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ICKFORD NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN : BASIC CONDITIONS STATEMENT : VISION FOR ICKFORD 29

Natural England Response Annex A - Neighbourhood

planning and the natural environment: information,
issues and opportunities

Natural Environment Information Sources

The Magic1 website will provide you with much of the nationally held natural environment data for
your plan area. The most relevant layers for you to consider are: Agricultural Land
Classification, Ancient Woodland, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Local Nature
Reserves, National Parks (England), National Trails, Priority Habitat Inventory, public
rights of way (on the Ordnance Survey base map) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest
(including their impact risk zones). Local environmental record centres may hold a range of
additional information on the natural environment. A list of local record centres is available here2.
1 http://magic.defra.gov.uk/
2 http://www.nbn-nfbr.org.uk/nfbr.php
3
http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20140711133551/http:/www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/conservation/bio
diversity/protectandmanage/habsandspeciesimportance.aspx
4 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-character-area-profiles-data-for-local-decision-making
5 http://magic.defra.gov.uk/
6 http://www.landis.org.uk/index.cfm
7 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-planning-policy-framework--2
8 http://planningguidance.planningportal.gov.uk/blog/guidance/natural-environment/

Priority habitats are those habitats of particular importance for nature conservation, and the list
of them can be found here3. Most of these will be mapped either as Sites of Special Scientific
Interest, on the Magic website or as Local Wildlife Sites. Your local planning authority should
be able to supply you with the locations of Local Wildlife Sites.
National Character Areas (NCAs) divide England into 159 distinct natural areas. Each character
area is defined by a unique combination of landscape, biodiversity, geodiversity and cultural and
economic activity. NCA profiles contain descriptions of the area and statements of environmental
opportunity, which may be useful to inform proposals in your plan. NCA information can be found
here4.
There may also be a local landscape character assessment covering your area. This is a tool
to help understand the character and local distinctiveness of the landscape and identify the
features that give it a sense of place. It can help to inform, plan and manage change in the area.
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online.
If your neighbourhood planning area is within or adjacent to a National Park or Area of
Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the relevant National Park/AONB Management Plan for
the area will set out useful information about the protected landscape. You can access the plans
on from the relevant National Park Authority or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty website.
General mapped information on soil types and Agricultural Land Classification is available
XQGHU ¶ODQGVFDSH¶ RQ WKH 0DJLF5 website and also from the LandIS website6, which contains more
information about obtaining soil data.

Natural Environment Issues to Consider

The National Planning Policy Framework7 sets out national planning policy on protecting and
enhancing the natural environment. Planning Practice Guidance8 sets out supporting guidance.
Your local planning authority should be able to provide you with further advice on the potential
impacts of your plan on the natural environment and the need for any environmental
assessments.

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VISION FOR ICKFORD – NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN
www.visionforickford.co.uk