The countryside provides an environment for living, working, farming, forestry, mineral extraction, waste disposal, water supply catchment and washlands, nature conservation, amenity, historical landscapes and recreation for both rural and urban dwellers.
It is essential, that the many demands and conflicts placed upon the countryside are effectively managed and, where possible, resolved. The preparation and implementation of a comprehensive countryside strategy is seen as the most appropriate means of achieving this, as well as providing a broader framework for complementary strategies such as the Lower Aire Valley Environmental Improvement Strategy and Woodland Strategy.
The Leeds Countryside Strategy aims to take a comprehensive view of the key issues facing the countryside, complements the relevant land-use policies and proposals of the Leeds Unitary Development Plan. These issues reflect the particular demands and pressures acting upon the Leeds Countryside. Housing and the provision of rural services - whilst important, do not directly form part of the Countryside Strategy. Given the close proximity of the Leeds countryside to urban areas, these issues are not considered to be relevant to the Leeds Countryside Strategy. The Leeds UDP, however, provides a land use planning context for housing provision (including affordable housing) as part of a wider strategy together with infrastructural and social facilities district-wide.
The document is structured into three main sections with the first identifying a series of Aims and Objectives. The next section seeks to put the Countryside Resource of Leeds into context in reviewing the environment of the countryside and the Forces For Change acting upon it. The third section highlights a Perspective of the Countryside, which is translated into a series of Strategic Policies and Management Areas.
The Leeds Countryside Strategy will be delivered at two levels, the first is the Strategic Policy level which aims to inform, co-ordinate and direct change within the countryside overall. The second is through the identification of Countryside Management Areas which seek to tackle or address important issues within distinctive areas of countryside. Five Management Areas have been defined which are: South Leeds, the Lower Aire Valley, East Leeds, Wharfedale and North Leeds, and West Leeds.
It is a key objective of the Countryside Strategy to focus upon the delivery of action rather than merely fostering statements of intent. This is achieved by considering interlinked issues which affect the Countryside. From these issues a core strategy has been identified (A Perspective of the Countryside) which is reflected in the Strategic Policies and Management Areas.
The full contents of the Countryside Strategy are available as pdf files for downloading. You can get copies of the printed strategy by from us using the contact details on the right hand side of this page.