9. Objective 2 - To protect the rural landscape and preserve its amenity value to the community

Background8

Geology and Topography

80. The area within the LBNP Designated Area principally comprises two main landscape types – to the east of the B4069 the ground is Avon Valley Lowlands, and to the west of the B4069 running towards the A350/A429 this landscape changes as it becomes part of the Hullavington Rolling Lowland running between Malmesbury and Corsham, as designated by the Wiltshire Landscape Setting Assessment.

81. The Avon Valley Lowland landscape is predominantly intensively managed, permanent farmed pasture with some arable and small isolated pockets of meadow, and are mostly underlain by the impermeable Oxford and Kellaways Clays, resulting in perennially wet soil conditions in the lowest lying parts.

82. Where the land within the Parish transitions to the Hullavington Rolling Lowlands landscape on the west it generally shares similar characteristics to that described above, with gently undulating lowland farmland overlaying geology of predominantly mudstone and limestone, with pockets of clay. There is still a strong network of hedgerows and a mix of pasture and arable farmland, as well as the woodland blocks of Birds Marsh Wood and Dog Kennel Plantation.

83. There is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on the eastern side of the Parish, 1 km south east of Langley Burrell village, towards Tytherton Lucas, and is a river bank section along the River Avon. The SSSI notification notice indicates that the site is the historical type locality for the Callovian Stage and includes a number of highly-fossiliferous exposures of the famous Kellaways Rock, a calcareous sandstone yielding abundant well-preserved bivalves, gastropods, brachiopods, belemnites and ammonites. The site includes the designated type localities of the Kellaways Sand Member, which includes the Kellaways Rock itself and also the underlying Kellaways Clay Member of the Kellaways Formation (in a borehole section). The Kellaways district is also the type locality of many important invertebrate species, especially ammonites; the latter include the internationally important stratigraphic index species Sigaloceras calloviense (Sowerby), and Sigaloceras micans (Buckman) and around 17 other nominal species. The Kellaways exposures are of great international and historical significance and constitute the most important single Callovian locality in Britain.9

Woodland and Hedgerows

84. Birds' Marsh Wood is a 24 hectare ancient woodland, and one of the last remnants of a vast expanse of woodland that formerly covered much of Wiltshire and Somerset. Several of the oak trees in the wood are thought to be over 300 years old. Records indicate that King Alfred settled in Chippenham and rode out into the local forests to hunt during the Ninth Century, and it appears likely that the former residents of the Keeper’s Cottage in Birds’ Marsh were his distant descendants. The Ashe family of Langley Estate inter-planted existing trees with rhododendrons and other species during the Nineteenth Century to create an arboretum and as a covert for rearing birds. The Kilvert Diaries of the Nineteenth Century mention a day spent picnicking in the Wood. A significant number of trees (notably on the land north of Parsonage Way and to the west of the B4069 south of Birds Marsh Wood, and around Dog Kennel Plantation) are subject to Tree Preservation Orders.

Field Systems

85. Hedgerows enclose fields of varying size, and there are sparse hedgerow trees, plus willows lines marking the more established waterways and poplar shelter belts. Wide sections of the area remain rural and tranquil. Ancient field systems are evident; despite suffering damage from ploughing, residual ridge and furrow is still visible in many fields.

86. Tracts of neutral grassland, a high density of ponds and the parkland surrounding Langley House are all inhabited by a variety of wildlife, including Great Crested Newts. The field layout has remained almost unchanged since at least the Ordnance Survey of 1889 and is punctuated by stands and single specimens of veteran native trees and intersected by mature hedgerows. This gives the area a particularly rich variety of tree cover inhabited by owls and protected species such as Greater and Lesser horseshoe bats. The predominately oak population in the fields to the north-east of Barrow Farm is recognised as supporting a range of species, including deadwood invertebrates and roosting bats.

Figure 5 Location of significant landscape features

Watercourses

87. About 4km of the River Avon run through the Parish and it has associated its reed beds and watercourses such as Stein Brook, Chissell Brook and Cade Burna.

Contemporary Characteristics

88. In December 2014, Wiltshire Council commissioned a Landscape Setting Assessment (LSA) for the Chippenham area as part of its work to create a CSAP. Given the focus on Langley Burrell Parish as a potential receptor of new housing estates, Langley Burrell features prominently in the report. Detailed consideration is given to:

• that part of Langley Common to the west of the B4069 (described as zone A1)
• that part of Langley Common to the east of the B4069 (described as zone A2)

The observations and recommendations are closely aligned with the objectives of the LBNP. In each zone, the report identifies ”Special Qualities to be Safeguarded”. Features of highest relevance to the LBNP are summarised below11.

Zone A1

89. To the east of Bird’s Marsh the land forms an important setting to the edge of Chippenham although there are no long views towards the settlement. The field pattern is larger with less defined boundaries and blocks of woodland provide an association with the wider estate of Langley House on the eastern side of Maud Heath’s Causeway and a rural setting to the approach to Chippenham.10 The strategic area contributes to the significance of Barrow Farm, Jacksom’s Farm and Langley House, providing landscape context and contributing to the evidential, aesthetic and historic heritage values of these assets.11

90. Strategic Area A includes five Grade II listed buildings and is within the setting of a further six Grade II listed buildings. The open agricultural land of Strategic Area A1 contributes to the significance of these assets.12

91. Harm to heritage significance would result from a loss of appreciation and understanding of the landscape setting and context to these buildings.13

92. The eastern part of the landscape is enclosed by woodland but the larger field pattern creates a more open character and enables longer views to the north, east and south.14

93. Page 52 of Wiltshire Council’s LSA describes the landscape sensitivities/qualities to be safeguarded of the land around Birds Marsh as follows:

Land west of B4069

• Peaceful rural wooded river valley of Stein Brook along Jacksom’s Lane;
• Prominence of Bird’s Marsh Woodland on high ground;
• Strong network of mature intact hedgerows which create an enclosed wooded character to the western part of the landscape;
• Field ponds at junctions of hedgerows and corners of fields;
• Mature hedgerows, trees and woodland form attractive features in the landscape;
• Wooded approach and views across wooded river valley are characteristic of the approach into Chippenham along the A350 from the M4;
• Views across Chippenham from the southwest part of the Strategic Area to the limestone ridge of Naish Hill and Bowden Hill. St Paul’s Church forms a prominent feature of the skyline beyond foreground trees and hedgerows;
• Visual separation between Chippenham and Kington Langley provided by landform around Bird’s Marsh. This strategic area is important to retaining separation between Kington Langley and Chippenham with no views possible between settlements and a generally rural character. In addition the land also provides separation between Langley Burrell and Chippenham along Maud Heath’s Causeway;
• Well vegetated character to the northern edge of Chippenham although this is diluted close to Maud Heath’s Causeway where properties are prominent along Hill Corner Road and exert urban influence on the adjacent rural landscape ;
• Distinctive built form and rural character to properties along Jacksom’s Lane and Maud Heath’s Causeway; and
• Presence of wooded backdrop to properties along Maud Heath’s Causeway and their position set back beyond long front gardens from the road.

Zone A2

94. “The landscape is important in providing separation between Chippenham and Langley Burrell. There is some limited intervisibility between the two settlements at present, however the presence of established hedgerows and woodland both along Parsonage Way and around Kilvert’s Parsonage is important in helping to reinforce separation”15 The open nature of the land around Kilvert’s Parsonage, and between Kilvert’s Parsonage and the village provide clear separation, and also a rural setting and wooded approach into Chippenham along Maud Heath’s Causeway.16

95. Pages 57 & 58 of Wiltshire Council’s LSA describes the landscape sensitivities/qualities to be safeguarded of the land east of Maud Heaths Causeway as follows: Land east of B4069

• Wooded character created through the woodland around Kilverts Parsonage and along the edge of Chippenham;
• Rural approach into Chippenham along Maud Heath’s Causeway;
• Small scale pasture and mature boundaries creating enclosure along the southern edge of Langley Burrell;
• Retention of mature hedgerows throughout the landscape;
• Visual separation between Langley Burrell and Chippenham through retention and bolstering of existing woodland and presence of farmland along Maud Heath’s Causeway between the two settlements;
• Strong containment and wooded framework to the employment area; and
• Landscape setting and network of public rights of way between Chippenham and Maud’s Heath Causeway.

96. Four of the views we are seeking to preserve originate from within the area described in paragraph 4.49 of the LSA.

Future Concerns

97. The potential expansion of Chippenham and encroachment of urban space is seen by residents as the greatest threat to the landscape and its tranquility. Wiltshire Council’s website17 says of Langley Burrell that “Despite its closeness to Chippenham [the Parish] retains a quite rural flavour”. A key concern is that the tranquil, deeply rural character will be lost. It is felt that there is a ‘critical mass’ in terms of the physical space and setting of landscape characteristics that is under threat of being reduced to below critical levels. There is something inherent in the description of a landscape that it is at a larger scale than a single field or a single stretch of river.

98. According to para 4.41 of the LSA: The largest area of weak townscape and landscape is located in the sector between Langley Road/Maud Heath’s Causeway and the railway line. There are some buildings with extensive footprint, scale and massing, however important screening is provided by groups of trees to the edge of this area along Maud Heath’s Causeway, Parsonage Way and the railway. Due to the screening, they are not visually prominent from land to the east Chippenham.

99. A key objective of this plan is to ensure that this situation does not deteriorate.

9.2 Policies

Landscape Policy 1 (LP 1) – Protecting the rural landscape

Proposals for new development must respect the pastoral setting of the Parish and accordingly must assess and address, with mitigation where appropriate, the need to: i) work with not against the grain and mature boundaries of the dispersed settlement of buildings and outlying hamlets in the area; and ii) retain and not diminish the physical separation between Langley Burrell and Chippenham; and iii) retain and enhance the important visual separations across the area between Chippenham toward Kington Langley and Langley Burrell; and iv) retain and not detract from the dominance of the natural features that provide the setting for these settlements, such as the woodlands of Bird’s Marsh and Kilvert’s Parsonage; and v) retain the tranquillity of the rural landscape in particular where public footpaths allow access for recreation; and vi) not diminish the significant views across open countryside shown in Figure 6. Wherever possible, development should deliver enhancements to the landscape character.

100. Sub-policies (i) and (v): The overall objectives for the area are to conserve and enhance its pastoral character, and to ensure that any new development respects the grain of the dispersed settlement in the area.18

101. Sub-policies (ii) and (iii): These policies support the greatest concern Residents expressed for the future of the village, namely coalescence with Chippenham. It is strongly supported by Resident feedback, and evidence from the NPPF, WCS and LSA.

102. Sub-policy (iv): This policy supports the very high value Residents place in the environment and landscape of Langley Burrell. This was a constant and leading theme throughout all our consultations. It is strongly supported by the NPPF, WCS, the CSAP and LSA as well as by Residents’ feedback.

103. Sub policy (vi): It became clear through the consultation that there were several key views that were considered ‘definitive’ of the village setting in the wider context of the Avon Valley and Hullavington Rolling Lowlands, particularly across to Bird’s Marsh. These are views that Residents feel create special connections between the position of the views and the wider landscape of the village and its setting between Bird’s Marsh, the Avon Valley, the Chippenham scarp and the ridge line of Wick Hill at the end of the Causeway. Because the land is relatively flat, especially to the east, and falls away to the south, these views are especially sensitive to interruption by buildings.

Figure 6 - Strategic and important views within the Parish

View 1 - Eastwards towards the Green Bridge and Bencroft Hill across the Avon Valley from land on the east side of the B4069 near Kilverts Parsonage, Footpath LBUR5

View 2 East across the Avon Valley from near Common Farm with the western end of the village on the left foreground, Footpath LBUR23 (a similar view is afforded from LBUR21)

View 3 Northwards towards the village from the field north of Kilverts Parsonage driveway bordering the B4069 (from footpaths LBUR21 or LBUR23)

View 4 from the B4069 west and north west towards Bird’s Marsh

View 5 - East towards St Giles and the raised Causeway from the meadow on the east side of the River Avon from LBUR7

View 6 - East North East towards Tytherton Lucas/Kellaways across River Avon - from Green Bridge Footpath LBUR 5

104. All of the views have been suggested by local residents and are visible from popular public footpaths in the Parish. They reflect the desire to retain the ability to experience key amenities offered by the Parish such as the attractive views across the Avon Valley towards the Bencroft-Charlcutt limestone ridge, the attractive rural setting of the village and its conservation area, the raised section of Maud Heath’s Causeway across the flood plain and the accessible open countryside adjacent to Birds Marsh Wood with its network of popular rural footpaths.

105. The features concerned figure prominently in landscape assessments and heritage documentation. The following extracts from Chippenham evidence paper 4 (LSA by TEP) illustrate:

106. The table below shows the relevance of each of these extracts to the selected views:

107. Although there was no explicit question about views in the Community Questionnaire, the three questions which closely relate to the preservation of views (Q1.1.A, 1.1D and 1.1F) all received 100% or near 100% support. The first five of the views appeared in the Consultation Draft as policy 2.03. This policy required views and vistas to be maintained wherever possible. It stated that development would not be supported where it detracted from the five identified views. The policy received 96% endorsement by respondents.

108. Lastly, the new developments of North Chippenham and Rawlings Green will be very close to the footpaths from which all the views are experienced. We expect the paths and the opp