The development on land owned by Homes England north of Castor and Ailsworth has been included in Peterborough City Council’s Draft Local Plan. But it would have a devastating impact on the nearby Castor Hanglands National Nature Reserve and create a barrier to species moving around the local landscape.

The 90 hectare site, managed by Natural England, includes woodlands, grasslands, scrub and wetlands and is known for its orchids, woodland butterflies, nightingales and one of the most species rich ponds in England. Many of the species there were first recorded by the poet John Clare who lived nearby and regularly visited more than 200 years ago.

The Wildlife Trust will be putting in a formal objection to the proposals when the consultation begins.

Martin Baker, Wildlife Trust Conservation Manager for Cambridgeshire said: “We strongly object to this proposal. It is an inherently unsustainable location, due to the adverse impacts on nationally important nature sites and will undermine nature recovery in the area. Just because Homes England own land from a historic deal, does not make it the right place for housing or a new community.

“There are other more sustainable locations that would support the regeneration of Peterborough. A much better use of the Homes England land would be to act as a green lung for Peterborough and beyond and provide much needed accessible natural greenspace. No significant new strategic green infrastructure has been provided for Peterborough since the early 1980s and Ferry Meadows Country Park is already very busy before the new residents have arrived.

“A nature focussed use of the land would help to deliver nature recovery in line with Government national environmental objectives to reverse species decline by 2030, the Local Nature Recovery Strategy which the council is signed up to, and the John Clare Countryside Vision which has been developed by conservation groups and local communities.”