Fareham Borough Landscape Assessment

May 1996

Landscape Character Area 4

Chilling/Brownwich Coastal Plain

Summary Description

The Chilling/Brownwich Coastal Plain forms a discrete topographic and landscape unit that extends from the top of the Hook valley eastwards to the edge of the Meon valley. It is defined to the north by the urban edge of Titchfield Common and to the south by the coast.

The essential characteristics of the Chilling/Brownwich Coastal Plain are: * expansive flat or gently undulating landform forming an extensive, relatively homogenous coastal plain broken only by the small-scale, heavily wooded Brownwich river valley; * extensive area of farmland with a predominantly rural character, typically under arable cultivation, horticultural use or pasture but with occasional intrusive elements, such as prominent overhead power lines, an active landfill site and caravan/chalet site, which detract from the rural qualities of the landscape; * isolated remnants of ancient semi-natural woodland at Chilling Copse and Thatchers Coppice and along the Brownwich Valley, and regenerating scrub/woodland/wetland habitats associated with former mineral extraction sites, which are all of wildlife value; * generally very open, large-scale field pattern and weak hedgerow structure with windswept character and evidence of coastal exposure, e.g. windpruning, to the south; * a somewhat more sheltered character to the north and centre of the plain, with a stronger hedgerow structure (e.g. around Chilling Farm) and woodland in the Brownwich Valley providing some visual containment and incidence; * scattered farm buildings sited inland from the coastal margin to reduce exposure accessed by long, often rough, rural lanes with limited east-west access, increasing the sense of remoteness within this area; * an undeveloped coastal margin (apart from the Solent Breezes Caravan Site) with steep cliffs (of national geological significance) and shingle beach, with extensive views out to sea and a windswept, natural and generally unspoilt character.

Enhancement Priorities

This area forms one of the most extensive remaining area of undeveloped coastline in Hampshire and maintenance of this rural character must be the highest priority. This should be achieved by avoiding potentially intrusive activities such as mineral extraction and landfill and the erection of features such as masts and pylons that would be highly prominent in this flat, open and visually exposed landscape. Other priorities include the enhancement of degraded areas and introduction of a stronger landscape structure in particularly denuded areas.

Priorities for enhancement are: * to protect the agricultural, unbuilt character of the coastal plain; * to avoid the introduction of buildings or structures that would be visually prominent within the open, flat landscape; * to protect and manage important areas of woodland, particularly remnants of ancient semi-natural woodland in the Brownwich Valley, at Chilling Copse and Thatchers Coppice, as features of landscape and ecological significance; * to encourage further woodland, shelterbelt and hedgerow planting to improve landscape structure, reduce exposure and to soften the impact of urban development or intrusive land uses in and around the area; * to maintain the informal character and distinctive alignment of the rural lanes; * to maximise landscape and ecological value of restored mineral and landfill sites.