Blaby District Council Strategic Green Wedge Assessment September 2016 Contents 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 2 2. Purpose of the Green Wedge assessment ........................................................................ 3 3. Green Wedge Assessment Methodology .......................................................................... 4 4. Duty to Co-operate ............................................................................................................ 6 5. Green Wedge Assessment findings and recommendations .............................................. 7 a). Between Blaby and Glen Parva (Sence Valley) ...................................................... 7 b). Between Whetstone, Blaby and Countesthorpe ...................................................... 8 c). Between Whetstone, Enderby, Glen Parva, Braunstone, Blaby, Littlethorpe, Narborough and Cosby (Soar Valley South) .................................................................... 10 d). Green Wedge (d) Between Glenfield, Kirby Muxloe, Kirby Fields and towards Ratby, Groby and Leicester ............................................................................................. 13 e). Green Wedge (e) Between Glenfield towards Beaumont Leys, Anstey and Groby 15 f). Green Wedge (f) From Elmesthorpe towards Barwell and Earl Shilton ................. 16 6. New Green Wedges (Lubbesthorpe SUE) ....................................................................... 17 7. Potential areas of Green Wedge ..................................................................................... 17 8. Conclusions .................................................................................................................... 19 Appendix 1 – Core Strategy Key Diagram ........................................................................... 21 Appendix 2 – Green Wedge Parcel Assessment Proformas ................................................ 22 Green Wedge (a) Between Blaby and Glen Parva (Sence Valley) - Assessment ............ 22 Green Wedge (b) Between Whetstone, Blaby and Countesthorpe - Assessment ............ 27 Green Wedge (c) Between Whetstone, Enderby, Glen Parva, Braunstone, Blaby, Littlethorpe, Narborough and Cosby (Soar Valley South) (North) - Assessment .............. 43 Green Wedge (c) Between Whetstone, Enderby, Glen Parva, Braunstone, Blaby, Littlethorpe, Narborough and Cosby (Soar Valley South) (South) - Assessment .............. 53 Green Wedge (d) Between Glenfield, Kirby Muxloe, Kirby Fields and towards Ratby, Groby and Leicester ........................................................................................................ 62 Green Wedge (e) Between Glenfield towards Beaumont Leys, Anstey and Groby .......... 71 Green Wedge (f) From Elmesthorpe towards Barwell and Earl Shilton ............................ 77 Appendix 3 – Maps of Green Wedges showing current boundaries and areas for review ... 80 Appendix 4 – Green Wedge Assessment Proformas for Lubbesthorpe Green Wedge ........ 88 Appendix 5 – Maps for Candidate Green Wedge around Lubbesthorpe .............................. 96 1 1. Introduction 1.1 Green Wedges are policy designations which seek to influence the form and direction of urban development. The extent of ‘Green Wedges’ are shown broadly on the Core Strategy Key Diagram (2013) and more precisely on the District of Blaby Local Plan Proposals Map (1999). 1.2 There are six broad areas designated as Green Wedges in the District of Blaby, they are: a. Between Blaby and Glen Parva (Sence Valley); b. Between Whetstone, Blaby and Countesthorpe; c. Between Whetstone, Enderby, Glen Parva, Braunstone, Blaby, Littlethorpe, Narborough and Cosby (Soar Valley South); d. Between Glenfield, Kirby Muxloe, Kirby Fields and towards Ratby, Groby and Leicester; e. Between Glenfield towards Beaumont Leys, Anstey and Groby; f. From Elmesthorpe towards Barwell and Earl Shilton. The broad locations of these are shown on the Core Strategy Key Diagram, attached as Appendix 1. 1.3 Policy CS16 of the adopted Blaby Local Plan Core Strategy 2013 supports the use of ‘Green Wedges’ in order to influence the form and direction of urban development. 1.4 The purposes of Green Wedges, as specified in Policy CS16, are to: Prevent the merging of settlements; Guide development form; Provide a green lung into urban areas; Provide a recreation resource. 1.5 The Core Strategy does not specify their precise boundaries, these are currently set out on the proposals map of the Blaby Local Plan 1999. 1.6 Policy CS16 indicates that the need to retain Green Wedge boundaries will be: “…balanced against the need to provide new development (including housing in the most sustainable locations…” and that, 2 “….the detailed boundaries of existing Green Wedges will be reviewed through the ‘Allocations, Designations and Development Management DPD1’…” 1.7 The Core Strategy therefore explicitly requires a review of the Green Wedge boundaries as part of the production the emerging Local Plan Delivery DPD2. This includes the need to consider new sites for development. 1.8 In addition, there have been several material changes in circumstance since the previous Green Wedge Review in 2009, including: - Planning permission being granted (and partially completed) for large scale development in the Green Wedge at Glenfield; - Planning permission being secured on the Green Wedge between Everards Brewery and Leicestershire Police HQ; and - Smaller scale developments elsewhere within the Green Wedge at Enderby, Glenfield, Blaby, Countesthorpe and Littlethorpe. These developments have resulted in changes to the character of these sections of the Green Wedge. 1.9 In addition, the planning context has changed since the previous Green Wedge review including the introduction of the National Planning Policy Framework, Planning Practice Guidance and increased emphasis on ‘significantly boosting the supply of housing’ and promoting economic growth. 1.10 The changing planning context and additional pressures for development around the urban fringe provide justification for reviewing Green Wedges. The principle of Green Wedges is enshrined in the Core Strategy Policy CS16, underpinning the imperative to protect strategically important gaps. 2. Purpose of the Green Wedge assessment 2.1 A review of the District’s Green Wedges was last undertaken in 2009 in order to provide evidence which would inform the emerging Core Strategy. This report provides an up-to-date and consistent appraisal which updates the previous assessment and responds to the changes in circumstance referred to above. 2.2 This report seeks to systematically assess each of the Green Wedges against the four main objectives (and a series of sub-objectives3). The report seeks to identify which of the Green Wedges (in whole or in part) are functioning effectively and those where amendments to the boundaries could be made as a result of the objectives not being met without undermining the integrity of the whole Green Wedge. Where 1 Subsequently renamed the ‘Local Plan - Delivery DPD’. 2 ‘The Delivery DPD’ constitutes part 2 of the Local Plan with the Core Strategy being part 1. 3 As set out in the Green Wedge Assessment proformas attached as Appendix 2. 3 Green Wedges are identified that are not effectively fulfilling the Green Wedge objectives, it is acknowledged that the emerging Local Plan will consider first whether there is land available for development in strategically preferable locations (such as brownfield sites within the Urban Area) before considering Green Wedge land. 2.3 In addition to assessing existing Green Wedges, the report seeks to identify the most appropriate extent of a new Green Wedge associated with the Lubbesthorpe Sustainable Urban Extension and Strategic Employment Site at Enderby, in accordance with Core Strategy Policies CS3 and CS4. 2.4 The Strategic Green Wedge Assessment is evidence that will inform the emerging Local Plan. It does not have any status as Local Plan policy and does not change or delete existing Green Wedges or form new ones until such time as these have been fully considered through the full Local Plan process. 2.5 In addition, the Strategic Green Wedge Assessment does not consider the detailed boundaries of the Green Wedge. This will be considered as a separate exercise to review the detailed settlement, Green Wedge, Area of Separation and Countryside boundaries. 3. Green Wedge Assessment Methodology 3.1 The methodology for assessing the Green Wedges is a two stage process. Stage 1 involved a desktop assessment to identify the extent of the Green Wedges and their environmental, historic and recreational characteristics; Stage 2 involved a site based appraisal. Stage 1: Desk based assessment 3.2 The desk based assessment largely utilised the Council’s Geographical Information Systems and other evidence which helped to identify some of the key land uses and important elements of the built and natural environment within Green Wedges. 3.3 The stages involved in the desk-based assessment comprised: a) Identification and mapping of existing Green Wedge boundaries (from the Blaby Local Plan Proposals Map 1999). b) Identifying smaller manageable parcels to undertake the assessment. c) Identify areas that are already developed or proposed for development within the existing Green Wedge boundary. d) Identify ‘green assets’ or constraints that should be retained or influence the shape of