Natural Environment

Local Geological Sites including Regionally Important Geological Sites contribute to local and national diversity targets, and are part of the local character and distinctiveness of an area. These sites are managed and protected as part of the planning process, recognising their conservation interest.

Local Wildlife Sites contain habitats, features or species of locally significant conservation value. They make a vital contribution to UK wildlife and offer many other benefits. The Council can also use wildlife information to identify important sites and protect them through the local planning system.

Further information about geological and wildlife sites system framework and the site selection criteria is available.

Designation as a Regionally Important Geological Site or Local Wildlife Site can have implications for development proposals within these sites and also on adjoining land. They are shown within the Non-Statutorily Protected Sites designation on the Policies Maps of the Local Plan Sites and Policies document.

Due to the dynamic character of the natural environment and conservation activity new sites or amendments to boundaries of existing sites may occur.  Please see the table below for information on changes to the series.

Designated sites are not necessarily accessible to the public and, if in any doubt, the landowner should be identified and permission for access sought. There is no automatic right of public access because of their status.

To view designated Local Sites, including new local sites approved since adoption of the Sites and Policies Local Plan (June 2018), on our Online Map, click on the link provided below, then review Terms and Conditions and close window, select 'Planning Data', elements of the Non-Statutorily Protected Sites are then listed click on ‘Non Stat Local Wildlife Sites’ to view Local Wildlife Sites or click on ‘Non Stat RIGS’ to view Regionally Important Geological Sites.

Link to the online map RMBC Mapping

Table showing Local Sites Changes since 2020

Errata Table for the online Sites and Policies Local Plan Policies Map (June 2018):

These sites were omitted from the online Policies Map (June 2018) but can be viewed in the online map whose link is above (on this page).

On 13 May 2022 Dearne Valley Wetlands SSSI was officially notified as a SSSI for its nationally important bird species.  Up to date SSSI boundaries, SSSI Impact Risk Zones and other  information can be found on Defra’s MAGIC website.