North Devon and Torridge - Landscape Character Assessment Update

1B: Open Coastal Plateaux

N/A

1D: Estate Wooded Ridges and Hilltops

N/A

1F: Farmed Lowland Moorland and Culm Grassland

1. Small extension of 1A replacing area of 1F on West Devon boundary south of Upcott (cross-boundary review, 2012)
2. Some tweaks between the 1F and 3A classifications along the West Devon boundary to better reflect transitions (cross-boundary review, 2012)
3. 'Island' of 1F within South Molton Farmland DCA - to check in field.

1. Agreed with West Devon (18.5.21) to revert back to 1F and West Devon to explore at a future date whether 1F needs to be extended further into their district.
2. Agree - to ensure any written content accounts for this change
3. After field checking (Oct 21), the area north of the A361 (including Rawstone and Johnstone Moors) to remain in 1F. No evidence of Culm grassland south of the road, so reclassified as 3A - consistent with other nearby 3As.

1. NDT shapefile updated
2. Nothing required
3. Checked in field and updates made to shapefile

2C: Steep Open Slopes

N/A

2D: Moorland Edge Slopes

1. Defined tributaries valleys draining from Exmoor (3D in original assessment) no longer identified in the Devon layer - all is 2D.
2. Check transition between 2D and 5D (Downland) to the west of Bratton Fleming - should it extend further to cover this area?

1. Reinstate 3D classification to valleys draining south from Exmoor; refine slightly to reflect valley landform
2. After field checking (Oct 21), moorland fringe character extends west of Bratton Fleming, so recommend to re-classify as 2D to the edge of the 3H valley (Yeo) at Chelford. Tributaries of the Yeo flowing through the re-classified 2D changed to 3D to also reflect moorland edge character.

1. NDT shapefile updated
2. Checked in field and updates made to shapefile

3A: Upper Farmed and Wooded Valley Slopes

Small area of 1F to the east of South Molton (south of the A361) to be re-classified as 3A due to absence of Culm grassland habitats here

Recommendation confirmed through fieldwork (Oct 21)

NDT shapefile updated

3C: Sparsely Settled Farmed Valley Floors

Reclassification of area of 5A along boundary between Torridge/West Devon to 3C at Fernhill (cross-boundary review, 2012)

Agree - to ensure any written content accounts for this change

3D: Upland River Valleys

1. The area between the southern NP boundary and the River Yeo includes some clearly defined tributaries (often heavily wooded) that were originally picked out as 3D but were merged in with 2D after the Devon DCA updates.
2. Re-classify three tributaries of the Yeo draining from land around Bratton Flemming from 3H to 3D to reflect upland edge character.

1. Revert back to 3D - ensure classification follows valley landform (slight tweaks required)
2. Re-classification confirmed following fieldwork in Oct 21.

NDT shapefile updated for both these issues

3E: Lowland Plains

New 3E: Lowland Plains added around Marsland Moor, Torridge as result of cross-boundary review 2012

This area will be re-classified back to 5D and the nuances relating to clay extraction/ restoration will be brought out in the relevant DCA description (currently 'West Torridge Upland Farmland'). Also discussed and agreed with West Devon 18.5.21.

NDT shapefile updated

3G: River Valley Slopes and Combes

1. Roadford Reservoir (from dam north to Witherdon / 1F) reclassified from 3H to 3G following cross-boundary review 2012
2. Extension of a length of 3G: River Valley Slopes and Combes in from W Devon towards East and West Banbury to replace 5A (south of Roadford Reservoir) (cross-boundary review, 2012)

1. Agreed with West Devon (18.5.21) to revert back to 3H. A future West Devon update will need to re-classify the rest of the valley to 3H.
2. Agreed with West Devon (18.5.21) to revert back to 5A but LUC to explore extending 5A further south to cover the more elevated land between the rivers Thrushell and Wolf.

1. NDT shapefile updated
2. NDT shapefile updated - after exploring further it is felt the original 5A extent is appropriate.

3H: Secluded Valleys

1. Roadford Reservoir (from dam north to Witherdon / 1F) reclassified from 3H to 3G following cross-boundary review 2012
2. Exmoor LCA update (2018) - one inconsistency noted of valleys across the border.
3. Some areas of 3H do not include valleys / watercourses (e.g. slopes above Swimbridge, east of Barnstaple)
4. Re-classify three tributaries of the Yeo draining from land around Bratton Flemming from 3H to 3D to reflect upland edge character.

1. As per 3G above - agreed with West Devon (18.5.21) to revert back to 3H. A future West Devon update will need to re-classify the rest of the valley to 3H.
2. Classification of valley south of Heasley Mill through North Molton to meet Yeo catchment (currently within 2D)
3. Remove any areas identified as 3H where they aren't a valley/include a watercourse
4. Re-classification confirmed following fieldwork in Oct 21.

NDT shapefile updated for all 4 issues

4A: Estuaries**

Extend to include estuary mouth (classified as 4E) and other minor boundary amends made as part of the QA for Seascape Assessment

Use Seascape Character Assessment data for this LCT

4B: Marine Levels & Coastal Plains**

Some very minor boundary amends made as part of the QA for Seascape Assessment

Use Seascape Character Assessment data for this LCT

4C: Coastal Slopes and Combes with Settlement**

May potentially be some very minor boundary amends made as part of the QA for Seascape Assessment

Use Seascape Character Assessment data for this LCT (for parts in Seascape Study Area)

4D: Coastal Slopes and Combes

N/A

4E: Extensive Inter-Tidal Sands**

Exclude estuary mouth (Seascape)

Use Seascape Character Assessment data for this LCT

4F: Dunes**

May potentially be some very minor boundary amends made as part of the QA for Seascape Assessment

Use Seascape Character Assessment data for this LCT

4H: Cliffs**

1. Some areas classified as 4H reclassified as 4I: Rocky Foreshores (Seascape)
2. Some amends to landward extent of cliffs around Portledge and Babbacombe - reclassified as 5B - and small extension of 4H in northern Woolacombe and at Torrs Park (Seascape)

Use Seascape Character Assessment data for this LCT

4I: Rocky Foreshores ** (from SCA, 2015)

4I: Rocky Foreshores added along many parts of the coastline between high and low water (Seascape)

Use Seascape Character Assessment data for this LCT - override any previous classifications within these locations

5A: Inland Elevated Undulating Land

1. Reclassification of area along boundary between Torridge/West Devon to 3C: Sparsely Settled Farmed Valley Floors at Fernhill (cross-boundary review, 2012)
2. Replacement of area of 5A south of Roadford Reservoir with a 1A: Open Inland Planned Plateau (cross-boundary review, 2012)
3. Extension of a length of 3G: River Valley Slopes and Combes in from W Devon towards East and West Banbury to replace 5A (south of Roadford Reservoir) (cross-boundary review, 2012)
4. Check small patch south of South Molton (around Jose's Cross) and if this might be more appropriately changed to 3A

1. Agree - to ensure any written content accounts for this change
2. Agreed with West Devon (18.5.21) to revert this small area of 1A back to 5A.
3. As per 3G, agreed with West Devon (18.5.21) to revert back to 5A but LUC to explore extending 5A further south to cover the more elevated land between the rivers Thrushell and Wolf.
4. After field checking, this area was observed as being consistent with 5A characteristics, so has been retained.

1. None required
2. NDT shapefile updated
3. NDT shapefile updated - after exploring further it is felt the original 5A extent is appropriate (no extensions needed).

5B: Coastal Undulating Farmland**

Extension to include former areas of 4H: Cliffs in Torridge (Portledge and around Babbacombe) (Seascape)

Use Seascape Character Assessment data for this LCT (for parts in Seascape Study Area)

5C: Downland**

1. May potentially be some very minor boundary amends made as part of the QA for Seascape Assessment
2. Check transition between 2D and 5D around East and West Buckland and between the valley west of Bratton Fleming - should this area be reclassified as 2D?

1. Use Seascape Character Assessment data for this LCT (for parts in Seascape Study Area)
2. LUC to check in field for where moorland influence stops and downland influence begins

5D: Estate Wooded Farmland

N/A

6: Offshore Islands**

N/A

7: Main cities and towns

Using latest OS 1:25K base indicates some minor expansion of settlements in discrete locations since the original study.

1. Barnstaple - Slight extension of the northern 'tip' (Westaway)
2. Westward Ho! - extension to include northern settlement edge (not new development) and minor inclusion of other edges to better reflect developed edges.
3. Bideford: Removal of unsettled Kenwith Valley.
4. Bideford - inclusion of all industrial units at Caddsdown
5. East-the-Water - inclusion of Tesco superstore and recent development at Donn Gardens / Watkins Way
6. East-the-Water - include Kingsley House and industrial units off the roundabout in the SE.
7. South Molton - include as part of the LCT if felt fits criteria of the LCT - including being over 200ha in size. It is calculated as being just under 200ha but felt significant enough in the local landscape to be included as a 7.

NDT shapefile updated

64: Upper Tamar Tributary Valleys

None

N/A

36: High Torridge Culm Plateau

None

N/A

66: Western Culm Plateau

None

N/A

65: West Torridge Upland Farmland

None

N/A

63: Torridge Valley

Extend to cover full extent of tributary 3H valleys - some of which are cut off in their upper courses and fall in the adjacent DCA 32

Yes

32: High Culm Ridges

See DCAs 63 and 59

N/A

59: Taw Valley

Extend to cover full extent of tributary 3H valleys - two of which are cut off in their upper courses and fall in the adjacent DCA 67 (near Romansleigh); and further incidences where upper valleys fall into DCA 32 but should be in this DCA

Yes

67: Witheridge and Rackenford Moor

None (apart from above)

53: South Molton Farmland

1)    Remove small part of 3D (to reassign to DCA 27), by South Holdridge)

2)    Remove area of 2D south of North Molton (reassign to DCA 27)

1)    Yes

2)    Yes

14: Codden Hill and Wooded Estates

None

N/A

31: Hartland Peninsula

DCA coastal edge needs to align with the low water mark - as per Seascape Character Assessment (LCT 4I - Rocky Foreshores should be within DCA)

Yes

3: Bideford Bay Coast

DCA coastal edge needs to align with the low water mark - as per Seascape Character Assessment (LCT 4I - Rocky Foreshores should be within DCA)

Yes

58: Taw-Torridge Estuary

Extend to include northern tip of the built up area of Barnstaple (re-classified as LCT 7).

Yes

43: North Devon Coastal Downs

DCA coastal edge needs to align with the low water mark - as per Seascape Character Assessment (LCT 4I - Rocky Foreshores should be within DCA)

Yes

45: North Devon High Coast

DCA coastal edge needs to align with the low water mark - as per Seascape Character Assessment (LCT 4I - Rocky Foreshores should be within DCA)

Yes

44: North Devon Downs

Shift boundary west beyond Bratton Fleming (re-classify as part of DCA 27) to reflect changes in LCT classification - reflecting continuation of Exmoor fringe character

Yes

27: Exmoor Fringe

1)    Include small part of 3D (previously in DCA 53), by South Holdridge

2)    Snap northern edge to the National Park boundary (including component LCTs - some are extending north into the NP)

3)    2 small areas of 2D on NP boundary near Great Heasley and Brinsworthy need assigning to the DCA (currently not assigned to any DCA)

4)    Small area of 3D on the NP boundary near Bentwichen needs including in the DCA (currently not assigned to any DCA)

5)    Check along NP boundary to ensure no further issues - overlaps/gaps

6)    Shift boundary west beyond Bratton Fleming to reflect changes in LCT classification - reflecting continuation of Exmoor fringe character

7)    Full extent of 2D south of North Molton included in DCA (previously in DCA 53)

1)    Yes

2)    Yes

3)    Yes

4)    Yes

5)    Yes

6)    Yes

7)    Yes