ABSTRACT
Character assessment is regarded as a tool for identifying features that give a locality its sense of place and distinctiveness. This can apply to landscape, townscape, and seascape. It considers natural, cultural/social, perceptual, and aesthetic factors. Landscape character can be defined as “a distinct, recognisable and consistent pattern of elements in the landscape that makes one landscape different from another”. Townscape can be similarly defined with reference to the built environment instead of landscape. Seascape character can be defined as “an area of sea, coastline and land, as perceived by people, whose character results from the actions and interactions of land with sea, by natural and/or human factors”. Landscape, townscape, or seascape character assessment may be used as a part of, and to guide: national and local plan development policies; studies of development potential and landscape capacity; environmental impact assessment; and landscape management proposals.
