The purpose of an LVIA is to consider the feasibility of a proposed development in terms of landscape and visual effects. An LVIA addresses both the effects on the landscape as a resource and the effects on visual amenities resulting from the proposed development in question and separately assesses the landscape and visual effects by first considering the baseline to identify published or defined landscape characters and relevant visual receptors. Value, Susceptibility, Sensitivity and Magnitude of effects are evaluated to then provide combined judgement on the overall level of effects or significance of effects in regards to relevant landscape character and visual receptors. The LVIA would also recommend embedded mitigation and enhancement measures to help minimise residual effects and suggest ways to improve the condition and character of the site, immediate setting, and surrounding wider setting.

Landscape and Visual Impact Assessments can be produced as standalone reports or as a chapter for an EIA report in line with current guidance including Guidelines for Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment - Third Edition (GLVIA3), (2013) published by The Landscape Institute (LI) and the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA).