Special Landscape Areas

Torfaen County Borough Council carried out a review of the Special Landscape Area (SLA) designations in 2009. The study used the SLA Designation Criteria included within the Natural Resources Wales (formerly Countryside Council for Wales) LANDMAP Information Guidance Note 1 (June 2008). This utilises the comprehensive data sets found within the LANDMAP Information System landscape assessment methodology.

SLAs are used by local planning authorities as a means of protecting sensitive landscapes and in developing an understanding and awareness of those features and characteristics that give a locality its sense of place.

The SLA study identified eight SLAs which have been developed, in line with the methodology, from some twenty one broad search areas identified originally.

Download a copy of the Special Landscape Areas Study here.