City council leaders have approved awarding the designation to the Lordsdale Greenway.
The 24-hectare semi-rural nature greenspace runs for 2.25 miles from Dale Road to Lord’s Hill Way following the stream valleys of Tanner’s Brook and Holly Brook.
The site, which is already recognised as a site of importance for nature conservation, is home to various habitats including Shirley Pond, grasslands, scrub and woodland.
Cllr John Savage, cabinet member for environment and net zero, said the local nature reserve designation would help address a deficit in the city and provide enhanced protections.
Cllr Savage said: “The benefits for the local nature reserve designation are the increased awareness and enjoyment of the natural habitat and the natural environment, opportunities for people to learn and study nature, a clear signal of the local authority’s commitment to nature conservation, and the ability to apply by-laws to manage and protect the site.”
The cabinet meeting on Tuesday, November 25, heard a management plan had been completed and a public consultation showed overwhelming support for the proposal.
The designation would not require any additional financial resources from the council but it could enable the established Friends of Shirley Pond Park group to access more funding.
Council leader Cllr Alex Winning said Lordsdale Greenway was a brilliant and underutilised space.
Cllr Winning said: “It is a space that could be improved upon and we have made some good steps to do that.
“It has improved over the years and I think this will really aid that.
“It’s a really active friends group and I think it will really go some way to supporting them because it is fantastic location.
“In quite a residential area it can be quite a sanctuary.
“It is a brilliant place for nature to thrive.”
Following the backing of the Labour cabinet, the council will formally notify Natural England of the intention to designate Lordsdale Greenway as a local nature reserve ahead of a formal declaration.