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Landscape and Townscape
Roads in the Rural Landscape
The Agency and the Urban Forestry Unit have joined forces to promote the planting of trees to provide areas like this one at the M6 junction 7.
The much improved centre of Dalton-in-Furness on the A590, Cumbria after construction of the Bypass.
Issue
Trunk roads can dominate a rural landscape. Yet, for most of us our every day experience of the countryside is from roads. We must therefore consider the view of the road from adjacent areas and the view from the road from the traveller's perspective.
Objective
Our objective is to respect the landscape character and quality of an area when designing new roads or improving existing roads. We will seek to enhance the integration of our network into rural areas using a combination of sensitive road alignment, earthworks, the use of appropriate materials and planting to minimise the adverse effects of trunk road traffic on the countryside.
Actions will include:
- Including landscape management of the soft estate along our network in our route strategies to help achieve our landscape objectives ;
- Reviewing landscape assessment and design practice together with the Countryside Commission and other interested organisations to ensure that future projects meet the above objectives;
- Undertaking research on developing new advice about good practice in assessing the need for lighting. We will aim for better lighting design in sensitive areas;
- Reviewing landscaping guidelines and planting types so they are consistent and appropriate
to the locality for use across the network.
Facilities for cyclists and pedestrians on the A406 North Circular Road in London.
Roads in Urban Areas
Issue
The Agency recognises the need to improve the quality of trunk roads in urban landscapes. In 1995, we adopted a Landscape Strategy for London's trunk road network which identified landscape themes along roads to help conserve and enhance their local character.
Objective
Our strategy is to use a townscape plan for trunk roads in urban areas to enhance the townscape quality and minimise the adverse effects of trunk roads in urban areas.
Actions will include:
- Reviewing townscape assessment and urban design with national and local government and other interested organisations.
- Developing a townscape plan for all trunk roads in urban areas.
