Cornwall Council has appointed LUC to update the 2007 Cornwall Landscape Character Assessment. This update will provide a current and detailed record of Cornwall’s landscape character to positively guide future change.

The project will review the existing spatial framework of Landscape Character Areas (LCAs) and identify a new overarching framework of Landscape Character Types (LCTs). Together this two-tier system will encompass the natural, cultural and social context of Cornwall’s landscape. The assessment will also identify and respond to current and future forces for change on the landscape assets of Cornwall, including around nature recovery and the Climate Change Emergency.

Cornwall is recognised for its scenic beauty with approximately 30% of its landscape nationally designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and a further 24% designated as the Cornish Areas of Great Landscape Value (AGLV).  LUC will re-evaluate the present AGLVs (which have not been reviewed since 1995) to strengthen the evidence which underpins the designation. This work will draw upon our experience of undertaking local landscape designation reviews and updates, as well as being guided by the new Technical Guidance Note for the Landscape Institute: Assessing landscape value outside national designations (co-authored by LUC Director, Rebecca Knight).

LUC is very familiar with the Cornish landscape and over the last year has worked on the Cornwall Renewable Energy Landscape Sensitivity (RELS) Assessment and the Cornwall State of the AONB report. We look forward to working with Cornwall Council and the wider stakeholder group on this exciting project.

Learn more about Landscape Planning & Assessment at LUC.