Visual impact assessments

In a number of contentious cases Local Planning Authorities when considering Applications for Planning Permission in sensitive landscape areas will ask for reports assessing the visual impact of the proposed development. It should be noted that reports on visual impact assessments can therefore play an important part in seeking to persuade a Local Planning Authority to approve a contentious proposed development scheme. Our firm is familiar with the process and can prepare and submit detailed visual impact assessments relating to proposals for development in sensitive landscape locations.

In order to ensure that he visual impact assessment is comprehensive and effective it is necessary to take into account all material issues concerning visual amenities and the quality of the landscape. It is therefore necessary to assess the quality of the local landscape in accordance with the principles now well established by those practising in this field. We are able to prepare and submit detailed visual impact assessments which are based on the relevant rational criteria.

We are also very happy to incorporate a detailed photographic survey within a visual impact assessment and to also put forward proposals for any necessary modification of the scheme to attend to any issues highlighted during the course of the preparation of the report on the visual impact assessment.

In carrying out our assessment of proposals we take into account all relevant zones of visual influence in carrying out our assessment. We have a good track record relating to the undertaking of work of this nature and do believe that visual impact assessments are an extremely useful tool in contentious planning applications which attract a large number of objectors who appear to misinterpret the final and true impact of any proposed development scheme if it were permitted.