Landscape-led Design
Landscape-led design is about designing new places in a way which is sensitive to and integrates with existing landscape character. It is good contextual design.
More information can be found in the Design Guide SPD.
There are a selection of case studies for successful landscape-led schemes in the National Park.
Further guidance is provided in the Design section.
The elements that comprise a landscape are the same elements that need to be designed into new developments.
So we can follow each element through the landscape-led process. Each element should be first understood, and then designed at each stage to fit into the existing landscape.
The process shown above is taken from the South Downs Design Guide SPD for large-scale proposals. The flow chart is a flexible tool and can be adapted and used proportionately depending upon the proposal.
However, any application should adhere to the principle of being informed by the landscape all the way through the design process, from site choice and locating buildings or extensions to material/species choices and architectural detailing.