Rural Opportunity Areas - Landscape Studies

The principle objective of these studies is to undertake a detailed assessment of the landscape character and scenic quality, and then outline the opportunities and constraints for (predominately) new housing development.

The studies focus entirely on the capacity of the landscape, in terms of it's landscape character, the scenic quality of the area, and the potential opportunities provided by the landscape for appropriate new development. The studies therefore do not take into account land ownership or land availability, nor any other interests, such as infrastructure or archaeological interests. As a result they cannot be used in isolation to identify sites which are either appropriate or inappropriate for development.

A hard copy of any study can be requested, charges to cover printing, administrative costs and postage are as follows:-

Alternatively you can download the PDF versions of the relevant studies from below.

Isle of Mull Landscape Capacity Study (December 2009)

This Landscape Capacity Study was commissioned by Argyll and Bute Council, and was carried out by Gilliespies Landscape Architects 

• Mull Landscape Capacity Study (Part 1)  - Part 1 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Mull - Methodology, Landscape Character of Mull, the Map Key, Site Reference Map and the Rural Opportunity Area Assessments for Sites 1 - 9
• Mull Landscape Capacity Study (Part 2)  - Part 2 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Mull - the Map Key, Site Reference Map and the Rural Opportunity Area Assessments for Sites 10 - 16

Mull (Loch na Keal) Landscape Capacity Study (May 2006)

This Landscape Capacity Study for Mull (Loch na Keal) was commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage and Argyll and Bute Council and undertaken on behalf of the Council by Anderson, Bell, Christie Architects. 

• Mull (Loch na Keal) (Part 1) - Part 1 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Mull (Loch na Keal) - contains Table of Contents, Introduction, Methodology, Identifying Opportunities and Constraints, Settlements in Loch na Keal NSA: An Overview and Loch na Keal NSA: Identifying Study Areas
• Mull (Loch na Keal) (Part 2) - Part 2 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Mull (Loch na Keal) - contains Loch na Keal NSA: Identifying Study Areas and Inner Loch na Keal
• Mull (Loch na Keal) (Part 3) - Part 3 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Mull (Loch na Keal) - contains Settlements in Loch na Keal NSA: An Overview and Outer Loch na Keal
• Mull (Loch na Keal) (Part 4) - Part 4 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Mull (Loch na Keal) - contains Loch na Keal NSA: Identifying Study Areas and Inner Loch Tuath
• Mull (Loch na Keal) (Part 5) - Part 4 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Mull (Loch na Keal) - contains Loch na Keal NSA: Identifying Study Areas and Outer Loch Tuath

Iona Landscape Capacity Study (January 2010)

This Landscape Capacity Study was commissioned by Argyll and Bute Council, and was carried out by Gilliespies Landscape Architects 

• Iona Landscape Capacity Study January 2010

Jura Landscape Capacity Study (November 2007)

This landscape capacity assessment for Jura was commissioned by Argyll and Bute Council, with additional support from Scottish Natural Heritage, and was carried out by Alison Grant, Landscape Architect.

• Jura Landscape Capacity Study

 Lorn and the Inner Isles Landscape Capacity Study (February 2010)This Landscape Capacity Study for Lorn and the Inner Isles was commissioned by Argyll and Bute Council, and was carried out by Gilliespies Landscape Architects

• Lorn and the Inner Isles Landscape Capacity Study (Part 1)  - Part 1 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Lorn and the Inner Isles - contains the Contents Page, Methodology and Landscape Character of the Lorn and Inner Isles area.
• Lorn and the Inner Isles Landscape Capacity Study (Part 2)  - Part 2 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Lorn and the Inner Isles - contains the Map Key, Site Reference Map for Lorn, and the Rural Opportunity Assessments for Lorn Sites 1 - 11.
• Lorn and the Inner Isles Landscape Capacity Study (Part 3) - Part 3 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Lorn and the Inner Isles - contains the Map Key, Site Reference Map for Lorn, and the Rural Opportunity Assessments for Lorn Sites 12 - 19.
• Lorn and the Inner Isles Landscape Capacity Study (Part 4) - Part 4 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Lorn and the Inner Isles - contains the Map Key, Site Reference Map for Lorn, and the Rural Opportunity Assessments for Lorn Sites 21 - 29.
• Lorn and the Inner Isles Landscape Capacity Study (Part 5) - Part 5 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Lorn and the Inner Isles - contains the Map Key, Site Reference Map for Lorn, and the Rural Opportunity Assessments for Lorn Sites 30 - 41.
• Lorn and the Inner Isles Landscape Capacity Study (Part 6) - Part 6 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Lorn and the Inner Isles - contains the Map Key, Site Reference Map for Lorn, and the Rural Opportunity Assessments for Lorn Sites 42 - 50.
• Lorn and the Inner Isles Landscape Capacity Study (Part 7) - Part 7 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Lorn and the Inner Isles - contains the Map Key, Site Reference Map for Lorn, and the Rural Opportunity Assessments for Lorn Sites 51 - 61.
• Lorn and the Inner Isles Landscape Capacity Study (Part 8) - Part 8 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Lorn and the Inner Isles - contains the Map Key, Site Reference Map for Lorn, and the Rural Opportunity Assessments for Lorn Sites 62 - 71.
• Lorn and the Inner Isles Landscape Capacity Study (Part 9) - Part 9 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Lorn and the Inner Isles - contains the Map Key, Site Reference Map for Lorn, and the Rural Opportunity Assessments for Lorn Sites 72 - 81.

Mid Argyll and Inveraray Landscape Capacity Study (March 2010)This Landscape Capacity Study was commissioned by Argyll and Bute Council, and was carried out by Gilliespies Landscape Architects

• Mid Argyll and Inveraray Landscape Capacity Study (Part 1) - Part 1 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Mid Argyll and Inveraray - contains the Contents Page, Methodology and Landscape Character of the Mid Argyll and Inveraray area.
• Mid Argyll and Inveraray Landscape Capacity Study (Part 2) - Part 2 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Mid Argyll and Inveraray - contains the Map Key, Site Reference Map for Mid Argyll and Inveraray, and the Rural Opportunity Assessments for Mid Argyll and Inveraray Sites 1 - 15.
• Mid Argyll and Inveraray Landscape Capacity Study (Part 3) - Part 3 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Mid Argyll and Inveraray - contains the Map Key, Site Reference Map for Mid Argyll and Inveraray, and the Rural Opportunity Assessments for Mid Argyll and Inveraray Sites 16 - 26.
• Mid Argyll and Inveraray Landscape Capacity Study (Part 4) - Part 4 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Mid Argyll and Inveraray - contains the Map Key, Site Reference Map for Mid Argyll and Inveraray and the Rural Opportunity Assessments for Mid Argyll and Inveraray Sites 27 - 38.

North and South Kintyre Landscape Capacity Study (Feb 2010)This landscape capacity study was commissioned by Argyll and Bute Council, and was carried out by Gilliespies Landscape Architects.

• North and South Kintyre Landscape Capacity Study (Part 1) - Part 1 of the Landscape Capacity Study for North and South Kintyre - Methodology and Landscape Character of the Kintyre Peninsula
• North and South Kintyre Landscape Capacity Study (Part 2) - Part 2 of the North and South Kintyre Landscape Capacity Study - contains the Map Key, Site Reference map for North Kintyre and the Rural Opportunity Assessments for North Kintyre, Sites 1 - 7
• North and South Kintyre Landscape Capacity Study (Part 3) - Part 3 of the North and South Kintyre Landscape Capacity Study - contains the Map Key, Site Reference Maps for South Kintyre and the Rural Opportunity Area Assessments for South Kintyre, Sites 1 - 10
• North and South Kintyre Landscape Capacity Study (Part 4) - Part 4 of the North and South Kintyre Landscape Capacity Study - contains the Map Key and the Rural Opportunity Area Assessments for South Kintyre, Site 11
• North and South Kintyre Landscape Capacity Study (Part 5) - Part 5 of the North and South Kintyre Landscape Capacity Study - contains the Map Key, and the Rural Opportunity Area Assessments for South Kintyre, Sites 12 - 24

Islay  Landscape Capacity Study (May 2010) 
This landscape capacity study was commissioned by Argyll and Bute Council, and was carried out by Gilliespies Landscape Architects.

• Islay Landscape Capacity Study (Part 1) - Part 1 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Islay - contains the Contents Page, Methodology and Landscape Character of the Islay area
• Islay Landscape Capacity Study (Part 2) - Part 2 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Islay - contains the Map Key, Site Reference Map and the Rural Opportunity Assessments for Islay Sites 1-12
• Islay Landscape Capacity Study (Part 3) - Part 3 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Islay - contains the Map Key, Site Reference Map and the Rural Opportunity Assessments for Islay Sites 13-22

Bute and Cowal Landscape Capacity Study (Oct 2010)

This landscape capacity study was commissioned by Argyll and Bute Council, and was carried out by Gilliespies Landscape Architects.

• Bute and Cowal Landscape Capacity Study (Part 1) - Part 1 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Bute and Cowal - contains  the Contents Page, Methodology and Landscape Character of Bute and Cowal
• Bute and Cowal Landscape Capacity Study (Part 2) - Part 2 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Bute and Cowal - contains the Map Key, Site Reference Map and the Rural Opportunity Assessments for Bute and Cowal Sites 1-9
• Bute and Cowal Landscape Capacity Study (Part 3) - Part 3 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Bute and Cowal - contains the Map Key, Site Reference Map and the Rural Opportunity Assessments for Bute and Cowal Sites 10-23
• Bute and Cowal Landscape Capacity Study (Part 4) - Part 4 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Bute and Cowal - contains the Map Key, Site Reference Map and the Rural Opportunity Assessments for Bute and Cowal Sites 24-33
• Bute and Cowal Landscape Capacity Study (Part 5) - Part 5 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Bute and Cowal - contains the Map Key, Site Reference Map and the Rural Opportunity Assessments for Bute and Cowal Sites 34-36
• Bute and Cowal Landscape Capacity Study (Part 6) - Part 6 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Bute and Cowal - contains the Map Key, Site Reference Map and the Rural Opportunity Assessments for Bute and Cowal Sites 37-44
• Bute and Cowal Landscape Capacity Study (Part 7) - Part 7 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Bute and Cowal - contains the Map Key, Site Reference Map and the Rural Opportunity Assessments for Bute and Cowal Sites 45-52
• Bute and Cowal Landscape Capacity Study (Part 8) - Part 8 of the Landscape Capacity Study for Bute and Cowal - contains the Map Key, Site Reference Map and the Rural Opportunity Assessments for Bute and Cowal Sites 53-62