SLF - Responce to Feedback
Note that the Forum can only respond in generalities. Questions about specific locations should be directed to the relevant local authority.
a. National landscape designations
The main designation is National Scenic Area (NSA), of which there are 40 covering 13% of Scotland. National Parks and World Heritage Sites also have a landscape aspect. New legislation defines NSAs as areas “of outstanding scenic value in a national context”. SNH maintains the national overview of this designation and is currently undertaking work to survey them all and to produce an up-to-date description of what makes each one special; and is pushing for management strategies to be put in place for each one.
b. Local landscape designations
There are many landscapes in Scotland which, although highly valued, do not warrant such a national designation but where a local landscape designation (LLD) is appropriate . Such landscapes can be valued because of the contribution they can make to a sense of place and local identity, because they provide the setting for key settlements, or because they are strongly representative of, and distinctive to, the area. Guidance on local landscape designations as been issued by SNH & Historic Scotland.
Local authorities have lead responsibility for LLDs and different authorities have chosen different names for them, for example: Areas of Great Landscape Value, Areas of Regional Scenic Importance or Regional Scenic Areas. LLDs are planning designations which do not carry with them any positive management tools or incentives beyond development control; it is up to the relevant local authority to determine which aspects of the landscape are particularly important and thereafter to include policies for safeguarding the landscape value in their development plans. The relevant local authority should be contacted for the rationale behind the designation of a particular LLD.
c. Regional Parks
Regional Parks are statutory designations, designated by local authorities under the Countryside Scotland Act (1967) for areas that are subject to extensive recreation pressure, although generally they have been designated in areas of valued landscape, and have been treated as regionally important landscapes in the planning process. The statutory designation is not a planning tool in itself, but is there to provide some recreation management resource, and the only reason to designate would therefore be to apply such resources to the area.
d. Managing change
It is inevitable that landscapes change with time, but by designating an area and identifying its key qualities, policies can be put in place that will help direct change in a way compatible with these qualities. For example, valued landscapes may suffer pressure from tourism, with insensitively planned tourist development damaging the very features that bring people to the area. However development can often be incorporated if it is in keeping with the character of the area in question. Hence a Tourism Development Area (as mentioned in the Glasgow & Clyde Valley Joint Structure Plan) can be compatible with a Regional Scenic Area: indeed, it is in the interests of tourism to maintain the landscape qualities, and having an area defined as a Tourist Development Area could also be a way of ensuring that development is in appropriate places and of high quality.