The case for Local Landscape Designation builds upon the various individual Landscape Character Assessments (LCAs) addressing the area of the Mimram valley and a guidance note published by the Government:

Landscape Character Assessment Areas

The LCA areas are: 034, 035, 036, 042, 043, 044, 045, 066, 132, 133a, 133b, 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, 211. All are available for download from Hertfordshire County Council’s Repository here or via the Landscape Institute’s Database. This note may be helpful in guiding the choice of LCA sought.

Following the adoption of the general principle of the Landscape Character Approach within the Hertfordshire Structure Plan (1991-2011) a more detailed landscape character assessment was commissioned by Hertfordshire County Council for southern Hertfordshire in 2000. While this study covered the majority of Welwyn Hatfield District (prior to the change to Welwyn Hatfield Borough in 2006) in order to complete a district-wide landscape character assessment a small extension study was commissioned in 2002 by both authorities. In both studies, however, the work was carried out using the same methodology and by the same consultants, The Landscape Partnership Ltd. This document brings together for the first time the results of the two studies into a single volume.The Welwyn Hatfield Landscape Character Assessment can be dowloaded in .pdf format, from here.

Government Landscape Guidance

The Government Guidance Note is available for download from here.

Methodology Employed

Unfortunately, there is no prescribed methodology in England, for reviewing or updating LLDs. So, we have used the Landscape Institute/Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (formerly Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment) Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Assessment (3rd edition, 2013). To obtain a copy of this publication, please visit: https://landscapeinstitute.org/policy-practice/technical/assessments-standards/glvia3-panel/ This includes a summary of the range of factors that can identify valued landscapes:

  • landscape quality (condition),
  • scenic qualities,
  • rarity,
  • representativeness,
  • conservation values,
  • recreation value,
  • perceptual aspects,
  • associations.

For a detailed explanation of how these factors have been assessed and for the valley’s characteristics, please see the Case for Local Landscape Designation.