The Hinckley & Bosworth Local Plan sets the spatial development strategy, policies and guidance for land-use planning. Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council brought in LUC's Ecologists to complete an Extended Phase 1 Habitat Survey and Biodiversity Study of a series of sites, to feed into the Plan.

Biodiversity is a key discipline informing the identification of preferred sites for future residential development. After an initial desk-based review of existing data, LUC hit the ground, surveying 72 sites for key sensitivities and opportunities for biodiversity. We investigated ecological features for each site, identifying the need for avoidance and mitigation to enable development to proceed as per planning policy and nature conservation legislation.

LUC gave the Council options for habitat retention and enhancement, as well as information on shaping future planning for landscape-scale conservation strategies and policy-making. Our work centres on the ‘mitigation hierarchy’, emphasising sustainable design to set the foundation for healthy ecosystems whilst delivering future communities within the Borough. The Council promptly used the report to inform planning and land use decision making.