LVIA & TVIA in Dorset

We provide Landscape Technical Notes, Landscape and Visual Impact Appraisals, full LVIAs, and Townscape Visual Impact Assessments across Dorset, from our Wells office. Our work covers a wide range of development types in some of the most sensitive landscapes in southern England.

Landscape character in Dorset

Dorset is one of the most distinctive landscape counties in England. The Jurassic Coast is a UNESCO World Heritage Site running the entire length of the southern coastline, the Dorset National Landscape covers more than half the county, and the Cranborne Chase National Landscape extends across the north-east. Together they form a continuous tract of nationally protected landscape including chalk downland, ancient woodlands, heathland commons, and the unspoilt rolling pastoral country that defines the county.

The relevant planning authorities are Dorset Council (the unitary authority formed in 2019) and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP). We are familiar with their Local Plan landscape policies, the Jurassic Coast Partnership Plan, and the Dorset and Cranborne Chase management plans that apply to development in or affecting the National Landscapes.

Our Dorset services

• Landscape Technical Notes — desktop assessment for pre-application or householder applications
• Landscape and Visual Impact Appraisals — proportionate fieldwork-based assessments
• Full LVIAs — GLVIA3-compliant assessments for major applications
• Townscape and Visual Impact Assessments for urban and urban-fringe proposals
• Expert review of submitted LVIAs for LPAs or objectors
• Supporting landscape plans aligned with our assessments

Recent project types in Dorset

A representative cross-section of the kinds of work we have delivered across Dorset:

• Agricultural buildings on chalk downland
• Residential extensions in Dorset National Landscape villages
• Holiday accommodation and rural diversification
• Equestrian and stable facility applications
• Renewable energy proposals on lowland farmland
• Pre-application advice for sites near the Jurassic Coast

• Do I need an LVIA in Dorset?
  This depends on the scale and sensitivity of your proposal. Applications in or near the Dorset and Cranborne Chase National Landscapes, or affecting the setting of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, will often require landscape evidence. We can advise on the appropriate scope once we know your project details — get in touch.
• How much does an LVIA cost in Dorset?
  Fees range from £750 for a desktop Technical Note to £3,950+ for an EIA-level LVIA. We provide a fixed-fee quote after reviewing your site. See our pricing page for a full breakdown.