Visual amenity
The term ‘visual amenity’ refers to the views and surroundings that create the backdrop to an area.
A Residential Visual Amenity Assessment (RVAA) assesses the potential visual impact of a development on the residential amenity of property.
Guidance on the preparation of Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments is available in GLVIA 3, Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment, Third Edition, published by the Landscape Institute and Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment in 2013.
Additional guidance is available in Landscape Institute technical guidance note TGN 02/2019 at https://landscapewpstorage01.blob.core.windows.net/www-landscapeinstitute-org/2019/03/tgn-02-2019-rvaa.pdf
NB High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Environmental Statement, Glossary, abbreviations and references, published by the Department for Transport in 2022, defines visual amenity as: ‘The enjoyment or benefit that people derive from a particular view or area in terms of what is seen. When a landscape (or townscape) is changed in some way, the change will be seen by people - often by several different groups of people i.e. visual receptors - and this may affect their views and their visual amenity overall.’
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Ecological impact assessment.
- Ecological survey.
- Environmental impact assessment.
- Green belt.
- Historic Landscape Characterisation.
- Historic Land-use Assessment.
- In-combination effects.
- Landscape and Visual Appraisal.
- Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment.
- Landscape architect.
- Landscape character.
- Landscape Institute.
- Landscape officer.
- Legibility.
- Natural area.
- Strategic ecology framework SEF.
Featured articles and news
A change to adoptive architecture
Effects of global weather warming on architectural detailing, material choice and human interaction.
How big is the problem and what can we do to mitigate the effects?
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
A number of cool guides to help with the heat.
The UK's Modern Industrial Strategy: A 10 year plan
Previous consultation criticism, current key elements and general support with some persisting reservations.
Building Safety Regulator reforms
New roles, new staff and a new fast track service pave the way for a single construction regulator.
Architectural Technologist CPDs and Communications
CIAT CPD… and how you can do it!
Cooling centres and cool spaces
Managing extreme heat in cities by directing the public to places for heat stress relief and water sources.
Winter gardens: A brief history and warm variations
Extending the season with glass in different forms and terms.
Restoring Great Yarmouth's Winter Gardens
Transforming one of the least sustainable constructions imaginable.
Construction Skills Mission Board launch sector drive
Newly formed government and industry collaboration set strategy for recruiting an additional 100,000 construction workers a year.
New Architects Code comes into effect in September 2025
ARB Architects Code of Conduct and Practice available with ongoing consultation regarding guidance.
Welsh Skills Body (Medr) launches ambitious plan
The new skills body brings together funding and regulation of tertiary education and research for the devolved nation.
Paul Gandy FCIOB announced as next CIOB President
Former Tilbury Douglas CEO takes helm.
UK Infrastructure: A 10 Year Strategy. In brief with reactions
With the National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority (NISTA).
Ebenezer Howard: inventor of the garden city. Book review.
Airtightness Topic Guide BSRIA TG 27/2025
Explaining the basics of airtightness, what it is, why it's important, when it's required and how it's carried out.
Comments
[edit] To make a comment about this article, click 'Add a comment' above. Separate your comments from any existing comments by inserting a horizontal line.