Environmental Report SA/SEA
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Central and Eastern Berkshire Authorities Joint Minerals and Waste Plan Environmental Report SA/SEA July 2020 Contents Non Technical Summary ............................................................................................................... 1 1. Introduction and Purpose ................................................................................................... 26 1.1 Background .................................................................................................................... 26 1.2 The SA/SEA Process ..................................................................................................... 27 1.3 Meeting the requirements of the SEA Directive ............................................................. 30 1.4 Requirements of SA ....................................................................................................... 32 1.5 Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) ...................................................................... 32 1.6 JMWP Background ........................................................................................................ 33 1.7 JMWP Vision .................................................................................................................. 34 2. Stage A Scoping Appraisal Findings ................................................................................. 36 2.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 36 2.2 Task A1 Review of Plans and Policies .......................................................................... 36 2.3 Task A2: Environmental Context (Establishing the Baseline and Future Baseline Environment) .............................................................................................................................. 37 2.4 Task A3 Sustainability Issues ........................................................................................ 38 2.5 Limitations ...................................................................................................................... 42 2.6 Task A4: Developing the SA/SEA Framework .............................................................. 42 2.7 Task A5 Consulting on the SA/SEA ............................................................................... 44 3. Stage B: Developing and Refining Options and Assessing Effects ............................... 58 3.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 58 3.2 B2: Developing Strategic Alternatives ........................................................................... 58 3.2.1 Evolution of the JWMP ............................................................................................... 59 3.2.2 Evolution of the Development Management and Waste and Mineral Policies .......... 60 3.2.3 Alternatives to Potential Sites .................................................................................... 61 3.3 B1-B5: Testing the Plans Objectives against the SA/SEA Objective ............................ 63 3.4 B1-B5: Testing the Development Management (DM) Policies against the SA/SEA Objectives .................................................................................................................................. 72 3.5 B1-B5: Testing the Minerals and Waste Polices against the SA/SEA Objectives ......... 83 3.6 Waste Policies Summary ............................................................................................... 83 3.7 Minerals Policies Summary ........................................................................................... 88 3.8 Sites Assessment Summary .......................................................................................... 94 3.9 Area of Search ............................................................................................................. 101 3.10 Preferred Waste Areas ................................................................................................ 102 4. Summary and Conclusions .............................................................................................. 103 4.1 Cumulative Effects ....................................................................................................... 103 4.2 Summary of Intra Plan Effects (synergistic)................................................................. 103 4.3 Summary of Inter Plan Effects (additive and synergistic) ............................................ 105 4.4 Mitigation ...................................................................................................................... 108 4.5 Limitations and Difficulties Encountered ...................................................................... 111 4.6 Monitoring .................................................................................................................... 112 4.7 Concluding Statement.................................................................................................. 113 Acronyms ................................................................................................................................... 114 Glossary ...................................................................................................................................... 116 Appendix A: Summary of Relevant Plans and Policies ......................................................... 122 Appendix B: Summary of Baseline Information ..................................................................... 131 Appendix C: SA/SEA Framework Information ........................................................................ 139 Appendix D: Full Appraisal of the SA/SEA JMWP Objectives .............................................. 142 Appendix E: Long List of Development Management Options and Appraisal of Draft Policies ....................................................................................................................................... 148 Appendix F: Long List and Full Appraisal of Draft Waste Policies ...................................... 195 Appendix H: Site Information ................................................................................................... 213 Appendix G: Long List and Appraisal Draft Mineral Policies ............................................... 226 Appendix I: Site Specific Assessments ................................................................................ 250 Appendix J: Quality Assurance Checklist .............................................................................. 283 Appendix K: Example mitigation measures ............................................................................ 288 Prepared by Hampshire Services Hampshire County Council © Crown copyright and database rights 2019 Ordnance Survey 100018817 www.hants.gov.uk/sharedexpertise Derived from 1:50000 scale BGS Digital Data under Licence 2011/049F, British Geological Survey ©NERC Non-Technical Summary Introduction This Non-Technical Summary provides an overview of the findings of the Sustainability Appraisal (including Strategic Environmental Assessment) undertaken for the Central and Eastern Berkshire Authorities - Joint Minerals and Waste Plan (JMWP). The document is referred to herein as the ‘Environmental Report SA/SEA’. What is the Central and Eastern Berkshire – Joint Minerals and Waste Plan? Bracknell Forest Council, Reading Borough Council, the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and Wokingham Borough Council (collectively referred to as ‘Central & Eastern Berkshire Authorities’) are working in partnership to produce a Joint Minerals & Waste Plan (JMWP) which will guide minerals and waste decision-making in the Plan area for the period up to 2036. The JMWP is at Proposed Submission stage and provides a Vision, Objectives and Policies to guide minerals and waste planning decisions, as well as site allocations put forward to achieve the Plan’s Vision: JWMP Vision In recognition of the importance of the area as a source of minerals, the Central & Eastern Berkshire Authorities will aim to ensure the maintenance of a steady and adequate supply of minerals, whilst maximising the contribution that minerals development can bring to local communities, the economy and the natural and historic environment. Waste will be managed in a sustainable way, in accordance with the waste hierarchy. The Authorities will work in collaboration with others to ensure the best environmental solutions to waste management are delivered. The Plan will also ensure that the full extent of social, economic and environmental benefits of minerals and waste development are captured, contributing to Central and Eastern Berkshire’s economic activity and enhancing the quality of life and living standards within the area. These benefits will be achieved, whilst minimising impacts on the natural and historic environment and positively contributing to climate change adaptation and mitigation. What are Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment? When preparing a minerals and waste local plan, authorities are legally required to undertake a Sustainability Appraisal (SA) and Strategic Environmental Environmental Report SA/SEA Report (July 2020) 1 Assessment (SEA) of the plan. These assessments are required by the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004 and the EU Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive (2001/42/EC). These two