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Landscape

Landscape encompasses the whole of our external environment whether we are in the countryside, villages, towns or cities. It has been formed as a result of a variety of factors; particularly underlying geology, climate with its associated natural processes such as the action of rivers and glaciation together with centuries of human activity. These factors interact together to produce landscapes of distinctive regional and local character in terms of landform, vegetation cover and the patterns created by agriculture, buildings and transport links.

Landscapes continue to evolve over time as a result of these influences particularly due to changes in land use such as building development and new infrastructure.

Roads and other transport routes have been an integral and part of the English landscape for centuries but due to large increases in traffic in combination with modern highway requirements they can be in conflict with their surroundings. However for many people their main experience of the wider landscape of this country is from a moving vehicle.

Landscape within the Highways Agency

The Highways Agency is committed wherever possible to minimise the effect of its road network on the landscape. Environmental support for both new highway projects and management of the existing network is given by Regional Environmental Advisors who are able to draw on advice from Landscape specialists and aided by detailed policy guidance. Our aims, balanced against other factors such as safety, are to: 

• Take full account of the quality and sensitivity of landscapes in the design, assessment and selection of new routes and the improvement of existing ones.  In particular to protect designated landscapes such as National parks and Areas of Outstanding natural Beauty.
• As far as possible to fit roads into their surroundings by careful choice of route and alignment and by the use of landform and new planting to reduce adverse effects on landscape character.
• To screen views of traffic, lighting, gantries etc from residential properties and other sensitive areas while still allowing road users the opportunity to appreciate some views out over the wider landscape.
• To maintain landscaped areas within the highway boundaries to ensure that they continue to meet their objectives of making a contribution to local character, screening sensitive areas and supporting wildlife.
• To identify  and take opportunities to enhance the landscape on the existing network taking account of local character

Guidance on landscape design for trunk roads and motorways and subsequent management can be found in the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) Volume 10 using the following link:   http://www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge/18541.aspx

Guidance on the assessment of landscape and visual effects can be found in DMRB Volume 11 Section 3 Part 5:
http://www.standardsforhighways.co.uk/dmrb/vol11/section3.htm