Report Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Aveton Gifford
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Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan Environmental Report to accompany the submission version of the Neighbourhood Plan Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group October 2019 Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Environmental Report to accompany the Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan Submission version Quality information Prepared by Checked by Approved by Ryan Putt Nick Chisholm-Batten Nick Chisholm-Batten Environmental Associate Director Associate Director Consultant Revision History Revision Revision date Details Authorized Name Position V1.0 Draft version for Nick Chisholm- Associate Neighbourhood Batten Director Group comment Prepared for: Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group Prepared by: AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited Plumer House Tailyour Road Crownhill Plymouth PL6 5DH United Kingdom aecom.com © 2019 AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited. All Rights Reserved. This document has been prepared by AECOM Infrastructure & Environment UK Limited (“AECOM”) for sole use of our client (the “Client”) in accordance with generally accepted consultancy principles, the budget for fees and the terms of reference agreed between AECOM and the Client. Any information provided by third parties and referred to herein has not been checked or verified by AECOM, unless otherwise expressly stated in the document. No third party may rely upon this document without the prior and express written agreement of AECOM. Prepared for: Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group AECOM Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Environmental Report to accompany the Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan Submission version Table of Contents Non-Technical Summary ............................................................................................................... 1. Introduction .............................................................................................. 1 Background ............................................................................................................................................. 1 SEA explained ......................................................................................................................................... 1 Structure of this SEA Environmental Report ........................................................................................... 2 2. Local Plan context and vision for the Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan ................................................................................................................. 4 Local Plan context for the Neighbourhood Plan ..................................................................................... 4 Vision, aims and objectives for the Neighbourhood Plan ....................................................................... 4 3. What is the scope of the SEA?................................................................ 6 SEA Scoping Report ............................................................................................................................... 6 Key Sustainability Issues ........................................................................................................................ 6 SEA Framework ...................................................................................................................................... 9 4. What has plan making / SEA involved up to this point? ........................ 13 Introduction............................................................................................................................................ 13 Overview of plan making / SEA work undertaken since 2017 .............................................................. 13 Housing numbers to deliver through the Neighbourhood Plan ............................................................. 13 Level of growth to deliver through the Neighbourhood Plan ................................................................. 13 Preferred approach of the Neighbourhood Plan: Housing delivery ...................................................... 14 Assessment of reasonable alternatives for site allocations .................................................................. 19 Current approach in the Neighbourhood Plan and the development of Neighbourhood Plan policies 23 5. What are the appraisal findings at this current stage? .......................... 33 Introduction............................................................................................................................................ 33 Approach to this appraisal..................................................................................................................... 33 Biodiversity and Geodiversity ................................................................................................................ 33 Climate Change .................................................................................................................................... 33 Landscape ............................................................................................................................................. 33 Historic Environment ............................................................................................................................. 33 Land, Soil and Water Resources .......................................................................................................... 33 Population and Community ................................................................................................................... 33 Health and Wellbeing ............................................................................................................................ 33 Transportation ....................................................................................................................................... 33 Conclusions at this current stage .......................................................................................................... 33 6. What are the next steps? ...................................................................... 34 Appendix A Context Review and Baseline ...................................................... 35 Prepared for: Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group AECOM Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Environmental Report to accompany the Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan Submission version This page is intentionally blank Prepared for: Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group AECOM Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Environmental Report to accompany the Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan Submission version Non-Technical Summary What is Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)? To include What is the Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan? To include Purpose of this Environmental Report To include Assessment of reasonable alternatives for the Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan To include Assessment of the submission version of the Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan To include Next steps To include Prepared for: Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group AECOM i Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Environmental Report to accompany the Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan Submission version This page is intentionally blank Prepared for: Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group AECOM ii Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Environmental Report to accompany the Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan Submission version Prepared for: Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group AECOM 3 Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Environmental Report to accompany the Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan Submission version 1. Introduction Background 1.1 AECOM has been commissioned to undertake an independent Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) in support of Aveton Gifford’s emerging Neighbourhood Plan. 1.2 The Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan is currently being prepared as a Neighbourhood Development Plan under the Localism Act 2011 and the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012. The Neighbourhood Plan is being prepared in the context of the Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan. 1.3 It is currently anticipated that the Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan will be submitted to South Hams District Council later in 2019 and undergo a referendum in 2020. 1.4 Key information relating to the Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan is presented in Table 1.1. Table 1.1: Key facts relating to the Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan Name of Responsible Authority Aveton Gifford Parish Council Title of Plan Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan Subject Neighbourhood planning Purpose The Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan is being prepared as a Neighbourhood Development Plan under the Localism Act 2011 and Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012. The plan will be in general conformity with the Plymouth and South West Joint Local Plan. The Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan will be used to guide and shape development within the Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan area. Timescale To 2034 Area covered by the plan The Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan area covers the parish area of Aveton Gifford in the district of South Hams in Devon (Figure 1.1) Summary of content The Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan will set out a vision, strategy and range of policies for the Neighbourhood Plan area. Plan contact point David Davis-Berry, Aveton Gifford Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group [email protected]