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Building in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Challenges, Environmental Considerations, and Best Practices

    Grand Designs House AONB

     

    Building in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (National Landscapes)

    Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

    Key Takeaways

    • Understanding AONB: Grasp the definition and legal protections of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (National Landscapes).
    • Environmental Impact: Conduct thorough environmental impact assessments before building.
    • Biodiversity Net Gain: Implement strategies to enhance biodiversity in development projects.
    • Flood Risk Management: Employ best practices to mitigate flood risks in rural homes.
    • Balanced Development: Harmonize building practices with conservation efforts for sustainable growth.

    Table of Contents

    Building in areas of outstanding natural beauty, or National Landscapes as they are now called, presents unique challenges and opportunities for rural homebuilders. With the rising demand for countryside homes, it’s essential to address the environmental concerns that accompany rural development. This blog post aims to provide practical and environmentally-aware guidance for building in these delicate landscapes, focusing on essential aspects such as rural site environmental impact assessment (building regulations for rural homes), mitigating BNG biodiversity loss (sustainable building materials), and flood risk management in countryside homes.

    Understanding Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)

    Definition and Protection

    An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) or as they are now known National Landscapes, is a UK-designated landscape protected for its exceptional natural beauty and environmental importance. These areas are identified for their distinctive features, which include unique flora, fauna, historical significance, and stunning scenic vistas (source, source, source).

    AONBs are legally protected under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act (CROW) 2000. This statutory protection ensures the conservation and enhancement of their natural beauty, biodiversity, and cultural heritage (source, source).

    Planning and Regulations

    Building within AONBs requires careful scrutiny. Planning applications (planning permission for countryside homes) in these regions face more restrictive controls and tighter permitted development rights compared to other areas. Any proposed construction must demonstrate a positive contribution to the landscape, ecology, and existing heritage to gain approval (source, source, source).

    Environmental Considerations Before Building

    Rural Site Environmental Impact Assessment

    Before embarking on any building project in an AONB, a rural site environmental impact assessment is crucial. This assessment evaluates potential impacts on habitats, landscape value, heritage assets, and water management (source, source, source).

    Key Considerations:

    • Habitat and Biodiversity: Identification of any protected species and sensitive ecosystems to ensure minimal disruption.
    • Landscape Value Integration: Evaluating visual impact and ensuring new structures blend with the natural setting.
    • Heritage Protection: Taking into account historical or culturally significant sites.
    • Water Management: Assessing flood risks and ensuring resource protection aligns with flood risk management for countryside homes.

    By conducting a thorough assessment, developers can provide local authorities with evidence that environmental values will be upheld and enhanced.

    Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and Mitigation Strategies

    Understanding Biodiversity Net Gain

    Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) is a principle that ensures developments leave the environment measurably better for biodiversity than before. In AONBs, this requires an additional focus on protecting and enhancing wildlife habitats (source).

    Mitigation Strategies:

    • On-site Measures: Incorporate features such as wildflower meadows, native hedgerows, green roofs, and ponds into the development design.
    • Off-site Compensation: Fund habitat enhancement projects or restore equivalent areas nearby, such as planting new woodlands or restoring riverbanks.

    For instance, if a hedgerow is removed during construction, replanting a larger section nearby can help maintain biodiversity. Typically a minimum of 10% biodiversity net gain is required in addition to restoration of the habitat that is displaced by development. If this can not be accommodated onsite then an off site commitment must be provided and secured via legal agreement for at least 30-years.

    Flood Risk Management for Countryside Homes

    Importance in Rural Areas

    Flood risk management in countryside homes is essential due to their proximity to rivers, wetlands, and other low-lying areas that heighten flood vulnerability. Effective strategies are crucial to protect these homes. Flood risk assessment should cover not only flooding from rivers it should also consider overland flooding from run off.

    Best Practices:

    • Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS): Use permeable paving, swales, and wetlands to manage surface water naturally by slowing the release of water.
    • Natural Buffers: Preserve riverbanks, plant woodland strips, and maintain field margins for added protection against flooding, and soil erosion.
    • Land Use Planning: Avoid developing in flood-prone zones, ensure building elevations are above maximum flood levels, and use resilient materials to reduce risk (source).

    Developers must conduct a formal flood risk assessment as part of the rural site environmental impact assessment, as required by planning authorities.

    Balancing Development and Conservation

    Sympathetic Rural Building

    When building in AONBs, developers must strive for sympathetic rural building practices that minimise intrusion on the natural landscape (choosing a builder for rural self-build).

    Practical Tips:

    • Utilise local and natural materials (sustainable building materials), along with architectural styles that consider the landscape character, to harmonise with the surrounding environment.
    • Minimise land disturbance by positioning buildings to avoid sensitive areas, controlling light pollution, and managing traffic influx.

    Collaborative Approaches

    Engaging stakeholders like local authorities, statutory planning bodies, and conservation groups at an early stage is vital. Collaboration ensures that building proposals are environmentally sound and aligned with community conservation goals (source, source).

    Case Studies / Example Scenarios

    Cotswolds AONB Home

    A developer in the Cotswolds undertook a full rural site environmental impact assessment, limiting the building footprint and establishing wildflower meadows and bird boxes on-site. They also installed sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) and collaborated closely with the local community to respect heritage and enhance biodiversity (source).

    Kent Downs Barn Conversion

    In the Kent Downs, a barn conversion project retained the historic structure, recycled building materials, and extended hedgerows. This approach achieved a measurable biodiversity net gain while protecting landscape context and respecting the area’s heritage (source).

    Each scenario highlights the importance of rural site assessments, BNG mitigation, and flood risk management, demonstrating successful building in areas of outstanding natural beauty.

    Conclusion

    Building in areas of outstanding natural beauty requires dedication to environmental responsibility and careful planning. By prioritising thorough environmental assessments, rigorous biodiversity net gain strategies (sustainable building materials), effective flood risk management, and collaborative conservation efforts (choosing a builder for rural self-build), developers can help safeguard these remarkable landscapes. Let’s embrace responsible building practices in AONBs to ensure that rural developments coexist harmoniously with the natural environment, securing the future of our precious countryside environments (source, source, source).

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is an AONB?

    An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is a designated region in the UK protected for its significant landscape value, ensuring its natural beauty and environmental importance are conserved and enhanced. They are now called National Landscapes.

    How do planning regulations affect building in AONBs?

    Building in AONBs is subject to stricter planning regulations to ensure that any development positively contributes to the landscape and environmental value, often requiring comprehensive impact assessments and adherence to conservation guidelines.

    What is Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)?

    Biodiversity Net Gain is a conservation principle ensuring that development projects leave the environment in a measurably better state for biodiversity, often through habitat creation or enhancement.

    How can flood risks be managed in countryside homes?

    Flood risks can be managed through sustainable drainage systems, preserving natural buffers like riverbanks and woodlands, and careful land use planning to avoid flood-prone areas and ensure structures are resilient against potential flooding.

    Why is collaboration important in rural building projects?

    Collaboration with local authorities, conservation groups, and the community ensures that building projects align with environmental goals, receive necessary support, and contribute positively to the area’s natural and cultural heritage. At Thomas Studio we specialise in the development of homes located in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.