Habitat Inventory, public rights of way (on the Ordnance Survey base map) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (including their impact risk zones). Local environmental record centres may hold a range of additional information on the natural environment. A list of local record centres is available from the Association of Local Environmental Records Centres. Priority habitats are those habitats of particular importance for nature conservation, and the list of them can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/habitats-and-species-of-principal-importance-in-england. Most of these will be mapped either as Sites of Special Scientific Interest, on the Magic website or as Local Wildlife Sites. Your local planning authority should be able to supply you with the locations of Local Wildlife Sites. National Character Areas (NCAs) divide England into 159 distinct natural areas. Each character area is defined by a unique combination of landscape, biodiversity, geodiversity and cultural and economic activity. NCA profiles contain descriptions of the area and statements of environmental opportunity, which may be useful to inform proposals in your plan. NCA information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-character-area-profiles-data-for-local-decision-making. There may also be a local landscape character assessment covering your area. This is a tool to help understand the character and local distinctiveness of the landscape and identify the features that give it a sense of place. It can help to inform, plan and manage change in the area. Your local planning authority should be able to help you access these if you can't find them online. If your neighbourhood planning area is within or adjacent to a National Park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), the relevant National Park/AONB Management Plan for the area will set out useful information about the protected landscape. You can access the plans on from the relevant National Park Authority or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty website. General mapped information on soil types and Agricultural Land Classification is available (under 'landscape') on the Magic Website: 4 http://magic.defra.gov.uk/ and also from the LandIS website: http://www.landis.org.uk/index.cfm, which contains more information about obtaining soil data. Natural environment issues to consider The National Planning Policy Framework: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-planning-policy-framework--2 sets out national planning policy on protecting and enhancing the natural environment. Planning Practice