Fifeplan Fife Local Development Plan Strategic Environmental

FIFEplan

Fife Local Development Plan

Strategic Environmental Assessment

Environmental Report Version 2

Consultation version: To accompany FIFEplan: Preferred and Reasonable Alternatives – Strategy and Sites, December 2013 Contents

Contents

Non-Technical Summary

Table 1: SEA activities to date

1 Introduction - Summary of Consultation and Policy Context

Table 2: Development planning hierarchy in Fife Table 3: Relationship between other Plans, Programmes and Strategies

2 The SEA themes and objectives

Table 4: SEA themes and objectives

3 Environmental baseline, evolution of the environment without the plan and current environmental issues

Table 5: Evolution of the environment in the absence of FIFEplan

Table 6: Environmental issues and problems

4 Assessment methodology

Table 7: Site assessment methodology by SEA theme

5 Assessment of Preferred Strategy and Site Assessments Table 8: Assessment of Fife Wide Strategy Table 9: West Villages area: Site Assessment Scoring by SEA theme Table 10: Dunfermline area: Site Assessment Scoring by SEA theme Table 11: Ore & Upper Leven Valleys area: Site Assessment Scoring by SEA theme 2

Contents

Table 12: Kirkcaldy & Levenmouth area: Site Assessment Scoring by SEA theme Table 13: Cupar, Howe of Fife and Tay Coast area: Site Assessment Scoring by SEA theme Table 14: Tay bridgehead area: Site Assessment Scoring by SEA theme Table 15: St Andrews area: Site Assessment Scoring by SEA theme Table 16: East Neuk area: Site Assessment Scoring by SEA theme Table 17: Site Assessment Outcomes by SEA theme

6 Review and Conclusions

7 Monitoring framework Table 18: Monitoring framework

8 Conclusions Annex 1 : The Plan Context Annex 2 : Schedule of Relevant International, National and Regional Policies and Strategies Annex 3: Site assessment scoring for all sites Annex 4 : Environmental Report Version 1 Consultation Comments Annex 5: Habitats Regulations Appraisal - Screening of Candidate Sites

Non-Technical Summary

Key Facts

Fife Council Responsible authority

FIFEplan, Fife Local Development Plan Title of plan

Statutory requirement under the Town and Country Planning Mandate for the plan (Scotland) Act 1997

Land use planning Subject

Period covered 2013 – 2025 5 yearly reviews Frequency

As shown on map Plan area

To guide development within the plan area and to form the basis for an action plan to secure investment in infrastructure for the area. Purpose of plan Identify sites for new developments and set out policies that guide decision making on planning applications.

Jenni Whittle Kingdom House Kingdom Avenue Contact point Glenrothes Tel: 03451 555 555, 471680 [email protected]

Non-Technical Summary

Table 1: SEA activities to date

SEA Action/Activity When carried out Screening : to determine whether the PPS is likely to have significant environmental effects. Not required, FIFEplan is a qualifying programme under Section 5(3) Scoping: Scoping sets out sufficient information on the Fife Council Main Issues Report to enable the Consultation 28 Sept to 2 Nov 2012 Authorities (i.e. Historic Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage and Scottish Environment Protection Agency) and others to form a view on the scope, level of detail and consultation period that would be appropriate. Preparation of Environmental Report Version: An environmental assessment has been carried out on the preferred options Sept to Dec 2012 and alternatives set out in the Main Issues Report. Publication and submission of Environmental Report Version 1 and FIFEplan Main Issue Report to SEA Gateway. Published for 14 January 2013 to the 10 March 2013. consultation from the 14 January 2013, and will be available to view from www.fifedirect.org.uk/fifeplan.

Hard copies will be available to view in all libraries and at Enterprise, Planning & Protective Services, Kingdom House, Kingdom Avenue, Glenrothes, KY5 5LY during normal opening times. Comments can be made on-line from the 14 January 2013 at www.fifedirect.org.uk/fifeplan , to be received by the 10 March 2013. Publication and submission of Environmental Report Version 2 and FIFEplan Preferred Strategy and Site Assessments to SEA December 2013 Gateway.

As part of the Local Development Plan for Fife (FIFEplan), Fife Council is undertaking a consultation to seek views on preferred new sites for future housing, employment and mixed use development. The consultation seeks views on preferred new sites for future housing, employment and mixed use development. This consultation is an additional element to the Main Issues Report but does not re-visit all the issues that were discussed in the Main Issues Report. The consultation and this version of the environmental report focuses only on the strategy for new development and the preferred sites for new housing, leisure, business and industrial development for inclusion in the Proposed Plan.

The assessments are the opinion of the Head of Enterprise, Planning, & Protective Services based on criteria for deliverability and environmental impact. The final decision on whether to include a site in the FIFEplan Proposed Local Development Plan will be taken by the Council’s Executive Committee taking account of consultation responses.

Section 3 of this report sets out the environmental characteristics of Fife and the main environmental issues that need to be addressed. These are set out in Table 6. 5

Non-Technical Summary

Methodology This stage of the Strategic Environmental Assessment looks at:

- the recommended preferred development strategy for Fife - local area strategies - sites that have been promoted as candidate sites

A visual indication of the anticipated impacts of the strategies and the potential development sites against the assessment themes is provided by scoring, where negative numbers indicate negative impacts and positive numbers indicate positive impacts. A higher number indicates a greater envisaged impact.

Preferred Fife-wide strategy

A summary of the beneficial and adverse impacts of the strategy for Fife is provided. This summarises the impacts of the proposals as a whole and each group of policies in relation to each of the SEA themes. Table 8 summarises the assessment of the Fife wide strategy. The assessment highlights the potential for negative impacts on a number of the SEA themes. However, in the main, these can be addressed and mitigated as set out above.

Local Strategies Assessment of preferred and alternative sites have informed the assessment of the local area strategies. This looks at the combined impact of potential development sites in each of the defined strategy areas, and identifies any significant environmental impacts arising. Tables 9 to 16, and the accompanying summaries, set out the assessments for the strategy areas.

Site Assessments

Constraints mapping was used to assess sites against identified SEA themes. For each theme an appropriate buffer zone was identified based on the theme being assessed in order to assess the potential for off-site impacts and considerations to be taken into account.

Scoring for each theme has been weighted to reflect the significance of the anticipated impact and the potential to mitigate any issues highlighted.

The assessment identifies that, overall, preferred sites scored better than those that were not supported. It also highlights by SEA theme potential cumulative issues to be addressed.

Non-Technical Summary

Conclusions

The Preferred Strategy and Site Assessment consultation document gives an opportunity to comment on the work done so far. 268 potential development sites were submitted in response to the initial call for sites and in response to the Main Issues Report consultation. This version of the Environmental Report is a limited version which considers the overall Preferred Strategy for the proposed FIFEplan and the sites that have been put forward. This Environmental Report assesses how the preferred strategy and sites will impact on the SEA themes.

This assessment of the sites has contributed to the consideration of them as preferred sites or reasonable alternatives to meet the preferred strategy requirements. In addressing significant impact the assessment has identified where mitigation will be required. This includes, for example, only taking forward parts of sites and developer requirements. It has also helped to identify sites that should not be supported for development. The assessment outcomes are considered by SEA theme in Table 17.

• While there are potential impacts on biodiversity, and to a lesser extent natural heritage designations it is possible to mitigate against potential impacts. • There is reasonable potential for new development in Fife to contribute to heat networks or to deliver renewable energy schemes. • There is unlikely to be a significant negative impact in respect of air pollution, noise and dust as well as hazardous installations. There are positive impacts in relation to proposed changes of use that would result in an improvement to the local environment. • A number of sites have been assessed as being unsuitable for development due to risk of flooding, and where mitigation would not address the impacts these sites have not been supported. • New development will create waste irrespective of location. However, overall, amounts of waste generation are expected to be neutral. • A significant number of sites are underlain by mineral resources or in close proximity to minerals. A significant number also have prime quality land, but very few have carbon rich soils. Many of the sites involve greenfield land. • All sites were considered to have landscape impacts, although there are a few small scale sites where these impacts are not considered as significant. In some cases there are opportunities to create new edges and gateways to enhance existing poor settlement edges. Sensitive design and layout will be important in mitigating negative impacts. • There are opportunities for new development that integrates with and supports existing settlements. Loss of greenspace either formal or informal is likely to have a negative impact on the surrounding area, however, new greenspaces and green infrastructure would be expected to be provided on site to mitigate this loss in line with Development Plan policies. • Although development has the potential to impact on heritage assets it is possible to mitigate against potential impacts. • The screening assessment of the potential development sites against Natura sites, highlights those sites that will require further assessment through the Habitats Regulations Appraisal process.

Non-Technical Summary

Section 1: Introduction – Summary of Consultation and Policy Context

1 Introduction – Summary of Consultation and Policy Context

As part of the Local Development Plan for Fife (FIFEplan), Fife Council is undertaking a consultation to seek views on its preferred new sites for future housing, employment and mixed use development.

The Environmental Report of the FIFEplan is being prepared in accordance with Section 5(3)(a) of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005. The Act requires an SEA to be carried out on certain plans and programmes prepared by public authorities that are envisaged to have a likely significant environmental effect. FIFEplan is a plan that is envisaged to have a significant environmental effect on the area to which it relates.

Strategic Environmental Assessment plays an important role in ensuring the sustainability of development. The process is a means to judge the likely impact of a public plan on the environment and to seek ways to minimise that effect, if it is likely to be significant. SEA therefore aims to offer greater protection to the environment by ensuring bodies preparing plans consider and address the likely significant environmental effects.

Outline of Fife Preferred Development Strategy Consultation

The consultation seeks views on preferred new sites for future housing, employment and mixed use development. This consultation is an additional element to the Main Issues Report but does not re-visit all the issues that were discussed in the Main Issues Report. The consultation and this version of the environmental report focuses only on the strategy for new development and the preferred sites for new housing, leisure, business and industrial development for inclusion in the Proposed Plan.

SESplan provides the strategic planning context for South Fife. The FIFEplan Main Issues report set out a preferred approach of meeting an annual requirement across the SESplan part of Fife. Since the FIFEplan Main Issues Report was published significant changes have been made to the SESplan Strategic Development Plan with a significant increase in the levels of new housing to be provided for across the SESplan area.

TAYplan provides the strategic planning context for North Fife. It focuses new development on towns which contain, or have the best access to, services i.e. schools, shops and public transport. It identifies how much land should be provided for housing over the next 20 years.

Assessment has been carried out on the preferred strategy identified in the consultation document, and detailed site assessments have been carried out on all the proposed development sites. The site assessment information and the SEA assessment link together to identify the reason for the preferred approaches to sites and any mitigation that may be required for sites to be acceptable.

Key public agencies have been involved in the preparation of the additional stage, including Transport Scotland, the TACTRAN and SEStran regional transport partnerships, Scottish Water, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage, and Historic Scotland. Fife Council’s own different Service interests were also involved in developing the issues.

Section 1: Introduction – Summary of Consultation and Policy Context

Summary figure of Preferred Strategy and Site Assessment Consultation

Fife wide strategy The Fife Spatial strategy presented in the FIFEplan Main Issues Report is the context for this consultation on the strategies and the preferred development sites .

Local Strategies Eight local strategies have been developed. They highlight the strategy for each local area and the distribution of the preferred and alternative development sites.

Individual sites Sites have been identified as preferred, reasonable alternative or not supported. The site assessment accompanying each site provides technical background on each site and highlights the relationship with the spatial strategy.

Relationship between FIFEplan and other Plans, Programmes and Strategies

The Main Issues Report and proposed Local Development Plan are influenced by International, European, National and Local Plans, Policies and Strategies. These must be taken into account in the Local Development Plan. Annex 1 of this Environmental Report sets out the framework for FIFEplan provided by the Strategic Development Plans TAYplan and SESplan. Annex 2 provides a schedule of international, national and regional policies and strategies relevant to FIFEplan.

Section 1: Introduction – Summary of Consultation and Policy Context

Table 2: Development planning hierarchy in Fife

LEVEL OF PLAN SCOPE OF PLAN PREPARED BY SCRUTINY BY APPROVED BY

National Planning National Scottish Government Scottish Parliament Scottish Ministers Framework developments & large public works (e.g. Forth crossing) Scottish Planning Policy Strategic Region-wide SESplan – the Strategic Development Planning Plan examination by the Development Plan issues (e.g. Authority for Edinburgh and South-East; Scottish Government Scottish Ministers Transport, housing TAYplan – the Strategic Development Planning Directorate for Planning land, employment Authority for Dundee, Angus, Perth & Kinross, and & Environmental land) North Fife. Appeals

Local Development Site specific Fife Council Plan examination by the Fife Council Plan policies and Scottish Government proposals Directorate for Planning & Environmental Appeals Supplementary E.g. development Fife Council, SESplan, TAYplan Fife Council committees Fife Council, SESplan, planning guidance briefs & master TAYplan plans with more detail than it is appropriate to include in a local development plan

Section 1: Introduction – Summary of Consultation and Policy Context

Table 3: Relationship between other Plans, Programmes and Strategies

Town and Country Planning Other UK or Scottish legislation or (Scotland) Act 1997, Chapter 8 as strategies: amended by Flood Risk management (Scotland)

Act 2009 Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006 Scottish Government’s Land Use National Planning Framework 2

Strategy, (NPF2) Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 Scottish Soil Frameworks. Scottish Planning Policy (SPP)

Adopted Mid Fife Local Plan 2011 Adopted St. Andrews & East Fife Local Plan 2012 Approved TAYplan Strategic FIFEPLAN Adopted Dunfermline & West Fife Development Plan 2012– 032 LOCAL DEVELOPMENT Local Plan 2012 2006 – 2026 Adopted Fife Minerals Local Plan Approved SESplan Strategic PLAN 2004; Fife Minerals Local Plan Development Plan June 2013 Alteration 2011. (2013 – 2032)

Other non-Council Plans, Policies Fife Council’s Plans, Programmes and Strategies, e.g. and Strategies, e.g. • Single Outcome Agreement • • Scottish Water Strategic Fife’s Community Plan 2011 – 2020 asset capacity and • Council Plan 2012 - 2017 development plan • Zero Waste Plan for Fife 2010–2020 • SEPA guidance on the • Local Transport Strategy for Fife 2006–2026 EC Water Framework • Fife Economic Strategy 2009-2020 Directive • Shoreline Management Plan. • Council's Climate Change Adaptation Framework

Section 1: Introduction – Summary of Consultation and Policy Context

National environmental protection objectives

Detailed summaries of all relevant international, national and regional legislation and policy are provided within Annex 2 of this Environmental Report. The principal national level planning strategy and policy framework is provided for by the National Planning Framework for Scotland and Scottish Planning Policy. Draft updates to both were published for consultation in April 2013.

Also published in draft for consultation in 2013, The National Marine Plan for Scotland builds on existing management regimes to provide one framework for all the activity which takes place in Scottish waters. The Plan sets out Scottish Ministers’ objectives for the seas and national policies for sustainable development.

International environmental protection requirements

The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act requires that specific consideration is given to the potential impact of a Plan on EU designated nature conservation sites.

Under the terms of the EU Habitats Directive the Council is also required to determine whether or not the provisions of the Plan are likely to have a significant adverse effect on the integrity of any European Site. If it is concluded that a policy or proposal might have a significant impact the Council is required to undertake an ‘Appropriate Assessment.’ The purpose of such an assessment is to establish whether the policy or proposal should be removed or whether adequate mitigation can be put in place to prevent any adverse impact on the designated site.

The SEA (Annex 5) contains a Habitats Regulations Appraisal screening of all the potential development sites that have been considered by Fife Council in coming to a view on the preferred sites and reasonable alternatives. A full record of Habitations Regulations Appraisal, including Appropriate Assessment where required, will accompany the Proposed Plan.

Section 2: The SEA themes and objectives

2 The SEA themes and objectives

Schedule 3 of the Act includes a list of environmental factors which must be taken into account in the SEA. This SEA groups these factors into ‘themes’ which assists in relating them to the potential strategic impacts of the Plan. The relationship between the environmental themes and the criteria of the Act is set out in Table 5. Table 5 also sets out the SEA objectives relating to each SEA theme.

The use of themes is designed to ensure that the significant impacts of the particular Plan under consideration are effectively assessed. The framework relates the criteria listed in the Act to the analytic framework generally used in drawing up Local Development plans under the Town and Country Planning Act (Scotland) 1997.

Table 4: SEA themes and objectives

SEA theme SEA Objectives (Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 Schedule 3 reference) Biodiversity, general nature conservation • To ensure no adverse impacts on the maintenance of any population of European protected species at favourable (Biodiversity, fauna, flora) conservation status in their natural range. • To protect and enhance local biodiversity and geodiversity sites, individually and in combination with other sites.

• To protect and enhance the wider environment, including trees and woodland, grassland, moorland, heathland, wetlands and watercourses, to achieve overall benefits for biodiversity, complementing the site protection system.

• To protect and enhance landscape features of value to flora and fauna.

• To protect and enhance habitat connectivity and green networks including urban open space.

Energy use • To minimise need for the use of private cars, ensure proposed development is well located in relation to the public (Climatic factors) transport network, cycling and walking routes. The development of the Green Networks will support active travel in providing alternatives to car use.

• To promote well located development capable of being served by renewable energy generation and District Heating schemes.

• To promote the use of low carbon technologies and the generation of renewable energy.

• To reduce traffic congestion, maintain air quality and keep pollution below AQM thresholds.

• To promote active travel through the provision of cycleway and footpath networks.

Section 2: The SEA themes and objectives

SEA theme SEA Objectives (Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 Schedule 3 reference) • To reduce the causes of climate change.

Energy production • To promote acceptable forms of renewable energy production in appropriate locations. (Climatic factors, material assets) • To promote well located development capable of being served by renewable energy generation and District Heating schemes.

• To promote the use of low carbon technologies and the generation of renewable energy.

Air pollution, noise, dust, hazardous • To ensure that potentially polluting proposed development is well located in relation to sensitive receptors. installations • (Air, human health) To ensure that proposed development is well located in relation to existing sources of noise and dust, otherwise polluting or hazardous installations and sites subject to environmental licensing.

• To reduce traffic congestion, maintain air quality and keep pollution below air quality management thresholds.

• To promote active travel through the provision of cycleway and footpath networks. The development of the Green Networks will support active travel in providing alternatives to car use and contribute to reducing car emissions.

• To protect human health.

Water quality, flooding • To sustain and enhance water quality to good ecological status. (Water, human health, biodiversity, fauna, • flora) To protect functional flood plains. • To reduce the risk of flooding and damage to property and to human health.

• To reduce the causes of climate change.

• To increase ability to adapt to climate change.

Waste • To reduce the amount of waste by maximising reuse, recycling and recovery of resources. (Climatic factors, material assets, soil, water, • air) To promote the provision of appropriate recycling facilities.

Section 2: The SEA themes and objectives

SEA theme SEA Objectives (Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 Schedule 3 reference) Soil, mineral resources • To maintain and protect Fife’s resource of prime agricultural land. (Soil, material assets) • To protect carbon rich soils, including peat.

• To ensure the protection of Fife’s geodiversity sites.

• To identify areas of search for minerals and maintain an appropriate landbank of construction minerals.

• To prevent the sterilisation of mineral resources, through surface development.

• To minimise the loss of greenfield sites to development.

• To mitigate the impact on soil functionality in the water quality and flood risk issues.

Brownfield land, contaminated land • To increase the remediation of contaminated and brownfield land and buildings, including sites within the vacant and (Material assets, water, soil, human health, derelict land audit. biodiversity, flora, fauna) • To prevent soil contamination.

• To increase the area and connectivity of open space and green networks.

Landscape • To promote the value of high standards of design to 'conserve restore and enhance landscape character and (Landscape) distinctiveness, integrity and setting. • To ensure that new development does not exceed any stated limits in relation to landscape capacity, either on its own or cumulatively with other developments.

• To protect all landscape characters by ensuring landscape protection and improvement, taking into account linkages to existing landscape features.

• To ensure development proposals enhance landscape characteristics where they are weakened and need improvement.

Section 2: The SEA themes and objectives

SEA theme SEA Objectives (Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 Schedule 3 reference) Settlements – infrastructure, community • To improve the supply of housing land to accommodate housing requirements. resources, vitality and amenity • (Population, human health, material assets) To ensure development is well located in relation to existing infrastructure and contributes to new infrastructure needs. • To reduce traffic growth and traffic congestion.

• To enable access to public transport and enhance walking and cycling routes as part of the implementation of the Core Path Plan and Green Network agenda.

• To promote access to and enhance the provision and distribution of greenspace, indoor and outdoor recreational facilities and social/community facilities for people, biodiversity, access and recreation and protect them from inappropriate redevelopment.

• To decrease social deprivation and exclusion.

• To promote community safety.

• To promote high standards of design.

• To ensure development proposals are future proofed for high speed broadband.

• To promote the use of low carbon and renewable energy technologies including safeguarding opportunities for district heating schemes in new development.

Historic Environment • To protect and enhance the historic and cultural heritage, including appropriate reuse of existing buildings. (Cultural heritage, material assets) • To protect, enhance and where appropriate restore the quality and distinctiveness of townscapes.

Section 3: Environmental baseline, evolution of the environment without the Plan and current environmental issues

3 Environmental baseline, evolution of the environment without the Plan and current environmental issues

The SEA will focus on the potential strategic environmental impacts of the proposals and policies contained in the plan. The key features of the area are set out below. The mapping used in this report is reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of HMSO.© Crown copyright and database right 2013. All rights reserved. Ordnance Survey Licence number 100023385.

A more detailed compilation of key information available on the environment of the area is available at Environmental Report Version 1: Annex 3

Environmental characteristics of the area affected by the plan

Biodiversity, general nature conservation Fife has an extensive coastline - being surrounded on three sides by tidal waters. Much of the significant nature conservation interest in the area is associated with the coastline and the relevant parts are protected through Ramsar, SPA, SAC, SSSI and LNR designations. Both the Firth of Tay/Eden Estuary, that is fed by River Eden, and the Firth of Forth are significant conservation areas. Throughout Fife there are a variety of significant biodiversity interests; and a number of active and planned biodiversity enhancement projects. There are many sites of nature conservation interest located within the FIFEplan area: FIFE AREA (HA) FULL STATUS TYPE FIFE NO. SITES OFFICIAL Country Park National 3 489 Local Nature Reserve National 7 1650 National Nature Reserve National 2 596 Ramsar Site International 3 13302 Regional Park National 1 6645 RIGS Local 7 88 Special Area of Conservation International 3 15856 Special Protection Area International 4 13407 SSSI National 54 18700 SWT Reserve National 10 84 Wildlife Site National 83 2313

Section 3: Environmental baseline, evolution of the environment without the Plan and current environmental issues Map of Natural Heritage Sites across Fife

Section 3: Environmental baseline, evolution of the environment without the Plan and current environmental issues Energy use The majority of energy consumption is by industry. Most recent figures from 2009 show that energy use throughout Fife was 65% industrial/commercial, 20% domestic and 15% road transport. Major industrial establishments in Fife include: Babcock Engineering in Rosyth who specialise in upkeep of Royal Navy warships; Babcock Energy in the Kincardine area; Scottish Power at Longannet Power Station; Tullis Russell in Glenrothes; Quaker Oats in Cupar; Diageo in the Levenmouth area; Fife Energy Park in Methil; and the Fife Ethylene Plant south of Cowdenbeath. Land to the west of Rosyth dockyard is identified for an International Container Terminal. Other major employers in Fife include Amazon, Oceaneering, FMC Technologies, CR Smith and Sky - who are all located within Rosyth and Dunfermline. There are numerous industrial estates across Fife in many of the larger settlements. There is a high level of dependence on private transport. The dispersed character of settlements and high number of small settlements in rural settings generates a high level of demand for transport. Rural areas have poor public transport access and are heavily reliant on private transport. Heat mapping and the Scottish Government’s SPACE tool provide information on the energy consumption implications of new developments to assess individual development’s impact and the overall impact of the plan.

Energy production Carbon emissions have been reduced by 14% since 2005. The open landscape, presence of upland areas, and proximity to the national grid make the area potentially attractive for generation of electricity using renewable sources, particularly wind power. The extensive coastline offers opportunities for electricity from wave and tidal power. There is increased interest in renewable energy developments in Fife. Existing and potential renewable energy projects, if fully implemented, have the ability to supply enough electricity to power nearly all the domestic properties in Fife. The continual development of renewable energy technologies is promoted at the Westfield Development Centre, Kinglassie and Energy Park Fife in Methil. Fife Energy Park includes renewable energy production from wind, waste and tidal sources; a hydrogen production facility; research facilities; planning permission for a 200m temporary offshore demonstration wind turbine; Burntisland Fabrications who fabricate jackets for offshore wind turbines; and interest from large businesses to use the site to construct offshore wind turbine components for the planned large scale offshore wind farm in Scottish Territorial Waters. There is an operational biomass fuel (chicken litter) power station at the former open cast site at Westfield. Landfill gas arising from the Lochhead Landfill site is exporting circa 1MW of heat that is being used in Dunfermline for 230 houses and 7 public buildings, potential expansion could cover a supermarket. Tullis Russell biomass power plant is under construction at Glenrothes and should be operational in 2013. Wind turbines, are becoming a major part of this renewable energy generation. The map below shows the location of consented turbine developments as well as those currently being considered. The largest completed developments are at Little Raith (9 turbines/25mW) and Westfield (5 turbines/12.5mW), however, there are also significant consented proposals not yet constructed.

Section 3: Environmental baseline, evolution of the environment without the Plan and current environmental issues Location of wind turbines approved and under consideration in Fife

Fife Council has seen an increase in the total number of renewable energy related planning applications since 2009 - the majority being wind turbines. This creates potential pressure on the landscape and pressure on planning services when dealing with large volumes of applications. A heat map has been produced for Fife; this will help identify locations where heat distribution is most likely to be beneficial and economical to local communities. The plan supports efficient use of energy and energy generation (including electricity and heat). The plan will maximise opportunities and links between new and existing developments, will support the development of renewable energy technologies in appropriate locations, and will identify areas of research. 21

Section 3: Environmental baseline, evolution of the environment without the Plan and current environmental issues

Air pollution, noise, dust, hazardous installations Pollution from traffic is an issue in the centres of the larger communities. Data collected for 2010 showed that Admiralty Road, Rosyth and Bonnygate, Cupar exceeded the annual mean objective for PM10 with concentrations of 19 µg/m³. Recent monitoring has indicated that 3 locations within Fife exceeded the NO 2 annual mean objective of 40 µg/m³ at Appin Crescent, Dunfermline; Admiralty Road, Rosyth; and St Clair Street, Kirkcaldy. As a result of monitoring both the Bonnygate and Appin Crescent have been declared as Air Quality Management Areas. In accordance with statutory guidance, further monitoring and detailed assessments of these areas are being undertaken. The Baseline report lists industrial sources of potential air pollution and major hazardous installations. There are a number of Control Of Major Accident Hazard (COMAH) sites that affect Fife these include: Diageo Banbeath, Leven; Diageo Cameronbridge, Windygates; Diageo Begg Farm, Kirkcaldy; Transco Dunfermline gas holder station, Dunfermline; Exxon/Shell Petro-Chemicals/NGL plant/loading terminal, Mossmorran; Exxon/Shell Braefoot Bay marine terminal; Grangemouth Docks Facility, Grangemouth; Scotland Gas Networks Ltd, Leven gas holder station; Straiton Sand Pit, Wormit; Kvaerner Oil and Gas Methil Works, Buckhaven; Orica Muirside Depot, explosive site, Culross; Raytheon Systems Ltd, Glenrothes; Forbo-Nairn Ltd Seaton Complex, Kirkcaldy. Major pipelines include: Mossmorran-Grangemouth Pipelines; Forties Pipeline System; Westfield/Bonnyhill High Pressure Pipeline; High Pressure Pipeline (Kirriemuir to Bathgate No.12 Feeder); Westfield/M80; and, the Gowkhall/Longannet Power Station Pipeline. Other sites which have Health and Safety Executive (HSE) consultation zones include: Rosyth Naval Dockyard; Crude oil pipeline (from Torrybury running north-west of Saline and beyond Fife); BGC Natural Gas (from east of Crombie running north past Knockhill); and Scottish Gas Transmission Line (running to the south of Saline, Steelend, Oakley and Comrie). The MOD defines a safeguard area around the MOD Royal Naval Armaments Depot at Crombie. There is a protection zone designated around Leuchars Airfield.

Water quality, flooding There are some coastal areas potentially vulnerable to flooding, but much of the inhabited coastline is protected by cliffs. Areas which are susceptible to Coastal Flooding include: Torryburn, Crombie Pier, Charlestown, Kinghorn, Kirkcaldy, Wemyss Villages, Lower Largo, Pittenweem, Anstruther, Crail, St Andrews, and Tayport.

Section 3: Environmental baseline, evolution of the environment without the Plan and current environmental issues Map of Areas at risk of fluvial and coastal flooding across Fife

Fife is susceptible to heavy rainfall and flooding, along the two rivers Eden and Leven. Other areas that are highly susceptible to fluvial flooding include: Bath Street Ditch – Kelty, Torry Burn – Cairneyhill, Rushy End Stream- Cairneyhill, Lyne Burn- Dunfermline, Tower Burn- Dunfermline, Calais Burn – Dunfermline, Lochty Burn- Kinglassie, Back/Chemiss/Lappy Burn- East Wemyss, Tiel Burn- Kirkcaldy, East Burn- Kirkcaldy, Auchtermuchty Burn – Auchtermuchty,

Section 3: Environmental baseline, evolution of the environment without the Plan and current environmental issues

Ladybank Road Ditch - Dunshalt, Lady Burn – Cupar, Den Burn- Newburgh, Ceres Burn – Ceres & Pitscottie, Kinness Burn – St Andrews, Freuchie Burn- Freuchie, Maspie/ Falkland Burn – Falkland, and Pittilock Burn – Freuchie. Water quality along the shoreline is indicated as good by SEPA. Water treatment facilities are located in Dunfermline, North Queensferry, West Wemyss, Glenrothes, Kirkcaldy, Leven and St Andrews. Inland there are some stretches of water classified as poor. This is mainly associated with diffuse pollution from agriculture and some from development. There are expansive water networks that cover the whole of Fife. Many watercourses are important in terms of ecology and habitat and are often part of designated nature conservation areas. Important watercourses that form the catchment for the Firth of Forth are: River Leven/Ore, Black Devon/Saline Burn, Bluther Burn, Lyne Burn, Inverkeithing Burn, Tiel Burn, East Burn, Den Burn, Dreel Burn and Hatton/Keil’s Burn. Important watercourses that form the catchment for Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary are River Eden, Kinness Burn and Swilken Burn. There are many lochs and reservoirs located across Fife with several designated as areas of nature conservation. Cameron Reservoir is a RAMSAR, SPA and SSSI site. Birnie & Gaddon Lochs and Gillingshill Reservoir are Local Nature Reserves. The following are SSSIs: Ballo & Harperleas reservoirs, Carriston Reservoir, Cullaloe Reservoir, Black Loch (Abide), Black Loch (Cleish), Camilla Loch, Kilconquhar Loch, Lindores Loch, Lochmill Loch, and Otterston Loch. The following are Wildlife Sites: Balyarrow Loch, Black Loch (Dunduff), Loch Fitty, Miller’s Loch, Moor Loch, Loch Glow Reservoir, Carlhurlie Reservoir, Roscobie Reservoir, Carnbee Reservoir, Coul Reservoir, Craigluscar Compensation Reservoir, Gillingshill Reservoir and Stenhouse Reservoir. The capacity of waste water treatment facilities is a constraint in parts of Fife.

Waste The Council provides 11 household waste recycling centres, located at Dunfermline (Lochhead), Cowdenbeath, Lochgelly, Dalgety Bay, Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes, Methil, Ladybank (Lower Melville Wood), Cupar, St Andrews and Pittenweem. In addition, 360 local recycling points are provided in local settlements. Two major integrated waste management facilities are in operation; one at Lower Melville Wood, near Ladybank and one at Lochhead, near Dunfermline. Both incorporate Materials Recovery Facilities, green-waste composting, wood-waste processing, landfill and energy recovery. Both landfills are permitted to accept non-hazardous waste. The Westfield Development Centre near Kinglassie currently generates power from chicken-litter waste and is looking at alternative methods of generating power from waste. An Anaerobic Digestion (AD) facility is under construction at Lochhead.

Soil, mineral resources The area has a significant area of agricultural land classified as ‘prime’, and substantial mineral resources (mainly coal, hard rock, sand and gravel). There are a number of major quarries for aggregate material (hard rock and sand and gravel) such as Clatchard Craig, Cruicks and Collessie; and two major silica sandstone quarries - Burrowine and Devilla. 24

Section 3: Environmental baseline, evolution of the environment without the Plan and current environmental issues

Brownfield land, contaminated land There are over 850 ha of brownfield land across Fife: the majority of brownfield sites are in settlements but significantly more vacant and derelict land is found out with settlements (607 ha) than within settlements (260 ha). There are a number of opencast coal sites such as Muirdean and St Ninians. Restoration of these is an important factor and there is a mine waste water treatment works at the former Frances Colliery in Dysart. There is a history of coal mining in West and Mid Fife which has left extensive areas of derelict and/or contaminated land and areas where stabilisation would be required prior to development. However, there are several schemes underway to reclaim coal from bings - such as Comrie Colliery - and to remediate them. The deep mining of coal in Fife ended in 2001. There is a history of industrial use in Mid Fife which has left extensive areas of derelict or contaminated land. In East Fife there is a large unused airfield at Crail, part of which is identified as a Scheduled Ancient Monument). The Vacant and Derelict Land Audit provides a full record of all sites.

Landscape The landscape in West Fife predominantly consists of lowland hills and valleys, with upland areas to the north and coastal flats to the south. Much of the land is of a high quality being predominantly prime agricultural. There are some substantial forest areas, mainly coniferous plantations. East Fife is predominantly open landscape, with upland areas and extensive low lying agricultural land. Mid Fife is comparatively more developed but likewise features areas of open landscape, upland areas and low lying agricultural land There are substantial forest areas – notably Tentsmuir on the northeast coast, Devilla in West Fife, and Blairadam west of Kelty. The 3 country parks are Craigtoun, Townhill and Lochore Meadows and one Regional Park, the Lomond Hills. The open character of the landscape in much of the area makes it sensitive to new development. The SEA will be based on the overall assessment of landscape categories and capacity undertaken for the whole of Fife from 2007-2009; and subsequent landscape assessments for Dunfermline, Rosyth, Limekilns, Charlestown, Kincardine, Cupar, St Andrews, Tay Bridgehead, Kelty, Kirkcaldy, Levenmouth, Lochgelly and Markinch, Coaltown of Balgonie, and Thornton. Fife has designated Local Landscape Areas to protect locally important landscapes.

Section 3: Environmental baseline, evolution of the environment without the Plan and current environmental issues Map of Fife’s Local Landscape Areas

Section 3: Environmental baseline, evolution of the environment without the Plan and current environmental issues

Settlements – infrastructure, community resources, vitality and amenity Fife’s Population as of the 2011 Census was 365,198 (approximately 7% of Scotland’s total population); No 2011 Census population data has yet been released at a sub-Fife level. However 2010 mid-year population estimates provide the following breakdown: East Fife Estimate = 78,000; Mid Fife Estimate = 184,000; West Fife Estimate = 103,000. Roughly 16% of the Total Fife Population was living in settlements with populations less than 2,000 inhabitants. In West Fife more than half of the population lives in Dunfermline and Rosyth. However, there is also a significant proportion of the population living in smaller settlements. Retail, commercial and leisure facilities are located mainly in Dunfermline and settlements in the surrounding area. In Mid Fife the majority of the population lives in the larger towns of Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes or Levenmouth. A small proportion of the Mid Fife population live in smaller settlements (less than 2000 inhabitants). Retail, commercial and leisure facilities are located mainly in Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes, however much of the population travels out of the area to access a greater range of facilities. In East Fife the largest settlements are St Andrews or Cupar. However, a comparatively large proportion of the population lives in smaller settlements - these are mostly small, dispersed villages and hamlets. There is a substantial retired population in St Andrews and a number of the East Neuk communities. A significant amount of the employed population travel out of the area for work - mainly to Dundee and Edinburgh. People also travel out of the area for major retail, commercial and leisure facilities. Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes, Leven, Cowdenbeath, Cupar and St. Andrews act as the larger commercial centres. Out of town retail parks are located at Dunfermline, Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes. There are a number of local centres in other settlements throughout Fife. The distance between settlements and employment areas has resulted in a large amount of commuting. The largest settlements are connected by frequent bus services, but through many of the more rural parts of Fife bus services run infrequently (once per hour or less). Areas out with main settlements are largely dependent on car transport. Fuel consumption for 2010 was 60% private vehicles, 33% freight vehicles and 7% buses. The East Coast main rail line passes through all of Fife, and the Fife Circle rail lines pass through Mid and West Fife serving many of the settlements in the area. However, larger settlements such as St Andrews and the Levenmouth area are not directly served by rail. There are proposals to use the Dunfermline- Kincardine-Alloa-Stirling rail line for passenger services. The M90 runs north to south through Fife to the east of Dunfermline. There are two arterial road routes: the A91 from the M90 to St Andrews, and the A92 from Dunfermline to the Tay Bridge and Dundee. Generally most areas have good access to Greenspace throughout Fife. Glenrothes has high ratings for quantity, quality and access. Areas of Kirkcaldy and Dunfermline would benefit from improvements to the quality and access to greenspace. Cowdenbeath and the Levenmouth area have good quantities of and easy access to greenspace, some of the greenspaces would benefit from quality improvements. In areas such as Methil / Buckhaven / Kennoway, Ballingry, Lochgelly, and Kirkcaldy the majority of spaces are low quality. In North East Fife all the settlements have good quality greenspace but some of the towns and villages would benefit with increased quantities and access to greenspace. In South West Fife, due to the rural and urban nature of the area, many of the settlements have reasonable quantity, quality and access to greenspace and there are other settlements were it would be beneficial to increase quantity, quality and access to greenspace.

Section 3: Environmental baseline, evolution of the environment without the Plan and current environmental issues

St Andrews has an internationally respected and ancient university. There are three Further Education colleges: Adam Smith College, spread across Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes and Levenmouth; Elmwood College, in Cupar; and Carnegie College, in Dunfermline. Fife has a thriving tourist economy with various tourist attractions, particularly in the East Neuk villages, St Andrews and Dunfermline town centre. In St Andrews golf has an international significance and Fife is a destination of international renown for golf tourism, with courses across Fife which make a significant contribution to the economy.

Historic Environment Fife has a rich and varied historic built environment with places of historic interest, a number of medieval burghs, 48 conservation areas, more than 6,250 listed buildings, over 10,000 archaeological sites and 31 gardens and designed landscapes. Conservation area character appraisals are complete for Abbotshall and Central Kirkcaldy, Aberdour, Anstruther, Burntisland, Cadham, Charlestown, Coaltown of Wemyss, Culross, Cupar, Colinsburgh, Dunfermline (draft), Elie & Earlsferry, Hepburn Gardens, Dysart, Falkland, Inverkeithing, Kilconquhar, Kilrenny, Kincardine, Kinghorn, Kingsbarns, Kirkcaldy Harbour and Port Brae, Leslie, Limekilns, Links Road, Leven, Lower Largo, Markinch, North Queensferry, Pattiesmuir, Pittenweem, St Andrews, St Monans, The Causeway, Kennoway, Upper Largo, and West Wemyss. Character appraisals for the remaining conservation areas in Fife are to be undertaken for Cellardyke, Crail (draft), Newport on Tay, Balmerino, Leuchars, Newburgh, Brunton, Letham, Collessie, Ceres, Strathmiglo, and Bow of Fife. There are numerous listed buildings and ancient monuments throughout all of Fife. The wealth of built heritage is a major feature of many settlements, particularly in St Andrews. There is one Historic Battlefield in Fife, at Inverkeithing. Important views to and from the historic cores of Dunfermline and St Andrews are protected through the Dunfermline and St Andrews Greenbelts.

Section 3: Environmental baseline, evolution of the environment without the Plan and current environmental issues

Evolution of the environment in the absence of FIFEplan

There have been two invitations for landowners, developers and others, to submit sites for inclusion within FIFEplan. The first call for sites was in January-April 2012. The second, alongside the consultation on the Main Issues Report in January- March 2013.

268 proposed development sites have been submitted (see map opposite). This demonstrates the level of development interest in Fife, and indicates the scale and location of proposals that could come forward.

Without FIFEplan the proposals would be considered in the absence of an overall strategy for development for Fife.

The strategic housing requirement Fife provided through SESplan and TAYplan, would however remain an important material consideration in determining applications.

The lack of a clear development strategy would hamper the delivery of sustainable communities, and would have the potential to negatively impact on the Environmental receptors in Fife.

Section 3: Environmental baseline, evolution of the environment without the Plan and current environmental issues

Table 5: Evolution of the environment in the absence of FIFEplan

SEA theme Evolution of the environment in the absence of FIFEplan Biodiversity, There is limited information on trends for the biodiversity of Fife. Across Fife there has been no, or limited, change to the extent of semi-natural habitats. general nature Despite the number and size of settlements in Fife the area is still largely rural in character; therefore the extent of biodiversity and the presence of key conservation indicator species and habitats will be influenced by changes in farming and forestry practices as well as by new development. There are many active projects aimed at supporting biodiversity within the area. Improvement can be reasonably expected over the plan period as a result of improved rural management, further forest plans and investment in improved waste water treatment. Of the 268 sites that are under consideration 27 are landward sites, that is in the countryside and well outside any settlement boundaries. In the absence of the plan more greenfield sites could be developed and urban sprawl into the countryside could be unchecked. Pollution from industrial activity, sewage treatment works; and runoff from roads, agriculture and new development could pollute water systems - leading to eutrophication. Investment may not be made into green networks and the areas designated as part of green networks could be developed, as could priority habitats and designated sites. Energy use Irrespective of the provisions of the plan it is likely that development of housing, tourism, academic and commercial facilities would take place. These would probably develop in areas around the main towns extending their geographical footprint substantially and as pockets of development spread throughout Fife. Without the plan, the opportunities offered by the Heat Map, of locating development where there is potential to link into a heat network will be missed. The heat network allows for the efficiency of shared energy and use. 62 of the potential development sites had potential to be part of a heat network. The level of energy consumption could increase as a result of the scale and location of built developments, although market forces could encourage more energy efficient construction. Uncontrolled development may be likely to result in a marked increase in energy used for transport, since the principal mode of transport supporting new development would be private road vehicles. Without the plan, the criteria set out in the Sustainability Checklist for new developments to reduce carbon emissions from the construction and running of buildings will most likely not be met. Energy The level of local investment in renewable energy production is directly influenced by the plan. production Without the plan, the opportunities offered by the Heat Map, of locating development where there is potential to link into a heat network will be missed. It is likely that without the plan Fife would be viewed as an attractive location with good access to the national grid; however there would be no direction, guidance or support for energy opportunities to maximise local benefit or supply and demand efficiency. The plan will contribute towards achieving the Scottish Government’s renewable energy targets. Wind farms could become a prominent feature over much of the high ground in the area but development of these turbines would not be monitored, which could cause problems for birds and conflicts between local communities.

Section 3: Environmental baseline, evolution of the environment without the Plan and current environmental issues

SEA theme Evolution of the environment in the absence of FIFEplan Air pollution, Air pollution ’hotspots’ resulting from traffic could get worse in the absence of the plan. Without the plan, pressure for development in areas where traffic noise, dust, will impact negatively on the existing Air Quality Management Areas, and uncontrolled development may result in inappropriately located traffic hazardous increases. installations Any industrial sources of air pollution which might be attracted to the area in the absence of the plan would be controlled through other legislation. The area could be attractive for such investment linked primarily to its mineral resources and agricultural industries. Water quality, Poor water quality within the area is more attributable to diffuse pollution as a result of farming practices than to development. However, an increase in flooding urban development, particularly greenfield, and levels of transport use and transport infrastructure has the potential to result in an increase in diffuse pollution related to these sources. There would probably be a continued improvement in water quality as a result of improved farming practices and investment in waste water treatment. Areas liable to flooding will increase for inland water courses and coastal areas as a result of climate change. Increased flooding could have a more significant impact on the economy during times of extreme weather. The functional and protected flood risk areas would probably not be identified and protected. Without the Plan forward planning for issues related to flooding and water quality will be more difficult to manage. Waste Investment levels in major waste disposal and re-cycling will not be determined by the plan, although the plan will be able to encourage the introduction of local recycling points. In the absence of the plan there could be a proliferation of small, sometimes prominent landfill and re-cycling sites. Soil, mineral Without the Plan there will be an absence of any planning framework leading to potentially more quarrying and gravel extraction and open cast coal resources extraction in more prominent locations. There could be greater loss of good quality agricultural land, and potential future problems for development on areas where mineral extraction took place. The area could be attractive for its mineral resources. Brownfield Given Fife’s industrial past there are large numbers of former industrial sites across the area, not only in many of the settlements but also in the land, countryside. In the absence of the plan and given difficult trends in economic and population activity in Fife potentially more difficult to create contaminated partnerships / packages to bring sites forward for development. A number of the proposed development sites are, or include elements of, brownfield land land. Regarding more rural areas: the small size of the settlements would create little market pressure to redevelop difficult sites in town centres, and no incentive to redevelop sites elsewhere. Landscape The area is characterised by small-scale landscapes with open vistas and expanses of largely undeveloped countryside. Many settlements have grown up on the coast in valleys and in folds in the landscape. In the absence of the plan, there is likely to be pressure to develop in countryside and edge of settlements posing a threat to these features, and to the character of landscapes and the setting of settlements. There were 27 landward sites proposed, that is in the countryside. Without Greenbelt important views into and from the historic cores of Dunfermline and St Andrews and the landscape setting of the towns could be compromised. 10 proposed development sites submitted were located in the greenbelt of either St Andrews or Dunfermline. Some of the most prominent new development features in much of the countryside are modern agricultural buildings, forestry and rural economy diversification, including wind turbines.

Section 3: Environmental baseline, evolution of the environment without the Plan and current environmental issues

SEA theme Evolution of the environment in the absence of FIFEplan Settlements – In the absence of the plan the difficulties faced by younger people and adults not in work or education in obtaining affordable housing could increase, infrastructure, resulting in an accelerated aging of the population structure. Less affordable housing units being built would imbalance socio-demographic trends in Fife. community Uncontrolled development of housing could absorb existing open spaces within built up areas, whilst generating little or no new open spaces. resources, Without Greenbelt important views to and from the historic cores of Dunfermline and St Andrews, and the landscape settings of the settlements could be vitality and lost. Coalescence would be likely and individual settlements could lose their distinct identity. 10 proposed development sites submitted were located in amenity the green belt of either St Andrews or Dunfermline. Town centres may be likely to lose their vitality as a result of unrestrained competition from out of town developments; competition from town centres in adjacent council areas that have more attractive settings and a greater choice of retail, leisure and commercial facilities; a lack of public transport improvements; and no development guidance on place making. Businesses may not benefit from improved telecommunications, which may prevent new businesses from investing in fife and hinder existing businesses in Fife. Without heat maps the potential for more efficient energy consumption may not be realised. Historic Many of the settlements in the area have conservation areas, and there are numerous listed buildings; some have international recognition. Environment In the absence of the plan the character of many conservation areas and the setting of many listed buildings would be more at risk (the listed buildings themselves would retain protection through other features of planning control).

Section 3: Environmental baseline, evolution of the environment without the Plan and current environmental issues

Environmental Issues and Problems

The table below identifies the current environmental issues, problems and challenges in Fife. This has been informed by outcomes of the SEAs for the three Area Local Plans (Dunfermline & West Fife Local Plan, Mid Fife Local Plan and St Andrews & East Fife Local Plan), the Monitoring Report and through the analysis of the baseline data.

The Act also requires the interrelationships in the environmental impact on the listed criteria to be considered. This is one reason for grouping the criteria under themes. The table below also identifies further interrelationships between the SEA themes.

Table 6: Environmental Issues and problems

SEA theme Issues and problems Implications For FIFEplan Biodiversity, Uncontrolled development may result in the loss of sites protected for their nature interest, and To recognise the importance of nature conservation general nature reduction in the value of unprotected habitats which support the variety of species currently found as an overall aim of the plan, including the conservation in the area protection and enhancement of the wider environment, priority habitats and habitat The plan has potential for direct impact on biodiversity designated site: Natura 2000 sites, SSSIs, connectivity, linking sites into the Green Network. Protected Species, European protected species, BAP species and notable Habitats, including An overarching aim of SESplan is the promotion of ancient woodlands, wet lands and improved grasslands. Green Networks which need to be addressed in This may be by: Local Development Plan site assessment, also protecting sites of special value from development extended into TAYplan who do not identify Green Networks. promoting habitat improvement through positive measures and reducing fragmentation through the creation of green networks allowing development which compromises on biodiversity issues Interrelationships: water and clean air are critical to maintaining biodiversity. Maintaining a healthy biodiversity requires a healthy ecosystem, supported by open spaces and local landscape enhancements which may also be valuable to the local amenity of settlements. The conservation, and land management in the rural landscape, as part of a healthy ecosystem, will generally support and enhance biodiversity. Energy use The Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 acknowledges that consumption of energy and release To promote and deliver sustainable locations for of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere has an impact on observed climate change. The plan has development and forms of transport, including the potential to: walking, cycling and public transport. This can be supported by the promotion of Green Networks. both positively and negatively affect the levels and form of transport use, and energy To explore the use of the SPACE tool and Heat sources for transport systems Mapping to assess the impact of developments and positively improve connectivity and promote walking and cycling to identify mitigations. both positively and negatively affect levels of energy consumption and generation for To promote and deliver sustainable and energy 33

Section 3: Environmental baseline, evolution of the environment without the Plan and current environmental issues

SEA theme Issues and problems Implications For FIFEplan buildings, over their lifespan and during construction efficient development, through master planning and positively affect the extent and scale to which more environmentally friendly forms of energy high levels of development location and design. are used (such as wind and biomass; and support micro and large-scale energy generation for private and public use) move Fife closer to achieve Scottish Government’s Low Carbon Economic Strategy to decarbonise transport by 2050 Interrelationships: reduction in energy use or use of more environmentally friendly forms of energy will have a significant impact on air pollution, particularly in regards to transport. Energy Some forms of energy production have a greater potential impact on the climate and landscape To address the cumulative impact of wind turbines production than others, and some sources of raw materials for energy production are ‘non-renewable’ (these on landscapes of Fife. A technical report, are not necessarily the same). commissioned by Fife Council, and prepared by The plan can encourage and control different forms and locations of energy production which take Ironside Farrar, accompanies an updated ‘Spatial place in the area and encourage the use of renewable sources (such as on/offshore wind, and Framework for Wind farm Capacity’ and has been water power). specifically developed to provide potential areas for development of wind turbines within areas classified Interrelationships: Renewable sources of energy generally produce little or no air pollution, reduce as least sensitive landscape areas. The spatial development capital and running costs, and contribute to people’s well-being and quality of life. framework takes into consideration the potential for However, some community members view renewable sources of energy as having a negative cumulative visual impacts, removal of sensitive and impact on townscape and landscape, which can lead to disputes. Wind turbines may cause designated sites. problems for wildlife if located inappropriately. Biomass and anaerobic digestion can reduce the amount of waste in landfills. Air pollution, Uncontrolled development could lead to an increase in sources of pollution affecting communities, To promote and deliver cleaner energy generation noise, dust, including inappropriately located industrial activities and traffic increases. and renewable energy technologies. To promote and deliver sustainable and energy hazardous The plan has the potential to reduce risks to human health by controlling, and separating housing installations efficient development, through masterplanning and and other social facilities from: high levels of development location and design. sources of air pollution, including pollution ‘hotspots’ associated with traffic To address the issues of traffic management and sources of noise the implications of development on the town centres, through the requirement for Traffic Impact sources of dust Assessments. hazardous installations Interrelationships: see energy use (traffic volumes and safety), and biodiversity. Water quality, Water courses and other water bodies, bathing waters and underground aquifers do not meet EU Flood assessment, and the impact on groundwater flooding standards consistently. Some areas may be vulnerable to flooding from water courses. resources will be a part of site assessment supported by policy in line with the advice and Management of development and improved water treatment and drainage infrastructure are requirements of SEPA. essential to prevent further pollution and accommodate greater potential flooding risks as a result of climate change. Lack of drainage, water treatment, and flood defence infrastructure is a 34

Section 3: Environmental baseline, evolution of the environment without the Plan and current environmental issues

SEA theme Issues and problems Implications For FIFEplan constraint on development. The plan can: help to reduce existing pollution, flood risk and development constraints by relating development proposals to existing infrastructure, green networks, programmed investment in water treatment, drainage and flood defence infrastructure, and by requiring new development to be designed to have minimal impact or to make a positive contribution reduce the impact flooding has on local services, businesses and economy during extreme weather Interrelationships: Water quality has a direct impact on biodiversity. Historically, pollution of water courses is associated with diffuse pollution from agriculture and previous development (mining, quarrying, other contaminated sites). Improved land management and flood attenuation schemes may also support greater biodiversity and landscape preservation. Treatment of contaminated land may contribute to improvement of water quality. Waste The plan has the potential to have negatively impact from waste arising from the development that To reduce the amount of waste by maximising needs to be delivered through the life of the plan. reuse, recycling and recovery of resources. The plan can positively impact by contributing to the implementation of waste strategies aimed at To promote the provision of appropriate recycling increasing recycling, reducing waste and reducing landfill and contribute to Scottish Government facilities. targets on zero waste. Excessive landfill and unnecessary use of new materials contribute to climate change and the reduction in non-renewable resources. Interrelationships: Waste policies can also contribute to the conservation of soil and mineral resources, improvements in amenity, reduction of pollution (both air and water) and the production of energy using renewable sources. Re-cycling of aggregates reduces the pressure for quarrying and for landfill on inert wastes which can be widely dispersed. Extensive recycling means developments must be able to facilitate multiple bins. Soil, mineral Fife has substantial areas of high quality agricultural land and a number of other mineral To prioritise the development of brownfield resources resources. opportunities over further greenfield land release. Soil functionality is important for the protection of water quality and for flood prevention, biodiversity & flora and fauna, FIFEplan has the potential, through planned development, to impact on these resources, but also to protect them. An assessment of the impacts on the environment of Fife should be made. This is consistent with proposed European Directive on Soils and the Scottish Soil Framework. The plan has the potential to negatively impact on these resources through the development that needs to be delivered through the life if the plan. The plan can positively impact on soil and material assets through sensitive location of development with regard to the need to protect assets. Interrelationships: see waste and landscape. 35

Section 3: Environmental baseline, evolution of the environment without the Plan and current environmental issues

SEA theme Issues and problems Implications For FIFEplan Brownfield Brownfield sites often present scars within settlements and within the countryside - redevelopment To prioritise the development of brownfield land, or restoration of such sites can make a significant contribution to enhancing the local amenity of opportunities over further greenfield land release. contaminated the areas affected. land The plan can encourage the re-use of brownfield land which generally involves less investment in new infrastructure than ‘greenfield’ sites. The plan can also play a role in securing the remediation of contamination of land through new development and investment for alternative uses such as recreation or nature conservation. The plan may set standards for restoration of sites following development to avoid future legacies of contamination. Interrelationships: Biodiversity may be improved, depending on the use of sites - although in some cases brownfield sites may have naturally became locally significant habitats, particularly within built up areas. See water pollution. Landscape The areas in which land is released for development will have a direct impact on the quality and To address the cumulative impact of wind turbines character of the landscape, including historic landscapes. This will have varying degrees of visual on the landscape; impact. It may also change the shape and size of existing settlements. To prioritise brownfield land for development in the first instance and then to direct housing and other Policies to reduce travel may place pressure on development close to settlements and impact on development to the most appropriate locations in the landscape setting. respect of landscape character and key features. The plan has potential to have a positive impact where development takes the opportunity to To protect the landscape setting of Fife settlements; restore or improve degraded landscapes. To maintain the integrity of the designated Local Interrelationships: see references under biodiversity, energy production, water quality, waste, soil Landscape Areas. and mineral resources, and brownfield land. The relationship between landscape and settlement forms has a significant impact on the amenity of settlements and the setting of the built heritage. Settlements – The form and location of new development may contribute to social integration and improved To improve the supply of housing land to infrastructure, housing opportunities for all sections of the community including those on low incomes and with a accommodate housing requirements. community disability. Forms of development which provide for access to open space and recreation facilities resources, and encourage walking and cycling will also contribute to health promotion. The plan can: To ensure development is well located in relation to vitality and existing infrastructure and contributes to new amenity assessment should consider creation and positive management of greenspaces close to infrastructure needs. communities for people, biodiversity, access and recreation. ensure that maximum use is made of existing infrastructure - roads, power, To reduce traffic growth and traffic congestion. telecommunications, water treatment, drainage (see also above), and economic and social facilities – by governing the location of new development. Access to social and community To enable access to public transport and enhance walking and cycling routes as part of the facilities and the amenity of residential areas and wider communities has an impact on general implementation of the Core Path Plan and Green well-being Network agenda. influence relationship between facilities, broad amenity, the general vitality of communities 36

Section 3: Environmental baseline, evolution of the environment without the Plan and current environmental issues

SEA theme Issues and problems Implications For FIFEplan and community safety To promote access to and enhance the provision influence the location of community facilities and resources, and determine their integration and distribution of greenspace, indoor and outdoor within existing infrastructure recreational facilities and social/community facilities for people, biodiversity, access and recreation and attract business development through the implementation of high speed broadband protect them from inappropriate redevelopment. heat maps can increase efficient use of power infrastructures and may show areas that would To decrease social deprivation and exclusion. potentially benefit from district heating. Interrelationships: the form of settlements will have an impact on all the other themes. The To promote community safety. management of transport is a major issue in relation to the character of settlements, energy use and supply, and impacts directly on human health through improvements in road safety. To promote high standards of design.

To ensure development proposals are future proofed for high speed broadband.

To promote the use of low carbon and renewable energy technologies including safeguarding opportunities for district heating schemes in new development.

Historic The plan has the potential to contribute to the conservation of the built heritage through protection To protect and enhance the historic and cultural environment of listed buildings, sites of historic or archaeological interest (including Scheduled Monuments), heritage, including appropriate reuse of existing Conservation areas, Sites on the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes and Historic buildings. Battlefields. To protect, enhance and where appropriate restore It may also contribute to positive conservation by encouraging complementary investment and the quality and distinctiveness of townscapes. offer the potential to appropriately reuse existing buildings. The plan has the potential to have a negative impact on historic and cultural assets through the allocation of inappropriate development. Interrelationships: built heritage may be a significant feature of the wider landscape. Policies and proposals aimed at encouraging brownfield redevelopment may make a significant contribution to the conservation of the built heritage, though at times a heritage listing may also create a barrier to redevelopment.

Section 4: Assessment Methodology

4. Assessment Methodology

This stage of the Strategic Environmental Assessment looks at:

- the recommended preferred development strategy for Fife - local area strategies - sites that have been promoted as candidate sites

For example:

+3 Highly positive impact or outcome +2 +1 0 ↓ -1 -2 -3 Highly negative impact or outcome ? Impact unknown

Preferred Fife-wide strategy

A summary of the beneficial and adverse impacts of the strategy for Fife is provided. This will summarise the impacts of the proposals as a whole and each group of policies in relation to each of the SEA themes. The themes assessed are set out in Table 4.

Section 4: Assessment Methodology

Local Strategies

Assessment of preferred and alternative sites have informed the assessment of the local area strategies. This looks at the combined impact of potential development sites in each of the defined strategy areas, and identifies any significant environmental impacts arising. This part of the assessment uses both scoring and commentary.

Site Assessments

Scoring for each theme has been weighted to reflect the significance of the anticipated impact and the potential to mitigate any issues highlighted.

Table 7: Site assessment methodology by SEA theme

SEA theme Site Assessment methodology Biodiversity, The assessment of this theme addresses potential impacts on priority habitats and natural heritage designations. general nature 5 priority habitats have been identified for Fife: woodland, wetland, coastal, heathland and unimproved grassland. These have been mapped conservation for the whole of Fife. The natural heritage designations considered are Special Protection Areas, Ramsar sites, Special Areas of Conservation, SSSIs, National Nature Reserves, Local Nature Reserves, Scottish Wildlife Trust Sites, Wildlife Sites, Regional Parks, Country Parks, Regionally Important Geological Sites and Tree Preservation Orders. The assessment focuses on the constraints of each site in terms of priority habitats/nature designations, and assesses the potential for development to take place without adverse impact on these interests. Mitigation has been identified and incorporated into the summary recommendations. The scoring is based on identified mitigation being incorporated into any future allocations. Further assessment has been carried out to assess potential impacts on European Designated nature sites (Special Protection Areas, Ramsars and Special Areas of Conservation) as an early stage of the Habitats Regulations Appraisal – see Annex 5 for details.

Section 4: Assessment Methodology

SEA theme Site Assessment methodology Energy use The assessment was carried out at a strategic level and aimed to identify sites considered with the greatest potential to accommodate heat networks and provide onsite energy generation. Starting from the basis that, in theory, any development site could potentially accommodate: Energy production • improved insulation standards, • solar or photovoltaic panels, • ground or air source heat pumps, or • a micro/small wind turbine.

The assessment focussed on identifying those sites with an added advantage for onsite generation, accounting for their geographic context, proposed development scale and development type.

The assessment considered theoretical potential to supply energy to the sites through:

• linking to an existing or proposed district heat network, • creation of a new heat network, • creation of a new heat generator e.g. onsite biomass or CHP plant, or • utilising hydro, tidal or wave power.

Assumptions were used to draw the theoretical conclusions. Firstly that developers would be willing to deliver upon a said energy scheme for their site. Secondly that a scheme could be both commercially and practically viable. Thirdly that energy sources would be acceptable environmentally.

Fife Council’s heat maps were used in the assessment allowing review of site proximity to heat networks, major energy loads, energy supply schemes and employment zones. Industrial processes such as manufacturing are an indicator of possible waste heat generation or of waste products available for waste to energy plant. The number of dwellings that could support a Combined Heat Power network or biomass heat network was taken from CHP Association case studies. This was used in assessing new housing developments, and whether existing dwellings could support a new heat generator network. The assessment maps also identified the location of sites in relation to rivers and water bodies for their theoretical potential to utilise small scale/micro hydro, tidal or wave power. A named river is likely to be of a size that would support hydro-power, though potential will depend on volume of discharge and topography at the location. A named watercourse may possibly be of a size that would support hydro-power, though again potential will depend on volume of discharge and topography at the location. Watercourse features such as waterfalls, weirs, dams, mill lades, etc. are a good indication that hydro-power may be possible.

Physical barriers such as major roads, railway lines and land topography were additional considerations in the assessments. In some instances these had an impact on overall scorings in a number of the site assessments. Such barriers were considered to naturally constrain a developer’s ability to provide pipelines or connections between power source and site.

Section 4: Assessment Methodology

SEA theme Site Assessment methodology Air pollution, The assessment looked at the potential for a significant impact on air quality from development at a high level. The assessment started with noise, dust, the assumption that all development will have potential to have some impact on air quality. Consideration was given to the potential of a hazardous proposed use or development to compromise the achievement of Scottish statutory air quality objectives and also to cause dust or noise in the installations long term, rather than at the construction phase. The proximity to Health and Safety Executive consultation zone was reviewed, as was the proximity to electricity pylons. SEPA provided information on sites subject to Environmental licensing and on any co-location issues that were likely with proposed development sites. Vehicle emissions were considered in relation to whether these were likely to be of a low level, together with consideration of site proximity to public transport routes and proximity to Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs). There are currently 2 AQMAs in Fife: Bonnygate, Cupar, declared in October 2008; and Appin Crescent, Dunfermline, declared in November 2011 for Nitrogen Dioxide (NO 2) and August 2012 for fine particulate matter (PM 10 ). Monitoring is also undertaken at Admiralty Road, Rosyth and St Clair Street, Kirkcaldy roadside locations. The assessment considered proximity to the AQMAs and to the other areas of monitoring and considered whether the proposed development had the potential to compromise the achievement of Scottish statutory air quality objectives in these areas.” Water quality, The assessment considered whether sites were at risk from flooding and considered the groundwater quality at the site as well as the quality of flooding any water bodies on, or within 50m of the site. An assessment of flood risk from fluvial, coastal and pluvial flooding, and whether there would be any requirement for enhanced Sustainable Urban Drainage schemes, had regard to advice from SEPA and Fife Council Transportation & Environmental Services. Advice from Scottish Water indicated whether there was capacity in the water treatment works and drainage system to serve the proposal. Waste The assessment of this theme addresses potential impacts of development on waste generation. Fife currently has 2 landfill sites, 370 recycling points and 11 recycling centres for the collection of up to 20 waste types. National policy and the policy of Fife Council is to reduce reliance on landfill as move towards zero waste. The assessment of impact on waste focuses on the additional waste produced by new development and to a lesser extent the distance of the proposed development from existing waste facilities. Households will not create much if any additional waste simply by moving into new residential development for example. However, the actual construction process of the new development will create additional waste, albeit there would be an element of recycling. Soil, mineral The assessment of this theme addresses potential impacts of development on soil, minerals resources and contaminated land. resources Fife has areas of prime quality agricultural land, carbon rich soils and a variety of minerals. The resources considered are carbon rich soils Brownfield land, (peat), Prime Quality Agricultural Land, hard (crushed) rock, coal, sand and gravel, oil shale, silica sand and greenfield land. contaminated land The assessment focuses on effect on these resources in terms of loss of prime quality agricultural land, greenfield land and carbon rich soils; sterilisation of mineral resources and potential to remediate contaminated soils. In most cases development will lead to a loss of these resources, however, there is potential for development to remediate contamination or improve poor soil quality. In such cases the scoring could be positive. In many cases further detailed assessment will be required to assess contamination.

Section 4: Assessment Methodology

SEA theme Site Assessment methodology Landscape The assessment of landscape focussed on the Landscape Characteristics, Urban Design Issues and Visual Impact Issues relating to each site. Any submitted detail relating to the proposal was taken into consideration. A desktop assessment using mapping and photographs was carried out to examine sites along with reference to available reports, including the Fife Landscape Character Assessment (David Tyldesley Associates 1998) and Fife Local Landscape Designation Review (Land Use Consultations 2008.) Landscape Capacity for Development reports for selected settlements across Fife (Alison Grant, 2002-2004) were reviewed to identify if they had identified capacity for future development of land related to any submitted site. Landscape Characteristics: The landscape character type and its detailed landscape character unit name were recorded for proposed sites. Each site was checked to identify if it was within a Local Landscape Area, Historic Garden or Designed Landscape or Dunfermline and St. Andrews Green Belt. Specific Local Landscape Areas were noted along with relevant points relating to landscape character and qualities within the Designation Statement. Designation features and character were also noted for specific Historic Gardens and Designed Landscapes. The on and off site physical aspects or features relevant to future development of each site were detailed, for example, tree belts, woodland, parkland, steep slopes, skyline, ridges or flood plain along with a description of how these features relate to the site boundaries. Urban Design Issues: Any settlement relating to a proposed site was identified and an assessment made of its scale, form, pattern, setting and distinctive features. Any site features that could form a strong new settlement edge were recorded and a description was given of how the site relates to the existing settlement. Visual Impact Issues: The key receptors of each proposed development site were detailed and an assessment made of how the proposal would affect key views. Conclusion: The overall landscape assessment for each site was summarised to conclude if the submitted proposal raised any significant landscape or settlement form issues which might constrain the potential for its future development.

Settlements – The settlement theme considered how new development on a site would relate to a settlement and to community resources and employment infrastructure, opportunities. community The assessment considered the proximity of the new development to services such as convenience shops (and other commercial activities), resources, vitality pubs, primary schools, community halls, employment opportunities etc. The assessment took into account how good the connections were and amenity between these facilities and development on the site to establish how easy it would be for people to walk or cycle to these services. The assessment also considered how new developments could link through to the surrounding areas to establish how well new development could integrate with the existing settlement and surrounding communities and considered the capacity of the primary and high schools that serve the site. The assessment also considered the impact of new development on greenspaces and green networks on and around the site. Taking into account any loss of formal or informal greenspace and any opportunities to enhance greenspaces and green networks relating to the site. For proposals other than housing consideration was given as to how easy it would be for people to walk or cycle to the site, the impact of the proposed use on surrounding uses, as well as the impact on greenspaces and green networks.

Section 4: Assessment Methodology

SEA theme Site Assessment methodology Historic Built Heritage assessments distinguished archaeological impact from that of impacts on listed buildings and conservation areas. Both have the Environment potential to identify adverse or permanent impacts resulting from the loss of aspects important to the built heritage of an area. Candidate sites were considered against the built heritage asset with particular focus on the potential impact resulting from construction activities. Impact can also be visual and can result from significant change to a sites setting, context or curtilage. In some cases, impact can also be addressed through mitigation which has been stated, where identified, Assessment considered the likely impacts on: listed buildings, conservation areas, gardens and designed landscapes, scheduled ancient monuments, archaeological areas of regional importance, battlefield sites and Historic Scotland properties in care.

Section 5: Assessment of Preferred Strategy and Site Assessments

5. Assessment of Preferred Strategy and Site Assessments

Fife-wide Strategy Assessment

The strategy in the FIFEplan Main Issues Report is the context for this consultation on local strategies and the preferred new development sites. The principles for the strategy are :-

• Promoting sustainable travel patterns and making the best use of existing services and infrastructure. • The promotion of existing allocations and the development of a strategy which augments the key elements of the existing Fife development plan strategy. • Developing on brownfield land. • Identifying appropriate levels of employment land to support key sectors and encourage sustainable travel movements. • Strategic scale edge of town development on the towns of Kelty, Cowdenbeath and North Dunfermline. • Investigating the opportunities to develop sites close to Glenrothes Town Centre. • The development of an sub regional strategy for the North Dunfermline/Ore Valley Area • The encouragement of small scale growth in all other towns that complement the existing town in terms of scale and location. • The relaxation of developer requirements on brownfield and vacant and derelict land to encourage their development. • A more flexible approach to certain town centre and employment land sites which could allow the consideration of mixed use development opportunities. • The development of a Fife wide Green Network • Creation of strong linkages between development and the Green Network.

Section 5: Assessment of Preferred Strategy and Site Assessments

Table 8: Assessment of Fife wide strategy SEA Theme Score Summary Mitigation Score after mitigation Biodiversity, The strategy prioritises existing allocations, brownfield development and Requirement in the Proposed Plan for the general nature -1 the extension of existing settlements. In some cases new development, protection and enhancement of the wider 0/+1 conservation which will include greenfield development, will have the potential to environment, including trees and priority negatively impact on biodiversity and nature conservation. habitats, habitat connectivity and green networks including urban open space. Site The strategy also provides for a Fife wide Green Network and strong specific mitigations will also be implemented linkages between this network and new development. This is likely to through Developer Requirements and the minimise negative impacts and allow opportunities for enhancement. Action Programme. Energy use Increased energy use leads to increased carbon footprint. Proposed Proposed Plan to continue existing policies on 0/-1 development strategy should enable greater opportunities for shared heat energy use and building design, and maximise +1 Energy production and energy. There is potential for district heating schemes, which would potential for district heating schemes where lower the overall energy use in built development. Heat mapping available. Siting, design and layout can identifies existing and proposed opportunities for district heat networks. contribute to minimising carbon footprint of Lochhead in particular has a scheme, which could form part of a larger new development. The Proposed Plan will network. The Tullis Russell Biomass Plant offers opportunity to provide develop new policies and guidance on district heating. Proximity to Westfield may also offer opportunities. location, design and layout of new development. Air pollution, noise, Within some settlements, there is potential that development could result Proposed Plan and developer requirements to dust, hazardous -1 in increased traffic emissions - regard should be had for existing air address traffic impacts. 0 installations quality issues, notably in Dunfermline and Cupar, to ensure that development does not compromise Scottish statutory air quality Where appropriate any issues with co-location objectives. to health and safety executive consultation zones and to sites subject to environmental Proximity to health and safety executive consultation zones and to sites licensing to be mitigated through siting, design subject to environmental licensing considered in the site specific and layout. assessment. No significant impacts anticipated in relation to these arise from the Fife-wide strategy. Water quality, There is potential for development to take place across Fife in line with Ensure that proposals in the plan will not flooding -1 the strategy without significant impacts arising in terms of flooding and exacerbate flood risk through location, siting, 0 water quality. Within existing settlements a baseline water supply and design and layout. sewage network is in place, subject to capacity. Ensure use of SUDs where required. Waste -1 New development will create waste irrespective of location. Overall levels Location and proximity to recycling/waste -1 of waste generation are expected to be neutral. management facilities can minimise the need for travel. It is possible to mitigate effects of new development through siting of recycling 45

Section 5: Assessment of Preferred Strategy and Site Assessments

SEA Theme Score Summary Mitigation Score after mitigation facilities.

Soil, mineral -1 The focus on brownfield sites reduces the need to develop greenfield Prioritising brownfield land through the 0 resources sites. However, the strategy includes the development of greenfield sites strategy will minimise the use of greenfield to meet development requirements from strategic development plans. land and loss of prime quality agricultural land. Brownfield land, Development of brownfield land can also contaminated land In parts of Fife, prime agricultural land will be impacted on by the address contamination issues. strategy. Prime agricultural land is particularly prevalent in North and East Fife, however, development proposed is of a lesser scale than in other Proposed Plan to continue policies on parts of Fife. protection of prime agricultural land and minerals. Mineral and soil resources are widespread across Fife. There is potential for these to be impacted by new development proposed by the strategy. Site layout, or prior extraction can ensure minerals are not unnecessarily sterilised. Landscape -1 The focus on brownfield sites will reduce the need to develop greenfield Proposed Plan to continue existing policies on 0 sites. However, the strategy includes the development of greenfield sites new developments impacting on sensitive to meet development requirements from strategic development plans. landscapes.

Edge of settlement development has the potential to impact the setting of Potential impacts can be mitigated through settlements across Fife. location, siting, design and layout of new development. Fife has large areas designated as Local Landscape Areas as well as Gardens and Designed Landscapes and Green Belts for Dunfermline and In some cases impacts on settlement could be St Andrews. favourable with opportunities to create more sympathetic edges, or gateways to the Strategy has the potential to impact on the form of existing settlements settlement. and their setting in the wider landscape.

Settlements – +1/-1 New development will impact on existing settlements. This may be The Proposed Plan will continue existing +1 infrastructure, positive or negative depending on location and design, and the potential policies and develop new policies and community of existing settlements to accommodate new development. Development guidance on location, design and layout of resources, vitality may contribute to social integration and improved housing opportunities new development. This should include and amenity for all sections of the community. consideration of: - access to greenspace A focus on brownfield sites is likely to positively impact any existing - access to infrastructure, social and problems caused by vacant and derelict land within settlements. community facilities - access to employment The strategy encourages small scale growth in towns that will 46

Section 5: Assessment of Preferred Strategy and Site Assessments

SEA Theme Score Summary Mitigation Score after mitigation complement the existing town in terms of scale and location.

Historic -1 Development of settlements that have particular cultural heritage may Proposed Plan to continue existing policies on 0/+1 Environment have a negative impact; however this also provides the opportunity to re- new developments impacting on built heritage use/regenerate buildings or other cultural assets which may otherwise fall and archaeological assets, and consideration into disrepair. for existing townscapes.

In terms of specific allocations it may be possible to mitigate adverse impacts by reducing the scale of development or creating buffer zones.

Summary: The assessment highlights the potential for negative impacts on a number of the SEA themes. However, in the main, these can be addressed and mitigated as set out above.

Section 5: Assessment of Preferred Strategy and Site Assessments

Local Strategies

Following from the Fife wide strategy, 8 local strategies highlight the strategy for each local area and the distribution of the preferred and alternative development sites.

West Villages Strategy

The West Villages area has recently been the focus of development with 600 houses being allocated in this area. Much of this allocation is still to be developed although some sites are showing signs of progress. Although this area lies out with the focus of the two SESplan Strategic Development areas it is appropriate that further allocations are made in this area due to its proximity to jobs, services and other infrastructure which allows access to Fife and the wider city region. Opportunities exist to make further allocations albeit at a less level that that being focussed on the Strategic Development Areas. Preferred sites are identified that fit the scale and shape of the existing towns. Preferred locations are focussed along the key transport routes that lead into Dunfermline. The coastal area offers less opportunity to the scale of the town and the level of access to the rest of Fife.

West Villages assessment summary

Water quality and flooding issues have indicated negative impacts for this strategy area. Mitigation through the requirement for Flood Risk Assessments, siting, design and developer requirements will enable the impacts to be managed and safely addressed.

The strategy offers opportunities to link into heat networks or for CHP to be developed.

Overall the strategy can be delivered without significant impacts on the environment.

Section 5: Assessment of Preferred Strategy and Site Assessments

Table 9: West Villages area: Site Assessment Scoring by SEA Theme

Air Pollution Water and Quality Preferred, reasonable Energy Human and Soils and Built alternative or not Settlement Candidate Site Waste Production Health Flooding Minerals Settlement Heritage Landscape Biodiversity Total supported Blairhall LDP-BLA001 -1 -1 0 0 -1 0 0 -1 -2 -6 Preferred site Blairhall LDP-BLA002 -1 -1 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 -3 Preferred site Charlestown LDP-CHL002 -1 0 0 -2 0 0 0 -1 0 -4 Preferred site Cairneyhill LDP-CNH006 -1 1 -1 -2 -1 0 1 -1 0 -5 Preferred site Cairneyhill LDP-CNH007 -1 0 0 -2 -1 0 0 -1 0 -5 Preferred site Landward LDP-LWD001 -1 0 0 -2 1 -2 0 -1 0 -5 Preferred site Landward LDP-LWD019 -1 1 -1 -2 0 -2 0 -1 0 -6 Preferred site Oakley LDP-OAK001 -1 1 0 -2 0 2 0 -1 0 -1 Preferred site Oakley LDP-OAK002 -1 1 0 -2 1 0 0 -1 0 -2 Preferred site Saline LDP-SAL001 -1 -1 -1 -2 0 2 0 -1 0 -4 Reasonable alternative Steelend LDP-STE001 -1 0 0 -2 -1 0 0 -1 -2 -7 Reasonable alternative Total Score by SEA theme -11 1 -3 -18 -3 0 1 -10 -4

Average score (Preferred Sites) -4.1 Average score (Reasonable alternatives) -5.5

Section 5: Assessment of Preferred Strategy and Site Assessments

Dunfermline Strategy

Dunfermline is the focus of a large housing and community based proposal to the South West and West and North West of the city. Development proposal are progressing to the North West of the City. SESplan directs further development to the north of the City. Sites have been identified as preferred across the North of the City in line with the requirements of SESplan. In the North West these add to the existing proposals and in the North East a large allocation is preferred in the Halbeath area.

Key to the delivery of these sites is the provision to a northern relief road and a western distributor road. These will work alongside the new park and ride at Halbeath and the improved access to the Forth Bridge to provide a range of travel options.

Although not part of the SESplan SDA, the accessibility of the Forth bridgehead area around Inverkeithing and Rosyth, to Fife and regional job markets make it a location that offers potential for further allocations.

The Dunfermline Green Belt marks the boundary beyond which development should not expand for the foreseeable future and as a consequence all housing sites have been rejected in this location.

Dunfermline assessment summary

The strategy for Dunfermline can be delivered without significant adverse impacts, although the assessment highlights issues to be addressed. Issues include the potential for negative impacts on air quality issues at Appin Crescent in Dunfermline and Admiralty Road in Rosyth. Transport assessments will be required to highlight any measures required to address any issues arising from additional traffic.

Potential adverse landscape impacts have been identified. These will need to be addressed through site design and layout.

The strategy offers opportunities to link into heat networks or for CHP to be developed.

Overall the strategy can be delivered without significant impacts on the environment.

Section 5: Assessment of Preferred Strategy and Site Assessments

Table 10: Dunfermline area: Site Assessment Scoring by SEA Theme

Air Pollution Water and Quality Preferred, reasonable Candidate Energy Human and Soils and Built alternative or not Settlement Site Waste Production Health Flooding Minerals Settlement Heritage Landscape Biodiversity Total supported Aberdour LDP-ABD001 -1 -1 -1 0 -1 0 0 -2 0 -6 Preferred site Aberdour LDP-ABD003 -1 -1 -1 0 -1 -2 0 -2 0 -8 Preferred site Crossford LDP-CRF003 -1 1 -1 0 0 0 0 -1 0 -2 Preferred site Crossgates LDP-CRO001 -1 0 -2 0 -1 2 0 0 0 -2 Preferred site Dunfermline LDP-DUN001 -1 1 -1 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 Preferred site Dunfermline LDP-DUN006 -1 1 -2 0 0 -2 -1 -1 0 -5 Preferred site Dunfermline LDP-DUN007 -1 0 -1 0 0 0 -1 0 0 -2 Preferred site Dunfermline LDP-DUN008 -1 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 0 -2 Preferred site Dunfermline LDP-DUN012 -1 0 -1 0 -1 0 0 0 0 -3 Preferred site Dunfermline LDP-DUN014 -1 1 -1 -2 -1 0 0 -1 0 -5 Preferred site Dunfermline LDP-DUN016 -1 1 -1 0 -1 0 0 0 0 -2 Preferred site Dunfermline LDP-DUN022 -1 0 -1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 Preferred site Inverkeithing LDP-INV001 0 1 -1 -2 0 0 0 -2 0 -4 Preferred site Inverkeithing LDP-INV002 -1 -1 0 0 -1 0 0 -2 0 -5 Preferred site Kingseat LDP-KST002 -1 0 -1 0 -1 2 0 -1 0 -2 Preferred site Landward LDP-LWD006 -1 1 1 0 1 0 0 -1 0 1 Preferred site Rosyth LDP-ROS002 -1 1 -2 0 -1 -2 0 -2 0 -7 Preferred site Rosyth LDP-ROS005 -1 0 -2 0 -1 0 0 -1 0 -5 Preferred site Crossgates LDP-CRO002 -1 0 -1 -2 -1 0 0 -1 0 -6 Reasonable alternative Dalgety Bay LDP-DGB001 -1 -1 -1 0 -1 -2 0 -1 0 -7 Reasonable alternative Dalgety Bay LDP-DGB003 -1 0 -1 0 0 0 0 0 0 -2 Reasonable alternative Dalgety Bay LDP-DGB004 -1 0 -1 0 0 -2 0 0 0 -4 Reasonable alternative Dunfermline LDP-DUN015 -1 1 -1 -2 -1 0 0 0 0 -4 Reasonable alternative Dunfermline LDP-DUN019 -1 0 -1 0 -1 -2 0 -1 0 -6 Reasonable alternative Rosyth LDP-ROS006 -1 1 -2 -2 0 0 0 -1 0 -5 Reasonable alternative Total Score by SEA theme -23 7 -26 -10 -12 -4 -2 -18 Average score (Preferred Sites) -3.1 Average score (Reasonable alternatives) -4.7

Section 5: Assessment of Preferred Strategy and Site Assessments

Ore & Upper Leven Valleys Strategy

The Ore/Upper Leven Valley is identified as a focus for further development by SESplan. The Strategy for this area is to continue the approach set out in the Main Issues Report by focussing development on towns to encourage regeneration. The Cowdenbeath and Kelty area remain a key focus as does the regeneration of Glenrothes Town Centre.

Due to the changing housing context in SESplan the focus for new development has also moved onto Thornton, Cardenden, Kinglassie and Glenrothes. This continues the approach of locating development around the Fife Circle train line and in locations which have good access to local and regional services and job markets.

Lochgelly remains a key focus of new development and within the context of the community consultation event, Charette, which took place in 2011 which was held to consider the long term development of the town.

Ore & Upper Leven Valleys assessment summary

Water quality and flooding issues have indicated potential negative impacts. Mitigation through the requirement for Flood Risk Assessments, siting, design and developer requirements will enable the impacts to be managed and safely addressed.

The geology of the Ore & Upper Leven Valley area is characterised by carboniferous rocks including coal measures, some of which have been mined in the past. As such some areas have been undermined and development will require liaison with the Coal Authority.

The strategy offers opportunities to link into heat networks or for CHP to be developed.

Overall the strategy can be delivered without significant impacts on the environment.

Section 5: Assessment of Preferred Strategy and Site Assessments

Table 11: Ore & Upper Leven Valleys area: Site Assessment Scoring by SEA Theme

Air Pollution Water and Quality Preferred, reasonable Candidate Energy Human and Soils and Built alternative or not Settlement Site Waste Production Health Flooding Minerals Settlement Heritage Landscape Biodiversity Total supported Cardenden LDP-CDD001 -1 1 0 0 -1 0 0 -1 0 -2 Preferred site Cardenden LDP-CDD003 -1 1 -1 -2 0 0 0 -1 0 -4 Preferred site Cardenden LDP-CDD004 -1 1 -1 -2 1 -2 0 -1 0 -5 Preferred site Cardenden LDP-CDD005 -1 1 0 -2 -1 0 0 0 0 -3 Preferred site Cowdenbeath LDP-COW001 -1 -1 -1 0 -1 -2 0 -1 -2 -9 Preferred site Glenrothes LDP-GLE001 -1 1 0 0 -1 2 0 0 -2 -1 Preferred site Glenrothes LDP-GLE002 -1 1 -1 0 -1 0 0 0 0 -2 Preferred site Kelty LDP-KEL003 -1 0 0 0 -1 0 0 -1 0 -3 Preferred site Kelty LDP-KEL004 -1 0 0 -2 -1 0 0 0 0 -4 Preferred site Kinglassie LDP-KLS006 -1 1 0 -2 -1 -2 0 0 0 -5 Preferred site Kinglassie LDP-KLS007 -1 -1 0 -2 -1 0 0 0 0 -5 Preferred site Lochgelly LDP-LGY001 -1 0 -1 0 -1 2 0 -1 0 -2 Preferred site Lochgelly LDP-LGY002 -1 1 -2 0 0 2 0 -1 0 -1 Preferred site Lochgelly LDP-LGY003 -1 1 -1 -2 1 0 0 -1 0 -3 Preferred site Landward LDP-LWD003 -1 1 0 -2 1 0 0 -1 0 -2 Preferred site Thornton LDP-THO001 -1 1 -1 -2 -1 0 0 -1 0 -5 Preferred site Thornton LDP-THO004 -1 -1 -1 0 -1 0 0 0 0 -4 Preferred site Thornton LDP-THO005 -1 1 -1 0 -1 -2 0 -1 0 -5 Preferred site Kelty LDP-KEL002 -1 1 0 0 -1 0 0 -1 0 -2 Reasonable alternative Kelty LDP-KEL005 -1 -1 0 -2 -1 0 0 0 0 -5 Reasonable alternative Lumphinnans LDP-LPH001 -1 -1 -1 0 -1 0 0 -1 0 -5 Reasonable alternative Thornton LDP-THO003 -1 1 -1 -2 -1 0 0 0 0 -4 Reasonable alternative Total Score by SEA theme -22 9 -13 -22 -14 -2 0 -13 -4

Average score (Preferred Sites) -3.6 Average score (Reasonable alternatives) -4.0

Section 5: Assessment of Preferred Strategy and Site Assessments

Kirkcaldy & Levenmouth Strategy

Kirkcaldy and Levenmouth are the focus of three existing large allocations of housing and associated community facilities. Between them these sites will provide around 6,500 houses. Significant progress has been made with all these sites and future allocations need to complement these developments. Also, this area sits outwith the SESplan SDA of Ore/Upper Leven Valley and should accordingly not be the focus of new allocations.

Some brownfield opportunities are preferred in Kirkcaldy but beyond that the other sites in Kirkcaldy are rejected due to their conflict with the existing allocations and local landscape impacts. A strategy will be developed for the Victoria Road corridor identifying development opportunities within Kirkcaldy and aiding its regeneration.

Smaller settlements of Star, Milton of Balgonie and the Wemyss villages offer some opportunity for small scale development. In addition preferred sites in Kennoway offer medium scale development opportunities.

Kirkcaldy & Levenmouth assessment summary

Preferred sites have scored relatively well. However, water quality and flooding issues have indicated negative impacts. Mitigation through the requirement for Flood Risk Assessments, siting, design and developer requirements will enable the impacts to be managed and safely addressed. The strategy can therefore be delivered without significant impacts on the environment.

The geology of the Kirkcaldy & Leven area is characterised by carboniferous rocks including coal measures, some of which have been mined in the past. As such some areas have been undermined and development will require liaison with the Coal Authority.

Overall the strategy can be delivered without significant impacts on the environment.

Section 5: Assessment of Preferred Strategy and Site Assessments

Table 12: Kirkcaldy & Levenmouth area: Site Assessment Scoring by SEA Theme

Average score (Preferred Sites) -2.5 Average score (Reasonable alternatives) -5.5

Section 5: Assessment of Preferred Strategy and Site Assessments

Cupar, Howe of Fife and Tay Coast Strategy

Cupar North is already identified as a strategic development area and this is supported through the new Local Development Plan. Development here is linked with the provision of key infrastructure that will make a significant difference to the environment of the town.

New development opportunities are not supported in close proximity to Cupar North to avoid competition from this proposal. The preferred strategy for the wider area is to provide opportunities for additional small and medium scale development that complement this existing allocation.

Preferred settlements are Auchtermuchty, Falkland and Newburgh because of their availability of services and ability to accommodate small scale development.

Cupar, Howe of Fife and Tay Coast assessment summary

Preferred sites and reasonable alternatives in this strategy area have good potential to integrate well with existing settlements.

There are fewer opportunities in this area to link to heat networks.

Overall the strategy can be delivered without significant impacts on the environment.

Section 5: Assessment of Preferred Strategy and Site Assessments

Table 13: Cupar, Howe of Fife & Tay Coast area: Site Assessment Scoring by SEA Theme

Average score (Preferred Sites) -3.0 Average score (Reasonable alternatives) -3.3

Section 5: Assessment of Preferred Strategy and Site Assessments

Tay Bridgehead Strategy

Tayport, Newport, Wormit and Leuchars/Guardbridge offer the best options for locating development due to their accessibility to the wider region and their level of services. However, the area has around 600 houses already allocated through previous plans. With much of the development still to progress, further large scale allocations is not needed or supported. The strategy for the area therefore aims to provide opportunities for additional small and medium scale development that complements these existing allocations.

Potential development options may arise due to the changing role of RAF Leuchars and, as more information becomes available, the strategy of the plan may require to be updated.

Tay Bridgehead assessment summary

The strategy for this area proposes a modest scale of additional development.

Water quality, flooding and settlement issues have indicated a negative impact in this strategy area. Siting, design and developer requirements will enable these impacts to be managed and addressed.

Overall the strategy can be delivered without significant impacts on the environment.

Table 14: Tay Bridgehead area: Site Assessment Scoring by SEA Theme

Air Water Pollution Quality Preferred, reasonable Candidate Energy and Human and Soils and Built alternative or not Settlement Site Waste Production Health Flooding Minerals Settlement Heritage Landscape Biodiversity Total supported Balmullo LDP-BLO002 -1 -1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 -1 Preferred site Leuchars LDP-LEU002 -1 0 0 -2 -1 -2 0 -1 0 -7 Preferred site Balmullo LDP-BLO004 -1 -1 0 0 -1 0 0 -1 0 -4 Reasonable alternative Tayport LDP-TAY001 -1 -1 0 0 -1 0 0 0 0 -3 Reasonable alternative

Total Score by SEA theme -4 -3 0 -2 -2 -2 0 -2 0

Average score (Preferred Sites) -4 Average score (Reasonable alternatives) -3.5

Section 5: Assessment of Preferred Strategy and Site Assessments

St Andrews Strategy

St Andrews has a strategic scale allocation which continues to be progressed through the early masterplan stages. There is also a considerable amount of brownfield development underway or proposed for the town. Together these provide sufficient opportunity for housing development for the lifetime of the Local Development Plan and beyond. Several of the sites submitted into the LDP process lie within the Green Belt. Given the purpose of the Green Belt is to provide long term certainty on the future growth of the town, all housing and leisure proposals in the Green Belt have been rejected.

St Andrews assessment summary

Only one site has been identified in this strategy area as a preferred site. Water quality and flooding issues can be addressed through mitigation.

The strategy can be delivered without significant impacts on the environment.

Table 15: St Andrews area: Site Assessment Scoring by SEA Theme

Preferred, Air Pollution Water reasonable Candidate Energy and Human Quality and Soils and Built alternative or not Settlement Site Waste Production Health Flooding Minerals Settlement Heritage Landscape Biodiversity Total supported Strathkinness LDP-STK002 -1 0 0 -2 -1 0 0 0 0 -4 Preferred site Total Score by SEA theme -1 0 0 -2 -1 0 0 0 0

Average score (Preferred Sites) -4 No reasonable alternatives identified for this area.

Section 5: Assessment of Preferred Strategy and Site Assessments

East Neuk Strategy

Through the existing Local Plans a significant allocation of housing land has already been made to the East Neuk area, much of which is still to be developed. Opportunities for additional small and medium scale development that complements these existing allocations have been considered, however, no major further land allocations are proposed at this time due to the levels of existing supply.

A coordinated strategy (the East Neuk Community Action Plan) is now being developed for the area which looks at the unique circumstances of the area and sets a context through which the rural economy and the housing needs of the local community can be accommodated. This will address opportunities to accommodate future longer-term growth.

East Neuk assessment summary

The strategy for this area proposes a modest scale of additional development.

There is potential for modest loss of prime agricultural land as a result of potential development. Water quality and flooding issues can be addressed through design and layout.

The strategy can be delivered without significant impacts on the environment.

Table 16: East Neuk area: Site Assessment Scoring by SEA Theme

Average score (Preferred Sites) -3 Average score (Reasonable alternatives) -4

Section 5: Assessment of Preferred Strategy and Site Assessments

Site assessments

Site assessments have been carried out on all the proposed development sites that have been submitted to the Council.

The matrix of all the sites and how they scored along the SEA themes is included at Annex 3.

In summary in respect of overall scoring:

The average scores are:

- Preferred sites: -3.3

- Reasonable alternatives: -4.3

- Sites not supported: -5.4

Candidate site assessment outcomes of by SEA theme including identified mitigation

Through the site assessment process it has been possible to consider the impacts of each potential site individually against the SEA themes. It has also been useful to look at each SEA theme for all the candidate sites in Fife as a whole, in order to identify the main potential significant effects and any required mitigation arising from the site assessment process.

Table 17 sets out the main assessment outcomes for each SEA theme, identifying where appropriate required mitigation.

Section 5: Assessment of Preferred Strategy and Site Assessments

Table 17: Site Assessment Outcomes by SEA Theme

SEA theme Assessment outcomes Biodiversity, Priority habitats identified for Fife are widespread across the whole of the FIFEplan area. The most common identified impacts through this general nature theme were localised impacts on priority habitats, principally woodland which is the most extensive of Fife’s priority habitats. Many of the sites conservation also feature wetland habitat, generally along smaller watercourses on or adjacent to candidate sites. A smaller proportion of sites have the potential to impact on natural heritage designations. In most cases this is due to the proximity of candidate sites to designated sites, although some overlapping was identified. In the main, it is possible to mitigate the identified potential impacts. The principal method of mitigation is through restricting the location of built development to avoid priority habitats and natural heritage designations. Buffer zone distances from future built development have been identified in order to reduce the potential for impacts on, or conflicts with, natural heritage assets.

Energy use The assessments identified a range of sites with varying potential. Generally sites within or adjacent to the largest settlements had greater Energy production potential to link to existing or proposed heat networks. Sites that scored lowest were normally small scale housing proposals. Better scoring sites were normally mixed-use in nature and were of a larger development scale that could provide more optimal circumstances to make an onsite energy scheme commercially viable. As identified in the assessment methodology, assumptions were used to draw the theoretical conclusions on all sites. Firstly those developers would be willing to deliver upon a said energy scheme for their site. Secondly that a scheme could be both commercially and practically viable. Thirdly that energy sources would be acceptable environmentally. In order to fully quantify accurate potential, more detailed assessment would need to be carried out at the individual site level. Developers would have to demonstrate a willingness to commit to the delivery of onsite energy proposals. An assessment on the environmental impact of individual projects would also have to be undertaken. Such detailed investigations would identify ways to mitigate any potential negative impacts occurring from individual proposals. There is an expectation that increases in building standards, carbon reduction targets and energy generation targets set nationally will increase the likelihood of energy efficient projects being delivered in the medium and longer term.

Air pollution, The assessments indicated that for many sites there was unlikely to be a significant impact from them in respect of air pollution, noise and dust noise, dust, and/or from hazardous installations, or that they would be impacted on by co-located developments. These were considered to have a neutral hazardous impact. installations Three sites were considered to have a positive impact, where these related to a proposed change in the use, or the cessation of a use, which would result in an improvement in the local environment. For many sites there was a negative, or a weighted negative score, particularly where there were co-location issues with existing neighbouring development or features, or where there would be an increase in emissions in an existing AQMA, or other areas of monitoring. Transport assessments will be required to highlight any measures required to address any issues arising from additional traffic.

Section 5: Assessment of Preferred Strategy and Site Assessments

SEA theme Assessment outcomes An assumption has been made that the majority of developments will lead to a period of increased emissions as well as dust and noise during the construction phase. Assessment therefore has been made on the likely long-term aspects of the proposed development. Water quality, The majority of sites were scored neutral in the assessments, where no issues were identified, or there was no significant impact on the water flooding environment with mitigation measures. This included enhanced Sustainable Urban Drainage, inclusion of buffers to water bodies, and any requirements that will come from a flood risk assessment. Sites scored negatively where negative impacts arising from the proposals were identified. Waste New development will create waste irrespective of location. However overall levels of waste generation is expected to be neutral. Location and proximity to recycling/waste management facilities can minimise the need for travel. Generally it is possible to mitigate the effects of new development through siting of recycling facilities by perhaps creating new facilities in the most appropriate locations so as to encourage recycling. At a micro scale, developments can be designed to encourage waste recycling. Soil, mineral Mineral and soil resources are widespread across Fife. Brownfield land and hence contamination tends to occur more frequently in urban resources areas. A significant number of sites are underlain by mineral resources or in close proximity to minerals. A significant number also have prime Brownfield land, quality land, but very few have carbon rich soils. Many of the sites involve greenfield land. Many sites too have potential contamination, albeit contaminated land that it may be minor – a precautionary approach has therefore been taken and some sites suspected of being contaminated may not be contaminated. Mitigation measures are possible. In the case of minerals, site layout can ensure that minerals are not unnecessarily sterilised. Prior extraction may also be possible in some cases. A strong preference for the reuse of brownfield land can help to ensure that the use of greenfield land and loss of prime quality land is minimised. Development of brownfield land can also involve removal or treatment of contamination. Landscape All sites were considered to have landscape impacts, although there are a few small scale sites where these impacts are not considered as significant. A few sites impact on designated landscapes (Local Landscape Areas), gardens and designed landscapes (as identified in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes) and Green Belt, for both Dunfermline and St. Andrews (as identified in the relevant adopted Local Plans). In some cases the potential impact can be mitigated through the location of development and sensitive design, although in others any development would be significant and unacceptable in terms of its landscape impact. Many sites have considerable impact on the form of existing settlements, their setting within the wider landscape and linkages with the countryside with changes to sense of arrival and the nature of their gateways. There are also several sites which would lead to issues of coalescence of settlements. Many sites would be visually prominent, often on sloping land. Coastal sites have the potential to impact on the undeveloped nature of parts of the coastline. Sites within the countryside, isolated from existing settlements, intensify built development and compromise the character, and in some cases designated landscapes, of the rural parts of Fife. Sensitive development with good layout and design and landscape enhancement could mitigate landscape impacts for many of the proposed sites. Reference should be had to Fife urban design guide. In some cases proposals could provide opportunities to create new edges and gateways to enhance existing poor settlement edges. However, overall, no sites scored positively in terms of landscape impacts. Settlements – This theme principally considered how a new development would integrate within and impact on existing settlements. It considered if people infrastructure, living in or using the future development be able to easily access local services and community facilities by walking or cycling? And whether community there is potential for the development to connect through to existing adjacent development in order to integrate communities and provide well

Section 5: Assessment of Preferred Strategy and Site Assessments

SEA theme Assessment outcomes resources, vitality connected neighbourhoods? and amenity Much of the mitigation identified in the assessment relates to the potential to create links and the need to maximise the opportunities to make connections within and around the new development. The capacity of schools serving the site was noted but any negative impact should be addressed as part of development obligations on new development. Consideration of the impact of new development on greenspaces and green networks highlighted where new development provided opportunities to enhance green networks and greenspaces. Loss of greenspace either formal or informal is likely to have a negative impact on the surrounding area, however, new greenspaces and green infrastructure would be expected to be provided on site to mitigate this loss in line with Development Plan policies. Historic Assessing candidate locations against other built heritage impacts including proximity to listed buildings and the impact on conservation areas Environment has given rise to some suggested mitigation measures if candidate sites are included within the proposed plan. Where known, that mitigation is stated within the site assessment published regarding the candidate site and will be included as a specific development requirement within the proposed plan. The range of impacts on the built heritage identified in relation to the potential sites assessed was wide and diverse. Some sites had a negative impact merely due to their size and the likely resulting change in character of an adjacent conservation area. In the majority of cases (72%) there was the potential to mitigate any adverse impact to an acceptable level by for example reducing the scale of development or creating buffer zones. Others may directly affect the context and setting. Rural buildings whether agricultural or part of a planned estate may have settings which though not meeting the criteria of gardens and designed landscapes or are nevertheless significant. Increased noise and activity can impact on the special character. Setting was often a combination of the surviving original historic surroundings and the present setting. With regard to archaeological assets 11 candidate LDP sites are identified to include cultural heritage sites. It is concluded that the nature of the development proposed will determine the culturally sustainability of the proposal. With the exception of site LDP-DRG001, development could be achieved in all cases by means of mitigation. Site LDP-DRG001 will require to be examined more thoroughly and agreement reached with Historic Scotland.

Section 6: Review and Conclusions

6. Review and Conclusions

Cumulative and synergistic impacts

The SEA of the strategies and sites considers cumulative and synergistic impacts.

Consideration has been given to: • The possible longer term implications of continuing urbanisation of the area at the rate proposed within the Plan. • Opportunities for energy sharing between proposed and existing development to reduce demand and increase efficiency in supply, and the opportunities to link into existing and proposed heat networks. • The systematic impact (knock-on effect) development may have on interrelated natural environments; particularly regarding nature conservation areas. • The synergistic impact of both positive and negative impacts on each of the SEA themes by reference to the interrelationships set out earlier in this report. • The extent to which beneficial impacts will be reinforced or offset by negative impacts, and whether negative impacts on some themes will reinforce negative impacts on others. The themes, if any, where this consideration may be significant cannot be anticipated at this stage.

At the Proposed Plan stage further analysis of cumulative and synergistic impacts of new and existing proposals will be done. Three ‘synergistic complexes’ were evaluated for the Main Issues Report and this will be developed in the Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Proposed Plan.

Mitigation measures

The assessment of the preferred strategies (Tables 8 to 16) and the detailed sites (Table 17) include an overview of mitigation measures in the context of the following SEA themes.

Impact on EU Designated Sites

The Preferred Strategy and Site Assessments have been considered in terms of potential adverse effect on the integrity of the European Sites. Annex 5 provides a screening assessment of the potential development sites, and highlights those that will require further assessment through the Habitats Regulations Appraisal process. This will further inform the selection of sites and any developer requirements set out in the Proposed Plan.

Section 6: Review and Conclusions

Short term and temporary impacts

The environmental impacts of the strategies and potential development sites are essentially permanent and long term.

At the Proposed Plan stage there may be short term or transient impacts identified. Among other things these will include: Construction stages of development The early stages of major developments, or developments which link to other projects which will provide mitigation of environmental impacts Projects which have a fixed lifespan

Construction may cause substantial nuisance from noise, dust and fumes, and generate quantities of waste. All these nuisances, and the proper disposal of waste, are more directly controlled though other legislation. Planning controls over major developments can include conditions covering matters such as phasing, traffic management, street cleansing, and hours of operation which can substantially reduce the temporary environmental impact of major projects.

The location-specific policies and proposals may have a longer term impact and will be assessed in preparation of the Proposed Plan.

Conclusions

The SEA process will not be complete until the findings at each stage have been incorporated into the Adopted Local Development Plan. An Environmental Statement will accompany each stage of the Plan.

Planning policies are not part of this consultation or assessment. This will be done through the Proposed Plan.

Section 6: Review and Conclusions

A number of overall comments may be put forward: • While there are potential impacts on biodiversity, and to a lesser extent natural heritage designations it is possible to mitigate against potential impacts. • There is reasonable potential for new development in Fife to contribute to heat networks or to deliver renewable energy schemes. • There is unlikely to be a significant negative impact in respect of air pollution, noise and dust as well as hazardous installations. There are positive impacts in relation to proposed changes of use that would result in an improvement to the local environment. • A number of sites have been assessed as being unsuitable for development due to risk of flooding, and where mitigation would not address the impacts these sites have not been supported. • New development will create waste irrespective of location. However, overall, amounts of waste generation are expected to be neutral. • A significant number of sites are underlain by mineral resources or in close proximity to minerals. A significant number also have prime quality land, but very few have carbon rich soils. Many of the sites involve greenfield land. • All sites were considered to have landscape impacts, although there are a few small scale sites where these impacts are not considered as significant. In some cases there are opportunities to create new edges and gateways to enhance existing poor settlement edges. Sensitive design and layout will be important in mitigating negative impacts. • There are opportunities for new development that integrates with and supports existing settlements. Loss of greenspace either formal or informal is likely to have a negative impact on the surrounding area, however, new greenspaces and green infrastructure would be expected to be provided on site to mitigate this loss in line with Development Plan policies. • Although development has the potential to impact on heritage assets it is possible to mitigate against potential impacts. • The screening assessment of the potential development sites against Natura sites, highlights those sites that will require further assessment through the Habitats Regulations Appraisal process.

7. Monitoring Framework

It is planned to carry out a review of the strategic environmental impact of the Local Development Plan every two years through the Action Programme. This will use the indicators set out in the table below.

Table 18: Monitoring framework

SEA theme Schedule 3 Information Source Indicators to be monitored Reference Biodiversity, Biodiversity, Map of designated Nature Conservation sites The SEA will review and monitor: general nature fauna, flora Map of notable habitats number of developments with an immediate impact on designated sites conservation Map of wetlands and water courses area (ha) of development within designated sites Key species indicators and other notes on number and area (ha) of sites within notable habitats biodiversity action area of existing habitats - as determined by the Fife Integrated Habitat Network Local Biodiversity Action Plan species and habitat indicators to be reviewed. records of species that indicate the health of various ecosystems active biodiversity projects (including woodland projects) associated with developments loss of significant unprotected habitats As per SEA guidance, a quantified indicator will be used for the proportion of development with a potential direct impact on sites of nature conservation interest.

Energy use Climatic factors Travel to work pattern by mode The SEA will review and monitor: Heat mapping, and other assessment of energy public transport service frequencies consumption traffic flows on key routes and sample rural roads bus patronage on key routes and times rail and station patronage on key routes and times

SEA theme Schedule 3 Information Source Indicators to be monitored Reference pedestrian and cycling counts in key areas public transport, cycling and pedestrian projects (off-site) funded through developments Number and size of development s built with energy saving design features. Energy efficiency of new developments. As per SEA guidance, a specific indicator will be used for the proportion of development sites with good access to town or settlement centres and/or to public transport routes with a high level of services Energy Climatic factors, Renewable energy plants The SEA will review and monitor: production material assets Energy output from renewable energy facilities the policy framework for permitting and encouraging renewable energy production will be assessed in relation to potential energy output from renewable energy facilities proposals for integration of energy generation into new developments will be included in the assessment energy output of renewable energy facilities and micro generation Air pollution, Air, human health Summary of air pollution The SEA will review and monitor: noise, dust, Industrial sites subject to environmental licensing new developments potential to cause dust, noise or air pollution hazardous installations Map of hazardous installations the proximity of hazardous sites, infrastructure and electricity lines to proposed development sites new proposals or designations of hazardous installations air pollution noise complaints proximity to sites subject to environmental licensing including the proximity of existing and proposed hazardous infrastructure and electricity lines to existing and proposed development sites The SEA will monitor traffic impacts through the review of • Public transport service frequencies. • Traffic flows on key routes and sample rural roads (to be determined). • Bus patronage on key routes and times (to be determined). • Rail Station Usage • Pedestrian and cycling counts in key areas 69

SEA theme Schedule 3 Information Source Indicators to be monitored Reference

Water quality, Water, human Water quality at bathing beaches The SEA will review and monitor: flooding health, River quality (lengths and map) water quality and ecological status of water bodies as per Ecological biodiversity, Classification System fauna, flora Comments on reasons for poor water quality Maps of aquifers and groundwater vulnerability with water treatment and waste water capacities commentary Developments where groundwater abstraction or potential contamination Map of flood plain areas has required special measures and developments required to get Controlled Activities Regulations (water environment) licences from SEPA

flooding incidents and causes flood prevention measures taken, and major improvements or reconstruction of existing defences number and size of developments in recognised flood plain areas or incorporating flood control measures (should be zero) Number and size of developments with SUDS systems systematic implications of watercourse pollution originating from developments that could affect protected areas through the wider ecological network Flood risk will be assessed by reference to the locations of new development in relation to SEPA flood risk areas, as well as other sources of flooding including culvert/channel blocking, rising water tables, overtopping, sheet runoff etc., and the extent to which mitigation proposals are specified for development release sites.

Waste Climatic factors, Waste recycling centres and settlements with re- The SEA will review the extent to which the plan supports the Fife Zero Waste material assets, cycling points Plan 2010, in particular it will review and monitor: soil, water, air waste arisings and disposal routes numbers of recycling centres and coverage of recycling points developments incorporating communal re-cycling facilities proposals for further recycling centres in the larger communities proposals for re-cycling points in communities not at present adequately served policies requiring recycling facilities and the use of recycled construction materials 70

SEA theme Schedule 3 Information Source Indicators to be monitored Reference provision for strategic waste treatment facilities waste sent to landfill from construction sites Soil, mineral Soil, material Commentary on prime agricultural land (published The SEA will review and monitor: resources assets maps available) areas of prime agricultural land, and of carbon rich soils, absorbed by Map and commentary on sand, gravel, and coal development resources the exploitation and use of mineral resources in Fife how policies can be designed to encourage the conservation and re-use of good quality soil will be reviewed. Brownfield Material assets, Map of brownfield sites The SEA will review and monitor the following indicators: land, water, soil, extent of brownfield land, derelict and vacant sites contaminated human health, land biodiversity, flora, extent of reclaimed brownfield land fauna total area of brownfield land developed on numbers of prominent derelict buildings demolished or brought back into use Landscape Landscape Landscape character map The SEA will review and monitor: Summary of landscape capacity by character area and % of development on greenfield sites Areas of search for wind turbines, onshore area of incursions on Local Landscape Areas Landscape capacity assessments number and location of approved wind turbines within Local Landscape Areas and the extent of areas affected by (near and distant views) by Mapped Local Landscape Areas landscape character. number and type of small scale developments outside settlement areas developments on the coastline Settlements – Population, Age structure by settlement The SEA will review and monitor: infrastructure, human health, Retail shopping patterns retail shopping patterns community material assets (Green networks – Proposed Plan) the number of social, leisure, education, commercial and community resources, facilities that will be developed and the extent to which these will be vitality and Fife Greenspace Strategy developed within town centres or on the periphery of settlements (new amenity database to be created on social, leisure and community facilities % of affordable housing in new developments quality, quantity and accessibility of greenspace in settlements developments incorporating managed open space requirements the total population in Fife and in the key settlements 71

SEA theme Schedule 3 Information Source Indicators to be monitored Reference the proportion of development within walking distance of town and village centres, and important community facilities (half kilometre) the extent that development proposals will utilise existing infrastructure or invest in new infrastructure Mixed use developments, or development designed to contribute to community vitality (definition to be determined) New developments will also be tested against the Fife Greenspace Strategy and Green Networks. Historic Cultural heritage, Map of Conservation Areas The SEA will review and monitor: environment material assets Map of Listed buildings the number of developments involving demolition or major change within Map of Ancient Monuments conservation areas Map of historic gardens and designed landscapes the number of listed buildings brought back into use, demolished or substantially altered Map of archaeological sites the number of listed buildings directly affected by development releases Map of Historic Battlefields and proposals the number of developments within the grounds of - or directly affecting - listed ancient monuments, archaeological sites, historic gardens and designed landscapes (to include riggs and historic monuments) the number of renewable energy developments that impact on historic environment assets and their settings Number of developments within or affecting the setting of historic battlefields