There is an obligation for all relevant authorities to seek to conserve and enhance the natural beauty of Dorset National Landscape. To fulfil this, the national importance of the landscape needs to be recognised and reinforced, thereby ensuring that changes within it and its setting achieve the highest standards of sustainability, design and quality.

Development affecting the National Landscape should be compatible with the character and appearance of the designated area and we should also aim to achieve landscape gain from development, wherever possible. This chapter contains objectives and policies that support sustainable development that conserves and enhances the natural beauty and special qualities of the National Landscape, while minimising impacts to natural processes and ecosystem flows. The National Planning Policy Framework confirms that the overall purpose of planning is to help achieve sustainable development. The Framework states that great weight should be given to conserving and enhancing lthe beauty of National Landscapes, also recognising that the scale and extent of development within the designated area should be limited and that development in the setting should be carefully sited and designed.

The National Landscape is a living and constantly evolving landscape, the result of human interaction with the natural environment. Sensitively sited and designed development can make a positive contribution to the area, not only in the way it appears in the landscape but also in how it contributes to sustaining local communities and the landscape itself. However, inappropriate development is one of the greatest threats to the National Landscape, if its scale, siting and design are unsympathetic and results in negative impacts upon landscape character, landscape functions, and the ability of residents and visitors to enjoy the landscape.

Most planning decisions in the National Landscape are made by a local planning authority which, under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, have a statutory duty to seek to further the purpose of the designation (to conserve and enhance natural beauty) when discharging this and other functions. As the Government’s statutory advisor on landscape, Natural England may provide advice on landscape matters, particularly in response to larger proposals. The National Landscape Team also provides landscape advice through an agreed planning protocol.

  • Landscape & landform

The physical and perceptual characteristics of a landscape are what makes a place. The National Landscape is valued for its special qualities, which include its undeveloped rural character, exceptional undeveloped coastline, tranquillity and dark night skies. Such landscape attributes need to be maintained for the future, and this is best achieved through development that respects the pattern and character of the places in which it is located.

  • Wildlife

When development impacts upon wildlife, the planning system must ensure that these effects are dealt with appropriately, including through avoidance, mitigation and compensation. Ranging from locally important features to internationally significant sites, all habitats within the National Landscape contribute to the area’s natural beauty. Avoiding harm and securing mitigation and enhancement measures that are appropriate to site specific considerations and in keeping with landscape character is important within landscape planning.

  • Living textbook

The National Landscape contains highly important natural and manmade landscape features that tell us about the past, including our natural history and civilization. Planning has the potential to both safeguard historical assets and reveal their significance. The ongoing appreciation of these assets relies on their conservation and positive management, as well as measures that improve our interpretation and understanding of them.

  • Cultural legacy

Changes to culturally significant landscapes can often evoke deep feelings from those who value them. The planning system and cultural institutions have a key role to play in delivering sensitive change in areas with strong cultural identities, by safeguarding assets and better revealing their significance. This can extend to conserving and enhancing both undeveloped rural landscapes and built environments that contribute to cultural heritage.

Opportunities

  • New development and planning gain may provide opportunities to conserve, enhance restore and create valued landscape features. The strengthened duty to seek to further the purpose of National Landscapes may provide further grounds for wider enhancements, potentially through offsetting and compensatory mechanisms, where impacts cannot be avoided or directly mitigated.
  • Biodiversity net gain requirements can strengthen and enlarge ecological networks.
  • The requirement for developments in the Poole Harbour catchment to be nutrient neutral may provide opportunities for beneficial landscape change and nature recovery.
  • The popularity of Dorset as a destination to live and work and the resultant development pressure will create opportunities for securing planning gain.
  • There are opportunities to enhance the sustainability and vitality of communities through increased provision of affordable housing in response to recognised local need.
  • Emerging techniques in remote sensing and tranquillity modelling provide opportunities for improved monitoring of landscape features and condition.
  • Neighbourhood planning provides a tool through which communities can direct growth toward locations that conserve and enhance local character.
  • There are opportunities to soften the impact of traffic management schemes within villages through sensitive design measures, such as those contained within the traffic in villages toolkit.
  • There are opportunities to improve sustainability through the implementation of small scale-renewable energy projects and community energy initiatives.
  • Changes in agriculture may result in opportunities for the redevelopment of brownfield countryside sites that can meet existing and novel needs.
  • Continued growth in demand for camping and glamping can provide good diversification opportunities, if sensitively designed and located, and there is some potential for cross-subsidisation of nature recovery and regenerative agriculture initiatives.
  • Advances in communication technology have the potential to diversify the rural economy.
  • Partnerships with artists and cultural organisations may provide creative approach to enhancing the public realm and appreciation of the landscape.
  • Longevity and value-for-money in development can be achieved with high quality design and good materials.

Pressures

  • Targets relating to housing and climate change:
    *The requirement on Local Planning Authorities to address housing need, which has been increasing, has implications for the potential identification of large-scale housing allocations within the National Landscape and its setting.
    *Net zero targets are driving considerable interest in large-scale renewable energy projects. This coupled with technological advances, increases the potential identification of sites within the National Landscape and its setting for projects such as solar arrays, onshore and offshore wind farms and battery energy storage systems. There may also be associated pressures arising from upgrades to the electrical transmission network that are also related to net zero targets.
  • Demographics:
    *An increase in population brings a need for wider infrastructure and service upgrades.
    *Housing stock is not always well aligned with demand, for example in relation to property sizes and the amount of social rented homes.
    *Numerous second homes and informal holiday lets distort the housing market.
    *An ageing population affects the sustainability of some community facilities and services.
  • Visitors and recreation:
    *The ability of popular areas to absorb further visitor pressure is finite and requires careful management.
    *Changes to recreational uses within the countryside, including increased activity, which can affect landscape character.
    *Overprovision of visitor accommodation affects levels of residential housing stock.
    *The popularity of some areas, particularly along the coast, brings significant pressure for expansion of camping and caravanning sites in sensitive locations.
    *Glamping can introduce semi-permanent features in sensitive areas.
    Incremental changes are affecting rural roads, including signage, traffic management and road improvement initiatives.
  • Proposed planning reforms could increase risks to natural beauty.
  • Ongoing interest in oil and gas extraction within parts of the National Landscape.
  • Changes to farming practices include a trend toward an increasing scale of operations with associated landscape and visual effects from farms.
  • Improved requirements for the control of pollution from agriculture can result in substantial new infrastructure, such as slurry lagoons and covered silage storage.
  • Subdivision of agricultural land can lead to increasingly diffuse agricultural development.
  • Growing interest in viticulture and associated development such as wineries can affect both the pattern and character of the landscape.
  • Coastal change and its management will result in pressure to defend and/or relocate assets.

Local Planning, Highway and Flood Authorities, Statutory Undertakers, Natural England, Environment Agency, Marine Management Organisation, Town and Parish Councils, Community Partnerships and Neighbourhood Planning groups.

OBJECTIVE C1: CONSERVING AND ENHANCING THE NATIONAL LANDSCAPE AND ITS SETTING THROUGH THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

Planning and development processes should seek to conserve and enhance the Dorset National Landscape, ensuring its setting and special qualities are protected for present and future generations. Sensitive siting, high-quality design, and robust management underpin all development, with major proposals subject to rigorous assessment and a strong presumption in favour of conserving and enhancing landscape character. Planning should recognise the character and beauty of the National Landscape, as well as the wider benefits from natural capital and ecosystem services. The benefits of assets such as best and most versatile agricultural land, trees, woodland and other habitats should be conserved and enhanced.

Policy C1a: Development should seek to conserve and enhance the National Landscape

  • Support development that conserves and enhances the National Landscape, ensuring.
  • Ensure sensitive siting and design that respects local character.
  • Only support development that does not conserve and enhance the National Landscape if it is necessary and in the public interest, with major proposals subject to detailed consideration of exceptional circumstances and public interest grounds.
  • Encourage the conservation, enhancement, and restoration of characteristic landscape features, seeking net gain for landscape elements both on and off-site.
  • Require high standards of design, materials, and workmanship, balancing viability with public benefit and landscape significance.
  • Where primary design cannot address landscape and visual effects, require robust secondary mitigation, with consideration for compensation or offsetting for any residual adverse impacts. This reflects the mitigation hierarchy – avoidance, minimisation, restoration, and compensation.
  • Require positive contributions to green infrastructure and ecological networks, ensuring all aspects are well-designed and enhance the landscape.
  • Ensure full consideration of geodiversity conservation in relevant plans and strategies, recognising links with extraction industries and the built environment.
  • Conserve and enhance the coast, maintaining its undeveloped and tranquil nature, and protect the World Heritage Site and its setting, where this coincides with Dorset National Landscape, from individual and cumulative impacts.
  • Support natural process-led approaches to coastal management and implement coastal change management objectives.
  • Manage the landward and seaward settings to conserve and enhance character, ensuring the assessment of views, noise, and wider environmental impacts.
  • Support conservation and enhancement of the coastal and marine environment, including creation of Marine Protected Areas where appropriate.

OBJECTIVE C2: ENSURING EFFECTIVE LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING

Robust landscape assessment and ongoing monitoring underpin sound planning decisions, ensuring proposals conserve and enhance the National Landscape’s character and scenic beauty. Evidence-based decision-making and regular monitoring guide adaptive management and continuous improvement.

Policy C2a: Require high-quality landscape assessment and evidence-based planning

  • Assess all proposals affecting the National Landscape to a high standard, with proportionate Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments and Appraisals in line with industry guidelines.
  • Use landscape and seascape character assessment to evaluate effects on the National Landscape’s character and appearance.
  • Ensure Local and Neighbourhood Plans are underpinned by robust landscape evidence.
  • Test proposals against their ability to conserve and enhance landscape and scenic beauty, giving significant weight to the area’s special qualities in planning decisions.
  • Refuse proposals harmful to landscape character unless benefits clearly outweigh the protection afforded to the National Landscape; require mitigation, conditions, planning gain, or compensation where residual impacts remain.
  • Monitor and assess changes in landscape condition to inform appropriate action.

OBJECTIVE C3: APPROPRIATE, NECESSARY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IS SUPPORTED

Essential development that meets community or societal needs and supports the local economy is enabled, provided it is compatible with conserving and enhancing the National Landscape. Such development should be well designed and located, in response to local character and development patterns. Appropriate scale, form, mass and materials will be required. Regard is given to the needs of agriculture, forestry, other rural industries and the economic and social needs of local communities. Sustainable forms of social and economic development that in themselves conserve and enhance the environment are encouraged.

Policy C3a: Enable appropriate interventions that support landscape management

  • Support appropriate farm diversification schemes, recognising their role in supporting farm resilience. Recognise potential contributions to conservation, enhancement, and sustainable development of the National Landscape that may be supported through diversification, such as nature recovery and regenerative agriculture.
  • Encourage appropriate proposals to restore and reuse of traditional barns and buildings.
  • Require minerals extraction to be delivered at appropriate scale and density, with high-quality restoration to benefit landscape, biodiversity, and access.
  • Encourage projects that deliver and enable nature recovery, particularly where this would be secured in perpetuity.
  • Encourage projects with positive environmental outcomes, such as improvements to the management of water resources for people and agriculture, as well as projects that reduce pollution.

Policy C3b: Enable appropriate development that supports community needs

  • Enable affordable and social housing on appropriate rural exception sites that meet proven local need, with locally sensitive design.
  • Encourage well-designed projects that reduce traffic impacts.

Policy C3c: Enable appropriate development that supports adaptation to, and mitigation of climate change

  • Encourage measures to increase energy efficiency and support renewable energy production of appropriate scale, ensuring compatibility with National Landscape objectives. Large-scale development within the National Landscape and its setting will only be considered permissible where impacts are limited in extent and severity. Furthermore, projects will be expected to deliver substantive mitigation and enhancement in line with the purpose of the National Landscape, which may include onsite and offsite measures.
  • Encourage woodland planting and management proposals that enhance landscape character, biodiversity, connectivity, and public amenity, building resilience to climate change and disease.
  • Encourage well-designed and landscape-sensitive green/blue infrastructure, including Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) and Natural Flood Management (NFM).

OBJECTIVE C4: AVOIDING HARMFUL DEVELOPMENT AND PROTECTING SPECIAL QUALITIES

Development that harms the natural beauty, tranquillity, or special qualities of the National Landscape is avoided. Landscape character, biodiversity, dark night skies, and local distinctiveness are protected from inappropriate or excessive development. Where the setting of the Dorset and East Devon Coast WHS overlaps within Dorset National Landscape, protect the presentation and visitor experience of the Site.

Policy C4a: Prevent and mitigate negative impacts of development on landscape and visual character affecting the National Landscape

  • Remove existing and avoid creating new features detrimental to landscape character, tranquillity, and special qualities.
  • Protect and, where possible, enhance the quality of views into, within, and out of the National Landscape.
  • Safeguard the pattern of landscape features, including settlements, that underpin local identity.
  • Avoid and reduce cumulative effects that erode landscape character and quality.
  • Avoid large-scale or high-density housing and employment development at settlement edges that weakens landscape quality.
  • Avoid urbanisation and negative impacts from highway management.
  • Conserve and enhance dark night skies and the unlit character of the countryside, avoiding and mitigating impacts from lighting.
  • Protect the setting Dorset and East Devon Coast WHS and areas of Heritage Coast that fall within Dorset National Landscape.

Policy C4b: Prevent and mitigate negative impacts of development on nature

  • Avoid and reduce impacts on wildlife and habitats, requiring the hierarchy of avoidance, minimisation, restoration, and compensation.. Encourage and support net gain for biodiversity that goes beyond the minimum requirements, ensuring measures conserve and enhance landscape character.

Policy C4c: Limit forms of development with the greatest potential for harm

  • Protect the National Landscape from inappropriate and unnecessary forms of major development.
  • Require use of previously developed land to limit expansion into sensitive countryside.
  • Protect against overprovision of visitor accommodation, especially where it weakens landscape character and increases influence on vulnerable areas, such as the coast.
  • Discourage growth in second homes within the National Landscape.
  • Resist proliferation of masts and vertical structures, encouraging infrastructure sharing.
  • Ensure coastal and flood defences, aquaculture, and fisheries development are compatible with the sensitivity of the undeveloped coastline.
  • Require further oil and gas infrastructure to reuse or augment existing sites and contribute to landscape restoration.
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