Within the buffer zone of Hadrian’s Wall Military Zone World Heritage Site, as defined on the Proposals Map, proposals for development which would have an unacceptable adverse impact on the character and/or setting of the World Heritage Site will not be permitted.Development within or adjacent to existing settlements, established farmsteads and other groups of buildings will be permitted, where it is consistent with other policies of this Plan, providing that:
Within the outer visual envelope, beyond the Hadrian’s Wall Military Zone World Heritage Site, proposals for major development which would have an adverse effect on the character of the World Heritage Site will not be permitted unless the need for the development outweighs the environmental costs.
6.36 The criteria for inscription for World Heritage Sites refers to the selection of outstanding historic and natural landscapes. ICOMOS, which examines submissions for World Heritage Sites, considers that it is the landscape all around that is the setting and the amount required to be included in the buffer zone will depend on the lie of the land. If the site is surrounded by hills the buffer zone should be extended to include the tops of the hills.
6.37 ICOMOS also considers that there has been too little protection given to these sites against new development, which might have a detrimental effect on their setting. This protection should not exclude change or development, but only that such change or development must be appropriate and sympathetic to the site.
6.38 The buffer zone of Hadrian’s Wall Military Zone has been identified following the preparation of a Management Plan by English Heritage, Local Authorities along the length of the Wall and other interested parties. The Management Plan identifies three distinct areas: the archaeological core of the Wall and Vallum (the World Heritage Site), the surrounding buffer zone and the outer visual envelope. This Policy is intended to protect the buffer zone from inappropriate and unsympathetic development which would adversely affect the World Heritage Site. Development within the buffer zone that would have an unacceptable adverse affect on the character and/or the setting of the World Heritage Site will not be permitted. Development that is within or adjacent to existing settlements, farmsteads or other groups of buildings will be permitted provided that the proposal reflects the scale and character of the existing development and does not adversely affect the character and/or setting of the World Heritage Site.
6.39 The Hadrian’s Wall Management Plan was updated in 2002, the boundary of the buffer zone on the District Plan Proposals Map is co-terminus with that shown in the Management Plan. Should the boundary shown in the Management Plan subsequently change, it is the City Council’s intention to rely on the boundary shown in the Management Plan, rather than that shown on the District Plan Proposals Map. The Proposals Map will be altered at the first appropriate opportunity.
6.40 As the site is surrounded by hills, the North Pennines, Bewcastle Fells, the Lake District and the Scottish Hills north of the Border, it was not considered appropriate to include such an extensive area within a Policy that includes minor forms of development.
6.41 This Policy applies to a very large part of the Plan area and it is intended to prevent major development proposals which would have a significant adverse impact on the World Heritage Site. Generally it will include areas from where the site can be viewed, or which can be viewed from any of the multiplicity of structures which form the Military Zone. As there are significant changes in topography within this large area there may be areas which will not be visible from the Zone and each case will, therefore, have to be considered individually if it is thought that the development may be unsympathetic or inappropriate.
