The green and blue infrastructure network includes some land that qualifies as a Local Green Space; this places play an important role in Leighton Linslade, helping to define the character of the area, as well as being an important social and environmental resource for the health and wellbeing of the community.

In 2012, the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) introduced Local Green Space as a way for communities to identify green areas of particular importance and to provide special protection against development. They can only be designated through either Local or Neighbourhood plans The principle of Local Green Space has remained unchanged in subsequent updates to the NPPF, which states that policies for managing development within a LGS should be consistent with those for Green Belts.

Below is the Stage II list prepared by Jon Balaam of the Greensand Trust, as part of the Steering Group Task Team. Stage I (initial screening) having been completed prior to the informal engagement in March/April 2025. These designations offer protection against development for community-valued green spaces which provide significant recreational, ecological, and aesthetic benefits

Each location has been justified using the National Planning Policy Framework criteria that the location shall be:

1. in reasonably close proximity to the community it serves;
2. demonstrably special to a local community and holds a particular local significance, for example because of its beauty, historic significance, recreational value (including as a playing field), tranquillity or richness of its wildlife; and
3. local in character and is not an extensive tract of land.

The Planning Practice Guidance provides a helpful steer as to the considerations for Local Green Space identification. Green areas can include land where sports pavilions, boating lakes or structures such as war memorials are located, allotments, or urban spaces that provide a tranquil oasis. The proximity of a Local Green Space to the community it serves will depend on local circumstances, including why the green area is seen as special, but it must be reasonably close. For example, if public access is a key factor, then the site would normally be within easy walking distance of the community it serves. There are no hard and fast rules about how big a Local Green Space can be because places are different, and a degree of judgment will inevitably be needed. Because Local Green Space designation should only be used where the green area concerned is not an extensive tract of land, blanket designation of open countryside adjacent to settlements will not be appropriate. Finally, there is no requirement for the Local Green Space to have public access.

Full details of every location are set out in Appendix D to describe why each is special.