The site benefits from existing landscape features which will be retained as a 'green asset' for the new settlement, such as areas of woodland on the south-eastern boundary and within the site; hedgerows, including 'important' hedgerows (one marking a parish boundary); screening tree belts on the site boundaries and streams and grassland of ecological interest in the lowest lying area of the site.

Field boundaries are usually trimmed hedges with frequent hedgerow trees. Blocks of woodland and plantations are important landscape features, and results in a relatively compartmentalised site, characterised by strong bands of vegetation and landform. These features suggest boundaries of development sub-areas. The character of the development on each sub-area could individually respond to the localised character of the sub-area.

The new settlement should have its own clear identity. It should reflect the character of settlements in the area: clusters of dense development ('ideal villages') and low-density areas of individual houses or larger houses on individual plots on their edges, with open spaces between them.

The landscape character and quality of the industrial areas would need to be upgraded considerably, and the open space and vegetation pattern proposed in the landscape strategy for the development should build upon the framework that exists.