2.PLANNING CONTEXT: European Landscape Convention (ELC)

The ELC is the first international treaty dedicated to the protection, management and planning of all landscapes in Europe. Signed by the UK government in 2006. The ELC does not advocate the same measures and policies for all landscapes. Instead, it encourages approaches that are adaptable to particular landscape types and which respond to their unique characteristics. The lead government department for the ELC is Defra. Defra has established a small England Project group (EPG) comprising Defra, Natural England and English Heritage to assist in delivering the broad outcomes of the ELC.

The landscape institute also fully supports the spirit and intent of the ELC. While it is not a directive of the European Union – rather it is a Convention of the Council of Europe – the LI regularly highlights to government the continued need to ensure compliance with the ELC.(Landscape Institute, 2018) Landscape Institute guidance is described in more detail in the guidance section but it is important to note the relationship and connection between this convention and the LI guidance as they support one another and in turn lend support to the nature of the site development.

It also important to clarify that “Brexit” does not affect the status of this convention, and the UK remains a signatory.

“Brexit” refers to the departure of the United Kingdom from the European Union (EU). The ELC is a convention of the Council of Europe, not the EU.(Landscape Institute,2020)

Natural England provide guidance on integrating the European Landscape Convention into plans, policies and strategies with the intention of supporting organisations including local government.

The convention adopts a broad definition of landscape: “landscape means an area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors”.

In short, the Convention highlights the need to develop policies dedicated to the protection, management and planning of landscape.

The ELC is particularly relevant to the development of a new town in the Forest of Dean district in that it guides local policy and planning. The ELC promotes a holistic approach to developing the landscape. The Natural England guidance, paragraph 2.5. states that the ECL definition of landscape embraces a holistic understanding of landscape.it goes on to state, the landscape;

• is the result of the complex interaction of natural (e.g., geology, soils, biodiversity), cultural (e.g., settlement, land use) and the perceptual and aesthetic (e.g., experience, associations, tranquillity, colour);

• links past with present, and represents a manifestation of the evolution of physical processes and human intervention;

• is dynamic and has always evolved and will continue to change;

• matters to people and therefore represents multiple values;

• includes tangible and intangible values;

(Natural England, 2009)

In addition, the ELC stresses the importance of including all stakeholders in assessment and analysis of landscape change and involving the public in setting objectives and recognises that landscape holds different value to different people. This supports the process of consultation and is crucial to the success of the new development.