Sea Environmental Report – Cover Note - Part 1

Strategic Environmental Assessment / Measadh Àrainneachd Ro-innleachdail

ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT

Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan / Plana Leasachaidh Ionadail nan Eilean Siar

December 2015

SEA ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT – COVER NOTE - PART 1

To: SEA.gateway@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

SEA Gateway Scottish Executive Area 1 H (Bridge) Victoria Quay Edinburgh EH6 6QQ

PART 2

An Environmental Report is attached for [name of PPS]:

Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan

The Responsible Authority is:

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

PART 3

Contact name Isla Macarthur

Job Title Planning Officer

Development Plan and Marine Planning Team Contact address Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Stornoway Isle of Lewis HS1 2BW

Contact tel no 0845 600 7090

[email protected] Contact email

PART 4

Signature

Date 21 December 2015

1 CONTENTS

Page 1. NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY 4 Introduction and Purpose of Strategic Environmental Assessment 4 How to comment on the Environmental Report 4 Summary of SEA and Local Development Plan Stages 5 SEA Process 6 Likely Evolution of the Environment in the absence of the LDP 6 Summary of the Likely Significant Effects of the LDP 7

2. ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT - INTRODUCTION 8 Purpose of the Environmental Report 8 Local Development Plan Key Facts 9 SEA Activities to Date 10

3. OUTER HEBRIDES LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND ITS CONTEXT 11 Outline of the Plan 11 Objectives of the Plan 11 Relationship with other Plans, Programmes and Environmental Objectives 11 Relevant Aspects of Current State of the Environment 12 Environmental Baseline 13 Gaps in Baseline Information 22 Significant Environmental Issues 22 Likely Evolution of the Environment in the absence of the LDP 26

4. ASSESSMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS & PROPOSED MITIGATION 27 SEA Methodology 27 Alternatives Considered 33 Assessment Outcomes 33 Key Findings and Proposed Mitigation Measures 35

5. MONITORING 39 Next Steps 39

6. HABITATS REGULATIONS APPRAISAL 40 Legislative context 40 Adopted LDP and Natura 40 Early HRA Screening at MIR 43

2 APPENDICES Appendix A Links to other Plans, Programmes & Strategies & SEA Objectives 44 Appendix B Outer Hebrides Environmental Description 50 Appendix C Example Local Development Plan Site Assessment and SEA Checklist 61 Appendix D Summary of Key Findings and Proposed Mitigation Measures (2011) for elements of the Adopted LDP to be retained 92 Appendix E Summary of SEA Assessment Scores for Proposal Sites 96 Appendix F SEA Assessment Sheets – Main Issues and Related (available separately) Appendix G SEA Assessment Sheets – Sites (available separately) NB: (Appendix F and G are available by contacting the Planning Service)

LIST OF DIAGRAMS Diagram 1 Map: Outer Hebrides Context 12 Diagram 2 Map: International Environmental Designations 17 Diagram 3 Map: National Environmental Designations 17 Diagram 4 Map: Historic Environment 18 Diagram 5 Map: Landscape Character Assessment Areas 18 Diagram 6 Map: Outer Hebrides Saline Lagoons 19 Diagram 7 Map: Native Woodland Distribution 19 Diagram 8 Map: Carbon Rich Soils, Deep Peat and Priority Peatland Habitat 20 Diagram 9 Map: Wild Land 21

LIST OF TABLES Table 1 Summary of LDP & SEA Activities 5 Table 2 OHLDP Key Facts 9 9 Table 3 Summary of SEA Activities 10 Table 4 Summary of Environmental Baseline 14 Table 5 Significant Environmental Issues relevant to the LDP 23 Table 6 SEA Environmental Objectives and Criteria 28 Table 7 Example Revised SEA Assessment Sheet 30 Table 8 Summary of Assessment Outcomes 34 Table 9 Natura 2000 sites in the Outer Hebrides 41 Table 10 Elements of emerging LDP likely to be scoped out of Appropriate Assessment 43 Table 11 Elements of LDP scoped in to Appropriate Assessment 43

3 1. NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY

1.1 Introduction and Purpose of SEA

1.1.1 This Environmental Report (ER) is part of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan (LDP). The non-technical summary of the ER can be read on its own or as part of the full SEA Environmental Report. It explains what SEA is; why it has been done; what effects the absence of the LDP would be likely to have on the environment; and the main findings of the assessment.

1.1.2 Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a requirement of Scottish legislation to implement a European Directive. The European Union SEA Directive 2001/24/EC was transposed into Scots law in 2004 by the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005. The objective of the Directive is:

“to provide for a high level of protection of the environment and to contribute to the integration of environmental considerations into the preparation of and adoption of plans and programmes with a view to promoting sustainable development”*1.

1.1.3 The legislation places a responsibility on public agencies to assess the environmental impacts of certain plans and programmes and is a way of ensuring that environmental issues are carefully considered during preparation of a Plan.

1.2 How to comment on the Environmental Report

1.2.1 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is carrying out a SEA of the Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan in accordance with the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005.

1.2.2 The Environmental Report (ER) of the Local Development Plan SEA is available for public comment along with the Main Issues Report (current stage of LDP) and other associated documents. It can also be accessed on the Comhairle’s web page at: www.cne- siar.gov.uk/planningservice/localdevplan.asp and is available to view in hard copy at deposit locations throughout the islands.

1.2.3 Comments on the Environmental Report should be sent by 26 February 2016 to:

1.2.4 email: [email protected]

1.2.5 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Council Offices Development Plan and Marine Planning Team Development Department Stornoway Isle of Lewis HS1 2BW

1 * Directive 2001/42/EC: Article 1

4 1.3 Summary of SEA & Local Development Plan Stages

1.3.1 To be effective, the SEA process has to run in parallel with preparation of the plan to which it relates. The various stages of the SEA and Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan(OHLDP) process are set out below:

Table 1: Summary of OH-LDP and SEA Activities Local Development Plan Consultation and Engagement Strategic Environmental Indicative including statutory periods Assessment (SEA) & Programme Consultation Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) SEA Consultation Development Plan Scheme Publicise and submit to Scottish Assess baseline environmental info April 2015 & Participation Statement Ministers Scoping Report prepared revise submitted to SEA Gateway annually Submit Scoping (5WKS) Mar 2015 Main Issues Report (MIR) Call for sites and issues Consider responses received from  Gather information CA’s; refine methodology.  Monitoring of Engage key agencies and Environmentally appraise MIR; early March - Plans/Strategies stakeholders HRA screening. Preparation of Sept 2015  Stakeholder Engagement Environmental Report (ER) Publicise and Notify Publicise and Notify  Publish MIR & Monitoring Submit to Scottish Ministers Dec-Feb Statement for Consultation MIR Consult (10 WKS) ER Consult (10 WKS) 2016 Proposed LDP Engage key agencies/ Appraise Plan and Revise ER Dec - June  Assess MIR consultation stakeholders and members Prepare HRA report 2016 outcomes and prepare Proposed LDP Publicise and notify site Publicise and Notify  Advertise and Consult. owners/neighbours/MIR Reps Prepare EQIA July-Aug  Prepare Action Prog Prop Plan Consult (8 WKS MIN) Revised-ER Consult (8 WKS MIN) 2016 Consideration of Reps and Consider responses Sept- Feb17 Submission to Ministers  Consider representations  Prepare Summary of Unresolved Issues & Statement of Conformity with Participation Statement Feb 2017  (for unresolved reps if any) Submit Plan to Ministers Submit HRA Record Submit to ministers: Proposed LDP, Statement of Conformity, Reps; Participation Statement Publicise submission of Plan  Publicise examination Examination of Plan Examination Report published Reporter refers to SEA ER/ HRA Feb-June  Ministers appoint reporter (may take up to 6-9 months) 2017 Consideration of Environmentally appraise Plan as July-Sept Recommendations modified and carry out appropriate 2017  Consider assessment if required. recommendations and prepares mods, proposed Ministers publish revised ER and Plan as modified & HRA record if required. Statement of Explanation for not accepting recommendations LDP Adoption Sept-Oct  Publish Mods and 2017 Proposed Plan as modified  Send Ministers the Publicise Intention to Adopt Proposed Plan as modified Submit to Minister Nov 2017 (within 3mths Exam report) (28 days later) Adopt Plan &  Advertise intent to Adopt Publicise Ongoing and Review Engage as necessary On-going Sept 2017> Prepare Action Programme Publish Action Programme within (AP) 3 months of adoption Publish post adoption SEA statement / submit to Gateway

5 1.4 SEA process

1.4.1 The environmental baseline for the Plan area has been established using information already available to the Comhairle along with additional information gathered from a variety of sources including the Key Agencies. A number of gaps in information have been highlighted and the Comhairle is working with other appropriate agencies to address this. Assessment of the Plan has also been considered within the framework of other relevant international, national and local plans and policies.

1.4.2 The major environmental issues affecting the Plan area were identified in the Scoping Report. These include: . Impact of land use activities on the natural environment . Increasing demand for use of marine and coastal environment . The impact on the environment arising from insufficient water and wastewater infrastructure (including water quality) . Flood risk (including coastal inundation / storm surge) . Impact of land use activities on carbon rich soils . Provision and location of mineral reserves . Impacts of climate change . Waste management (low percentage of municipal waste recycled) . Demographic Imbalance (ageing and declining population) . Low comparable health and wellbeing . Rural poverty and deprivation . Pressure on setting of historic assets . Neglect of historic assets . Impact of land use activities on the landscape

1.5 Likely Evolution of the Environment in the absence of the Local Development Plan

1.5.1 The SEA process involves an assessment of the significant environmental effects of implementing the Local Development Plan (LDP) and an assessment of the evolution of the environment without the plan. It is not practical to anticipate every environmental change that may occur if the LDP is not implemented. This section identifies those changes that would be the most significant and likely in the event of non-implementation of the LDP and those aspects of the environment that are most likely to be impacted upon by the plan.

1.5.2 The current Development Plan comprises the Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan (2012) and provides a vision and spatial strategy to guide development across the Outer Hebrides. While much of the current Development Plan approach may still be applicable in the future, subject to modification and updating, monitoring of the current Development Plan has indicated that several policy approaches have been less effective and there are gaps and new issues that need to be assessed. There is also a need to take account of impacts arising from recent regulation and policy changes, such as Scottish Planning Policy, National Planning Framework 3, Flood Risk Management Strategies etc. A new Plan will seek to provide a clearer and up to date policy framework to effectively manage change and better secure appropriate development in appropriate locations and thus improved environmental impacts.

1.5.3 The following potential consequences may result in the absence of a new LDP for the Outer Hebrides (assuming the current LDP is still in place):

6 . incremental and cumulative development in outside settlement areas with no clear guidance or policy framework would potentially have detrimental environmental impacts; . potentially lower quality of development outcome, particularly in terms of appropriate siting and design, respect for character/setting and building design and materials; . lack of identification of effective strategic proposal sites in rural areas coupled with inflexible policy which promotes allocations as preferred sites for development could lead to decline in rural areas; and, . lack of effective and up to date development guidance and management could lead to detrimental impacts to valued cultural and built assets; Additional commentary on the environment is provided in Appendix B which gives an in- depth description of the Outer Hebrides environment by SEA topic.

1.6 Summary of the Likely Significant Effects of the Local Development Plan

1.6.1 The SEA assessment of the preferred and alternative options for addressing the issues identified in the Main Issues Report has been undertaken. As required by legislation each preferred and alternative option, as well as the overarching Plan Vision and Objectives, are assessed against the SEA objectives (each addressing specific environmental criteria) to identify the potential for positive or negative environmental impact.

1.6.2 Following assessment against seven SEA objectives, it is anticipated that the majority of the Plan will either have a neutral impact (0), a minor positive impact (+) or a significantly positive impact (+++) on the environment.

1.6.3 The principal Plan policy the Spatial Development Strategy and identified Main Issue, could result in limited number of potentially negative environmental impacts though these would be subject to mitigation measures related to specific spatial approaches or individual development proposals, (which themselves would be subject to appraisal and conditions). The majority of the proposed spatial development approach achieves positive benefits.

1.6.4 Some limited potential for negative impact has been identified in the Minerals preferred option and alternatives. However, given the very nature of minerals extraction this is not unexpected and mitigating measures are proposed e.g. a requirement for restoration plans.

1.6.5 The findings of the SEA assessment have suggested modifications or mitigation which would be dealt with in more detailed policy wording or wider Plan policies at the Proposed Plan stage. Some amendments, additions or deletions to text have also been proposed to increase the scope for positive impacts arising from the options. The changes do not however propose that any preferred options are replaced by an alternative option.

1.6.6 For this MIR the emerging proposal sites were subject to a more rigorous environmental assessment as prescribed by the SEA Gateway Authorities. This has enabled a more effective appraisal of site feasibility, environmental impact and identification of potential mitigation measures. Whilst onerous this has informed a more robust list of potential proposal sites.

1.6.7 In line with the requirements of the EC Habitats Directive early preliminary appraisal at the MIR stage of the Plan to determine the potential effects on European sites (SCA, SPAs and Ramsars) of preferred options and alternatives has been carried out and recorded.

7 2 ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT - INTRODUCTION

2.1 Purpose of this Environmental Report

2.1.1 As part of the preparation of Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is carrying out a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) at the Main Issues Report stage. SEA is a systematic method for considering the likely environmental effects of certain Plans, Policies & Strategies (PPS). SEA aims to: . integrate environmental factors into PPS preparation and decision-making; . improve PPS and enhance environmental protection; . increase public participation in decision making; and . facilitates openness and transparency of decision-making.

2.1.2 SEA is required by the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005. The key stages: Screening determining whether the PPS is likely to have significant environmental effects and whether an SEA is required. Scoping deciding on the scope and level of detail of the Environmental Report, and the consultation period for the report – this is done in consultation with Scottish Natural Heritage, Historic Environment Scotland and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Environmental Report publishing an Environmental Report (ER) on the PPS and its effects, consulting on the report and revising in the light of comments received. Adoption providing information on: the adopted PPS; how consultation comments have been taken into account; and methods for monitoring the significant environmental effects of the plan implementation. Monitoring monitoring significant environmental effects in such a manner so as to also enable the Responsible Authority to identify any unforeseen adverse effects at an early stage and undertake remedial action.

2.1.3 The purpose of the Environmental Report is to identify, describe and evaluate the likely significant impacts on the environment as a result of implementing the Plan and the reasonable alternatives to the Plan, taking account of the objectives and geographical scope of the plan.

2.1.4 Section 14 (3) of the Act requires the Environmental Report to include the information specified in Schedule 3 of the Act and to take account of the following: . current knowledge and methods of assessment of environmental matters; . the contents of, and level of detail in, the Local Development Plan; . the stage of the Local Development Plan in the decision-making process; and . the extent to which any matters to which the report relates would be more appropriately assessed at different levels in that process in order to avoid duplication of assessment.

2.1.5 Preparation of the Environmental Report has been informed by the guidance contained in Circular 1/2010 Strategic Environmental Assessment of Development Plans, online SEA Guidance and the requirements for the ER as set out in Schedule 3 of the Act. It has been structured to enable the public to understand the assessment, to foster early and effective public participation in the Local Development Plan and environmental assessment process and to allow the public to comment on the Environmental Report and its findings.

8 2.2 Local Development Plan Key Facts

2.2.1 The key facts relating to the Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan are set out in Table 2 below.

Table 2: OH-LDP Key Facts

Responsible Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Authority

Title of the Plan Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan

What Prompted The Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006. the Plan? Town and Country Planning (Development Planning) (Scotland) Regulations 2008.

Plan Subject Land use and development management

Period Covered 10 - 20 years from adoption (anticipated November 2017) by the Plan

Frequency of Five yearly Plan Updates

Plan Area Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Boundary (entire area of the Outer Hebrides, approximately 3,071 sq. km).

Purpose of the To provide development guidance and manage land use change to Plan/ Plan help deliver following vision and objectives. Objectives Vision:

To facilitate sustainable economic growth and help build confident and resilient communities, the Plan will provide planning policy that delivers long term benefits to the communities of the Outer Hebrides by ensuring development contributes to the creation of well-designed and attractive places, and that our natural, cultural and marine resources are utilised efficiently and sustainably. Objectives: The Vision aims to make our islands: - A good place to live in and move to - A successful place for working in - An attractive place enjoyed by residents and visitors

Contact Point Isla Macarthur, Planning Officer email: [email protected]

9 2.3 SEA Activities to Date

2.3.1 The process of preparing a new Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan (LDP) commenced February 2014 after the first Action Programme was published. As part of the SEA of the OHLDP a Scoping Report was prepared and submitted to the consultation authorities via the SEA Gateway in March 2015.

Assessment of the Main Issues Report has been carried out in-house to identify any significant impacts on the environment, and where appropriate take mitigating action or identify alternative approaches. An Environmental Report (enclosed herein) has been prepared and is published along with the Main Issues Report and other associated document in December 2015 for a ten week period.

Out-with the main issues, the majority of policy approaches in the adopted LDP are proposed to be retained with minor amends. As these adopted approaches have already been subject to SEA assessment, they have not been reassessed at this Main Issues Report stage but have been summarised later in this report.

2.3.4 SEA activities in relation to Local Development Plan are summarised in Table 3 below:

Table 3: Summary of SEA Activities

SEA Activities to Date

Dec – Feb 2015 Scoping Report prepared

March 2015 Scoping Report submitted to SEA Gateway

April 2015 Responses received from Consultation Authorities to Scoping Report via SEA Gateway

May - Nov 2015 Assessment of OHLDP Main Issues Report carried out in-house and preparation of Environmental Report (ER)

Consultation Timetable

December 2015 Publish ER and Main Issues Report (MIR)

Dec 2015 – Feb Public consultation on ER and MIR for minimum 8 week period. 2016

10 3 OUTER HEBRIDES LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND ITS CONTEXT

3.1 Outline of the Plan

3.1.1 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is the authority responsible for the preparation of the Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan, which is required to comply with The Town & Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended by the Planning etc. Scotland Act 2006)

3.2 Objectives of the Plan

3.2.1 The Local Development Plan aims: “To facilitate sustainable economic growth and help build confident and resilient communities, the Plan will provide planning policy that delivers long term benefits to the communities of the Outer Hebrides by ensuring development contributes to the creation of well-designed and attractive places, and that our natural, cultural and marine resources are utilised efficiently and sustainably.” Objectives:

3.2.2 The Key Objectives of the Local Development Plan are to make our islands:

 A good place to live in and move to  A successful place for working in  An attractive place enjoyed by residents and visitors

3.3 Relationship with Other Plans, Programmes and Environmental Objectives

3.3.1 Schedule 3 of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 requires the Environmental Report to identify the Plan’s relationship with other relevant Plans and Programmes containing environmental objectives relevant to the Plan. Appendix A contains a detailed list of those plans.

3.3.2 The plans, programmes and strategies that have an influence on the Outer Hebrides LDP vary in their importance dependent upon the level at which they are prepared. At international level, the EU Habitats and Birds Directive, that allows for the establishment of the Natura 2000 network of sites (Special Protection Area (SPA) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC); RAMSARS) has the most significant influence, given the extent of the land and water in the Outer Hebrides designated as such.

3.3.3 At national level, the National Planning Framework 3 and Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) inform plan preparation and provide guidance for the development of land on a wide range of uses. National policy indicates Development Plans should: facilitate sustainable development of an area, supporting increasing sustainable economic growth; contribute to high quality sustainable places; and protect and enhance environmental quality as an asset for that growth.

11 3.3.4 From a local perspective the Single Outcome Agreement for 2013-2023 (SOA) between Scottish Government and the Outer Hebrides Community Planning Partnership has informed Local Development Plan preparation. The Outer Hebrides Community Planning Partnership is working to ensure the Outer Hebrides is a prosperous, well-educated and healthy community enjoying a good quality of life where the benefits of its natural environment and cultural tradition are fully realised.

3.3.5 The LDP has a key part to play in helping deliver the land use development elements of the SOA for the Outer Hebrides.

3.4 Relevant Aspects of Current State of the Environment

3.4.1 The following section briefly describes the area of the Outer Hebrides. A more detailed description of all features is contained in Appendix B – Outer Hebrides Environmental Description.

3.4.2 The map below illustrates the geographical extent of the Outer Hebrides and position relative to the mainland.

Diagram 1 Outer Hebrides Context

Geography & Geology 3.4.3 The Outer Hebrides, also known as the Western Isles, is an archipelago of islands lying off the north-west coast of mainland Scotland. They are situated at the most north-westerly point in Europe. These islands are separated from the Scottish Mainland by the Minch, the Little Minch and the Sea of the Hebrides. For a detailed description of the geography and geology of the Isles see Appendix B.

Habitats and Species 3.4.3 The Outer Hebrides has a high quality environment, rich in biodiversity and with a large percentage of land, areas of inland waters and marine sites designated for nature conservation purposes. The renowned natural beauty and relative remoteness of the islands bestows on them a unique environmental sensitivity.

3.4.4 From a European perspective, the key habitat types are:

 Marine  Vegetated sea-cliffs  Machair  Peatland  Uplands  Freshwater lochs

Designations 3.4.6 The following conservation designations are in place in the Outer Hebrides: 1 World Heritage Site 15 Special Areas of Conservation (SAC), 15 Special Protection Areas (SPA) 4 RAMSAR 1 Biosphere Reserve 3 National Scenic Areas 52 Sites of Special Scientific Interest 3 National Nature Reserves 1 Local Nature Reserve 1 Designed Landscape & Historic Garden 4 Conservation Areas 465 Scheduled Ancient Monuments 321* Listed Buildings * note: some buildings have multiple listings

3.5 Environmental Baseline

Introduction & limitations

3.5.1 Schedule 2 of the Regulations requires that the environmental report includes a description of ‘the relevant aspects of the current state of the environment, and the likely evolution thereof without implementation of the plan and programme’ and ‘the environmental characteristics of the areas likely to be significantly affected’.

3.5.2 This section describes the environmental context within which the Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan operates and the constraints and targets that this context imposes on the plan. The baseline data referred to in this assessment is therefore relevant to environmental considerations, although for the purposes of the Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan preparation, socio-economic indicators are also taken into account.

3.5.3 The Comhairle holds a large volume of environmental information in a number of different datasets. Competent authorities are encouraged to avoid duplication and cross-refer to other documents where possible. It is not practical to attempt to reproduce this data or to describe the environmental characteristics in detail because it would make this report unworkable. Therefore, a dataset entitled ‘Outer Hebrides Baseline Environment’ has been created for the specific purpose of carrying out strategic environmental assessments of plans. The sources and agreed targets (where available) are contained within this dataset

13 which is held by the Development Plan team in the Comhairle Offices, Stornoway. In addition, the Comhairle Archaeology Service holds the Sites and Monuments Record, a historic environment dataset.

3.5.4 Table 4 provides a summary of key environmental baseline information for the Outer Hebrides. A more detailed account is provided in Appendix B - Outer Hebrides Environmental Baseline, where current constraints and future trends are discussed.

Table 4: Summary of Environmental Baseline Topics Key Facts

Biodiversity,  306,916 ha in total land and water area; and 2687 km coastline; Flora & Fauna  Over 70 named islands (14 inhabited) and over 100 beaches;  1.2% of UK land mass & 15% of UK’s freshwater surface area;  Important Habitat types include: marine; vegetated sea-cliffs; machair; peatland; uplands; freshwater lochs; offshore islands; and salt marshes;  Western Isles Biodiversity Audit (SAC 2002) found: 18 priority, 14 broad and 4 locally important habitats; 189 species (60 were priority; 72 were of conservation concern and 57 were locally important);  Local Biodiversity Action Plan (LBAP) habitats: native woodland (diagram 6); cereal fields and margins; saline (coastal) lagoons (diagram 7);  LBAP species: Great Yellow Bumblebee; Dunlin; Corncrake; Corn Bunting, and; Irish Lady’s Tresses Orchid;  Native woodland is extremely fragmented; restricted to areas that are protected from grazing, approximately 50-70 hectares;  4 core areas of native woodland identified in the Western Isles Native Woodland Survey Report produced in 2008;  Loch nam Madadh SAC: important extensive fjardic sea loch systems;  Species with SAC protection are: grey seal; common seal; otter; Atlantic salmon; freshwater pearl mussel; slender naiad (aquatic plant);  10% of Outer Hebrides is made up of rare ‘machair’ habitat, the largest and richest example of cultivated machair in the world;  St Kilda: the most important sea bird breeding station in NW Europe

Water  Scottish Water oversee 101 small Waste Water Treatment Works and 68 medium waste water Treatment Works and 3 large Waste Water Treatment works  Scottish Water oversee 1 large Water Treatment Works, 17 medium Water Treatment works and 2 very small Water Treatment Works;  19 public drinking water supplies; all water supplies are treated to produce drinking water to the national standard;  The majority of the Outer Hebrides coastline (2,700 km at the high water mark) is considered to be ‘undeveloped’ except for Stornoway (‘developed’) and the stretches of ‘isolated’ coastline (includes uninhabited islands);  In 2014, there were 21 aquaculture production companies employing 286 fte with the production of 33,775t Atlantic Salmon, 431t C.Mussel;

14  Freshwater fisheries supported 260 fte jobs with 7,500 visiting anglers reflecting expenditure in the sector of £5.6m (2000);  Total of 134 coastal classifications – 89 classed as high, 45 classed as good;  450 residential properties and 160 non-residential properties identified as at risk of flooding in the Outer Hebrides Local Planning District.

Soil  Underlying rocks range from the ancient Lewisian Gneiss (oldest rock formation in Britain) to some of the youngest sedimentary strata found in Scotland;  Lewis Peatlands is one of the largest blanket bogs in Europe;  Soils formed on three parent materials: peat; windblown shelly sand and drifts derived from Lewisian Gneisses;  High proportion of undisturbed soils;  22% of household waste recycled in 2014;  39 recycling Bring Site facilities;  Kerbside collection service provided to 100% of households;  23 operational mineral workings (safeguarded for mineral extraction: rocks, moraine, boulder clay and sand);  High to moderate risk of soil erosion in organic soils.

Air and Climatic  Nitrogen Dioxide has been monitored using passive diffusion tubes Factors at sites in the Outer Hebrides since 1993;  Greater likelihood of residents using a car to get to work as opposed to foot or bike than Scottish average. Higher rates of car ownership and greater propensity to have multiple cars;  Continued major improvements to the road network along Spinal Route and to remote communities over the years;  Public Transport Improvement Initiative introduced to promote integration of bus and ferry timetables;  Roads: 340 km ‘A’; 177 km ‘B’; 189 km ‘C’; 486 km ‘unclassified in 2013/14’;  228 Wind Turbine Planning applications received in total since 2005.

Population and  Ageing population with skewed age profile showing higher Human Health concentration in older age groups;  Census: 2011 = 27,684; 2001 = 26,502; 1991 = 29,600; 1981 = 30,702;  NRS Estimates: 2014 = 27,250; Projections: 2037 = 24,596;  Low birth rate (8.2 per 1,000 popn.) and high death rate (12.6) in 2014;  Number of annual births projected to fall by 31% (2012 to 2037);  Close to average life expectancy for both males and females;  2011: Households: = 12,576; Household Size = 2.17 persons;  84 new housing starts and 79 completions 2014;  6027 crofts (69 owned, 666 absentee);  Housing Association Development Completions 46 units in 2014/15, projected 34 units in 2015/16;

15  459 on waiting list and 157 on transfer list on Housing Waiting List as at March 2015;  62% in Fuel Poverty (SHCS 2011-13);  47 road accident casualties recorded in 2014;  7 noise complaints received by Comhairle in 2014/15;  5 sites (9 ha) of ‘vacant land’ in 2013; 4 sites (1 ha) of ‘derelict land’ in 2014 and approx 533 ‘potentially’ contaminated sites.

Material Assets  St Kilda World Heritage Site (dual natural and cultural status); and  Stornoway Townscape Heritage Initiative - 5 year project jointly Cultural Heritage funded by local agencies, Historic Scotland & Heritage Lottery Fund, £2.2 million, completed 2012;  4 Conservation Areas: Stornoway, Lewis; Gearrannan, Lewis; Ruisgarry, Berneray; and Howmore, South Uist;  321 listed buildings recorded in the Outer Hebrides;  213 Scheduled Ancient Monument designations (recorded as legal entities), covering 465 monuments;  Over 13,000 known archaeological sites and monuments recorded in SMR;  Large, undeveloped areas of land where archaeological interest is uncertain but potentially significant; particularly the moorland and below the high tide level;  Extent of archaeological resource below the high tide level unknown but believed to be significant;  1 site designated Historic Garden and Designed Landscape – Lews Castle Grounds (238 ha);  Concentrations of cultural heritage interests in Callanish area of international importance.

Landscape  Distinctive and unique man-made landscape: valued landscapes are identified under the designation of the 3 National Scenic Areas;  The Western Isles Landscape Character Assessment (J. Richards, SNH, 1997) identifies the following major landscape types: Crofting One; Crofting Two; Crofting Three; Crofting Four; Machair; Boggy Moorland; Rocky Moorland; Knock and Lochan; Rock and Lochan; Mountain Massif One; Mountain Massif Two;  Outer Hebrides Core Areas of Wild Land 2014 - per SNH’s Wild Land data.

16 Diagram 2 Diagram 3

17 Diagram 5

Diagram 4

18 Diagram 7

Diagram 6

Diagram 8

Diagram 9

3.6 Gaps in the Baseline Information

3.6.1 The environmental baseline information is generally adequate for the purposes of the assessment of the Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan objectives, policies and allocations at the plan-wide level but inevitably gaps in information exist. The following summarises the likely gaps and/or unreliability of the SEA baseline data.

3.6.2 Current and accurate information on the level of damage reported to designated sites and the net change in priority and protected species (identified in Biodiversity Action Plans) has been difficult to obtain at a local level, due to their mobile, evolving and dynamic nature, and infrequent and variable survey methods. Biological recording project collated information during 2011 and this is held on the NBN Gateway online web site.

3.6.3 Areas of coastal flood risk are inherently difficult to predict due to the unpredictable and extreme climatic conditions the islands experience. SEPA have produced an Indicative Flood Risk Map which provides the framework for future planning. The Comhairle, as lead Local Authority, will be producing a Flood Risk Management Plan, and will take forward the objectives and actions set out in the Flood Risk Management Strategy due to be published by the end of 2015. This will provide an overview of the Outer Hebrides Local Plan District (LPD), an assessment of the river catchments, assessments of coastal catchments and an overview of surface water management.

3.6.4 The archaeological potential of the islands is very high, due to relatively extensive land management in the past. Much land across the islands is undeveloped and, by its very nature, archaeology is often a concealed resource. There are particular gaps in the baseline information about moorland and hill areas and archaeology below the high tide line.

3.6.5 Working with others, the Comhairle will continue to address these gaps.

3.7 Significant Environmental Issues

3.7.1 The purpose of this section is to explain how existing environmental problems will affect or be affected by the Local Development Plan and whether the plan is likely to aggravate, reduce or otherwise affect existing environmental problems.

3.7.2 Environmental problems were agreed through discussions with the Consultation Authorities as part of the scoping exercise. The significant environmental issues addressed in the preparation of the LDP are set out in Table 5.

Table 5: Significant environmental issues relevant to the Local Development Plan

Issue Supporting Data Implications for LDP

Biodiversity, Flora and Fauna

Impact of land use activities  Number / area of natural With regard to the Natural on the natural environment heritage designations; Heritage designated sites and protected species, the current Increasing demand on the  species & habitats identified development plan approach is islands natural environment as priorities in national /local considered sufficient to ensure from resource development biodiversity action plans; development is sustainable (e.g. aquaculture; energy, and does not result in the loss tourism) and other pressures  reported condition of of integrity of natural heritage (e.g. settlement growth, service designated sites; assets. infrastructure, cumulative  net change in protected and impact). priority species; With regard to the Marine Environment, this new Plan Increasing demand for use of  LBAP Habitat and Species should be prepared with due marine and coastal Action Plans/ Scottish account taken of its impact on environment Biodiversity List / State of UK the marine environment and its There is an overlap of land and BAP Priority Species & users, and on marine policy sea based regulatory regimes in Habitats Outer Hebrides; objectives. intertidal and for projects that  coasts categorised as span the marine and terrestrial developed / under-developed environments and demand is and isolated; increasing for marine and coastal resource use.  number of applications involving the intertidal zone;  National Marine Plan.

Water

Insufficient water /  SW Settlement Wastewater The current Development Plan wastewater infrastructure Constraints List; approach to these issues is generally considered In settlements where public  SW Strategic Asset Capacity appropriate for addressing wastewater systems are close and Development Plan 2015; constraints on water/waste to capacity demand can build water infrastructure and for private systems which are  quality of rivers and preventing development which less easy to regulate and may freshwater bodies (biological would have a significant cause environmental problems. and chemical); aquifers and probability of being affected by The lack of maintenance of groundwater resources; flooding, increase the SUDs is also a potential issue.  water use and availability – probability of flooding Water Quality storage capacity and elsewhere or require new associated infrastructure; defences. Water quality in the Outer Hebrides is generally high but  number of new developments The LDP will adopt the current locally a number of water bodies incorporating SUDs; approach with any necessary policy refinement, particularly do not consistently meet the  number of new developments with regard to: clarity on required WFD standards. in constrained areas; coastal inundation and coastal Flood risk  number of applications for flooding; incorporating policy SEPAs Flood Maps and planning consent within areas objectives from FRMS (and National FRA identify a number at risk of future flood risk; any SFRA); SEPA policy of settlements and eight updates and flood maps.  SEPA Flood Maps; Flood Potentially Vulnerable Areas in Risk Management Strategy the Outer Hebrides where flood (FRMS); Stornoway SFRA risk is significant. when available.

Soils and Mineral Resources

Impact of land use activities  Distribution of Carbon Rich The LDP will adopt the current on soils Soils, Deep Peat and Priority approach to soil resources but Peatland; refine policies to ensure the Given the high coverage sustainable management and (85.4%) of carbon rich soils  number and location of protection of soils (sensitive throughout the islands the operational (and closed) soils, effects of excavation and management of excavated mineral workings; soil disturbance) is better materials has implications for its promoted. use as a carbon sink and can  number of mineral also impact water quality. applications out-with An audit is required to assess safeguarded reserves / the future mineral supply, Provision and location of decisions; needs and demand. Following mineral reserves  mineral enforcement actions. the audit the LDP will assess Given the high level of whether additional sites need environmental designation in to be identified or whether the islands there is an ongoing certain minerals, challenge in ensuring the circumstances or areas require sustainable provision of rock, a new approach. sand and gravel supplies to satisfy future long term demands.

Air and Climatic Factors

Climate change mitigation The LDP will adopt the current and adaptation  traffic count on significant approach to climate change roads within the Outer and waste management but There are a number of factors Hebrides; refine policy to ensure: which impact fuel consumption and CO2 emissions in the  fuel poverty levels and  adequate provision for islands disproportionately, such Scottish Housing Quality mitigation and adaptation as poor quality housing stock, Standards; measures for climate adverse weather conditions; the change;  Car Ownership; dispersed and remote nature of  sustainable and energy settlements and infrequent  improvements / extensions efficient development is public transport leading to made to public transport adequately promoted in higher than average fuel systems and facilities; consumption and energy siting and design;  no. of renewable energy infrastructure and distribution  appropriate provision for planning applications and (availability). cleaner energy generation areas safeguarded for and renewable energy Waste management renewable energy projects; technologies; Excessive landfill and  amount of waste generated in  the Plan contributes to the unnecessary use of new the Outer Hebrides and implementation of waste materials contribute to climate disposed of; amount of waste strategies aimed at change. The percentage of recycled, composted or increasing recycling, municipal waste recycled is recovered in the area; reducing waste and lower in the Outer Hebrides operational and closed waste reducing landfill. than for Scotland as a whole disposal and management and is not increasing year on sites. year.

Population and Human Health

Demographic imbalance  Changes / trends in The LDP will seek to identify land use solutions that The islands have an ageing and demography; household respond to the socio economic declining population with one of characteristics / composition challenges arising, the highest dependency ratios and tenure; emphasising the need for in Scotland.  vital events, quality of life, life positive policies which: expectancy and health embrace the principles of

Low comparable health and statistics for men and women; sustainability and help realise well-being the islands full economic  Scottish Index of Multiple potential by providing good The Outer Hebrides has one of Deprivation: Geographic quality supply of employment the highest obesity rates (BMI), access to services land at appropriate locations; lowest life expectancy rates  number of new building promote high quality, safer (males), and the lowest physical applications and builds; places and; create, protect, or activity rate in Scotland. improve conditions for health  Relevant housing statistics: Rural poverty and deprivation and wellbeing; maintain and housing association improve opportunities to Relative poverty is high and is development completions; access public open space. compounded by issues of fuel housing register waiting list; poverty, long term  housing conditions survey unemployment, lack of and fuel poverty affordable housing, and isolation from main service  crofting tenure/characteristics; centres and health/ educational facilities.  contaminated and derelict land.

Cultural and Material Assets

Setting of historic assets  Number / outcome of planning The current Development Plan applications where historic approach to safeguarding and The open landscapes of the assets are affected. enhancing the built Outer Hebrides host a large environment is considered number of historic and cultural  no. of conservation areas; appropriate. The LDP will assets and there is increasing listed buildings by category; adopt this approach but refine development pressure on Scheduled Ancient policy and the Conservation sensitive sites and their setting. Monuments on the Sites and Area Management Plans to Neglect of heritage assets Monument Register; historic ensure they remain up to date gardens and designed and relevant. Neglect and deterioration of landscapes; listed buildings can put their special qualities at risk.  sites of national or local archaeological importance; and areas where archaeological interest is uncertain but potentially significant;  % of listed buildings and archaeological sites at risk;  CnES Design Guide

Landscape

Impact of land use activities  landscape character including The current Development Plan on the landscape any distinctive features or approach to safeguarding and associations based on enhancing the landscape is The landscape (and settlement) landscape character considered appropriate. There character of the Outer Hebrides assessment; is an opportunity to enhance are inherently vulnerable to this approach through revision change due to its largely open  areas designated for their to the LDP spatial strategy. and unobscured nature and the national landscape distinctive crofting settlement importance and reasons for pattern. A large proportion of their designation / description the Outer Hebrides also lies of their special qualities and within areas designated as features; National Scenic Area and Wild Land.  landscape capacity studies of on-shore wind farms.

3.8 Likely Evolution of the Environment in the absence of the LDP

3.8.1 The SEA process involves an assessment of the significant environmental effects of implementing the LDP and an assessment of the evolution of the environment without the plan. It is not practical to anticipate every environmental change that may occur if the LDP is not implemented. This section identifies those changes that would be the most significant and likely in the event of non-implementation and those aspects of the environment that are most likely to be impacted upon by the plan.

3.8.2 The current Development Plan comprises the Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan (2012) and provides a vision and spatial strategy to guide development across the Outer Hebrides. While much of the current Development Plan approach may still be applicable in the future, subject to modification and updating, monitoring of the current Development Plan has indicated that several policy approaches have been less effective and there are gaps and new issues that need to be assessed. There is also a need to take account of impacts arising from recent regulation and policy changes, such as Scottish Planning Policy, National Planning Framework 3, Flood Risk Management Strategies etc. A new Plan will seek to provide a clearer and up to date policy framework to effectively manage change and better secure appropriate development in appropriate locations and thus improved environmental impacts.

3.8.3 The following potential consequences may result in the absence of a new LDP for the Outer Hebrides:

. incremental and cumulative development in outside settlement areas with no clear guidance or policy framework would potentially have detrimental environmental impacts; . potentially lower quality of development outcome, particularly in terms of appropriate siting and design, respect for character/setting and building design and materials; . lack of identification of effective strategic proposal sites in rural areas coupled with inflexible policy which promotes allocations as preferred sites for development in these areas could lead to decline in rural areas; . lack of effective and up to date development guidance and management could lead to detrimental impacts to landscape and natural heritage interests as well as valued cultural and built environment assets. Additional commentary on the environment is provided in Appendix B which gives an in- depth description of the Outer Hebrides environment by SEA topic.

4 ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECT & PROPOSED MITIGATION MEASURES

4.1 SEA Methodology

4.1.1 The Local Development Plan requires SEA assessment to be carried out at the early Main Issues Report (MIR) Stage. The MIR focuses on identifying the major land uses and development context changes occurring since the previous Local Development Plan and suggests a preferred option and any alternative approaches to dealing with these matters. The MIR also identifies the main site allocations to be included in the LDP. No new Supplementary Guidance is proposed in the MIR.

4.1.2 SEA of the Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan Main Issues Report was aligned with the preparation of the MIR. Issues and proposals were assessed in autumn 2015 subsequent to a final review of policy approaches following discussion with Key Agencies, Comhairle Members and the Scottish Government. The assessment process was undertaken in-house by staff within the Development Department.

4.1.3 The Visions and Objectives, proposal sites, and preferred and alternative options for dealing with the main issues have all been individually assessed.

4.1.4 An effort was made to streamline the objectives in this SEA, aligning each of them to specific issues with distinct criterion. It was highlighted at Scoping that the objectives should be viewed collectively, as elements of each will be applicable to other issues. This approach was agreed with the Consultation Authorities (CAs).

4.1.5 As a result of comments received from the CA’s at the Scoping Report stage, the assessment forms used for the LDP Environmental Report were amended, in particular, the matrix was amended to give more clarity on a score for ‘prior to mitigation’ and one for the residual effects following the application of mitigation. An example of the revised assessment sheet is in Table 7.

4.1.6 Additionally, following advice from the CA’s at scoping and in pre-scoping engagement, the Comhairle, amended and utilized (in consultation with CA’s) the CA jointly produced ‘Local Development Plan Site Assessment and SEA Checklist’ to assess the allocation sites. This has included any development sites which are current allocations in the adopted Plan. An example of this revised site assessment matrix can be found at Appendix 3.

4.1.7 The MIR proposes that the majority of policy approaches in the adopted LDP are retained (aside from those relating to the main issues), subject to minor review. The current LDP (adopted 2012) was subject to SEA assessment, at both the Main Issues Stage (February 2010) and Proposed Plan (September 2011). As these adopted approaches have already been subject to SEA assessment, they have not been reassessed at this Main Issues Report stage but the results have been summarised later in the report. However, all policies of the emerging Plan will be assessed / reassessed at the Revised Environmental Report Stage (Proposed Plan).

Table 6: SEA Environmental Objectives and Criteria

No SEA Environmental Criterion Interrelationships Objectives 1 Biodiversity Maintain Is the aim/policy/proposal (alone or in Reduced water Flora and effective combination with other policies or proposals) and air pollution, Fauna stewardship likely to significantly help to protect, enhance or and soil and of the restore: mineral management are islands  Natura 2000 sites; ecology important factors  other internationally and nationally in maintaining designated sites; biodiversity.  European protected species and other nationally protected species;  LBAP priority habitats and species;  sensitive marine and coastal environments;  Marine Protected Areas; or is it likely to have significant adverse effects on them? 2 Water OBJ 2: Is the aim/policy/proposal likely to significantly Improved land and Protect and help: flood management enhance the  minimise water pollution; schemes can water support greater environment  safeguard drinking water quality; biodiversity. Soil and reduce  ensure sustainable use of water resources; disturbance may flood risk  ensure appropriate drainage infrastructure; impact water quality.  promote sustainable flood risk management; or is it likely to have significant adverse effects on them? 3 Soils and OBJ 3: Is the aim/policy/proposal likely to significantly: Flooding and flood prevention Mineral Promote  help protect soils or encourage the Resources sustainable sustainable use of soils; measure could soil and impact soil with mineral  encourage the sustainable use of mineral associated resource resources; impacts from management or is it likely to have an adverse effect? erosion, disturbance and landslips. There are opportunities to maximise biodiversity enhancement opportunities in restoration plans. 4 Air and OBJ 4: Is the aim/policy/proposal likely to significantly The majority of soil Climatic Reduce help to: cover is Carbon Factors energy  maintain air quality; Rich Soils, Deep consumption Peat and Priority and the  minimise air and noise pollution; Peatland which, if contribution  contribute to the reduction of greenhouse disturbed, can be to climate gas emissions in line with the national liable to CO2 change targets; release; policy  increase the use of renewable sources of should seek to energy; minimise the volume of  reduce energy inputs into the building excavated peat, process; promoting its  reduce high levels of waste production and reuse in an

the demand for landfill and encourage the appropriate sustainable use of waste (e.g. recycling and manner without composting) resulting in waste or is it likely to have an adverse effect? generation. Car ownership levels,

fuel poverty and poor housing stock impacts emissions. Climatic factors are likely to result in additional areas at risk of flooding. 5 Population OBJ 5: Is the aim/policy/proposal likely to: Access to a high and Maintain the  Protect and enhance human health; quality natural Human quality of the environment can Health Outer  improve the natural and built environment in have positive Hebrides as urban and rural areas; mental health a place to  promote good building design; benefits and air, live, work and  enhance the quality and range of open noise and water visit space in the main settlements; pollution can impact human  promote the re-use of redundant or health. degraded buildings and land; Development at or is it likely to have significant adverse effects risk of flooding has on them? the potential to put human health at risk. 6 Cultural OBJ 6: Is the aim/policy/proposal likely to help to: Built heritage may and Protect,  protect, promote and where appropriate be a significant Material promote and enhance the historic and cultural feature of the Assets where environments (including individual assets wider landscape. appropriate such as scheduled monuments, listed enhance the buildings, designed landscapes and historic and conservation areas and their related settings cultural and the wider cultural landscape including environments unscheduled archaeology) or is it likely to have adverse effects on them? 7 Landscape OBJ 7: Is the aim/policy/proposal likely to significantly Protection of Safeguard help to: landscape may general . enhance general landscape quality and also provide landscape local distinctiveness; protection for character and biodiversity; . safeguard important views and the visual visual changes in soil amenity of areas amenity conditions can or is it likely to have significant adverse effects affect the on them? vegetation which in turn can affect landscape character.

Table 7: Example Revised SEA Assessment Sheet

+++ + ? 0 - --- d/k Significantly Minor Uncertain benefit Not relevant or Minor adverse Significantly adverse Insufficient information available benefit benefit neutral impact to take an informed view

Proposed Policy / Proposal / Criteria:

Description and reason for inclusion:

SEA Objective Environmental Criterion Summary Reasoning for score Proposed mitigation Revised score score 1. Maintain effective Is the aim/policy/proposal (alone or in stewardship of the combination with other policies or proposals) islands ecology likely to significantly help to protect, enhance or restore:  Natura 2000 sites;  other internationally and nationally designated sites;  European protected species and other nationally protected species;  LBAP priority habitats and species;  sensitive marine and coastal environments;  Marine Protected Areas; or is it likely to have significant adverse effects on them? 2. Protect and Is the aim/policy/proposal likely to significantly enhance the water help: environment and  minimise water pollution; reduce flood risk  safeguard drinking water quality;  ensure sustainable use of water resources;  ensure appropriate drainage infrastructure;  promote sustainable flood risk management; or is it likely to have significant adverse effects

on them? 3. Promote sustainable Is the aim/policy/proposal likely to significantly: soil and mineral  help protect soils or encourage the resource sustainable use of soils; management  encourage the sustainable use of mineral resources; or is it likely to have an adverse effect? 4. Reduce energy Is the aim/policy/proposal likely to significantly consumption and help to: the contribution to  maintain air quality; climate change  minimise air and noise pollution;  contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in line with the national targets;  increase the use of renewable sources of energy;  reduce energy inputs into the building process;  reduce high levels of waste production and the demand for landfill and encourage the sustainable use of waste (e.g. recycling and composting) or is it likely to have an adverse effect? 5. Maintain the quality Is the aim/policy/proposal likely to: of the Outer  Protect and enhance human health; Hebrides as a place to live, work and  improve the natural and built environment visit in urban and rural areas;  promote good building design;  enhance the quality and range of open space in the main settlements;  promote the re-use of redundant or degraded buildings and land; or is it likely to have significant adverse effects on them? 6. Protect, promote Is the aim/policy/proposal likely to help to: and where  protect, promote and where appropriate appropriate enhance enhance the historic and cultural the historic and environments (including individual assets 31

cultural such as scheduled monuments, listed environments buildings, designed landscapes and conservation areas and their related settings and the wider cultural landscape including unscheduled archaeology) or is it likely to have adverse effects on them? 7. Safeguard general Is the aim/policy/proposal likely to significantly landscape character help to: and visual amenity . enhance general landscape quality and local distinctiveness; . safeguard important views and the visual amenity of areas or is it likely to have significant adverse effects on them? Note of other effects e.g. short, medium, long term, permanent or temporary, secondary cumulative or synergistic:

Summary of effects:

Options for mitigation or modification:

4.2 Alternatives Considered

4.2.1 The SEA Directive and the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act require the Environmental Report to consider the impacts of alternatives to the proposed plan as part of the SEA. There is no alternative to producing the Local Development Plan as this is a statutory requirement under the Planning etc (Scotland) Act 2006.

4.2.2 The LDP Main Issues Report set out an approach to deal with the main planning issues and identified the Comhairle’s preferred option together with any reasonable alternatives which were subject to assessment. The SEA process has assessed both the preferred and alternative options and informed the alternative responses to these issues. While providing comment and suggesting changes on both preferred and alternative options in the Plan the SEA assessment process did not identify any additional new alternative options and has not concluded that the preferred options be replaced with any of the alternatives.

4.3 Assessment Outcomes

4.3.1 Table 9 below summarises the SEA assessment scoring outcomes for the vision, objectives preferred options and alternatives. The full assessments sheets for the Main Issues (Appendix F) are available separately and can be accessed by contacting the Planning Service.

4.3.2 A site assessment process has also been undertaken for all the proposal sites put forward for the MIR, utilising an amended version of the CA’s jointly produced ‘Local Development Plan Site Assessment and SEA Checklist’. A blank version of the amended SEA Assessment and SEA Checklist’ used can be found in Appendix C.

4.3.3 It is proposed that out-with the main issues, the majority of policy approaches in the adopted LDP are retained. As these adopted approaches have already been subject to SEA assessment, they have not been reassessed at this Main Issues Report stage. A summary of the previous assessment relating to these sections can be found at Appendix D and full assessment findings can be found at: http://www.cne- siar.gov.uk/planningservice/proposedLDPenvassessment.asp

4.3.3 Scoring Guide:

+++ Significant benefit + Minor benefit ? Uncertain benefit 0 Not relevant or neutral impact - Minor adverse - - - Significant adverse d/k Insufficient information available to take an informed view

Table 8: Summary of Assessment Outcomes

ecology of the stewardship islands Maintain 1. effective risk flood and environment reducewater and enhance Protect 2. the management resourceand mineral Promote 3. sustainable climatecontribution to change and the consumption Reduce 4. energy work and visit live, Hebrides placeOuter as to a the qualityMaintain the 5. of environments and cu historic the enhance appropriate Protect, where 6. promote and amenityvisual landscape character and Safeguard general7.

ltural ltural

soil

Summary Summary Summary Summary Summary Summary Summary Summar

Revised Revised Revised Revised Revised Revised Revised Revised

Score Score Score Score Score Score Score Score Score Score Score Score Score Score

Emerging + + + + + + ? + +++ +++ + + + + Plan Vision Emerging Plan ? + + + ? + ? + +++ +++ ? + + + Objectives Development Outside 0 d/k 0 0 0 0 0 0 +++ +++ - + + + Settlement

Grow Rural - - 0 0 + + + + +++ +++ ? ? + + Communities Impact on Crofting & + + 0 0 + + + + +++ +++ + + +++ +++ Croftland Stornoway 0 0 - - 0 + - - +++ +++ +++ +++ + + Marine + + +++ +++ n/a n/a + +++ + + + + +++ +++

Offshore + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 + + + + - + Islands Main, Rural & Out With + + - + - + - + +++ +++ - + +++ +++ Settlements, & Remote Spatial Strategy Alt. + + ? + - + - + +++ +++ - + +++ +++ 1 Status Quo Spatial Strategy Alt. ? ? d/k ? d/k ? ? ? + + + + d/k ? 2 Design & Place + + +++ +++ ? + + +++ +++ +++ ? + + +++ Making: Preferred

D & P M: ? + ? + - ? - + + +++ - ? ? + Alternative 1

D & P M: - + - ? - ? ? + +++ +++ - ? + +++ Alternative 2 Minerals: Preferred - + d/k + - ? + + 0 + - ? - + Approach

Minerals: - ? - - - ? ------0 + - - - ? - + Alternative 1

ltural ltural

soil

Summary Summary Summary Summary Summary Summary Summary Summar

Revised Revised Revised Revised Revised Revised Revised Revised

Score Score Score Score Score Score Score Score Score Score Score Score Score Score

Minerals: --- ? - - - - d/k ? + + ------Alternative 2 Newton Area: 0 0 - - 0 + --- - - +++ 0 + 0 + Preferred Newton Area: 0 0 - 0 0 + --- - - + 0 + + + Alternative 1 Newton Area: 0 0 d/k d/k 0 + --- - + ? 0 + 0 + Alternative 2

4.4 Key Findings and Proposed Mitigation Measures

4.4.1 Assessment of the vision/objectives, preferred and alternative approaches to main issues as well as proposals have achieved either neutral (0), minor benefit (+) and some significant benefits (+++) scoring against the seven SEA environmental objectives, based on the original draft MIR text.

4.4.2 Where potential negative impacts have been identified or where there is scope to achieve more positive impacts or strengthen the proposed policy approaches, the modifications or mitigation proposed will largely be achieved in the detailed Policy wording or wider Plan policies at the Proposed Plan stage. No changes to the current preferred policy approaches or Plan Vision and Objectives are proposed in light of the SEA process. There are no proposals that any preferred options are replaced by an alternative option.

4.4.3 In some cases the full environmental effect that particular plan approaches will have is unknown until the details of the proposed development emerge. In most cases detailed polices in the Plan will address these potential impacts.

4.4.4 The details of the individual assessments and any proposed amendments or mitigating measures are outlined below.

4.4.5 Plan Vision and Objectives

The emerging Plan Vision and Objectives were informed by contextual information, informal consultation and land use elements of the local Single Outcome Agreement. The draft Vision and Objectives have been reassessed following amendments to the proposed Vision and Objectives reflecting comments from both Members and Key Agencies at dedicated MIR workshop sessions. These amendments have actually strengthened the Plan Vision and Objectives in relation to the SEA environmental objectives in terms of sustaining and supporting rural communities.

The significance of the Plan Vision and Objectives in underpinning in the whole Plan and setting a positive sustainable development context was noted. Importantly the Vision and Objectives achieved all positives impacts or at least unknown benefits scores in the SEA scoring process. In light of comments already received through early engagement and the workshops it is not propose to change the Plan Vision or Objectives further currently.

4.4.6 Main Issue 1 Spatial Development Strategy & Alternatives

The preparation of an actual spatial strategy should effectively guide or steer development. Reflective of monitoring and stakeholder feedback this principle part of the Development Plan is subject to the greatest consideration through this Main Issue stage of the Plan process.

Overall the preferred Policy approaches for the Spatial Development Strategy have scored positively or neutral with a small number of minor adverse scores some of which can be mitigated for to improve them, through wider plan policies. Five of the seven preferred spatial policy approaches, and both the Plan Vision and Objectives achieve a significant positive score for the fifth SEA objective: Maintain the quality of the Outer Hebrides as a place to live, work and visit. This is welcomed as it reflects the overall aim of the Outer Hebrides Development Plan.

4.4.7 Main Issue 1 A Spatial Development Strategy: Development Out with Settlements

Whilst it might be perceived that the prospect of development ‘out with settlement’ may have the potential for negative impacts on environmental criteria the actual intent of this policy approach is to better manage and direct development in these areas. Further, the anticipated level of development is low scale minimal impact or sympathetic development. Thus this approach has largely scored neutral impact with one minor adverse impact being mitigated through the application of wider plan policies to make it minor positive impact. No change to the policy approach itself is proposed.

4.4.8 Main Issue 1 B Spatial Development Strategy: Grow Rural Communities

This policy approach largely scores positive in the assessment process as it seeks to sustain rural communities whilst being mindful of their environmental context. The one negative score relates to the potential impact of renewable energy projects on areas of natural heritage designations. Whilst wider plan policies and the emerging revised Wind Energy Supplementary Guidance will seek to address this potential impact the outcome remain unknown.

4.4.9 Main Issue 1 C Spatial Development Strategy: Impacts on Crofting and Croftland

As the practices and culture of crofting form and positively manage the landscape and environment in the Outer Hebrides this policy approach largely scores positively or significantly positive. One neutral score reflects anticipated minimal or no impacts on water environment aspects. No changes to the policy approach are proposed.

4.4.10 Main Issue 1 D Spatial Development Strategy: Stornoway

The proposed new policy approach for Stornoway as a distinct settlement category aims to recognise its unique features and align with Scottish Planning Policy’s distinct approach for towns and town centres. The scoring for this Stornoway approach achieves some significant positives including for the quality of a place to live and work in and visit but also in recognising its specific historical and cultural assets and the means to safeguard them. Inevitably though there are some minor adverse impacts in relation to water environment and climate change criteria given Stornoway’s physical setting and its focus for the majority of industrial, commercial and residential activity. No change to the policy approach is proposed and impact can be mitigated through wider Plan policies. 36

4.4.11 Main Issue 1 E Spatial Development Strategy: Marine

By setting out a specific policy approach for the Marine category most criteria achieve at least a positive score with three SEA objectives achieving significant positive scores. This is achieved by the policy intent to better recognise and direct terrestrial planning’s role in and impact on the marine environment. One criteria Soils and Minerals is gauged as not applicable. The role of the Supplementary Guidance for Marine Fish Farm in underpinning this policy approach is also noted positively. No change.

4.4.12 Main Issue 1 F Spatial Development Strategy: Offshore Islands

Whilst some negative impacts may have been anticipated with the introduction of this category, it has actually scored neutrals or positive impacts. This is achieved through the policy’s approach to better recognise, manage and direct the anticipated small scale development being proposed. Further the proposed policy approach does intent to set out where development would not be appropriate which the current Plan doesn’t. No change to the policy approach is proposed and impact can be mitigated through the actual Policy detail and wider Plan policies.

4.4.13 Main Issue 1 Alternatives 1 and 2: Spatial Development Strategy

Whilst the suggested alternatives to the spatial development strategy do achieve some positive scores they also have several ‘minor adverse’ and ‘insufficient information’ scores which does note point to them being elevated to replace the preferred policy approaches.

4.4.14 Main Issue 2 Design and Place Making – Preferred Approach and Alternatives

This preferred policy approach (the best scoring Main Issue or alternative) achieves four significant positive impact scores; party through mitigation, as it aims to provides more clarity on the potential of design and place making to impact positively on environmental criteria in the Outer Hebrides e.g. on the water environment and landscape aspects. The approach will be strengthened through policy detail and wider Plan policies.

The alternative approaches score a number of minor adverse impacts some of which can be mitigated to positive or unknown benefits, but neither is proposed to replace the preferred policy approach to Design and Place Making.

4.4.15 Main Issue 3 Minerals – Preferred Approach and Alternatives

Whilst both preferred and alternative policy approaches show some negative impacts the alternatives do also score a number of significant adverse impacts some of which are mitigated to minor adverse or unknown benefits. This reinforces the preferred policy approach. Whilst it is noted though that minerals will inherently have some negative impacts extraction activity is required to support development and building on the islands.

4.4.16 Main Issue 4 Newton Area – Preferred Approach and Alternatives

By its very nature the Newton area, as the historic and current centre of heavy industrial activity and location of the Island’s diesel fired power station, gas plant and oil depot is bound to have some negative scores, through only one significantly adverse score for all three options. Proposed mitigation does elevate these to minor adverse impacts thought. There are also a number of neutral or positive impacts achieved with one significant positive benefit in the preferred approach. Actual policy detail in the Proposed Plan and wider Plan policies will address some of the potential negative impacts.

4.4.17 Proposal Sites

As a result of various assessment and feasibility processes of potential proposal sites a number of sites have been screened out of the site selection process. The sites were a mixture of housing, economic development and mixed use sites. These sites were removed for a number of reasons some of which can be attributed to the SEA process. Reasons included: the site being too small; flooding or erosion issues; site not being effectively defined; proximity to natural heritage designations; not compatible to neighbouring uses; sensitivity of site; and the development could be dealt with through policy.

A summary of the SEA assessment scores for the proposal sites (both pre and post mitigation) can be found at Appendix E. The full SEA/LDP site assessments sheets (Appendix G) are available separately and can be accessed by contacting the Planning Service.

5 MONITORING

5.1 The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 requires that significant environmental effects of implementing the Plan must be closely monitored in order to minimise potentially adverse impacts.

5.2 Monitoring is also an essential part of the development planning process. The monitoring process established in the SEA of the current LDP has informed the preparation of this emerging Plan. The approach to monitoring has evolved to address the emerging Plan and pertinent environmental issues. A monitoring report is published concurrently with the MIR and this SEA Environmental Report. This continual process will ensure that policy development and the decision making process incorporates the available environmental information and considers the likely environmental impacts.

5.3 Monitoring enables decision-makers to answer such questions as: . Were the assessment predictions of environmental effects accurate? . Is the plan benefiting the environment? . Is the plan contributing to the achievement of desired environmental objectives and targets? . Has implementation changed the environmental focus of the plan? . Are mitigation measures performing as well as expected? . Are there any adverse effects? Are these within acceptable limits, or is remedial action desirable?

5.4 To be effective, monitoring should be based explicitly on specific indicators and targets that may help to inform the understanding of environmental change in the area and the interrelationships of policies and cross compliance.

Next Steps

5.5 Following consultation on the Environmental Report, the Comhairle will consider any comments received and revise the report as appropriate. The future milestones in the development of the LDP and the associated SEA and Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA) together with the expected stage completion dates are detailed in Table 1 in Section 1.3.1.

5.6 Further information will be available online on the Comhairle’s Local Development Plan web page http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/planningservice/localdevplan.asp

6. HABITATS REGULATIONS APPRAISAL

6.1 Article 6(3) of the EC Habitats Directive requires that any plan which is not directly connected with the management of a European site, but would be likely to have a significant effect on such a site shall be subject to an ‘appropriate assessment’ of its implications in view of the site’s conservation objectives. The Comhairle will therefore carry out a Habitat Regulations Appraisal (HRA) to determine this. This scheduling of the HRA and how this fits with the LDP process is outlined in table 1, section 1.3.1.

6.2 Reports and documentation relating to SEA/HRA will be submitted through the SEA Gateway and will be made available for people to view on the Comhairle’s website and at the main Comhairle offices. A notice will be published to this effect. It is proposed that SEA consultation period will align with Plan consultation periods, as illustrated in table 1.

6.3 Preliminary screening of the potential effects on European sites (SACs, SPAs inc. RAMSARS) of vision and objectives, preferred options, reasonable alternatives and proposal sites has been carried out and recorded as part of the SEA process to ensure HRA implications are considered early. A summary of this early HRA work is included in this chapter. A draft Habitat Regulations Appraisal Record will be included in the revised Environmental Report at the Proposed Plan stage (as a separate and distinct chapter).

HRA Legislative Context 6.2 This section of the report identifies the legislative and policy requirements for a Habitats Regulations Appraisal of the Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan (LDP).

6.3 A network of sites across the European Community, known as Natura 2000, comprise of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and RAMSARs.

6.4 Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the conservation of wild birds, commonly known as the Birds Directive, gives member states of the European Union the power and responsibility to classify Special Protection Areas (SPAs) to protect birds which are rare or vulnerable in Europe. The Habitats Directive 1992 requires member states to designate SACs. Member States are to protect and restore the sites included in this Network.

6.5 In October 2005, the European Court of Justice ruled that the UK had failed to correctly transpose the provisions of Council Directive 92/43/EEC (the Habitats Directive 1992) into national law. In particular, the UK had failed to ensure that land use plans were subject to appropriate assessment where they might have a significant effect on a Natura 2000 site. The then Scottish Executive conveyed the outcome of this ruling to local authority planners in December 2005 and in May 2006 issued interim guidance ‘Assessing Development Plans in Terms of the Need for Appropriate Assessment’.

6.6 The Habitats Directive applies the precautionary principle to SPAs and SACs. Plans and projects can only be permitted after having ascertained that there will be no adverse effect on the integrity of the site(s) in question. The interest features of the European Sites must be maintained so as to avoid deterioration of habitats and significant disturbance of species. However under the provisions of Article 6(4) of the Habitats Directive, where it cannot be shown that a plan or project will not adversely affect the integrity of a site it can only proceed if there are no alternative solutions and there are imperative reasons of overriding public interest for doing so. In such cases, compensation will be required to ensure the overall coherence of the Natura 2000 network is protected.

6.7 Regulation 85B of the Habitats Regulations requires that before any competent authority submits a plan for approval, that is not directly connected with or necessary to the management of a European Site (either SAC or SPA), it is necessary to consider:

. whether the plan is likely to have a significant effect on such a site; and, . where this is the case, that an Appropriate Assessment has been carried out on the likely impacts.

6.7 As a result of this judgement Local Plans cannot therefore be adopted by a planning authority unless: . there has been a determination by the planning authority based on objective information that the provisions of the plan are not likely to have a significant effect on any European site; or . an appropriate assessment has been carried out in respect of the provisions of the plan in line with the requirements of Articles 6.3 and 6.4 of the Habitats Directive.

The Adopted Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan and Natura 2000

6.8 There are a large number of natural heritage designated terrestrial and marine sites within the Outer Hebrides and therefore it is inevitable that there will be development within these sites, however the majority of development is small in scale. It is acknowledged that there are a large number of crofts within designated sites and that traditional crofting methods and practices and land management techniques within peat lands have contributed to the maintenance and support of these protected species and habitats.

6.9 The Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan recognises the special value of the Outer Hebrides natural heritage and contains policies relating to the natural environment. It is considered that the policies in the adopted LDP together with national guidance provide a robust framework within which development proposals which may affect the natural environment can be satisfactorily assessed with appropriate environmental safeguarding.

6.10 Natura 2000 sites in the Outer Hebrides are identified below:

Table 9: Natura 2000 Sites in the Outer Hebrides

Special Protection Areas Special Areas of RAMSAR sites Conservation (15 sites – 90,481 ha) (14 sites – 90,226 ha, (4 sites – 69,640 ha) including marine) Aird and Borve, Benbecula Langavat Lewis Peatlands Eoligarry, Barra Lewis Peatlands Loch an Duin (N. Uist) Flannan Isles Loch nam Madadh North Uist Machair & Kilpheder and Smerclate Loch Roag Lagoons Islands Lewis Peatlands Mointeach Scadabhaigh South Uist Machair & Lochs Mingulay and Berneray Monach Islands Mointeach Scadabhaigh North Harris Monach Islands North Rona Ness and Barvas, Lewis North Uist Machair North Harris Mountains Obain Loch Euphoirt North Rona and Sula Sgeir Sound of Barra cSAC North Uist Machair & East Mingulay pSAC Islands South Uist Machair Shiant Isles St Kilda South Uist Machair &Lochs Traigh Na Berie St Kilda

Early HRA Screening at MIR

6.11 Early assessment work was undertaken at the MIR stage to examine whether the vision, objectives, preferred and alternative options and allocation sites proposed at this stage would be likely to influence or fall within European sites in and around the Outer Hebrides.

6.12 The SEA Environmental Objective for “1. Maintain effective stewardship of the islands ecology” in the policy assessment template (see table 6) incorporated a criterion which specifically asked whether the preferred or alternative option was likely to have a significant adverse effect on a Natura 2000 site, as below.

Is the aim/policy/proposal (alone or in combination with other policies or proposals) likely to significantly help to protect, enhance or restore:  Natura 2000 sites;  other internationally and nationally designated sites;  European protected species and other nationally protected species;  LBAP priority habitats and species;  sensitive marine and coastal environments;  Marine Protected Areas; or is it likely to have significant adverse effects on them?

This allowed the vision, objectives, preferred and alternative options to be screened early for impacts on Natura 2000 sites.

6.13 The ‘Local Development Plan Site Assessment and SEA Checklist’ (see Appendix 3) used for appraising all sites proposed for inclusion in the MIR included a specific question in ‘Biodiversity Flora and Fauna’ which asked for an assessment of the likely impacts on a Natura Site, as below:

Q1A: To what extent will the proposal impact on international designations e.g. Special Area of Conservation /Special Protection Area/RAMSAR Note: If negatively affected then Habitats Regulations Appraisal will be required

6.15 Scoring was sufficiently detailed to ensure a thorough map search of the site and its position in relation to Natura Sites was undertaken and assessed:

- - Development of site may have an adverse effect on the integrity of a Natura 2000 site - Development may be likely to have a significant effect on a Natura 2000 site but no adverse effect on site integrity 0 = Unlikely to be any impact on on a Natura 2000 site due to nature, scale or location of proposal + Proposal may make a minor contribution to the enhancement of the integrity of a Natura 2000 site + + Proposal may make a significant contribution to the enhancement of the integrity of a Natura 2000 site ?? = Unknown

6.14 In the majority of preferred options and alternatives and proposals it was assessed that there would be a neutral or positive benefit on the sites. The only Main Issue that has been assessed to have a significant adverse impact on these designated sites is Main Issue 3 – Minerals, Alternative 2, this proposal involved providing for local needs with a criteria based policy approach which responds to proposals if/when they arise. It was considered that a key weakness of this approach is that sites were not identified. However, through mitigation measures which included criteria addressing impacts on natural heritage designations and restoration there would be a positive benefit to the designated sites.

6.15 One site was screened out of inclusion in the MIR due to its potential for negative impact on qualifying interest of a Natura Site. ‘Hushinish Tourism Development’ with the proposed use of a café/hostel (site A) was removed due to its location on a fragile machair environment which is also a SAC and SPA. It was felt that due to its potential negative impacts, this site should not be safeguarded for such a use in the Plan and any subsequent application would have to meet the tests set out in the Natural Heritage policy of the LDP.

6.16 Based on the HRA of the current adopted Plan and the early screening work undertaken at the MIR of this emerging Plan, it is anticipated that the following elements of the emerging Plan are likely to be scoped out and in, or require further discussion. It is proposed to work with SNH to identify the final approach in advance of the assessment.

Table 10: Elements of the emerging Plan likely to be scoped out/in of Appropriate Assessment

LDP Policy/Proposal Justification for Scoping out of Appropriate Assessment (adopted Plan reference) Policies 2 –15 and General strategic policy statements Policies 20, 22 – 34 Policies 16, 17, 18 Outwith designated areas Policy 30 (St Kilda) Although St Kilda is an SPA and a SAC site, no change to policy is proposed and this has been through SEA in the adopted Plan. Proposal INF1 (Spinal The spinal route passes through several SACs and SPAs but Route Improvements) SEA/LDP assessment has highlighted that no specific sites are proposed in this allocation and the Natural Heritage Policy is sufficiently robust to ensure that the integrity of the SPA/SAC will not be compromised by any forthcoming proposals. Any planning application would require SNH to be consulted. LDP Policy / Proposal Reason for Scoping in to Appropriate Assessment Policy 21 (Minerals) The minerals policy will potentially identify specific sites or policy approaches which could have the potential for possible significant negative effects. LDP Issue / Proposal Further Discussion Required with SNH Sites bordering Natura A number of proposal sites are in proximity to Natura 2000 2000 Sites site. SNH will be consulted to determine whether there are processes or pathways by which a proposal lying out with a designated site may still influence the sites ‘qualifying interests; although due to the scale of the proposals it is not anticipated that there will be any significant effects. Cumulative Impacts There may be some risk to designated areas from cumulative effects of development, but any assessment of a development planning application would consider cumulative impact.

APPENDIX A – LINKS TO OTHER PPS AND ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVES Plans, Programmes and Strategies The LDP is influenced by a wide range of International, European, National and Local PPS’s that the plan must take into account. The table below provides an initial list of the relevant PPS’s that the Comhairle envisages will influence the content of the LDP and be analysed for relationship with the LDP. The list may expand as the preparation of the LDP progresses and as a result of feedback from the consultation authorities.

PLAN/PROGRAMME/ Objectives or requirements of the PPS How objectives might be STRATEGY Environmental Protection objectives addressed in LDP 1. INTERNATIONAL & EUROPEAN UN Framework Convention on UN Framework convention on climate Compliance with existing Climate Change and its Kyoto change. legislation/policies. Agreement [United Nations] Convention on Biological Diversity Convention commits signatories to develop Will be taken account of in LDP [United Nations] national strategies, plans or programmes for policies specifically on the the conservation and sustainable use of environment, sustainability biological diversity. issues and biodiversity. The Renewables Directive, 2001 Commitment from each country to sign up to LDP policies will take into [European Union] specific targets for renewable energy. account the objective to contribute to meeting agreed National targets for renewable energy. EU Habitats and Birds Directives Aims to protect the wild plants, animals, Compliance with existing [European Union] habitats and wild birds that make up our legislation/policies and diverse natural environment. Allows for the directives. designation of Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and Special Protection Areas (SPA). EIA Directive This Directive shall apply to the assessment Compliance with existing [European Union] of the environmental effects of those public legislation/policies and and private projects, which are likely to have directives. significant effects on the environment. EU Water Framework Directive The purpose of the Directive is to establish a Compliance with existing [European Union] framework for the protection of inland legislation/policies and surface waters (rivers and lakes), transitional directives. water (estuaries), coastal waters and groundwater. EC Shellfish Directives This Directive concerns the quality of Compliance with existing 79/923/EEC has been repealed shellfish waters and applies to those coastal legislation/policies and and is superseded by and brackish waters designated by the directives. 2006/113/EC Member States as needing protection or improvement in order to support shellfish (bivalve and gasteropod molluscs) life and growth and thus to contribute to the high quality of shellfish products directly edible. 91/492/EEC This Directive lays down the health LDP policy will ensure [European Union] conditions for the production and the placing compliance with existing on the market of live bivalve molluscs. legislation/policies and directives.

PLAN/PROGRAMME/ Objectives or requirements of the PPS How objectives might be STRATEGY Environmental Protection objectives addressed in LDP EC Bathing Waters Directive Since the 1970s, the EU has had rules in Compliance with existing 76/160/EEC place to safeguard public health and clean legislation/policies and [European Union] bathing waters. The revised Bathing Water directives. Directive (BWD) of 2006 updated and simplified these rules. It requires Members States to monitor and assess the bathing water for at least two parameters of (faecal) bacteria. In addition, they must inform the public about bathing water quality and beach management, through the so-called bathing water profiles. These profiles contain for instance information on the kind of pollution and sources that affect the quality of the bathing water and are a risk to bathers' health (such as waste water discharges)

2. NATIONAL DTI: Energy White Paper: Our Sets out the Government’s international and Will be taken into account in Energy Future – Creating a low domestic energy strategy to respond to LDP policies, particularly via carbon economy (2003) these changing circumstances, address the appropriate sustainable [UK Government] long term energy challenges we face and development/design deliver our four energy policy goals. approaches. Climate Change: the UK Sets out the UK governments policies and Will be taken into account in Programme 2006 priorities for action in the UK and LDP policies, particularly with [UK Government] internationally. regard to climate change adaptation and resilience. Securing the Future – UK This is an agenda for the long-term strategy Will be taken into account in Development Strategy 2005 to help deliver a better quality of life through LDP policies, particularly via [UK Government] sustainable development. appropriate sustainable development/design approaches. UK Biodiversity Action Plan 1994 Aims to conserve and enhance biological Will be taken into account in [UK Government] diversity within the UK. LDP policies, particularly any relevant aspects of the local Biodiversity Action Plan. National Planning Framework 3 Guides Scotland’s spatial development. Will inform LDP preparation. (NPF3) 2014 MIR context. [Scottish Government] Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) Policy guidance, good practice advice notes, Compliance with regulations 2014 and associated statutory and guidance on policy implementation and and guidance will closely inform instruments (Regulations & procedure on planning issues of importance LDP preparation and MIR Circulars) at a national level. context. [Scottish Government] Climate Change Delivery Plan Sets out the steps being taken in Scotland to Will be taken into account in 2009 tackle climate change. LDP policies, particularly with [Scottish Government] regard to climate change adaptation and resilience building. Scottish Sustainable Document setting out action which we will Will be taken into account in Development Strategy, 2005 take in Scotland to turn the shared priorities LDP policies, particularly via [Scottish Government] set out in the UK Framework for sustainable appropriate sustainable development into action. development and design approaches. Land Use Strategy 2011 Strategy represents the Government’s LDP policy will take appropriate [Scottish Government] statement of policy on land use and contains account of this Strategy. objectives for improving the benefits we can get by making wise choices about the use of Scotland’s land. National Marine Plan 2015 A single Framework for Managing our Seas. LDP will link with the new [Scottish Government] Marine Plan for the Outer Hebrides and take into account where relevant.

PLAN/PROGRAMME/ Objectives or requirements of the PPS How objectives might be STRATEGY Environmental Protection objectives addressed in LDP Scotland’s Marine Atlas [Scottish Information for the National Marine Plan Will inform LDP policy on Government] 2011. Marine issues where appropriate. Circular 1/2015 The relationship This Circular explains the relationship Will inform LDP policy, between the statutory land use between the marine and terrestrial planning particularly with regard to Planning system and marine systems, including related regimes such as marine issues such as planning and licensing marine licensing and consenting for offshore aquaculture, coastal [Scottish Government] energy generation, ports and harbours development and erosion and development and aquaculture. marine renewables.

Designing Streets 2010 Policy statement in Scotland for street Will be taken account of in LDP [Scottish Government] design. policy, particularly on siting and design and in SG where appropriate. Creating Places 2013 A policy statement on architecture and place Will be taken account of in LDP [Scottish Government] for Scotland. policy, particularly on siting and design. Scottish Biodiversity Strategy Strategy for conservation and enhancement Will be taken into account in [Scottish Government] of biodiversity in Scotland. LDP policies, particularly any relevant aspects of the local Biodiversity Action Plan. Scottish Biodiversity List 2006 List of Species and Habitats considered to Will be taken into account in [Scottish Government] be of Principal Importance for the purpose of LDP policies, particularly Biodiversity Conservation in Scotland. Natural Heritage. Scottish Historic Environment Sets out Scottish Ministers’ policies, This policy has been partially Policy (SHEP) 2011 providing direction for Historic Scotland and withdrawn, however, LDP policy [Scottish Government] a policy framework that informs the work of a will take into account those wide range of public sector organisations. parts that are still relevant. Our Place in Time - The Historic This sets out the 10 year vision for Will inform policy on the historic Environment Strategy for Scotland’s historic environment and how its environment. Scotland. cultural, social, environmental and economic [Scottish Government] value contributes to the nation and its people. UK National Air Quality Strategy Sets out health-based objectives for ambient LDP policy will take these [Department for Environment, air pollutants in the UK. environmental objectives into Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)] account. Scotland River Basin The purpose of this plan is to maintain and LDP policy will take these Management Plan 2009-15. improve the quality of the water environment environmental objectives into Improving the quality of in the West Highland advisory group area. account with regard to the local Scotland’s water environment This includes the catchments of the Western context. West Highland area management Isles, Skye and the small isles and the plan western seaboard of mainland Scotland from Cape Wrath to Ardnamurchan, plus the 2010–2015 coastal and estuarine waters surrounding [SEPA] them. This plan supplements the river basin management plan for the Scotland river basin district, and will help to deliver Water Framework Directive requirements. Scottish Soil Framework 2009 The principal aim of the Scottish Soil LDP will take appropriate [Scottish Government] framework is to promote the sustainable account in policy relevant to soil management and protection of soils resources. consistent with the economic, social and environmental needs of Scotland.

PLAN/PROGRAMME/ Objectives or requirements of the PPS How objectives might be STRATEGY Environmental Protection objectives addressed in LDP Carbon-rich soil, deep peat and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has The LDP process will be priority peatland prepared a consolidated spatial dataset of informed by SNH’s work on soils habitats map carbon-rich soil, deep peat and priority and peatland resources in Consultation document 2014 peatland habitats in Scotland – this is relevant policy. [SNH] derived from existing soil and vegetation data. The intention behind developing and publishing this map is to give greater understanding as to where Scotland’s peatlands are found.

Scotland’s National Peatland Plan The principal aim of the plan is to: Protect, LDP policy will take account of 2015 manage and restore peatlands to maintain nationally important peatland [SNH] their natural functions, biodiversity and habitat in the area. benefits. Sewers for Scotland Third Edition The 3rd Edition of Sewers for Scotland takes Will inform LDP policy, [Scottish Water] account of changes to technical standards particularly on water and waste and new additions to material selection, and water; and waste management. provides improved clarity on Scottish Water's requirements in terms of specification for the design, construction and vesting of new water infrastructure assets. 3. LOCAL Outer Hebrides Single Outcome This Single Outcome Agreement for 2011-13 LDP will take appropriate Agreement (SOA) between the Scottish Government and Outer account. Importantly informs [Outer Hebrides Community Plan Hebrides Community Planning Partnership MIR vision and objectives. Partnership (OHCPP)] sets out priorities which will focus the delivery of better outcomes for the people of the Outer Hebrides. Outer Hebrides Economic This is the Outer Hebrides Community LDP will take this Strategy into Strategy 2013-2020 Planning account, particularly with regard [OHCPP] Partnership’s Economic Strategy for the to developing policy that will period up to 2020. The strategy seeks to put contribute to sustainable in place a clear Purpose built around a economic growth in the Outer number of essential themes that will set the Hebrides. development agenda in the Outer Hebrides for the decade to 2020. Outer Hebrides Climate Change On 31 October 2012, OHCPP partners LDP policy will take account of Declaration signed up to the Outer Hebrides Climate climate change issues and their [OHCPP] Change Declaration, committing partners to implications for the Outer action which addresses climate change. Hebrides. Outer Hebrides Tourism Action plan for the development of tourism LDP policy will take account of Partnership Plan which works within the national framework. this plan in respect of [OHCPP] sustainable development of recreational assets, quality environment and crofting diversification. South Uist and Barra The South Uist and Barra Regeneration LDP policy will take into account Regeneration Programme Programme is a suite of four inter-linked, this programme in policy, with [CnES] regeneration projects that the local regard to regeneration and community and businesses wish to develop sustainable economic growth in to reinvigorate and enhance the fragile and fragile areas of the Islands. peripheral areas of Uist and Barra. CnES Corporate Strategy 2012- A strategy to deliver the Local Authority’s LDP policy will take account. 2017 [CnES] key aims and objectives. Creating Communities of the The strategy provides a long-term LDP vision and objectives will Future 2002 regeneration vision for the Outer Hebrides, link with this regeneration [CnES] which is supported by a detailed Action Plan. strategy. Outer Hebrides Design Guide Setting out design guidance on detailed Review and incorporate into [CnES] matters such as scale, form, setting in the LDP, ensuring more landscape and the use of materials. sympathetic siting in terms of landscape character. Outer Hebrides Local Housing Details the housing outcomes, objectives, The LDP process is concurrent Strategy and Housing Needs and and actions that the Comhairle and our local to and informed by work

PLAN/PROGRAMME/ Objectives or requirements of the PPS How objectives might be STRATEGY Environmental Protection objectives addressed in LDP Demand Assessment (HNDA) partners believe will best address the issues undertaken on the Local [CnES] affecting our distinctive local housing system Housing Strategy and the during the lifespan of the Strategy. HNDA, these documents will inform the ongoing preparation of the new LDP. Outer Hebrides Housing Land A biennial report which can be used to Inform LDP site selection; Lego Audit monitor the availability of effective sites, the Informed background Monitoring [CnES] progress of sites through the planning Statement and MIR. process, and housing completions. Local Transport Strategy Provides an integrated framework for the LDP will take appropriate [CnES] delivery of local transport policies and account. proposals. Outer Hebrides Core Paths Plan Statutory requirement for a network of paths Incorporate core path network 2010 to provide ‘reasonable access’ throughout and appropriate aspects re the islands. countryside access in LDP. Outer Hebrides Creative and A framework for heritage, the arts, creative LDP policy will align with this Cultural Industries Strategy industries and Gaelic in the Islands. Strategy where relevant, [CnES] particularly with regard to encouraging creative industries, opportunities for home-working, live-work units, micro- businesses and community hubs. Contaminated Land Strategy The identification of contaminated land LDP will take appropriate [CnES] within Outer Hebrides. account, particular in identifying sites and any remedial works required. Local Air Quality Updating and Assesses whether any of the air quality LDP policy will take appropriate Screening Assessment objectives will be exceeded in the Outer account of these objectives in [CnES] Hebrides. order to maintain air quality at an acceptable level. Western Isles Landscape An illustrated description and analysis of the LDP will take account of LCA Character Assessment landscape character of the Outer Hebrides. particularly to ensure [SNH] sympathetic development in terms of landscape setting. Section 11: Eilean Siar Description of the special environmental and Will take into account in LDP The special qualities of the historic features of the National Scenic policy, particularly on National Scenic Areas. SNH Areas. Landscape and Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No.374. as appropriate. (2010) [SNH] SSSI Management Plans Management Plans for each individual SSSI. Liaison with SNH to ensure [SNH] compliance and to minimise any effect on habitats and species. Local Biodiversity Action Plan Identification of habitats and species of value LDP will link to LBAP and take [CnES] in the area. into account where appropriate. Western Isles Woodland Strategy The strategy provides the key objectives for LDP will link to Woodland 2004 the maintenance, enhancement and Strategy and take into account [CnES] development of woodland in the Outer where appropriate. Hebrides. Draft Revised Loch nam Madadh Outlines the European importance of the site LDP policy will take into account European Marine Site (EMS) and how it will be managed to maintain its and protect environmental Management Scheme 2007 integrity. assets including the Loch nam [Loch nam Madadh EMS Madadh Lagoon. Management Group] Langavat SAC Management Plan Outlines the European importance of the site LDP policy will take into account [Langavat SAC Management Plan and how it will be managed to maintain its the requirement to protect the Steering Group] integrity. integrity of this site. Loch Stiapabhat LNR Sets out why the site is important and details LDP policy will take into account Management Plan actions and projects which will contribute and protect environmental [Loch Stiapabhat LNR towards the LNR objectives. assets including Local Nature Reserves. 48

PLAN/PROGRAMME/ Objectives or requirements of the PPS How objectives might be STRATEGY Environmental Protection objectives addressed in LDP Management Group] St Kilda World Heritage Site The St Kilda World Heritage Site (WHS) LDP policy will be informed by Management Plan 2012-17 Management Plan 2012–17 articulates the the St Kilda Management Plan. [National Trust for Scotland and significance of St Kilda, first and foremost in key Stakeholders] terms of its heritage, but also the opportunities it provides for access and education along with its social and economic importance to local communities and wider communities of interest. It sets out a framework for the long-term conservation and management of the archipelago and its key attributes, and provides a mechanism for bringing together all communities of interest, balancing and integrating differing views. Stornoway Regeneration Action Action Plan focussing on co-ordinating and LDP policy will take this Action Plan Second Annual Review 2008 facilitating resources for projects to enhance Plan into account and it will [Stornoway regeneration Group] the vitality, viability and vibrancy of inform the selection of proposal Stornoway by regenerating the environment sites going forward. of the town and its surrounding area, focusing physical change on the needs of people, our built heritage and business development.” Draft Newton Strategy 2015 Masterplan for the regeneration and LDP policy and proposals will be [Highlands and Islands rehabilitation of the historic industrial core of informed by this evolving Enterprise] Stornoway. Strategy.

APPENDIX B: OUTER HEBRIDES ENVIRONMENTAL DESCRIPTION

Geography The Outer Hebrides chain runs roughly north to south and has an area of approximately 306,916 ha, 3069.2 km², (289,798 ha excluding freshwater and inter-tidal areas) and an extensive coastline of approximately 2,700 km at the high water mark (the result of numerous sea lochs, bays and inlets). The islands extend 210 km in length and are 60 km at the widest point. There are over 70 named islands spread throughout the chain, most of which have been temporarily or permanently inhabited in the past. 14 islands are now inhabited: Vatersay (953 ha); Barra (6,173 ha); Baleshare (910 ha); Flodda (145 ha); Eriskay (754 ha); South Uist (32,094 ha); Benbecula (8,498 ha); Grimsay North (833 ha); Grimsay South (117 ha); North Uist (35,479 ha); Berneray (1,056 ha); Scalpay (702 ha); Lewis and Harris (217,820 ha); and Great Bernera (2,240 ha). The largest island in the Outer Hebrides is ‘Lewis and Harris’. Although considered separate as if two distinct islands, they are in fact connected by a strip of land. Northern Lewis and the southern Island chain (comprising the Uists, Benbecula and Barra) are relatively flat, covered by lochs, peat bog and machair. However, the central landmass of North Harris and South Lewis provides relief in the landscape with the majority of the higher land. The Clisham in the North Harris hills is the highest peak at 799 metres.

Geology The islands are composed almost entirely of Pre-Cambrian basement rocks, known collectively as ‘Lewisian’. Geologists have dated Lewisian Gneiss at nearly 3,000 million years, making it the oldest rock formation in Britain. Unaltered sedimentary rocks are limited to an area north and east by Stornoway and are mainly sandstones and conglomerates from Triassic times. Much of the Atlantic coast is characterised by a series of blown sand landforms, known collectively as ‘machair’. They are best developed along the western coasts of the Uists and consist of a mixture of siliceous and calcareous fractions in varying proportions. The British Geological Survey (BSG) estimates that 10% of land area in the Outer Hebrides is composed of these ‘low-lying windswept, coastal sandy plains (machairs) together with sand dunes and hillocks’. One distinctive characteristic of machair in the Outer Hebrides is the high shell content of the sand. In general, the shell sand content of Hebridean beaches, dunes and machair is the highest in Britain. There is only one major aquifer in the Outer Hebrides, the Stornoway Beds, and this has been classified as highly permeable. This formation is capable of yielding good quality groundwater and a number of wells are indicated on the 1:25,000 ordnance survey maps. The ground water vulnerability map of Scotland classifies the Lewisian as weakly permeable, the Stornoway Beds as highly permeable and the machair lands as moderately permeable.

Biodiversity, Flora and Fauna The Outer Hebrides has a high quality environment, rich in biodiversity and with a large percentage of land, areas of inland waters and marine sites designated for nature conservation purposes. The islands are home to an array of internationally important species and habitat types.

Designations The following conservation designations are in place in the Outer Hebrides: 1 World Heritage Site - the Islands & surrounding waters of St Kilda - the only site in the UK to have dual natural & cultural status (853 ha); www.kilda.org.uk Natura 2000 network - consisting of 15 Special Protection Areas (90,475 ha) and 15 Special Areas of Conservation (109,343 ha), including marine SACs, (Diagram 2) RE-measure area for SACs 4 RAMSAR sites - Lewis Peatlands, Loch an Duin (N.Uist), North Uist Machair and Islands, South Uist Machair and Lochs, (71,329 ha); 52 Sites of Special Scientific Interest - (37,122 ha); (Diagram 3)

3 National Nature Reserves - Monach Isles; North Rona and Sula Sgeir; St Kilda (1,668 ha); (Diagram 3) 1 Local Nature Reserve - Loch Stiapabhat, Lewis (15.3 ha).

Key species found in the Outer Hebrides within European SAC designated areas include the grey seal, common seal, otter, Atlantic salmon, freshwater pearl mussel and slender naiad (an aquatic plant). SPA designations provide protection for the seabird assemblages of the offshore islands; the waders breeding and wintering on the machairs and breeding on the peatlands; breeding divers (black throated and red throated); golden eagle, and; corncrakes. The Comhairle’s Biodiversity Policy Statement was approved in June 2007 and the Biodiversity Duty Delivery Plan for 2012-14 was approved in March 2012. The Western Isles Local Biodiversity Action Plan has been produced in two phases. In phase 1 action plans have been developed for 3 habitats and species: Native Woodlands Habitat, Saline Lagoons Habitat, and Great Yellow Bumblebee Species. Phase 2 comprises of 5 species and habitat action plans: Cereal Fields and Margins Habitat, Corn Bunting Species, Corncrake Species, Dunlin Species and Irish Lady Tresses Orchid Species. The importance of the natural environment extends beyond the land to the seas around the islands. Deep kelp forests and coral reefs have formed in the waters around St Kilda, while the coastal waters surrounding the archipelago represent rich feeding grounds and migratory routes for a huge variety of fish, shellfish and species such as killer whale, basking shark, risso dolphin and minke whale. From a European perspective, the key habitat types within the Outer Hebrides are marine, vegetated sea cliffs, machair, peatland, upland and freshwater lochs (see Table 1 below). These habitats are represented by the suite of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) which form part of the Natura 2000 network. Additional habitats of note are offshore islands and salt marshes. Key species found in the Outer Hebrides include the grey seal, common seal, otter, Atlantic salmon, freshwater pearl mussel and slender naiad (an aquatic plant).

Table 13: Outer Hebrides Key Habitat Types

Habitat Description Outer Hebrides Context marine shallow inlets and bays Loch nam Madadh lagoons form the most extensive and underwater reefs and diverse saline lagoon system in the UK; dense kelp caves, saline lagoons and forests occur at depths of up to 35 m around St Kilda sub-tidal sandbanks vegetated steep slopes fringing hard the sea cliffs of Hirta (St Kilda) are the highest in the UK, sea-cliffs or soft coasts supporting a reaching 426m; these island have some of the most wide diversity of extensive and best examples of extreme Atlantic vegetation types maritime vegetation in Europe machair (and associated dune the islands support the largest and richest examples of communities) cultivated machair in Scotland peatland active blanket bog the Lewis Peatlands represent the second-largest expanse of blanket bog in the UK and one of the largest in Europe; the Lewis Peatlands are probably the most extremely ‘Atlantic’ of all the blanket mires in Europe uplands wet / dry / alpine heath, North Harris SAC represents Northern Atlantic wet alpine grassland heaths with Erica tetralix habitat in the Outer Hebrides and provides examples of the most extreme oceanic forms of wet heath in the UK and possibly Europe freshwater oligotrophic; oligo- The Outer Hebrides is home to approximately 15% of lochs mesotrophic; natural the UK’s total freshwater surface area but only eutrophic & dystrophic constitutes 1.2% of the UK’s total land mass

NB: Additional habitats of note are ‘offshore islands’ and ‘salt marshes’.

Looking at the ornithological interest of the area, the suite of Special Protection Areas (SPAs) that have been classified to date provides protection for the following species / groups of species: the seabird assemblages of the offshore islands; the waders breeding and wintering on the machairs; the waders breeding on the peatlands; breeding divers (both black-throated and red-throated); golden eagle and corncrake. All are found in internationally important concentrations within the Outer Hebrides. In 2002, the Comhairle and Scottish Natural Heritage commissioned the Scottish Agricultural College to undertake a biodiversity audit. The audit was compiled using existing information and is not a full account of all habitats and species found in the area (as it focuses on UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority habitats and species). This audit identified that the Outer Hebrides contained: 18 priority habitats; 14 broad habitats; 4 locally important habitats, and; 189 species (of which 60 were ‘priority’, 72 were of ‘conservation concern’ and 57 were ‘locally important). Local Habitat and Species Action Plans for the Western Isles to date are: Habitats: Native Woodlands (50-70 ha); Cereal Fields and Margins (362 ha); Saline (Coastal) Lagoons (73 lagoons; 2303 ha; 44% UK total). Species: Great Yellow Bumblebee (UK concentration); Dunlin (4267 breeding pairs; 47% UK total); Corncrake (432 calling males; 38% UK total); Irish Lady’s Tresses Orchid (very scarce), and; Corn Bunting (estimated 117 territorial males). There are only two native land mammals in the Outer Hebrides (red deer and otter), although the rabbit, blue hare, hedgehog, brown and black rat, American mink, feral cat and polecat have been introduced by man. Three hundred and twenty seven species of birds have been recorded in the Outer Hebrides and more than 100 of these breed; including the majority of Britain’s corncrakes (which breed on coastal croftlands). The flora of the Outer Hebrides is restricted by the geology, climate and geographical position, although in early summer, machair flowers explode in a riot of colour. Formerly covered by discontinuous scrub woodland, the islands are now devoid of natural woods except for areas inaccessible to grazing such as gullies, freshwater islets, crags and cliffs. This valuable source of biodiversity is at present reduced to approximately 50-70 hectares in total for the Outer Hebrides. The most significant mixed woodland is that around Lews Castle at Stornoway. Native woodland habitats in the Outer Hebrides which have been given National Vegetation Classifications (NVC’s) dependent on their species composition include: W1 Salix cinerea; Galium palustre woodland; W4 Betulka pubescens – Molinia caerulea woodland; W11 Quercus petraea – Betula pubescens – Oxalis acetosella woodland; and W17 Quercus petraea – Betula pubescens – Dicranum majus woodland. Most woodland habitats consist of a mixture of the following: Aspen; Creeping Willow; Downy or White Birch; Eared Willow; Goat Willow; Grey Willow; Grey Sallow Willlow; Hazel; Holly; Juniper; Rowan or Mountain Ash. Much of the surviving woodland cover is represented by two or three trees in close proximity or stands of Aspen that spread via root suckers but are essentially one single organism. These small isolated trees or groups of trees are perhaps the most valuable sources of genetic material available in the Outer Hebrides and should be protected where possible. The Western Isles Native Woodland Restoration Survey Report was published in 2008. The survey and report production was undertaken during 2007. The survey provides baseline information for future actions and to identify key areas for protection and expansion. A list of 50 sites has been prioritised for more detailed survey. Fourteen key sites within these core areas are described in detail in the report along with recommendations for regeneration and enhancement. It is estimated that approximately two thirds of the land in the Outer Hebrides is in crofting tenure, with around 6,000 crofts spread throughout the island chain. There are many environmental benefits associated with this system of land tenure. Crofting practices have traditionally helped to maintain the unique and abundant biodiversity which exists within the Outer Hebrides.

The uninhabited offshore islands host internationally important sea-bird breeding stations for species such as puffin, gannet and fulmar. These islands are also home to over 40% of the world’s grey seal concentration and the inlets and harbours of the Outer Hebrides host 10% of the European concentration of Scottish common seals. The importance of the environment extends beyond the land to the seas around the islands. Deep kelp forests and coral reefs have formed in the waters of St Kilda, while the coastal waters surrounding the archipelago represent rich feeding grounds and migratory routes for a huge variety of marine life such as fish including basking shark, shellfish and cetaceans e.g. killer whale, risso dolphin and minke whale. The archipelago of St Kilda is the remotest part of the British Isles, lying 41 miles (66 kilometres) west of Benbecula. Its islands, with their exceptional cliffs and sea stacs, form the most important seabird breeding station in north-west Europe. These islands are estimated to have over one million birds. Its residents include: 60,000 pairs of gannets (the largest colony in the world); 62,000 pairs of fulmars (the oldest and largest colony in Britain); 140,000 pairs of puffins (the largest colony in Britain); and two unique species (the St Kilda wren and the Soay sheep). St Kilda World Heritage site, declared under the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, is the only site in the UK to have the dual award of both cultural and natural (including marine) significance. The islands are also host to 7 marine consultation areas (27,557 ha) as designated by the former Nature Conservancy Council in the late 1980s (now SNH in Scotland). The designation recognises high quality and sensitive marine habitats and species and was prompted by emerging development pressures (primarily aquaculture) around the Scottish coastline at that time. The areas were, and continue to be, brought to the attention of bodies which SNH advises on marine conservation issues (Marine Scotland, developers, and others). In addition to the nationally and internationally designated sites listed above, a Local Nature Reserve was declared at Loch Stiapabhat in Lewis in 2005. This reserve was designated under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar in consultation with SNH, RSPB and local community groups. Loch Stiapabhat is renowned for attracting a great variety of migrant birds, being situated on the main flyway from and to the Arctic. No other ‘Lewis’ loch has had a wider range of rarities recorded or possesses such a diversity of common wetland birds that can be so easily observed. Many other features in the landscape are of importance for the migration, dispersal and genetic exchange of plant and animal species. Existing problems (especially in designated areas) relate mainly to: the effective management of the natural heritage for nature conservation, and: protecting the sites from development pressures and changes in crofting and aquaculture practices. Specific development pressures include renewable energy developments; growth around the town of Stornoway; constrained water and waste water infrastructure; settlement expansion and infrastructure improvements. Coastal flooding and accelerated erosion due to changing climatic conditions are natural issues affecting the environment of the Outer Hebrides. The effects of the Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan on the Outer Hebrides biodiversity (of the areas most likely to be affected by it) have been considered as part of the assessment process.

Water The Outer Hebrides has a considerable freshwater resource with over 2000 lochs providing an estimated 15% of the UK's freshwater surface area, and an extensive indented coastline of fjardic sea lochs, lagoons and mudflats stretching over 2680 km. Separated from the mainland by the Minch, the Little Minch and the Sea of the Hebrides, with the North Atlantic Ocean along the western shores, the coastal waters surrounding these islands represent rich feeding grounds and migratory routes for a huge variety of marine life. As stated in the Geology section above, there is only one major aquifer in the Outer Hebrides, the Stornoway Beds and this has been classified as highly permeable. This formation is capable of yielding good quality groundwater. The ground water vulnerability map of Scotland classifies the ‘Lewisian’ as weakly permeable, the ‘Stornoway Beds’ as highly permeable and the ‘Machair Lands’ as moderately permeable.

The Outer Hebrides has a relatively high rainfall and large catchment areas, ensuring adequate supply for people, community services and industry in the area. There are 19 public drinking water supplies sourced mainly from surface water with the exception of two river extractions and one borehole and all supplies are treated to produce drinking water to national standard. 13 supplies receive full chemical treatment and serve 95% of the population. There are also 5 small membrane plants, one ultra filtration process supply and one bore hole. Water quality in coastal waters, seas and freshwater is generally high but locally there are waters polluted with effluents and other discharges from: the aquaculture industry (specifically fish farming and processing); sewage discharge and debris; other industry (such as harbour wastes/oil and yard spills) and waste water treatment plants. The Scottish Government National Planning Framework 3 seeks to promote a sustainable, economically active rural area, safeguarding our natural and cultural assets. Historically several public wastewater systems in the Outer Hebrides had capacity issues and Scottish Water is seeking to address the situation on a prioritised basis across Scotland as funding becomes available. Investing in water supply and wastewater is a key Scottish Government priority, noting that the lack of capacity in water/waste infrastructure is a significant development constraint. The Comhairle is particularly keen to resolve infrastructure issues and has worked with Scottish Water to inform its future investment plans to enable development and allow for future growth priorities, as well as maintaining and enhancing the environmental quality. In 2014, there were 21 aquaculture production companies employing 286 fte. This resulted in the production of 33,775t Atlantic Salmon and 431t of Common Mussel. In terms of aquaculture processing, there were 4 companies employing approximately 120 fte. Freshwater fisheries support over 260fte jobs with 7,500 visiting anglers reflecting expenditure in the sector of £5.6M (2000) The majority of coastline in the Outer Hebrides is considered to be ‘underdeveloped’ except for Stornoway which is ‘developed’ and the ‘isolated’ stretches of: uninhabited islands; west coast Lewis to North Harris (Mealista to Husinis); Park area to Lewis (Loch Seaforth to Loch Sealg); and the east side of South Uist (Loch Sgiopoirt to Loch Boisdale). Proposals for development will be encouraged on developed coastline or within existing settlements. Estimations of ‘sea level change’ commonly exhibit a high degree of short and long term variability, making the evaluation of overall trends difficult and subject to regular revisions. The SEPA Indicative River and Coastal Flood Map (Scotland) is an important strategic tool which helps to inform the Comhairle’s planning decisions.

The National Flood Risk Assessment has identified approximately 450 residential properties and 60 non-residential properties as at risk of flooding in the Outer Hebrides LPD. Based on the National Flood Risk Assessment, eight Potentially Vulnerable Areas (PVAs) have been identified and these are:

PVA 02/01 Ness, Isle of Lewis PVA 02/02 Stornoway PVA 02/03 Southern Harris PVA 02/04 Lochmaddy & Trumisgarry PVA 02/05 North Uist PVA 02/06 Benbecula PVA 02/07 Lochs Bi and Druidibeag PVA 02/08 Bornish to Boisdale

A Flood Risk Management Plan will be produced by the Comhairle as lead Local Authority by the summer of 2016 and this will take forward the objectives and actions set out in the Flood Risk Management Strategy which will be published by December 2015. This will provide an overview of the Outer Hebrides Local Plan District (LPD), an assessment of the river catchments, assessments of coastal catchments and an overview of surface water management.

Soils The islands that make up the Outer Hebrides are composed almost entirely of pre-cambrian basement rocks, known collectively as Lewisian (the oldest exposed rock in Britain). Unaltered sedimentary rocks are limited to an area north and east by Stornoway and are mainly sandstones and conglomerates from Triassic times. Using the MLURI 1982 land classification map it can be ascertained that Classes 1-3 (land capable of producing a very wide to moderate range of crops) does not occur in the Outer Hebrides due to climatic constraints. There is adequate warmth and a sufficiently high potential soil moisture deficit for Class 3.2 to be attained at Stornoway and on Benbecula but exposure is so severe that the land is downgraded to Class 4 which therefore forms the best land of the area. However, crofting is the principal agricultural land use in this area and good crofting management can be relatively intensive (because of the small areas of land involved) and crop yields or crop ranges can be greater than those expected from farming. Class 4 land in the Outer Hebrides is marginal for the economic production of crops and is usually confined to types suitable for winter feeding to livestock. Year-to- year variability in the yield of crops is large with a high risk of poor weather interfering with harvests. There is a high proportion of undisturbed soil in the islands. The British Geological Society estimates that the rare sandy soil habitat of ‘Machair’ accounts for 10% of land area in the Outer Hebrides while the Lewis Peatlands is one of the largest expanses of blanket bog in Europe (595 km sq of peatland in Lewis alone). The SNH Soil Erosion Map (developed by MLURI) estimates that the majority of land in the Outer Hebrides has a high to moderate risk of soil erosion in its organic soils (based on soil erosion by overland flow of water only). The Outer Hebrides currently recycles around 22% of its household waste and treats 12% of this waste using recovery. Operational waste management facilities includes: the Creed Park Waste Management Facility at Creed Park Enterprise Park, Lochs Road, near Stornoway, with processing equipment for organic waste (by Anaerobic Digestion) and a Materials Recycling Facility for glass, plastics cans and paper and a Waste Transfer Station (WTS) at Market Stance, Benbecula which compacts residual waste and sorts bulky wastes before these wastes are transported to Lewis for landfill disposal. The Market Stance WTS also has facilities to process the collected dry recyclates, such as plastic bottles and cans or paper and cardboard, which are baled before being shipped directly to the mainland. There are also 39 recycling Bring Site facilities are located throughout the islands; one kerbside recycling collection service run by the local community (Tolsta Chaolais); and 5 household waste recycling centres.

The Comhairle successfully completed the rollout of a kerbside co-mingled recycling collection service to over 11,000 properties with the collection taking place on a four weekly cycle. This provides a kerbside collection service to 83% of households in the Western Isles.

This kerbside collection service provides 100% of households in Lewis and Harris with an organic bin for food and garden waste and 79% of households in Lewis and Harris with a blue bin for paper, cans and plastic and a green bin for glass.

Every household in the Uists and Barra now has a blue bin for plastics and cans and the bin previously used for organic waste disposal has been re-labelled to allow the disposal of paper and card, giving a service coverage of 100% for the collection of dry mixed recyclates with the exception of glass. Glass in Uist and Barra is collected using a network of community managed Bring Sites which were recently provided with new glass banks. Food and garden wastes are not collected in Uist and Barra.

Around 23 operational mineral workings spread throughout the islands are identified in and safeguarded for extraction in OHLDP Policy 21. These have been reviewed and updated in the proposed OHLDP. Land use and settlement patterns in the islands are distinctly different from Scotland in general and it is estimated that 77% of land area is in crofting tenure (approximately 6000 crofts). Crofting is intrinsic to the cultural and historical identity of the islands and its non intensive methods of farming actually promote biodiversity on fragile machair plains. Many of the designations on these lands (such as SSSIs) seek to promote the practice of crofting in order to sustain the habitat of many rare 55 and important species. However, the total number of sheep and cattle in the islands is falling steadily as the practice of crofting diminishes.

Air and Climatic Factors Air quality in the Outer Hebrides is generally very good which is reflective of the islands low population density (9 persons per sq km), large expanses of undeveloped land and the lack of locations with significant traffic flow and congestion. There are no Air Quality Management Zones in the islands, as the presence of key pollutants in the atmosphere is relatively low and therefore National Air Quality Objectives are met. However, the landfill sites at Bennadrove and Rueval have at times exceeded thresholds Methane emissions. The dispersed and remote nature of settlements, infrequent public transport, adverse weather conditions and concentration of services and employment in Stornoway has led to the Outer Hebrides having above average car ownership. In 2011, there were 15,133 cars or vans in the islands with only 23% of households having no car (compared to a Scottish average of 31%). Car ownership is increasing and the islands in general have more cars per household than the Scottish average. Many residents face multiple journey types to work, although the recent development of a number of strategic causeways and bridges, coupled with improvements to roads and transport services, has increased access and reduced travel times to many remote communities. The percentage of roads in the Outer Hebrides that should be considered for maintenance treatment is showing a steady downward trend: Cat A 31.7% (Scot.avg.30.3%), Cat B 35% (Scot.avg. 35.2%), Cat C 44.1% (Scot.avg.36.6%) in 2012/14. A number of further transport issues persist, including: high fuel costs; single track on sections of the spinal route south of Tarbert, Harris as well as sections in Uist and Barra; over capacity car parking facilities in Stornoway and restrictions to transport services (e.g. daylight sailing). Policies encouraging renewable energy developments can help to increase the proportion of energy produced from renewable sources. The Outer Hebrides has been identified as having exceptionally high potential for generating renewable energy from wind and wave sources.

Population and Human Health The 2011 Census estimated the population of the Outer Hebrides to be 27,684. Lewis, the largest of the Islands was the most populous with around 19,658 residents, while the other five main island areas (Harris, North Uist, Benbecula, South Uist and Barra) each had populations ranging from 1,264 to 1,916. The only large ‘town’ in the Outer Hebrides which can be described as having 'urban' characteristics is Stornoway, with approximately 6,273 residents. Almost 29% of the total population, nearly 8,000 people, live within the Greater Stornoway area encompassing Laxdale, Sandwick and Newmarket. The remaining population is scattered over 280 small townships spread throughout 14 inhabited islands. The long term demographic trend is one of an ageing and declining population. Within the period of the two last censuses (1991-2001), the Outer Hebrides lost 10.5% of its population; the greatest decline of any local authority area in Scotland. Looking back further, the population can be seen to have declined by 43% over the last century (1901-2001). Demographic imbalance is a persistent concern for service providers in the Isles, affecting the future provision of education, housing and social care services. Future projections from NRS estimate that the islands are set to see a further decline of 11% over the next twenty five years to 24,596 residents in 2037. The 2012 projections continue to predict a severe decline in the population of the Outer Hebrides than was previously forecast 2006 (-5.5%) and 2008 (-4.1). The Outer Hebrides Migration Study, which was completed in February 2007, identified a number of further trends, including: a widening gender imbalance as more young women leave compared to men and fewer return; a shift in population towards larger settlements particularly Stornoway; a school roll which is declining faster than the population as a whole; more short stay or commuters moving to the islands; an increase in employers looking to employ overseas economic migrants; and an upturn in people choosing to live in the Outer Hebrides for quality of life reasons.

The birth rate in the Outer Hebrides is generally one of the lowest in Scotland while the death rate is consistently one of the highest. The Outer Hebrides is projected to see a 31% decline in the number of annual births from 228 in 2012/13 to 158 in 2036/37. Contrary to previous projections, the Outer Hebrides, on the whole, has experienced positive net migration in recent years (more people moving here than leaving), thus contributing to the 4.5% increase from the 2001 to 2011 Censuses. However, since the Census the population estimates are estimating a downward trend. Life expectancy for males 2012-14 is almost the same as the national average at 77 years (77.1), a ranking of 22 out of all 32 Scottish areas, while for females it is higher at 82.1 years (81.1) a ranking of 11. Life expectancy at birth has improved over the last ten years, but Scotland still has the lowest life expectancy rates in the United Kingdom. In 2014, the Outer Hebrides had the second highest percentage of vacant homes (6.2%) and the second highest percentage of second homes (5.3%). The Scottish House Condition Survey for 2011-13 showed that the Outer Hebrides has the highest level of fuel poverty of all the Local Authorities at 62%. The SHCS 2011-13 also showed that 66% of dwellings failed the Scottish Housing Quality Standards. In the public sector 59% of dwellings in the islands failed the Scottish Housing Quality Standards, and approximately 66% of private sector dwellings failed SHQS standards. There were 46 Housing Association Development Completions in 2014/15 and projected figure of 34 in 2015/16. In total there were 84 new starts and 79 completions in 2014, the number of completions decreasing rapidly over the last few years. Although the population is projected to decline long term, decreasing household size will mean that the number of actual ‘households’ in the islands is projected to increase in the near future, with a projection of 13,545 households in 2037. Escalating property prices, a unique land tenure system, a legacy of empty and second houses and increasing demand for housing within key areas (such as Stornoway and the surround) has led to the high number of applications on the social housing waiting list. There were 721 people on the Hebridean Housing Partnership waiting list and 242 on the transfer list (as at November 2014). The Outer Hebrides is part of the Gaelic heartland and has a rich and diverse Hebridean culture with more Gaelic speakers than any other local authority area in Scotland (in 2011, 61% of the population had some Gaelic language ability compared to only 1.7% for Scotland). The Outer Hebrides has one of the lowest crime rates in Scotland at 529 per 10,000 of the population in 2014/15, compared to a Scottish average of 1,189 per 10,000. Accompanying a reduction in crime was a detection rate of 63.5% across Group 1-5 crimes in comparison to the Scottish average of 50.4%. In 1997/98 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar recorded a peak of 26 noise complaints, falling to zero complaints from 2004-2006. A total of 15 complaints were received in 2013/14. This fell to 7 complaints in 2014/15. Much of the economic and social activity is generated from within the islands but it relies heavily on connections with the mainland for essential supplies and the export of goods. In 2003, Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) was estimated to be £263.02m (66% of the UK equivalent) with an external trade deficit of £163.4m; island households were estimated to spend £100.1m alone on imported goods that year. A declining and ageing population can affect ‘health’ in a number of ways particularly influencing the need for major investment in public service infrastructure, such as: public water supplies; waste water treatment works; waste management facilities; safer roads; better transport links between the islands and along the ‘spinal route’, and; community facilities such as health care and education availability within the islands. The adopted Outer Hebrides Core Paths Plan provides the public with a system of paths which is sufficient for the purpose of giving reasonable access throughout the Outer Hebrides. The Core Path Network is just that – it provides a basic framework of routes sufficient for the purpose of “giving the public reasonable access throughout their area”. These routes will link into, and support, wider networks of other paths.

These paths provide benefits for both local residents and visitors in terms of promoting access for health; encouraging responsible access to historical, archaeological and natural heritage sites; and economic benefits in terms of the advantages to sustainable tourism development. In Stornoway, Lews Castle Grounds are unique in the Outer Hebrides in that they provide access to a ‘parkland’ environment in which trees are a significant feature. The grounds are an important resource and are managed by the Stornoway Trust. Results from the combined 2008-11 Scottish Health Survey results show that 37% of the population are meeting the physical activity recommendations. Although the area has outstanding natural environment, human health can be adversely affected by rural poverty, caused by a range of factors including lack of affordable housing, long term unemployment, isolation from main service centres and difficulties in travelling to a range of health and educational facilities. Rural poverty also exacerbates the effects of inequality and social exclusion which have implications for human health.

Material Assets and Cultural Heritage Designations Conservation Areas - Stornoway and Gearrannan in Lewis; Ruisgarry, Berneray in North Uist; Howmore in South Uist; (Local Development Plan context map) 465 Scheduled Ancient Monuments - (individual entities; 213 actual legal entities but some designations cover multiple monuments); http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/archaeology 321 Listed Buildings* - http://data.historic-scotland.gov.uk/pls/htmldb/f?p=2000:10:0 *some buildings have multiple listings The Outer Hebrides has an exceptional cultural heritage of archaeological sites and features many buildings and areas of outstanding architectural and amenity value. There are four designated Conservation Areas in the islands, (Stornoway, Lewis; Ruisgarry, North Uist; Howmore, South Uist, and; Gearrannan, Lewis). Approval for a Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI) for Stornoway has been secured through Heritage Lottery Fund and Historic Scotland funding. The £2.2m project is focused on an area of the town centre/Lews Castle grounds which is part of the Conservation Area. In addition to building repairs grant scheme and public realm projects, the programme includes the Town Hall (critical) project which will see it brought back into full use. There is one nationally important ‘Historic Garden and Designated Landscape’ on the inventory compiled by Historic Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage and this is the Lews Castle Grounds by Stornoway. There are 321 listed buildings scattered throughout the islands, approximately 23% of which are classified ‘at risk’ and are largely composed of dilapidated croft/thatch houses and historic estate/operational buildings. Some buildings have multiple listings e.g. gatepiers. Listed Buildings in the Outer Hebrides are made up of:

Islands Category A Category B Category C Total Lewis 10 102 53 165 Harris 3 30 15 48 Barra 2 5 7 14 North Uist 4 20 11 35 South Uist 6 40 13 59 Totals 25 197 99 321

There is a vast resource of archaeological and other historic sites and monuments found throughout the Outer Hebrides. Over 13,000 sites are recorded on the Sites and Monuments Record, including amongst others: standing stones; brochs; wheelhouses; coastal fortifications; 58 castles; churches; and chambered burial cairns. There are 213 Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs) within the islands, covering 465 individual monuments (a Scheduled Ancient Monument may consist of two or more identifiable monuments covered by the one designation).

The earliest archaeological remains in the Outer Hebrides date back to the Mesolithic period (C.7000bc). However, the following periods of the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Age are better represented in the form of sites such as stone circles, settlements, burial monuments and broch’s to name but a few; notable examples being Calanais, Cladh Hallan, Dun Bharpa, Udal and Dun Carloway. From the Early medieval period through to recent past of the 18th & 19th there are numerous sites ranging from churches and burial grounds, castles, settlements and field systems. Finally, there are also the structures from more modern times in manner of airfields and gun emplacements and other structures relating to the 1st and 2nd World Wars and even the Cold War. Much of the land and marine area of the Outer Hebrides is undeveloped and has not been surveyed so the potential for further archaeological remains to be discovered remains significant. This includes further additions to the multitude of known coastal shipwrecks as well as areas within the tidal zone; where rising sea levels throughout pre-history have concealed the evidence of earlier activities and attests to the associated impact of environmental change. The relatively high proportion of Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs) reflects the islands’ historical importance in Scotland.

Crofting communities are generally dispersed and remote from large settlements / services and there is a fairly strong network of arts, cultural and community facilities to support them. The Local Development Plan supports the development of community facilities which in turn help to support the population of these communities. The Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan will seek to protect all material heritage and cultural assets. If it was not implemented, it is likely that local, regional and potentially national and international important archaeological resources would remain unknown and unvisited.

Landscape Designations 3 National Scenic Area - covering over one-third of the Outer Hebrides land area; South Lewis, Harris and North Uist; South Uist Machair; St Kilda (119,454 ha in total); (diagram 4) 1 Designed Landscape & Historic Garden - (Laws Castle Grounds, Stornoway); The landscape of the Outer Hebrides is a product of the interaction of humanity and the natural environment over the 8,000 years of human occupation in the islands. Little sign is now left of the original woodland cover of the islands, and the open boggy moor, which now characterises large areas, is the product of systematic clearance and grazing during past millennia. The Landscape Character Assessment of the Western Isles (Richards, SNH, 1998) identifies 11 major landscape character types within the Islands, including some that are rare in Scotland or particularly unique and distinctive to the Outer Hebrides. Peat bog is the most common habitat in the islands, forming characteristic smooth blanket bogs studded with numerous water bodies. At higher altitudes, the peatlands give way to montane areas which support a limited range of plants and animal species. On the western windblown coasts lies the flat and fertile coastal plains known as ‘machair’ - the machair habitat of the Outer Hebrides is considered ‘rare’ in terms of the bird and plant life it sustains. The traditional grazing and low intensity cropping of the machair areas creates a mosaic of habitats, ranging from distinctive patterns of cropped and fallow land on the drier machair, to wet meadows on the edge of the lochs. One habitat that is notable for its near absence is native woodland, although the island did at one time have a discontinuous native tree cover (although there was probably never the extensive tree cover that existed on the Scottish mainland). The Outer Hebrides also includes areas of wild land character (e.g. remoter mountain areas). The landscapes of the Outer Hebrides taken together are uniquely ‘Hebridean’ and help to give this area and its community, a sense of place and identity. There are three designated National Scenic Areas in the islands, comprising of South Lewis, Harris and North Uist NSA; South Uist Machair NSA and St Kilda NSA (diagram 3). NSAs are Scotland’s

59 only national landscape designation. The designated areas have been selected for their special qualities of landscape and scenery. The islands have one designated Historic Designed Landscape in the Laws Castle Grounds as classified by Historic Scotland and SNH. The coastline of the Outer Hebrides stretches 2687 km at the high water mark and has an impressive and dramatic range of coastal landscapes, such as machair plains, inter-tidal mud and sand flats, saline lagoons, fjord sea lochs, cliffs and sea stacks. For planning purposes it is identified as developed, underdeveloped or isolated. It is estimated that over two thirds of the Outer Hebrides is in crofting tenure (approximately over 6,000 crofts). Crofting townships traditionally form linear settlement patterns of long narrow strips of land called ‘crofts’, where low intensity farming is practiced and sheep / cattle may be grazed. As an agricultural activity, crofting is in decline. Pressure for housing and a buoyant housing market have meant that an increasing number of sites have been de-crafted for housing in the last few years. The total number of part croft de-crofting has trebled in the period from 2004 – 2007/08.

Inter-relationship between these factors The Outer Hebrides has a unique and distinctive environment where a complex and variable inter- relationship between environmental factors (as described above) exists. Sparse but distinctive settlement patterns intersperse large areas of undeveloped land (e.g. upland, moorland and coastal machair plains) which in turn are shaped by the varied coastal geomorphology and inland freshwater resources. There is a long history of human settlement in the islands and many archaeological features of the past (although relatively under-exploited) are still visible in the landscape today. Population decline threatens the sustainability of remote communities, as numbers fall and services become untenable. In turn, a reduction in the use of traditional methods of working the land threatens fragile habitats that, in part, support the unique biodiversity of the area. In contrast, there is pressure on land for development (particularly for housing) in the service, employment and retail centre of Stornoway. Pressures to sustain a falling population, diversify the economy and protect the natural environment ensure a balance is continually sought between the differing objectives.

APPENDIX C: Example Local Development Plan Site Assessment and SEA Checklist

++ + 0 - -- Significantly positive positive neutral adverse Significantly adverse

Site assessment Related SEA Comment Information Scoring – pre mitigation Mitigation if Scoring – post mitigation question (click on links topic if available – appropriate? embedded in the text applicable GIS/site visit? for further guidance) - - Development of site - - Development of site would Biodiversity, Flora and 1a Biodiversity flora GIS may have an adverse have an adverse effect on the Fauna and fauna SNH site link details effect on the integrity of a integrity of a Natura 2000 site Natura 2000 site To what extent will the about why site is - Development would be likely to proposal impact on designated - Development may be have a significant effect on a international likely to have a significant Natura 2000 site but no adverse designations – e.g. http://gateway.snh.g ov.uk/sitelink/ effect on a Natura 2000 effect on site integrity. Special Area of site but no adverse effect Conservation /Special on site integrity 0 = Unlikely to be any impact on Protection a Natura 2000 site due to Area/RAMSAR 0 = Unlikely to be any nature, scale or location of impact on a Natura 2000 proposal Note: If negatively site due to nature, scale or affected then Habitats location of proposal + Proposal will have a minor Regulations Appraisal positive effect on the integrity of will be required + Proposal may make a a Natura 2000 site minor contribution to the enhancement of the ++Proposal will have a integrity of a Natura 2000 significant positive effect on the site integrity of a Natura 2000 site + + Proposal may make a significant contribution to the enhancement of the integrity of a Natura 2000 site ?? = Unknown

1b To what extent will the Biodiversity flora GIS - - Development of site - - Development of site would proposal impact on other and fauna would have a significant have a significant negative natural heritage SNH site link details negative effect on the effect on the integrity of a designations – e.g. Site about why site is integrity of a national, local national, local nature

Site assessment Related SEA Comment Information Scoring – pre mitigation Mitigation if Scoring – post mitigation question (click on links topic if available – appropriate? embedded in the text applicable GIS/site visit? for further guidance) of Special Scientific designated nature conservation conservation designation site or Interest, National Nature designation site or the the qualities for which it has Reserve, Marine http://gateway.snh.g qualities for which it has been designated Protected Areas and ov.uk/sitelink/ been designated locally important - Development of site would National Marine - Development of site have a minor negative effect on designations such as Plan LNRs. would have a minor the integrity of a national, local negative effect on the nature conservation designation integrity of a national, local site or the qualities for which it nature conservation has been designated designation or site or the qualities for which it has 0 = Unlikely to be any impact on been designated national or local conservation sites due to nature or scale of 0 = Unlikely to be any proposal impact on national or local conservation sites due to + Proposal will have a minor nature or scale of proposal positive effect on the condition of the feature(s) of the + Proposal will have a designated site minor positive effect on the condition of the feature(s) + + Proposal will have a of the designated site significant positive effect on the condition of the feature(s) of the + + Proposal will have a designated site significant positive effect on the condition of the X = N/A no designations apply feature(s) of the ?? = Unknown designated site X = N/A no designations apply ?? = Unknown

1c To what extent will the Biodiversity flora GIS - - Development of site - - Development of site would proposal impact non and fauna would result in significant result in significant loss of non- designated interests, Site visit loss of non-designated designated interests including woodlands, Planning Service interests Semi Natural and, Native - Development of site would Woodland (including - Development of site result in minor loss of non- identified Native would result in minor loss designated interests of non-designated interests Woodland Core 0 = Unlikely to be any impact on

Site assessment Related SEA Comment Information Scoring – pre mitigation Mitigation if Scoring – post mitigation question (click on links topic if available – appropriate? embedded in the text applicable GIS/site visit? for further guidance) Development Areas), 0 = Unlikely to be any important trees or woodland due Tree Preservation impact on important trees to nature, scale or location of Orders or other or woodland due to nature, proposal woodlands, and scale or location of individual trees of high proposal + Proposal will enhance non- nature conservation or designated interests landscape value or + Proposal will enhance non-designated interests + + Proposal will significantly species rich grasslands. enhance non-designated + + Proposal will interests significantly enhance non- designated interests ?? = Unknown ?? = Unknown

1d To what extent will the Biodiversity flora Local Knowledge - - A protected species - - A protected species licence proposal impact and fauna licence will require to be will require to be obtained in protected species? e.g. Site visit obtained in order for order for development to bats, otters Cetaceans, SNH site link details development to proceed proceed Slender Naiad about protected - Protected Species - Protected Species present but species present but licence not licence not required due to required due to ability to ability to mitigate mitigate 0 = Unlikely to be any impact on 0 = Unlikely to be any protected species due to nature, impact on protected scale or location of proposal species due to nature, scale or location of + Proposal would lead to a proposal minor enhancement in the connectivity of a habitat corridor + Proposal would lead to a or network for movement of minor enhancement in the wildlife, or of the quality of a connectivity of a habitat BAP priority habitat corridor or network for movement of wildlife, or of + + Proposal would lead to a the quality of a BAP priority significant enhancement in the habitat connectivity of a habitat corridor or network for movement of + + Proposal would lead to wildlife, or of the quality of a a significant enhancement BAP priority habitat in the connectivity of a habitat corridor or network ??= Unknown

Site assessment Related SEA Comment Information Scoring – pre mitigation Mitigation if Scoring – post mitigation question (click on links topic if available – appropriate? embedded in the text applicable GIS/site visit? for further guidance) for movement of wildlife, or of the quality of a BAP priority habitat ?? = Unknown - - Proposal would - - Proposal would significantly 1e How will habitat Biodiversity flora SNH site link details significantly fragment a fragment a habitat corridor or connectivity or wildlife and fauna about protected habitat corridor or network network for movement of corridors be affected by species/habitat for movement of wildlife, or wildlife, or lead to a significant the proposal – will it Water http://gateway.snh.g lead to a significant loss of loss of BAP priority habitat result in habitat BAP priority habitat fragmentation or greater ov.uk/sitelink/ - Proposal would have a minor connectivity? JNCC, info about - Proposal would have a negative effect on a habitat BAPs minor negative effect on a corridor or network for habitat corridor or network movement of wildlife, or on a http://jncc.defra.gov. for movement of wildlife, or BAP priority habitat uk/page-5718 on a BAP priority habitat 0 = Unlikely to be any impact on Scottish Biodiversity 0 = Unlikely to be any habitat connectivity due to Forum impact on habitat nature, scale or location of http://www.biodivers connectivity due to nature, proposal ityscotland.gov.uk/ scale or location of proposal + Proposal would lead to a minor enhancement in the + Proposal would lead to a connectivity of a habitat corridor minor enhancement in the or network for movement of connectivity of a habitat wildlife, or of the quality of a corridor or network for BAP priority habitat movement of wildlife, or of the quality of a BAP priority + + Proposal would lead to a habitat significant enhancement in the connectivity of a habitat corridor + + Proposal would lead to or network for movement of a significant enhancement wildlife, or of the quality of a in the connectivity of a BAP priority habitat habitat corridor or network for movement of wildlife, or of the quality of a BAP ?? = Unknown priority habitat ?? = Unknown

1f Does the option avoid Biodiversity flora Local knowledge - - Most of the site (>50%) - - Development is proposed impact on Groundwater and fauna is within a wetland or a within a wetland or a boggy area Dependent Terrestrial boggy area and mitigation measures cannot Water Ecosystems (GWDTEs) GIS reduce the risks i.e. are there any - Some of the site (<50%) wetlands and boggy is within a wetland or a - Development is proposed areas on the site? boggy area within a wetland or a boggy area Site visit and mitigation measures cannot 0 = Site is not located fully reduce the risks within a wetland or a boggy area 0 = Site is not located within a wetland or a boggy area

+ Development is proposed within a wetland or a boggy area and mitigation measures fully reduce the risks ++ Development will result in the protection of a wetland or boggy area.

1g Will the proposal affect Biodiversity, Flora Interactive Marine - - Proposal would - Proposal would significantly marine and coastal and Fauna Planning tool significantly negatively negatively impact on the marine environments impact on the marine and and coastal environment and GIS coastal environment mitigation measures cannot Technical Services reduce the risks - Proposal would have a minor negative effect on - Proposal would have a minor the marine and coastal negative effect on the marine environment and coastal environment and mitigation measures cannot fully 0 = Unlikely to be any reduce the risks impact on marine and coastal environment due to 0 = Unlikely to be any impact on nature, scale or location of marine and coastal environment proposal due to nature, scale or location of proposal + Proposal would lead to a minor enhancement in the + Proposal would lead to a marine and coastal minor enhancement in the environments marine and coastal

Site assessment Related SEA Comment Information Scoring – pre mitigation Mitigation if Scoring – post mitigation question (click on links topic if available – appropriate? embedded in the text applicable GIS/site visit? for further guidance) + + Proposal would lead to environments a significant enhancement in the connectivity of the + + Proposal would lead to a marine and coastal significant enhancement in the environment corridor or connectivity of the marine and network for movement of coastal environment corridor or wildlife, or of the quality of network for movement of a BAP priority habitat wildlife, or of the quality of a BAP priority habitat ?? = Unknown ?? = Unknown

1h Are there any local Biodiversity, Flora SNHi website - - Development of site - - Development of site would geodiversity sites or and Fauna would have a significant have a significant negative wider geodiversity Environment Officer negative effect on the effect on the integrity of a interests that could be integrity of a national or national or local geodiversity site affected by the local geodiversity site or or the qualities for which it has proposal? the qualities for which it been designated and mitigation has been designated measures cannot reduce the risks - Development of site would have a minor - Development of site would negative effect on the have a minor negative effect on integrity of a national or the integrity of a national or local local geodiversity site or geodiversity site or the qualities the qualities for which it for which it has been designated has been designated and mitigation measures cannot reduce the risks 0 = Unlikely to be any impact on national or local 0 =Unlikely to be any impact on geodiversity site due to national or local geodiversity site nature, scale or location of due to nature, scale or location proposal of proposal + Proposal will enhance a + Proposal will enhance a national or local national or local geodiversity site geodiversity site + + Proposal will significantly + + Proposal will enhance a national or local significantly enhance a geodiversity site national or local X = N/A proposal is not located geodiversity site near a national or local

Site assessment Related SEA Comment Information Scoring – pre mitigation Mitigation if Scoring – post mitigation question (click on links topic if available – appropriate? embedded in the text applicable GIS/site visit? for further guidance) X = N/A proposal is not geodiversity site located near a national or local geodiversity site ?? = Unknown ?? = Unknown

2a Water Water Scotland’s River - - Development could - - Development would have a Basin Management have a significant negative significant negative impact on Could the option result in Biodiversity, Flora Plan impact on the status of one the status of one or more water a change of status of a and Fauna? or more water bodies bodies identified in RBMP which water body or RBMP Interactive identified in RBMP could not be mitigated significantly affect a Map designated water body - Development could have - Development would have a as identified in the http://www.sepa.org a minor negative impact on minor negative impact on the Scotland and Solway .uk/data- the status of one or more status of one or more water Tweed River Basin visualisation/rbmp- water bodies identified in bodies identified in RBMP which Management Plan? interim-planning- RBMP could not be mitigated tool/ 0 = Development is unlikely 0 = Development is unlikely to to have any effects on the have any effects on the status of status any water bodies any water bodies + Development could have + Development will have a small a small or local scale or local scale positive impact on positive impact on the the status of one or more water status of one or more water bodies identified in RBMP bodies identified in RBMP + + Development will have a + + Development could significant or widespread have a significant or positive impact on the status of widespread positive impact one or more water bodies on the status of one or identified in the RBMP more water bodies identified in the RBMP

2b Could the option have a Water GIS - - Development could - - Development would have a direct impact on the have a widespread widespread negative impact on water environment (for Site visit negative impact on the the water environment and/or example result in the Identify non RBMP water environment long term impact which need for watercourse mitigation cannot address - Development could have 67

Site assessment Related SEA Comment Information Scoring – pre mitigation Mitigation if Scoring – post mitigation question (click on links topic if available – appropriate? embedded in the text applicable GIS/site visit? for further guidance) crossings or a large water bodies a localised minor negative - Development would have a scale abstraction or allow impact on the water localised minor negative impact the de-culverting of a SEPA environment on the water environment and/or watercourse? medium term which would be 0 = Development is unlikely difficult to mitigate to have any effects on the water environment 0 = Development is unlikely to have any significant effects on + Development could have the water environment a small or local scale positive impact on the + Development will have a small water environment or local scale positive impact on the water environment + + Development could have a significant or + + Development will have a widespread positive impact significant or widespread on the water environment positive impact on the water environment

2c For sites greater than Water Site info - - Development likely to - - Development will destroy a 0.5ha are there any destroy a private or public private or public water supply private or public water Material Assets GIS water supply and no mitigation is possible supplies within 250m of Human Health Scottish Water the site which may be - Development likely to - Some mitigation measures are affected? have minor effect on a possible but development likely private or public water to have a minor effect on a supply private or public water supply 0 = Development will have 0 = Development will have no no impact on a private or impact on a private or public public water supply as site water supply as site is over is over 250m from water 250m from water supply. supply. + The mitigation measures will make a minor improvement to private or public water supply ++ The mitigation measures will make a significant improvement to private or public water supply

2d Is the site thought to be Water GIS - - Most of the site (>50%) - - Development is proposed at risk of flooding? is within an area of known within an area known to flood or

Site assessment Related SEA Comment Information Scoring – pre mitigation Mitigation if Scoring – post mitigation question (click on links topic if available – appropriate? embedded in the text applicable GIS/site visit? for further guidance) Climatic Factors Site info flooding or within an within an indicative area of indicative area of medium medium to high flood risk and Human Health SEPA – Flood Maps to high flood risk mitigation measures cannot reduce the risks Site visit - Some of the site (<50%)is Tech Services within an area of known - Development is proposed flooding or within or within an area of known flooding adjacent to an indicative or within an indicative area of area of medium to high medium to high flood risk and flood risk mitigation measures cannot fully reduce the risks 0 =Site is not located within an area of known flooding 0 = Site is not located within an or within an indicative area identified flood risk area and of medium to high flood there is no known history of risk flooding 0 = Requirement for a Flood Risk Assessment and no built development in the functional flood plain will address flood risk 0 = Requirement for buffer around small watercourse will address flood risk + Requirement of better than greenfield run-off SUDS or flood management plan would help address local flooding issues + + Requirement for flood management Plan could address widespread flooding issues

2e Could development of Water GIS - - Development of the site - - Development of the site the site impact the risk of could significantly increase would significantly increase the flooding elsewhere? Climatic Factors Site info the risk of flooding risk of flooding elsewhere which Human Health SEPA elsewhere including could not be mitigated sensitive receptors Site visit - - Development of the site - Development of the site would result in a small increased

Site assessment Related SEA Comment Information Scoring – pre mitigation Mitigation if Scoring – post mitigation question (click on links topic if available – appropriate? embedded in the text applicable GIS/site visit? for further guidance) Tech Services could result in a small risk of flooding to local sensitive increased risk of flooding receptors (for example elsewhere buildings, roads etc.) 0 = Development of the site - Development of the site would would have no impact on result in a small increased risk flood risk elsewhere of flooding but not effect sensitive receptors + Development of the site would result in minor 0 = Development of the site alleviation of existing would have no impact on flood flooding problems in the risk elsewhere area + + Development of the site could significantly alleviate existing flooding problems in the area

2f To what extent will the Water GIS - - The site is in an area of - - The site is in an area of proposal have an impact significant coastal erosion significant coastal erosion and/ on or likely to be affected Site info and/ or will have a or will have a significantly by coastal erosion or Site visit significantly negative negative impact on coastal natural coastal process? impact on coastal erosion erosion which cannot be Tech Services mitigated - Site is in an area of minor coastal erosion and/ or will - Site is in an area of minor have a minor negative coastal erosion and/ or will have impact on coastal erosion a minor negative impact on coastal erosion which cannot be 0 = Proposal is close to mitigated coast but not thought to affect or be affected by 0 =Proposal is close to coast but coastal erosion not thought to affect or be affected by coastal erosion + Proposal includes mitigation to address local + Proposal includes mitigation to erosion issues address local erosion issues + + Proposal includes + + Proposal includes mitigation mitigation that will address that will address widespread widespread erosion issues erosion issues X = Not applicable, site is X = Not applicable, site is not

3a Soils and Minerals Soils GIS - - Development would - - Development would create Resources result in loss of large area brownfield land of greenfield land Is the option on - Site development would ignore greenfield or brownfield - Site development would opportunities to make use of land? ignore opportunities to brownfield land make use of brownfield land 0 = Will not affect brownfield land due to the nature, scale or 0 = Will not affect location of proposal brownfield land due to the nature, scale or location of + Minor redevelopment of proposal brownfield land + Minor redevelopment of + + Significant/large scale brownfield land redevelopment of brownfield land + + Significant/large scale redevelopment of brownfield land

3b Are there any Soils Environmental - - Large scale - - Large scale contaminated soil contaminated soils Health contaminated soil present present onsite which cannot be issues on the site and if onsite remediated so, will the option reduce contamination? - Potentially contaminated - Potentially contaminated land land or small amount of or small amount of contaminated soil identified contaminated soil identified on on site site 0 = No record of 0 = No record of contaminated contaminated soils on site soils on site + Will remediate minor contamination or small scale contamination onsite + + Will remediate significant contamination or large scale

3c Will the proposal result Soils GIS - - Could cause a very - - Will cause a very significant in the loss of better significant loss of good loss of good quality croft land quality in-bye croft land? Site visit quality croft land that cannot be mitigated - Could cause a minor loss - Will cause a minor loss of good of or good quality croft land quality croft land 0 = Site is not on croft land 0 = Site is not on croft land + Could give small + Gives small scale/local scale/local protection to protection to high quality croft high quality croft land land + + Could provide + + Will provide significant significant protection to protection to high quality croft high quality croft land land

3d Is the site located on soils If depth of SEPA - - Most of the site (>50%) - - Will cause significant identified Carbon Rich peat is known is within an area of carbon disturbance of carbon rich Soils Classes 1 or 2 per provide details Scotland’s soils’ rich soils/peat/wetlands soils/wetlands and mitigation SNH or on Deep Peat website (peat survey require) measures cannot reduce the risks Site visit - Some of the site (<50%) SNH is within an area of carbon - Minor disturbance of carbon rich soils/peat/wetlands rich soils/wetlands and mitigation measures cannot fully 0 = Site is not located reduce the risks within an area of known carbon rich 0 = Scale or type of proposal soils/peat/wetland unlikely to effect on soil or croft land

+ Small area of carbon rich soil/wetlands safeguarded from disturbance + + Large area of carbon rich soil/ wetlands safeguarded from disturbance X = Site not thought to be on 72

3e Will the option minimise Material Assets GIS - - Development would not - - Development would not result demand on primary result in re-use of vacant in re-use of vacant buildings or resources e.g. does the Site information buildings or recover recover existing on-site development re-use an existing on-site materials/ materials/ resources existing structure or resources recycle or recover - Site development would ignore existing on-site materials - Site development would opportunities to redevelop / resources ignore opportunities to existing buildings or recover redevelop existing existing on-site materials/ buildings or recover resources existing on-site materials/ resources 0 = Will not affect vacant buildings due to the nature, 0 = Will not affect vacant scale or location of proposal buildings due to the nature, scale or location of + Minor redevelopment of proposal existing buildings and on site materials + Minor redevelopment of existing buildings, + + Significant/large scale encouraging sustainable redevelopment of existing use of primary resources at buildings and on-site materials local level ?? = Unknown + + Significant/large scale redevelopment of existing buildings, encouraging significant sustainable use of primary resources at a regional level

Air and Climatic Air SEPA - - Development of the site - - Development of the site could Factors could significantly increase significantly increase air 4a Site information air emissions to the area emissions to the area which Does the option could not be mitigated introduce a new - Development of the site potentially significant air could result in a small - Development of the site could emission to the area increase of air emissions result in a small increase of air

Site assessment Related SEA Comment Information Scoring – pre mitigation Mitigation if Scoring – post mitigation question (click on links topic if available – appropriate? embedded in the text applicable GIS/site visit? for further guidance) (e.g., an industrial 0 = Development of the site emissions and mitigation process, large scale would have no impact on measures cannot fully reduce quarry or Energy from air emissions the risks Waste plant)? + Development of the site 0 = Development of the site would result in an would have no impact on air improvement of air emissions emissions + Development of the site would result in an improvement of air emissions

4b Will the proposal help Material Assets Scotland’s Zero - - Could cause a - - Will have a significant meet the Zero Waste Waste Plan significant increase the negative effect on a waste Plan targets? amount of waste going to handling operation or will cause http://www.scotland. landfill. a significant increase the gov.uk/Topics/Envir amount of waste going to landfill onment/waste-and- - Could cause an increased which cannot be mitigated. pollution/Waste- amount of waste going to 1/wastestrategy landfill - Will cause an increased amount of waste going to landfill 0 = No significant impact which cannot be fully mitigated. on the rates of recycling and amount of waste going 0 = No significant impact on the to landfill rates of recycling and amount of waste going to landfill

+ Will facilitate sustainable waste management at a local scale + + Will facilitate sustainable waste management at regional level

4c For potential waste Material Assets SEPA - - Could cause a - - Will have a significant management activity significant increase the negative effect on a waste sites (includes allocation Technical Services amount of waste going to handling operation or will cause for employment, Scotland’s Zero landfill. a significant increase the industrial or storage and waste plan amount of waste going to distribution uses) - does - Could cause an increased landfill. the proposal comply with http://www.scotland. amount of waste going to gov.uk/Topics/Envir landfill - Will cause an increased

Site assessment Related SEA Comment Information Scoring – pre mitigation Mitigation if Scoring – post mitigation question (click on links topic if available – appropriate? embedded in the text applicable GIS/site visit? for further guidance) the SPP (pages 41-44). onment/waste-and- 0 = No significant impact amount of waste going to landfill pollution/Waste- on the rates of recycling 1/wastestrategy and amount of waste going 0 = No significant impact on the to landfill rates of recycling and amount of waste going to landfill + Could facilitate sustainable waste + Will facilitate sustainable management at a local waste management at a local scale scale + + Could facilitate + + Will facilitate sustainable sustainable waste waste management at regional management at regional level level

5a Population and Human Popn and human GIS - - Proposal would have a - - Proposal would have a Health health significant negative impact significant negative impact on http://www.snh.gov. on quality and/or quantity quality and/or quantity of open To what extent will the uk/land-and- of open space space which cannot be proposal affect the sea/managing-the- mitigated quality and quantity of land/spatial- - Proposal would have a open space and ecology/types-of- minor negative impact on - Proposal would have a minor connectivity and network/green- the quality and/or quantity negative impact on the quality accessibility to open networks/ of existing open space and/or quantity of existing open space or result in a loss space which cannot be fully of open space? 0 = Unlikely to have any mitigated impact on existing open space due to nature, scale 0 = Unlikely to have any impact or location of proposal on existing open space due to nature, scale or location of + Proposal would have proposal minor positive impact on the quality and/or quantity + Proposal would have minor of existing open space positive impact on the quality and/or quantity of existing open + + Proposal would have space significant positive impact on quantity and/or quality + + Proposal would have of green space significant positive impact on quantity and/or quality of green ?? = Unknown

5b To what extent will the Popn. and human GIS - - The proposal would - - The proposal would have a proposal contribute to health have a significant negative significant negative impact on greater connectivity of http://www.snh.gov. impact on connectivity of connectivity of open space open space? uk/land-and- open space and/or and/or Proposal is far removed sea/managing-the- Proposal is far removed from access to open space/ land/spatial- from access to open access networks or there and/or ecology/types-of- space/ access networks or there is no scope for improved network/green- there and/or there is no connectivity of open space networks/ scope for improved connectivity of open space - Proposal would fragment key access networks or open space - Proposal would fragment and/or the proposal does not key access networks or connect or relate well to existing open space and/or the access networks or green proposal does not connect networks or relate well to existing access networks or green 0 = Utilises or is in close networks proximity to existing connections 0 = Utilises or is in close + Improves/enhances green proximity to existing network connectivity, or key connections access network and/or improved access to open space + Improves/enhances green network connectivity, + + Proposal would significantly or key access network contribute to greater connectivity and/or improved access to of open space open space ?? = Unknown + + Proposal would significantly contribute to greater connectivity of open space ?? = Unknown

5c To what extent will the Popn. and Human GIS? - - Proposal would result in - - Proposal would result in proposal affect core path health or material significant adverse impacts significant adverse impacts to links or other key access assets or climatic Environment Officer to the existing path the existing path network, for

Site assessment Related SEA Comment Information Scoring – pre mitigation Mitigation if Scoring – post mitigation question (click on links topic if available – appropriate? embedded in the text applicable GIS/site visit? for further guidance) networks such as cycle factors network, for example by example by resulting in the loss paths, coastal paths and resulting in the loss of a of a route or severing a route rights of way? route or severing a route - Proposal would result in - Proposal would result in adverse impacts to the existing adverse impacts to the path network, for example by existing path network, for affecting the amenity of a route example by affecting the amenity of a route 0 = Proposal will have no impact on the existing path network due 0 = Proposal will have no to nature, scale or location of impact on the existing path proposal network due to nature, scale or location of + Proposal provides opportunity proposal to link to the existing path network to reach a limited + Proposal provides number of services and facilities opportunity to link to the existing path network to + + Proposal provides significant reach a limited number of opportunities to link the wider services and facilities path network to reach a range of services and facilities + + Proposal provides significant opportunities to ?? = Unknown link the wider path network to reach a range of services and facilities ?? = Unknown

6 Cultural Heritage Cultural heritage, Site visit - - Development of site - - Development of site would a would lead to loss or major lead to loss or major alteration Will the option affect any Past map alteration of components of of components of a scheduled scheduled monuments http://pastmap.org.u a scheduled monument or monument or its setting or their setting? its setting k/ - Development of site would Historic Scotland – - Development of site have a minor negative impact on description of the would have a minor a scheduled monuments and/or designation negative impact on a its wider setting scheduled monument http://data.historic- 0 = Will not impact any

Site assessment Related SEA Comment Information Scoring – pre mitigation Mitigation if Scoring – post mitigation question (click on links topic if available – appropriate? embedded in the text applicable GIS/site visit? for further guidance) scotland.gov.uk/pls/ and/or its wider setting scheduled monuments due to htmldb/f?p=2000:10 nature, scale or location of :0: 0 = Will not impact any proposal scheduled monuments due to nature, scale or location + Proposal would result in minor of proposal enhancement of the setting of a http://www.historic- scheduled monument scotland.gov.uk/sett + Proposal would result in ing-2.pdf minor enhancement of the + + major enhancement of the setting of a scheduled setting of a scheduled monument monument + + major enhancement of ?? = Unknown the setting of a scheduled monument ?? = Unknown Will the option affect any 6b locally important Cultural Heritage, Site visit - - Development of site - - Development of site would would lead to loss or major lead to loss or major alteration archaeological site? Past map (www.rcahms.gov.uk/ca alteration of components of of components of a locally nmore.html) http://pastmap.org.u a locally important important archaeological site or k/ archaeological site or its its setting setting Comhairle - Development of site would Archaeology - Development of site have a minor negative impact on Service would have a minor a locally important negative impact on a archaeological site and/or its locally important wider setting archaeological site and/or its wider setting 0 = Will not impact any locally important archaeological sites 0 = Will not impact any due to nature, scale or location locally important of proposal archaeological sites due to nature, scale or location of + Proposal would result in minor proposal renovation/regeneration of locally important archaeological + Minor enhancement of sites and/or minor enhancement the setting of a locally of the setting of a locally important archaeological important archaeological site site + + Large-scale redevelopment + + Major enhancement of and reuse a locally important

Site assessment Related SEA Comment Information Scoring – pre mitigation Mitigation if Scoring – post mitigation question (click on links topic if available – appropriate? embedded in the text applicable GIS/site visit? for further guidance) the setting of locally archaeological site and/or important archaeological enhancement of the setting of site locally important archaeological site ?? = Unknown ?? = Unknown Will the option affect any 6c listed buildings and/or Cultural heritage Site visit - - Development of site - - Development of site would would lead to loss or major lead to loss or major alteration their setting? Past map alteration of components of of components of a listed http://pastmap.org.u a listed building and/or its building and/or its setting setting k/ - Development of site would Historic Scotland - - Development of site have a minor negative impact on description of the would have a minor a listed building and/or its wider designation negative impact on a listed setting building and/or its wider http://data.historic- setting 0 = Will not impact any listed scotland.gov.uk/pls/ buildings due to nature, scale or htmldb/f?p=2000:10 0 = Will not impact any location of proposal :0: listed buildings due to nature, scale or location of + small scale or minor proposal renovation/regeneration of listed buildings lying empty/ at risk and + small scale or minor or minor enhancement of the renovation/ regeneration of setting of a listed building listed buildings lying empty/ at risk and/ or minor + + Large-scale positive enhancement of the setting redevelopment and reuse of a of a listed building listed building and/or enhancement of the setting of a + + Large-scale positive listed building redevelopment and reuse of a listed building and/or ?? = Unknown enhancement of the setting of a listed building ?? = Unknown

6d Will the option affect any Cultural heritage, Site Visits - - Development of site - - Development of site would Conservation Areas? would lead to loss or major lead to loss or major alteration (e.g. will it result in the SG: CAMPS alteration of components of of components of a conservation demolition of any Comhairle a conservation area or its 79

Site assessment Related SEA Comment Information Scoring – pre mitigation Mitigation if Scoring – post mitigation question (click on links topic if available – appropriate? embedded in the text applicable GIS/site visit? for further guidance) buildings) Archaeology setting area or its setting Service - Development of site - Development of site would would have a minor have a minor negative impact on negative impact on a a conservation area and/or its conservation area and/or wider setting its wider setting 0 = Will not impact any 0 = Will not impact any conservation areas due to conservation areas due to nature, scale or location of nature, scale or location of proposal proposal + Proposal will result in minor + Proposal will result in renovation/regeneration of a minor conservation area renovation/regeneration of a conservation area + + Proposal will result in large- scale regeneration of a + + Proposal will result in conservation area large-scale regeneration of a conservation area ?? = Unknown ?? = Unknown

6e Will the option affect any Cultural heritage Site visit - - Development of site - - Development of site would would lead to loss or major lead to loss or major alteration Inventory Garden and Past map Designed Landscape? alteration of components of of components of a garden and http://pastmap.org.u a garden and designed designed landscape or its k/ landscape or its setting setting Historic Scotland - Development of site - Development of site would would have a minor have a minor negative impact on http://data.historic- negative impact on a a garden or designed landscape scotland.gov.uk/pls/ garden or designed and/or its wider setting htmldb/f?p=2000:10 landscape and/or its wider :0: setting 0 = Will not impact any garden or designed landscape due to 0 = Will not impact any nature, scale or location of garden or designed proposal landscape due to nature, scale or location of + Proposal will result in minor proposal renovation/regeneration of a garden and designed landscape + Proposal will result in

Site assessment Related SEA Comment Information Scoring – pre mitigation Mitigation if Scoring – post mitigation question (click on links topic if available – appropriate? embedded in the text applicable GIS/site visit? for further guidance) minor + Proposal will result in large renovation/regeneration of scale renovation/regeneration of a garden and designed a garden and designed landscape landscape + + Proposal will result in ?? = Unknown large scale renovation/regeneration of a garden and designed landscape ?? = Unknown Will the option affect any

6f World Heritage Sites? Cultural heritage, St Kilda - - Development of site - - Development of site would Management Plan would lead to loss or major lead to loss or major alteration alteration of components of of components of a World National Trust for a World Heritage Sites or Heritage Sites or its setting Scotland its setting - Development of site would Historic Scotland - Development of site have a minor negative impact on SNH would have a minor a World Heritage Site and/or its negative impact on a World wider setting Heritage Site and/or its wider setting 0= Will not impact any World Heritage Sites due to nature, 0= Will not impact any scale or location of proposal World Heritage Sites due to nature, scale or location + Proposal will result in minor of proposal renovation/regeneration of a World Heritage Site + Proposal will result in minor + + Proposal will result in large renovation/regeneration of scale renovation/regeneration of a World Heritage Site a World Heritage Sites + + Proposal will result in ?? = Unknown large scale renovation/regeneration of a World Heritage Sites ?? = Unknown

Site assessment Related SEA Comment Information Scoring – pre mitigation Mitigation if Scoring – post mitigation question (click on links topic if available – appropriate? embedded in the text applicable GIS/site visit? for further guidance) To what extent will the 6g proposal result in the Cultural heritage, GIS - - Development of site - - Development of site would opportunity to enhance would have a significant have a significant negative or improve access to the negative impact on access impact on access to historic historic environment? to historic environment environment features within or features within or close by close by the site the site - Development of site would - Development of site have a minor negative impact on would have a minor access to historic environment negative impact on access features within or close by the to historic environment site features within or close by the site 0 = Development would not affect access to the historic 0 = Development would not environment due to nature, affect access to the historic scale or location of proposal environment due to nature, scale or location of + Proposal will result in minor proposal access improvements to the historic environment features + Proposal will result in within or close to the site minor access improvements to the + + Proposal will result in historic environment significant access improvements features within or close to to the historic environment the site features within or close to the site + + Proposal will result in significant access ?? = Unknown improvements to the historic environment features within or close to the site ?? = Unknown

7a Landscape Landscape GIS - - Proposal is within or - - Proposal is within or would would affect a national or affect a national or local To what extent will any SNH site link details local designated landscape designated landscape and designated sites be about why site is and would lead to a would lead to a significant loss

Site assessment Related SEA Comment Information Scoring – pre mitigation Mitigation if Scoring – post mitigation question (click on links topic if available – appropriate? embedded in the text applicable GIS/site visit? for further guidance) affected – including designated significant loss of or impact of or impact on the key features NSAs? on the key features or or qualities which cannot be http://gateway.snh.g qualities mitigated ov.uk/sitelink/ - Proposal is within or - Proposal is within or would would affect a national or affect a national or local local designated landscape designated landscape and and would lead to a minor would lead to a minor loss or loss or impact on the key impact on the key features or features or qualities qualities which cannot be fully mitigated 0 = Nature, scale or location of proposal is 0 = Nature, scale or location of unlikely to have any effects proposal is unlikely to have any on designated landscapes effects on designated landscapes + Proposal offers minor or local enhancement to a + Proposal offers minor or local national or local designated enhancement to a national or landscape local designated landscape + + Proposal significantly + + Proposal significantly enhances the qualities of a enhances the qualities of a national or local designated national or local designated landscape landscape ?? = Unknown ?? = Unknown

7b Does the proposal Landscape GIS - - Development isolated - - Proposal is of a scale or ensure that development and not in an existing nature that would result in a does not exceed the Western Isles settlement boundary and/ significant negative effect on capacity of the Landscape or Development of site qualities of landscape interest landscape to Character would land lock other sites which cannot be mitigated accommodate it? Such Assessment or impact on existing - Proposal is of a scale or as current settlement connectivity in a settlement boundaries, existing and/or proposal fails to nature that would result in a townscape and http://www.snh.org. relate to current settlement minor negative effect on character of surrounding uk/pdfs/publications pattern and density qualities of landscape interest area? /review/092.pdf which cannot be fully mitigated - Development poorly orientated from key 0 = Location, scale or nature of services or similar uses proposal unlikely to have any effects on qualities of landscape 83

Site assessment Related SEA Comment Information Scoring – pre mitigation Mitigation if Scoring – post mitigation question (click on links topic if available – appropriate? embedded in the text applicable GIS/site visit? for further guidance) elongates settlement interest and/or Development segregated from existing + Proposal offers minor or local settlement by barriers such enhancement to qualities of as road, water course etc., landscape interest which could not be or + + Proposal significantly would be costly to mitigate enhances qualities of landscape and proposal partially interest relates to current settlement pattern and ?? = Unknown density 0 = Due to scale, nature or location proposal will have a very minimal impact on the landscape + Well connected/ appears to round off settlement To what extent will the 7c proposal affect features Landscape SNH - - Proposal is of a scale or - - Proposal is of a scale or of landscape interest, nature that would result in nature that would result in a http://www.snh.gov. a significant negative effect significant negative effect on including the distinctive uk/protecting- character of the on qualities of landscape qualities of landscape interest scotlands- interest which cannot be mitigated landscape and the nature/looking-after- qualities of wild land? landscapes/landsca - Proposal is of a scale or - Proposal is of a scale or pe-policy-and- nature that would result in nature that would result in a guidance/wild-land/ a minor negative effect on minor negative effect on qualities of landscape qualities of landscape interest interest which cannot be fully mitigated 0 = Location, scale or 0 = Location, scale or nature of nature of proposal unlikely proposal unlikely to have any to have any effects on effects on qualities of landscape qualities of landscape interest interest + Proposal offers minor or local + Proposal offers minor or enhancement to qualities of local enhancement to landscape interest qualities of landscape interest + + Proposal significantly enhances qualities of landscape

Site assessment Related SEA Comment Information Scoring – pre mitigation Mitigation if Scoring – post mitigation question (click on links topic if available – appropriate? embedded in the text applicable GIS/site visit? for further guidance) + + Proposal significantly interest enhances qualities of landscape interest ?? = Unknown ?? = Unknown What will be the extent 7d of any visual intrusion? Landscape Site visit - - Visually disruptive, - - Visually disruptive, incongruous and out of incongruous and out of character to the character to the surrounding surrounding landscape landscape and/ or proposal and/ or proposal would be would be visually intrusive in a visually intrusive in a valued or sensitive view which valued or sensitive view cannot be mitigated - Proposal would be - Proposal would be visually visually intrusive in wider intrusive in wider general general scenery scenery which cannot be fully mitigated 0 = Unlikely to be any visual impact due to 0 = Unlikely to be any visual nature, scale or location of impact due to nature, scale or proposal location of proposal + Proposal would lead to + Proposal would lead to an an improvement to an improvement to an existing existing detracting feature detracting feature in wider in wider general scenery general scenery and/ or Type of and/ or Type of proposed proposed development fits well development fits well with with existing development existing development + + Proposal would lead to an + + Proposal would lead to improvement to an existing an improvement to an detracting feature in a valued or existing detracting feature sensitive view e.g. by in a valued or sensitive redevelopment of derelict /gap view e.g. by redevelopment site and fits well into the of derelict /gap site and fits surrounding landscape and land well into the surrounding uses landscape and land uses ?? = Unknown ?? = Unknown

8a Deliverability/sustaina Material Assets Site information - - Site is affected by major - - Site is affected by major bility constraints constraints which mean it constraints which mean it is Planning History is unlikely to be delivered unlikely to be delivered within Will the site be delivered within the LDP timeframe the LDP timeframe within the LDP timeframe? - Site is affected by minor - Site is affected by minor constraints which mean it constraints which mean it is is unlikely to be delivered unlikely to be delivered in the in the early part of the LDP early part of the LDP timeframe timeframe 0 = The site is free from major 0 = The site is free from constraints and therefore likely major constraints and to be capable of being delivered therefore likely to be within the LDP timeframe capable of being delivered within the LDP timeframe + The site is free from constraints and at an advanced + The site is free from planning stage (e.g. allocated in constraints and at an existing local plan and/or has advanced planning stage planning permission) and (e.g. allocated in existing therefore likely to be delivered in local plan and/or has the near future planning permission) and therefore likely to be + + The site is currently under delivered in the near future construction and likely to be completed within the LDP + + The site is currently timeframe under construction and likely to be completed within the LDP timeframe Does the site have 8b servicing/ physical Material Assets GIS - - Significant servicing - - Significant servicing constraints such as constraints such as overhead constraints, e.g. Site visit electricity OHL, overhead lines, or pipe lines, or pipe lines that cannot or underground gas lines would be very costly to mitigate pipelines etc. - Some servicing - Some servicing constraints constraints nearby that is that could be mitigated and that incongruous to the is incongruous to the proposed

Site assessment Related SEA Comment Information Scoring – pre mitigation Mitigation if Scoring – post mitigation question (click on links topic if available – appropriate? embedded in the text applicable GIS/site visit? for further guidance) proposed use and could use and could cause minor cause minor disturbance disturbance 0 = proposal is unlikely to 0 = proposal is unlikely to be be affected by physical affected by physical constraints constraints + Scale of the proposal will address some localised constraints + + Scale of the proposal means that widespread servicing constraints will be addressed

8c Is the site constrained by Material Assets GIS - - Significant “bad - - Significant “bad neighbour” wind turbines/ quarries/ neighbour” constraints constraints within or in very waste management Site visit within or in very close close proximity to the site, that sites/landfill/ caravan proximity to the site would be incongruous to the site/LDP Economic dev development and would cause site/ industrial storage - Some “Bad neighbour” significant disturbance site etc. nearby that is incongruous to the proposed use and - Some “Bad neighbour” nearby could cause minor that is incongruous to the disturbance proposed use and could cause minor disturbance 0 =proposal is unlikely to be affected by bad 0 = proposal is unlikely to be neighbour constraints affected by bad neighbour constraints + Scale of the proposal will address some localised + Scale of the proposal will constraints address some localised constraints + + Scale of the proposal means that widespread + + Scale of the proposal means servicing constraints will be that widespread servicing addressed constraints will be addressed Is the road network 8d capable of Material Assets Tech Services - - - No opportunity to - - No opportunity to connect to Roads connect to existing road existing road network and or accommodating the Population traffic generated? network and or Existing Existing road network cannot Climatic Factors road network cannot accommodate extra traffic accommodate extra traffic generated

?? = Unknown

Is the site close (within 8e 10 miles) to a range of Material Assets GIS - - Proposal is a significant - - Proposal remains isolated distance from existing from existing centres, facilities facilities? Can these be Site Information accessed by public centres of population/ and access provisions transport? Air Quality Technical Services services/ transport connections and will be - Proposal is fairly isolated from likely cause a significant existing centres and provision increase in use of priv. car and would have a localised Climatic Factors minor negative impact - Proposal is far from existing centres 0= Proposal will utilise existing /services/transport travel/access provision connections and will likely + Proposal is within close cause a minor increase in distance of facilities or presents the use of private car a mixed use proposal which will 0 = Proposal is located enable a local scale positive close to existing provisions impact on further use of active or type of proposal is travel choices and use of public unlikely to have any transport significant impact on + +Proposal is within close travel/access provision distance of a range of facilities + Proposal is within or improvement to provisions walking distance of existing will be made i.e. footpath, centres of popn cycleway, open space which will /services/transport have a significant widespread connections or presents a positive impact on further use of

Site assessment Related SEA Comment Information Scoring – pre mitigation Mitigation if Scoring – post mitigation question (click on links topic if available – appropriate? embedded in the text applicable GIS/site visit? for further guidance) mixed use development active travel choices, use of (e.g. housing, employment public transport and community uses) close to existing centres, reducing car use and enabling use of active travel choices and use of public transport + + Proposal is within walking distance to an existing centre of a large population/wide range of services/extensive travel connections which will help to sustain existing services and/or will make a significant widespread positive impact toward improving access provisions i.e. footpath, cycleway, open space which will encourage a significant reduction in use of private car

8f Education capacity - Population School roll forecasts - - Primary and/or - - Primary and/or secondary Secondary School secondary school are at or school are at or over actual or Catchment Area/ over actual or forecasted forecasted capacity and there is capacity and there is no no scope for an extension Primary school scope for an extension catchment area - Primary and/or secondary - Primary and/or secondary school are at or over actual or school are at or over actual forecasted capacity but there is or forecasted capacity but scope for an extension there is scope for an extension 0 = Primary and/or secondary school have sufficient spare 0 = Primary and/or capacity to accommodate secondary school have additional pupils arising from sufficient spare capacity to development accommodate additional

Site assessment Related SEA Comment Information Scoring – pre mitigation Mitigation if Scoring – post mitigation question (click on links topic if available – appropriate? embedded in the text applicable GIS/site visit? for further guidance) pupils arising from + Primary and/or secondary development school are under capacity and/or forecasted to be under + Primary and/or capacity and development will secondary school are help to sustain school/s under capacity and/or forecasted to be under + + Primary and/or secondary capacity and development school are significant under will help to sustain school/s capacity and/or forecasted to be significantly under capacity and + + Primary and/or development is needed to help secondary school are sustain school/s significant under capacity and/or forecasted to be X = Proposal would not directly significantly under capacity result in school pupils and development is needed to help sustain ?? = Unknown school/s X = Proposal would not directly result in school pupils ?? = Unknown Site aspect – does the 8g site make best use of Climatic Factors Site visit - - Very exposed, with no - - Very exposed, with no shelter shelter from landscape or from landscape or vegetation, solar gain? Is the site Site info protected from prevailing vegetation, north facing north facing slope or over winds? Material Assets slope or over shadowed shadowed site site - Minor exposed site with - Minor exposed site with minimal shelter from topography minimal shelter from or vegetation. North west facing topography or vegetation. slope or flat site North west facing slope or flat site 0 = Partially sheltered sited by topography or vegetation. East 0 = Partially sheltered sited or west facing slope or flat site. by topography or Opportunity to provide shelter vegetation. East or west belts etc. facing slope or flat site. + Minor shelter by topography + Minor shelter by and vegetation south west or

Site assessment Related SEA Comment Information Scoring – pre mitigation Mitigation if Scoring – post mitigation question (click on links topic if available – appropriate? embedded in the text applicable GIS/site visit? for further guidance) topography and vegetation south east facing gradual slope south west or south east facing gradual slope + + Sheltered by topography and vegetation, south facing, + + Sheltered by gradual slope topography and vegetation, south facing, gradual slope

8h What level of work would Water Scottish Water - - No viable connection to - - No viable connection to the be required to connect to the water and/or waste water and/or waste water a public water supply/ Material Assets SSE water network and/or network and/or mains electricity waste drainage system mains electricity and mains electricity? - Connection not available to the - Connection not available network but one may be viable to the water and/or waste water network and/or 0 = Public water/waste water mains electricity network and mains electricity connection but one may be viable available on site or within 250m of the site 0 =Public water/waste water and mains electricity +by requiring proposal to connection available on connect it will contribute a minor site or within 200m of the improvement to the public water site supply and the public drainage or sewerage issues X – the site use proposed does not require a + + by requiring proposal to connection connect the scale of the option means that widespread water supply /drainage and sewerage and mains electricity issues will be addressed X – the site use proposed does not require a connection

APPENDIX D: Summary of Key Findings and Proposed Mitigation Measures for elements of Adopted LDP to be Retained in Emerging LDP (subject to minor revision)

(Taken from OH-LDP SEA Revised Environmental Report, 2011) Full assessment findings can be accessed at: http://www.cne-siar.gov.uk/planningservice/proposedLDPenvassessment.asp

Policy 2 – Assessment of Development: This policy sets out additional factors which should be considered for developments, for example that biodiversity and ecological interests are not significantly adversely affected by proposals and where possible are enhanced. The policy scores overall positive with 6 significant positives.

Policy 3 – Zero & Low Carbon Buildings: Low and zero carbon generating technology must be installed in all new buildings (with some exceptions which are listed). Developers should seek to achieve a sustainability level of at least Bronze Active rating. The policy scores overall positive with 5 significant positives.

Policy 5 – Landscape: Development proposals should relate to the specific landscape and visual characteristics of the area for which development is proposed, ensuring that the overall integrity of landscape character is maintained. The policy is overall positive or neutral with 3 significant positives.

Policy 6 – Service Infrastructure: New developments will be required to adopt the principles of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) with the exception of single house developments and those discharging directly to coastal waters. The policy is overall positive or neutral, with 2 significant positives.

Policy 7 – Flooding: Development proposals on areas susceptible to flooding will only be allowed where sustainable flood management measures are incorporated that mitigate against flood risk, or where a specific location is essential for operational reasons, e.g. harbour activities or offshore energy and fishery related activities. The policy is overall positive or neutral with 2 significant positives.

Policy 8 – Waste Management Facilities: The primary waste management and recycling sites to meet the current needs of the Outer Hebrides and for the location of additional waste management facilities are Bennadrove, Stornoway; Creed Park Recycling, Lochs Road, Lewis; and Rueval, Benbecula. The opportunity to develop new waste management facilities should be considered in conjunction with the development of mineral extraction sites and sites suitable for a range of industrial, business and employment activities. The policy scores mostly neutral/NA but there are two possible positives (objectives 3 and 4).

Policy 9 – Water Environment: Development proposals should avoid adverse impact on the water environment. All proposals involving engineering activities in or adjacent to any water body must be accompanied by sufficient information to enable a full assessment to be made of the likely effects, including environmental effects, of the development. The policy is overall positive or neutral/NA with 4 significant positives

Policy 10 – Soils & Peat: Where peat and other carbon rich soils are present, developers should assess the likely effects associated with any development work and aim to mitigate any adverse impacts arising. The policy is overall positive or neutral/NA with 2 significant positives.

Policy 11 – Compatibility of Neighbouring Uses: Measures will be required to ensure that development proposals (particularly for housing) adjacent to existing industrial, mineral extraction or waste management sites do not constrain current or any potential industrial activities. The policy scores mostly neutral/NA but there are two possible positives (objectives 3 and 4).

Policy 12 – Adverts & Signs: Applications for advertisements and signs, and particularly those with proposed illumination, and/or affecting the setting of a listed building, must be of an appropriate design, dimension, material and colour. The policy is overall positive or neutral though there are no significant positives.

Policy 13 – Housing: The effective land supply to deliver housing needs of the islands for at least a five year period will be delivered through individual windfall sites and those listed in proposal H1. Proposal H1 sites will be safeguarded against uses and development that would compromise the residential function of the site. The policy is overall positive or neutral with 2 significant positives.

Policy 14 – Caravans & Temporary Buildings: The Comhairle’s policy on the siting of caravans, associated facilities and temporary buildings for residential or holiday use is set out in the Supplementary Guidance which forms part of the Development Plan. The policy is overall positive or neutral with 4 significant positives.

Policy 15 – Economic Development: The preferred locations identified as the main sites to deliver the strategic business needs of the islands are listed in Proposal E1. These locations will be safeguarded against uses or development that would compromise the business function of the site. Further sites suitable for a range of commercial development are listed in Proposal E2. The policy scores a mix of positive, neutral, with three potentially minor adverse (objectives 4, 5 and 6). The policy contains safeguards that ensure design, size and location of e.g. wind energy developments is considered during the planning phase which should minimise adverse effects. Large scale developments are covered by the Supplementary Guidance document.

Policy 17 – Retail & Service Provision: Proposals for retail, commercial and public uses will be supported where it is demonstrated that they contribute to the retention, enhancement and provision of local shops, post offices and other customer services in existing settlements. The policy scores overall neutral however there is one significant positive (objective 1).

Policy 18 – Stornoway Town Centre & Retail Areas: In Stornoway Town Centre Retail area, as defined on the Development Strategy Map and in line with Policy 1 of the Development Strategy, uses should contribute positively to the vitality and viability of the town centre as a primary focus for pedestrian and commercial activity. The policy is overall neutral or positive though there are no significant positives.

Policy 19 – Energy Resources: The Comhairle will support proposals that contribute to meeting the targets and objectives of the National Planning Framework 2, the Climate Change Act and National Renewables Infrastructure Plan in relation to electricity grid reinforcement infrastructure and renewable energy generation. The policy scores a mix of positive, neutral, with three potentially minor adverse (objectives 4, 5 and 6). The policy contains safeguards that ensure design, size and location of e.g. wind energy developments is considered during the planning phase which should minimise adverse effects. Large scale developments are covered by the Supplementary Guidance document.

Policy 20 – Small & Micro Renewables: Through increased awareness of micro-generating technologies, objectives to reduce carbon emissions, and financial and tariff based incentives there has been a significant increase in micro renewables development proposals. Installation of these technologies requires consideration to ensure that neighbouring amenity is balanced with optimum operational efficiency. The policy scores overall neutral or positive though there are no significant positives.

Policy 22 – Marine Planning & Aquaculture: Proposals for new marine aquaculture developments or amendments to existing marine aquaculture sites will be assessed against the Development Strategy and the Supplementary Guidance for Marine Aquaculture which forms part of the Development Plan. The Supplementary Guidance sets out a spatial and policy framework to guide aquaculture development in the Outer Hebrides. The policy scores positive or neutral with 3 significant positives.

Policy 23 – Coastal Development & Erosion: Proposals for development will be preferred on developed coastline as shown on the Proposals map or within existing settlements. Proposals on land within areas of undeveloped coast where no settlement exists, and along ‘isolated coastline’ will be assessed against the criteria set out in the Development Strategy and must accord with Policy 7 – Flooding. The policy scores positive or neutral with 2 significant positives.

Policy 24 – Countryside & Coastal Access: Proposed development must be located so as to ensure that the Core Path Network is kept free of obstruction. Where possible development should also avoid other routes identified in the Core Path Plan. The policy scores largely positive, with 1 significant positive.

Policy 25 – Open Space: Development proposals that adversely impact existing open space, as shown on the Development Strategy map, will not be supported unless there is strong justification and alternative provision is proposed that offers comparable amenity, size, and accessibility and quality benefits. The policy scores positive and neutral, with 3 significant positives.

Policy 26 – Transport Infrastructure: The Comhairle’s land use planning objectives for transportation are to support improvements in the transport infrastructure including public transport and other alternatives to the use of private transport and where possible to deliver highway improvements and traffic management initiatives. The policy scores largely neutral/NA but with one significant positive (objective 1).

Policy 27 – Communications Infrastructure: Proposals for the installation of radio or telephone masts and other commercial communications equipment will be required to satisfy a list of criteria, such as minimising visual impact, sharing of existing facilities where possible and removal of redundant masts and equipment. The policy scores largely neutral with 3 minor positives for objectives 1, 4 and 5.

Policy 28 – Natural Heritage Conservation: Development proposals likely to have a significant effect on an international or national designated site/s will not be permitted unless it can be demonstrated that the relevant criteria set out in legislation can be met (Scottish Planning Policy for Natura sites and nationally designated sites). Developments affecting the Loch Stiapavat Local Nature Reserve (LNR) should aim to enhance the site and will not be permitted if they have an unacceptable impact on the features of interest of the site. The policy scores largely positive with 2 significant positives (objectives 4 and 6).

Policy 29 – Trees and Woodlands: Developers will be required to incorporate existing woodland resource into their schemes wherever possible and to minimise adverse impacts on the biodiversity value of this resource through sensitive siting, design and landscaping. The policy scores largely neutral/NA but with 3 positives, one of which is significant.

Policy 30 – St Kilda World Heritage Site: Development proposals will only be permitted where, in addition to compliance with other relevant policies, the developer can demonstrate that the proposal will have no or minimal impact upon the specified criteria, which include visual, historical, landscape and the outstanding Universal Value of the World Heritage Site. The policy scores positive and neutral including 2 significant positives (objectives 4 and 5).

Policy 31 – Listed Buildings: The Comhairle seeks to conserve the special architectural and historical interest of Listed Buildings and their settings and will support sympathetic conversions and extensions to secure their future use. The policy scores positive and neutral with 4 significant positives (objectives 1, 3, 4 and 5).

Policy 32 – Conservation Areas: Only applications for detailed Planning Permission with comprehensive plans accompanied by a Design Statement and where appropriate an Access Statement will be acceptable for consideration of proposed development in any Conservation Area. The policy scores positive and neutral with 4 significant positives (objectives 1, 3, 4 and 5).

Policy 33 – Thatched Buildings: Where works are proposed to thatched buildings, either listed or located within designated Conservation Areas, it is required that they are restored to their original style. The policy scores positive and neutral with 5 significant positives (objectives 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6)

Policy 34 – Archaeology: Development proposals adversely affecting nationally important remains and their settings, whether scheduled or not, will not normally be permitted. The policy scores positive and neutral with 1 significant positive (objective 5).

Appendix E: Summary of SEA Assessment Scores for Proposals Sites

Biodiversity, Flora and Fauna Water Soils and Minerals 1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 1f 1g 1h 2a 2b 2c 2d 2e 2f 3a 3b 3c 3d 3e

Site

o s t s o

P r e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P Housing MIR 1 Ardveenish 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - 0 0 0 0 x x - - 0 0 - + - - - - - & Northbay MIR 2 east 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 x x - - 0 0 - + - - - - Craigston MIR 3 n/ n/ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 + + 0 0 0 0 - 0 + + Craigston a a MIR 4 n/ n/ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - 0 x 0 0 Vatersay a a MIR 5 n/ n/ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 x x - - 0 0 0 0 - - - - - Askernish a a MIR 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 x x + + 0 0 0 + 0 x + + Garrynamonie MIR 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 + + 0 0 0 + -- 0 + + Creagorry MIR 8 Luskentyre 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - 0 0 ------A MIR 9 Luskentyre 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - 0 0 ------B MIR 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - 0 0 - - 0 ++ 0 0 Seilebost MIR 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - ++ 0 0 - + - 0 0 0 Horgabost MIR 12 West 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 x x + + 0 0 - + - 0 + + Tarbert MIR 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - 0 0 - - - - - 0 0 S.Gisla MIR 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 x x 0 0 0 0 - + 0 + 0 0 Balallan MIR 15 S. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 x x 0 0 0 0 - - 0 + 0 0 Bragar MIR 16 Barvas Old 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 x x ++ ++ 0 0 0 + 0 + ++ ++ School MIR 17 Habost, 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 x x + + 0 0 - + 0 + ++ ++ Ness MIR 18 Sheshader 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - 0 0 - - - - 0 0 Point MIR 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - 0 0 - - 0 + 0 0 Steinish Rd MIR 20 Upper Coll 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 x x - - 0 0 - + - + 0 0 Grazings MIR 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 x x - - 0 0 - - - - - 0 0 Newmarket MIR 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 x x + + 0 0 + + - - 0 0 Tong Road MIR 23 Melbost 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 x x - - 0 0 - - 0 0 - - Farm East MIR 24 Melbost 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 x X - - - 0 0 - - - - 0 0 - - Farm West MIR 25 Melbost 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 ++ ++ - + 0 0 0 0 ++ ++ Junction MIR 26 Oliver’s 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - 0 0 - - 0 x 0 0 Brae MIR 27 Anderson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 - - 0 0 0 x x ++ ++ - + 0 0 0 x + + Road MIR 28 Dormitory 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 x x + + - + 0 0 - + ++ ++ NW MIR 29 Goathill 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 x x - - - 0 0 - - - - 0 0 - - Farm East MIR 30 Goathill 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 x x - - - 0 0 - - - - 0 0 - - Farm West MIR 31 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - - 0 0 - - - - 0 x - - Stoneyfield Economic Development MIR 32 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 + + - + 0 0 0 X + + Castlebay MIR 33 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 + + 0 0 + + 0 x + + Ardveenish

Biodiversity, Flora and Fauna Water Soils and Minerals 1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 1f 1g 1h 2a 2b 2c 2d 2e 2f 3a 3b 3c 3d 3e

Site

o s t s o

P r e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P MIR 34 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 ++ ++ 0 + ++ ++ - - - + + Gassay MIR 35 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 x x ++ ++ - - 0 0 0 x + + Lochcarnan MIR 36 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 x x ++ ++ 0 0 0 0 0 + + + Daliburgh MIR 37 Balivanich 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ++ ++ 0 0 + + 0 x + + Dev. Area MIR 38 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 x x ++ ++ 0 0 + + 0 + 0 0 Lionacleit MIR 39 Leverburgh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 + + 0 0 0 0 0 x + + waterfront MIR 40 Scalpay 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + + 0 0 + + 0 + 0 0 Bridge MIR 41 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 - 0 0 0 - 0 - 0 0 0 ++ ++ - ++ + + 0 x ++ ++ Newton MIR 42 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 ++ ++ - + 0 0 - ++ + + Arnish MIR 43 Creed Bus. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 x x ++ ++ 0 0 + + - + 0 0 Park MIR 44 Gleann 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 x x + + 0 0 0 0 0 + + + Seileach MIR 45 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 + + 0 + 0 0 0 0 0 0 Brevig MIR 46 Dormitory 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 - 0 - 0 x x ++ ++ - ++ 0 + - + + + SE MIR 47 Eireastadh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 x x + + 0 0 0 + - - + 0 0 Uig MIR 48 Habost, 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 x x + + 0 0 ++ ++ 0 x + + S.Lochs Mixed Use MIR 49 Rubha 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 ++ ++ 0 0 ++ ++ - - - + + Bhuailte MIR 50 Howmore 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 x x + + 0 0 - + 0 + 0 0 estate MIR 51 Daliburgh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 x x + + 0 0 + + 0 x ++ ++ adj. School MIR 52 Former 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 ++ ++ - + 0 0 0 x ++ ++ Balivanich school MIR 53 Post office 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + + 0 0 0 0 0 x + + Balivanich MIR 54 Lochmaddy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 x x ++ ++ 0 0 + + - - 0 + + primary MIR 55 Lochmaddy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 ++ ++ - + ++ ++ 0 ++ ++ ++ hospital MIR 56 Claddach 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - - 0 0 ------Vallay MIR 57 Loch 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 X X - - 0 0 ------+ + Iosal MIR 58 NWHT Bus. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - ++ 0 0 - + - 0 0 0 Hub MIR 59 Scalpay 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + + 0 0 + + 0 0 0 + 0 x + + Care Unit MIR 60 Former Bus 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - + - - 0 0 ++ ++ - + 0 0 0 0 + + Station MIR 61 Stornoway 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 x x ++ ++ - + ++ ++ 0 0 + + airport Infrastructure MIR 62 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 0 0 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? + - - ? ? 0 0 Spinal route MIR 63 All- weather 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ? ? - - 0 0 0 0 + + 0 0 0 0 0 + 0 0 Castlebay MIR 64 Radar 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 x x 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - - 0 0 Campar Mor 97

Biodiversity, Flora and Fauna Water Soils and Minerals 1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 1f 1g 1h 2a 2b 2c 2d 2e 2f 3a 3b 3c 3d 3e

Site

o s t s o

P r e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P MIR 65 Energy site 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 x x + + 0 0 0 0 0 x + + Lochs Rd MIR 66 Energy site 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 ++ ++ 0 0 ++ ++ - ++ + + Arnish Environment MIR 67 Balivanich 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 ? ? + + - ? - ? 0 x 0 ? EIS MIR 68 Leverburgh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 ++ ++ - + 0 0 0 0 + + EIS MIR 69 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ? ? ? ? 0 0 0 0 + + - ? - ? 0 x + + Castlebay EIS MIR 70 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 - 0 0 0 - - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + + 0 0 0 0 Scalpay Pier MIR 71 Cromwell St 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 - 0 0 0 - - 0 - - 0 0 + + - + 0 0 0 0 + + Quay MIR 72 Bayhead 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - + 0 0 0 0 + + - + 0 0 0 0 + + Ped Link

Air & Climatic Factors Population & Human Health Cultural Heritage 4a 4b 4c 5a 5b 5c 6a 6b 6c 6d 6e 6f 6g

Site

e e

P r e r P t s o P e r P t s o P r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P r P t s o P e r P t s o P Housing MIR 1 Ardveenish & 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Northbay MIR 2 East 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + - - 0 - - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + + Craigston MIR 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Craigston MIR 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Vatersay MIR 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Askernish MIR 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Garrynamonie MIR 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Creagorry MIR 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Luskentyre A MIR 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Luskentyre B MIR 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Seilebost MIR 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Horgabost MIR 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 West Tarbert MIR 13 South 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + + 0 0 - - ?? 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Gisla MIR 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Balallan MIR 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 S. Bragar MIR 16 Barvas Old 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 School MIR 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Habost, Ness MIR 18 Sheshader 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Point MIR 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 + + + + + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Steinish MIR 20 Upper 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Coll Grazings MIR 21 Newmarket- 0 0 0 0 0 0 + + 0 0 + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Tong MIR 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Tong Road MIR 23 Melbost Farm 0 0 0 0 0 0 ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 East MIR 24 Melbost Farm 0 0 0 0 0 0 + + + + ++ ++ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 West 98

Air & Climatic Factors Population & Human Health Cultural Heritage 4a 4b 4c 5a 5b 5c 6a 6b 6c 6d 6e 6f 6g

Site

e e

P r e r P t s o P e r P t s o P r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P r P t s o P e r P t s o P MIR 25 Melbost 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Junction MIR 26 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Oliver’s Brae MIR 27 Anderson 0 0 0 0 0 0 + + + + + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Road MIR 28 Dormitory 0 0 0 0 0 0 + + + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 - ?? 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 NW MIR 29 Goathill Farm 0 0 0 0 0 0 + + + + ++ ++ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 East MIR 30 Goathill Farm 0 0 0 0 0 0 + + + + ++ ++ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 West MIR 31 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Stoneyfield Economic Development MIR 32 0 + - - + + 0 + + + + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Castlebay MIR 33 - - + + + + 0 0 + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Ardveenish MIR 34 - - - - + ++ 0 0 0 0 + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Gassay MIR 35 - - 0 + + + 0 0 0 0 - + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Lochcarnan MIR 36 - - - ? 0 ? 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Daliburgh MIR 37 Balivanich - - - - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Dev. Area MIR 38 - - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Lionacleit MIR 39 Leverburgh - - 0 0 + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 waterfront MIR 40 Scalpay 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Bridge MIR 41 -- + - + + + ? ++ ? ++ ++ ++ 0 0 0 0 - ? - - - - 0 0 0 0 Newton MIR 42 Arnish - + - - + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 MIR 43 Creed - - ++ ++ ++ ++ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Bus. Park MIR 44 Gleann 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Seileach

MIR 45 Brevig - + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 MIR 46 - - - + + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Dormitory SE MIR 47 - - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Eireastadh Uig MIR 48 Habost, 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 S.Lochs Mixed Use MIR 49 Rubha - - - - + ++ + + 0 0 + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Bhuailte MIR 50 Howmore 0 0 0 0 + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - - 0 - - - - 0 0 0 0 0 0 estate MIR 51 Daliburgh adj. 0 0 0 0 0 0 + + + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 School MIR 52 Former - - - - 0 0 ------0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Balivanich school MIR 53 Post office 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - ?? 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 sports shop MIR 54 Lochmaddy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 primary MIR 55 Lochmaddy - - - + + + + + 0 0 + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 hospital MIR 56 Claddach - - - - + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Vallay MIR 57 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Loch Iosal MIR 58 NWHT - + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Bus. Hub 99

Air & Climatic Factors Population & Human Health Cultural Heritage 4a 4b 4c 5a 5b 5c 6a 6b 6c 6d 6e 6f 6g

Site

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P r e r P t s o P e r P t s o P r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P r P t s o P e r P t s o P MIR 59 Scalpay Care 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Unit MIR 60 0 0 0 0 0 + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - ?? - 0 - 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 Bus Station MIR 61 Stornoway - - 0 0 + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 airport Infrastructure MIR 62 Spinal - + 0 0 0 0 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 route MIR 63 All- weather 0 0 0 0 0 0 ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Castlebay MIR 64 Radar, 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Campar Mor MIR 65 Energy ++ ++ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - ? - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 site Lochs Rd MIR 66 Energy ++ ++ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 - - 0 0 ------0 0 0 0 site Arnish Environment MIR 67 0 0 0 0 0 0 ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ 0 0 - ? 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Balivanich EIS MIR 68 0 0 0 0 0 0 + + + + + + 0 0 0 0 ? ? 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Leverburgh EIS MIR 69 0 0 0 0 0 0 ? ? ++ ++ ++ ++ - 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Castlebay EIS MIR 70 Scalpay 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - ? 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Pier MIR 71 Cromwell St 0 0 0 0 0 0 + + + + + + 0 0 - 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Quay MIR 72 + + 0 0 0 0 ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ 0 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Bayhead Link

Landscape Deliverability/sustainability constraints 7a 7b 7c 7d 8a 8b 8c 8d 8e 8f 8g 8h

Site

s s t

P r e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P Housing MIR 1 Ardveenish & 0 0 - - 0 0 ------0 0 0 0 0 + 0 0 + + - - Northbay MIR 2 East 0 0 ------0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + 0 0 + + - - Craigston MIR 3 0 0 + 0 0 0 + ++ + + 0 0 - - 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - - - Craigston MIR 4 0 0 + 0 - 0 + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + 0 0 - - - - Vatersay MIR 5 - 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - - 0 0 - - - - 0 0 0 0 0 0 ------Askernish MIR 6 0 0 + 0 0 + ++ ++ 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 + 0 0 - 0 0 0 Garrynamonie MIR 7 0 0 + + + + + + - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + 0 0 - - - - Creagorry MIR 8 - - - - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + 0 0 + + - 0 Luskentyre A MIR 9 - - - - 0 0 0 0 0 + - 0 0 0 0 0 0 + 0 0 + + - 0 Luskentyre B MIR 10 - + + 0 + + + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + 0 0 0 0 - 0 Seilebost MIR 11 - + - + - + - ++ ++ ++ - 0 0 0 0 0 0 + 0 0 + + - 0 Horgabost MIR 12 West 0 0 + + + + ++ ++ 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 + + 0 0 + + - + Tarbert MIR 13 South - - - 0 - 0 - - - - - 0 0 0 0 0 - - 0 0 0 0 - - Gisla MIR 14 0 0 + + + + ++ ++ + + - 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 - - - - Balallan MIR 15 0 0 + + 0 0 + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 + + - - S. Bragar MIR 16 Barvas 0 0 + + + + ++ ++ + + - 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 Old School MIR 17 0 0 + + 0 0 ++ ++ + + - 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 - - 0 0 Habost, Ness MIR 18 Sheshader 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - - 0 Point MIR 19 0 0 + + 0 0 + + - 0 - 0 - - 0 0 ++ ++ 0 0 0 0 0 0 Steinish MIR 20 Upper 0 0 + + 0 0 + + - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + 0 0 + + - + Coll Grazings 100

Landscape Deliverability/sustainability constraints 7a 7b 7c 7d 8a 8b 8c 8d 8e 8f 8g 8h

Site

s s t

P r e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P MIR 21 0 0 + + 0 0 + + - 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 + 0 0 0 0 - + Newmarket MIR 22 Tong 0 0 + + 0 0 + + - 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Road MIR 23 Melbost Farm 0 0 + + 0 0 + + 0 + 0 0 - - 0 0 0 + 0 0 + + - + East MIR 24 Melbost Farm 0 0 + + 0 0 + + 0 0 0 0 - - 0 0 0 + 0 0 + + - + West MIR 25 Melbost 0 0 + + 0 0 ++ ++ 0 0 0 0 - - 0 0 0 + 0 0 - - - + Junction MIR 26 0 0 + + 0 0 ++ ++ 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 ++ ++ 0 0 - - 0 0 Oliver’s Brae MIR 27 Anderson 0 0 + + 0 0 + + + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 ++ ++ 0 0 0 0 0 + Road MIR 28 Dormitory 0 0 + + 0 0 + + - 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 ++ ++ 0 0 + + - + NW MIR 29 Goathill Farm 0 0 + + 0 0 + + 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 ++ ++ 0 0 - - - + East MIR 30 Goathill Farm 0 0 + + 0 0 + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ++ ++ 0 0 - - - + West MIR 31 0 0 - 0 - 0 0 0 - 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 + 0 0 - - - + StoneyField

Economic Development MIR 32 0 0 + + 0 0 0 0 + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 + + 0 0 - - - - Castlebay MIR 33 0 0 0 0 0 0 + + + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - x x - - - - Ardveenish MIR 34 0 0 + + + + ++ ++ + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 Gassay MIR 35 0 0 + + ++ ++ ++ ++ 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 + 0 0 - - - - Lochcarnan MIR 36 - - 0 + 0 0 0 0 + + - 0 0 0 0 0 + ++ 0 0 - - - 0 Daliburgh MIR 37 Balivanich 0 0 + + 0 0 + + + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 + ++ x x - 0 0 0 Dev. Area MIR 38 0 0 + + 0 0 0 0 + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + x 0 - - - - Lionacleit MIR 39 Leverburgh 0 0 + + 0 0 + + + + 0 0 - 0 0 0 + + x x - - 0 0 waterfront MIR 40 Scalpay - - + + 0 0 + + + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + x x 0 0 - 0 Bridge MIR 41 0 0 + + + + ++ ++ - 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 ++ ++ x x 0 0 0 0 Newton

MIR 42 Arnish 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + x x - - 0 0 MIR 43 Creed 0 0 - 0 0 0 - - + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + x x 0 0 0 0 Bus. Park MIR 44 Gleann ++ ++ + ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ 0 0 0 0 0 0 + ++ x x + + 0 0 Seileach

MIR 45 Brevig 0 0 0 + 0 0 + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 x 0 - - 0 0 MIR 46 0 0 + + 0 0 ++ ++ - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ++ ++ x x + + 0 0 Dormitory SE MIR 47 - - + 0 0 0 0 0 + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 x x - - - - Eireastadh Uig MIR 48 Habost, S. 0 0 + + 0 0 0 0 + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 x x 0 0 0 0 Lochs

Mixed Use MIR 49 Rubha 0 0 + + + + ++ ++ + + 0 0 - 0 0 0 + + 0 0 - 0 - - Bhuailte MIR 50 Howmore - - + 0 0 0 + + - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + 0 0 - - - - estate MIR 51 Daliburgh adj. 0 0 + + + + ++ ++ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + ++ 0 0 - - - 0 School MIR 52 Former 0 0 + + 0 0 ++ ++ - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + ++ x x 0 0 - 0 Balivanich school MIR 53 Post office 0 0 + + 0 0 + + - 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 + ++ x x 0 0 0 0 Balivanich MIR 54 Lochmaddy + + + + + + + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + ++ x x 0 0 0 0 primary 101

Landscape Deliverability/sustainability constraints 7a 7b 7c 7d 8a 8b 8c 8d 8e 8f 8g 8h

Site

s s t

P r e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P e r P t s o P MIR 55 Lochmaddy + + + + + + + + + + - 0 - 0 0 0 + ++ 0 0 - - - - hospital MIR 56 Claddach - - + ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? - 0 - 0 - 0 0 0 0 + 0 0 - - - - Vallay MIR 57 - - - - ?? ?? 0 0 - 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 + 0 0 + + - 0 Loch Iossal MIR 58 NWHT - + - + - + - ++ ++ ++ - 0 0 0 0 0 0 + 0 0 + + - 0 Bus. Hub, MIR 59 Scalpay Care 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 x x - - 0 0 Unit MIR 60 Former Bus + + + + ++ ++ ++ ++ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ++ ++ x x - - 0 0 Station MIR 61 Stornoway 0 0 + 0 0 0 + + + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ++ 0 0 + + - + airport

Infrastructure MIR 62 Spinal - ? + 0 0 0 + + ? ? ? ? 0 0 0 ++ n/a n/a x x n/a n/a x x route MIR 63 All- weather 0 0 0 + 0 0 ++ ++ + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 + ++ x x - - x x Castlebay MIR 64 Radar Campar 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 x x ------Mor MIR 65 Energy 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 + x x - - 0 0 site Lochs Rd MIR 66 Energy 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 x x 0 0 - - site Arnish

Environment MIR 67 Balivanich 0 0 + + + + ++ ++ - 0 0 0 0 0 + + + ++ x x ? ? x x Env.Imp. MIR 68 Leverburgh Env + + + + + + ++ ++ - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + + x x ? ? x x Imp MIR 69 Castlebay Env 0 0 + + + + ++ ++ - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + ++ x x ? ? x x Imp MIR 70 0 0 0 0 0 0 + + - 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 + x x 0 0 0 0 Scalpay Pier MIR 71 Cromwell St + + + + + + + + + + 0 0 0 0 0 0 ++ ++ x x - - 0 0 Quay MIR 72 + + + ++ + + + + + + 0 0 0 0 + + ++ ++ x x n/a n/a x x Bayhead Link

102