18 new local wildlife sites could be established in Sunderland under new plans

Earlier this week, the city council’s ruling cabinet discussed plans for a review of locally designated wildlife sites across the city.

According to a report prepared for councillors, national planning rules define local wildlife sites as “areas of substantive nature conservation value [which] make an important contribution to ecological networks and nature’s recovery.”

The sites can also provide wider benefits including public access (where agreed) and helping to tackle air pollution.

There are currently 63 local wildlife sites designated in Sunderland.

Subject to consultation, the council hopes to amend the boundaries of several existing sites and to introduce new ones.

In total, 18 new sites have been identified as meeting the criteria to become a local wildlife site.

The proposed sites include:

Barnes Park West Bowes Railway Foxhole Woods Grindon Sandhills Hendon Promenade Hendon Sidings High Barmston Philadelphia Pond Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve River Don Seaton Bank Sedgeletch Ponds Silksworth Fishing Lake Springwell Quarry Ponds Success Railway Cutting The Children’s Forest Upper Don Tributaries Usworth Burn (River Don South)

A report on the planned review was discussed by councillors at Tuesday’s (December 8) cabinet meeting, which was held via videolink and broadcast on YouTube.

Minor boundary amendments, which are recommended for 22 sites, aim to address “small discrepancies due to anomalies” such as original mapping errors and loss of habitat.

Meanwhile, the review also recommends major boundary amendments to 28 sites following field survey work.

The proposals have been endorsed by the Local Wildlife Sites Partnership.

Following cabinet backing this week, proposals for the amended boundaries and new sites will go out to consultation, alongside the council’s draft Allocations and Designations Plan.

The consultation is expected to launch on December 18, 2020 and close on February 12, 2021.

Views and comments gathered during the process will be considered, with a final report set to return to cabinet next year.

The city council will also publish the Local Wildlife Site Evidence Base, which justifies each proposed boundary amendment and new site.

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