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MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

SPATIAL PLANNING STRATEGY ADVISORY GROUP

22 JANUARY 2013

REPORT OF DIRECTOR OF CHANGE, PLANNING AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Report prepared by Deanne Cunningham & Fiona Fraser Boulton 

1.           MAIDSTONE LANDSCAPE CHARACTER ASSESSMENT 2012

1.1        Issue for Decision

1.1.1   To consider the Maidstone Landscape Character Assessment 2012 (attached as Appendix A), the Maidstone Landscape Character Assessment Supplement 2012 (attached as Appendix B), the Landscape Value Pilot Study: Proposed Methodology (attached as Appendix C) and the Map of Medway Valley Pilot Study Area (refer to map attached as Appendix D).

1.2        Recommendation of the Director of Change, Planning and the Environment

1.2.1   That the Spatial Planning Strategic Advisory Group recommends the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport and the Environment:

i.       Adopts the Maidstone Landscape Character Assessment 2012 (attached as Appendix A) as a material consideration in development management decisions; and

ii.      Saves parts of the adopted Maidstone Borough Council Landscape Character Assessment and Landscape Guidelines 2000 and publishes them as the Maidstone Landscape character Assessment Supplement 2012 (attached as Appendix B) as a material consideration in development management planning decisions; and

iii.     Endorses the methodology of the Landscape Value Pilot Study (attached as Appendix C); and

iv.    Agrees the Medway Valley as the proposed Pilot Study Area (refer to plan attached as Appendix D).

1.3        Reasons for Recommendation

1.3.1   The reasons for this recommendation are set out in the report to the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport and Development (attached as Appendix E).

1.4        Relevant Documents

1.4.1   Appendices

Appendix A: Maidstone Landscape Character Assessment 2012

Appendix B: Maidstone Landscape Character Assessment Supplement 2012

Appendix C: Landscape Value Pilot Study: Proposed Methodology

Appendix D: Map of Medway Valley Pilot Study Area

Appendix E: Cabinet Member Report on the Maidstone Landscape Character Assessment 2012

1.4.2   Background Documents

None

IS THIS A KEY DECISION REPORT? X     Yes                                               No     If yes, when did it first appear in the Forward Plan?   ..     This is a Key Decision because: It involves more than one ward. .       Wards/Parishes affected: All.   ..