Fareham Borough Landscape Assessment

May 1996

Landscape Character Area 13

Burridge / Swanwick / Whiteley

Summary Description

This area lies to the north-west of the Borough and has similarities with the wooded farmland mosaic to the west alongside the Hamble. However, it differs in that it contains the existing settlements of Swanwick and Burridge, strung out along the roads in extensive ribbon development, and is to contain one third of the major new settlement of Whiteley, the remainder of which will lie over the boundary in Winchester District. Up to 1500 dwellings and industry/facilities are planned in the Fareham part and over 500 houses have already been built. This is therefore an area undergoing considerable change.

The essential characteristics of the Burridge, Swanwick and Whiteley area are: * a strong, mature woodland framework within which is set a complex mixture of settlements, landfill and mineral operations, large-scale horticultural activity and farmland; * significant landscape change, with extensive new development taking place at the new settlement of Whiteley, and disturbed landscapes arising from mineral extraction, former brickworks or landfill operations which are undergoing restoration or have been occupied by new uses; * continuous residential ribbon development along the main roads of relatively recent origin and without special townscape or architectural merits, but typified by a leafy streetscape, long garden plots and a distinctively suburban character; * a distinctive pattern of small-scale fields, typically occupied by pasture or horticultural land uses, and defined by a strong hedgerow and woodland structure, providing a strong sense of enclosure and intimacy which helps to mitigate the effects of potentially intrusive land uses; * more extensive areas of glasshouses and large-scale horticulture or farmland with a more open character but visually contained by fringing woodland; * strong associations with the wooded landscape of the Upper Hamble Valley.

Enhancement Priorities

As an area where quite radical change is planned and indeed already underway, the emphasis should be on high standards of design to ensure that new development is integrated within the landscape with the minimum of adverse impact and with the maximum benefit. It will be important to maintain the separate identity of settlements and to ensure that the landscape around the fringes of the urban areas does not become degraded by urban intrusion or fringe activities. A strong and well-managed woodland framework is an effective way of preventing such effects and extensive new planting should be continued and encouraged to help absorb new development in this part of the Borough.

The priorities for enhancement are: * to encourage high standards of design in proposals for new development and to minimise negative and maximise positive effects on the landscape; * to maintain the rural character of the road network and promote appropriate rural treatments in the design of new access roads; * to protect and manage areas of woodland as important landscape features and habitats; * to maximise landscape and ecological benefits following cessation of landfill or quarrying activities; * to encourage extensive new native broadleaved woodland planting as a buffer against the intrusion of development or other suburbanising influences in the landscape generally.