LCA9A North Andover Plateau

Landscape Strategy and Guidelines

The proximity of North Andover Plateau to Andover and the openness of the landscape make this character area particularly vulnerable to visual intrusion from any urban expansion or new urban fringe development. The overall strategy is to enhance the varied landscape structure and rural character of North Andover Plateau and seek opportunities to create a stronger edge treatment to the settlements through appropriate planting.

Land Management

Landscape Distinctiveness

Protect the distinctive form and character of separate settlements

Maintain the existing complexity and variety of the landscape

Maintain existing levels of tranquillity and minimise the impact of development on the quiet enjoyment of this area

Agriculture

Seek opportunities to retain and restore 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

Maintain existing intricate pattern of hedgerows

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

Woodland and Trees

Promote good management of woodlands including greater use of coppicing

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

Maintain shelter belts on higher groundBiodiversity

Introduce buffer strips and uncultivated margins around arable farmland and manage woodland edges

Historic Landscapes

Maintain the close relationship between the settlement pattern, late medieval/early post-medieval landscape and adjacent parkland

Avoid further erosion of historic landscapes and particularly later medieval and early post-medieval field systems due to modern agricultural methods

Conserve and enhance parkland and other historic features

Urban Fringe

Reinforce the edge of Andover through careful design and appropriate landscape planting

Avoid deterioration in the urban fringe landscape arising from poor design and intrusive development

Improve management of the landscape around settlements

Seek improved management and maintenance of farmsteads and farms in the urban fringe

Land Use and Development

Built Developments

Opportunities to be sought to restore local landscape features and create a stronger landscape structure within the settlement edge of Andover

Maintain the historic integrity of the existing settlement pattern

Minimise visual intrusion into the adjacent countryside

Seek opportunities to enhance linear development along the main roads

Infrastructure

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

Recreation, Tourism and Access

Consider possibility of introducing small country parks or similar recreational focal points

Volume 1: LCA9A Landscape Character Types and Areas