Evidence Base for Planning Policy

The Landscape Partnership was commissioned in July 2009 to undertake a Landscape Character Assessment and a Landscape Capacity Study of the rural areas in the vicinity of the Leicester PUA. The aim of the report was to provide the Council with a better understanding of the landscape constraints around the PUA and provide an assessment of the landscape's capacity to accommodate future development. The study forms part of the Local Development Framework (LDF) evidence base.   

The first part of the study identifies landscape character sub-areas within the wider High Leicestershire and Lutterworth Lowland Landscape Character Areas around the PUA. The report then goes on to provide a detailed analysis of the landscape capacity of land adjacent to Thurnby, Bushby, Scraptoft and Oadby and assesses its potential suitability to accommodate future development, particularly residential.   

N.B. Please note that landscape character and capacity is just one of the factors considered in assessing the suitability of sites for development. Other possible constraints on development which will be taken into account include transport, accessibility, flood risk, access to local services/facilities, green wedge designations and the existence of biodiversity designations (i.e. local nature reserves and local wildlife sites), Tree Preservation Orders and archaeological features.

Further information regarding the assessment is available here.