Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC)

The present day landscape is the product of thousands of years of human activity.  It is shaped by peoples’ exploitation of their physical environment and reflects underlying trends such as political, social, economic and cultural influences.  The need to study archaeological sites, not in isolation but in terms of wider landscape character has long been appreciated and has resulted in the development of Historic Landscape Characterisation (HLC) methodology.
Landscape issues are now embedded into the planning process through guidance given in PPG15 and the sustainability agenda enshrined in PPS7. Conservation of the historic elements of the current landscape clearly relies on good management based on information and understanding; this is the ultimate aim of the HLC process. The purpose of this approach is to understand how and why landscapes are significant and promote an appreciation of landscape issues. This then assists the accommodation of new development within an establish landscape, and so the successful management of change.

Characterisation can be undertaken at many scales from sub-regional to small holding; it can even be carried out thematically.  HLC maps the landscape as it appears now, but can then be used to manage and record change.

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