Guidance will protect AONBs and direct councils in new development
LUC has been appointed to produce landscape character and sensitivity assessments for Kent to inform future growth and development management.
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Sevenoaks District Council and Thanet District Council have commissioned the assessments in order to balance protection of their landscapes with pressure on development, especially housing.
The areas under assessment include several areas of outstanding natural beauty (AONBs), including the High Weald and Kent Downs, as well as nature conservation areas along the Thanet coast. LUC will document the character of the diverse landscapes and identify key sensitivities; their findings will be used to guide future planning and management decisions while protecting and enhancing Kent’s landscapes.
A mobile app is also being developed alongside the project to help collate stakeholder feedback.
LUC has previously worked on the South East Protected Landscapes Renewable Energy Study, which identified constraints and opportunities for renewable energy development within the High Weald and Kent Downs AONBs, and a woodland management study for the Kent Downs AONB.
