LUC has been appointed by SNH to pilot their newly-developed Coastal Character Assessment guidance, assessing the coastal landscapes of the Orkney Islands and northern Caithness.

We will review SNH’s draft guidance and undertake both field work and desk study to examine coastal character at regional and local scales. The final report will describe both regional and local coastal character areas, providing details of key characteristics of the marine, coastal and hinterland aspects of the coast.

The work will confirm the applicability of Coastal Character Assessment and how it can be used in a range of different coastlines. It aims to form a benchmark that will be used across Scotland, helping SNH develop policy, assisting Local Authorities with the development planning process and assisting Marine Scotland with marine planning.