PURPOSE AND AIMS
Landscape Character Assessments are now being used for a wide range of purposes. It is essential that the ultimate purpose be known as this will influence many aspects of how the assessment is carried out and the results used and disseminated. An assessment may, however, be undertaken for one specific purpose, but then be used for a wider range of uses. In other cases the initial purpose may simply be to provide a baseline inventory and description of landscape character, and only later will the outcome be applied for particular purposes. This is why it is so important to separate (value-free) characterisation from subsequent evaluative aspects where judgements are made to inform decisions.

SCALE AND LEVEL OF DETAIL
The purpose of the work will determine the scale and level of detail that is appropriate. For example, it would be entirely inappropriate to make detailed housing allocations on the basis of the Character of England map [9] or SNH Level 3 map, as these do not provide the level of detail required. Several issues need to be addressed when making decisions about the appropriate scale and level of detail for an assessment. Careful thought is required as these matters will have a major effect on the resources required and the costs of such work.

Relationship to existing assessments
All new assessments should be designed to fit within the frameworks provided by the national landscape character programmes of the Countryside Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage. They should be explicit about their relationship with any existing landscape assessments at higher and lower levels in the hierarchy that cover the same area. Care is also needed to ensure that landscape character types and areas, as appropriate, join up seamlessly with areas across administrative boundaries.

Scale
National or regional assessments have been carried out at 1:250,000 scale in England, with emphasis on broad patterns rather than on detail. In Scotland, the Landscape Character Assessment programme was carried out typically at 1:50,000 scale, working with local authorities across the country. This scale of data, and sometimes 1:25,000 scale, is also normally used at the 'local authority' level (eg county or district) in England. Work at the 1:50,000 and 1:25,000 scales has helped to inform development plans, conservation and enhancement strategies, strategic land use planning and other similar initiatives in both England and Scotland. Where greater detail is required, because of particular issues e.g. in areas of development pressure or in the allocation of housing sites, then work is usually carried out at 1:10,000 scale. However, this is time consuming and resource intensive and should only be used where a detailed local perspective is essential.

Level of detail
The purpose will also help to determine the amount of information needed. Some applications only require a general description of character at the level of landscape character types, allowing generic strategies or guidelines to be developed. Others may require more specific detail, dealing with individual landscape character areas, or even with the extent, nature and distribution of individual elements if, for example, the assessment is to be used as a baseline for monitoring change or is part of a detailed assessment of development options.

MAKING JUDGEMENTS
The purpose of the work will determine how judgements should be made about landscape character to inform different decisions. Those who will be using the results of the assessment should be involved in preparing the brief for it. For example, in determining planning policies or preparing strategies and guidelines, thought must be given to how judgements will be made about what is appropriate in each landscape type and/or area. These topics are discussed in more detail in Chapter 7.