LUC has recently been appointed to undertake landscape character and sensitivity assessments for Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, Sevenoaks District Council and Thanet District Council in Kent to provide up-to-date, robust evidence bases to inform options for growth and development management decisions.

The quality of the landscape in these areas is high: 70% of Tunbridge Wells District is designated as part of the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), just over 60% of Sevenoaks District is designated as part of the High Weald AONB or Kent Downs AONB, and the coast of Thanet has multiple nature conservation designations including Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Areas (SPA), Ramsar and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Alongside this is significant development pressure, particularly with regard to housing land. LUC’s work will document the character of the diverse landscapes in these areas, identify key sensitivities and provide guidance on potential mitigation as a practical tool to guide future planning and management decisions in a way which protects and enhances their valued landscapes.

An innovative bespoke mobile App will be developed in Tunbridge Wells to help collate stakeholder values and perceptions on what is important and why to help feed into decision-making.

These studies build on our previous work in Kent, including the South East Protected Landscapes Renewable Energy Study which identified constraints and opportunities for renewable energy development within the High Weald and Kent Downs AONBs. Also, the Kent ‘Wood-lotting’ study which examined opportunities to distribute advice on how to achieve better woodland management in the Kent Downs AONB.