Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Stoke Fleming Neighbourhood Plan
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Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Stoke Fleming Neighbourhood Plan Environmental Report to accompany the Submission version of the Neighbourhood Plan September 2017 SEA for the Stoke Fleming Submission version of the Neighbourhood Plan Environmental Report Quality information Prepared by Checked by Approved by Rosie Cox Nick Chisholm-Batten Steve Smith Assistant Environmental Principal Consultant Technical Director Consultant Revision History Revision Revision date Details Authorized Name Position V2 26th September Draft for client 26th September Nick Chisholm- Principal 2017 comment 2017 Batten Consultant Prepared for: Stoke Fleming Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group Prepared by: AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited Plumer House Tailyour Road Crownhill Plymouth PL6 5DH UK T: +44 (1752) 676700 aecom.com © 2017 AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited. All Rights Reserved. This document has been prepared by AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited (“AECOM”) for sole use of our client (the “Client”) in accordance with generally accepted consultancy principles, the budget for fees and the terms of reference agreed between AECOM and the Client. Any information provided by third parties and referred to herein has not been checked or verified by AECOM, unless otherwise expressly stated in the document. No third party may rely upon this document without the prior and express written agreement of AECOM. Prepared for Stoke Fleming Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group AECOM SEA for the Stoke Fleming Submission version of the Neighbourhood Plan Environmental Report Table of Contents Non-Technical Summary .................................................................................................................................................... 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background ................................................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 SEA explained .............................................................................................................................................................. 2 1.3 Structure of this Environmental Report ........................................................................................................... 3 2. Local Plan context and vision for the SFNP .................................................................................................. 4 2.1 Local Plan context for the SFNP ......................................................................................................................... 4 2.2 Vision for the Stoke Fleming Neighbourhood Plan ................................................................................... 5 3. The Scope of the SEA .......................................................................................................................................... 5 3.1 SEA Scoping Report ................................................................................................................................................. 5 3.2 Key sustainability issues ......................................................................................................................................... 7 3.3 SEA Framework ........................................................................................................................................................... 9 4. What has plan making / SEA involved to this point? ................................................................................ 12 4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................ 12 4.2 Overview of plan making / SEA work undertaken since 2014 .......................................................... 12 4.3 Assessment of reasonable alternatives for the Neighbourhood Plan ......................................... 12 4.3.1 Appraisal of alternative housing numbers to deliver through the SFNP...................................... 12 4.3.2 Assessment of alternative sites for taking forward through the SFNP ........................................ 17 4.3.3 Choice of sites taken forward for the Neighbourhood Plan .............................................................. 23 4.4 Current approach in the Neighbourhood Plan and the development of Neighbourhood Plan policies ............................................................................................................................ 24 5. What are the appraisal findings at this current stage? ........................................................................... 26 5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................ 26 5.2 Approach to the appraisal ................................................................................................................................... 26 5.3 Biodiversity and geodiversity ............................................................................................................................ 26 5.4 Climate change......................................................................................................................................................... 27 5.5 Landscape and historic environment............................................................................................................ 27 5.6 Land, soil and water resources ......................................................................................................................... 28 5.7 Population and community ................................................................................................................................ 29 5.8 Health and wellbeing .............................................................................................................................................. 30 5.9 Transportation ........................................................................................................................................................... 31 5.10 Conclusions at this current stage ................................................................................................................... 31 6. What are the next steps? .................................................................................................................................. 32 Appendix A Context review and baseline ................................................................................................................ 33 Prepared for Stoke Fleming Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group AECOM SEA for the Stoke Fleming Submission version of the Neighbourhood Plan Environmental Report Prepared for Stoke Fleming Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group AECOM SEA for the Stoke Fleming Submission version of the Neighbourhood Plan Environmental Report Non-Technical Summary What is strategic environmental assessment? A strategic environmental assessment has been undertaken to inform the Stoke Fleming Neighbourhood Plan (SFNP). This process is required by the SEA Regulations. Neighbourhood Plan groups use SEA to assess Neighbourhood Plans against a set of sustainability objectives developed in consultation with interested parties. The purpose of the assessment is to avoid adverse environmental and socio-economic effects through the Neighbourhood Plan, and identify opportunities to improve the environmental quality of the area covered by the Neighbourhood Plan and the quality of life of residents. What is the Stoke Fleming Neighbourhood Plan? The Stoke Fleming Neighbourhood Plan (SFNP) presents a plan for the administrative area of Stoke Fleming Parish Council for the period to 2035. Prepared to be in conformity with the emerging South West Devon Joint Local Plan it sets out a vision and a range of policies for the Neighbourhood Plan area. These relate to a range of topics, including, but not limited to, landscape and townscape character, the quality of life of residents, tourism and the protection and enhancement of the environment. It is currently anticipated that the Stoke Fleming Neighbourhood Plan will undergo a referendum in early 2018. Purpose of this Environmental Report This Environmental Report, which accompanies the current consultation on the SFNP, is the second document to be produced as part of the SEA process. The first document was the SEA Scoping Report (May 2017), which includes information about the Neighbourhood Plan area’s environment and community. The purpose of this Environmental Report is to: Identify, describe and evaluate the likely significant effects of the SFNP and alternatives; and Provide an opportunity for consultees to offer views on any aspect of the SEA process which has been carried out to date. The Environmental Report contains: An outline of the contents and main objectives of the SFNP and its relationship with other relevant policies, plans and programmes; Relevant aspects of the current and future state of the environment and key sustainability issues; The SEA Framework of objectives against which the SFNP has been assessed; The appraisal of alternative approaches for the SFNP; The likely significant environmental effects of the SFNP; The measures envisaged to prevent, reduce