Sites of Environmental Significance

The Square, Glenfield (OS 30); accessible open space (Highways Authority, managed by Glenfield Parish Council). Birch Green (OS 31); private ownership, managed by Savills (UK) Ltd for Wilson Bowden plc; accessible open space; children’s play area; outdoor sports; natural greenspace County Hall grounds (OS 32); Leicestershire County Council; outdoor sports; natural greenspace The Slatewalk (OS 33); private ownerships; natural greenspace Barley Greens (OS 34); Glenfield Parish Council; accessible open space Park Drive open space (OS 35); accessible open space Glenfield Turn and A50 (OS 36); Leicestershire County Council (Highways); natural greenspace Brantings Green (OS 37) accessible open space The Hall School grounds (OS 38; Leicestershire CC; in Blaby DC OS Audit 2018 as playing pitch Barrow Corner open spaces (OS 39); Leicestershire CC and Glenfield Parish Council; accessible open space

Sites of natural environment significance

As noted elsewhere in this Plan in more detail, Glenfield has a number of open spaces and other sites of recognised natural environment significance. Some have existing designations (Natural England, Leicestershire County Council), some are open spaces where management for biodiversity protection and enhancement is prioritised, and others have been identified during the research for this Plan as being primarily of high local wildlife value; there are overlaps between these categories.

Glenfield’s contribution to local biodiversity protection is already strategic and site-specific, and is widely regarded as providing an example of Parish Council best practice in this regards; this policy puts protection of known habitat sites (and as far as possible the species that inhabit them) in the Plan Area into the planning system at the appropriate level to achieve balanced, ecologically sound, sustainable development.

POLICY ENV 4: SITES OF NATURAL ENVIRONMENT SIGNIFICANCE – The sites mapped here (figure 9) have been identified as being of at least local significance for their natural environment features. They are ecologically important in their own right and are locally valued. If significant harm to biodiversity cannot be avoided (through locating to an alternative site with less harmful impacts), adequately mitigated, or compensated for, planning permission should be refused in conformity with paragraph 180a of the National Planning Policy Framework. Proposals going forward should plan for and deliver a biodiversity net gain of 20% (on-site wherever possible) through the mechanisms described in the Environment Act 2021.

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