The Appearance of English Hill Towns in the Landscape

England possesses its own distinctive type of modest hill town. One of the attractive features of these towns is that the whole settlement can be seen as an entity in the wider landscape. In the context of an increasingly positive approach to the regeneration of market towns, hill towns will be subject to development pressures. Planning policies will need to pay explicit attention to their appearance in the landscape. This paper explores the characteristics of English hill towns that contribute to their visibility, distinctiveness and attractiveness. It points towards positive planning policies for protecting and enhancing their appearance in a context that encourages appropriate development, while expressing concern for the quality of design in the countryside. Indicative components of a method for appraising the appearance of hill towns in the landscape that might be considered for use in preparing design policies are explored.