The landscape, in its broadest sense - how the area looks and how it is perceived by people, using all their senses including emotional response - is the basis of AONB designation. The details of the landscape will change as they always have done in response to physical, economic and social influences but the challenge is to recognise and act to conserve the essential character of the area.

The area's landforms are based fundamentally on its geology and the forces that have acted on it over time – particularly the effects of glaciation, followed by marine erosion and deposition. It is nationally and internationally recognised for its geological and geomorphological features, especially the coast with its variety and combination of features responding to coastal processes.

The qualities of the coast and its relationship with the marine environment and its hinterland are fundamental to the character of the area, and the basis of its designation. This is a particularly dynamic coastline, subject to continuous and often rapid change, which is an essential part of its special character.

The landscapes, and the habitats and species within them, are diverse. The many layers of international, national and local statutory and non-statutory conservation designations for wildlife and geodiversity testify to the area’s importance and are fundamental to protecting the key habitats, features and species which make a major contribution to the area's natural beauty. The international importance of the wildlife and habitats of the marine and intertidal areas of the Wash and North Norfolk Coast is also recognised by its designation as a European Marine Site (details of these designations are provided in a separate appendix). Many of the species and habitats are listed in the Biodiversity Action Plan, and a number of species are protected in their own right.

Opportunities to remove overhead electricity supply lines in sensitive landscapes have arisen since 2005 for national parks and AONBs, through an agreement between the Government regulator Ofgem and EDF Energy, the Distribution Network Organisation in this area. The present funding scheme ends in 2010 but it is hoped a further 5 year scheme will be agreed, which will provide further opportunities.

Issues arising from the assessment of current condition of the area’s natural beauty

The assessment of the current condition of the natural beauty of the area has highlighted a number of key issues related to landscape, biodiversity and geodiversity:

Coastal defences are contributing to only a relatively small area of coastal Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) being in unfavourable condition;
Poor current understanding and promotion of key characteristics of relationship between land and sea;
Poor current understanding of landscape condition and objectives for different landscape types / areas in the area;
Lack of data for monitoring of landscape change;
Poor current understanding and profile of geodiversity in the area (importance of the area’s geological features and landforms not specifically recognised in the 2004-09 Management Plan, although it contributes to the area’s special interest, scientific importance and landscape character);
Decline in some key bird species in the North Norfolk Coast Special Protection Area (SPA);
Only 32% of County Wildlife Sites known to be in positive management;
Lack of data on Biodiversity Action Plan(BAP) species and habitats, and other key habitats; and
Potential for further improvement of environmental quality of, and promotion of river restoration on, AONB rivers, particularly chalk rivers.

Potential Impacts of Key External Pressures for Change

Each of the four key external pressures for change (coastal processes, climate change, development pressures and global markets and national and international policy) affect the maintenance of landscape, biodiversity and geodiversity in the area:

1. Coastal processes

Wash coastline, North Norfolk Heritage Coast, Sea Palling to Winterton – primarily flooding.
Weybourne to Bacton – primarily erosion.

Impacts (current / anticipated)

Changes to current landscape and features, coastal landscape character and ecological and geodiversity character, potentially strengthened overall by a managed approach to coastal change and achieving a more naturally functioning coastline;
Habitat changes, damage to / loss of terrestrial and freshwater habitats from flooding (including loss of some Biodiversity Action Plan(BAP) and Natura 2000 habitats and species on coast); and
Maintenance of soft cliff habitats, geodiversity features and landscape through ongoing erosion.

2. Climate change

Impacts (current / anticipated)
Potential changes in:

Viability of some characteristic terrestrial and freshwater habitats and species (including Biodiversity Action Plan habitats and species) because of climate / habitat requirements;
Viability of characteristic landscape features such as hedges, hedgerow tree species;
Viability of marine species, which are often particularly susceptible to sea temperature, acidity and current changes – and associated effects on birds etc relying on marine environment for food;
Effects of competition from invasive species more able to exploit changing conditions;
Migration patterns of birds and other species, changing characteristic seasonal ecology; and
Rate of coastal change effects (acceleration) through sea level rise.

3. Development pressures

Impacts (current / anticipated)

Changes to existing landscape character from significant housing development in the area;
Changes in existing landscape character from further extension of development into the AONB from settlements on its fringes;
Extension of coastal settlements into the undeveloped countryside of the AONB through ‘roll-back’ in response to erosion or sea level rise;
Effects on nearby habitats from housing expansion around settlements;
Loss of gardens as wildlife habitats through ‘infill’ development;
Associated effects of housing development including:

Water resources and effects on natural features dependant on these;
Capacity of sewerage and sewage treatment systems and consequent water quality;
Transport infrastructure and traffic;
Light pollution; and
The tranquillity of the area.

Increased pressures for tourism-related development driven by increasing visitor numbers, both from local housing development and nearby ‘growth points’
Extensive offshore wind farms consented / in development, visible from AONB – seascape, effect on wilderness value and possible biodiversity impacts;
Potential landscape and habitat impacts from onshore connection facilities for offshore windfarms;
Potential for applications for large scale wind turbines in or more likely close to AONB – landscape impacts;
Possible development of other technologies e.g. biomass power generation, wave or tidal (longer term) – potential landscape and/or biodiversity effects; and
Increased development of small scale renewables (wind, solar thermal, solar voltaic, ground heat exchange, small scale hydro at old river mills) – potential impacts on landscape and architectural heritage, especially on character and setting of settlements, conservation areas, historic buildings.

4. Global market forces and national and international policy

The area contains significant mineral resources; however market shrinkage and tighter development and environmental regulations have led to a steady reduction in the amount of mineral extraction in the area. Only two quarries have active working permissions, although sporadic working by landowners for local use continues under Permitted Development measures. Commercial extraction of chalk and brickearth has now ceased. However, the demand for new housing and other built development in the region may lead to increased demand for aggregate and crushed rock production in the area, although the onset of this effect may be delayed by the economic recession and is likely to be carefully controlled under minerals plans.

Vision of the future for landscape, biodiversity and geodiversity

A twenty year vision for landscape, biodiversity and geodiversity in the area sets the scene and guides the activities of the Norfolk Coast Partnership:

The Norfolk Coast is richly diverse, with distinctive landscapes, wildlife, settlements, geological features, building styles and materials, communities, history and culture. The area is essentially unspoilt with a strong feeling of remoteness, peace and tranquillity.

The coast has a strong feeling of wilderness and of being exposed to and shaped by the elements. In general, there is a managed approach to achieving a more naturally functioning coastline, which is increasingly valuable for its habitats and the species they support, including breeding, migrating and wintering birds. Where it is deemed necessary to maintain coastal defences, this is done in the most sensitive way possible in terms of sustainability and visual and wildlife impacts.

The landscape shows many links with history, with features and patterns created by past cultures and land use, and with its geological past through large scale features and individual sites. There are wide skyscapes, seascapes and dark night skies that show the richness and detail of star patterns. All parts of the area support a rich diversity of characteristic wildlife and habitats associated with natural variations and management, including species and habitats of national and international importance.

Five year objectives and policies

The five year objectives and policies for landscape, biodiversity and geodiversity are designed to achieve the twenty year vision:

L1. The area’s special qualities of landscape character, biodiversity and geodiversity, including the wilderness qualities of the North Norfolk Heritage Coast, are better understood and valued:

L1.1. Develop and use the Integrated Landscape Character Guidance for the AONB as a spatial tool to guide decision making and improve consistency of management and delivery of conservation objectives across the area;

L1.2. Develop and promote understanding of the area’s key qualities of natural beauty, particularly those less understood and valued at present; and

L1.3. Improve understanding of, and planning for, changes to landscape and biodiversity.

L2. The quality and diversity of landscape character and distinctive wildlife habitats and species, and their ability to adapt to change, has been maintained and improved:

L2.1 Maintain and improve the condition of key land, intertidal and sea habitats;

L2.2. Manage the consequences of coastal change so as to ensure that the values that are important to the area (i.e. landscape character, biodiversity, historic and cultural identity and community wellbeing) are properly recognised and safeguarded;

L2.3. Improve resilience to change for key habitats and species through development of ecological networks that extend, link and buffer these habitats; and

L2.4. Take opportunities to reduce and manage adverse impacts on the landscape and seascape from past development and activities, and from those outside direct partners’ management.

Other relevant plans and initiatives

Other relevant plans and initiatives involving partner organisations that can help to achieve objectives and implement policies for this theme include:

Local Development Frameworks and development control (local planning authorities);
Plans / projects helping to implement the European Union’s Water Framework Directive – River Basin Management Plans, Catchment Abstraction Management Plans, Catchment Flood Management Plans (Environment Agency);
Wash and North Norfolk Coast European Marine Site Management Scheme;
Wash Estuary Management Strategy (Wash Estuary Management Group);
Broads Plan (Broads Authority);
Norfolk Biodiversity Plans (Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership);
Norfolk Non-Native Species Initiative (hosted by the Norfolk Biodiversity Partnership);
Water Level Management Plans;
Nature reserve management plans (conservation organisations);
Norfolk Geodiversity Action Plan (Norfolk Geodiversity Partnership);
Coastal Habitat Management Plans;
Monitoring of coastline change (Environment Agency) ;
Predictive studies on coastal change such as ‘Futurecoast’;
Anglian Water Services Asset Management Plans;
Environment Agency Review of Consents under Regulation 50;
Agri-environment Schemes;
Catchment Sensitive Farming Initiatives to reduce diffuse pollution from agricultural sources;
Management of diffuse pollution from road runoff (Working with Norfolk County Council to manage road runoff);
River restoration projects;
Shoreline Management Plans (Environment Agency / local authorities); and
European Landscape Convention.

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