Green Wedge (b) Between Whetstone, Blaby and Countesthorpe - Parcel B

• Purpose Question Assessment
• Prevent the merging of settlements Question 1A: Are there physical features to prevent the merging of settlements and does the land contribute to maintaining the open and undeveloped character of the land? Answer 1A: Yes. The A426 is a physical feature that would provide for physical separation between settlements. However, where it reduces down to a single lane carriageway, it becomes a less significant physical feature that would have less influence in being able to prevent coalescence. The land is expansive and open in character with the exception of some isolated developments within the parcel. Views of this openness can be appreciated from parts of Winchester Road, Lutterworth Road and Cosby Road where there are spaces between the boundary hedgerows. The openness can also be appreciated from within the parcel however there are limited public viewpoints. The overall open and undeveloped character of the parcel is considered to be a strong characteristic of the land separating the settlements in this location.
• Question 1B: Are there features to provide a visual perception of distance between settlements? Answer 1B: Yes. In the northern part of the parcel along the Lutterworth Road, north of the A426 roundabout (and slightly to the south of it), there is some development on the eastern side, but the development is set back from the road, for the most part, and views of it are limited by thick, strong hedgerows, helping to provide a visual perception of distance between settlements. Further south, the views from Lutterworth Road across to the east open up more, providing a strong visual perception of distance between the settlements. This is also true of the area of Green Wedge to the north of Cosby Road, particularly when looking west over to Whetstone, where development can be seen, particularly on the new build sites to the south of

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