South Ayrshire Council Proposed South Ayrshire Local Development Plan Strategic Environmental Assessment
Appendix C: Baseline Report
August 2012
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Contents
C1 Introduction 1 C1.1 Background 1 C1.2 Context 1
C2 Biodiversity 3 C2.1 Biodiversity SEA Objectives 3 C2.2 International Designations 3 C2.2.1 Special Areas of Conservation 4 C2.2.2 Special Protection Areas 4 C2.2.3 Important Bird Areas 5 C2.3 National Designations 6 C2.3.1 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) 6 C2.3.2 Areas of Special Protection (AoSP) 7 C2.4 Distribution of National and International Sites 7 C2.5 Important Species and Habitats 7 C2.5.1 European Protected Species 7 C2.5.2 Priority Species and Habitats 8 C2.6 Non Statutory Locally Designated Sites 10 C2.7 Biodiversity Features in proximity to South Ayrshire 11 C2.8 Future Trends 12 C2.8.1 Designated Sites 12 C2.8.2 BAP Objectives 12 C2.8.3 Climate Change Effects 13
C3 Cultural Heritage 14 C3.1 Cultural Heritage SEA Objectives 14 C3.2 Designated Sites 14 C3.2.1 Scheduled Monuments 14 C3.2.2 Listed Buildings 15 C3.2.3 Historic Gardens and Designed Landscapes 15 C3.3 Conservation Areas 17 C3.4 Buildings at Risk 18 C3.5 Archaeological Sites 18 C3.5.1 Marine Archaeological Sites 18 C3.6 Tree Preservation Orders 18 C3.7 Future Trends 18
C4 Water Environment 20 C4.1 Water SEA Objectives 20 C4.2 Watercourses 20 C4.2.1 River Ayr 20 C4.2.2 River Doon 21 C4.2.3 Water of Girvan 22 C4.2.4 River Stinchar 23 C4.2.5 Coastal Areas 23 C4.3 Bedrock Aquifers and Groundwater Vulnerability 25
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C4.4 Future Trends 25 C4.4.1 Water Quality 25 C4.4.2 Groundwater Quality 26 C4.4.3 Bathing Waters 26 C4.4.4 Flooding 26
C5 Soils and Geology 27 C5.1 Soils and Geology SEA Objectives 27 C5.1.1 Local Geology 27 C5.1.2 Geological Resources 28 C5.1.3 Designated Sites 29 C5.2 Soils 30 C5.2.1 Sand and Gravel 30 C5.2.2 Brick Clay 30 C5.2.3 Peat Resources 31 C5.3 Agricultural Land 31 C5.4 Vacant and Derelict Land 31 C5.5 Future Trends 32 C5.5.1 Soils 32 C5.5.2 Agricultural Land 32 C5.5.3 Vacant and Derelict Land 32 C5.5.4 Climate Change 32
C6 Landscape 34 C6.1 Landscape SEA Objectives 34 C6.2 Designated Sites 34 C6.3 Landscape Character Assessment 34 C6.4 Future Trends 35
C7 Air Quality 36 C7.1 Air Quality SEA Objectives 36 C7.2 Existing Air Quality in South Ayrshire 36 C7.2.1 Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) 36 C7.2.2 Fine Particles (PM10) 36 C7.2.3 Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) 37 C7.2.4 Benzene 37 C7.2.5 Ozone 37 C7.2.6 Other Pollutants 37 C7.2.7 Implications 37 C7.3 Adjoining Council Areas 38 C7.3.1 East Ayrshire Council 38 C7.3.2 North Ayrshire Council 38 C7.3.3 Dumfries and Galloway Council 38 C7.4 Future Trends 38 C7.4.1 Air Quality Management Areas 38 C7.4.2 Climate Change Effects 38
C8 Climatic Factors 40 C8.1 Climatic SEA Objectives 40 C8.2 Carbon Dioxide Emissions 40 C8.2.1 Council Obligations 41 C8.3 Renewable Energy 41
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C8.3.1 Energy Efficiency 41 C8.4 Local Climatic Conditions 41 C8.5 Future Trends 41 C8.5.1 Climate Change 41 C8.5.2 Carbon Dioxide Emissions 42 C8.5.3 Energy Efficiency 42
C9 Noise 44 C9.1 Noise SEA Objectives 44 C9.2 Noise Complaints 44 C9.2.1 Noise Exposure Levels 44 C9.3 Noise Sensitive Receptors 45 C9.3.1 Scottish Noise Mapping 45 C9.3.2 Sensitive Nature Conservation Areas 45 C9.4 Future Trends 45
C10 Human Health 48 C10.1 Human Health SEA Objectives 48 C10.2 General Health 48 C10.3 Obesity 48 C10.4 Physical Activity and Recreation 49 C10.4.1 Active Travel 49 C10.4.2 Physical Activity 49 C10.4.3 Recreational Facilities 50 C10.5 Accident Statistics 50 C10.6 Future Trends 51 C10.6.1 Obesity and Active Travel 51 C10.6.2 Road Safety 51
C11 Population 53 C11.1 Population SEA Objectives 53 C11.2 South Ayrshire Population Profile 53 C11.3 Demography 53 C11.4 Economic Development and Employment 54 C11.4.1 Economy 54 C11.4.2 Employment 54 C11.5 Community Facilities 55 C11.6 Accessibility 56 C11.7 Disability and Mobility 57 C11.8 Future Trends 57 C11.8.1 Demographics 57 C11.8.2 Community Facilities 57 C11.8.3 Accessibility 57
C12 Material Assets 58 C12.1 Material Assets SEA Objectives 58 C12.2 Natural Resources 58 C12.2.1 Primary Aggregates 58 C12.2.2 Secondary Aggregates 58 C12.2.3 Quarries 58
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C12.2.4 Renewable Energy Practises 59 C12.3 Existing Transport Infrastructure 60 C12.4 Existing Industrial Areas 60 C12.5 Waste Management 61 C12.6 Water and Waste Water Assets 61 C12.7 Future Trends 62 C12.7.1 Aggregates 62 C12.7.2 Renewable Energy Usage 62 C12.7.3 Transport Infrastructure 63 C12.7.4 Recycling 63 C12.7.5 Waste Management 63 C12.7.6 Water and Waste Water Assets 63
C13 References 65
Annex A Biodiversity Features 69
Annex B Cultural Heritage Features 77
Annex C Water Quality 84
Annex D Soils and Geology – Vacant and Derelict Land Survey 2008 88
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C1 Introduction
C1.1 Background
Section 14(3) of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 requires the Environmental Report to include information identified in Schedule 3 as may be reasonably required. Schedule 3 requires information on the relevant aspects of the current state of the environment and the likely evolution thereof without implementation of the plan or programme.
This document provides the environmental baseline for the SEA of the Proposed South Ayrshire Local Development Plan (PSALDP), setting out the current environmental conditions in South Ayrshire, and where possible, the likely future evolution of the environment without the intervention of the PSALDP.
The environmental baseline considers the environmental parameters of biodiversity, population, human health, air quality, climatic factors, soils and geology, landscape, cultural heritage, water, and material assets. The baseline information contained within this report aims to provide a level of information that assists in addressing the defined SEA objectives and indicator questions identified for the environmental parameters and to assist in the environmental assessment process.
C1.2 Context
South Ayrshire is located on the south west coast of Scotland and is bordered by the Council areas of North Ayrshire, East Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway. The area covered by South Ayrshire council covers approximately 422 square miles, and has a population of 112,097, with the main centres of population located at Ayr, Girvan, Prestwick, Troon and Maybole.
The key transport routes relevant to South Ayrshire include the A77, A71 and A76, providing connections to Glasgow to the north, Stranraer to the south, Edinburgh to the north east and Dumfries to the south east. South Ayrshire is also served by rail links connecting to the central belt and Dumfries and Galloway. Prestwick airport in the north of the Council area is one of Scotland’s main airports, providing national and international connections.
South Ayrshire’s environment is rich and diverse and there are a number of environmentally important sites that are designated at an international, national and local level and hence protected from degradation, for example a key geological and biological feature is Ailsa Craig in the Firth of Clyde.
The following sections of the report will provide the details of the current and future state of the environment within South Ayrshire for each environmental parameter.
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C2 Biodiversity
C2.1 Biodivers ity SEA Objectives
Biodiversity can be defined as the total variety of living organisms on earth, including all species of plants and animals and their associated habitats. The biodiversity environmental baseline as presented below focuses on providing information that will assist in addressing the SEA objectives and questions as set out in Table 2-1.
In line with present guidance (Therivel, 2004), the biodiversity resources within the Council area have been considered along with resources within other areas which may be affected by the final LDP. In general, the location of interventions in other areas will not be known within the SAC preparation and so external effects on biodiversity resources will be considered through the adoption of principles concerning recommendations for regional development. However as sites in close proximity to the SAC LDP boundaries can be divergently affected by interventions held within the Local Plan, this SEA has extend the boundary of study for the biodiversity impacts to the border of SAC plus 2 km.
Table 2-1: Biodiversity SEA Objectives
SEA Objective Questions
Ensure the integrity and conservation objectives of all Could a European designated site be affected in terms of internationally designated sites within or in close proximity either extent, or quality as a result of development? to the SAC area are preserved. Safeguard designated sites, habitats (particularly Could the policy/proposal have a beneficial or adverse hedgerows and woodland) & priority species from loss and effect on issues of habitat loss, fragmentation and fragmentation. disturbance? Biodiversity should be enhanced & protected in line with Could the policy/proposal have a direct or indirect impact Local Biodiversity Action Plan targets. on designated biodiversity sites, habitats or priority species including those within the LBAP?
C2.2 International Designations
Natura 2000 sites are the European network of protected sites, representing the highest value of rare, endangered or vulnerable natural habitats and species of plants and animals identified under the EC Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC). Natura 2000 sites include Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), designated under the EC Habitats Directive and Special Protection Areas (SPAs), designated under the EC Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds (79/409/EEC). There are also Ramsar sites, designated under the Ramsar convention for the protection of important wetlands; however there are none found within South Ayrshire.
Several Important Bird Areas (IBAs) are present in South Ayrshire. The European IBA programme aims to identify, monitor and protect key sites for birds to ensure that the conservation value of over 4,000 IBAs in Europe is maintained and, where possible, enhanced (Bird Life International, 2009). Figure 2-1 details all internationally designated sites.
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