Briefing Notes regarding LDF

THORNTON

Core Strategy

The borough has a range of very attractive and distinctive landscapes with several significant visitor attractions and areas of historic importance,The inclusion of part of the National Forest in the north and east of the Borough has recently expanded recreational and tourism possibilities as well as opportunities for wildlife habitat creation – particularly woodland cover, which is planned to reach 30% across the Forest as a whole. Surveys have confirmed that the countryside is one of the local assets which is most highly valued by the local community and that it is well used for recreation by local people.

3.29 9. Protect and enhance natural habitats and biodiversity – Despite popular natural attractions such as Burbage Common, Charnwood Forest, Ashby Canal and part of the National Forest, biodiversity is not particularly high overall. In fact, the East Midlands has one of the lowest percentages of woodland cover compared to the UK as a whole. There are 7 Sites of Special Scientific Interest in the Borough, of these 60% are in an unfavourable condition and are continuing to decline. There are also numerous local wildlife sites/Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation. There is a strong need to provide protection and enhancement to these sites and the nature conservation sites, habitats and species listed in the Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP).


Tourism support- Continue and develop relationships with the National Forest, Stepping Stones Project and the Charnwood Forest to enable the continued implementation of these initiatives. Protect existing access routes and create physical connections between settlements and the National Forest and Charnwood Forest areas to increase the potential for tourism income and protect existing assets from possible overuse as a result of growth within and outside the Borough. Promote the settlements within the National Forest (Markfield, Thornton, Stanton under Bardon and Bagworth) and on the fringe (Groby, Ratby, Newbold Verdon, Desford, Barlestone and Nailstone) as‘gateway’ villages to the National Forest.

Improved Access around Thornton Reservoir- Develop Thornton Reservoir as a major recreational feature in the north east of the Borough. Provide additional multi-user access routes in conjunction with any recreational/ tourism development.

4.59 An important component of green infrastructure within Hinckley & Bosworth and within Leicestershire is the National Forest. The aim of the National Forest is to increase woodland cover to about a third of all land within its boundary for the pleasure and benefit of the community, landscape and environment.

4.60 The National Forest is transforming the landscape to create a mosaic of land uses and enhance biodiversity; making a small but significant contribution to the UK’s efforts to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide; creating a major resource for tourism, recreation and education; providing a productive alternative use for farmland and enabling farm diversification; contributing to the UK’s timber needs; and stimulating the economy and creating jobs.

4.61 In Hinckley & Bosworth, the National Forest covers a small proportion of the north eastern corner of the Borough and encompasses the Key Rural Centres of Markfield, Bagworth, Thornton and parts of Groby and Ratby.

Policy 20: Green Infrastructure Policy 21: National Forest

To support the implementation of The National Forest to the north east of the Borough, proposals that contribute to the delivery of the National Forest Strategy (increasing woodland cover; enhancing biodiversity; developing a new woodland economy for timber products and wood fuel energy; outdoor recreational and sports provision; and tourism developments, especially overnight quality accommodation linked to tourism in the Forest) will be supported provided that:

• the siting and scale of the proposed development is appropriately related to its setting within the Forest;
• the development respects the character and appearance of the wider countryside and ;
• the development does not adversely affect the existing facilities and working landscape of either the Forest or the wider countryside.

Within the National Forest new developments will be required to reflect the Forest context in their accompanying landscape proposals. Developments shall provide on-site or nearby landscaping that meets the National Forest development planting guidelines. Landscaping will generally involve woodland planting, but can also include creation and management of other appropriate habitats, open space provision and the provision of new recreational facilities. The appropriate mix of landscaping features will depend upon the setting and the opportunities that the site presents.
LDF Proposed Submission Core Strategy 2008

DPD Site Options

The Council’s Submission Draft Core Strategy document (2008) has not allocated any housing and/or employment requirements to this settlement, therefore no allocations are required.

(January Wording): An option was considered for the location of a potential gypsy and traveller site (THO10). This land lies north of Reservoir Road to the east of Thornton. This site was not considered a preferred option due to the site’s proximity to the Costalot gypsy and traveller site, along with potential issues relating to highways access. Further details on specific sites are contained in Appendix 6. This site is considered to be a secondary option due to the existing level of gypsy and traveller pitches in the area.

(February Wording): Providing that the development of this site could be sympathetically assimilated into its surroundings, it is considered that this site could be suitable for a ten pitch gypsy and traveller site. Development of this site would be subject to the provision of safe highways access in order to be in conformity with Policy 18 of the Hinckley and Bosworth Submission Core Strategy.

The southern part of Thornton is not included as a buffer zone; however this area is close to Thornton Reservoir which provides an important recreational facility. As a result no additional green space has been identified.

Thornton Reservoir Located to the east of the settlement boundary, this site is an established reservoir with extensive walking and cycling networks and wildlife habitats. Listed in the Council’s Green Space Strategy, the Thornton Reservoir is a 75 acre valuable site for recreation set within the National Forest. Policy 10 of the Core Strategy notes the importance of Bagworth and Thornton as Forest Settlements and how they are characterised by the wildlife and planting which is unique to the wider National Forest area. Thus supporting the retention of Thornton Reservoir as a valuable open space for recreation and tourism.

Policy 20 of the Core Strategy also supports the importance of developing Thornton Reservoir as a major recreational asset. Located to the east of the settlement boundary, this site is an established reservoir with extensive walking and cycling networks and wildlife habitats. THO08 relates specifically to the access route surrounding the reservoir.

Listed in the Council’s Green Space Strategy, the Thornton Reservoir is a 75 acre valuable site for recreation set within the National Forest. Policy 20 of the Core Strategy and the Councils Green Infrastructure Strategy also supports the importance of developing Thornton Reservoir as a major recreational asset and the intentions to provide additional multi-user access routes for the benefit of the area.

Consultants

Sites allocated for new development should have good access to a frequent and reliable public transport network, jobs, key services and infrastructure to reduce the need to travel by car.

36 135 Land at Reservoir Road Thornton
The Council’s Submission Draft Core Strategy document (2008) has not allocated any housing and/or employment requirements to this settlement, therefore no allocations are required. However, infill development will be considered on its merits through the development control process.

The National Forest, situated in the north east of the Borough has significant potential for enhancing tourism and recreation in the area. The plans for the National Forest include the development of visitor centres, woodland trails, cycle ways, woodland / field based sports and visitor car parking.

In addition, a BAP for the National Forest has been produced, which outlines the work required to achieve the necessary protection and conservation of habitats and species at a local level within the National Forest. The National Forest covers 200 square miles of the Midlands, spanning across areas of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire, including the Charnwood and Needwood Forests. This area is important for wildlife, comprising of a range of protected and priority species and habitats including water vole, bats, otter, adder, barn owl and redstart. The National Forest contains 1143ha of ancient woodland accounting for 2.3% of the land area. Part of the National Forest is situated in the north east of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough.

B) Forest Hills Character Area
Gently undulating landform with small plateaus on higher ground. Highest point centred around Bagworth. Predominantly rural landscape with arable and rough set-aside, influenced by industrial / urban features such as masts, poles and pylons. Fields enclosed by hedgerows with scattered trees. Industrial heritage of quarrying and mining resulting in areas of restored land and new woodland within the National Forest. Generally large scale field pattern with groups of smaller fields surrounding settlements. Linear settlements of former mining villages with sparsely scattered farms on slopes in between. Good public access and footpath network throughout, especially within National Forest area. Visually open due to immature plantations. Wide ranging views from higher ground. Thornton reservoir is an attractive focal point.

The National Forest, situated in the north east of the Borough has significant potential for enhancing tourism and recreation in the area. The plans for the National Forest include the development of visitor centres, woodland trails, cycle ways, woodland / field based sports and visitor car parking. The ‘Leicestershire Round’, a 100 mile circular route which extends around the county of Leicestershire. A number of cycle routes within the Borough form part of the SUSTRANS National Cycleway.

The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) (2002) identifies local and national priority habitats and species present within the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland area. It also sets targets for their conservation and outlines mechanisms for achieving these. In addition, a BAP for the National Forest has been produced, which outlines the work required to achieve the necessary protection and conservation of habitats and species at a local level within the National Forest. This area is important for wildlife, comprising of a range of protected and priority species and habitats including water vole, bats, otter, adder, barn owl and redstart.

Local wildlife sites represent some of the most important land for wildlife outside the statutory SSSI system and are given some protection in the policies of District / Borough council development plans. There are a number of local wildlife sites (also know as Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation) in Hinckley and Bosworth Borough which are significant to Leicestershire in terms of flora or fauna.

The need to protect and enhance habitats and species, in particular those listed within the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland BAP Sites allocated for new development should consider the existing ecological value of the sites. Policies should promote opportunities for habitat creation and / or enhancement as part of development should be sought wherever possible.

Forest Hills Character Area Gently undulating landform with small plateaus on higher ground. Highest point centred around Bagworth. Predominantly rural landscape with arable and rough set-aside, influenced by industrial / urban features such as masts, poles and pylons. Fields enclosed by hedgerows with scattered trees. Industrial heritage of quarrying and mining resulting in areas of restored land and new woodland within the National Forest. Generally large scale field pattern with groups of smaller fields surrounding settlements. Linear settlements of former mining villages with sparsely scattered farms on slopes in between. Good public access and footpath network throughout, especially within National Forest area. Visually open due to immature plantations. Wide ranging views from higher ground. Thornton reservoir is an attractive focal point.

Sites allocated for new development should consider the surrounding natural and historic landscape character, in particular those areas considered to be of high landscape importance (e.g. the National Forest, Bosworth Battlefield). Policies should encourage development that is sensitive to the natural and historic landscape character of the Borough

In addition, HBBC identified two potential sites in the Borough for the development of recreational uses, these being Thornton Reservoir and the Gopsall Park Estate. Allocate Thornton Reservoir for recreational use.

The green / wildlife corridor sites are linear green spaces that define community boundaries and which join up larger natural areas. They provide connections between natural areas for wildlife, and in some cases, people. It should be noted that the sites allocated are already in existence, i.e. their allocation is not for development but to afford them protection and conserve them in their current state.

Those corridors that are focused around a watercourse may result in additional beneficial impacts by helping to prevent development that may adversely affect water quality and which may result in the loss of floodplain. The corridors that are proposed to link features / assets to long distance paths comprise small areas of land and so are not anticipated to contribute significantly to conserving the rural landscape of the Borough; however these may help provide better opportunities for local people and tourists to access and understand local heritage assets, although an adverse impact of these may be the loss of habitat during the creation of the links themselves.

January Wording: Site THO08, which is a proposed green corridor at Thornton has been appraised as part of general (non settlement specific) matrix for ‘Green Corridors’.

February wording: Site THO10 is to be allocated as a new Gypsy and Traveller site. The site is greenfield, however there are no designations which would be affected by this. Future residents would be able to access services in Thornton; however the site is approximately 2km from the centre of the village.