LVIA Reports
Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment is a tool used to identify and assess the significance of the effects of change resulting from a proposed development — on the landscape as an environmental resource in its own right, and on people's views and visual amenity. We prepare robust, defensible LVIAs and appraisals that give planning authorities, communities and our clients a clear, honest account of how a scheme will sit in its landscape.
Our Assessments
Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (LVIA)
A full assessment identifying and evaluating the significance of effects of a proposed development on the landscape as an environmental resource in its own right, and on people's views and visual amenity. Prepared to support planning applications and Environmental Impact Assessments.
Landscape and Visual Appraisal (LVA)
A streamlined appraisal for smaller or less sensitive schemes, or at early site-selection stage, identifying the key landscape and visual opportunities and constraints of a site before a fixed design is developed.
Seascape and Townscape Assessments (SLVIA / TVIA)
Specialised assessments for coastal and marine environments, and for urban contexts including tall buildings, Conservation Areas and protected townscapes.
Cumulative Assessment
Assessment of the combined effects of a proposal alongside other existing, consented and proposed developments in the surrounding area — a frequent determinant for renewable energy and infrastructure schemes.
Residential Visual Amenity Assessment
Focused assessment of the effect of a development on the views and living conditions of individual residential receptors, where the scale of change could potentially affect property amenity.
Peer Review and Expert Witness
Independent review of assessments prepared by others, and robust, defensible evidence at appeal, oral hearing and inquiry stage when assessments are challenged.
Visualisation and GIS
Seeing the proposal before it exists
Our written assessments are supported by a full in-house suite of visualisation and GIS services, giving planning authorities and communities an accessible way to understand predicted visual effects.
Verified Photomontages
Accurate, verifiable visual representations of a proposed development in its landscape setting, produced from surveyed viewpoint photography agreed with the planning authority.
Wireframes
Baseline wireline representations that demonstrate the full extent of a proposal's visibility, independent of built form and vegetation screening.
Zones of Theoretical Visibility (ZTV)
GIS-based visibility mapping against a 3D terrain model, produced both as bare-earth and with built form and vegetation, including cumulative ZTVs for surrounding schemes.
Drone and Photographic Surveys
High-resolution aerial imagery and panoramic photography capturing baseline conditions that ground-based surveys alone cannot record.
Our Method
Baseline and Scoping
Desk study and field survey establish the existing landscape character, sensitivity and visual resource of the site and its context. Assessment scope and representative viewpoints are agreed with the relevant planning authority and, where required, An Bord Pleanála.
Sensitivity and Magnitude
The sensitivity of landscape receptors and visual receptors is evaluated against the magnitude of change the proposal would bring, using transparent, reasoned criteria.
Significance of Effects
Effects on landscape character and on views and visual amenity are classified by significance, with clear distinction between temporary and permanent, and direct and indirect effects.
Mitigation and Enhancement
Where adverse effects are identified, we design mitigation — planting, landform, materials and layout — and set out a realistic enhancement strategy that is deliverable and maintainable.
Robust Reporting
Reports are written to withstand scrutiny at application, appeal and inquiry stage, prepared in accordance with the Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment (GLVIA3), the EPA's Guidelines on the Information to be Contained in Environmental Impact Assessment Reports, and relevant national and county landscape character assessments.
Sectors We Serve
Need an LVIA for your scheme?
Tell us about your site and the stage your project has reached. We assess schemes of every scale, from a single structure to national infrastructure.