Farming

Opportunities and optimum sitings for energy crops within the North West region

The maps below refer to the North West region. Please remember that the maps are indicative. Refer to the guidance regarding their use before accessing. These are large files and may take a couple of minutes to download.

  1. Miscanthus yield map (PDF) This map identifies areas where high, average and low miscanthus yields may occur - guidance
  2. SRC yield map (PDF) This map identifies areas where high, average and low SRC yields may occur - guidance
  3. Existing energy crop locations (PDF). This map identifies areas of existing energy crops, planted under the 2000 – 2006 Energy Crops Scheme. This map allows consideration of opportunities to develop biomass projects and energy supply chains - guidance
  4. Designated areas (PDF) This map identifies a number of environmental designations that may impact where energy crops can be located - guidance. Please note that these maps have been produced differently to the other maps. Further instructions regarding their use.
  5. Joint character areas (JCAs) (PDF) This map identifies which JCA a piece of land falls in. Once identified, please click on the appropriate JCA in the map below. This will bring up a table providing  information about the impact of energy crops within that JCA - guidance

In addition, there is also a guidance document outlining a number of environmental issues that should be considered when applying for an energy crop grant.

© Copyright, Jane Mitchell - Countryside Agency 59. Wirral 58. Merseyside Conurbation 57. Sefton Coast 60. Mersey Valley 55. Manchester Conurbation 56. Lancashire Coal Measures 54. Manchester Pennine Fringe 36. Southern Pennines 32. Lancashire and Amounderness Plain 31. Morecambe Coast and Lune Estuary 35. Lancashire Valleys 34. Bowland Fells 33. Bowland Fringe and Pendle Hill 21. Yorkshire Dales 18. Howgill Fells 20. Morecambe Bay Limestones 19. South Cumbria Low Fells 17. Orton Fells 7. West Cumbria Coastal Plain 8. Cumbria High Fells 9. Eden Valley 6. Solway Basin 10. North Pennines

Joint Character Areas - North West Region - images and image map code © Countryside Agency

6. Solway Basin  |  7. West Cumbria Coastal Plain  |  8. Cumbria High Fells  |  9. Eden Valley  |  10. North Pennines  |  17. Orton Fells  |  18. Howgill Fells  |  19. South Cumbria Low Fells  |  20. Morecambe Bay Limestones  |  21. Yorkshire Dales  |  31. Morecambe Coast and Lune Estuary  |  32. Lancashire and Amounderness Plain  |  33. Bowland Fringe and Pendle Hill  |  34. Bowland Fells  |  35. Lancashire Valleys  |  36. Southern Pennines  |  54. Manchester Pennine Fringe  |  55. Manchester Conurbation  |  56. Lancashire Coal Measures  |  57. Sefton Coast  |  58. Merseyside Conurbation  |  59. Wirral  |  60. Mersey Valley

Please note that character areas can overlap county and regional borders. You may find that the character area you are interested in will cover two or more counties or regions as a result. If you live near a county or regional border and cannot find a particular character area, you could also check neighbouring counties and regions for further information.

Page last modified: 11 May 2007
Page published: 11 May 2007

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs