Leicester City Council is proposing in their draft Local Plan, to build 240 residential dwellings on the Bradgate Heights public green, recreational space (referenced as Site 309, in the Leicester City Council Local Plan).  This is a national trend, and councils across the UK are looking to take precious green space/wedge from communities, in order to address housing need targets.  

This Change petition, about protecting community green space/wedge, that serves the purpose of providing:

• recreational space
• habitats for wildlife/plants/trees
• improves air quality
• water drainage /flood basin
• a lifeline for residents, during Covid-19 lock down restrictions, enabling communities to exercise, meet friends and family at a social distance, be with, and watch nature.  It has for many, helped to maintain, and improve mental health/ physical well-being, particularly for those shielding, working from home and school children studying at home. 

We are wholly opposed to the proposals in the Local Plan, to develop site 309 for housing. Site 309 is Bradgate Heights recreational green space. This is a fundamental community space for residents, fostering a connection between community residents and the natural environment that surrounds them. 

Utilisation of Bradgate Heights Green Space

The Bradgate Heights green space is used by many residents and residents from neighbouring areas for walking, jogging, cycling, dog walking, playing recreational games such as football and cricket and nature watching.  A public right of way cuts across the green space, allowing members of the public, walkers, ramblers to access walking routes into and out of the green space. The green space has been a lifeline for residents, during Covid-19 restrictions, enabling them to exercise, meet friends and family at a social distance, be with, and watch nature.  It has for many, helped to maintain, and improve mental health/ physical well-being, particularly for those shielding, working from home and school children studying at home.

This green space is utilised by:

• residents from Bradgate heights housing estate (there are 450 homes on this estate with approximately 2000+ residents living on this estate).  There are lots of individuals, families, home workers and informal walking groups who all use the path by the green space and the grassed area, to exercise and meet with friends and family. This space has become even more widely used and vital, during Covid-19 restrictions, to enable residents to exercise and meeting with friends and family at a social distance.
• the local care home on the estate to improve the health and wealth being for care residents and staff
• Individuals and families housed in hospital flat accommodation nearby, who work at Glenfield Hospital. The flats (approx 68) have limited space, and not really designed for families as they have no gardens, and the Bradgate Heights green space is therefore utilised.
• Residents from Beaumont Leys and New Parks residents for walking, jogging, cycling, playing recreational football/cricket, dog walking, nature viewing 

Wildlife, nature, biodiversity

Bradgate Heights public green space, is part of historic undeveloped land, known as Anstey pastures, which has allowed a thriving habitat for wildlife (buzzards, red kites, kestrel, hares, foxes, woodpeckers, birds, newts, hedgehogs, finches, owls, have all been seen in the area) to develop. The historic nature of the green space means it is home to English heritage hedge rows, plants, and trees.

Air Quality/Climate Change

Bradgate Heights public green space is the residents much needed green lung, being sandwiched between the A50, A46 Western By-pass, A563 and Anstey Lane, which are all, congested, high speed roads. Motor vehicles are a major pollution contributor, producing significant amounts of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and other pollution.  Additionally, the proposals to expand the Glenfield Hospital by increasing its operations by 1/3 to take pressure off the Leicester Royal Infirmary, will also increase traffic and congestion to the area. Without this green space acting as a buffer, the risk of pollution/poor air quality, greatly increases health risks for our residents

The green space is also an existing drainage/flood relief basin, absorbing surface water from the housing estate and preventing flooding.  With increasing rainfall in the last 5 years, this function has been key in preventing flooding in the estate, as well as addressing climate change issues.

Design of Bradgate Heights housing development

The Bradgate Heights housing development was designed very thoughtfully, and considerately by David Wilson. The proposed plans included the green space for leisure and recreation, with a path around the estate leading to the green space. These plans were approved by Leicester City Council back in 2004, and for the last 16 years provided a sanctuary for nature/wildlife and community space for recreational use.

Community Lifeline

Bradgate Heights public green space has been a lifeline for residents, during Covid-19 lock down restrictions, enabling them to exercise, meet friends and family at a social distance, be with, and watch nature.  It has for many, helped to maintain, and improve mental health/ physical well-being, particularly for those shielding, working from home and school children studying at home.

I believe the Local Plan should be organic, and have built-in flexibility to easily amend proposals, based on current trends, and the impact of issues such as Covid-19, digitalisation, online retail, working from home and climate changes.  The Local plan needs to be reflective, and reactive to these changes.  I think it is appropriate and fair, given the current climate, to prioritise business space/brownfield land for housing development, rather than taking away precious green space from communities.

Please help us save this precious public green space for residents, the local community, for future generations (our children, grandchildren) and to save our planet.  Once it is gone, there is no way to get it back!

Thank you for your support.

Bradgate Heights Residents