Thames Valley Flood Scheme Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report
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Thames Valley Flood Scheme Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report May 2021 Environment Agency SA Scoping Report Environment Agency Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report Thames Valley Flood Scheme Project No: B550C037 Document Title: Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report Revision: P0 3 Date: May 2021 Client Name: Environment Agency Project Manager: Helen Rukin Author: Milly Chapman, Heidi Curran, Stuart Hedgecott, Adam Jones, Lyndsey McGonigle, Ciaran Meehan, David Morris, Daniel Mounsdon, Katie Randall-Stratton, Steven Ross, Erika Schmoke, Nathan Thomas, Rebecca Westlake File Name: ENV0002349C -JAC -XX -00 -AS -SS -0001 Jacobs U.K. Limited 1180 Eskdale Road Winnersh READING RG41 5TU www.jacobs.com © Copyright 2021. The concepts and information contained in this document are the property of Jacobs. Use or copying of this document in whole or in part without the written permission of Jacobs constitutes an infringement of copyright. Limitation: This document has been prepared on behalf of, and for the exclusive use of Jacobs’ client, and is subject to, and issued in accordance with, the provisions of the contract between Jacobs and the client. Jacobs accepts no liability or responsibility whatsoever for, or in respect of, any use of, or reliance upon, this document by any third party. Document history and status Revision Date Description Author Checked Reviewed Approved P01 April 2021 First Issue (with planned omissions) for EA LMcG HC/KRS SH HR comment P02.01 May 2021 Second Issue of WiP document for EA check LMcG/HC KRS SH May 2021 Third Issue for EA sign-off LMcG/HC KRS SH HR P03 May 2021 Fourth Issue for EA sign-off LMcG/HC KRS SH HR i Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report Contents 1. Introduction............................................................................................................................................................. 6 1.1 Overview ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 1.2 Flood Risk in the Thames Valley Catchment................................................................................................................ 8 1.3 Overview of Potential Catchment Approaches............................................................................................................ 9 1.4 Sustainability Appraisal including Strategic Environmental Assessment ..................................................... 11 1.5 Consultation ........................................................................................................................................................................... 12 2. Methodology ........................................................................................................................................................ 14 2.1 Study Area .............................................................................................................................................................................. 14 2.2 Establishing the SA Baseline ........................................................................................................................................... 14 2.3 Information Used ................................................................................................................................................................. 15 2.4 The SA Process ...................................................................................................................................................................... 16 2.5 Iterative Assessment ........................................................................................................................................................... 20 2.6 Describing Effects and Their Significance .................................................................................................................. 20 2.7 Natural Capital ...................................................................................................................................................................... 21 3. Review of Plans and Programmes, Legislation and Policy ....................................................................... 23 3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................... 23 3.2 National Legislation ............................................................................................................................................................ 23 3.3 Environment Agency Plans and Policies ..................................................................................................................... 28 3.4 Nationals Plans, Programmes and Strategies .......................................................................................................... 30 3.5 Other Plans ............................................................................................................................................................................. 36 3.6 Selected Local Authority Plans ....................................................................................................................................... 37 3.7 Plans Considered in the Review ..................................................................................................................................... 42 3.8 Other Plans of Relevance and Considered in the Review ..................................................................................... 43 3.9 Plans Not Considered in the Review ............................................................................................................................. 43 3.10 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................................................................. 43 4. Baseline Reporting – Social and Economic Factors .................................................................................... 45 4.1 Population and Human Health ....................................................................................................................................... 45 4.2 Access and Recreation ....................................................................................................................................................... 50 4.3 Economic Activity................................................................................................................................................................. 53 4.4 Flooding and the Economy .............................................................................................................................................. 56 4.5 Land Use and the Economy ............................................................................................................................................. 57 4.6 Material Assets – Critical Infrastructure ...................................................................................................................... 60 5. Baseline Reporting – Environmental Factors ............................................................................................... 63 5.1 Biodiversity ............................................................................................................................................................................. 63 5.2 Water ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 68 5.3 Soils and Geology ................................................................................................................................................................ 76 5.4 Landscape and Visual Amenity ...................................................................................................................................... 80 5.5 Cultural Heritage and Archaeology .............................................................................................................................. 84 ii Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report 5.6 Air Quality ............................................................................................................................................................................... 88 5.7 Climate Change .................................................................................................................................................................... 91 5.8 Resource Use and Waste ................................................................................................................................................... 93 6. Sustainability Appraisal Framework............................................................................................................. 100 6.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................ 100 6.2 Identification of Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 100 6.3 The Sustainability Appraisal Framework ................................................................................................................. 102