LVIA & TVIA in Hertfordshire

We provide Landscape Technical Notes, Landscape and Visual Impact Appraisals, full LVIAs, and Townscape Visual Impact Assessments across Hertfordshire. Our work covers a wide range of development types in one of the most planning-policy-constrained counties in southern England.

Landscape character in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire is dominated by two strong landscape constraints. The Chilterns National Landscape covers a substantial portion of the western county — chalk escarpment, beech-hanger woodland, and historic commons that carry the highest level of statutory landscape protection. Metropolitan Green Belt covers most of the rest of the county, restricting development between settlements and shaping the landscape around the M25 corridor. The Lee Valley in the east provides an ecologically important river corridor.

The relevant planning authorities include Dacorum Borough Council, St Albans City and District Council, Three Rivers District Council, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, North Hertfordshire District Council, East Hertfordshire District Council, Stevenage Borough Council, Hertsmere Borough Council, Watford Borough Council, and Broxbourne Borough Council. We are familiar with their Local Plan landscape policies, the Chilterns Conservation Board management plan, and the Lee Valley Regional Park strategy.

Our Hertfordshire 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 Hertfordshire

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

• Residential proposals in Metropolitan Green Belt
• Householder extensions in Chiltern villages
• Agricultural buildings and barn conversions
• Edge-of-settlement infill in market towns
• Equestrian facility applications
• Pre-application advice for sites in Green Belt

• Do I need an LVIA in Hertfordshire?
  This depends on the scale and sensitivity of your proposal. Applications in or near the Chilterns National Landscape, or in extensive Metropolitan Green Belt, 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 Hertfordshire?
  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.