The Project and particularly the building of the new structures (Old Bailey Wing, Arbuthnot Wing, new footbridge) will produce some adverse landscape and visual impacts but these can be eliminated, reduced or offset to a large extent by clever design and mitigation measures.  The massing and style of the new buildings is dictated by the zoning envelope and height restriction set for potential new buildings under the OZP, the internal space (floor area and ceiling height) required to achieve the proposed uses and the well-established concept in conservation that new interventions, whether internal alterations in an historical building or whole new buildings on an historical site, should be “of their time” ie modern.  The design of new buildings takes the approach to set back from the maximum building envelope so as to minimise disturbance to the adjacent historic buildings and leave them intact.  The proposed cast aluminium façade treatment has also been carefully selected as a non-reflective material to help minimise potential glare interference and also with reference to the existing masonry block elements on site in terms of scale and proportion, thus establishing a certain contextual relationship with the existing buildings.  Hence, in terms of the massing of the buildings and style, they are compatible in terms of both a visual (and cultural heritage) perspective.  The modestly dimensioned new buildings will also enrich the CPS immeasurably by providing added flexibility, function and cultural use to the site while preserving the existing heritage buildings and making them accessible to the public. 

There will be some beneficial landscape and visual impacts from the renovation and refurbishment of the existing buildings and open spaces within the Site and along the Site boundary wall, the addition of a new green wall and planting site and protection and enhancement of the existing soft landscape.  All adverse landscape impacts are reduced to slight-insignificant by year 10, with the impact on the open space with the declared monument (LR4) being slightly beneficial.  All adverse visual impacts are reduced to moderate to insignificant by day 1 of operation (and remain the same at year 10). 

Therefore according to Annex 10 of the EIAO-TM, the potential Landscape and Visual Impacts due to the construction and operation of the Project are considered acceptable with mitigation.