Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) helps inform planning decisions by identifying the effects of new developments on views and on the landscape, along with measures to mitigate any adverse effects.
In this article the LI shares an update on LVIA and future plans, outlining where we would like to hear from interested parties.
Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (GLVIA)
First published in 1995, and written by professionals for professionals, GLVIA is now in its third edition. GLVIA3 was produced under the joint auspices of the LI and the Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment (IEMA) to support landscape professionals and provide a framework for delivering LVIA. Building on past work this edition provided comprehensive and clear guidance that reflected the different pressures and changes practitioners were experiencing and to encourage higher standards. It stresses that landscape professionals must demonstrate and achieve quality and consistency in their work, noting the valuable contribution they make to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA) in particular. It is the established guidance for recommended good practice, against which LVIA is undertaken and tested.
Recognising that since GLVIA3 was published in 2013 there had been a number of statements, amendments, questions and answers, the GLVIA Advisory Panel concluded that these would benefit from being collated and simplified. The Panel put the question (in summary) to LI members “do you think GLVIA3 is fit for purpose and provides a useful framework for undertaking LVIA, requires some clarifications, or requires the production of a new 4th edition”. The Survey revealed the majority felt GLVIA3 is sufficient or required some clarifications. Following consultations and feedback the LI published a Technical Guidance Note (TGN) in August 2024 to supplement GLVIA3 providing Notes & Clarifications (N&C) that supersedes all previous clarifications and errata. This can be found here.
The GLVIA Advisory Panel reiterated in the N&C that GLVIA3 is aimed at experienced practitioners, allowing for professional judgement. It is not a textbook to teach the inexperienced, nor does it intend to be prescriptive. Its aim is to strike the right balance between structure and flexibility so as not to prevent improvement, variation and innovation.
The GLVIA Advisory Panel looks at how best to support LI members, landscape professionals and our partners. The LI is in the process of examining methods to advance guidance, training and standards and is reviewing the way we develop and approve policy and technical guidance.
When considering what should follow the N&C we would like to know if you think that supplementary technical information notes or further guidance would be useful for specific topic areas or technical matters.
You can reach out to us by emailing at technical@landscapeinstitute.org.
Education and Training in LVIA.
The Landscape Institute works with universities across the UK to provide the professional accreditation of undergraduate and postgraduate higher education programmes and we have expanded our contribution to the profession by helping to create new routes into the sector with the development apprenticeships.
The LI has appointed two new Directors, of Policy & Public Affairs and of Membership & Professional Standards, Belinda Gordon and Jonathan Ellis FRSA, who will ensure that we can continue to respond to, and influence a changing environment. Addressing education, training and skills issues will be at the forefront with upskilling, reviewing the expansion of qualification recognition and the curriculum. The LI’s most recent initiative, the LI Academy, will grow and our CPD offering is being examined. The GLVIA Advisory Panel will be working with Belinda and Jonathan as it turns its attention to education and training.
Competency Framework and Accreditation
Many practitioners and especially those who have gone through the Pathway process will recognise the LI’s Competency Framework. Introduced in 2020 to provide a structured method of gauging the abilities of practitioners within the landscape sector, it is designed to demonstrate and articulate the requisite knowledge and skills of a landscape professional at various levels of proficiency and experience.
As the LI develops the Entry_Standards_Competency_Framework to reflect the changing skills the landscape profession needs, we will be asking our members and committees to get involved in consultations and workshops and to send in their feedback. The Framework will not remain static.
Currently LVIA falls under ‘landscape assessment’ in the competency framework and the GLVIA Advisory Panel will be an integral committee in helping to clarify and enhance the Framework.
In association with the GLVIA Advisory Panel and IEMA the LI is also investigating whether we develop an LVIA Quality Mark, to provide clients and decision makers with confidence in the quality of reports. Stakeholder engagement will be vital in determining the development of certification for individuals (akin to the EIA Practitioner Register) and/or for organisations (akin to the IEMA Quality Mark) – we’d be interested to know if you have any ideas or concerns about how this might work.
Committees and Groups
At the heart of the decision-making process as we evolve these areas within the LI are our Committees, Council, Branches, and Members. Plans are afoot to revitalise our committees including reforming one of our Standing Committees, the Technical Committee.
The GLVIA Advisory Panel reports to the Technical Committee which was temporarily stood down in 2023 whilst a review of committees was conducted and the recommendations were put in place. In the interim period the Panel has continued to make progress against its workplan, and the completion of the N&C is an important example of this.
These committees and groups are crucial as the LI reinforces and expands its work and influence.
Further information regarding our committees and how you might wish to volunteer and join us in our important work has been recently released, with more to come soon.
Visual Representation of Development Proposals
There have been some requests for clarifications of Technical Guidance Note 06/19 which is currently marked for review and makes reference to GLVIA3. During the review process the LI will seek feedback and consultation from our members and partners which will form and inform next steps.
More on this will follow. If this is an area of interest to you please do get in touch.
We want to hear from you
Look out for the publications and communications where we will invite you to get involved.
Feel free to share this article and do contact us anytime.
Help to shape and influence the future, send your thoughts and ideas here.
