Bracknell Forest Final Sustainability Appraisal Report
Bracknell Forest Borough Core Strategy Development Plan Document
Technical Document B - Baseline data, characterisation, indicators and trends
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Settlement character
Bracknell Forest Borough Council (BFBC) is a Unitary Authority located in the county of Berkshire in the South-East of England. The administrative area covers approximately 110 square kilometres and has a population of around 110,000 people. The Borough has seen significant population, housing and employment growth over the last few decades mainly in and around Bracknell Town.
With a background as a small market town, Bracknell was earmarked for development as a ‘new town’ to alleviate the housing crisis caused by World War II. Bracknell New Town was designed on the neighbourhood principle with a primary school, shops, church, community centre and public house at the heart of each of the nine neighbourhoods. Generally the housing stock is relatively expensive and spacious at average densities, with 1007 people per km 2, compared to 424 km 2 in the South- east [ONS, 2003].
The settlements in the Borough comprise of Sandhurst and Crowthorne to the south; the semi-rural communities of Binfield, Warfield and Winkfield to the north; and the former New Town of Bracknell in the centre of the Borough.
© Crown Copyright. ONS 2004.
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Population and Human Health
Population Structure
• Between 1991 and 2001, the population of Bracknell Forest rose by 13,668 (14.25%) from 95,949 to 109,617, making it the fastest Population of Bracknell Forest - Change between growing authority in Berkshire. The population is projected to grow 1991 and 2001 by a further 4% by 2006 and the estimated population by 2016 is 113,000 [Office National Statistics]. 120000
• The population is younger than the national average but there is an 100000 increasing proportion of older people. 80000 Females • The number of households with children rose by 2,119 between the 60000 Males two census counts. However, as a proportion of the total number of All people households within the Borough, this represents a decrease of 6.98%. Population 40000 20000 • Between 1991 and 2001, the proportion of Bracknell Forest residents categorised as ‘white’ fell from 97.30% to 95.05%. The proportional 0 representation of all other ethnic groups rose, with the exception of 1991Year 2001 ‘black other’. However, with the exception of those classified as ‘Indian’ (1.15%) and ‘Other’ (1.65%), each of these ethnic groups continued to represent less than 1% of the Borough’s population.
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Population pyramid for Bracknell Forest 2005
Housing
OBJECTIVE 1: TO MEET LOCAL HOUSING NEEDS BY ENSURING THAT EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE IN A DECENT, SUSTAINABLY CONSTRUCTED AND AFFORDABLE HOME.
One of the Government’s aims is to give everybody the opportunity of a decent home, therefore make housing available to serve the needs of all the community. House prices in the Borough are flats considerably higher than the national average and over 40% of residents earn less than the national average, making it difficult for people to afford to buy. detached
Headline statistics (key census data): terraced • Between 1991 and 2001 the number of households within Bracknell Forest rose by 7,692 (21.55%) semi- from 35,700 to 43,392. detached
• Between 1991 and 2001, the proportion of all households within Bracknell Forest which were detached rose by 14.07%; the proportion of semi-detached houses rose by 10.92%; the proportion
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of flats, maisonettes and apartments rose by 6.22%; the proportion of terraced houses fell by 16.08%. In terms of numbers, rather than proportion, every category increased.
• In 1991 the average household contained 2.59 people, by 2001 this figure was 2.46. This represents a decrease of approximately 0.13 people (4.90%).
• Between the 2 nd quarter of 1998 and the 2nd quarter of 2006, the average price of a property within Bracknell Forest rose from £112,716 to £229,054 (an increase of 103%). This increase is lower than that for England and Wales (149%) and for the South East (134%).
Indicator Local data Sub regional / regional data National data Target Trend Data Sources Total Completions: 4201 [1991/2001] ; Annual completions: Meet the housing Annual [1995/96]; 804 completion targets completions [1996/97]; 520 in RPG9: South appear to be [1997/98] 503 South East: 21,687 [1990/91]; 25,053 UK: 191,635 [1991]; 178,061 BFBC completions East: 195000 below target. Housing [1998/99]; 294 [1999/2000]; 22,917 [2000/01]; [2000]; 175,006 [2001]; records; DCLG [2001/06]; Bracknell Forest completions [1999/2000]; 156 25,858 [2001/02]; 25,592 [2002/03]; 182,690 [2002]; 189,939 housing returns: Berkshire: 13100 target from the [2000/01]; 202 27,975 [2003/04], 31,900 [2004/05]. [2003] www.DCLG.gov.uk [2001/06]; Berkshire [2001/02]; 425 Bracknell Forest: Structure Plan [2002/3]; 320 1,950 [2001/06] 2001 - 2006 [2003/04]; 337 [2004/05] 242 [2005/06] 300 Households: Rented: BFBC: 5,968 (14%); Housing Needs Rented: Housing Survey 2004 Association/ Increase the indicated a current Registered Social E&W: Households: Rented South East: Households: Rented from supply of shortage of Landlord: 1,531 (4%) from local authority: 2,868,529 www.statistics.gov.uk Provision of local authority: 241,767 (7%); Rented affordable housing affordable houses. [2001] Additional net (13%); Rented from: Housing BFBC additional affordable from: Housing Association/ both in numbers National Register provision: 72 Association/ Registered Social provision: housing Registered Social Landlord: 217,198 and as a of Social Housing [1999/2000]; 58 Landlord: 1,288,722 (6%) www.DCLG.gov.uk (7%) [2001] proportion of total (NROSH) is [2000/01]; 133 [2001] housing stock expected to be [2001/02]; 49 available from [2002/03], 71 April 2005 [2003/04], 62, [2004/05], 61.
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Indicator Local data Sub regional / regional data National data Target Trend Data Sources
Average Bracknell: Avg Increasing the property Prices/ Avg Earnings: South East: Avg Prices / Avg E&W: Avg Prices / Avg supply of Land Registry price £210,557 (2003 – 2 nd Earnings: 5.4 [1999]; 6.5 [2000]; 6.6 Earnings: 5.2 [1999]; 5.8 affordable housing compared quarter) £35,204 [2001] [2000]; UK: 5.3 [2001] will help decrease www.statistics.gov.uk with average (2003) 5.9. the ratio. earnings
Reduce numbers of homeless Households households in on the 3,500 [2004] 4000+ South East: 129,324 [2002], 181,196 priority need. South East: up www.southeast- N/K Housing [2006]. [2005] Reduce number of 14% since 1999 ra.gov.uk Register households in housing need on Housing Register.
Reduce the Number of Local Authority: 9 percentage of UK: www.jrf.org.uk unfit homes [2003]; RSL: 19 South East; 120,456. [2005] (3.4% of UK: 1,455,000 classified as unfit / non-decent Bracknell Forest: per 1,000 [2003]; Total: 719 stock) unfit (6% of stock) homes. Eliminate www.DCLG.gov.uk dwellings [2003] them in the public sector [2010]
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Health and well-being
OBJECTIVE 3: TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE HUMAN HEALTH AND WELLBEING.
The conditions in which people live and work, their access to facilities and services, their lifestyles, and their community networks can all affect resident’s health and in this respect this can be affected by spatial planning.
The health of the borough is generally good, with the number of people who judge their own health to be ‘good’ at 75.3% (2001 Census), considerably higher than the national average (68.6%).
Health can also be measured by the numbers of people with a long-term limiting illness; this is then recorded as a percentage of all people. In the 1991 and 2001 Census people were asked whether they had any long-term illness, health problem or disability, which limited their daily activities or the work they could do, including problems due to old age. Since 1991 there has been an increase in the percentage of people with a long-term limiting illness in Bracknell Forest, however the percentage increase is less than both nationally and regionally.
% of people who classify their health as good, fairly good or not good (Census 2001) % of people with a long-term limiting illness (Census 2001)
20 80 Bracknell Bracknell 18 70 16 Forest Forest 60 14 12 South 50 South 10 East 40 East 8 6 England 30 % people England 4 % people % and 20 and 2 Wales 10 Wales 0
0 1991 2001 Good Fairly good Not good year
health
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Sub regional / Indicator Local data National data Target Trend Data Sources regional data
England (per 100,000): Standardised mortality South East (per 100,000): Over the long term, to Circulatory Disease: 166 ratios (SMR) for all Circulatory Disease: 136 reduce death rates from [1993]; 147 [1995]; 135 circulatory disease, all [1993]; 125 [1995]; 114 these diseases Death rates [1997]; 125 [1999]; 108 cancers, Coronary [1997]; 100 [1999]; 89 appreciably. from [2001]; Cancer: 150 Figures were http://www.southeast- Heart Disease (CHD) [2001]; Cancer: 140 [1993]; circulatory [1993]; 149 [1995]; 142 estimated from a ra.gov.uk/our_work/planning/sus_dev/ir and accidents in 135 [1995]; 127 [1997]; A reduction in mortality disease, [1997]; 138 [1999]; 129 chart, but the f_2004/irf_data_trends_final.pdf Bracknell Forest are not 123 [1999]; 117 [2001]; from CHD, stroke and cancer, [2001]; Accidents: 16 trend is clear Bracknell Forest PCT http://www.berks - significantly different Accidents: 14 [1993]; 14 other related diseases by accidents and [1993]; 16 [1995]; 15 (and positive). jsu.gov.uk/health/data_general.htm from the England and [1995]; 15 [1997]; 14 40% in those under 75 suicide [1997]; 16 [1999]; 16 Wales average (100) [1999]; 15 [2001]; Suicide: years of age by 2010 [2001]; Suicide: 10 [1993]; (Data Supplement 10 [1993]; 10 [1995]; 9 (Bracknell Forest PCT 10 [1995]; 9 [1997]; 10 2003). [1997]; 9 [1999]; 8 [2001] target in 2002/3). [1999]; 9 [2001]
0.5% http://www.southeast- South East: Males: 77.2 England: Males: 75.9 yrs; improvement in ra.gov.uk/our_work/planning/sus_dev/ir Life Males: 76.7; Females: Over the long-term to yrs; Females: 81.5 years Females: 80.3 years life expectancy f_2004/irf_data_trends_final.pdf; expectancy 80.6 [2003] increase life expectancy [2003]; [2003] from 1995 and http://www.performance.doh.gov.uk/nh 1999. sperformanceindicators/2002/ha.html
Mapping being Data will be available pending CPRE Tranquility Mapping being Mapping being developed Mapping being developed Mapping being developed developed by study on detailed tranquillity mapping Index developed by CPRE. by CPRE. by CPRE. by CPRE. CPRE. in England.
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Safety
OBJECTIVE 6: TO REDUCE AND PREVENT CRIME AND THE FEAR OF CRIME.
The physical environment can influence actual levels of crime, the fear of crime and anti-social behaviour. For example, Bracknell new town was developed with the premise of segregating pedestrians and motor vehicles, therefore it has an unusually high number of subways and secluded paths which residents perceive as unsafe. People generally feel safer on active streets and in places with natural or other types of surveillance. Creating a better connected environment, which is inclusive and accessible, will enhance the sense of safety and security within an area. However, without support from crime prevention design advice, high levels of permeability through residential estates can be the cause of much anti-social behaviour and loss of amenity to residents. The use of principles to assess the design and layout of the site according to the impacts on crime, including those propounded by schemes such as Secured by Design, can help reduce the vulnerability of houses and neighbourhoods to crime and degradation. This should be considered at the Development Management DPD stage.
The document ‘Safer Places – The Planning System and Crime Prevention’ (DCLG, 2004) lists seven attributes of sustainable communities, which relate to crime prevention: 1. Access and movement: places with well defined routes, spaces and entrances that provide for convenient movement without compromising security; 2. Structure : places that are structured so that different uses do not cause conflict; 3. Surveillance: places where all publicly accessible spaces are overlooked; 4. Ownership : places that promote a sense of ownership, respect, territorial responsibility and community; 5. Physical protection : places that include necessary, well-designed security features; 6. Activity : places where the level of human activity is appropriate to the location and creates a reduced risk of crime and a sense of safety at all times; 7. Management and maintenance : places that are designed with management and maintenance in mind, to discourage crime in the present and the future.
It is important to measure the perceived levels of crime in addition to actual levels, as this is as important to the community. These are measured by means of a questionnaire asking how safe residents feel walking alone or at home, both after dark and during the day. The answers are detailed in the following tables.
How do you feel walking alone in your locality?
After Dark During the day 2000/1 2001/2 2002/3 2003/4 2000/1 2001/2 2002/3 2003/4 Very Safe 8.1% 13.6% 6.2% 3.5% 46.7% 57.2% 41.8% 32.4% Fairly Safe 33.3% 30.5% 35.3% 31.3% 45.2% 35.8% 46.3% 55.1% A bit unsafe 33.8% 33.8% 32.8% 33.9% 6.2% 6.5% 9.9% 8.0% Very Unsafe 17.6% 11.3% 17.5% 21.7% 0.0% 0.0% 1.1% 3.1% Never in situation 6.7% 8.9% 7.9% 9.6% 1.9% 0.5% 0.9% 0.9% Don't know 0.5% 1.9% 0.3% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.4%
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How do you feel being alone at home?
After Dark During the day 2000/1 2001/2 2002/3 2003/4 2000/1 2001/2 2002/3 2003/4 Very Safe 37.7% 42.1% 36.2% 31.4% 69.2% 67.0% 58.4% 48.7% Fairly Safe 49.5% 45.3% 47.6% 47.6% 27.4% 30.2% 36.3% 42.5% A bit unsafe 9.9% 9.8% 14.0% 16.6% 2.9% 1.9% 4.5% 5.3% Very Unsafe 1.9% 1.4% 1.4% 3.5% 0.0% 0.5% 0.3% 2.6% Never in situation 0.9% 1.4% 0.9% 0.4% 0.0% 0.5% 0.3% 0.4% Don't know 0.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.4% 0.5% 0.0% 0.3% 0.4%
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Sub regional / Indicator Local data National data Target Trend Data Sources regional data
South East (per thousand Bracknell Forest population): Total crime: 21.3 England & Wales (per thousand ; Violent crime: 3.8; Burglary: Vehicle crime: reduce Although not (per thousand population): Total 2.4; Vehicle and other theft: by 30% [1998/99 - directly population): Total http://www.homeoffice.gov.u Level of domestic crime 18.7, Violence 7.6 , [1st quarter 2005] 2004]; Domestic comparable, crime: 25.5; Violent k/rds/pdfs04/southeast04.pdf burglaries, violent against the person: burglary: reduce by local crimes crime: 4.7; ; offences and 3.4 ; Burglary from a Thames Valley Police (per 25% [1998/99 - 2005]; are at a lower Burglary:3.2; www.neighbourhood.statistic vehicle crimes dwelling: 2.3 ; thousand population): Total Robbery: reduce by rate than Vehicle and other s.gov.uk Vehicle and other crime: 100; Violent crime: 15; 14% [1999/2000 - regionally or theft: 9.0 , [1st theft: 6.9, [1st Burglary: 14; Vehicle and 2005] nationally. quarter 2005] quarter 2005] other theft: 17 , [1st quarter 2005]
South East: Very worried about: Burglary: 11%; Car crime: 13%; Violent crime: UK: Very worried There is no http://www.homeoffice.gov.u 13% [2003/04]; about: Burglary: Reduce these obvious trend k/rds/pdfs04/southeast04.pdf Fear of crime See tables above 13%; Car crime: perceptions. in the data Thames Valley Police: Very 15%; Violent crime: available. Thames Valley Police. worried about: Burglary: 15% [2003/04] 11%; Car crime: 13%; Violent crime: 15% [2003/04]
Social Inclusiveness
Poverty and social exclusion
OBJECTIVE 4. TO REDUCE POVERTY AND SOCIAL EXCLUSION.
Social exclusion is multi-dimensional and it occurs when individuals or areas suffer from a combination of linked problems such as a lack of social protection, unemployment, low income, poor education and training, bad health and poor housing. It is therefore difficult to find one or two indicators which cover all of these issues and many of the issues are covered specifically under other topics.
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The Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) provides an insight into a variety of social characteristics of the Borough because the score combines and weights the components: income, employment, health deprivation and disability, education skills and training, housing and access to services, crime and disorder, living environment. The data is provided at ‘Super Output Area’ (SOA) level and national comparisons are made – Bracknell Forest is ranked 318 th least deprived out of 352 authorities.
Number of SOA’s Number of Proportion of the country’s SOA’s in Bracknell Number of people % of people % of households households Forest 0 – 20 % most deprived SOAs 0 0 0% 0 0% 21 – 50 % 6 9110 8.31% 3726 8.59% 51 – 80 % 27 40526 36.97% 16464 37.94% 81 – 100 % (top 20% least deprived) 41 59981 54.72% 23202 53.47%
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Sub regional / Indicator Local data National data Target Trend Data Sources regional data JSA: South East: JSA: GB: JSA: [01/96]; 2,149 (3.0%) [01/96]; 4.7% [01/96]; 6.4% [01/97]; 1,402 (2.0%) [01/97]; 3.6% [01/97]; 5.3% [01/98]; 929 (1.3%) [01/98]; 2.5% [01/98]; 4.1% Percentage of http://www.nomisweb.c [01/99]; 913 (1.3%) [01/99]; 2.2% [01/99]; 3.8% Trend appears to be population of working o.uk/reports/lmp/la/203 [01/00]; 714 (1.0%) [01/00]; 1.9% [01/00]; 3.1% turning turning age claiming key 8431749/report.aspx#w [01/01]; 602 (0.8%) [01/01]; 1.5% [01/01]; 2.9% downwards. benefits ab [01/02]; ]; 808 (1.1%) [01/02]; 1.5% [01/02]; 2.8% [01/03]; 954 (1.3%) [01/03]; 1.6% [01/03]; 2.7% [01/04]; 1,010 (1.4%) [01/04]; 1.6% [01/04] 2.6% [01/05]; 817 [01/05]; 1.5% [01/05]; 2.3% Between 1991 and 2001, the proportion of http://www.southeast- Percentage of households within the South East: 14.8% ra.gov.uk/our_work/pla England: 21.8% [1996]; Appears to be households in fuel Borough without [1996]; 8.3% (268,000 nning/sus_dev/irf_2004 16.4% [2002] improving poverty central heating fell by households) [2002] /irf_data_trends_final.p 51.79% from 4.99% to df 2.02%.
0% of the population Proportion of are within the countries population who live in 20% most deprived areas that rank within areas. 7.05% in the N/A N/A Maintain these levels. the most deprived areas 20-50% most 20% of areas in the deprived. 56.19% in country top 20% least deprived areas.
Education
In Bracknell Forest there are six secondary schools, one of which is home to one of the largest school computer laboratories in the country. There are four infant, four junior and twenty-three primary schools - all with very good reputations.
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Pre-school children are well provided for in Bracknell Forest. There is a vibrant Early Years and Childcare Partnership. Fifteen infant and primary schools have nursery classes, and there are fifty-four early years providers in the private, voluntary and independent sectors.
Secondary education: • Only 70% of pupils educated at Bracknell Forest primary schools transfer to the Borough’s secondary schools. The remainder transfer either to secondary schools outside the Borough or to independent schools. Conversely, there is also a small flow of secondary transfer pupils into the Borough, mainly from Wokingham.
• In 2002, five of the secondary schools were under-subscribed, one by almost 50%, while overall schools are operating at 85% of their capacity. Numbers are projected to rise slightly, with a peak in 2006, at which point there is still projected to be a surplus of places, amounting to 11% of the total.
• Overall, there is a downward trend in the numbers staying on in Bracknell Forest’s Sixth Forms with consequent pressure upon each institution’s ability to deliver a wide range of opportunities for students.
(Source: Bracknell Forest Learning and Skills Profile, Learning & Skills Council)
OBJECTIVE 5: TO RAISE EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT LEVELS.
OBJECTIVE 24: TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN A SKILLED WORKFORCE BY DEVELOPING THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYONE TO ACQUIRE THE SKILLS NEEDED TO FIND WORK.
Sub regional / Indicator Local data National data Target Trend Data Sources regional data Literacy Literacy Literacy [2005] [2005] [2005] Entry Level – 5% Entry Level – 11% Entry Level – 16% Level 1 – 42% Level 1 – 37% Level 1 – 40% http://www.southeast- Highest skills in Level 2 -53% Level 2 -51% Level 2 -44% ra.gov.uk/our_work/planning/su
literacy and numeracy s_dev/irf_2004/irf_data_trends_f Numeracy Numeracy Numeracy inal.pdf Entry Level – 43% Entry Level – 40% Entry Level – 46% Level 1 – 29% Level 1 – 27% Level 1 – 28% Level 2 – 28% Level 2 – 32% Level 2 – 25%
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South East: No http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/rep No Qualifications: Qualifications: orts/lmp/la/2038431749/report.a 8,000 (11.6%) [2000]; 12.00% [2000]; spx#wab 8,000 (12.0%) [2001]; GB: No Qualifications: 11.90% [2001]; http://www.southeast- Proportion of adults 9,000 (12.4%) [2002]; 16.80% [2000]; Reduce the proportion 12.10% [2002]; Trend appears to ra.gov.uk/our_work/planning/su with poor literacy and 7,000 (10.4%) [2003]; 16.70% [2001]; of the population with 11.30% [2003] South be level s_dev/irf_2004/irf_data_trends_f numeracy skills 16.50% [2002]; basic skills needs East: poor literacy: inal.pdf Poor literacy: (22.1%); 15.60% [2003] 548,000 (22%); poor http://www.lscberks.gov.uk/New Poor numeracy: numeracy: 483,000 Site/Community/showdata/lmi/B (22.0%) [2001] (21%) [2001] racknellLMI.asp
[2004] Berkshire [2004] Further study – 78.6% Further study – 77.4% Employment with Employment with Raise educational training – 5.3% training – 5.1% Post 16 destinations N/K standards and work Employment without Employment without based training. training – 3.3% training – 3.8% Not active in the Not active in the labour market – 0.3% labour market -0.6%
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Primary School PERFORMANCE TABLES 2003: KEY STAGE 2 TEST RESULTS Performance Information: Bracknell Forest Eligible pupils achieving Level 4 or above, and percentage absent or disapplied English Mathematics Science Trend L4+ L5 L4+ L5 L4+ L5 BFB Above National 82.4% 30.7% 77.5% 32.4% 92.5% 49.0% average average England 75% 27% 73% 29% 87% 41% average Source: Performance Tables - Department for Education and Skills (DFES) www.dfes.gov.uk
SECONDARY SCHOOL (KEY STAGE 3) PERFORMANCE TABLES 2003 Key Stage 3 Results: Bracknell Forest2 English Mathematics Science Average Trend L4+ A/D L4+ A/D L4+ A/D Points Score BFB average 72% 73% 73% 34.4 Above England National 69% 71% 68% 34.3 average average Source: Performance Tables - Department for Education and Skills (DFES) www.dfes.gov.uk
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Accessible, distinctive communities
OBJECTIVE 7. TO CREATE AND SUSTAIN VIBRANT AND LOCALLY DISTINCTIVE COMMUNITIES.
The features of a place and its people contribute to its special character and sense of identity. They include landscape, building traditions and materials, patterns of local life, and other factors that make one place different from another. The most desirable places are memorable, with a character which people can appreciate easily.
Many of the places which we now think of as being pleasantly distinctive grew naturally in response to local circumstances. Where such distinctiveness is ignored, new development may reflect only the marketing policies or corporate identities of national and international companies, or the standard practices and products of the building industry. By contrast, development that responds sensitively to the site and its setting is likely to create a place that is valued and pleasing to the eye.
A well designed, individual and vibrant settlement can encourage community life and lead to a higher proportion of residents feeling good about the area they live in.
In particular, Bracknell Forest has the opportunity, during the redevelopment of the town centre, to create the main town of the Borough as a vibrant, locally distinctive settlement.
Sub regional / Indicator Local data National data Target Trend Data Sources regional data http://www.southeast- 80.6% of all South East: Very ra.gov.uk/publications/surveys/2 respondents reported satisfied: 42% [2002]; Limited data 002/mori_survey.pdf Percentage of people being ‘satisfied’ with 44% [2004]; Fairly Keep satisfaction but Berkshire http://www.southeast- satisfied with their their local satisfied: 42% [2002]; N/K levels high and appears to ra.gov.uk/publications/surveys/2 local area as a place neighbourhood as a 41% [2004]; Berkshire: increase if possible. buck the SE 004/mori_report_july_2004.pdf . to live place to live (24.2% Satisfied: 81% [2002]; trend General Best Value User very satisfied, 56.4% 87% [2004]; Satisfaction Survey (Autumn fairly satisfied) 2003)
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Percentage of people 52.6% of respondents Regional who feel their local agreed that ‘this local Assembly area is a place where area is a place where intends to General Best Value User people from different people from different N/K N/K collect data Satisfaction Survey (Autumn backgrounds and backgrounds get on for this 2003) communities can live well together. 27.1% indicator together disagreed from 2006. harmoniously
OBJECTIVE 8: TO PROVIDE ACCESSIBLE ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND FACILITIES.
In today’s society, most people want greater mobility and greater choice of services and facilities, such as health-care, education and retail services. However, not everyone has access to a car, so the proximity of these services to housing is important to reduce vehicle mileage and also ensures they are accessible to everyone.
Perceived access should also be monitored, as people may feel isolated for reasons other than distance. Physical barriers such as railway lines or motorways can isolate people, and mental barriers such as a perceived unpleasant or unsafe route between housing and services may also prevent their usage.
Sub regional / Indicator Local data National data Target Trend Data Sources regional data Access by PT in 30mins Community Plan South East and GP Surgery – 99% England: Post target to be agreed. Distance of London: Post http://www.countryside.gov.u Dentists – 99% Office: 0-2km: households from key Office*: 0-2km: k/Images/CA%2048_tcm2- Hospitals – 62% 93.5%; 2-4km: services 93.4%; 2-4km: 6.3%; 16475.pdf Primary schools (am) – 6.0%; >4km: 0.5% >4km: 0.3% [2001] 93% Secondary Schools (am) – 96% South East: England: FE Colleges (am) – 67% Supermarket: 0- Supermarket: 0- 2km: 57.4%; 2-4km: 2km: 60.9%; 2-4km: Employers – 99% Local Centres – 97% 21.4%; 4-8km: 18.1%; 4-8km: Supermarkets – 96% 19.2%; >8km: 2.0% 17.0%; >8km: 4.0% [2001] [2001]
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Sub regional / Indicator Local data National data Target Trend Data Sources regional data
England: Primary South East: Primary School: 0-2km: School: 0-2km: 91.6%; 2-4km: 93.1%; 2-4km: 6.4%; 7.4%; >4km: 1.0% >4km: 0.5% [2000] [2000]
South East: England: Secondary Secondary School: School: 0-2km: 0-2km: 56.6%; 2- 57.2%; 2-4km:
4km: 25.2%; 4-8km: 21.3%; 4-8km: 16.3%; >8km 1.9% 17.9%; >8km 3.5% [2000] [2000]
South East: GP England: GP Surgery: 0-2km: Surgery: 0-2km: 68.0%; 2-4km: 66.2%; 2-4km:
21.1%; 4-8km: 19.6%; 4-8km: 10.4%; >8km: 0.5% 12.8%; >8km: 1.5% [2001] [2001] % people reporting it is ‘difficult’ to get from their home to services using their usual form of transport: local hospital – 36.1% council office – 11.4% General Best Value User Perceived access to shop selling fresh fruit N/K N/K Satisfaction Survey (Autumn services and vegetables – 11.1%. 2003)
% people reporting it is easy to get to services: local shops – 90.9% post office – 88.7% shop selling fresh fruit and veg – 80.3%
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Climatic factors
Climate change is not a new or unnatural phenomenon, however the more recent acceleration in the rate of climate change is causing concern. A large body of research suggests that a warming of the earth’s atmosphere (0.6 oC in the past 100 years) has been caused by an increase in the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This is largely as a result of the burning of fossil fuels for energy and transportation.
In response to increasing concerns about climate change, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change was agreed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The UK agreed to return their greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2000, and achieved this target. In 1997 the UK signed up to the Kyoto Protocol, which built on these targets. The international agreement was to reduce each of the country’s overall emissions of six greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride) by 5.2% below 1990 levels over the period 2008-2012.
OBJECTIVE 2. TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FLOODING AND HARM TO PEOPLE, PROPERTY AND THE ENVIRONMENT.
In addition to an increase in temperature, climate change models predict an increase in extreme weather conditions, including precipitation (UK Climate Impacts Programme, www.ukcip.org.uk ). This may lead to increased levels of flooding and requires mitigation measures to be put into place to minimise this effect of climate change. Flooding is also affected by urbanisation because water runs off concrete and hard surfaces at a much quicker rate. One of the easiest ways to reduce the risk of flooding is to locate new properties away from areas currently at risk of flooding and develop sustainable urban drainage systems, which replace and / or supplement an existing drainage system in a developed catchment.
Indicator Local data Regional data National data Target Trend Data Sources Estimated on flood 235,000 properties E & W: 5 million people Prevent all inappropriate Properties at risk maps of the Borough. at risk of flooding www.environment- and 1.7 million properties development in the flood from flooding GIS could give a more in the South East. agency.gov.uk face flooding risk [2005] plain accurate figure. (2004) All new development None available – Data could be New development applications to show that possibility of data from collected from with sustainable None available None available sustainable drainage has Development Control development drainage installed been considered and in the future. control implemented if appropriate
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© Crown copyright. All rights reserved. Environment Agency, 100026380, 2004
There are two different kinds of area shown on the Flood Map, which show the extent of the natural floodplain if there were no flood defences or other manmade structures and channel improvements. They can be described as follows:
• Dark blue shows the area that could be affected by flooding, either from rivers or the sea, if there were no flood defences. This area could be flooded from a river by a flood that has a 1% (1 in 100) or greater chance of happening each year. • Light blue shows the additional extent of an extreme flood from rivers or the sea. These outlying areas are likely to be affected by a major flood, with up to a 0.1% (1 in 1000) chance of occurring each year.
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OBJECTIVE 12: TO ADDRESS THE CAUSES OF CLIMATE CHANGE THROUGH REDUCING EMISSIONS OF GREENHOUSE GASES, AND ENSURE BRACKNELL FOREST IS PREPARED FOR ASSOCIATED IMPACTS.
OBJECTIVE 20: TO INCREASE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND THE PROPORTION OF ENERGY GENERATED FROM RENEWABLE SOURCES IN THE BOROUGH.
In addition to mitigating against the effects of climate change, the first steps should be to reduce the amounts of greenhouse gases emitted. In the first instance this should be by reducing the amount or increasing the efficiency of the energy used. In addition, decrease the proportion of energy generated by fossil fuels which give off greenhouse gases (such as gas, oil and coal) and increase that from renewable energy sources (such as solar, wind or biomass).
By building energy efficient housing the amount of greenhouse gases emitted can be significantly reduced. The energy rating of dwellings is measured by the Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP), which is a calculation of a building’s energy efficiency. SAP ratings are scored on a scale from 1 to 120 where 1 is the worst and 120 the best. Building Regulations in 2002 require new houses to be built to a SAP rating of 100, whereas a typical 1960’s built house has a rating of 30 [http://www.sapratings.com/sapratings.html].
The Carbon Index is a measure of the domestic energy efficiency linked to the carbon emissions from a property. It is based on the annual CO 2 emission figure calculated in relation to the floor area. The Index is expressed on a scale of 0 to 10, with a higher number representing higher average energy efficiency. A dwelling may demonstrate compliance if the Carbon Index achieves a score of 8 or above; this is generally roughly equivalent to a SAP rating of 100.
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Sub regional / Indicator Local data National data Target Trend Data Sources regional data Emissions of greenhouse gases UK Basket of greenhouse UK target 20% below Thought to be on Unlikely to get http://www.defra.gov. from energy gases: 208 [1990] 192 [1995] 1990 level by 2010; course to achieve accurate local uk/environment/statist consumption, N/K 181 [2000] 183 [2001] 177 Regional target target but local data on this ics/globatmos/gakf05. transport and land [2002] 179 [2003] million reduce by 60% by contribution not indicator. htm use and tonnes carbon equivalent 2050 known waste management UK: energy use per household http://www.southeast- Average energy has changed little since 1970; ra.gov.uk/our_work/pl efficiency of energy ratio index (tonnes oil anning/sus_dev/irf_20 Household energy local authority equivalent/£1 million GDP) 04/irf_data_trends_fin use per capita – SAP houses: N/K 177.9 [1970]; 142.5 [1980]; al.pdf rating from HECA 2001/02 = 47 118.0 [1990]; 100.0 [2000]; http://www.dti.gov.uk/ returns 2002/03 = 50 93.8 [2003] energy/inform/energy 2003/04 = 58.4 SAP rating - England Average _stats/total_energy/du is 52. kes1_1_4.xls Regional targets: Project Renaissance: Number of 2010: 620MW (5.5%); http://www.managene installed Installed capacity South East - 73MW 2016: 895MW (8%); rgy.net/products/R650 domestic Possible source of for energy declared net capacity 2026: 1750MW .htm renewable UK - 2.5% of generation data: Project production (1% of regional (16%); Sub-regional http://www.southeast- energy capacity [2004] Renaissance (website from renewable generation capacity) targets: (Thames ra.gov.uk/our_work/pl installation. 30 opposite) sources [2004] Valley and Surrey) anning/sus_dev/irf_20 currently known 202MW [2010] 04/irf_data_trends_fin [2004]. 271MW [2016] al.pdf
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Biodiversity, Fauna and Flora
OBJECTIVE 13: TO CONSERVE AND ENHANCE THE BOROUGH'S BIODIVERSITY
Biodiversity is the variety of life - the whole range of variation within living organisms, plants, animals and their habitats and ecosystems. ‘Biodiversity’ conservation is therefore the protection of the natural world, which has to accommodate the expanding influence of people. This includes genetic variation, individuals of each species and their ecosystems. Bracknell Forest Borough is fortunate in having a rich and diverse wildlife and countryside that is deserving of protection. In fact over 20% of the total area has been recognised by the Borough Council as having a strong wildlife heritage value and is protected by local designations. There are 10 Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and two areas have been designated under European Union legislation for their international importance. In addition to its importance for wildlife, the high biodiversity value of the Borough has a considerable socio-economic value by adding to its attractiveness as a place to live and work.
Site designations One of the designations relating to wildlife habitats in England and Wales is the “ Site of Special Scientific Interest ” (SSSI). These are areas of special interest by reason of their flora, fauna, geological or physiological features, and are selected and monitored by English Nature. The SSSIs are afforded special protection from development, and landowners require the prior consent of English Nature before undertaking any potentially damaging operations on the sites. Ten sites in Bracknell Forest are designated as SSSIs, comprising 1720 hectares or 15.7% of the Borough’s total area .
As a member of the European Union, the UK Government is required under EC Directive 79/409 on the Conservation of Wild Birds (the ‘Birds Directive’) to take special measures to conserve the habitats of rare and migratory birds. Those species of bird requiring special conservation measures are listed in Annex I of the Directive. Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are those which contain the most suitable habitats for these species; they are designated by the Government, following advice from English Nature and consultation with owners, occupiers, local authorities and a range of bodies having interests in the area of land concerned. The ‘Birds Directive’ also includes a requirement to conserve regular migrant species not listed in Annex I, and to pay particular attention to the protection of wetlands.
The Thames Basin Heaths SPA covers an area of some 8400 hectares, consisting of 13 Sites of Special Scientific Interest scattered from Hampshire in the west to Berkshire in the north and Surrey in the south. This area supports nationally important populations of Dartford Warbler, Nightjar and Woodlark, all of which are Annex I species, and a small breeding population of Hobby, an important migratory species in a European context. Parts of the Thames Basin Heaths Special Protection Area (SPA) lie within Bracknell Forest Borough.
The EC Directive 92/43 on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora (the ‘Habitats Directive’) requires the UK Government to identify Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) to protect the habitats of those species listed in Annex II of the Directive. Parts of Windsor Bracknell Forest Borough Council – Final Sustainability Appraisal October 2006 B 26 LDFCSSubmissionAnnexe5b0.doc
Forest and Great Park Special Area of Conservation (SAC) lie within Bracknell Forest Borough. This supports the Violet click beetle, an extremely rare species throughout the European range, found at only two locations in the UK. The Area is one of only four locations in the UK containing dry oak dominated woodland on acid sandy soils, which are of high value for their saproxylic invertebrates and lichens.
NATURA 2000 sites are protected habitats for flora and fauna of European importance; this is therefore a collective term for Special Areas of Conservation (designated under the Habitats Directive) and Special Protection Areas (designated under the Birds Directive).
Wildlife Heritage Sites (WHSs) are designated in recognition of their high nature conservation value in a regional or local context. They are mainly privately owned and managed, and in Bracknell Forest the majority of the 83 sites are woodlands. The level of protection conferred by the designation cannot prevent destruction or damage through mismanagement or neglect by landowners. However, it should be noted that although a large number of woodlands are recorded as not having active positive management, it is known that the conservation value of the majority has not been adversely affected as a result.
Summary of Wildlife Heritage Site management (Source: Bracknell Forest Biodiversity Action Plan 2006-2011)
Positive management No known management
Woodland habitats Non-woodland habitats Woodland habitats Non-woodland habitats 19 20 32 8
The extent of the key habitats and designations alone do not provide a relevant measure of healthy biodiversity which is sustainable in the long- term, therefore the indicator must contain some measure of habitat condition. The following table details the main designated sites in the Borough and condition at November 2004 ( Source: English Nature ).
Designation Site Description Condition Thames Basin Heaths - Sandhurst to SU844628. Part BFBC and BBOWT owned land between Crowthorne 100% Unfavourable recovering. Owlsmoor Bogs & and Sandhurst. 85.8 ha. SSSI and Heaths SPA Thames Basin Heaths 4.99% favourable SU877644. Consists of Crown Estate, Forestry Commission and MOD - Broadmoor to 41.24% unfavourable recovering land to the south of Bracknell. Annex 1 qualifying species present – Bagshot Woods & 53.22% unfavourable no change Dartford warbler, woodlark and nightjar. 1696.33 ha. Heaths 0.55% unfavourable declining
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Designation Site Description Condition SU 929740. Sections of the wider Windsor Forest within Bracknell SSSI and Forest at High Standinghill Woods and South Forest. Annex 1 habitat 52.21% = unfavourable Windsor Forest and Candidate primary reason for site designation. Old acidophilous oak woods with recovering Great Park SAC Quercus robur. Annex 2 species primary reason for site designation - 47.79% = favourable Violet click beetle. 1778.76 ha. 18.46 ha, dwarf shrub heath lowland and 7.54 ha, standing open 71% = unfavourable recovering SSSI Englemere Pond water and canals 29% = favourable Swinley Park and brick 88.97 ha. Ancient broadleaf trees, standing open water and canals SSSI 100% unfavourable recovering pits (clay pits) SSSI Wykery Copse 3.21 ha, Broadleaved, mixed and yew woodland - lowland 100% favourable SSSI and Wildmoor Heath Lowland heath. Not Known SPA SSSI Rapley Lakes Winkfield, 29 hectares. Not Known SSSI Wellington College Bog 6.13 ha. Dwarf shrub heath lowland 100% favourable 56.95% favourable Blackwater Valley 33.92 ha. Unimproved alluvial meadows, swamp and wet valley 18.2% unfavourable recovering SSSI (Shepherd’s Meadows) alderwood 9.10% unfavourable no change 15.75% unfavourable declining SSSI Chawridge Bourne 9.29 ha. Neutral grassland – lowland 100% favourable See Summary of Wildlife Heritage Site management Various sites – 83 (Source: Bracknell Forest WHS 2,260 ha across the Borough Biodiversity Action Plan 2006- 2011)
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The following is a map showing the locations and approximate extent of most SSSIs in the Borough, indicated by green shading [Source: English Nature].
The interaction of living things is an essential part of a healthy ecosystem. As all life is interlinked every species can be essential in maintaining a healthy environment. The diversity and numbers of wild bird populations is commonly recognised as a good indicator of the state of wildlife generally as they are relatively high up the food chain, and so reflect changes lower down the food chain. They represent a useful measure of the health of the wider countryside outside of specially protected sites.
A Local Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) has been produced with the aim ‘To conserve and enhance biodiversity within Bracknell Forest Borough’. This will be achieved through the following objectives: • Comprehensive Monitoring of species and habitats in the Borough to enable decisions to be informed, with up to date and detailed records.
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• Proactive Policies on planning and conservation, to ensure that important sites are protected and that where development occurs actions are taken to achieve the best result for wildlife in the Borough. • Positive Management on sites owned and/or managed by the Borough Council and its partners that aim to maintain, restore and create habitat for wildlife and balance the varied uses on open spaces in the area. • Effective Communication between partners, landowners and the public to raise awareness, encourage partnership working, and inform decision-making.
The Bracknell Forest BAP 2006-2011 will also identify targets for habitats and species that are important to the local area and people and provide a basis for monitoring progress in biodiversity conservation at both a local and national scale. Habitat Action Plans are detailed for: o Neutral pastures and meadows o Heathland and bogs o Farmed land o Woodland and scrub o Rivers and wetlands.
Species Action Plans are detailed for 24 individual species. An indicator should relate to the achievement of these BAP targets.
Sub regional / Indicator Local data National data Target Trend Data Sources regional data 1800 ha SPA (approx) 89,119 ha. SPA/SAC + Candidate SAC 1800 139,438 ha SSSI. 951,680 ha SSSI. ha.
South East: [2006] England: [2006] Ensure no further loss, Berkshire [2006]: Favourable: 46.87%; http://www.english- Favourable: 45.11%, damage or Favourable 41.67%; Unfavourable nature.org.uk/special/s Number and Unfavourable deterioration of SSSIs; Trend is towards Unfavourable Recovering: 32.6%; ssi/reportAction.cfm?R condition of SSSIs recovering, 27.94%. 2010: 95% of SSSIs in recovery of SSSI’s. Recovering 48.63%; Unfavourable No eport=sdrt13&Categor No Change: 18.06%, favourable or Unfavourable No Charge: 8.76%; y=C&Reference=1003 Declining: 8.82% recovering condition Change 4,11%; Unfavourable Destroyed/ part Unfavourable Declining Declining: 11.71%; destroyed: 0.07% 5.59%; Part Destroyed Part Destroyed/ 0%; Destroyed 0% Destroyed: 0.05%
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Sub regional / Indicator Local data National data Target Trend Data Sources regional data Barn Owls: "a small number"; Bullfinch: "relatively abundant"; Dartford Warbler: "rare - but increasing" 10-15 pairs; Hobby: "some distribution and abundance data is known through various All species: 100.0 Bracknell Forest: proactive land [1970] 117.4 [1980] http://www.bracknell- managers"; Kingfisher: 113.6 [1990] 114.2 2010: sustained forest.gov.uk/pdf/biopla All Species: 102.0 "present on both [2000] 112.8 [2002]; increase in the H13 Data is not quantified - n.pdf UK: (1995), 95.0 (2003). Blackwater and Cut Woodland: 100. [1970] regional wild bird a monitoring action http://www.sustainable- Population of wild Woodland: 93.0 rivers in Borough"; 102.9 [1980] 94.7 population index and should be to revisit the development.gov.uk birds (1995), 90.0 (2003). Little Ringed Plover: [1990] 89.5 [2000] 84.6 reverse the declines in website and check for http://www.defra.gov.u Farmland 104.0 "recorded breeding at [2002]; Farmland: the farmland and quantified data k/environment/statistic (1995), 89.0 (2003). Horseshoe Lake and 100.0 [1970] 99.6 woodland species s/wildlife/research/dow Moor Green Lakes"; [1980] 70.7 [1990] 58.6 nload/wdbrds200503.p Nightjar: "recorded on [2000] 58.3 [2002] df heathland sites in the south of the Borough"; Skylark: "known to be present"; Woodlark: 6 breeding pairs [1994] 317 pairs in Berks/Surrey/Hants [1997] Maintain the condition and extent of all key habitats currently at > 20% of the Borough Achieve local favourable status; recognised as being of Biodiversity Action Restore / re-create key a high wildlife value Plan objectives and habitats so these reach http://www.bracknell- and protected by some the extent of key N/K N/K favourable status. This forest.gov.uk/pdf/biopla form of designation; habitats for which is not currently n.pdf pSPA: 255ha; cSAC: BAP’s have been measured but there is 353ha; SSSI: 1720ha; established. the opportunity to map WHS: 2260ha all habitats, including those outside protected sites.
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Cultural Heritage and Landscape
OBJECTIVE 9: MAKE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CULTURE, LEISURE AND RECREATION READILY ACCESSIBLE
In order to fully realise the potential social and economic benefits of the surrounding countryside, heritage and landscape of Bracknell Forest, this must be accessible to residents. This can: • Attract visitors to rural areas; • Provide health benefits for people by enabling more exercise and reducing stress; • Educational benefits which can in turn lead to a better understanding of our environment.
Sub regional / National Indicator Local data Target Trend Data Sources regional data data
Rights of Footpaths: 106 (55km); Bridleway: 17 Way http://www.bracknell- Access to and the (13km); Restricted Byway: 7 (8km); Byways Berkshire: paths easy to Improvement forest.gov.uk/leisure/countrysid use of the Open to All Traffic: 14 (4.6km) [2002]. find: 81.3%; paths easy Plan being e/rights/ROWinBF_report.htm Not Known countryside and 87.8% respondents find it ‘easy’ to access to follow: 97.5%; paths drafted – General Best Value User leisure facilities ‘publicly accessible green space’ using their easy to use: 95% expected Satisfaction Survey (Autumn usual form of transport. completion 2003) mid-2006. % of land in the Borough classified as Not Known Not Known Not Known Open Space of Public Value (OSPV) 44% within 2 minutes walk 58% within 4 minutes walk % of population with 66% within 6 minutes walk access to open PPG17 Audit Accessibility 71% within 8 minutes walk Not Known Not Known space, sports or Analysis March 2006 76% within 10 minutes walk leisure facilities 89% within 20 minutes walk 94% within 30 minutes walk This is not available from the Countryside Countryside Agency, but an understanding of this should Not Known Not Known Character inform this topic. This should be addressed in the monitoring framework.
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OBJECTIVE 10: TO ENCOURAGE URBAN RENAISSANCE BY IMPROVING EFFICIENCY IN LAND USE, DESIGN AND LAYOUT.
Development within built up areas encourages urban renewal, can regenerate town or village centres, and maximises the use of previously developed land (PDL) or ‘brownfield sites’. Therefore this reduces the impact of development on greenfield sites and these homes are positioned near existing services and transport routes making the location more sustainable.
The design and layout of new developments can also influence their surroundings. Good urban design is rarely brought about by prescribing physical solutions, or by setting rigid design standards but by approaches which emphasise design objectives or principles. Larger developments can be informed by design guidance and masterplans, so the degree to which this happens could be monitored in the future.
Sub regional / Indicator Local data National data Target Trend Data Sources regional data 62% [1998/9] 47% [1999/0] England 51% JSPU. 62% [2000/1] South East: 54% To develop 60% of all Locally and Development on [1996-99] http://www.southeast- 65% [2001/2] [1996-99] forms of development on nationally the previously developed 67% [2002-03] ra.gov.uk/our_work/planning/sus_ 87% [2002/3] 71% [2004], 76% previously used land by % is land 70% [2004] dev/irf_2004/irf_data_trends_final 93% [2003/4] [2005] 2008. increasing. .pdf 80% [2004/5] 65% [2005/6] South East: Vacant land: 18ha England: previously previously [2001]; 6ha [2002]; developed land: To reduce the amount of They appear to Derelict land and developed land: http://www.nlud.org.uk/draft_one/r 5ha [2003] Empty 65,760ha [2003] derelict land and empty be decreasing empty properties 10,860ha [2003] esults/results_2003.htm buildings: 1ha empty buildings: properties. locally. empty buildings: [2002]; 1ha [2003] 4,550ha [2003] 600ha [2003] This could be To conform to national collected in the guidance as best as Extent to which future to monitor possible. This includes development design aspects of PPS1: Delivering proposals are development. Sustainable Communities, http://www.cabe.org.uk/policy/des informed by tools to There is currently a N/K N/K PPG3: Housing, PPS6: ignataglance/ promote good design, masterplan for the Town Centres, PPS7: e.g. design guidance town centre, Sustainable Development and masterplans. Peacock Farm, , in Rural areas, PPS12: Staff College, Garth LDF’s, PPG13 Transport, Hill / Wick Hill, PPG15 Historic
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Eastern Gateway Environment, PPG17: Planning Brief. Planning for open space.
OBJECTIVE 14: TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE WHERE POSSIBLE THE BOROUGH'S COUNTRYSIDE AND ITS HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT IN URBAN AND RURAL AREAS.
Today’s landscape has come about from a long process of interaction between people, plants, animals and the land. Physical influences, such as geology, landform, streams and rivers are often the key determinants of landscape character, but in many places the overlying effects of settlement, land-use or agriculture may be more apparent.
The Countryside Agency produced a map of broad character areas, of which Bracknell Forest fell into 2 character areas: ‘The Thames Valley’ to the north of the Borough and ‘The Thames Basin Heaths’ to the south. The main characteristics of each are as follows:
The Thames Valley: • The gravel floodplain • Heavy clay soils are used largely for grassland. • The River Thames and its tributaries • Blocks of ancient woodland around Binfield, Sandhurst and the • Woodlands dominate the north-west of the area edges of Bracknell. • The urban influence of London • Landform – gently rolling in open areas with patches of scrub • Geology – patchy alluvial sands and gravels overlying London Clay. and bushes.
The Thames Basin Heaths: • Fragmented blocks of remnant heathland of acidic soils with scattered grasslands, bogs, ponds and scrub. • Coniferous forestry and broadleaved woodland • Wide grazed floodplain of the River Kennet • Farming – mainly pasture with widespread horse-grazing.
Green belts are designed to check urban sprawl, safeguard the surrounding countryside and prevent neighbouring settlements from merging. There is an area of Metropolitan Green Belt which covers approximately 35% of the area of Borough, predominantly to the north.
The landscape also contains features of the built environment which contribute to the Borough’s surroundings and provide a valuable record of our heritage. Buildings, churches, monuments, gardens etc can all be protected by their designation as ‘listed’ or ‘scheduled’. • Grade I buildings are of exceptional interest • Grade II* are particularly important buildings of more than special interest
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English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest
Site Description Grade Ascot Place Late 18 th century landscaped park with lake and grotto. II * Broadmoor Hospital Mid 19 th century asylum with extensive contemporary grounds. II Newbold College (formerly Late 19 th century house surrounded by early 20 th century II * Moor Close) formal garden. South Hill Park Mid and late 19 th century formal gardens and woodland. II Windsor Great Park Royal park of medieval origin – partially in Bracknell Forest. I
Bracknell Forest Borough Council Listed Buildings (grade II* and I only) (July 2004)
Listed Building Location / description Grade Wellington College (main Crowthorne. Mid 1800’s college building. II * blocks and front walls) Church of St Michael Sandhurst, Lower Church Road. Parish Church built in 1853. II * Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Yorktown Road. Academy building built in 1812. II * All Saints Church Binfield, Church Hill. II * Binfield, Forest Road North. House, now offices, from the mid- Binfield Place II * 16 th century. Binfield, Terrace Road North. Large country house set in Binfield Park II * parkland, now a hospital. Binfield, Waltham Road. Large house set in landscaped Binfield Lodge II * surrounds. Church of St Michael & All Warfield, Church Lane. II * Angels Church of St Mary Winkfield, Church Lane. II * Winkfield, Pigeonhouse Lane. Late 18 th century grotto; made Grotto in the grounds of of stone; irregular plan of one main chamber and several I Ascot Place lesser chambers. Considered at risk.
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No. Scheduled Ancient Monuments Parish 1 Caesar’s Camp – hill fort Crowthorne 2 Practice redoubt and trenches Crowthorne 3 Five Napoleonic practice redoubts Crowthorne 4 Exploded Napoleonic practice redoubts Crowthorne 5 Wickham bushes Romano-British settlement Crowthorne Crowthorne to 6 Roman Road Winkfield 7 Windmill Stem mound bowl barrow Sandhurst 8 Bowl barrow Bracknell 9 Bill Hill bowl barrow Bracknell 10 Bowl barrow Winkfield 11 Moat Winkfield 12 Moat Winkfield
The historic environment should be seen as more than designations, therefore development decisions should also be based upon an understanding of the wider historic environment and its impact on the character and distinctiveness of areas.
Sub regional / Indicator Local data National data Target Trend Data Sources regional data South East: Proportion ESA areas with Tier coverage: 32%; Land covered area covered by http://www.southeast- by management Not Known Countryside Not Known Not Known Not Known ra.gov.uk/our_work/planning/sus_dev/irf schemes Stewardship: 15% _2004/irf_data_trends_final.pdf Berkshire: area covered by Countryside Stewardship: 18%
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Sub regional / Indicator Local data National data Target Trend Data Sources regional data Maintain the character of key BVPI 219A = 4 areas identified conservation areas in the counted. landscape BVPI 219B = 4 character To meet all areas conservation areas N/K N/K N/K N/K assessment and of the BVPI. appraised. consider use of BVPI 219C = 4 the anticipated emerging BVPI on management plans. conservation area appraisals.
4% of dwelling nationally were built Protect green belt % of properties No net increase on designated land from built on green (only replacement Not Known Not Known DCLG green belt land (of unsuitable belt land dwellings). these 61% were on development PDL)
South East The Borough has buildings at risk: 249 Grade II and 9 Grade I: Good: 2; Grade II* listed Fair: 10; Poor: 28; Buildings of buildings and 1 Very bad: 20; Remove 40% of the 3.4% of listed Currently 1 ‘at www.english-heritage.org.uk ; Listed Grade I and II* Grade I listed. This Grade II*: Good: 2; entries on the 1999 buildings. risk’. Buildings files. at risk of decay is classified as ‘at Fair: 31; Poor: 13; 'at risk' list [2006] risk’ (Grotto in the Very bad: 13; grounds of Ascot Grade II: Good: 2; Place). Fair: 4; Poor: 9; Very bad: 17
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Bracknell Forest Borough Council – Final Sustainability Appraisal October 2006 B 40 LDFCSSubmissionAnnexe5b0.doc
Air
OBJECTIVE 11: TO MAINTAIN AIR QUALITY AND IMPROVE WHERE POSSIBLE.
Today, air quality issues are at the forefront of both political and environmental issues which is not surprising due to the increasing concern linking our health to the air that we breathe.
In both developed and rapidly industrialising countries the major historic air pollution problem has typically been high levels of smoke and sulphur dioxide arising from the combustion of fossil fuels, such as coal. The major threat to clean air is now posed by traffic emissions. Petrol and diesel engined motor vehicles emit a wide variety of pollutants, principally carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NO x), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulates (PM 10 ), which have an increasing impact on urban air quality. In addition, photochemical reactions resulting from the action of sunlight on nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) and VOCs from vehicles leads to the formation of ozone, a secondary long-range pollutant, which impacts in rural areas often far from the original emission site. Acid rain is another long-range pollutant influenced by vehicle NO x emissions.
This has many knock-on effects, among which are: • Harm to human health - poor air quality can exacerbate lung and heart disease, lead to cancer, and restrict the activities of asthma sufferers and reduce life expectancy. • Damage to buildings - pollutants corrode historical monuments and modern buildings and can blacken buildings. • Damage to crops and natural vegetation - air pollution hinders the growth of some crops, causing financial loss, and damages natural vegetation. • Damage to ecosystems - air pollution can impact on ecosystems both directly and indirectly. For instance, acidic pollutants react to release metals into water and soil which can poison water life.
As part of the Government's National Air Quality Strategy (NAQS), the Borough Council has undertaken a local air quality review for the control of air quality. At present there are 19 diffusion tube sites looking at Nitrogen Dioxide in the borough, and two continuous monitoring sites. In areas where an air quality objective is not anticipated to be met, Air Quality Management Areas (AQMA) must be established and action plans implemented to improve the air quality within this area. There are currently no AQMAs in the Borough.
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Bracknell Forest Borough Council – Final Sustainability Appraisal October 2006 B 42 LDFCSSubmissionAnnexe5b0.doc
Sub regional / Indicator Local data National data Target Trend Data Sources regional data Benzene: Benzene: Levels well within http://www.airquality.co.uk/archive/laqm N/K N/K Background 0.572µg/m3 [2001] 16.25µg/m3 [2003] target, /tools/29_2001.csv levels of main 1,3 Butadiene: 1,3 Butadiene: Levels well within air quality N/K N/K pollutants and 0.237µg/m3 [2001] 2.25µg/m3 [2003] target, forecasts Carbon monoxide: Carbon monoxide: Levels well within N/K N/K 0.358mg/m3 [2001] 11.6mg/m3 [2003] target, Nitrogen oxides: Nitrogen oxides: Levels above N/K N/K 49.1µg/m3 [2001] 30µg/m3 [2000] target. Nitrogen dioxide: Nitrogen dioxide: 31µg/m3 [2001] not exceeding Estimated N/K N/K 200µg/m3 18 times concentration a year [2005] (2005 and 2010) 40µg/m3 [2005] 27.3µg/m3. PM10: 50µg/m3 35 PM10: 21µg/m3 Levels well within N/K N/K times a year [2004] [2001] target, Background 40µg/m3 [2004] levels of main Sulphur dioxide: air quality 350µg/m3 not to be pollutants and exceeded 24 times forecasts Sulphur dioxide: a year [2004] Levels well within N/K N/K 3.03µg/m3 [2001] 125µg/m3 3 times target, a year [2004] 266µg/m3 35 times a year [2005] Lead: 0.5µg/m3 Levels well within Lead (none found) N/K N/K [2004] 0.25µg/m3 target, [2008]; Ozone: 100µg/m3 Ozone (none Levels well within N/K N/K 10 times a year found) target, [2005]
Bracknell Forest Borough Council – Final Sustainability Appraisal October 2006 B 43 LDFCSSubmissionAnnexe5b0.doc
Sub regional / Indicator Local data National data Target Trend Data Sources regional data
Number of Air To ensure that Quality 197 LA’s have None [2006] N/K there is no need to Management declared AQMA’s create AQMA’s. Areas
South East Southampton Establish air quality Days when air Centre - 16 action plans in England Urban – http://www.sustainable- pollution is Reading - 22 areas which are Not Known 23 Rural - 40 development.gov.uk/indicators/regional/ moderate or Harwell - 39 unlikely to meet [2001/02 average] 2002/h10.htm high Lullington Heath - national airquality 47 Rochester – 58 objectives [2001/02 average]
OBJECTIVE 15: TO IMPROVE TRAVEL CHOICE AND ACCESSIBILITY, REDUCE THE NEED FOR TRAVEL BY CAR AND SHORTEN THE LENGTH AND DURATION OF JOURNEYS.
The Borough is in a prime location at the heart of the Thames Valley, just 40 kilometres to the west of London. It has a quality local environment, and an excellent communication network, with direct access to the M3 and M4 motorways and good links to the region’s airports, in particular Heathrow. The Borough also enjoys direct rail connections to Reading and London Waterloo. Car ownership in the Borough is high, with 85% of households owning one or more cars (double the national average). The Borough has a comprehensive network of pedestrian footways and cycle routes.
In the UK 82% of all vehicle mileage is done by cars; however this method of travel comes at a price: • Road transport causes noise and vibration; • Traffic is one of the main causes of poor air quality, which in turn lead to impacts on human health, ecosystem health and the soiling and corrosion of buildings; • Vehicles give off carbon dioxide which contributes to climate change;
Bracknell Forest Borough Council – Final Sustainability Appraisal October 2006 B 44 LDFCSSubmissionAnnexe5b0.doc
• Vehicles give off gases which can make our soil and water acidic.
As vehicle emissions (in particular nitrous oxides) are one of the major contributors to poor air quality in Bracknell Forest, a reduction in the number of vehicle miles travelled will improve air quality. This is a cross-boundary issue however as air-borne pollutants do not recognise administrative boundaries, and the vehicles themselves may be only passing through the Borough.
Sub regional / Indicator Local data National data Target Trend Data Sources regional data
To reduce road traffic in line with the Government’s Average Daily Flow 10 Year Plan is estimated by South East: England: Average Average daily 372,000 per day at (improving the ratio dividing the annual http://www.southeast- Average daily flow: daily flow: motor vehicle monitoring sites of traffic growth to traffic estimate by ra.gov.uk/our_work/planning/sus_dev/irf 4,200/day [1993]; 3,200/day [1993]; flows [2005] GDP by 0.8:1 to the road length and _2004/irf_data_trends_final.pdf 4,900/day [2002] 4,200/day [2003] 0.6:1 by 2010)To the number of days reduce ‘private in the year. vehicle kilometres travelled’
Travel to work by South East Travel E+W Travel to work Car – 71.72% to work byCar – by Car – 61.4% Motorbike – 1% 64.9% Motorbike – Motorbike – 1.0% http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/R Proportion of Cycle – 2.79% Bus 1.1% Cycle – 3.1% Cycle – 2.8% Bus – eports/eng/TableViewer/wdsview/dispvi travel by mode – 2.61% Rail – Bus – 4.4% Rail – 7.4% Rail – 4.1% ewp.asp?dsid=5061 3.64% Walk – 5.6% Walk – 9.9% Walk – 10.0% 8.73% [2001] [2001] [2001] Estimated capital expenditure in Expenditure in £000s - walking Monetary £000s: Walking and and cycling: 300 investment in Cycling - 349 [2004/5]; 250 bus and rail [2002/03]; 174 N/K N/K [2005/6]; 300 Local Transport Plan travel, [2003/04]. Bus and [2006/7]; bus and walking and Rail travel - 136 rail travel: 210 cycling [2002/3]; 25 [2004/5]; 420 [2003/04] [2005/6]; 670 [2006/7];
Bracknell Forest Borough Council – Final Sustainability Appraisal October 2006 B 45 LDFCSSubmissionAnnexe5b0.doc
Water and Soil
The Water Framework Directive has highlighted the need to explore the interconnectivity between spatial planning, water pollution and flooding. It aims to improve and control the quality of water by identifying and ultimately eliminating hazardous substances therefore securing a safe future water supply. This section of the SA / SEA must help achieve the requirements of the EU Directive, which states surface water quality should be of a ‘good ecological status’. In this SA / SEA soil quality was chosen as a separate indicator to water quality as the 2 may be interdependent, i.e. good soil quality is not necessarily indicative of good water quality.
OBJECTIVE 18: TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE WATER QUALITY IN THE BOROUGH’S WATER COURSES AND TO ACHIEVE SUSTAINABLE WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.
Water resources must be sufficient for essential services such as household supply, as well as environmental needs. Rivers and streams are an important part of the Borough’s environment and ecosystems, and can act as wildlife corridors in fragmented habitats. Water courses also provide a source of water for drinking, agricultural, domestic and industrial uses. Future development proposals need to take account of the natural variability of water resources as well as possible future changes due to climate change. Greater water efficiency within existing and future housing stock is fundamental to the sustainable management of water resources.
Household per capita consumption (PCC) is the amount of water used by each individual at home. It should be noted that PCC data relies on estimates of other water balance components, such as estimated leakage rates and the occupancy rates for properties. The amount of water used is also likely to reflect the local weather conditions with water use increasing during hot and dry weather.
Over the last 10 years PCC in the South East has grown by around 3 to 5 per cent although it is thought to be stabilising. Unmeasured household PCC is around 168 litres per day and measured household PCC is around 145 litres per day . [ Source: Environment Agency ]
The quality of rivers can be tested according to their chemical or biological composition, nutrients and aesthetic quality. The Environment Agency monitor water courses across the country using the General Quality Assessment (GQA) scheme. Chemistry - samples are analysed for three determinands of organic pollution: ammonia, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and dissolved oxygen. Grades are given to the water as shown in the table below. Biology - the macro-invertebrates (small animals that can be seen with the naked eye) are identified and the range of species is compared with the range that would be expected in the river if it was not polluted or physically damaged. This takes account of natural differences expected due to different types of geology and flow, for example. One of six grades is allocated to each river length.
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Three sites are monitored in Bracknell Forest (The Cut, Downmill Stream and Bullbrook) and given an overall grading as shown in the tables below. The chemical composition at 2 sites has been classified as ‘good’ for the past few years and the Bullbrook has been classified as ‘fair’.
Chemical Likely uses and characteristics * Classification Biological Description All abstractions. Very good salmonid fisheries. Cyprinid fisheries . Classification A - Very good Natural ecosystems. Biology similar to that expected for an A – Very good All abstractions. Salmonid fisheries. Cyprinid fisheries. unpolluted river B - Good Ecosystems at or close to natural Biology is a little short of an unpolluted B – Good Potable supply after advanced treatment. Other abstractions. river C - Fairly good Good cyprinid fisheries. Natural ecosystems, or those Biology worse than expected for C – Fairly good corresponding to good cyprinid fisheries. unpolluted river
Potable supply after advanced treatment. Other abstractions. A range of pollution tolerant species D - Fair D – Fair Fair cyprinid fisheries. Impacted ecosystems present
Low grade abstraction for industry. Fish absent or sporadically Biology restricted to pollution tolerant E - Poor E – Poor present, vulnerable to pollution. Impoverished ecosystems. species Very polluted rivers which may cause nuisance Biology limited to a small number of F - Bad F – Bad Severely restricted ecosystems species very tolerant of pollution
There are no Groundwater Source Protection zones located within the Borough.
Sub regional / Indicator Local data National data Target Trend Data Sources regional data Source: Environment Agency http://www.sustainable- Cut: 1990: C; 1995: D; 91% of river length to England 83.5% [1990] development.gov.uk/indicators/ Biological river 2000: C; 2002: C; Bull South East 95.0% comply with EA River 90.0% [1995] 93.7% [2000] headline/h12.htm water quality Brook: 1990: D; 1995: C; [1990] 99.0% [2002] Quality Objectives 93.8% [2002] http://www.sustainable- 2000: D [2005] development.gov.uk/indicators/ regional/2003/h12.htm
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Sub regional / Indicator Local data National data Target Trend Data Sources regional data
Cut: 1990: D; 1993: D; 1994: C; 1995: D; 1996: D; 1997: D; 1998: C; 1999: C; 2000: C; 2001: B; 2002: B; Downmill Stream: 1990: C; 1993: 91% of river length to D; 1994: D; 1995: D; England 59.7% [1990] Chemical river South East 84.0 [1990] comply with EA River 1996: C; 1997: C; 1998: 66.3% [1995] 67.3% [2000] Source: Environment Agency water quality 94.0 [2002] Quality Objectives C; 1999: C; 2000: B; 68.0% [2002] [2005] 2001: B; 2002: B; Bull Brook: 1990: E; 1993: C; 1994: C; 1995: D; 1996: C; 1997: C; 1998: C; 1999: C; 2000: C; 2001: D; 2002: D
Achieve 12% Incidents of EA Thames Region reduction in Category major and 1,208 [1999] 1,379 None 1 and 2 incidents significant [2000] 1,510 [2001] from all sectors water pollution 1,630 [2002] [2007]
South East: Unmeasured Households: 150l/day [1992-93]; 168 [1995- Per capita 96]; 164 [1998-99]; 162 Stabilise at current Possible source of data: consumption of [2001-02] Measured levels Thames Water? water Households: 140l/day [1994-95]; 148 [1995- 96]; 150 [1998-99]; 150 [2001-02]
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Bracknell Forest Borough Council – Final Sustainability Appraisal October 2006 B 49 LDFCSSubmissionAnnexe5b0.doc
OBJECTIVE 19: TO MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE SOIL QUALITY.
Soil is central to the environment as it stores and recycles nutrients and water, provides the medium for vegetation and crop growth, and acts as a buffer between the atmosphere and aquatic ecosystems. The quality of the land and soils must be protected to enable them to be used efficiently and safely and so they do not lead to the pollution of other natural resources such as water and air.
Land quality varies from place to place. The Agricultural Land Classification (ALC) provides a method for assessing the quality of farmland by using assessment criteria including climate (temperature, rainfall, aspect, exposure, frost risk), site (gradient, micro-relief, flood risk) and soil (depth, structure, texture, chemicals, stoniness). The ALC system classifies land into five grades, with Grade 3 subdivided into sub-grades 3a and 3b. The ‘best and most versatile land’ is defined as Grades 1 and 2; current estimates are that Grades 1 and 2 together form about 21% of all farmland in England (DEFRA, July 2003).
Agricultural holdings make up approximately 24% of the land-use of the Borough.
Sub regional / Indicator Local data National data Target Trend Data Sources regional data
2,400ha of land in Maps showing agricultural 16% Grade 1 and 2 To protect land of use for agriculture land quality (using the Agricultural 12% Grade 1 and 2 (England) ALQ grades 1 and [2000]. No grade 1 DEFRA scale) are available DEFRA land quality 12% Grade 4 and 5 21% Grade 4 and 5 2 (not relevant in or 2 agricultural for sale from the Soil (England) BF) land present, Research Association
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Bracknell Forest Borough Council – Final Sustainability Appraisal October 2006 B 51 LDFCSSubmissionAnnexe5b0.doc
Material Assets
The term material assets is not fully defined in the SEA Directive, so within this SA / SEA it has been taken to incorporate resources used and waste produced.
OBJECTIVE 16: TO SUSTAINABLY USE AND REUSE RENEWABLE AND NON-RENEWABLE RESOURCES.
The sustainable use of resources is essential if future generations are to have the choice of a similar quality of life as we have today. This may include the use of fossil fuels or renewable energy sources (which are covered in more detail under another section), building materials, wood, plastics etc. As this scoping report concentrates mainly on development, in this document the use of resources focuses on construction. Already established standards exist to measure how sustainably properties are built, so these can be used as indicators to monitor the use of resources.
Sub regional / regional Indicator Local data National data Target Trend Data Sources data
Percentage of new South East: since EcoHomes’ Bracknell Forest data could be build and retrofit Data needs to be inception in 2000, 1,098 of the collected from the Ecohomes homes meeting N/K N/K identified. 6,665 housing units assessed assessments carried out in EcoHomes Very Good were rated Very Good. planning applications standard
South East: (232 Percentage of assessments): Very Good Bracknell Forest data could be commercial buildings Data needs to be 147; Excellent 70 [1998-2001]; collected from the BREEAM N/K N/K meeting BREEAM identified. (35 assessments): Very Good assessments carried out in Very Good standard 25; Excellent 4 [2002] - office planning applications buildings only
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OBJECTIVE 17: TO ADDRESS THE WASTE HIERARCHY BY: MINIMISING WASTE AS A PRIORITY, REUSE, THEN BY RECYCLING, COMPOSTING OR ENERGY RECOVERY.
We live in a ‘throwaway society’, using up the earth’s most precious resources and producing massive amounts of rubbish and pollution as a result. The vast majority of the Borough’s household waste ends up buried in landfill, which leads to environmental problems because the rubbish takes up valuable space, can cause pollution of the air, land and water, and the rotting waste can give of greenhouse gases contributing to climate change.
According to the waste hierarchy, the most sustainable way to deal with rubbish is to avoid producing it in the first place (minimisation), and then as much as possible should be re-used. Therefore the total tonnage of household waste produced can give an indication of whether the total amount buried in landfill is reducing. Recycling and composting are the next most sustainable option, so the proportion of the remaining tonnage recycled is also an indicator.
A limitation of this data is that it mainly focuses on household waste, and does not include industrial waste, aggregates etc. Few targets are set for this sector and this information is therefore not monitored in as much detail.
Sub regional / Indicator Local data National data Target Trend Data Sources regional data 2004/05 By 2010, we will Total produced: 2004/05 have to reduce the 54,000 tonnes. 2004/05 Total household amount of Total tonnage of all 30 million tonnes waste – 4.3 million biodegradable types of waste that Sent to landfill: produced. tonnes. municipal waste has been recycled, 40,500 tonnes Sent to landfill – 20 Sent to landfill – 3.1 diverted to landfill composted, used million tonnes. Best Value Performance Indicator million tonnes. to 75 per cent of to recover heat, Waste to energy: Waste to Energy – 82d Waste to Energy – that produced in power and other (Not relevant to 2.8 million tonnes. 186,000 tonnes. 1995; by 2013 this energy sources, BFBC) Recycled/ Recycled/ is reduced to 50 and landfilled . composted –7 composted – 1.3 per cent and by Recycled/ million tonnes. million tonnes. 2020 to 35 per Composted: cent. 13,500 tonnes.
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Sub regional / Indicator Local data National data Target Trend Data Sources regional data Bracknell Forest South East: England and Wales Bracknell Forest: Municipal Solid – Municipal Solid Recycle: 13% Landfill – 76% Waste (2004/05) Waste. [2004] 16.5% Recycled/ 2004/05 [2005] 17% [2006] Recycled: 16% + composted: 28%; Recycled/ South East: 8% composted Energy from Composted: 23% Recycle/compost: Bracknell Forest: Corporate Plan Waste: 4% Energy from increase by 50% (performance indicator BV82) Energy from Landfill: 68% Waste: 9% [2010] South East: www.southeast- Waste: (not Landfill: 67% ra.gov.uk/our_work/planning/sus_ relevant to BFBC) Commercial Bracknell Forest: Above current target. dev/irf_2004/irf_data_trends_final. Percentage of the Industrial Waste: Compost: 6% Percentage recycling and pdf UK: http://www.sustainable- total tonnage of all Recycle: 34%; [2004] 8% [2005] composting increased since development.gov.uk/sustainable/q types of waste that 10% [2006]; South 1994 uality04/maind/xldata/h-data.xls has been recycled, Construction East: composted, used Demolition Waste: Recycle/compost: Above current target. Bracknell Forest: Corporate Plan to recover heat, Recycle: 32% increase by 50% Percentage recycling and (performance indicator BV82) power and other [2002] [2010] composting increased since South East: http://www .southeast- energy sources, 1995 ra.gov.uk/our_work/planning/sus_ and landfilled ] Bracknell Forest: dev/irf_2004/irf_data_trends_final. Landfill: 81% [2004] pdf UK: http://www .sustainable- 75.2% [2005] 73% development.gov.uk/sustainable/q [2006] South East: uality04/maind/xldata/h-data.xls Reduce growth of
all waste to 1% per annum [2010]; reduce growth of all waste to 0.5% [2020]
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Economic Development
OBJECTIVE 21: TO ENSURE HIGH AND STABLE LEVELS OF EMPLOYMENT OBJECTIVE 22: TO SUSTAIN ECONOMIC GROWTH AND COMPETITIVENESS OF THE BOROUGH OBJECTIVE 23: TO ENCOURAGE ‘SMART’ ECONOMIC GROWTH OBJECTIVE 24: TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN A SKILLED WORKFORCE BY DEVELOPING THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR EVERYONE TO ACQUIRE THE SKILLS NEEDED TO FIND WORK
The location of the Borough, and the development of Bracknell New Town, has meant that Bracknell Forest has traditionally enjoyed high employment growth and low levels of unemployment. The local economy is characterised by high technology industries, and the Borough is recognised as having one of the largest concentrations of knowledge-based companies in the country. Resident businesses include 3M, Hewlett Packard, Fujitsu, BMW, Panasonic and Siemens-Nixdorf. The Borough is also host to two world class research facilities – TRL and Syngenta.
Bracknell town has a catchment of approximately 1,166,000 people within a 30-minute 900000 drive time. Proposals for the redevelopment of Bracknell town centre, to deliver a mixed- 800000 use centre with a combination of retail, employment, leisure, housing and public 700000 transport facilities, will ensure that it continues to evolve to meet the needs of the 600000 st 500000 A2, Borough’s residents and businesses in the 21 Century. B1-7 400000 300000 B8 200000 floorspace (sq m) (sq floorspace Sectoral Industry 100000 0
The key industrial sectors are: 01 03 997 999 0 0 1991 1993 1995 1 1 2 2 - Business Services (32%), year - Wholesale/retail (19%) - Public Services (16%). - Manufacturing accounts for only 10% of employment in the area, broadly in line with the rest of Berkshire. - Hotels and Restaurants, at 9%, employ well above the Berkshire average of 6%. Source: Annual Business Inquiry: Employee Analysis 2001 (Nomis 2003)
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The graph provides summary estimates of the available stock of floorspace for use by class in square metres. Class A2 and B1-7 include Business, Industry, Professional and Financial Services and B8 classifies Warehousing floorspace. It is estimated that around 600,000 square metres of the current floorspace is B1 office [Source: Planning Commitments for Employment Uses, BCC 1991 – 1998, JSPU 1998 – 2004].
Classification of business sites [ONS, 2003]
Mining, Distribution, Financial, real Public Agriculture, quarrying, % of business hotels and Transport and estate, renting, Education and administration hunting, energy, water Construction sites catering, communication business health and other forestry, fishing supply and repairs activities services manufacturing BFBC 1.2 4.8 9.5 20.3 4.0 44.2 6.3 9.6 South East 3.5 7.0 9.8 25.1 4.0 33.4 6.8 10.3 UK 6.5 7.6 8.8 28.0 4.3 27.5 7.3 10.1
Gross Value Added (GVA) is used to measure productivity and it gives an indication of the value of the economic activity generated within an area. High levels of GVA and economic prosperity are generally closely related. This can be measured either per capita of population or per worker, and can be split according to sector (e.g. manufacturing, financial). Both within the Borough and nationally GVA has shown a generally increasing trend over the last decade. The GVA of Bracknell Forest is considerably higher than national figures.
The workforce is a key element of ‘smart’ economic growth, for example supplying a suitable local jobs base provides work opportunities closer to home and reduces travel. Bracknell Forest has a very low level of unemployment when compared to national percentages, although there is a skills mismatch which does need to be addressed.
Economic activity
All people Employees: Part- Employees: Full-time aged 16- Self employed Unemployed time Full-time students 74 BFBC 79,771 9,355 12% 41,978 53% 6,765 8% 1,611 2% 2,042 3% England 35,532,091 4,196,041 12% 14,499,241 41% 2,954,988 8% 1,188,855 3% 917,582 3% South East 5,766,307 703,347 12% 2,492,233 43% 552,238 10% 133,481 2% 156,330 3% Berkshire 587,174 65,473 11% 287,944 49% 50,544 9% 12,761 2% 16,588 3%
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The South East England Regional Assembly (Town Centre Futures, November 2004) has ranked shopping centres by looking at indicators such as total floorspace, number of outlets, café’s and restaurant floorspace etc. Bracknell town centre has been ranked 42 nd in the South East region and 164 th nationally (source: Experian Retail Centre Ranking 2002). A masterplan for the redevelopment of Bracknell town centre was approved as Supplementary Planning Guidance in July 2002. An outline planning application was submitted in December 2004 for the whole town centre.
Sub regional / Local data National data Target Trend Data Sources Indicator regional data
South East: All economically active: All economically active: 87.6% 83.0% [02/2000]; [02/2000]; 86.4% [02/2001]; 82.9% [02/2001]; 84.4% [02/2002]; 87.4% 82.6% [02/2002]; [02/2003] 82.8% [02/2003]; In employment: 79.8% http://www.nomisweb.co.u In employment: 85.9% [02/2000]; 80.1% k/reports/lmp/la/20384317 [02/2000]; 84.7% [02/2001]; [02/2001]; 79.8% Proportion of 49/subreports/ea_time_se 82.2% [02/2002]; 85.4% [02/2002]; 79.5% Overall very high people of ries/report.aspx [02/2003]; [02/2003]; levels of working age in http://neighbourhood.stati Employees: 69.0% employment employment stics.gov.uk/Reports/eng/ Employees: 77.4% [02/2000]; [02/2000]; 69.1% TableViewer/wdsview/dis 75.2% [02/2001]; 74.4% [02/2001]; 69.2% pviewp.asp [02/2002]; 76.4% [02/2003]; [02/2002]; 68.8% [02/2003]; Self Self employed: 8.4% [02/2000]; employed: 10.2% 8.9% [02/2001]; 7.5% [02/2000]; 10.4% [02/2002]; 8.5% [02/2003] [02/2001]; 10.1% [02/2002]; 10.3% [02/2003]
Proportion of people claiming unemployment http://neighbourhood.stati benefits who South East: 26.05% Well below SE and stics.gov.uk/Reports/eng/ 20.36% [2001] N/K have been out [2001] national proportions TableViewer/wdsview/dis of work for pviewp.asp more than a year
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Sub regional / Local data National data Target Trend Data Sources Indicator regional data Registrations: 400 (11.5%); De- registrations: 370 (10.6%) Business Start-ups - South East: GB: Registrations: (stock at end of year: 3,480) % increase or Registrations: 10.2%; 10.1%; De- [2002]; Registrations, 410, decrease in the total De-registrations: registrations: 10.1% http://www.nomisweb.co.u (11.6%), number of VAT 9.8% [2002]; [2002]; Registrations: k/reports/lmp/la/20384317 Deregistrations, 385 (10.9) registered Registrations: 10.6%; 10.6%; De- 49/report.aspx (stock at end of year: 3,545); businesses in the De-registrations: registrations: 9.7% Registrations, 12%, area 9.7% [2003] [2003] Deregistrations, 11% (stock at end of year: 3,500) [2003]
South East: £8,701 [1989]; £9,436 [1990]; UK: £8,086 [1989]; £9,858 [1991]; £8,761 [1990]; £9,122 £10,251 [1992]; [1991]; £9,493 [1992]; £10,808 [1993]; £9,978 [1993]; £10,532 £11,439 [1994]; [1994]; £11,047 [1995]; http://www.statistics.gov.u GVA per capita Not Known £12,026 [1995]; £11,709 [1996]; k/downloads/theme_econ £12,794 [1996]; £12,390 [1997]; omy/Regional_GVA.pdf £13,757 [1997]; £13,075 [1998]; £14,882 [1998]; £13,616 [1999]; £15,698 [1999]; £14,291 [2000]; £16,555 [2000]; £14,852 [2001] £17,345 [2001]
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Sub regional / Local data National data Target Trend Data Sources Indicator regional data
South East: £11,292 [1995]; £11,918 [1996]; £12,725 [1997]; £13,761 Bracknell Forest: [1998]; £14,623 http://www.seeda.co.uk/P [1999]; £15,178 ublications/Policy_&_Eco UK: £11 047 [1995]; Bracknell Forest: £14,728 [2000]; £15,908 nomics/Docs/Structure_D £11 709 [1996]; £12 [1995]; £15,287 [1996]; £16,347 [2001]; Berkshire, ynamics_SE_Economy/St 390 [1997]; £13 075 GVA per worker [1997]; £19,134 [1998]; £20,880 Buckinghamshire and ructure_Dynamics_SE_E [1998]; £13 616 [1999]; [1999]; £21,863 [2000]; £22,713 Oxfordshire: Overall: conomy_APP1.pdf All £14 291 [2000]; £14 [2001]; £13,570 [1995]; the rest: 852 [2001] £14,354 [1996]; http://www.statistics.gov.u £15,528 [1997]; k/articles/nojournal/Sub_ £17,238 [1998]; GVA.pdf £18,730 [1999]; £19,701 [2000]; £20,751 [2001];
South East: England: Manufacturing Manufacturing: £13,083m [1990]; £98,335m [1990]; £12,864m [1991]; £95,742m [1991]; £13,095m [1992]; £97,881m [1992]; GVA – £13,758m [1993]; £102,136m [1993]; Manafacturing/ £15,006m [1994]; £110,086m [1994]; N/K Financial £16,213m [1995]; £117,367m [1995]; Intemediation. £17,104m [1996]; £122,531m [1996]; £18,174m [1997]; £128,023m [1997]; £18,821m [1998]; £129,272m [1998]; £19,219m [1999]; £128,717m [1999]; £19,287m [2000]; £128,192m [2000]; £19,188m [2001] £127,981m [2001]
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Sub regional / Local data National data Target Trend Data Sources Indicator regional data
South East: Financial England: Financial intermediation intermediation: £4,332m [1990]; £26,873m [1990]; £4,394m [1991]; £26,484m [1991]; £5,089m [1992]; £31,543m [1992]; £5,751m [1993]; £35,183m [1993]; £5,993m [1994]; £37,854m [1994]; N/K £5,845m [1995]; £35,765m [1995]; £6,032m [1996]; £36,473m [1996]; £6,166m [1997]; £36,156m [1997]; £6,603m [1998]; £40,398m [1998]; £6,582m [1999]; £38,731m [1999]; £7,098m [2000]; £40,990m [2000]; £7,584m [2001] £43,229m [2001]
South East: 105.7 Economic [2001]; 106.0 [2003] http://www.seeda.co.uk/P Activity within (UK=100); Thames UK: 100.0 [2001]; 100.0 ublications/Policy_&_Eco Economic N/K Valley EP: 106.8 [2003] nomics/Docs/Knowledge_ Partnership [2001]; 107.2 [2003] Economy_2003.pdf Areas (UK=100) Percentage of No sign that population of Significantly raise the Bracknell Forest is http://www.nomisweb.co.u working age number of people 'significantly' See tables for full data N/K N/K k/reports/lmp/la/20384317 qualified to NVQ with Level 3 improving it's 49/report.aspx#wab Level 4 or qualifications performance on this equivalent measure
Bracknell Forest Borough Council – Final Sustainability Appraisal October 2006 B 60 LDFCSSubmissionAnnexe5b0.doc
Skills for work
The town’s success as a principal growth centre within the Thames Valley has contributed to an exceptionally high economic activity rate, which, at 84.2%, is significantly above the South East regional average of 79.2%3, yielding an economically active population of 61,800. The total number of employee jobs in the Borough was 64,000 in 2001. Allowing for double-jobbing and including the self-employed, this implies a total labour demand figure of around 67,600. This is significantly above the economically active labour supply available of 61,800, and implies a net balance of in- commuting amounting to about 10% of jobs. (Source: Learning & Skills Council )
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Unemployment is correspondingly very low in Bracknell Forest at around 1.4%, compared with 1.8% for the whole of Berkshire. Given the tight labour market position, it is not surprising that more employers have reported recruitment difficulties than have done so in the rest of Berkshire. Generally there are particular difficulties in the retail sector, but all businesses are suffering from a shortage of suitable people to recruit. Employers have identified particular skills shortages in Information and Communications Technology, Business Development and Management in the Bracknell area. ( Source: Learning & Skills Council )
The following tables show the National Vocational Qualifications obtained relating to workers in Bracknell Forest ( Source: www.nomisweb.co.uk ). The percentage figures are based on working age population in the Borough.
Bracknell Bracknell South East GB Forest Forest (%) (%) (%) (numbers) NVQ4 and above 22,000 30.2 28.5 25.2 NVQ3 and above 34,000 47.5 46.9 43.1 NVQ2 and above 49,000 68.0 66.0 61.5 NVQ1 and above 60,000 82.9 81.1 76.0 Other Qualifications 6,000 8.4 8.0 8.8 No Qualifications 6,000 8.7 10.8 15.1
NVQ4 and above 24,000 Bracknell Bracknell South East GB 23,000 Forest (no.) Forest (%) (%) (%) 22,000 Mar 99-Feb 00 23,000 31.10 25.90 22.50 21,000 Mar 00-Feb 01 20,000 27.80 25.80 23.30 20,000 19,000 Mar 01-Feb 02 19,000 26.30 26.20 23.60 18,000 No of people Noof Mar 02-Feb 03 19,000 26.60 27.70 24.20 17,000 Mar 03-Feb 04 22,000 30.20 28.50 25.20 16,000 15,000 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 year
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