In my 25 years of experience working on Landscape Statements, LVAs, LVIAs and EIAs I have had many a conversation about this subject with other landscape architects and also many outside of our specialist field. I mean we are professionals in the field right. Shouldn’t we know whether LVIAs are too complicated or just right?
Whilst I have been a landscape architect, LVIAs have changed to LVAs when they weren’t in the EIA process, but then sometimes we still need LVIAs even outside of the EIA process on more complex sites. Huh? And then when none of these apply, we need to do a landscape statement, but then technically this could be considered an LVA. And then when it is an EIA, we need to do an ES chapter which is an LVIA but in a different format with significance applied. To an outsider (client or public) looking in we have not exactly made this easy. Even our acronyms…see below for clarity.
Have we lost sight of who LVIAs are for? Are they for the developer client? Are they for the Local Planning Authority? Are they for the public? Or are they just an exercise – as some might say – a tick box exercise?
I would like to think the days have gone when LVIAs (for simplicity’s sake we will just wrap them up into this term) were just a tick box exercise. But I am not so sure other consultants are on board with this, some even not bothering to employ landscape architects until it pops up once in planning.
So, who are LVIAs really for?
LVIAs, LVAs, Landscape Statements I believe are all for the public. They are not really for the client or the Local Planning Authority. Controversial? Perhaps. But this is how I see it.
LVIAs are there to allow development (whatever that may be) to sit better within the landscape, to guide the development into a better position, better height, better vegetation cover, better mitigation etc etc. But this is not for the client, well it is as well, but this is for the benefit of the public. Have we lost sight of this? Development is going to happen and we as landscape architects are there to make it sit better in the landscape for the public.
Photomontages prepared by Andy Maw Design Ltd.
The Challenge of Subjectivity
So what? Well, if this is the case and we are doing work that is for the benefit of the public surely what we do needs to be clear to the public?
The process we have at present is far too complicated and despite all the best will in the world can be subjective, when we are meant to be totally objective. We are human and unless it is numerical (which landscapes inherently can’t be) then the process will have an influence based on our beliefs, our opinion, view, who we are employed by (sorry but it is true) and our experience related to the type of development. For example, some landscape architects may be anti-wind turbines, whilst others are for them. Same goes for solar farms or housing or waste or minerals etc. So, if they go to appeal, then those anti and those for, will obviously create differing results. It is human nature.
Street View
Where we Overcomplicate
There are elements that can be standardised, like the format, the methodology, the photography (which at present is far too complex), and what drawings need to be included (I mean, do we really need to regurgitate National and Local Authorities data?). This just creates massive documents. Or is this ensuring people aren’t trawling through the complicated LPA websites trying to find the information that should be easy to find?
National Landscape Character Areas – Natural England
Are we Losing Site of the Purpose?
But what we as landscape architects do need to do is to understand that our work is for people, place and nature. Does this create conflict with our clients? I don’t believe so. What it does do is to allow us to be honest, open and clear on the direction of the development, to shape it, to create the best solution for the public and the landscape and the development. Does it always land well with the client? No, but then our job is to ensure we are being open and honest about the situation. And to help make it work.
What needs to Change?
So why am I talking about it being too complex? Well, if our work is for the public, then they need to be able to understand it. We need to make our documents easier to understand. We need to summarise it, clarify our statements, make it user friendly and less complicated. One thing I learned from public inquiry, is that no one gives a shit if the image is printed at A1, held at arm’s length and is blahbadeblah blah. The amount of paper wasted printing these things out that no one ever used was unbelievable.
I’m sure there are one or two out there willing to hold a large piece of paper flapping in the wind or rain just to see what they are seeing. But I mean we are over complicating a process that ultimately is to ensure a development has minimal impact on public, be that visual or landscape (because the appearance of the landscape is for the public).
A Role beyond Compliance
So, what can we do? Well, our LVIAs need to be clear, transparent, honest, open and explanatory. Assume no one understands this, so language is key. And we need to summarise and show how our work has altered the development. What we have done to make the development sit better. The LVIA is one part of what we are doing, and I strongly believe that in our process we need to show a timeline of development formation. How has our process shaped the development. I find this might be included in the planning section but often isn’t in our reports and should be, possibly as an appendix document to show the timeline of development formation and how our work has influenced it or within the Summary piece.
Photomontages prepared by Andy Maw Design Ltd.
Final Thoughts
Our job is for the purpose of making developments work in the eyes of the public, for the benefit of our clients. LVIAs should not be an exercise in complexity. They should be a tool for clarity. If we lose sight of this, we risk turning a public facing discipline into a closed technical exercise and that is not what our Charter is about. Our responsibility is to protect, conserve and enhance the natural and built environment for the benefit of the public. The way we communicate our work should reflect that.
Acronyms
LVA = Landscape and Visual appraisal
LVIA = Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment
EIA = Environmental Impact Assessment
ES Chapter = Environment Statement Chapter for the EIA