buildings and Structures

2.8 These masts have now been removed, however the bases and central

compound buildings remain together with the 2 metre high security fence and

the individual wooden stock fencing around each of the 22 masts. The central

compound buildings are enclosed by a further high integrity security fence.

The buildings are mostly modern and house the control rooms, generators and

other related facilities.

2.9 A separate Boxer Mast site and storage area lies to the south-west within the

former airfield site. The area includes a Nissen Hut, diesel storage tank and a

generator within a further building a 70m high radio communication mast

remains in use by the MOD. The 0.3 hectare area is separately accessed and is

secure.

2.10 Four Nissen Huts lie to the north-east corner of the former airfield. Redundant

lagoons and drainage channels, concrete roads, and remnants of former oil

tanks, security compounds, concrete aprons and fencing are distributed around

the site.

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2.11 The combined areas of the different RAF, USAF and MOD uses occupied almost

the entire area of the former airfield. Concerns for public safety due to former

ordnance storage areas, exposed drainage lagoons, oil traps and remnants of

rusty metal structures over much of the former area have led to further new

fencing of bridleways and footpaths which cross the site.

2.12 A temporary 70m anemometer mast lies to the south of the site (not within the

photographs A-C, D-N, P&Q & 1-7 & 11-12 which were taken prior to the

construction of the mast).

Landuse and Vegetation

2.13 The majority of the site is currently used for livestock grazing by a local tenant

farmer. The site is fairly open with few of the former field divisions remaining.

The main divisions occur where fences have been erected to make parts of the

site secure or to enclose the locations of the former masts, but these do not

divide the site into a conventional field pattern. Other than the tree belts

around the perimeter of the site, there is little woody vegetation within the site.

Hare Spinney forms a woodland block in the south west of the site and there is

a smaller area of woodland towards the centre of the northern part of the site.

The rest of the vegetation of the site consists of open grassland, which has

established mostly on the poorly restored land left after the removal of the

upper course of the runways, above the foundation layer or areas of former

hardstanding.

Topography and Soils

2.14 The site is situated on a plateau that is determined by an underlying geology of

a chalky till. The overlying soils are described by Rothamsted Experimental

Station in the Soil Survey of England and Wales as slowly permeable soils of

either calcareous or non-calcareous clay, and are of the Hanslope 2 soil series.

The ground level rises from around 80m AOD in the north east to 92m AOD at

its highest point on the south western boundary.

Footpaths and Bridleways

2.15 There are public bridleways and footpaths within and in the immediate vicinity

of the site. There are 2 sections of BOAT’s (Byways Open to All Traffic) both

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approximately 800m from the site boundary. One lies to the south (in the

vicinity of Airfield Farm) and the other to the east (in the vicinity of Yelden)

forming part of the recreational path ‘The Three Shires Way’. There are no

Restricted Byways, formerly known as ‘roads used as a public path’, within the

vicinity of the site. There is a route with public access adjacent the southern

boundary.

2.16 Traditionally Public Rights of Way across the site, which straddled the County

boundary, had provided links between the Bedfordshire villages of

Melchbourne, Yelden, Dean and Shelton with the Northamptonshire villages of

Chelveston and Hargrave. However, during the 1940’s when the site was used

as a World War 2 airfield, the footpaths and bridleways were stopped by means

of emergency powers. Prior to the sale of the former RAF Chelveston site in

2005, there were negotiations between the Ministry of Defence and the Local

Planning Authorities to have the former rights of way network reinstated.

Consequently a number of footpaths and bridleways across the site were

rededicated. Following acquisition of the site, Bedfordshire and

Northamptonshire County Councils agreed with the new owner that temporary

closures could be placed on the paths, in order to allow a risk assessment to be

carried out as a number of safety hazards had been identified within the site. A

risk assessment of the site has been carried out and a temporary closure was

extended to allow fencing works to the rights of way in order to restrict access

to the rest of the site. The alignment of the reinstated footpaths and

bridleways within the site are shown on Drawing 110.

2.17 By December 2006 the fencing works were complete. The works comprised

erection of a 1.8m high ‘Heras’ weldmesh fence to both sides of the concrete

track which forms bridleway BWY18 / MM18. The fence panels have metal

posts, which are anchored in the ground and the parallel fencelines are 7-8m

apart. The other bridleways and footpaths within the site are without a hard

surface and are grassed. They are fenced with 1.8m high mesh fencing with

timber posts. The fencelines are approximately 4m apart for bridleway BW16 /

MM17 and 2m apart for footpath MM16. The footpaths and bridleways within

the site are open to the public for use.

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Existing Views within the Site

2.18 A full description of existing views within the site from 7 locations are

considered in Appendix 3, Table 3 and illustrated on photographs P-V and

cross-sections A, B & F (additional photographs added to assist landscape

assessors). From the rights of way on the elevated plateau of the site, the

current view is of an open and exposed landscape, consisting of flat grazing

land with a cluster of buildings with a redundant appearance in the centre of

the site. The 1m high post and rail fencing which surrounded the former radio

masts are visible, particularly from bridleway BWY18. The boxer mast is visible.

The horizon is formed either by the landform of the plateau or tree planting at

the edge of the site, restricting long-distance views from the central area of the

site. When walking away from the centre and approaching the edge of the site,

there are long distance views to the east (from bridleway BWY16, footpaths

FPY17and FPS7) and the west (from bridleway MM17 and footpath MM16) over

the surrounding countryside in areas where the boundary vegetation is sparse.

2.19 The fencing to the bridleways and footpaths is noticeable to the users of the

rights of way, particularly users of the footpaths, where the fencelines are in

close proximity to the observer. The fencelines channel views along the route

of the public rights of way. Along the bridleway BWY18 / MM18, the views

show the prominence of the unattractive concrete track. It is possible to view

through the weldmesh and mesh fencing, although the fencing forms a partial

visual barrier and interrupts the view available beyond. The feeling of

openness is much reduced by the fencing. The observer/receptor at the

representative viewpoints experiences an existing poor quality view with many

negative elements within an area of poor quality landscape associated with the

former airfield development and associated clutter of military objects and

development and a poor quality of grass sward on the partially restored land.

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SECTION 3: LOCAL AND WIDER SETTING

Local Setting (and Landscape Character Areas)

Rivers and Topography

3.1 The plateau on which the site is located rises from around 80m AOD in the

north east to 92m AOD at its highest point (Drawing 115). To the north west

of the site there are a number of small valleys formed by tributaries of the River

Nene, including one that runs from the junction of the A45/A6 to Chelveston,

another that runs through Stanwick and a third which runs through the

southern half of Raunds. To the north east of the site there is another

unnamed stream, whose valley runs up to the edge of the site.

3.2 To the south east of the site is the forked valley of the River Til. The river and

its tributaries run through Lower Dean, Upper Dean, Shelton, Yelden and

Melchbourne. The landform falls into the valley to around 44m AOD in Lower

Dean, rising to around 63m AOD in Yelden and higher in Melchbourne. These

valleys generally are open with expansive skies. There is little woodland and

few tall hedgerows to create a sense of enclosure (Drawing 116). From the

ridgelines and plateaux within the local landscape there are panoramic views,

however, the valleys are more intimate and enclosed. The rural nature of the

landscape, and the lack of major roads and settlements can create a sense of

solitude, particularly when moving away from settlements, although the

agricultural nature of the landscape does not allow any concept of wildness.

Settlements

3.3 The settlements within the local setting of the site tend to be small hamlets,

nucleated villages or larger towns. They are generally quite isolated from each

other, although Rushden and Higham Ferrers to the west of the site have

grown and are now conjoined. There is evidence of Roman activity in the area,

although many of the towns and villages grew in the 19th century as a result of

the rise in the boot and shoe industry. Many of the villages have distinctive

churches with spires and towers. Many of the churches are Listed Buildings

(Table 1).

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3.4 The village of Hargrave, to the north east of the site, predominantly has

housing along two roads, Church Road and Church Street. The historic core of

the village is centred on the junction of these two roads, with larger historic

properties being located at the junction of Church Road and Kimbolton Road.

Listed Buildings total five within the village (Table 1). More recent development

has linked these two areas together and has also seen the village spread to the

east and north. The village is elevated to a position similar to that of the

central area of the site.

3.5 Shelton, to the east of the site, is a small hamlet of around twenty homes

clustered around the village church. A large number of the buildings in the

village are listed and date from the 17th and 18th centuries (Table 1). The

village is low lying and surrounded by farmland, with mature vegetation

enclosing the often large gardens associated with the residential properties.

3.6 Lower Dean, also to the east of the site, is a largely linear settlement following

the route of the High Street. Many of the properties date from the 17th century

and have views of the surrounding countryside. Four of the properties are

listed (Table 1). The village lies within the Til Valley.

3.7 Upper Dean, to the south east of the site, is a larger village and is based

around the village church, Glebe Field and the southern tributary of the River

Til, which flows through the village. Many of the properties within the village

are listed and date from the 16th and 17th century and the village is designated

as a Conservation Area (Table 1). The houses are generally located along two

joined streets within the village, which creates three sides of a rectangle.

These streets are the High Street and Brook Lane. The village has more

recently spread further north through the creation of a community centre and

sports pitches. The headland between the Til tributaries lies between the

village and the site.

3.8 Swineshead, also to the south east of the site, is another largely linear village.

It is mainly based along the High Street but two small streets lead from it,

called Sandye Lane and Green Lane. Most of the properties within the village

are 16th to 18th century buildings, and many have open views from their

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gardens into the surrounding countryside. A ridgeline runs between the site

and the village.

3.9 Melchbourne, to the south of the site, is essentially a collection of properties

along Park Road, which is the approach to Melchbourne House and

Melchbourne Park. The house is Grade II* Listed, the parkland is not on the

English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens. There are two Grade II Listed

Buildings (Table 1). Many of the houses are estate style terraced houses,

although there is some newer housing to the west of the village. There are

properties along Knotting Road, many of which are large detached properties.

There is little vegetation around the perimeter of most of the properties and

their gardens. Melchbourne House has been divided into apartments for

residential use. The house and parkland are at the upper part of the Til Valley

separated from the site by a central ridgeline.

3.10 Yelden, to the south of the site, has several older buildings, many of which are

Listed, along the High Street, and a very prominent village church (Table 1).

The village is situated in the valley of the River Til and nestles below the

surrounding landscape and has grown around the bridge and river crossing.

There is mature vegetation at the northern and western ends of the village, and

the remains of a medieval motte and bailey castle, including castle mounds, to

the south east of the village, which is a Scheduled Ancient Monument (Table 1).

3.11 Newton Bromswold, to the south west of the site, is a small village at the

junction of Rushden Road and Newton Road. There is one Listed Building, with

a number of farms on the outskirts of the village, and the village church, at the

centre of the village has a tall spire that is a distinctive landmark in the

surrounding landscape (Table 1). The village is located at the end of a minor

ridgeline, overlooking the surrounding landscape of the Til Valley.

3.12 Caldecott, to the west of the site, is a linear village or hamlet, between

Chelveston to Newton Bromswold. The settlement consists of a number of

farms and individual properties around the Church of St John the Baptist and

there are three Listed Buildings (Table 1). A crescent of housing belonging to

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the USAF and MOD lies apart from the other dwellings and adjacent to the site

boundary.

3.13 Chelveston, to the north west of the site, is a largely modern village that has

established around the junction of Higham Road, Raunds Road and Kimbolton

Road. Historically development of new housing has been to the west and north

of the small older core of the village, with one Listed Building, although more

recently housing has been built to the south of the village, on the site of former

farm buildings (Table 1). Chelveston lies at the head of a tributary valley

leading to the Nene Valley.

3.14 Stanwick is within the Nene Valley, to the north west of the site, is the largest

village in East Northamptonshire and has seen significant growth during the last

century. The older High Street is no longer the main thoroughfare and there

are large housing estates to the north of the village. The village provides a

range of community facilities. Stanwick Hall and the Old Rectory are Grade II*

Listed Buildings, and there are three other Grade II Buildings within the village

(Table 1).

3.15 Raunds, to the north of the site, is a market town and is centred around the

Square, Brook Street and the High Street, where there are several Listed

Buildings (Table 1). Late 19th century terraced housing associated with the

shoemaking industry can be found in the east of the town, with 1970s and 80s

housing to the north west of the town and more modern development to the

north east and south west. The settlement is located on a headland between

tributary valleys of the River Nene.

Local Roads

3.16 There are several roads that approach or run close to the site. Possibly the

most used of these is the B645 Kimbolton Road, which passes through

Chelveston. This is the former A45 and is therefore a wide single carriageway

road with many undulations, wide verges and little vegetation. The B645 runs

to the north of the site, and has open views of the northern boundary of the

site, and into the site where the boundary vegetation is thinner or low. There

is a lay-by on the road to the north of the site.

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3.17 Shelton Road runs between Upper Dean and Shelton to the east of the site. It

is a minor road and rises slightly towards the site from Upper Dean in the valley

of the River Til and then down on the approach to Shelton. It is a narrow road

with tight bends and has patchy vegetation along both sides. Views towards

the site are limited by landform and vegetation.

3.18 The road between Swineshead and Yelden is a well-used road. It is located to

the south east of the site and is a single carriageway road, forming one of the

approach roads to Yelden village. Travelling towards the site from Swineshead,

the plateau on which the site is located forms a backdrop to the village of

Yelden. This road has narrow verges and hedgerows along both sides for long

stretches of the road.

3.19 Rushden Road is the road between Newton Bromswold and Yelden. It is

located to the south of the site and is a minor road with relatively wide verges

and intermittent lengths of hedgerow along either side. The plateau that in

part includes the site forms a backdrop to the village.

3.20 Caldecott Road is to the west of the site and eventually meets the south west

corner of the site. It is a minor road with a variety of verge types and widths.

There is little vegetation along most of its length, although there are tall

hedgerows around Caldecott village. The open stretches allow views across to

the site and in particular the vegetation on the western boundary of the site.

3.21 Newton Road runs from Chelveston Road near its junction with the A6 (Higham

Ferrers bypass) towards Airfield Farm south of the site. It is a minor road with

hedgerows along its length and a series of individual properties along it. At its

southern end, adjacent to Airfield Farm, there are open views of the southern

boundary of the site.

Vegetation

3.22 Beyond the woodland belts on the boundaries of the site, woody vegetation

generally comprises small to medium woodland blocks and variable hedgerows.

To the north of the site, adjacent to Kimbolton Road, lies a medium sized

woodland comprising New Covert and Stanwick Pastures. To the north east of

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the site, between Kimbolton Road and Hargrave is a small woodland block

named The Grove.

3.23 Lying to the east of the site, and between the site and Shelton, there is a small

woodland named Shelton Gorse. Lying between Shelton Gorse and the River

Til, to the south east, are fingers of woodland following small streams, these

include Shelton Spinney. There are small copses to the south of the site,

between the site and Yelden.

3.24 To the west of the site, beyond the USAF and MOD housing and Caldecott

Road, there is a small area of woodland named Garrett Spinney and an

unnamed triangular woodland. There is a triangular mixed woodland between

the site and Chelveston named Highjoint Plantation.

3.25 Within the fields immediately surrounding the site, the hedgerows tend to be

incomplete, low and in poor condition. They are heavily clipped and are

discontinuous. In some areas they have been partially removed. Along the

southern side of Kimbolton Road, the hedgerow has been replaced by a post

and wire fence at the Chelveston end, with only a ditch marking the field

boundary close to Hargrave. The hedgerow along the northern side of the road

is also intermittent.

3.26 There are low and intermittent hedgerows along most of the length of the road

between Hargrave and Shelton and the road between Swineshead and Yelden,

to the east and south of the site. Caldecott Road to the west of the site has

long stretches without a hedgerow.

3.27 There are tall hedgerows along the eastern section of the Three Shires Way,

leading from Shelton village, and The River Til to the south and south east of

the site.

Lighting within the Landscape

3.28 At present, red aviation lights on the boxer mast and low level security lighting

within the central building complex provide the only lighting on the site at

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night. The villages around the site are light sources within the landscape, but

the roads within the vicinity of the site are all unlit.

Landuses and Recreation

3.29 Other than the surrounding villages and recreational land uses in the river

valleys, the predominant landuse in the local setting of the site is arable

farmland. The fields are generally medium to large, although there are

occasionally smaller fields around the edges of the villages. Some of these

smaller fields are used for grazing horses. Middle Lodge, to the south of the

site and north east of Yelden, has diversified part of its farmland to store

caravans. A property on Newton Road has a large haulage yard (Drawing 116).

3.30 In addition to the two local recreational routes, there is an extensive system of

footpaths and bridleways within the vicinity of the site. The system generally

consists of footpaths that link together the numerous hamlets, villages and

small towns in the area. There is, however, a concentration of bridleways to

the south of the site, which link Upper Dean, Swineshead and Melchbourne/

Melchbourne Park (Drawing 114).

3.31 There are very few areas of access land, as created under the Countryside and

Rights of Way Act 2000, within the local setting of the site (Drawing 114). The

largest area is at West Wood and Sheeprack Wood, which is located

approximately 4.4km to the south west of the site, adjacent to the A6. There

are also two smaller woods to the south east of the site, Spanoak Wood and

Swineshead Wood, which are approximately 4.3km from the site, beyond Upper

Dean. There is also a small area of Registered Common Land, as designated

under the same Act, 1.2km south of the site, beyond Yelden and in the vicinity

of Top Cottage Farm and Rifle Range Farm.

3.32 There are no cycle routes within the local setting of the site that are promoted

either by Sustrans or by the district/county councils, although the Three Shire

Way is usable by cyclists.

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3.33 There are few formal recreational spaces within the local setting of the site.

Upper Dean, to the south east of the site, has a community centre with sports

pitches on the north eastern edge.

Landscape Character Areas

3.34 Table 6 in Appendix 3 identifies the Landscape Character Areas (LCA) and the

Landscape Character Types (LCT) at County and District level and the

sensitivity of the LCA and LCT.

The Bedfordshire Landscape Character Assessment has progressed from that

considered in the earlier Environmental Statement to a consultation stage with

responses requested by the end of May 2007. The site lies within the character

area 1B ‘Riseley Clay Farmland’ for which the key characteristics are

summarised as:-

• open lowland on Oxford Clay with gentle undulating valleys

• rural, peaceful and with a remote feel

• dominated by arable farming with scattered woodlands (some

ancient)

• extensive areas of open arable land with mixed quality hedgerows

with trees

• Great Ouse tributaries flow from west to east with odd willows and

bridges

• scattered farmsteads and villages with low and even dispersed

settlement pattern

• stone churches form landmarks

• mature trees around settlement

• rural roads and lanes with wide verges

• historic landscape features include Melchbourne Park, ancient

woodlands and medieval earthworks

• disused World War II airfields on the high plateaux with lack of

field boundaries and empty character

• network of rights of way and Three Shires Way

• views are generally distant over undulating open farmland with

woodland blocks on the skyline.

16 SMR/06011/LA3-BP

3.35 The evaluation noted the disuse of wartime airfields and noted the sensitivity of

the former airfields to urban influence. Overall the landscape character was

judged to be moderate to high sensitivity and in visual terms the landscape was

identified as of moderate sensitivity. The landscape strategy is to conserve the

open rural landscape and to enhance the elements of the landscape, which are

declining.

3.36 Part of the site that falls within Northamptonshire lies in the Landscape

Character Type “Farmed Claylands”, and within a Landscape Character Area

identified as “Chelveston and Caldecott Claylands” (Drawing 111 and Appendix

5). Relevant key characteristics of “Farmed Claylands” include:-

• expansive, low lying flat or gently undulating landscape where

plateaux are divided by broad shallow valleys

• open and intensive arable landscape

• fields bounded by open ditches or sparse, closely trimmed hedges

• large scale fields and wide views give the landscape an expansive

and sometimes exposed character

• limited woodland cover and hedgerow removal contributes to open

character

• thinly settled landscape, feeling remote in some particularly

sparsely settled areas

• farms and isolated houses at the end of tracks

• a diversity of building materials, including brick and limestone.

3.37 The detailed assessment of Landscape Character Type “Farmed Claylands”

notes that watercourses are not a significant feature of the landscape, but the

“gently undulating landscape has a strong agricultural character”. Woodland is

“not a dominant landcover element and comprises small shelter belts and

copses”. The Farmed Claylands are said to have an expansive character with

wide panoramic views.

3.38 The further assessment of the “Chelveston and Caldecott Claylands” Landscape

Character Area within this Landscape Character Type identifies that large arable

fields of cereals are the predominant land use, with smaller pastoral fields

found more frequently around the edge of settlements. Woodland cover tends

17 SMR/06011/LA3-BP

to be sparse, but is generally in the form of geometric broad-leaved copses,

with occasional hedgerow trees as the only other tree cover. The village of

Chelveston is noted as being atypical of the area, having grown around the

junction of roads rather than being linear in form. The site at the time of its

former use is mentioned as “a telecommunications station with several

transmitters is prominent on the skyline along with a radio mast at Hare

Spinney”. Church spires are identified as “important focal points and

punctuation marks in the landscape”.

3.39 In terms of local distinctiveness, landscape condition and landscape change, it

is noted that there is little perception of time depth in these landscapes, e.g.

the landscape is “overwhelmingly modern”, with historic features being scarce

and loss of hedgerows and woodland. It is considered, however, that the

landscape is generally in good condition, but that it is an indistinctive landscape

with only limited visual appeal.

Wider Setting (and Landscape Character Areas)

Settlements

3.40 The site is located to the south of the market town of Raunds, to the east of

Higham Ferrers and Rushden, and to the south east of Irthlingborough.

3.41 The edge of the small market town of Raunds lies 2.6km from the site

boundary, to the north. The conjoined towns of Rushden and Higham Ferrers

lie elevated on eastern ridgelines approximately 2.9km to the west of the site

boundary. Irthlingborough is approximately 5.2km to the north west located on

the first river terrace above the River Nene. Other major towns and cities in

the wider area include: Peterborough 28km to the north east; Huntingdon

21km to the north east; St Neots 15km to the east; Bedford 15km to the south;

Milton Keynes 28km to the south west; Northampton 18km to the west;

Wellingborough 9km to the west; Kettering 12km to the north west and Corby

21km to the north west.

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Topography and Landuses

3.42 The site is situated on a plateau that forms part of a ridgeline between the

valleys of the River Nene and the River Great Ouse (Drawing 115). The Nene

Valley is located approximately 3.6km to the north west of the site and is a

comparatively narrow valley for this part of the country, with an average width

of 1km across the valley bottom. The valley sides rise from 35m AOD at its

lowest point to a maximum of 92m AOD on the site and up to 103m AOD to the

south west of the site. To the north and north west of the Nene Valley the

landform rises steeply again to form another ridgeline.

3.43 The Great Ouse Valley is located around 10km to the south east of the site and

is a shallower valley in comparison to that of the Nene. The landform rises to a

similar height to that of the Nene valley, but over a greater distance. To the

north of the Great Ouse Valley, the landform becomes flatter as it moves into

the Fens, and to the east and south east of the valley the landform gently rises.

3.44 The wider landscape setting of the site is an agricultural landscape with sparse

and fragmented woodland cover. The majority of the farmland is arable, but

there are isolated pockets of pastoral land, particularly around settlements and

in the river valleys.

3.45 The valley bottoms of both the Nene and the Great Ouse have been extensively

worked for sand and gravel and as a result there are numerous lakes within the

valleys. These are now generally used for recreational purposes, with a large

area covered by country parks, particularly in the Nene valley.

Vegetation

3.46 Woodland within the wider setting is generally broadleaved or mixed. Within

Bedfordshire, the larger woodland blocks tend to be of ancient or semi-natural

origin, whereas in Northamptonshire woodland generally occurs in smaller

blocks of more recent origin. Field boundaries within the wider landscape tend

to be hedgerows, although these vary in their quality and management.

19 SMR/06011/LA3-BP

Road Network and Recreational Routes

3.47 In terms of road infrastructure, the site is located close to the junction of the

A6 and the A45. The A6 runs north-south 2.8km to the west of the site

boundary and the A45 runs east-west 3.6km to the north west. The site is also

situated approximately half way between the major north-south routes of the

A1(M) and the M1. The B645 minor road runs just to the north of the site, with

the B665 branching at Chelveston and leading towards Raunds.

3.48 There are two recreational routes within the wider setting of the site (Drawing

113). The Three Shires Way is a 37 mile route that runs from the north of

Milton Keynes to Grafham Water in Cambridgeshire, it passes to the south east

of the site. The Nene Way follows the course of the River Nene, to the north

west of the site, and is a 110 mile route that starts in Badby, Northamptonshire

and finishes in Sutton Bridge, Lincolnshire. The Nene Way is a footpath and

the Three Shires Way can be used by walkers, equestrians and cyclists.

Wind Farms

3.49 At present there is an operational wind farm in the vicinity of the site at Burton

Wold, located approximately 9km to the north west of the site. The wind farm

has 10 turbines with a two Megawatt capacity, situated on land at heights of

between 80 and 90m AOD. The turbines have a hub height of 64m and an

overall tip height of 99.5m.

Wider Landscape Character Areas

3.50 Table 6 in Appendix 3 identifies the Landscape Character Areas (LCA) and

Landscape Character Types (LCT) at County and District level and the

sensitivity of the LCA and LCT. In terms of Landscape Character Assessment,

the Landscape Character Types that fall within Bedfordshire are “Arable Clay

Plateau with Tributaries”, within which lies the site, and “Wooded Wolds” to the

south west of the site (Drawing 111 and Appendix 4). In addition to the

characteristics for these Landscape Character Types identified in section 5, the

strength of character, condition and landscape strategy are also identified. For

the “Arable Clay Plateau with Tributaries”, both the strength of character and

condition are described as moderate, and the landscape strategy is to conserve

and improve the landscape. For the “Wooded Wolds”, the strength of character

20 SMR/06011/LA3-BP

is described as strong, the condition as moderate, and the landscape strategy is

to conserve and restore the landscape.

3.51 The Landscape Character Types that are within Northamptonshire are “Farmed

Claylands”, within which the site falls. The “Limestone Valley Slopes” and

“Broad River Valley Floodplain”, both lie to the north west of the site (Drawing

111 and Appendix 4). In addition to the characteristics for these Landscape

Character Types identified in section 5 the condition of the landscape is

described. The “Farmed Claylands” is described as generally in good condition,

but that it is an indistinctive landscape with only limited visual appeal. For the

“Limestone Valley Slopes”, the character has been affected by widespread

woodland clearance for agriculture and despoiling by urban areas, with the

resulting landscape showing a mixture of characteristics from the surrounding

Landscape Character Types. For the “Broad River Valley Floodplain” Type, the

condition is described as variable, changing from low around extensive urban

areas to unspoilt elsewhere.

3.52 The Landscape Character Area that is closest to the site within Huntingdonshire

District is “Northern Wolds”. In addition to the characteristics for this

Landscape Character Area identified in section 5, it is described as an attractive

and relatively unspoilt area of countryside with a strong historical character

(Drawing 111 and Appendix 6).

21 SMR/06011/LA3-BP

SECTION 4: VIEWS TOWARDS THE FORMER AIRFIELD

Extent of Local Views towards the site

4.1 Local views in this situation are considered to be those within 2.5km of the site

boundary. These include photographs A, B, C, F, G, W, X & Y and 1, 2, 5 and

7-11 (Drawing 116).

4.2 Specific descriptions of all local views are provided in Table 2 (Appendix 3) and

the sensitivity of the receptors (observers) is identified in Appendix 8 and

detailed in Table 5 (Appendix 3). In summary, in the local views from the north

of the site (photographs 2 and 5) the landform generally undulates but

eventually rises towards the site. The existing Boxer Mast is generally visible

above vegetation around the site. Other than vegetation on the boundary of

the site, there is little vegetation within these views, although there are

sometimes low hedgerows within the agricultural landscape.

4.3 From local viewpoints to the east (photographs C, F and G, W, X & Y), open

arable farmland is the main landuse in the view. There is generally intermittent

vegetation between the viewpoint and the site, although there are some

mature hedgerows, and the landform rises towards the site either directly from

the viewpoint or after dropping away close to the viewpoint. There are

individual properties or groups of farm buildings in most of the views, but the

visibility of the existing Boxer Mast is more variable due to intervening

vegetation.

4.4 In local views from the south (photographs A, B; 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11), the main

landuse visible is either arable farmland or grazing land. Photographs 7, 10

and 11 have Yelden village and church as a significant feature in the view, with

most of the remaining views having residential or farm properties within them.

Vegetation on the boundary of the site is usually visible in views from the

south, as is the existing Boxer Mast. Low hedgerows tend to be the only other

vegetation within these views.

22 SMR/06011/LA3-BP

4.5 In local views from the west (photograph 1), the view tends to be of open

farmland, which is generally arable, broken visually by occasional woodland and

the vegetation on the boundary of the site. From photograph 1 the landform

rises towards the site, the other viewpoints are located on the same plateau as

the site and as a result the landform is relatively flat between the viewpoint and

the site. The existing Boxer Mast is visible in all views, and there are

settlements or individual properties in many of the views from the west.

4.6 The sensitivity of the visual receptors of the local views fall into 3 categories:

low, medium-low and medium-high. (Appendix 8 & Tables 4 & 5). The majority

of the visual receptors are considered to be of medium-low and low sensitivity,

either because they consist of residential properties at a distance of greater

than 2.5km from the site or from public rights of way with indirect or partial

views of the site due to the alignment of the routes or existing

vegetation/landform partially obscuring the view. Receptors from the Three

Shires Way as illustrated by photographs 8, 9, 10 and C, are leisure route users

and are therefore considered to be of medium-high sensitivity, together with

Manor Farm on the eastern Boundary

4.7 There are no visual receptors represented by the photograph locations

considered to be of high sensitivity due to the distance of residential properties

from the site and the absence of areas of public open space and of national

recreational routes within the proximity of the site. None of these visual

receptors are made more sensitive by the quality of the landscape that they are

within because they are not located in nationally or locally designated

landscapes.

Extent of Distant Views towards the site

4.8 Distant views in this situation are considered to be those over 2.5km from the

site boundary. These include those illustrated by photographs D, E, H, J, K, L,

M, N, 3, 4, 6 and 12 (Drawing 117) as viewpoints that offer distant views

towards the site.

23 SMR/06011/LA3-BP

4.9 Full descriptions of all distant views as illustrated by photographs are provided

in Table 2. (Appendix 3) and the sensitivity of the receptors (observers) is

identified in Appendix 8 and detailed in Table 5 (Appendix 3). In summary, in

distant views from the north of the site (photographs 4 and 12) the landform

generally rises towards the site, although there is some undulation between the

viewpoint and the site. The existing 70m Boxer Mast that is located on the site

is generally at least partially visible above vegetation around the site and the

sky constitutes approximately half of the view. From northern viewpoints

beyond the River Nene the plateau on which the site forms a part, is seen on

the horizon with settlements and occasional woodland blocks set within the

intervening agricultural landscape.

4.10 From distant viewpoints to the east (photographs D, E and 6), open arable

farmland and mature vegetation lie between the viewpoint and the site, with

the landform rising towards the site. The existing Boxer Mast is visible from

some viewpoints, as are the complex of buildings at High Barn and Manor

Farms. From within Upper Dean, Lower Dean and Covington, however, there

are locations where the vegetation is insufficiently tall or dense and this allows

views through or over it towards the site. In other locations the vegetation is

sufficiently extensive to screen views towards the site.

4.11 In distant views from the south (photographs H, J and K), there are two types

of views. The first look over arable fields, whilst the second have views of

grassland associated with grazing around the villages. The views that look over

arable fields are generally looking along the plateau on which the site is

situated, so the landform appears relatively flat, often with settlements present.

There is generally some vegetation between the viewpoint and the site,

although the Boxer Mast is usually visible. In the views of rough grassland,

however, the landform tends to rise towards the site with the plateau that the

site forms a part and the associated vegetation and Boxer Mast, forming a

backdrop.

4.12 In distant views from the west (photograph 3) there are scattered buildings set

within the elevated or undulating arable landscape. Woodland blocks and

24 SMR/06011/LA3-BP

mature vegetation are present in the views. The existing Boxer Mast forms a

noticeable vertical element in views from this direction.

4.13 The sensitivity of the visual receptors of the distant views fall into two

categories. These are low and medium-high. (Appendix 8 & Table 5). Those

views with low sensitivity are generally from vehicles on roads and distant

houses, public footpaths and bridleways. Those with medium-high sensitivity

are from public leisure routes. All these visual receptors have indirect or partial

views due to alignment of routes or existing vegetation or landform partially

obscuring the view.

25 SMR/06011/LA3-BP

SECTION 5: LANDSCAPE PLANNING POLICY CONTEXT

5.1 Chelveston former airfield is located within The East Midlands and East of

England regions, straddling the Northamptonshire/ Bedfordshire County border.

The site lies within East Northamptonshire District Council and Bedford Borough

Council, which are the statutory development plan making authorities for the

area and Northamptonshire County Council in relation to minerals and waste

planning. (Appendix 10)

5.2 Planning Policy Statement 7 for Sustainable Development in Rural Areas, was

issued in August 2004 and replaces Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) Note 7, The

Countryside – Environmental Quality and Economic and Social Development,

published in February 1997. PPS7 sets out the Government’s policies for rural

areas, with the pursuit of sustainable development central to the policy

approach. This means managing the countryside in ways that meet current

needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.

The guiding principle is that development should both benefit economic activity

and maintain, or enhance, the environment.

5.3 The site is not covered by any national or local landscape designations, with the

closest local landscape designations being an Area of Best Landscape in

Huntingdonshire District Council that runs up to the District boundary, an Area

of Great Landscape Value in Bedford Borough Council that is to the south of

Rushden, and a Special Landscape Area in East Northamptonshire District

Council along the River Nene north of Raunds (Drawings 112 and 113). The

site is covered by the Countryside Agency’s Countryside Character Assessment

and Landscape Character Assessments that have been undertaken by all the

authorities surrounding the site, namely Northamptonshire County Council,

Bedfordshire County Council and Huntingdonshire District Council (Drawing

111).

5.4 The site lies within the Countryside Agency’s Countryside Character Area 91:

Yardley – Whittlewood Ridge (Appendix 7). This area is described as a

“noticeable broad plateau,” “predominantly agricultural in character,” with “a

feel of being elevated, of openness and expansiveness”. It is noted that the

26 SMR/06011/LA3-BP

“elevation of the ridge has made it suitable for telecommunication masts and

airfields.” Parts of the ridge that contain extensive areas of woodland are

described as having an “historic feel”, whereas the more open plateau areas

are described as “a flattish, rather dull landscape”.

5.5 Relevant key characteristics of Area 91 include:

• broad plateau with shallow soils elevated above adjacent vales

• mixed land use of pasture, arable and woodland

• generally medium sized fields

• low density of settlement and consequently few local roads.

5.6 The Countryside Character Area description also identifies ways of shaping the

future for Area 91. These include retaining the character and nature

conservation value of woodlands, establishing new and maintaining existing

broad-leaved woodland on private land, restoring arable land back to pasture,

improving management of hedgerows and hedgerow trees, and carefully

integrating schemes for golf courses and holiday villages and farm

diversifications into the landscape structure.

5.7 Bedfordshire Landscape Character Assessment Draft Report was produced in

November 2003 and revisions to produce the ‘Consultation Draft’ undertaken in

2007. This identifies a total of four Landscape Character Types within 20km of

the site (Drawing 111 Table 6 Appendix 3 and Appendix 4). These are as

follows:

• Clay Farmland – gently undulating landform, levelling out to areas

of flat plateaux, large scale arable crop production, subtle valleys,

dispersed woodland, active and disused airfields, settlement is of

low density and dispersed across the landscape, hedgerow loss,

blunt interface with business and technology parks, churches are

strong landmarks, green lanes are of significance.

• Wooded Wolds – elevated limestone plateau, significant woodland

cover, mixed farmland, small to medium scale landscape, enclosed

and peaceful, commanding views.

• Limestone Valleys – Great River Ouse with meandering floodplain,

mixed farmland, restored gravel and limestone extraction has

27 SMR/06011/LA3-BP

created a series of lakes, medium scale with some enclosure, small

scale hamlets and villages.

• Clay Valleys – shallow and wide valleys of the Ouse and Ivel,

lowland landscape, strong links to Clay Vales landscape, mixed

farming and market gardening, restored mineral workings, busy

road corridors and urban fringe, Greensand Ridge Walk.

5.8 Northamptonshire Environmental Characterisation Process: Current Landscape

Character Assessment was produced in January 2006. This identifies a total of

nine Landscape Character Types within 20km of the site (Drawing 111 Table 6

Appendix 3 and Appendix 5). These are as follows:

• Rolling Ironstone Valley Slopes – rolling valley slopes, ironstone

geology creates red soils and distinctive stone, mixed farmland,

well settled

• Clay Plateau – elevated agricultural land with a surrounding

complex system of valleys, sparsely settled, isolated character,

sense of exposure, clay deposits

• Undulating Claylands – wide belt of rolling countryside, Boulder

clay has created a soft undulating landscape, rural and sparsely

settled

• Wooded Clay Plateau – undulating elevated landscape, watershed

between Rivers Nene and Welland, extensively wooded with a

rural quality, sparsely populated at the centre with large

settlements on the fringe

• Low Wooded Clay Ridge – relatively low elevations, rising gently

from adjacent lowlands, strong agricultural character with mixed

farmland, woodland is an integral part of the landscape, sparse

settlement and road pattern

• Farmed Claylands - expansive, low lying flat or gently undulating

plateau areas, open and intensive arable landscape, large scale

fields, expansive and sometimes exposed character, limited

woodland cover, thinly settled landscape

• Limestone Valley Slopes – limestone and mudstone geology

evident in buildings, encompasses many tributary valleys,

28 SMR/06011/LA3-BP

relatively well settled with linear villages and larger urban

settlements, predominantly arable

• River Valley Floodplain – linear form, rivers central to floodplain,

large flat floodplain productive arable landscape, settlement

limited

• Broad River Valley Floodplain – broad flat floodplain surrounded by

rising landform, slow flowing watercourse, areas of unimproved

pasture, areas of gravel extraction now wetland and lakes with

recreational activities

5.9 Huntingdonshire Landscape and Townscape Assessment was produced in

September 2004. This identifies a total of five Landscape Character Areas

within 20km of the site (Drawing 111 Table 6 Appendix 3 and Appendix 6).

These are as follows:

• Northern Wolds – strong ridgelines and valleys, valleys well

vegetated, ridges open, historic landscape, dispersed pattern of

historic villages

• Southern Wolds – gentle topography with broad valleys, well

wooded, scattered villages, significant modern influences

• Grafham Water – dominated by open water, rural quality around

reservoir, inward looking landscape, recreation is a key activity

• Ouse Valley – mosaic of landuse, gravel workings, meandering

river channel, significant towns and large villages, unimproved

areas of high ecological value, many recreational activities

• Central Claylands – gently undulating arable farmland with large

scale field pattern, regular distribution of historic villages, large

scale developments, extensive ancient woodland.

29 SMR/06011/LA3-BP

SECTION 6: DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED BIOMASS PLANT AND

LANDSCAPE PROPOSALS

6.1 A detailed description is included in the supporting statement to the planning

application. This section is a summary of the aspects relevant to the landscape

and visual assessment and the landscape proposals.

6.2 The Biomass Plant is proposed within the central compound area of the former

airfield and adjacent to the existing buildings. The proposed building lies to the

south-east and the storage vessels and bio-filter to the north-east of the

existing buildings. The latter will be retained and reused for the plant room,

offices and amenity facilities.

6.3 A new building is proposed approximately 34.86m wide and 84.80m long with

an eaves height of 10.47m and a ridge height of 12.36m. This building will

provide the reception storage and the preparation area for the incoming

materials. The building is to be colour rendered with the roof and upper 6.56m

specified as Ash Grey. This is a light grey which enables the structure to be

viewed quietly and neutrally against the sky. The lower 5.8m of the building,

including the doors, are to be colour rendered as Beaver Brown, a dark

earthern grey. This enables the structure to be tied visually to the ground with

the darker colour resembling hedgerows and tree belts as viewed against a

lighter sky. When viewed locally the two coloured approach reduces the mass

of the proposed structures and the apparent height to the observer. The

proposed building would be approximately 170m away from the nearest

footpath and approximately 165m from the nearest bridleway within the site.

6.4 Linked by pipes and a feed hopper the material is moved into nine cylindrical

vessels within which the anaerobic digestion process will take place. These

include 6 large and 3 smaller vessels. The larger vessels will be 13.92m high,

with a diameter of 20.8m and be glass-coated steel panels, colour rendered as

for the building. The 3 smaller vessels, which include one to provide gas

storage, will be 13.92m high, with a diameter of 10.4m with the same finish as

for the larger vessels.

30 SMR/06011/LA3-BP

6.5 The 9 vessels would be sunk into the ground by a further 2m and enclosed by

an earth bank with an impermeable membrane and slope gradients of

approximately 1:2. The enclosure would be approximately 61m by 104m. The

vessels and earth bund would be approximately 450m away from the nearest

footpath and 220m from the nearest bridleway which cross the site.

6.6 Access to the proposed Biomass Plant would be along the existing central wide

concrete track and existing access lane to the central compound within the site

and via the southern former airfield access road leading from Newton Road.

6.7 Proposed planting would be undertaken in three areas within the site. The first

is a proposed 20m wide tree and shrub belt (woodland shelter belt), including

deciduous and coniferous species on a stretch of the western boundary which

runs approximately parallel to the B645 Kimbolton Road, although elevated and

set back by one field from the road (Drawing 126). This is a section of the site

boundary which is currently without planting, has the elevated landform and

boundary fence on the skyline and would be enhanced with the addition of the

proposed tree belt. The planting scheme retains a 10m belt to the west to

establish and mature; the inner 20m would comprise hazel, willow and ash and

would be cut in a three phased coppiced rotation at 3 year intervals.

6.8 The second area of proposed 10m wide tree and shrub belt planting (woodland

shelter belt) would lie on the western boundary to the east of High Joint

Plantation and north of the Boxer mast site planting and Hare Spinney and

would fill a short gap reinforcing the extent of vegetation on the skyline as

viewed locally. The third area of proposed planting is a length of hedgerow

and tree planting along the western boundary where an existing poor quality

hedgerow follows the edge of the field. The hedgerow improvements for the

existing boundaries generally using a native species mix would reduce the

extent of open views towards the elevated landform of the former airfield

(Drawing 126).

6.9 The lighting requirements have been confirmed for the proposed biomass plant.

(April 2008). The proposals provide for directional downlighters for low level

lighting at 5m above the ground around the buildings, with a total of 8 lights.

31 SMR/06011/LA3-BP

There would be a further 6 columns with directional downlighters within the

tank area at a slightly reduced level producing an upper level 2m above the

adjacent ground level. The biomass plant would be operating over 24 hours,

with the lights used during the hours of darkness.

6.10 The additional planting as agreed with Northamptonshire County Council on 17

March 2008 would be in three further locations:

• A 30 metre wide coppiced structure planting belt adjacent to BWY18.

• A 30 metre wide coppiced structure planting belt and hedgerow adjacent to

MM17.

• A 40 metre wide woodland structure planting belt adjacent to the western

boundary, the western 10m of which would be trees and shrubs and the

inner 30 metres would be a coppiced structure planting belt.

The management of the coppiced structure planting would ensure that a 15m

width was continually retained with planting of at least 8m in height. The

woodland structure planting would be managed to grow and establish a 10

metre thick and tall belt of planting.

32 SMR/06011/LA3-BP

SECTION 7: IMPLICATIONS OF THE PROPOSED BIOMASS PLANT AND

LANDSCAPE SCHEME ON THE LOCAL AND WIDER LANDSCAPE

SETTING AND VIEWS TOWARDS THE SITE

7.1 In order to assess the proposed Biomass Plant on the landscape and visual

setting, a number of illustrations have been prepared. The first are six cross-

sections A-F, which are taken from a number of settlements and footpaths to

cross the site, close to or directly through the area of he central compound and

proposed Biomass Plant (Drawings 115 and 120 – 125). These show an

existing and proposed position and illustrate the extent of views towards the

Biomass Plant in relation to the landform and existing and proposed vegetation.

7.2 The second illustrations are photomontages, which are taken from five locations

around the site. These include a before photograph and a second photograph

containing an image of the Biomass Plant created using 3D computerised model

(Photographs and Photomontages 1, 5, 7, 9 and 11 and Drawing 116). The

Method Statement for the photomontages is detailed in Appendix 9.

7.3 The views towards the site are scheduled in Tables 2, 4 & 5 (Appendix 3). The

viewpoints identified in the tables refer to the appropriate cross-section or

photomontage where relevant. There is a description of the changed view

towards a Biomass Plant where applicable including reference to magnitude of

change and the significance of the proposals.

7.4 Due to the proposed Biomass Plant location lying centrally within the extensive

former airfield site, there is a considerable distance from the proposed

development to the airfield boundaries. Views which have been identified as

local to the site are within 2.5km of the site boundaries. However, the views

from the north-east towards the proposed Biomass Plant are actually at a

distance of 2.64km and all views towards the Biomass Plant that lie beyond the

site boundaries are in excess of 1.1km. Only footpath and bridleway views

within the site and views from Manor Farm fall within the 1km distance. (Tables

3 & 4 Appendix 3)

33 SMR/06011/LA3-BP

7.5 As a summary of Tables 2-5 the top of the roof of the proposed building would

be visible, together with approximately the upper 2.5m of the vessels from the

north-west at the eastern edge of Chelveston village at a distance of 1.61km,

from the north-east beyond the western edge of Hargrave at a distance of

2.64km, from the west close to Caldecott Church at 1.75km and from the

southern approach road to Yelden where elevated on a ridgeline at 1.92km.

The site’s southern approach road close to the MOD and USAF housing would

have views of the proposed Biomass Plant at a distance of 1.25km and the

footpaths and bridleways within the site would have direct views towards the

proposals once past the boundary tree belts at a closest distance of 130m to

the development. There are only partial eastern local views, including those

from the Three Shires Way recreational route towards the Biomass Plant due to

the screening provided by Manor and High Barn Farms and associated

vegetation. The distant views towards the proposed development would have

the proposed buildings and structures at a scale where they are completely lost

over the long distances. The proposed development remains well contained

visually by the landform due to the elevated central position on the plateau and

would be further screened by the extensive existing tree belts which follow the

majority of the site’s boundaries.

7.6 Due to the distances, the low to medium sensitivity of the receptors (observers)

and the minimal extent of development visible within the above views, other

than when within the immediate vicinity of the development proposals on

footpaths and bridleways, the resultant implications on the local and wider

setting are minimal and unless specifically looking for the Biomass Plant may

otherwise not be perceived within the site. When close to the Biomass Plant,

the resultant implications on the footpath and bridleway users is medium and

not high due to the existing setting of the former airfield and associated

structures and fencing.

7.7 The site lies at some distance from the closest villages of Chelveston, Caldecott

and Hargrave and the views towards the Biomass Plant are described from the

adjacent roads. The closest residential properties to the site, other than for

those associated with the villages, are at High Barn Farm and Manor Farm.

Three residential properties lie within this group of buildings. Views towards

34 SMR/06011/LA3-BP

the site and the proposed Biomass Plant are restricted for High Barn and Top

Cottage by the enclosure provided by the barns and outbuildings. (Photograph

Y). The Manor Farm residential property would have more direct views over a

distance of 950 metres. The Biomass Plant would be viewed against the

backdrop of the north-western boundary vegetation of the site and Highjoint

Plantation. (Photograph S, X & W) taken on boundary and within the site)

7.8 The site has a number of considerations, which suggest the suitability of the

land for a use associated with a Biomass Plant, and these are detailed as

follows.

7.9 The elevation of the magnitude of the change on the visual receptors due to

distance and the minimal extent to which the proposed Biomass Plant would be

apparent within the existing views towards the former airfield and associated

remnants of structures, results overall in an impact of adverse medium-low and

low significance and negligible significance for the identified viewpoints,

depending upon the identified sensitivity of the receptors as medium to low

significance generally and medium to high for the Three Shires Way footpath.

The improvements resulting from the proposed planting and additional agreed

planting scheme, would over 15 years produce an overall beneficial or neutral

low to medium-low or not perceivable impact for the identified viewpoints and

visual receptors due to the enhancement of the skyline and greater woodland

planting within the open landscape.

7.10 The evaluation of the effect of the Biomass Proposals on the Landscape

Character Areas and Landscape Character Types was identified as of low

adverse or neutral significance in Year 1 and low adverse, beneficial and neutral

significance in Year 15.

7.11 The site has been the subject of extensive development and use since 1940;

the decommissioning events have left land with thin and poor quality soils,

which are not ideal for agricultural use. Development on the land would

therefore not be on good quality agricultural land, nor on a ‘green field’ site;

indeed the land is correctly described as Previous Developed Land and,

35 SMR/06011/LA3-BP

although poor quality vegetation has grown over the surface, the majority of

the area contains extensive remnants of buildings, structures and foundations.

7.12 The existing boundary planting on site, which is approximately 20 years of age,

is expected to continue to establish and mature and will form a more significant

presence on the perimeter of the site. This particularly applies to the planting

at the southern end of the eastern boundary and that on the northern end of

the western boundary, which is generally anticipated to increase in height by

approximately 6m over 15 years, attaining approximate heights of 14-18m.

This is based on growth rates of 0.4m/year as suggested by the Forestry

Commission in their booklet Thinning Control. Within the young woodland

planting there is an element of poplar and willow trees amounting to 25 % of

the mix, which will grow at faster rates (approximately 0.85m /year), attaining

approximate heights of 21-23m. The older planting of the existing mature

woodland, Hare Spinney, on the western boundary is anticipated to grow at

comparatively reduced rates (approximately 0.25m/year) increasing in height

by approximately 3.75m over 15 years. The growth of the poplars and willows

within the belts of woodland will therefore have the greatest landscape and

visual impact upon the setting of the site. Overall due to the extent of existing

young planting and proposed planting, in 15 years the site will have an

enhanced structure, consisting of blocks and belts of semi-mature and mature

woodland on the perimeter and this planting will provide an effective screen for

both summer and winter views toward the site for these eastern and western

site boundaries.

7.13 The location on a wide plateau enables structures positioned centrally to be

well concealed by the landform from lower adjacent viewpoints and

settlements. This can be noted to apply currently for the existing buildings in

the centre of the site and their loss within the surrounding views generally

(Tables 2, 4 & 5 Appendix 3).

7.14 The adjacent ridgeline to the south-east which runs parallel to the site

ridgelines and plateau prevent longer views towards the former airfield unless

directly on the adjacent ridgeline on a footpath or lane. The settlements to the

south and east are all low lying and associated with the Til Valley.

36 SMR/06011/LA3-BP

7.15 The Nene Valley to the north-west contains extensive areas for recreational

uses with a large Country Park. These areas are too low lying to allow views to

the central area of the plateau. The land which rises beyond the River Nene is

then at a considerable distance from the site, with other larger structures lying

closer to the observer.

7.16 Views towards the site from the north-east are at a similar elevation and this

would allow the biomass structures to be viewed in the distance and on the

horizon (Tables 2 & 5 Appendix 3). Currently these site boundaries are open

and planting absent within the site. New planting on the north-eastern site

boundaries and adjacent to the RoW would form an effective screen as they are

considerably closer to the observer than the proposed structures. This planting

would form part of the development proposal.

7.17 The larger settlements at Rushden and Higham Ferrers are elevated on south-

western ridgelines. However, the new bypass and associated land modelling of

the road prevents more than occasional distant views towards the site, except

for the elevated footbridge (Tables 2 & 5 Appendix 3).

7.18 The vast scale of the site and extensive land associated with the massive

runways enables development within the centre to be at a good distance from

any adjacent properties. As a result the site is remote in visual and landscape

terms from both the wider landscape and the lower lying settlements within the

valleys of the Nene and Til and associated tributaries.

7.19 Access to the site is proposed from the south on Newton Road. This route is

already used by HGVs to access the haulage yard and does not pass through

any settlements. There will be additional HGV movements and increased

activity at the corner of Newton Road and the access lane. This corner lies at

100 metres from the nearest USAF property and beyond the USAF boundary

fence.

7.20 Lighting of the Biomass Plant is likely to be required, although not along the

access routes. The application of the lighting during the short winter days

37 SMR/06011/LA3-BP

would affect the users of the rights of way close to the site with an increased

local light source. However, the existing lighting within the site is restricted to

the central compound and the proposals would continue to retain the lighting to

this area as directional downlighting.

7.21 The longer distance recreational routes have views towards the site and of the

proposed Biomass Plant from short elevated sections where the paths cross the

adjacent ridgelines. For the Nene Valley Way there would be no views towards

the Biomass Plant, from the Three Shires Way there is a short elevated stretch

with views towards the Biomass Plant above Rifle Range Farm to the south of

Yelden. (Tables 2 & 5 Appendix 3)

7.22 There are two Conservation Areas at Covington and Upper Dean; both are in

excess of 3km from the site, and neither of which would have the setting of the

village affected by the potential Biomass Plant. The house and parkland at

Melchbourne is equally remote from the site located in the Til Valley and

separated visually from the site. Most of the Listed Buildings lie within the

villages separated visually by the landform from the site except for the Church

spires.

7.23 In relation to the landscape planning designation and policies, the site lies

beyond any national and local landscape designations. The Landscape

Character Area studies identify the opportunities to introduce further planting in

the arable and clay plateau and planting on the site boundaries, which currently

are open, this would enable the creation of a stronger vegetated skyline and a

framework to the views from the adjacent valleys. Behind this planting, some

of which already exists on the eastern and western site boundaries, the

biomass activities would be lost visually in a remote location.

7.24 The central area of the former airfield would therefore appear in landscape and

visual terms as entirely suitable for a Biomass Plant and the development and

additional planting proposals for this planning application are appropriate within

the local and wider landscape setting.