Landscape and geodiversity

We have supported the conservation and enhancement of our landscapes and geodiversity through direct activity on the ground, engagement with the development and strategic planning process and the production of guidance documents.   

Highlights:

• Completion of the Building Design Guide and Planning Guidelines documents
• Launch of the new Geodiversity Action Plan and Revised Geodiversity Audit

Some of our achievements this year:

• After extensive consultation, we completed the Building Design Guide and Planning Guidelines documents. These are now being adopted by our local authorities, including adoption as full Supplementary Planning Documents in Eden and Carlisle Districts
• We commented on over 30 planning applications and scoping studies and provided pre-application advice to developers. Our advice and support helped to facilitate a number of successful planning applications, including that for The Paise, a radical new build and restoration in Hexhamshire
• Early work began on our Landscape Character Assessment and Guidance, but then took a back seat to our other guidance documents; it will come to the fore again in 2011-12
• We launched our new Geodiversity Action Plan 2010-2015 at the 2010 Annual Forum
• Staff contributed to the North East Regional Geodiversity Forum and the North East Landscape Forum
• Geological advice and support were provided to many partners from the area
• We submitted bids to the INTERREG and LEONARDO programmes to further our work on geodiversity conservation and interpretation

See the Enjoying and understanding section for information about celebrating and interpreting our landscapes and geodiversity through publications, events and activities of all kinds.