Carmarthen Bay, Gower and Swansea Bay Local Seascape Character Assessment

This extensive local seascape character assessment covered the varied coastline between Laugharne and Porthcawl including the Gower AONB and Swansea, and territorial waters upto 12 nautical miles offshore. The aim of the project was to develop a detailed seascape study which could be used as a baseline character assessment informing marine planning within the context of the Welsh National Marine Plan.

For this project, our multidisciplinary team built on current generic UK guidance and learnt lessons from our pilot seascape assessment around the Pembrokeshire coast. Cutting through the plethora of marine datasets available, the team used our simple but rigorous method to defining marine seascape types using three defining physical characteristics. These form the basis for defining seascape character areas which are described in detail in terms of physical and cultural influences, and perceptual qualities. Importantly, the study then identifies forces for change and key sensitivities.

The study was guided by a large steering group of stakeholders with diverse needs who all contributed to the study. In addition, the study was widely consulted on in a series of stakeholder group meetings and via a web consultation in English and Welsh. This collaborative process presented challenges but resulted in a study benefitting from a large amount of detail and local knowledge.

The study is intended to be adopted as supplementary planning guidance by most of the four client local authorities and used for assessing marine and coastal development.

Overview

  • Project Name

    Carmarthen Bay, Gower and Swansea Bay Local Seascape Character Assessment

  • Location

    Carmarthen Bay, Gower and Swansea Bay

  • Category

    Planning

  • Landscape Architect

    White Consultants

  • Client

    City and County of Swansea, Natural Resources Wales, Carmarthenshire County Council, Neath Port Talbot Council, Bridgend Council.

  • Brief

    The aim of the study is to develop a Seascape Character Assessment for Loughor Estuary, Gower, and Swansea Bay (including Neath Port Talbot and Porthcawl), based on the methodology outlined in Natural England’s ‘Report NECR105: An Approach to Seascape Character Assessment’ and recent practice. The longer term aspiration is to seek adoption of the Assessment as a supplementary planning document to the Local Development Plans. The character assessment should be based on new primary evidence, supporting secondary data and engagement with interested parties and members of the public.

  • Awards

    -

Details

  • Project Team

    White Consultants- lead consultant, coordination, main author, seascape assessment, photography, stakeholder and web consultation (Simon White, Simon Michaels); Cardiff University- geomorphology/coastal processes interpretation, GIS and mapping (Lesley Cherns, Alan Rogers); Govannon- cultural heritage interpretation (David Gwyn); Mariteam Associates- marine and coastal tourism and uses (David Reed); Nigel Forster- key location photography.

  • Local planning authority or government body

    City and County of Swansea, Natural Resources Wales, Carmarthenshire County Council, Neath Port Talbot Council, Bridgend Council.

  • Year Completed

    2017

  • Contract Value

    '£35K

  • Capital Funding

    £35k

  • Ongoing Funding

    N/A

  • Additional Information

    Report and other project outputs are available from: http://www.whiteconsultants.co.uk/areas_of_expertise/seascape_assessment/GowerLocalSeascapeCharacterAssessment.htm

Technicals

  • Planting

    N/A

  • Materials

    N/A

  • Suppliers

    N/A

  • White Consultants

    Profile

  • Approximate Map Location

    Location

    Carmarthen Bay, Gower and Swansea Bay

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