Landscape Character Assessment Supplementary Planning Document

Draft Landscape Character Assessment Supplementary Planning Document (2025) - Consultation

The Council is seeking views from residents and stakeholders on the new draft Landscape Character Assessment Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). This new SPD will replace the current one that was adopted in 2008.

The Council is inviting comments from individuals and organisations on the new draft SPD and supporting documents during the four-week consultation period from Friday, 14 November to Friday, 12 December 2025 (close at 5pm).

The SPD provides an assessment of the different landscape character types and areas within the District – describing the elements which make up the landscape including: geology, soils, topography and drainage; semi-natural habitats and tree cover; land use and field patterns; cultural associations and historic landscape; settlement and transport patterns; access and recreation; views and perceptual qualities.

The SPD also identifies the pressures and forces for change to the landscape with consideration given to: climate change; agricultural change; development; habitat management and environmental initiatives; heritage at risk; tourism, recreation and access pressure; pollution, littering and anti-social behaviour.

The SPD has been produced to provide developers, planners and landscape professionals with guidance on how to manage and mitigate such changes within the different landscape types and areas in the District. A key aim of the SPD is to ensure that the design of new development or other landscape scale projects are mindful of the landscape character and potential impacts.

Consultation material

The consultation documents and supporting material are available to view through the Council’s dedicated planning policy consultation website and as downloads below:

• Chapters 1 and 2: Introduction and Methodology (PDF)
• Chapter 3: Landscape Character Type A: Moorland Plateau (PDF)
• Chapter 3: Landscape Character Type B: Moorland Fringe (PDF)
• Chapter 3: Landscape Character Type C: Upland Woodland Valleys (PDF)
• Chapter 3: Landscape Character Type D: Steep Valley Sides (PDF)
• Chapter 3: Landscape Character Type E: Mixed Upland Pasture (PDF)
• Chapter 3: Landscape Character Type F: Rolling Enclosed Pasture (PDF)
• Chapter 3: Landscape Character Type G: Settled Valley Floor (PDF)
• Chapter 3: Landscape Character Type H: Urban Edge Wooded Valleys and Slopes (PDF)
• Chapter 3: Principles Applying to Open Landscape within Urban Areas (PDF)
• Appendix A: 2008 Assessment Landscape Character Areas (PDF)
• Appendix B: Glossary (PDF)
• Appendix C: Consultation Summary (PDF)

Supporting documents

• Statement of Representation Procedure (PDF)
• SEA (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Screening Statement (PDF)
• HRA (Habitat Regulations Assessment) Screening Statement (PDF)
• Equalities Impact Assessment (PDF)

Hard copies are also available during normal opening hours in the following deposit locations:

Council’s principal office

Britannia House, Hall Ings, Bradford, BD1 1HX - Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm, Friday 9am to 4.30pm, Telephone: 01274 434605 (planning service number) / 01274 433679 (planning policy number) Email: [email protected]

Other Council offices:

• Keighley Town Hall, Bow Street, Keighley, BD21 3PA, Telephone: 01535 618252

Main Council libraries

• Bradford Local Studies Library, Margaret McMillan Tower (side entrance), Princes Way, Bradford, BD1 1NN. Telephone: 01274 433688, email: [email protected]
• City Library, Centenary Square, Bradford, BD1 1SD. Telephone: 01274 433600, email: [email protected]
• Shipley Library, 2 Wellcroft, Shipley, BD18 2QH. Telephone: 01274 437150, email: [email protected]
• Bingley Library, Myrtle Walk, Bingley, BD16 1AW. Telephone: 01274 438780, email: [email protected]
• Keighley Library, North Street, Keighley, BD21 3SX. Telephone: 01535 618212, email: [email protected]
• Ilkley Library, Station Road, Ilkley, LS29 8AH. Telephone: 01943 436225, email: [email protected]

How to submit comments

Comments should be made via the dedicated planning policy consultation website.

Comments can also be made in writing using the Comments Form (Word document) via email: [email protected] or post:

Landscape Character Assessment SPD consultation
Local Plan Team
City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council
4^th Floor
Britannia House
Hall Ings
Bradford
BD1 1HX

Please make it clear which part of the document you are commenting on in your submission.

Current Adopted Landscape Character Assessment Supplementary Planning Document (2008)

The Landscape Character SPD provides detailed guidance on key character areas and their characteristics, and guidance for managing development and change within them. The SPD supports the saved policies NE3 and NE3A in the adopted Replacement UDP (2005).

The SPD consists of 11 documents; the first document is an introduction and outlines the background and methodology, with the remaining 10 documents set out in Volumes 1 to 10 outlining each of the Landscape Character Areas. Each Landscape Character Area volume provides a description of the area, setting out important features, analysis of the areas sensitivity to change, and detractors within the area. It then sets out landscape strategies for the fabric of the landscape and for development taking place within it. An additional level of detail is provided within each character area being broken down further into a number of local landscape types; these are described with an analysis of their strength of character and condition together with policy guidelines for the conservation or improvement of the local landscape type.

An interactive map shows the district’s different landscape character areas and types as well as the sensitivity of the different landscapes. This map can be used together with the SPD to understand whether new development sites can be accommodated in the landscape.

The City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council adopted the Landscape Character SPD on 1 October 2008.