Summary
Monitoring of tranquillity to date shows a steady decline in the South West in countryside undisturbed by proximity to main roads and towns. In the early 1960s the percentage of ‘disturbed’ countryside was 14%, by 2007 it was 42%. The light shining up at night from each square kilometre in the region also rose by 17% in the seven years between 1993 and 2000. Since then, development has continued at similar and sometimes higher levels, so it seems reasonable to assume that this decline in the tranquil character of the region is continuing. More rural areas are also likely to have suffered a decline in their tranquillity due to increased traffic on minor roads and lanes. This will have had an adverse impact in relation to both enjoyment and safety when such routes are used for walking and cycling.
However, the South West still retains a substantial area of sparsely settled, relatively tranquil countryside with dark skies. In 2003, 20% of the region still had truly dark skies. The main area stretches across the northern parts of Cornwall and Devon to West Somerset and there are other smaller but still very important areas, such as, for example, the Lizard in West Cornwall.
The methodology associated with DEFRA’s rural:urban definition identifies areas of sparsely settled countryside. In the South West these correspond broadly with tranquil areas and areas with dark skies. The methodology has particular potential for modelling future landscape change as a result of built development.
1.Tranquillity - areas disturbed by noise and visual intrusion
In 2007 the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) published regional maps of areas disturbed by noise and visual intrusion. The mapping uses the same methodology as the tranquil areas maps that CPRE published jointly with the former Countryside Commission in the early 1990s and that showed loss of tranquillity between then and the early 1960s. The maps for the South West for all three dates, and now referred to as ‘areas of intrusion’ maps, are available on CPRE’s website . The 2007 map of the South West shows a continued decline in ‘undisturbed countryside’. In the early 1960s the percentage of ‘disturbed’ square kilometres in the region was 14%. This had risen to 30% by the early 1990s and 42% by 2007.
The methodology assumes a zone of disturbance ranging from a half to 3 km width adjacent to roads and towns, according respectively to average traffic flow per day and population. ‘A’ roads with an average of less than 5,000 vehicular movement per day, ‘B’ roads and smaller lanes and settlements of less than 2,500 population are excluded. It is therefore important to realise that there is also likely to have been a considerable decrease in the tranquillity of those areas that are shown as ‘undisturbed’ over the monitoring period - due to the continued increase in traffic on minor roads and lanes.
2.Tranquillity - mapping based on focus group discussions & opinions of countryside users
In 2006 CPRE published regional tranquillity maps based on a different methodology, developed in the North East of England. The new methodology combines, in a GIS model, an understanding of the elements in the landscape that contribute to and detract from tranquility, with information on topography and features in the landscape from existing national datasets. The South West regional map created using this methodology can be found on CPRE’s website www.cpre.org.uk and provides a similar overview to the original tranquil areas mapping, although differing in resolution and detail.
This methodology uses multiple layers of GIS-based data - based on 42 factors affecting tranquillity identified through widespread participatory-based consultation. A licence for free use of the GIS data sets can be obtained from CPRE National Office. To date we are aware of about six licences that have been issued in the South West where local authorities, AONB Partnerships or others are exploring further use of this work. A technical report on the methodology: 'Tranquillity mapping: Developing a robust methodology for planning support' is available on CPRE’s website. The mapping works down to a resolution of 500 x 500 m, but it is possible that some local detractors from tranquillity may not be factored into the model.
3. Dark skies and light pollution
In 2003 CPRE published regional maps showing the change in dark skies between 1993 and 2000). The maps are based on satellite measurements of artificial light at night for pixels each representing a square kilometre. The monitoring showed that, on average, the light shining up at night from each square kilometre in the South West rose by 17% in those seven years, but that the region still retains substantial areas with truly dark skies: 20% of the land area falling into the darkest sky category.
4. DEFRA’s rural: urban methodology
The methodology associated with the definition adopted in 2003by DEFRA to distinguish rural from urban areas (Bibby, P. and Sheperd, J. 2003: Developing a new classification of urban and rural areas for policy purposes - the methodology) provides a useful base for monitoring change in settlement patterns the South West. It distinguishes sparsely settled from more densely settled countryside, according to the household density and distance from larger towns.
The map shows a large area of sparsely settled countryside extending across north Cornwall, north Devon to west Somerset. Thisparallels the large area of tranquil countryside that is revealed in the tranquillity and dark skies mapping described above and that also coincides with the ‘Polycentric Devon and Cornwall Housing Market Area’ as defined in Proposed Changes to draft RSS. It also highlights other smaller sparsely settled areas in, for example, Cornwall. The methodology can be used with different parameters - and when this is done other areas of relatively sparsely settled countryside start to emerge - in, for example, Dorset and the Cotswolds.
The methodology is based on statistical ward-level Output Areas and is therefore particularly useful in that it can be analysed against an increasing number of economic and housing data sets - including new dwellings. It therefore has the potential both for monitoring purposes and for modelling future landscape change in settlement patterns, resulting from different levels and distribution of development in the South West.
