LCA10G Cholderton Downs

Landscape Strategy and Guidelines

The Cholderton Downs is a more fragmented and enclosed landscape than much of this landscape type, but it is noted for its historic features. The overall strategy is therefore to conserve and enhance the quiet open parkland character of Cholderton Downs.

Land Management

Landscape Distinctiveness

Maintain sense of remoteness and tranquillity

Protect significant open vistas from visual intrusion

Protect and enhance views to valued local landscape features

Agriculture

Seek opportunities to retain remaining small areas of pasture

Discourage further amalgamation of fields and loss of hedgerows

Encourage sustainable farming practices with a view to minimising the impact of new farming infrastructure and methods including spraying and fertiliser applications

Encourage new farm buildings to be well sited and integrated into the landscape

Hedgerows

Restore lost and fragmented hedgerows on former hedgerow lines

Seek opportunities mitigate impact from existing and future development through new hedgerow planting

Woodland and Trees

Seek opportunities for new woodland planting to link existing wooded areas and integrate modern development into the landscape

Promote good management of woodlands

Biodiversity

Conserve, restore and manage remnant areas of unimproved chalk grassland

Avoid further erosion of farmland biodiversity due to intensive agricultural methods

Seek opportunities to extend and link unimproved grassland and woodland habitats

Historic Landscapes

Protect the landscape setting to historic features

Avoid further erosion of historic landscapes and the destruction of extant earthworks by modern agricultural methods

Protect and enhance parkland features

Land Use and Development

Built Developments

Development to respond to the local characteristics of the landscape

Maintain the historic integrity of the existing settlement patternInfrastructure

Seek opportunities to enhance roadside planting and minimise visual and noise intrusion

Avoid intrusive development of tall and large structures except where they can be successfully integrated into the landscape

Seek to minimise the visual intrusion and suburbanising effect arising from highway infrastructure

Volume 1: LCA10G Landscape Character Types and Areas