Landscape and Land Use
	The M40/A404 Junction at Handy Cross is situated on the southern outskirts of High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire. Immediately to the north of the M40 at Handy Cross, lies the urban fringe of High Wycombe with hotel, retail complex, residential areas, schools and sports centre. To the south of the M40 lies a landscape typical of the Chilterns, comprising rolling chalk hills and plateau with numerous dry valleys, which has been classified as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and Greenbelt. The proposed improvements will involve the loss of some Grade 3 agricultural land, in arable and pastoral use, and some highway planted woodland. The loss of the woodland removes the existing screening and buffer between the junction and the AONB. However, sensitive views are limited and reinstatement of the highway planting will, overtime, screen the improvement works. There will be some visual impacts from the scheme as highway infrastructure, traffic, and lighting become more visible. However, overall it is considered the scheme is unlikely to have a significant impact on landscape or townscape patterns.

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