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