Module Identifier RD20520  
Module Title LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT AND PLANNING IN PRACTICE  
Academic Year 2004/2005  
Co-ordinator To Be Arranged  
Semester Semester 2  
Course delivery Lecture   44 Hours 22 x 2 hour lectures  
  Practical   18 Hours 6 x 3 hours  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Assessment 3-part assignment Outcomes assessed: 1, 2, 3, 4 Part 1: Landscape and Policy data capture Part 2: Landscape analysis and mapping landscape types Part 3: Planning policy assessment and interpretation100%
Supplementary Assessment Alternative assignment using same procedure  100%

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
1. Implement a designated landscape assessment methodology for a given study area
Performance criteria
Surveys are undertaken for a given site
The landscape types are classified and mapped
The results are concisely written and illustrated in a variety of media.
Ranges:
Desk survey, field survey
Written form, maps, sketches, annotated photographs

2. Implement appropriate procedures from the Town and Country planning system to a specified land use situation
Performance criteria
Relevant planning issues are identified and applied   
Relevant policies from the development plan are identified and interpreted.   
Relevant material considerations are identified and interpreted

Range
Statutory:- Development plan/ WPG/TAN/ White papers
Non-Statutory:- Countryside strategy, BAP, LA21.   

3. Evaluate and formulate recommendations for the case study with respect to good practice in landscape and planning procedures
Performance criteria
Relevant planning policies are evaluated and recommendations are made
Relevant material considerations are evaluated and recommendations are made
The landscape is evaluated and the recommendations are justified.
Appropriate management options are applied to a given landscape.
.
Ranges:
Statutory: Development plan/ WPG/TAN/ White papers
Non-Statutory: Countryside strategy, BAP, LA21. .   
Evaluation - historical nature of relic; industrial, agricultural, settlement/civilisation remnants, protective defences, conservation, recreation, landscape value, rarity, representative, diversity etc
Conservation measures, visitor management, restoration, modification, maintenance, designation, local and county initiatives.

4. Evaluate the relevant issues relating to public participation and perception for a given study area
Performance criteria
Public views and perceptions, regarding the landscape, are identified and evaluated
Public views and perceptions regarding the development are identified and evaluated
Relevant public views are directly related to future management guidelines and decision making.

Range:
Involvement: Letters, petitions, surveys, interviews
Secondary sources: Literature, guides, poetry, documentary sources

Aims

This practical and vocational module involves students undertaking a landscape and planning assessment of a given area in keeping with principles of best professional practice. In so doing, students understand the complex linkages between the town and country planning system and landscape management, together with an ever increasing range of non-statutory planning tools. Using field situations and evaluating real-life planning issues provides both realism and relevance in a countryside context. Skills of analysis, interpretation, evaluation are developed within the framework of countryside protection and enhancement.

The module therefore aims to enable students to:

Transferable skills

.1 Independent project work
The assignment involves the students working over the semester on a complex land management problem. There are several tasks to complete which are directly assessed.   

.2 IT and information handling
The requirement to undertake a field and desk study involves the compilation and analysis of considerable amounts of information. This is directly assessed

.6 Careers need awareness
The assignment relates directly to the world of work by involving the students in local authority led systems and procedures that are used and assessed on a daily basis in the work situation. Through the teaching and the assessment students will understand the issues and difficulties associated with protecting the countryside. This is directly assessed.

.7 Self-management
The assignment will require extensive skills in self management. There are three interlinked stages to the assignment which will have staggered deadlines. This will allow the student an opportunity to respond to feedback and improve over the course of the assessment.

Reading Lists

Books
** Essential Reading
Cullingworth B and Nadin V (1997) Town and country planning in the UK 12th. Routledge
The Countryside Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage (2002) Interim Landscape Character Assessment Guidance
Usher (ed) (1999) Landscape Character: Perspectives on management and change HMSO, London
Countryside Council for Wales (1996) The Welsh landscape: our inheritance and its future protection and enhancement CCC116 CCW

Web Page/Sites
Scott A J Planning material http://www.irs.aber.ac.uk/als/netpage/lectures/planningohp.htm

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5