02 The Policy

02 The Policy

Policy vision

To promote the more sustainable design, implementation, maintenance and management of the transport estate and ensure that the landscapes we create and manage are of high quality, well integrated, bio-diverse, adaptable and deliver a meaningful contribution to national sustainability targets.

At the heart of the policy is the belief that landscapes which are relatively self-sustaining can only be developed if the design and management regime works with nature and understands and respects natural processes: close alignment with nature offers more sustainable and successful solutions.

Policy objectives

The policy seeks to promote design quality and more sustainable outcomes for the transport estate. The policy states:

• Transport landscapes should enhance natural heritage, ensure a high quality of design and place, use resources wisely and be adaptable to future change;
• Landscape and environmental objectives will be set to inform the planning, design, implementation and management of new transport infrastructure and the management of existing networks;
• Landscape design will promote approaches that support stronger integration of natural heritage and place quality based on a full understanding of landscape character and context;
• Landscape architects will actively engage with other design and environmental professionals to secure a multi-disciplinary and collaborative approach to all landscape-related design and management processes.

These objectives and the policy aims shall be employed in the planning, design, implementation and management of all transport landscapes. The policy applies to all those involved in transport projects.

This landscape policy recognises the value of developing planning and design solutions through consultation. It supports close iterative working within design teams and open and inclusive consultation with statutory bodies and stakeholders.

Understand the concept and practice of place-making in design and its importance to users of transport corridors

11 Kylesku Bridge, northwest Highlands: an iconic example of harmony in design and place

Aim 1

Ensure high quality of design and place

Transport landscapes are integral to the character and experience of Scotland. New projects can be successfully integrated with their surroundings as well as create new landscapes and provide an enhanced experience for travellers. Existing schemes can be managed to improve landscape integration, maintain views and enhance the road user experience.

Promoting design and place quality requires designers and managers to:

• Understand the landscape character, history and context;
• Understand the concept and practice of place-making in design and its importance to users of transport corridors;
• Instigate early integrated working between all the members of the design and maintenance teams;
• Undertake early engagement and consultation with stakeholders;
• The design team should focus on:
• Appreciation of the importance of route selection, geometry, land use context and landform in integrating transport corridors with the landscape;
• Early understanding of detailed infrastructure, maintenance and functional requirements to ensure these can be integrated with the landscape design;
• Retaining valued features wherever possible and addressing landscape, cultural and habitat fragmentation;
• Use of local and site-won materials, promoting local vernacular building methods and where appropriate use native plant species in natural assemblages with stock of local provenance;
• Achieving an appropriate balance between landscape and visual mitigation and the amenity of route users;
• Bespoke and locally appropriate solutions.

12 Native oak woodland with bluebells. Inchcailloch National Nature Reserve, Loch Lomond

Aim 2

Enhance and protect natural heritage

Transport corridors can create positive and negative impacts on natural heritage. Effective mitigation of adverse impacts on species and ecosystems is a primary consideration of this policy, as is the positive enhancement of biodiversity through the creation and management of new habitats and green networks.

Enhancing and protecting natural heritage requires designers and managers to:

• Understand and respect ecosystems and natural processes;
• Be fully aware of conservation requirements of protected species and priority habitats and how this may affect route selection, design and management;
• Understand the project context, capacity to support the natural heritage and enhance/create a range of existing and new habitats;
• Support local biodiversity action plan priorities including re-establishment and re-colonisation of local species and habitats;
• Reduce adverse impacts by more robust protection and more extensive retention of existing natural assets and habitats;
• Provide effective mitigation of residual impacts and, where this is not possible, explore opportunities for meaningful offset mitigation through habitat creation and enhancement;
• Use native plant species mixes and local provenance plants and seeds;
• Support and link with wider habitat networks and help address habitat fragmentation and species dispersal resulting from development and the effects of climate change.

Understand and respect ecological and natural processes

13 A9 Crubenmore: old road surface retained as a cycleway

Simple design principles and a clear understanding of future management can allow a natural equilibrium or balance to be achieved early in the establishment of new landscapes

Aim 3

Use resources wisely

Encouraging the wise use of resources requires designers and managers to:

• Understand and respect existing site assets such as landscape features, local character and materials, and valued habitats;
• Give early consideration to the integration of active travel routes and transport corridors;
• Employ natural characteristics and processes in the design of earthworks, drainage and landscape, integrating both habitat and landscape elements;
• Design and specify projects that are 'fit-for-purpose' to reduce future maintenance and management requirements including minimising the use of fertilisers, herbicides and the need for labour intensive thinning and mowing;
• Reduce the use of non-renewable energy and materials during construction and maintenance;
• Minimise waste during construction and encourage re-use of site-won materials including earthworks, soils, stone, timber, seed banks, plants and habitat;
• Exploit unforeseen and chance opportunities to minimise unnecessary use of resources at all stages.

Recognise that change is inevitable and build in capacity for future adaptation

14 Flooding on the River Earn, Tayside and Clackmannanshire. Transport corridors must be designed to accommodate future climate change

Aim 4

Build in adaptability to change

All development needs to take account of future implications of climate change, as well as other environmental and operational changes. Transport landscapes will be subject to the effects of changes in rainfall, temperature and species ranges as well as future changes in transport modes, technologies and priorities. Transport corridors may also help with wider climate change adaptation by accommodating storm drainage, providing refuge habitats and forming linkages to green networks.

Natural systems respond to environmental change to achieve new states of dynamic equilibrium. The policy promotes flexibility and with it the capacity of transport landscapes to allow adaptation to future change in climate and other parameters.

Building in adaptability to change requires designers and managers to:

• Recognise that future change is inevitable;
• Promote innovation and allow for alternatives that take advantage of the opportunities that arise at all stages of planning, design, implementation and management;
• Promote natural heritage resilience through links with other habitats;
• Build in capacity for future adaptation through landtake and adaptable designs;
• Encourage resilience by using suitable planting stock and species mixes;
• Recognise that some projects or elements may be relatively short term by designing and/or managing the landscape to create early benefits;
• Build sustainable drainage systems capable of accommodating future increased water flows and enhancing water quality, whilst also fitting with the adjacent landscape and land use as far as practicable;
• Encourage flexible maintenance and management regimes that respond to changing climate, habitats and soil conditions;
• Use planting and landforms to reduce drifting of snow and formation of ice.

Setting project-specific objectives

The landscape architect or manager is responsible for developing project-specific design objectives to deliver the four key policy aims. Lessons learnt within transport projects indicate that collaborative working and clearer objective setting offers the best mechanism to capture the opportunities inherent within a project and identify areas for innovation.

The policy therefore requires:

• Setting of detailed landscape objectives for the project;
• Engagement with statutory consultees/advisors in setting these objectives;
• Collaborative design working with other design professionals and advisors;
• Early engagement with the future maintenance and management team.

The setting of objectives needs to be undertaken on a project by project basis and should be seen as central to the design process. Engagement with statutory consultees is a key part of this process.

Objectives can and should be developed and further refined as the project proposals are progressed and should always relate to the special project characteristics and opportunities. It is important that objective setting is led by experienced landscape architects and that the objectives are confirmed through consultation.

The following list and supporting diagram (see below) provides indicative examples of possible objectives broadly applicable to the typical range of works encountered across transport corridors. It is important that, in the case of each project or route, objectives are developed and tailored to suit the specific characteristics and requirements of the project.

Connecting objectives with outcomes

Setting landscape objectives also helps in being clearer about outcomes. Outcomes are important as they help to introduce forward thinking into the design process about the type, character, quality and function of the landscapes we are seeking to create and what will define success.

Developing appropriate outcomes often requires a team to stand back and take stock of a project. An outcome approach helps strengthen the connections between the design aspiration and design proposals. Outcomes should also focus design thinking around the effectiveness of delivery and help to confirm that the proposals represent long-term sustainable value.

Establishing greater clarity around objectives and the consideration of anticipated outcomes offers opportunity for all parties to make an informed input to the design process.

In summary, the setting of objectives, early consultation and consideration of outcomes opens up opportunity for more holistic thinking. It reinforces a design approach that recognises both the value of design review processes and the multi-disciplinary contributions to design. Objective setting will support balanced, sustainable and well integrated landscapes.

Consultation on project objectives

Consultations with stakeholders, including statutory and other consultees and professionals of other disciplines within the design team, will be important in defining objectives and identifying the key areas of opportunity. Consultees will include, for example, SNH, SEPA, Historic Scotland, Local Planning Authorities and/or National Park Authorities. It is important that the context, opportunities and constraints of the site and project are fully understood and reviewed with consultees.

Typical objectives

• Innovate to mitigate adverse environmental effects;
• Protect species, habitats and ecosystems;
• Use of natural characteristics in design;
• Support biodiversity with native planting;
• Retain existing features and re-use site-won materials;
• Design for low maintenance and management;
• Secure adequate land to allow integrated solutions;
• Build on distinctive place quality and character.

The high-level objectives can be supported by more practical understanding of the mechanisms around which objectives will be delivered. These help to provide an understanding of how the design challenges of the project will be addressed and identify specific areas of opportunity.

15 The A830 traverses a highly scenic and intricate landscape in the West Highlands. The road improvements involved sensitive routeing and design aims and objectives

16 New drystone wall on the A7, built in vernacular style

The capacity of the transport estate landscape to deliver stronger benefits and outcomes is dependent upon developing clearer, better defined project-level design objectives.

Multi-disciplinary working and design integration between engineers and landscape architects is essential to secure enhanced outcomes.

Design objectives should be developed from a clearer understanding of context and thereafter encourage quality of design and design innovation.

17 Detailed examples of objectives

18 A830 near Lochailort. Integration of geometry, sideslopes and landscape setting