Planning and landscape assets
The team advises on the urban and rural landscape, the natural environment and on protected trees, flora and fauna. We encourage, negotiate and secure attractive implementation of landscape schemes, new greenspace and environmental enhancement that relates well to its context.
Early contact by developers with the landscape team is encouraged, prior to the submission of planning applications, to highlight the opportunities and constraints of each site.
Tree protection
We administer the systems controlling work to protected trees, which includes those trees standing in Conservation Areas and trees with Tree Preservation Orders and trees protected by planning condition and special agreements.
We rely greatly on Leeds residents for any information on actual or potential harm to the environment, including its protected trees and where justifiable, will serve new tree preservation orders where trees of public amenity value are judged to be under threat of removal.
Wildlife resources
The team is responsible for the protection and, where opportunities arise, the enhancement of the district's wildlife resources through the planning process, including Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs,) Sites of Special Ecological and Geological Interest (SEGIs) and Local Nature Reserves (LNRs.)
We also administer the system for hedgerow protection and where appropriate serve Hedgerow Retention Notices. We contribute to the Local Agenda 21 process and preparation of biodiversity action plans (BAPs).