The Green Wedge review applied the Leicester and Leicestershire Green Wedge Joint Methodology (2011) while introducing new criteria to quantify contributions to the four key Green Wedge purposes. Site visits tested and refined desk-based findings, assessing topography, vegetation, built form, intervisibility between settlements, and informal uses. The assessment confirmed that the existing Green Wedges continue to deliver their strategic functions, with no changes to boundaries recommended.
Alongside this, we produced a Green and Blue Infrastructure Study, mapping assets, identifying enhancement opportunities, and informing policies on protection, provision, and improvement. Collaboration between Environmental Planning and Land Management teams ensured a consistent understanding of how green and blue infrastructure supports the Wedges’ “green lung” function for wildlife and people.
Engagement with neighbouring authorities through a Duty to Co-Operate meeting promoted transparency and a shared understanding of each Wedge’s value. The Open Space Strategy covers approximately 1,500 hectares across the district, including 300 hectares of council-managed land, and provides a robust, up-to-date evidence base for planning to 2031. It assesses the quality, demand, and accessibility of open spaces, guiding investment priorities, management, and maintenance, and includes an open space calculator to assess developer contributions.
Together, these assessments provide Harborough District Council with the tools to protect, enhance, and sustainably manage its network of open spaces and Green Wedges for communities and wildlife.
