Landscape character assessment is a technique that has been developed to facilitate systematic analysis, description and classification of the landscape.

It involves identification of those features or combinations of elements that contribute to the character of the landscape, thereby enabling the special character and qualities of the area to be understood.

This information allows reasoned consideration of those issues affecting the landscape in order to develop appropriate recommendations for its future conservation and management.

Landscape character assessment can make a valuable contribution to the formation of planning policies, to the allocation of land for development, to development control activities, and to processes such as environmental assessment.

For more general information on landscape character assessments visit the Countryside Character Initiative website (see 'Related Links').

The Council has published a Landscape Character Assessment of Wakefield District to assist in the preparation of the Local Development Framework. A copy can be purchased at a cost of £10.00. Cheques should be made payable to ‘Wakefield MDC’ and should be sent with orders to the address on the ‘Contact the Spatial Policy Group’ page (see 'Also In').