Appendix 1

Appendix 1

Transport landscape and wider policy links

Fitting Landscapes updates Transport Scotland's landscape policy and brings it into line with current Scottish Government policies on sustainability and the environment.

The Scottish Government has set objectives that underpin its core purpose - to create a more successful country, with opportunities for all of Scotland to flourish, through increasing sustainable economic growth.

Environmental policy and the commitment to addressing climate change have implications for all investment and particularly long- term investment in infrastructure. An important part of policy is the focus on the quality of outcomes, with due attention given to the sustainable use of land, high quality design and the protection and enhancement of the built, natural and historic environment. In this context it is useful to understand the range of relevant policy areas to which Fitting Landscapes must respond. The key current drivers are summarised in this appendix.

Landscapes are often multifunctional and formed of a series of interconnected elements, many of which are the subject of related policies and guidance

Climate change and adaptation

The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 is a key commitment of the Scottish Government and seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050.

Scotland's Climate Change Adaptation Framework acknowledges that, however successful mitigating climate change is through emissions targets, an element of climate change will be unavoidable and that steps must be taken to adapt to it.

The importance of sustainability, emissions reduction and climate change adaptation as priority issues for Transport Scotland is reflected in the following key areas:

• Establishment of a Climate Change Steering Committee and participation in Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC);
• Development of a Carbon Calculator Tool for infrastructure - Carbon Management System (CMS);
• Production of a Climate Change Action Plan;
• Production of a Sustainability Review to establish issues and opportunities relative to the Transport Scotland estate.

Landscape design and management has a key role in reducing the impacts of the transport network and in climate change adaptation:

• Understanding the potential for landscapes as carbon sinks via the provision of green infrastructure corridors to maximise carbon storage in biomass, where appropriate in landscape terms;
• Promoting sustainable procurement of contractual services from organisations which demonstrate that effective measures are in place to minimise the carbon intensity of capital works and site management activities;
• Robust Landscape and Planting Specifications - understanding changing climatic conditions and how different species respond to these changes;
• Landscape for Climate Change Adaptation - linkages between landscaping and resilience of the network to climate change impacts e.g. reducing surface water runoff during heavy rainfall events, protecting against landslips etc.

It is the duty of every public body and office holder, in exercising any functions, to further the conservation of biodiversity so far as it is consistent with the proper exercise of those functions.

Biodiversity

Protection and enhancement of biodiversity is a key responsibility for Transport Scotland underpinned by Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 and a range of wildlife legislation. Section 1 of the Act states:

'It is the duty of every public body and office holder, in exercising any functions, to further the conservation of biodiversity so far as it is consistent with the proper exercise of those functions.'

Scottish Planning Policy underlines the importance of biodiversity in Scotland.

'Biodiversity is important because it provides natural services and products that we rely on, is an important element of sustainable development and makes an essential contribution to Scotland's economy and cultural heritage.'

The Scottish Government's policy document: Scotland's Biodiversity: It's in Your Hands has an aim to:

'Conserve biodiversity for the health, enjoyment and wellbeing of the people of Scotland now and in the future'.

This policy has been augmented by The 2020 Challenge, prepared to respond to the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2020. This document supports the concept of 'ecosystem services', which are the environmental benefits such as clean water, clean air and productive soils provided by biodiversity and ecosystems. The challenge recognises the value of these services and the need to maintain the health of ecosystems.

Transport Scotland is responsible for 3,405 kilometres of trunk road, representing 6% of all Scotland's road infrastructure, and 2,776 kilometres of railway track passing through a wide variety of landscape and habitat types. The resource associated with this infrastructure ranges from narrow grass verges to relatively broad woodland areas.

This estate offers a significant opportunity for the conservation and promotion of biodiversity and provision of ecosystem services through diversity and interconnectedness.

The Fitting Landscapes policy seeks to promote Transport Scotland's role in conservation and promotion of biodiversity.

Green networks

Green networks describe an integrated approach to the provision of open spaces and habitat, promoting access within and between settlements and the countryside. Scottish Planning Policy describes the concept:

'Linking greenspaces in and around settlements through green networks can deliver benefits for people and nature. By encouraging connectivity between habitats, green networks can improve the viability of species and the health and viability of previously isolated habitats and ecosystems, supporting adaptation to climate change.'

The Central Scotland Green Network is being promoted through the National Planning Framework 3 as a national development. The aim is to create a strategic network of woodland and other habitats, active travel routes and greenspace links across the broad area of central Scotland. Other regions are also developing green networks in their Supplementary Planning Guidance.

Whilst transport landscapes are not primarily dedicated to the aims of green networks, it is clear that, due to the extensive and linked nature of transport routes, they coincide with and can contribute to many green network aims. Fitting Landscapes supports opportunities for integrated approaches to habitat, landscape and amenity.

Landscape and quality of place

Scottish Planning Policy underlines the fundamental importance of Scotland's landscape to its identity, culture and as an attractive place to live, do business and invest. This policy takes account of the European Landscape Convention (ELC - ratified by the UK in 2006) which emphasises that all landscapes, not just designated areas, are important and that opportunities should be taken to improve linkages between habitats and greenspaces and to improve degraded landscapes. The ELC defines landscape as:

'An area, as perceived by people, whose character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors.'

The Convention stresses that all landscapes matter - not just the designated and iconic - and all must receive consideration and care.

Different landscapes will have a different capacity to accommodate new development, and the siting and design of development should be informed by local landscape character.

Scotland's Landscape Charter underlines the aims of the European Landscape Convention and encourages action from all sectors of society, including public authorities, to fulfil its vision to make sure that all our landscapes are places we will be proud to pass on to future generations.

The transport estate is extensive and covers much of Scotland. It is a window on the country and for many, visitor or resident alike, it is the primary means of visually experiencing the variety of the landscape. Many people also live, work and spend recreational time in locations adjacent to transport corridors. The appearance of the transport estate from within or outwith the corridor is therefore of critical importance to Scotland.

It is a key part of the policy that transport landscapes address the potentially significant adverse impacts of transport corridors and that they integrate with and, where possible, enhance the landscape structure, character and quality of the areas through which they pass.

Design quality

The Scottish Government policy Designing Places emphasises the importance of design in creating successful places. Much of the policy chimes with the aims and objectives of Fitting Landscapes:

'The design of places plays a large part in determining what impact we have on the land and other scarce resources. Decisions about design determine how much energy we will use, how efficient transport systems will be, and what people and economic activities will flourish in a particular place.'

The policy identifies six qualities - identity, safe and pleasant spaces, ease of movement, a sense of welcome, adaptability and good use of resources - that are at the heart of good design for urban and rural development.

These qualities also underpin the Scottish Government's recent policy statement on architecture and place for Scotland: Creating Places reinforces the importance of design quality, co-operation and early engagement and recognises the vital contribution that Landscape has on Scotland's identity.

Landscape design can create places in harmony with natural processes of change. Landscape architects are particularly conscious that design is a matter of directing a process of continuous change and that success depends on carefully managing what has been created.

Fitting Landscapes is intended to empower landscape architects and other professionals in achieving quality of design and place in outcomes.

It is the duty of every public body and office holder, in exercising any functions, to further the conservation of biodiversity so far as it is consistent with the proper exercise of those functions.

70 A82 Rannoch Moor in snow

71 A9 and Perth-Inverness railway cross at Jubilee Bridge