JCA No. 56 - Lancashire Coal Measures
Overall comments (note 1)
This is a predominantly urban or urban fringe landscape with a complex land use pattern and a legacy of disturbance due to past mining and industry. There are opportunities for biomass crops to be accommodated without an adverse impact on landscape character, particularly if carried out in association with tree and hedgerow planting, but there could be a variety of physical constraints limiting the number of possible locations.
| Generic landscape characteristics (note 2) | Key landscape characteristics (note 3) | Potential effects (PA, N, PB) (note 4) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRC | Miscanthus | ||
| Topography (note 5) | Underlain by coal measures buried under a patchy layer of glacial drift deposits. This is an elevated landscape, rising to 170 metres at Billinge Hill and falling abruptly to the Lancashire Plain, Merseyside and the Mersey Valley. |
PB - The varied topography is likely to contain areas which could accommodate SRC. Higher areas and ridgelines should be avoided. |
PB - The varied topography is likely to contain areas which could accommodate Miscanthus. Higher areas and ridgelines should be avoided |
| Woodland (note 6) | Across most of the area, woodland cover is very limited. The principal exception is the area to the northwest of Wigan where there is a higher incidence of trees and woodland, creating a more enclosed and small scale landscape. Most is within Red Rose Forest area. |
N – There is much potential for mitigation through associated tree planting. |
N – There is much potential for mitigation through associated tree planting |
| Boundary features (note 7) | Large parts of the area have been affected by mineral extraction and field patterns have often been lost. Where it survives, the pattern is predominantly rectangular and is defined by degraded hedges or post and wire fencing. |
PB - There could be opportunities for SRC planting on reclaimed land and for enhancement of boundaries through additional hedge and hedgerow tree planting. |
N - Restored land may not be suitable for Miscanthus planting but where it is, modern rectangular field systems with poor boundaries have potential for associated enhancement through tree /hedge planting. |
| Agriculture (note 8) | Most farming is arable, though in many places the drainage has been severely disrupted by colliery subsidence. Often the land is little more than recreational open space, used in many cases for horsiculture. |
PB - SRC is a potentially beneficial land use provided drainage is only seasonally poor, and it could be associated with enhancement of boundaries through tree and hedge planting.. |
PB - There may be some opportunities for MIscanthus in areas under arable cropping, where drainage is not severely disrupted. |
| Settlement and development (note 9) | The area includes many towns that developed during industrialisation in the nineteenth century. Allied to these settlements are pits, spoil tips and open cast sites. Many of these are now being reclaimed and planted. |
PB - The strong urban fringe character of much of the area, and the extent of disturbed land may limit opportunities but SRC has potential to be accommodated within the complex land use pattern |
PB - The strong urban fringe character of much of the area, and the extent of disturbed land may limit opportunities but Miscanthus has some potential to be accommodated within the complex land use pattern |
| Semi-natural habitats (note 10) | Semi-natural habitats have formed on many former industrial sites, particularly where undermining has resulted in the formation of subsidence flashes. |
PA - Unsuitable for SRC |
PA - Unsuitable for Miscanthus. |
| Historic features (note 11) | There are few surviving examples of traditional vernacular development, though there is a recognised legacy of industrial archaeology. |
PA - Biomass crops should not be planted where they would have an adverse impact on historic landscape character. |
PA - Biomass crops should not be planted where they would have an adverse impact on historic landscape character. |
| Rivers and coasts (note 12) | There are areas of disturbed drainage due to subsidence. |
N - SRC may be able to tolerate the conditions in some low-lying and damp areas. |
PA - Miscanthus is likely to be unsuitable for areas of disturbed drainage. |
| Views and inter-visibity (note 13) | Views to S Pennines are important, and there are good views from the Upholland Ridge. Within the urban areas views are often interrupted by buildings. |
N - Views of importance to local residents should be taken into consideration. SRC should not be planted on higher areas or ridges. |
N - Views of importance to local residents should be taken into consideration. SRC should not be planted on higher areas or ridges. |
The information contained in the above table and accompanying footnotes has been produced by Natural England, on behalf of Defra, to assess opportunities and optimum sitings of energy crops
1. Overall comments
This section summarises the key characteristics of the JCA and the potential impacts and issues concerned with energy crop planting. It aims to provide an overall indication of the suitability for biomass crop establishment. In JCAs where the physical characteristics are so extreme that it is unlikely that land managers will want to plant biomass crops this is generally noted.
2. Generic landscape characteristics
The headings are based on those used in Natural England’s Countryside Quality Counts (CQC) project, with the addition of ‘topography’ and ‘views and inter-visibility’. They provide a way of breaking down the physical and visual qualities that help to make up the landscape. The potential impacts of energy crops have been assessed against this common framework.
3. Key landscape characteristics
This section aims to highlight for each of the generic categories, the specific landscape features and characteristics within each JCA that may be relevant to the growing of energy crops
4. Potential effects
This section summarises the main potential effects of SRC and miscanthus on each of the key landscape characteristics and features. In making the assessment we considered both the presence or absence of crops, and the the effects of scale and pattern in the landscape. Where the impacts are likely to differ between SRC and miscanthus this has been noted. Although it is very difficult to estimate impacts at such a general level we have attempted to assess whether the landscape impact could be beneficial, neutral or adverse, as follows:
- PB - Potentially beneficial
- N - Neutral
- PA - Potentially adverse
5. Topography
Topography, or landform, is often one of the main influences on landscape character, particularly in hilly or upland areas. We have summarised the overall topography of each area, together with an explanation of any specific or exceptional areas or major landform types. Topography will influence how obtrusive energy crops might be in some areas, or how they might fit in well in others.
6. Woodland
This covers all types of woodland, from ancient and semi-natural woodlands to commercial plantations, and includes broadleaved, conifer and mixed woodlands. As well as woodland type, we are interested in the pattern and scale of woodlands and how woodland cover varies across the JCA. In some areas there are close associations between specific types of woodland and particular landforms. Issues of concern include how biomass crops might contribute to or impact on local patterns of woodland cover, and what layouts or scale might be appropriate.
7. Boundary features
These include all forms of traditional boundaries, including hedgerows, stone walls and ditches. We are also interested in field patterns, particularly where these are of historic importance or are distinctive to the area. Issues considered included whether the establishment, growth or harvesting of energy crops could have an impact on traditional and valuable boundaries, either through direct damage (eg to allow access for farm machinery) or by obscuring or affecting the integrity of existing field patterns.
8. Agriculture
Agriculture includes arable, pasture (livestock), horticulture and mixed farming. In areas that are already intensively cropped, energy crops are likely to be less of an issue, and the impacts could be beneficial or neutral depending on scale. Adverse impacts are more likely in pastoral areas, particularly in low intensity, unimproved grassland areas. In areas where there is an existing underlying trend from grass to arable, the assessment has taken account of any existing landscape and land management priorities that may exist.
9. Settlement and development.
This covers population centres, roads, other infrastructure and mineral workings. In most cases energy crops are unlikely to have a significant impacts. However, in some cases there may be issues concerning the scale or pattern of planting where this would impact on the character of the local road network, or significantly affect the setting of towns or villages.
10. Semi-natural habitats
In this section we are concerned with the presence or absence, scale, and pattern of semi-natural habitats, other than woodland which is covered under 6. In general, many impacts will only be apparent at the detailed site level, which is outside the scope of this exercise. We have only commented where it is likely that biomass crops would impact on semi-natural habitats that are an integral part of the landscape.
11. Historic features.
Historic features refer not just to visible monuments and remains, but also historic areas such as parks and battlefields. As well as the presence or absence of features, we are interested in their density and pattern of distribution, and whether they are above or below ground. Specific, extensive archaeological or historic landscapes are noted. Issues considered included whether planting would obscure or damage historic sites, or whether it would affect the setting or integrity of a historic site. It is important to note that historic remains are extremely widespread and many have not been fully recorded. At this scale we have only referred to obvious sites and concentrations of sites. More detailed site assessment will normally be necessary.
12. Rivers and coasts
Water plays a key role in determining landform and defining landscape character. Issues of concern include whether energy crops could obscure watercourses or disrupt drainage patterns, and any hydrological and coastal management issues.
13. Views and inter-visibility
In some JCAs, views in, out or across an area are a key characteristic of the landscape. These may be broad, sweeping views or local, intimate ones. A key concern will be whether biomass crops would obscure or otherwise have an impact on the nature of these views.
Page last modified:
15 March, 2007
Page published: 10 December, 2002