Manchester’s Distinctive Landscape and Townscape
Long known as the birthplace of the industrial revolution, Manchester and its landscape still reflect that history today. Red-brick mills, canals and Victorian warehouses sit alongside contemporary skyscrapers like the Beetham Tower and Deansgate Square. The combination of industrial heritage and bold new development creates a townscape and visual impact that is unlike any other UK city.
Beyond the urban core, the surrounding landscape adds to Manchester’s character. To the east, the Pennines rise with open moorland and ridges, to the south, the Cheshire Plain stretches with farmland and villages, and to the west, the River Irwell and Mersey valleys provide a softer natural setting. Such a variety means that both city-centre schemes and projects on the edge of the metropolitan area can carry significant environmental effects that require careful landscape planning.
Local authorities and the Landscape Institute (LI) encourage developers to consider landscape character early in the design process. By doing so, a proposed development can integrate more successfully into its setting, avoiding adverse effects and supporting sustainable development.
Why Manchester Needs Robust Landscape Planning
In Manchester, planning applications are often subject to a detailed review because of the city’s heritage and growth trajectory. Whether it is a new development in the Northern Quarter, regeneration around Salford Quays or infrastructure near residential suburbs, landscape planning plays a crucial role in shaping effective planning decisions.
Otherwise known as a landscape visual impact assessment, a landscape and visual impact assessment (LVIA) provides a structured way to analyse how a proposed development will affect both the physical landscape and people’s experience of it. Chartered landscape architects prepare these studies, looking at environmental effects, townscape and visual impact and how the scheme relates to the surrounding landscape.
Large urban projects, transport corridors and mixed-use schemes may also require environmental impact assessments (EIA). By combining an LVIA with an EIA, environmental planning professionals ensure that visual effects are understood in parallel with other environmental concerns, such as biodiversity or traffic. Standalone reports are sometimes requested by planning inspectors, while public inquiries and planning appeals often depend on expert evidence and expert witness testimony.
The importance of this process cannot be overstated. Without a detailed assessment, adverse effects on views, heritage assets and community spaces could be overlooked, leading to objections or refusals. With a well-prepared landscape and visual impact assessment, however, developers can demonstrate that mitigation measures have been built into the design process, giving local authorities confidence in approving planning applications.
Inside a Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment
Every landscape and visual impact assessment (LVIA) begins with a clear site appraisal. Chartered landscape architects visit the proposed development site to establish baseline conditions and record landscape character, including analysing features such as landform, vegetation, watercourses, heritage assets and existing land use. Theoretical visibility studies are then carried out to identify where the development might be seen and which visual receptors are likely to be affected.
The next stage examines townscape and visual impact. How will the project appear to people walking through the city centre, driving along the ring road or living in nearby neighbourhoods? The visual effects are measured in terms of scale, prominence and sensitivity of receptors. The assessment is then compared against planning policies and guidance from the Landscape Institute (LI).
Where significant effects are identified, mitigation measures are recommended. Examples of measures could include changes to landscape design, building layout, height or screening. By addressing potential issues early in the design process, developers can reduce risk at planning appeals or public enquiries and improve their chances of gaining approval.
Often, an LVIA forms part of a broader environmental impact assessment (EIA), but they can also be produced as a standalone report. In either case, the findings are presented clearly so that planning consultants, local authorities and inspectors have the expert evidence they need to make informed planning decisions.
Supporting Development Across Manchester
If you’re preparing development proposals in Manchester, a landscape and visual impact assessment (LVIA) could be the key to avoiding delays and objections.
Our team of landscape architects and planning consultants provide site appraisals, LVIAs and environmental impact assessments (EIA) across various sectors. We deliver clear reports and both expert evidence and expert witness support at planning appeals and public enquiries.
Contact us today for a tailored quote. Call, email, message us on social media or use our online form, and we’ll arrange a site visit to ensure your project moves forward smoothly with the right evidence in place.
