Suffolk Coastal Local Development Framework Core Strategy - Preferred Options

Sustainability Appraisal of the

including

Development Control Policies and Strategic Housing Locations

also including

Appropriate Assessment – screening & scoping

December 2008

Suffolk Coastal District Council is grateful to the Research & Intelligence Group, Planning and Performance Improvement, Suffolk County Council, upon whose work this appraisal is based

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CONTENTS

Page

Non-technical summary 4 1.1 Non-technical summary 1.2 Likely significant effects of core strategy policies 1.3 Likely significant effects of development control policies 1.4 Difference the process has made 1.5 How to comment on the report

Introduction 6 2. Introduction 2.1 Purpose of the report 2.2 Compliance with SEA directive and regulations

3. Method of appraisal 3.1 Approach to sustainability appraisal 3.2 Who carried out the sustainability appraisal 3.3 Who was consulted, when and how 3.4 Difficulties encountered

4. State of the environment in Suffolk Coastal 4.1 description of baseline characteristics 4.2 Predicted future baseline 4.3 Main issues and problems identified 4.4 Assumptions and limitations on information

5. Sustainability objectives 5.1 Links to other policies, plans and programmes 5.2 The SA framework 5.3 Compatibility of SA and Plan objectives 5.4 Mitigation

Core Strategy policies 22 6. Appraisal of core strategy 6.1 Statutory purpose 6.2 Links with national policy & other plans 6.3 Core strategy policies and options 6.4 Significant effects 6.5 Mitigation 6.6 Uncertainties and risks 6.7 Other observations 6.9 Implementation & proposals for monitoring

Development Control policies 30 7. Appraisal of development control policies 7.1 Statutory purpose 7.2 Links with national policy & other plans 7.3 Core strategy policies and options 7.4 Significant effects 7.5 Mitigation 7.6 Uncertainties and risks 7.7 Other observations

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7.9 Implementation & proposals for monitoring

Strategic housing Locations 38 8. Appraisal of strategic housing Locations 8.1 Introduction 8.2 East of Ipswich 8.3 Felixstowe

GLOSSARY 42

TABLES

Table 3.1 The stages of a Sustainability Appraisal Table 4.1 Sustainability issues identified Table 5.1 SA objectives Table 5.2 Core strategy objectives Table 5.3 Overall scores of the plan objectives measured against the SA objectives Table 5.4 Comparison of SA objectives with Core Strategy objectives Table 6.1 SA scoring system Table 6.2 Appraisal results of the 37 Core Strategy policies Table 6.3 Proposed indicators Table 7.1 SA scoring system Table 7.2 Results of the Development Control sustainability appraisal Table 7.3 Proposed indicators

FIGURES

Table 4.1 Protected areas and sites in Suffolk Coastal

APPENDICES

Appendix 1 Quality Assurance Checklist Appendix 2 February and June 2006 Scoping report consultation responses Appendix 3 Scoped documents Appendix 4 Core Strategy consultation responses Appendix 5 SA framework Appendix 6 Core Strategy Sustainability Appraisal Tables Appendix 7 Appropriate Assessment – Screening & Scoping Stage

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NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY

1.1 Non-Technical Summary The aim of sustainability appraisal is to promote sustainable development by ensuring environmental, social, and economic factors are considered during plan preparation. It is a statutory requirement stemming from the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, the same act that replaced Local Plans with the Local Development Framework.

This report sets out the results of the sustainability appraisal of Suffolk Coastal District Council’s Core Strategy and Development Control Policies Preferred Options. This is a Development Plan Document that will, when formally adopted, form part of its Local Development Framework.

Baseline information on key aspects of the environment, economy and society published in the Scoping Report (2006) have been updated and showed significant change. Access to services in rural areas has dropped below the County average, there is now an Air Quality Management Area in the District and the business formation rate is relatively low.

Twenty three sustainability objectives spanning environmental, social and economic factors were used in the appraisal. Their compatibility with the 15 objectives of the Core Strategy revealed fourteen had more positive than negative compatibilities with SA objectives, signifying that the wording of the objectives have a high level of sustainability ingrained in them. No plan objectives appear to have more negative compatibilities with SA objectives than positive.

The one SA objective with more negative than positive compatibilities was the reduction of waste. Statements that support waste minimisation are absent and this is reflected in the core strategy and development control policies.

Thirty seven Core Strategic policies were appraised, most with several alternatives.

It should be emphasised that the ‘+’ and ‘-‘ should not be added together in order to create a ‘score’ for each policy. To do so would assume equal weighting between the sustainability objectives. The overall impact should be considered. This is a fundamental difference to the approach used by Suffolk County Council in preparing earlier drafts of this appraisal.

1.2 Likely Significant Effects of core strategy policies The 31 core strategy policies appraised produced a total of 190 distinct positive impacts (of which 47 were strong positives), and 93 distinct negative impacts (all of which were weak negatives).

The overall conclusion is the implementation of the preferred policies as a group of policies that can act in tandem, are appraised as having the potential to improve sustainability in Suffolk Coastal in the long term. The core strategy policies are likely to have a strong social impact, meeting the housing needs of the area as a whole, assisting access to services and reducing poverty and social exclusion. It will also help to achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and economic growth. It is also very strong on conserving and enhancing the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes, reflecting the need to protect the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the quality of the built environment in the towns.

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The main areas requiring attention in the future drafting of policies are Water Quality, Air Quality, Historical and archaeological interest, Flood risk and coastal erosion, and Affordable housing.

Eight recommendations for mitigating these concerns are made.

1.3 Likely significant effects of the development control policies All of the development control policies are generally more sustainable than the alternatives put forward. The 37 development control policies appraised produced a total of 182 distinct positive impacts (of which 42 were strong positives), over four times as many distinct negative impacts (of which only 3 were strong negative).

Of the 37 policies scoring positively 10 had no negatives. These included policies1on Travel Plans, Design, and Telecommunications.

The most negatives occur with policies on warehousing and storage, Static holiday caravans, cabins and chalets and Airfields. The most positive objective related to protection of the environment. Nine policies scored very significantly reflecting Suffolk Coastal’s response to comments made during consultations that the AONB seemed to get little protection. Other significant overall positive impacts related to conserving and enhancing areas of historical and archaeological importance. However, although these are the areas of significant effects, on balance the policies are stronger in their social impact.

1.4 Difference the process has made This Sustainability Appraisal has provided a largely independent assessment of the Core Strategy and development control Preferred Options policies and the strategic housing sites. It follows an appraisal undertaken in December 2007 of a first draft of core strategy policies. Many of the recommendations made at that stage have been taken up and this new appraisal confirms that the core strategy policies are more sustainable. Hence a thorough independent check of the sustainability of Suffolk Coastal District Council’s preferred options has been undertaken as envisaged by government and EU guidance.

The further recommendations made in this report are now available for public consultation following which Suffolk Coastal District Council has the opportunity to review their policies in to take them into account alongside any public comments.

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INTRODUCTION

2.1 Purpose of the report

European Union Directive 2001/42/EC and the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes regulations 2004 require an assessment of the environmental effects of certain plans and programmes, known as Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). This legislation applies to plans and programme, and modifications to them, whose formal preparation began after 21 July 2004 (or those that have not been adopted, or submitted to a legal procedure resulting in adoption by 21 July 2006).

The objective of an SEA is to provide for a high level of protection of the environment and to contribute to the integration of environmental considerations into the preparation and adoption of plans with a view to promoting sustainable development.

Suffolk Coastal District Council is currently undertaking work on its Local Development Framework (LDF), in line with the revised planning system for development plans under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. This legislation also requires a sustainability appraisal (SA) to be undertaken on all relevant documents. The requirements of the SEA Directive have been incorporated into the requirements of the 2004 Act. SA is an iterative process that follows the various stages of plan preparation and looks at likely environmental, social and economic effects.

In 2007 and 2008 sustainability appraisal reports were prepared for Suffolk Coastal District Council by Suffolk County Council on the first drafts of the Core Strategy preferred option policies. The District Council revised its policies in the light of the report findings and public consultation. Hence this sustainability appraisal refines the earlier work carried out by Suffolk County Council and looks at the revised set of policies plus the development control policies. As part of the work to finalise the Core Strategy Policies sustainability appraisal of possible strategic housing locations East of Ipswich and around Felixstowe was also undertaken.

There are five sections to this report.

• The non-technical summary of the sustainability appraisal of the Core Strategy policies, development control policies and strategic housing sites.

• An introduction setting out the approach taken to SA, method of assessment, background information on the current issues in Suffolk Coastal District, describes the sustainability objectives and looks at the compatibility between the SA and Plan objectives. It fulfils “Stage A” of the SA requirements for the two sets of policies and strategic housing sites.

• The SA of the 31 Core Strategy policies and their alternatives.

• The SA of the 37 Development Control policies and their alternatives.

• The site specific sustainability appraisal for 5 areas East of Ipswich identified for possible strategic housing allocations, one of which was selected as the preferred option. It also contains the appraisal of 6 areas around Felixstowe although the eventual preferred option was not a strategy of concentrated development on any

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one of the areas. This work was undertaken in August 2008 to help decisions relevant to the Core Strategy housing policies.

2.2 Compliance with SEA directive and regulations This SA is intended to fully comply with the requirements of the SEA Directive, as set out in “A Practical Guide to the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive” September 2005. Appendix 1 sets out a quality assurance checklist designed to illustrate how the technical and procedural elements of the SEA process have been handled in this appraisal. Appendix 7 includes an Appropriate Assessment Screening & Scoping stage assessment.

3. METHOD OF APPRAISAL

3.1 Approach to Sustainability Appraisal

Sustainability appraisal (SA) is an iterative process that follows the various stages of plan preparation. It is a statutory requirement stemming from the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, the same act that replaced Local Plans with the Local Development Framework (LDF). In addition European Directive 2001/42/EC, transposed into UK law in July 2004, requires Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to be undertaken to assess the effects of plans and programmes specifically on the environment. Government guidance (2005) requires SA and SEA to be undertaken together as the processes are very similar. SA encompasses SEA as the former looks at environmental, social and economic impacts.

The stages in developing the SA of the policies in Suffolk Coastal’s Core Strategy are set out below. These are the same as those for a SEA.

Table 3.1: The stages of a Sustainability Appraisal Stage A: Setting the context and establishing the baseline 1. Identifying other relevant plans, programmes and environmental protection objectives 2. Collecting baseline information 3. Identifying environmental problems 4. Developing SA objectives and testing their compatibility 5. Consulting on the scope of the SA Output: Scoping Report Stage B: Developing and refining alternatives and assessing effects 1. Testing the plan objectives against the SA objectives 2. Appraising strategic alternatives 3. Predicting the effects of the plan, including alternatives 4. Evaluating the effects of the plan, including alternatives 5. Mitigating adverse effects 6. Proposing measures to monitor the environmental effects of implementing the plan Stage C: Preparing the Sustainability Appraisal Report 1. Preparing the Sustainability Appraisal Report Output: Sustainability Appraisal Report Stage D: Consulting and decision making 1. Consulting on the draft plan and Sustainability Appraisal Report 2. Appraising significant changes 3. Appraising significant changes resulting from representations at the DPD Examination 4. Decision making and provision of information Output: Sustainability Appraisal Statement Stage E: Monitoring implementation of the plan 1. Finalising aims and methods for monitoring 2. Responding to adverse effects Output: Included in Annual Progress Report on Plan implementation

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The following summarises the approach taken at each stage of the appraisal.

Stage A: Setting the context and objectives, establishing the baseline and deciding on the scope Suffolk Coastal published a Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report for Core Strategy and Policies and Site Specific Allocations in February 2006. Following consultation, the scoping report was revised and republished in June 2006. In March 2006 a draft Vision and Objectives for the Core Strategy was published. A consultation was held on the document between March and May 2006. In autumn 2007 an initial SA was undertaken of the first draft of Core Strategy preferred options and at this stage baseline data was updated and consultation comments reviewed for relevance to the SA objectives. This SA was carried out by Suffolk County Council on behalf of the District Council. The same baseline has been used for the SA in this report.

Stage B: Developing and refining options and assessing effects There have been two iterations of this stage. An initial SA commenced looking at the options published in the Core Strategy Issues and Options document published in February 2007. However, Suffolk Coastal District Council (SCDC) continued to refine objectives and policies as it took papers on the results of consultation to Councillors during 2007. A draft set of preferred options was available for appraisal in November 2007 and these were assessed alongside realistic alternatives taken from the Issues and Options paper. As government guidance says (ODPM 2005 p14) “A SA need not be done in any more detail, or using more resources, than is useful for its purpose”. It was considered that what would be helpful in taking the process of plan development forward would be an assessment of the collective impact of the emerging policies. This was completed in December 2007.

Since then Suffolk Coastal has undertaken further work with Councillors and produced a revised set of Objectives and Core Strategy policies plus development control policies. In most cases the final policies were different enough for their previous version to be regarded as an alternative. The development control policies were also assessed for the first time and a report produced by Suffolk County Council and completed in October 2008.

The strategic housing appraisal was a form of area specific assessment used to inform Councillors of the sustainability issues regarding potential locations for larger scale housing allocations. The alternative strategic areas to the east of Ipswich and at Felixstowe were the subject of public consultation in 2008. The results of consultation, when considered by Councillors, resulted in a further revision of the Core Strategy and Development Control policies in October 2008.

This document reassesses the appraisal of the final Core Strategy policies and development control policies.

Stage C: Preparing the Sustainability Appraisal Report The Sustainability Appraisal for Regional Spatial Strategies and Local Development Documents guidance published by the ODPM (now the Department for Communities and Local Government) has been used in preparing this report. This new report looks at the sustainability of the policies and has been produced to go out with the Core Strategy for public consultation.

Stage D: Consulting on the draft DPDs and Sustainability Appraisal Report SCDC is consulting the public, statutory consultees, stakeholders and any other interested parties on the Core Strategy Preferred Options and this Sustainability Appraisal. Comments

Sustainability Appraisal 8 received on these documents will be taken into consideration when finalising the plan policies. This also presents an opportunity to make changes suggested by this SA.

3.2 Who carried out the Sustainability Appraisal? The first sustainability appraisal was carried out by the Research and Intelligence Group with assistance from an Ecologist, Landscape officer, SEA officer and Archaeologist in the Environment & Transport Service area at Suffolk County Council. This final document represents a refinement of its work by Suffolk Coastal District Council following consideration of up to date information not available at the time.

3.3 Who was consulted, when and how? The SA Scoping Report went to consultation in February 2006, and was sent to the statutory bodies, i.e. the Environment Agency, English Heritage, the Countryside Agency and English Nature (before their merger), as well as Suffolk County Council. The responses are shown in Appendix 2. Following the responses, the document was updated and went out to a second period of consultation in June 2006. Only two responses were received, also shown in Appendix 2.

Whilst most recommendations were acted upon in the updated June 2006 Scoping Report, a few were not. This SA has carried out more of the recommendations including the scoping of the documents recommended by the Environment Agency which are now available, i.e. the East Suffolk Catchment Flood Management Plan and PPS25 (see Appendix 3), though the others (the Suffolk Estuarine Flood Management Strategies, the Alde, Ore and Deben Flood Risk Study and the Thorpeness to Hollesley Strategy Plan) are still not available.

Consultation on the Core Strategy Issues and Options was held between February and April 2007. The document was sent to all parish councils in the district, all parish councils of parishes adjoining the district, and the consultees below:

Anglian Water, Association of British Insurers, Babergh District Council, British Energy, British Nuclear Group, Defence Estate East, Defence Estates, the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA), EDF Energy, English Heritage, the Environment Agency, Essex & Suffolk Water, Essex County Council, GO-East, the Health & Safety Executive, the Highways Agency, Ipswich Borough Council, MEPs and MPs representing Suffolk Coastal, Mid Suffolk District Council, Mitel Telecoms Ltd, the Mobile Operators Association, the National Grid, Natural England, Network Rail, Orange Plc, the Planning Inspectorate, Powergen, the Strategic Health Authority, Suffolk County Council, the Suffolk East Primary Care Trust, the Suffolk Primary Care Trust, the Theatres Trust and Waveney District Council.

Replies were received from 123 parish, district and county councils, agencies, companies and individuals.

A summary of the comments received that are considered relevant to the SA are set out in Appendix 4 along with the response considered relevant to preparing the SA. SCDC response to the issues raised in terms of developing the Core Strategy is included in reports to Councillors (Local Development Framework Task Group) made in the autumn of 2007.

The key actions taken regarding the sustainability appraisal include:

• SA Objective 17 updated to include reference to geodiversity • Concerns about the following are noted but are not included in the issues list because information on the scale of the problems are not currently available: o the protection of the marine environment

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o protection of woodland from land use change o the need to consider the role of semi-natural habitat in Suffolk Coastal. o the need for very sheltered housing to be included in consideration of social housing o evidence of the plan encouraging the movement of freight by rail.

3.4 Difficulties encountered

Some of the Preferred Policies assessed do not have options. In some cases the issues involved were discussed at the Issues and Options stage, but no clear alternative approaches identified. For some there are no realistic options as government policy now requires a new approach (so continuation of existing trends would be unrealistic).

The baseline data and issues were updated for the 2007 SA on the draft policies. This changed the baseline position on several criteria. These have not been further updated because the appraisal has built on some of the previous work.

4. State of the Environment in Suffolk Coastal

4.1 Description of baseline characteristics This is an updated version of the description included in the June 2006 Scoping Report.

Demographics In 2001, Suffolk Coastal’s population was 115,400, and is expected to rise by 7.2% to 123,800 by 2021 according to EERA figures. In 2001, 20.9% of the district’s population was over 65, the second highest in the county, whilst the proportion of children aged under 16 (18.0%) was the second lowest. By 2021, the number of people over 65 is expected to increase by 14,500, 31% of the overall population (the highest in the county), whilst the number of children under 16 will drop by 3,600 to just 13.9% (the lowest in the county). In the 2001 Census less than 2% of the population were non White. In 2006-7 Suffolk Coastal had the second highest number of National Insurance registrations of migrant workers of the Suffolk Districts 15% of the Suffolk total (780, the highest proportion of which are from A8 countries) plus a higher number of Indian migrant workers linked to BT.

Health According to figures from 2005, Suffolk Coastal has the second highest mortality rate and death rate from circulatory diseases in Suffolk. The mortality rate from suicide is also above the county average. Conversely, the death rate from cancer is the second lowest, whilst life expectancy (80.7) is the highest in the county.

Education In 2006 Suffolk Coastal had the third highest level of attainment at GCSE level, with 67.3% of pupils gaining five or more GCSEs at A*-C, above the county average of 62.8%. The district (697 points per pupil) also performs better than the county average (684) at A level. In 2005 the proportion of working age people with no qualifications (15.5%) is slightly lower than the county average (15.8%), whilst the proportion of people educated to at least degree level (29.4%) is the second highest in Suffolk.

Crime and anti-social behaviour In 2006/7 there were 31.6 crimes per 1,000 people in Suffolk Coastal, the third lowest number in Suffolk and below the county average of 43.87. In addition, the district had the third lowest rates of burglary and violent crime, both of which are below the Suffolk average. The district had the second highest proportion of people who felt there was low levels of

Sustainability Appraisal 10 crime and disorder, though only the third highest proportion of residents who felt safe in the area where they live according to the 2005 Suffolk Speaks survey.

The district also had the second lowest number of noise complaints in 2004.

Deprivation According to 2004 figures from IMD, none of the 10% most deprived wards in Suffolk are in Suffolk Coastal, whilst of the 25% most deprived, only 1% live in the district. However, this was higher than any of the other largely rural districts (i.e. excluding Ipswich and Waveney), though a large part of eastern Ipswich is in Suffolk Coastal. The number of people claiming housing benefit was just over 5,000 in 2004/5, the highest level since 2001.

Service provision At 35.7% in 2005/6, provision of the five key services (a shop, post office, pub, village school and meeting place) to the rural population is below the Suffolk average (40.95%).

Employment Suffolk Coastal has the joint-lowest claimant count rate in the county alongside Forest Heath (1.0% compared to the Suffolk average of 1.9% in June 2007), and is below the regional and national average. At £33,635 in 2007, average household income is slightly above the county average

Housing Affordable housing provision in the district is a major problem; in 2005/6 only 9.8% of new homes were classed as affordable, the second lowest level in the county and only just more than half the Suffolk average (18.1%). The average house price was around £198,000, the second highest after Babergh, and 7.8 times the median income, slightly above the Suffolk average of 7.7. A high level of second homes in the district also pushes up house prices and increases demand.

Pollution River and groundwater data gaps need to be filled. Air quality over the district is generally good, although Woodbridge is currently the only place outside Ipswich to have a declared Air Quality Management Area (AQMA). The district council is preparing an Air Quality Action Plan. The Port of Felixstowe is also required to be assessed in terms of the effects of traffic upon local air quality. On going monitoring of radioactivity occurs at the Sizewell nuclear power site. Gamma-ray spectrometry and analysis of tritium, carbon -14 and sulphur-35 in milk, crops and fruit generally showed very low concentrations of artificial radionuclides near the power stations in 2006. Concentrations of activity in local freshwater were all low. The total dose from all sources including direct radiation was assessed to have been 0.091mSv or less than 10% of the dose limit in 2006 (CEFAS, November 2007)

Development In 2005/6, 45.4% of new housing was built on previously developed land (PDL), the third highest level in the county after Ipswich and Babergh, though it was below the county average and a slight reduction on previous years where the figure crossed the 50% threshold. At the same time, 48.3% of housing commitments were on PDL, a 10% increase on previous years, but again below the Suffolk average. The density of new housing in 2005/6 was 23.95/hectare, above the county average, but below the national target of 30/hectare.

In terms of employment land, 27.2% of outstanding planning permissions in 2005/6 were on PDL, the lowest level in the county and well below the average of 43.1%. In 2003/4 the figure had been 82.8%.

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Waste Although the proportion of household waste composted in 2006/7 (21.8%) is higher than the county average (18.5%), the district had the lowest recycling rate in Suffolk at just 16.5%. This represents an increase of just 0.1% since 2003/4 in a period where the county average has risen by more than 10%. At 462 kg per person, the amount of household waste collected per person is the second highest in the county, an increase of 16% since 2003/4, by far the largest in the county (for which the average is a 19% decrease).

Transport According to the 2001 census, the district has the lowest proportion of travel to work by sustainable means (i.e. working at home, walking, cycling, bus or train) at only 29.4%, and therefore the highest rate of travel to work by unsustainable means (car, taxi or motorcycle). It had the second lowest rate of people walking to work, and the second highest proportion of people using cars and motorcycles. Due to the rural nature of the district and very poor travel methods, mobility is more reliant on the ability to travel easily e.g. to reach services. The lack of public transport infrastructure means that the prevalence of the car therefore remains high.

Traffic volumes in the district are steadily increasing, matching the county average. In 2005/6 almost half of all development (48%) was being directed to major towns in the district, average for the county, but a significant increase on previous years. The number of car parking spaces in town centres rose by 629 (37%) in 2005/6, Suffolk Coastal being the only district to record an increase (though Ipswich and St Edmundsbury did not return figures). The increase was mostly accounted for by long-stay spaces.

Energy Consumption of gas has decreased although the district remains one of the highest consumers in Suffolk. Domestic energy efficiency has been consistently improving. Uptake of renewable energy is currently problematic. The district has no renewable energy generation and this figure will have to increase with the region being expected to meet a 14% target. Suffolk Coastal is also home to two nuclear reactors, Sizewell A and Sizewell B. Whilst Sizewell A closed at the end of 2006, there is a possibility of a third, Sizewell C, being constructed in the future. Planning permission has been given for wind turbines at Parham (on land) and Greater Gabbard (offshore).

Coast Protection & Flooding Due to the coastal and estuarine environments, the district is particularly susceptible to flooding. The district has the highest number of properties at risk of flooding in Suffolk. The effects of climate change will put increased pressure on land by adding to the area at risk of flooding and will increase coastal erosion. The Council has commissioned a Strategic Flood Risk Assessment to inform decision making on future development in the district.

Biodiversity Suffolk Coastal contains 45 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), 209 County Wildlife Sites (CWS) and four Local Nature Reserves (LNR). The conditions of the SSSIs and Biodiversity Action Plan habitats and species reveals a mixed picture. In general, most terrestrial habitats are doing well, including some wetland habitats. However, many coastal habitats are suffering from losses as a result of coastal processes and pressures. The creation of buffer zones around sensitive areas could help to limit the environmental impact of development upon these areas.

Archaeology & Heritage

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In 2005/6 there were 2,761 listed buildings in Suffolk Coastal. Of those 2,761 buildings, 25 (0.91%) were at risk, the second highest proportion in Suffolk, though a 20% decrease on the previous year. There are 33 Conservation Areas (CA) in the district, the second highest number in the county; in 2004/5 and 2005/6 there were no Article 4 directions (i.e. permissions to develop listed buildings). Suffolk Coastal was the only district to see damage to Scheduled Ancient Monuments (SAMs) between 2001 and 2004, but there was no damage in 2004/5.

In terms of landscape, 36% of the district is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). In addition, the district is doing well in Suffolk for completing Conservation Area Appraisals and Landscape surveys. The availability of data regarding landscape quality, greenspace and the state of the rights of ways network will need to be accelerated to provide an input in to the planning process.

Economic growth At 7.6% in 2005, the business formation rate in Suffolk Coastal was the second lowest in the county. However, in contrast, the business closure rate (6.9%) was lower than the county average (8.4%), and growth number of businesses since 1997 is above the Suffolk mean.

The district has the second highest proportion of employment in the tertiary sector, with 82.3% of people employed in service industries, well above the county average of 73.4. The largest employment sector is public administration, education and health (28.0%), whilst agriculture and fishing, energy and water (e.g. Sizewell) and other services are also overrepresented. The most notable sector is transport and communications, accounting for 19.5% of employment compared to a Suffolk average of just 8.5%, almost certainly due to the presence of BT and the Port of Felixstowe in the district. The most underrepresented sector is manufacturing, which employs only 5.4% of people in Suffolk Coastal, compared to 13% countywide, though employment in construction, distribution, hotels and restaurants and banking, finance and insurance is also below the Suffolk mean.

Retail In general there has been a gradual decrease in the percentage of shops in town centres. There is continuous pressure to develop these areas in to other use classes, including housing. There is however a sufficient level (6%) of vacant units in town centres for new business to occupy without having a prevalence of vacant units which can be damaging to the local economy. Viability is therefore crucial and measures to show decline and mix of retail types should be applied.

4.2 The predicted future baseline It is difficult to come to a view of the predicted future in Suffolk Coastal without the implementation of the plan. The proposed plan includes the continuation of long standing policies as well as introducing new policies. Given the operation of existing policies (those saved from the Suffolk Coastal Local Plan) a continuation of trends identified in 4.1 above could be expected to some extent but these policies do not operate in isolation. Plans of other statutory agencies, trends in the economic environment and the impacts of climate change will all act alongside any hypothetical continuation of existing SCDC policies. The issues and problems identified in 4.3 highlight the issues over and above the implementation of existing policy that we expect the new plan to address.

Other new challenges with potential sustainability implications include: • changes at Sizewell nuclear power station as Sizewell A is decommissioned. Migrant workers linked to such developments may have a very different profile to those associated with the development of Sizewell B

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• School organisation review which is looking at the future of middle schools in Suffolk and high schools in Felixstowe as part of the initiative Building Schools for the Future • Renewable energy developments and local generation schemes

When the sustainability appraisal is undertaken it is based on what you consider will be the impact on the existing situation.

Figure 4.1: Protected areas and sites in Suffolk Coastal

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4.3 Main issues and problems identified The sustainability issues listed in Table 4.1 below have been identified following the update of the baseline characteristics above. Due to significant changes in the data, many of the issues are different to those identified in the scoping report.

Table 4.1: Sustainability issues identified Social issues • Suffolk Coastal has a high mortality rate and death rates from Health circulatory diseases and suicide. • A lack of public transport infrastructure means that the Travel prevalence of car usage remains high. Social deprivation • There are some small pockets of seriously deprived areas. Access to services • Key service provision in rural areas is below the county average • Affordable housing provision in the district is a major problem. Despite new housing stock being created above required build rates, the provision of affordable housing is distinctly lacking. With district house prices continuing to rise sharply and the Housing increase in wages not being able to match this rate, the disparity gap in housing becomes extended. A high level of second homes in the district also pushes up house prices and increases demand. • The district has an ageing population profile and rising although Demographic still relatively small numbers of foreign migrant workers.

Environmental issues Air quality • Air quality is a concern in the Woodbridge AQMA. • Housing density on new developments is below the national requirement. Use of PDL for new housing is below 50%, whilst Development for employment use it has been falling over recent years and is now well below the county average. • Suffolk Coastal has the lowest recycling rate in Suffolk and the Waste amount of household waste collected has been increasing at a much faster rate. Traffic • Traffic levels are increasing. • Consumption of gas is above the county average and there is Energy currently no renewable energy generation. • The district is particularly susceptible to flooding and has the Coastal protection highest number of properties at risk. Climate change increases and flooding the area at risk and coastal erosion. • The proportion of listed buildings at risk is the second highest in Conservation the county.

Economic issues Business • Suffolk Coastal has a very low business formation rate. Retail • The percentage of shops in town centres has been decreasing.

4.4 Assumptions and limitations on information For several indicators there is no data or limited data available, whilst for a few others the data we have is not fully up-to-date. Current information on total numbers of foreign migrant is limited. A particular problem concerns indicators that measure climate change. In this appraisal this is covered by objective 11 (Greenhouse gas emissions from energy consumption), which looks at measures of electricity and gas consumption and energy efficiency of homes. Energy consumption by vehicles is not covered because petrol

Sustainability Appraisal 15 consumption figures are not available. However this should not deter us from commenting on the implications for carbon emission that would occur with actions that result in longer/more car trips.

5. Sustainability objectives

5.1 Links to other policies, plans and programmes Stage A of the SA process demands that the context in which the LDF is being prepared is considered and referred to within this document. The context refers to other relevant policies, plans, programmes, strategies and initiatives. The reason for the inclusion of other relevant documents and programmes is because they may act as an influence on the LDF. Environmental protection objectives are set out in many policies and legislation. These may influence the SA process and preparation of new LDF documents. Any relationship between plans and programmes must be identified so that advantage can be taken of overlapping sections and any inconsistencies and constraints dealt with. This review will help to identify issues and objectives that must be covered by SA.

The context review considers guidance that has been issued at the international, European, national, regional and local level with regard to the SA process. Targets and specific requirements of the plans, programmes and objectives have been identified and included where possible in the SA process. Environmental assessments conducted for any of the relevant plans, programmes and objectives may be useful sources of information that can act as baseline data. Environmental protection objectives that have been established so that the SEA Directive can be complied with must be carefully noted.

Links to other plans policies and programmes were assessed as part of the Scoping Report and are summarised in Appendix 1 of that document. Additional documents that have since been scoped are included in Appendix 3 of this report.

5.2 The SA framework The sustainability objectives and key indicators that form the Sustainability framework were subject to consultation in the Scoping report. The 22 original SA objectives were subsequently amended and are listed in Table 5.1. Modifications to the SA framework include amendments made following discussions with the Suffolk Sustainability Appraisal Group (SSAG) in which it was decided that objective 9 (water and air quality) should be split into two separate objectives, objective 15 (To reduce contributions to climate change) needed to be more specific as to the source of the greenhouse gases (energy consumption) and that objective 16 (vulnerability to climatic events) should be more specific (i.e. to flooding). The SSAG representative from Nature England also pointed out that geodiversity should be included alongside biodiversity in objective 16. The SA framework used in this appraisal in included in Appendix 5.

Some indicators were also removed following discussions with SSAG, including the proportion of rural households within 13 minutes of hourly bus service (which is no longer measured) from objective 5 and the number of locally sourced products stocked by major supermarket chains from objective 22 (collecting the data was thought to be too complicated), whilst some news ones were added, such as % of households with broadband internet connection for objective 22.

Table 5.1: SA Objectives 1. To improve the health of the population overall 2. To maintain and improve levels of education and skills in the population overall 3. To reduce crime and anti-social activity 4. To reduce poverty and social exclusion

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5. To improve access to key services for all sectors of the population 6. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 7. To meet the housing requirements of the whole community 8. To improve the quality of where people live and to encourage community participation 9. To maintain and where possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 14. To reduce the effects of traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to flooding 17. To conserve and enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both indigenous and inward investment

5.3 Compatibility of SA and Plan objectives

As part of the SA, it is necessary to assess the compatibility of the fifteen Core Strategy objectives against the 23 SA objectives listed in table 5.1. Table 5.2 sets out the core strategy objectives.

Table 5.2 Core strategy objectives Title Description 1. Sustainability To deliver better integrated and sustainable patterns of land use, movement, activity and development. 2.Housing To meet the district’s housing requirements Growth 3.Local Housing To provide for the full range of housing needs within the District.

4.Economic To support the growth and regeneration of the local economy Development 5. Rural To strengthen and diversify the rural economy Economy To promote all year round tourism based on the attributes (environmental, 6.Tourism cultural and social) of the area To sustain and enhance the vitality and viability of town centres and to 7. Market Towns foster market towns as service employment and retail centres To enhance the transport network across the District 8. Transport To deliver high quality developments based on the principles of good, 9. Design sustainable and inclusive design 10. Physical To maintain and enhance the quality of the distinctive natural and built Environment environments 11. Climate To adapt and mitigate against the potential effects of climate change, and

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Change minimise the factors which contribute towards the problem. To ensure that appropriate infrastructure, such as transport, utilities or 12. Physical and community facilities, are provided at an appropriate time, in order to Community address current deficiencies and meet the needs of new development. Infrastructure To promote better access to housing, employment, services and facilities 13. Accessibility for every member of the community. To ensure that the community is as healthy as possible 14.Leisure To secure the continuing prosperity and qualities of coastal areas and communities, whilst responding to climate change and the natural 15. Coast processes that occur along the coast

The result of this assessment can be seen in Table 5. Compatibility is represented by a 9, meaning that both objectives can operate simultaneously and advantage each other; negative compatibility with an X and cases with no apparent effect on each other by a 0. Brief reasons for the scores are given in table 5.3.

Of the fifteen Core Strategy objectives, fourteen had more positive than negative compatibilities with SA objectives, signifying that the wording of the objectives has a high level of sustainability ingrained in them. No plan objectives appear to have more negative compatibilities with SA objectives than positive.

The value of the appraisal here is in warning that appropriate policies need to be included to minimise possible negative sustainable effects. One objective (rural economy) had the same number of negative and positives (Table5.3) signifying that in rural areas it may be difficult to achieve economic sustainability objectives without some cost to soil resources as there is often less brownfield land available in rural than urban areas.

Table5.3: Overall scores of the plan objectives measured against the SA objectives

Core Strategy Objectives 9 0 X 1. Sustainability 18 5 0 2. Housing Growth 9 11 3 3. Local Housing 10 10 3 4. Economic Development 9 8 6 5. Rural Economy 6 11 6 6. Tourism 8 11 3 7. Market Towns 7 14 2 8. Transport 6 17 0 9. Design 12 10 0 10. Physical Environment 5 17 0 11. Climate Change 8 14 0 12. Physical and Community Infrastructure 5 18 0 13. Accessibility 10 9 3 14. Leisure 4 18 0 15. Coast 8 14 0

For 7 out of 15 objectives there were more neutral compatibilities (i.e. no significant interaction) than negative or positive combined, whilst in 7 cases there were no negative compatibilities.

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The negative compatibilities were restricted to just seven of the 23 SA objectives. The plan objectives concerned were all linked to controlling new housing and business development and the negative compatibilities with SA objectives were largely concerned with possible increases in traffic and the resulting effect on air quality, the use of greenfield land, the possibility of flooding, an increase in waste or energy use and disturbance of the natural or built environment.

5.4 Mitigation For several of the negative correlations discussed above, mitigation is quite straightforward. Development in areas of biodiversity or landscape/townscape-related importance can be avoided through careful planning. Using greenfield sites is difficult to avoid given the housing and employment land targets, but their use can be minimised through maximizing use of brownfield sites. Similarly, zero development in flood zones in existing urban areas is not entirely practical, though flood defence schemes can help mitigate the risks.

Increased energy usage as a result of development can be mitigated by requiring energy efficiency standards be met or renewable energy sources used as a development condition.

An increase in traffic is the most difficult issue to address, as it is unrealistic to expect every new resident of the district to use public or sustainable transport all the time. However, some mitigation can be done through the use of travel plans and improving public transport and information. The following appraisal will show that all of these ‘mitigation’ actions are captured in specific policy statements.

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Table 5.4: Comparison of SA objectives with Core Strategy objectives

12. Plan Objectives Physical → 1. 2. Housing 3. Local 4. Economic 5. Rural 7. Market 8. 10. Physical 11. Climate and 13. Sustainabili 6. Tourism 9. Design 14. Leisure 15. Coast Growth Housing Development Economy Towns Transport Environment Change Community Accessibility SEA Objectives ty Infrastructu ↓ re

9 9 Aims to 9 9 Integrated reduce Protects Promotes 9 1. To improve the land use 0 need to 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 tranquil 0 opportuni Risk to health of the means more Unrelate travel by Unrelate Better access Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated areas as an Unrelated ties for a people population overall walking/ d car = d to healthcare asset for healthy mitigated cycling to more local people. lifestyle work cycling/ walking

9 2. To maintain and Economic 9 improve levels of 0 0 0 0 0 0 development 0 0 0 0 0 Better access 0 0 education and Unrelate Unrelate Unrelate Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated should have a Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated to education Unrelated Unrelated skills in the d d d positive effect facilities. population overall on skills.

9 9 Local 9 9 More access to leisure 3. To reduce Policy targets 0 0 Aims to build in 0 leisure 0 0 0 0 0 0 facilities 0 crime and anti- economic 0 Unrelated Unrelate Unrelate a manner which Unrelate faculties could Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated could Unrelated social activity development in d d will minimise d be associated reduce deprived areas crime potential. with drops in youth crime. crime 9 9 9 Provisio 9 9 9 9 Aims to Integrated 9 n of Recogni 9 More access to Considers Policy 9 provide 4. To reduce development Policy targets employm ses need 0 Aims to leisure 0 needs of targets More 0 0 local 0 poverty and social will economic ent for Unrelate address faculties is Unrelated gypsies alleviation employment = Unrelated Unrelated facilities Unrelated exclusion recognise development in facilities private d deficienc positive for and of rural less poverty for problem of deprived areas – transport y social travellers poverty disadvant poverty reduces in area exclusion aged poverty

9 9 9 5. To improve 9 9 9 9 Integrated Identified Identified 9 access to key Supports small 0 Aims to 0 Aims to Seeks to development the need the need Promotes 9 0 0 0 0 services for all and medium Unrelate improve Unrelate provide improve means key for for local Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated sectors of the sized d public d local access to services will accessible accessible business population businesses transport facilities services be available services services

9 9 Improved 6. To offer 9 Recogni 9 9 9 9 transport everybody the Integrated ses the Access to Economic Policy Aims to 0 0 links opportunity for development 0 0 importan 0 0 employment 0 0 Development seeks to increase Unrelate Unrelate allow rewarding and will include Unrelated Unrelated ce of Unrelated Unrelated centres will Unrelated Unrelated leads to more maintain employmen d d people to satisfying employment new improve job jobs rural jobs t commute employment opportunities employm prospects to better ent jobs

9 9 9 7. To meet the Sustainable 9 Ensures Ensures housing development 0 0 Aims to create 0 distribution distribution 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 requirements of looks at Unrelate Unrelate developments Unrelate of housing of housing Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated the whole needs of d d that function to d is is community whole meet needs. balanced. balanced. community

9 9 9 Aims to Aims to 9 8. To improve the 9 9 Aims to provide 9 9 provide 9 9 More access to quality of where Sustainable Aims to integrate local 9 Identifies Identifies local 0 Aims to create Aims to leisure people live and to communities 0 0 0 enhance the social, facilities Manage risk need for need for facilities Unrelate a high quality provide faculties is encourage aims for Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated culture and recreatio and to property community community and d living local positive for community improved heritage of nal and communit and people. facilities. facilities. communi environment. facilities community participation quality of life the area economi y ty participation. c actions participati participat on ion X X X Housing Housing X Industrial X developme developme Industrial developme X 9 9 9 More 9. To maintain and nts can nts can developments nts can Increasing Aims to Encoura Integrated 0 9 transport where possible cause cause can cause cause tourism reduce 0 ges 0 0 0 land use Unrelate Aims to build could lead improve air constructio constructio construction constructio may need to Unrelated cleaner Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated means less d efficient homes. to quality n and n and and n and increase travel by air and car trips worsening subsequent subsequent subsequent subsequent traffic car water. air quality resident resident resident traffic. resident traffic. traffic. traffic.

9 10. To maintain Encoura 9 0 0 and where 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ges 0 0 0 Aims to Unrelate Unrelate possible improve Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated cleaner Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated sustain d d water quality air and coastal water. areas

X 9 Employmen Sustainable 9 9 X t 11. To conserve development Suggests Suggests Employment 0 0 0 developme 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 soil resources seeks to allocations allocations developments Unrelate Unrelate Unrelate nts may be Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated and quality conserve made made may be on d d d on natural sustainably. sustainably. Greenfield land Greenfield environment land

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9 9 9 New 9 New New 9 9 develop 12. To use water Sustainable housing housing New New ments and mineral development could could developme 9 development could 0 0 0 resources principles have have nts could Aims to build 0 0 0 0 0 s could have have Unrelate Unrelate Unrelate efficiently, and re- seek to deal SUDs SUDs have SUDs sustainable Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated SUDs and SUDs d d d use and recycle with effects and grey and grey and grey homes grey water and grey where possible of climate water water water recycling. water change recycling recycling recycling. recycling . . . X 9 X X X X X Increase Sustainable Economic 9 9 More More Economic More d activity 0 13. To reduce communities developme Aims to build 0 Aims to 0 0 0 0 houses will houses will development tourists may Unrelate waste will aim to nt may sustainable Unrelated reduce Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated mean more mean more may mean means mean d reduce mean more homes waste waste waste more waste more waste more waste waste waste

X 9 X X X X 9 Increase Encoura 14. To reduce the More More X 0 Increasing 9 More Integrated d activity ges effects of traffic houses will houses will More sites Depends tourism Aims to 0 0 0 transport 0 0 land use may alternativ on the bring more bring more could lead to on sites may reduce Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated could lead Unrelated Unrelated means less mean e modes environment cars to the cars to the more traffic identified. increase trips to more car trips more of area area traffic traffic traffic transport

9 Aims to 9 15. To reduce X X minimise Sustainable emissions of Economic Economic 9 greenho communities 0 0 greenhouse 0 0 Development Developme 0 Aims to build 0 use gas 0 0 0 0 will aim to Unrelate Unrelate gasses from Unrelated Unrelated may mean nt may Unrelated sustainable Unrelated emission Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated reduce d d energy more energy mean more homes s and energy consumption use. energy use. use consumption renewabl e energy

9 9 9 9 X 9 Sustainable X 9 Aims to 16. To reduce Suggests Suggests Employmen 0 0 Aims to development Employment 0 Aims to build 0 reduce 0 0 0 vulnerability to allocations allocations t sites may Unrelate Unrelate sustain will avoid sites may be on Unrelated sustainable Unrelated vulnerabi Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated flooding made made be on flood d d coastal flood risk flood plains. homes lity to sustainably. sustainably. plains. areas areas flooding

9 X 9 X Sustainable 9 9 Environme Aims not to 9 17. To conserve Economic 9 9 development Suggests Suggests ntally rich compromis 0 0 0 Coastal and enhance Development Aims to build Aims to 0 0 0 will protect allocations allocations sites may e quality of Unrelate Unrelate Unrelate environment biodiversity and may have sustainable protect Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated or enhance made made be natural d d d al sites may geodiversity environmental homes habitats bio and sustainably. sustainably. developed environmen be protected impacts geodiversity. on. t

9 18. To conserve 9 Sustainable 9 9 and where 9 9 Economic 9 9 development Economic 9 Aims to appropriate Suggests Suggests Developme Possible 0 0 0 Coastal will respect Development Aims to build enhance the 0 0 0 enhance areas of allocations allocations nt may help maintenanc Unrelate Unrelate Unrelate historic sites areas of may help sustainable culture and Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated historical and made made maintain e of historic d d d may be historical maintain homes heritage of archaeological sustainably. sustainably. historic buildings protected and cultural historic sites the area importance sites value

9 9 19. To conserve X Sustainable 9 9 X 9 Aims to 9 9 and enhance the Economic 0 development Suggests Suggests Redevelop 0 0 States reduce 0 Aims to Coastal quality and local Development Depends 0 0 will respect allocations allocations ment could Unrelate Unrelate townscapes impact of Unrelate maintain rural historic sites distinctiveness of may change on sites Unrelated Unrelated character of made made change d d should be new d settlements may be landscapes and townscape identified. settlements sustainably. sustainably. townscape celebrated. development and services protected townscapes character & landscape s

9 Co-location 9 20. To achieve of housing 9 9 9 9 Strategy 9 sustainable levels 9 and Seeks to Seeks to Aims for Aims to 0 for Aims to of prosperity and 0 0 0 0 0 0 Protects development provide provide increase in provide Unrelate dealing maintain rural economic growth Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Economic will economic economic tourism economi d with settlements throughout the Assets encourage growth growth business c growth flood risk and services plan area economic areas growth

9 9 9 9 New Aims to 0 States 0 Aims to 21. To revitalise 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 businesses revitalise Unrelate townscapes Unrelate maintain rural town centres Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated could help town d should be d settlements towns centres celebrated. and services

9 9 Encoura 22. To encourage 9 9 Aims to ges efficient patterns Tourism Seeks to 0 deliver 0 0 0 0 efficient 0 0 0 0 0 0 of movement in should be improve Unrelate integrated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated patterns Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated support of developed road d patterns of of economic growth sustainably network land use moveme nt 9 Improved 23. To encourage 9 9 transport and accommodate 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Aims to Aims to 0 0 infrastruc 0 0 0 both indigenous Unrelate Unrelate Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated foster foster Unrelated Unrelated ture may Unrelated Unrelated Unrelated and inward d d towns towns increase investment investme nt

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APPRAISAL OF CORE STRATEGY POLICIES

6.1 Statutory purpose In formal terms the Core Strategy Preferred Options Development Plan Document is intended to fulfil the requirements of the second stage of the five stage Local Development Framework production process ( ie the Regulation 26 stage under the Town and Country Planning Act (Local Development ) (England) regulations 2004.

6.2 Links with national policy & other plans The Core Strategy DPD is prepared in the context of national policy documents, specifically the Planning Policy Guidance Notes (PPGs) and Planning Policy Statements (PPSs), Government White Papers and planning circulars. It is not necessary to repeat national policy in the plan but it often needs to be interpreted in a local context or mentioned in the support text to assist the use of the document by potential developers.

6.3 Core strategy policies and options The core strategy policies (preferred options) and the options available to them that have been appraised for their level of sustainability are set out in Appendix 6. This is the third iteration in a sustainability appraisal process. In November 2007 a first draft of policies was appraised with options for individual policies. A second draft was appraised in October 2008. A sustainability report was prepared and Suffolk Coastal has taken on board most of the comments made.

Hence it is expected that the third draft of the policies will show a higher level of sustainability. However, it should be noted that considerable change has occurred in the content of the Core Strategy set of policies as the development control policies have been devised. The first version contained 24 Core Strategy policies whilst the latest version has 31. Policies or parts of policies have moved to the development control set, necessitating consideration of the relationship between the two. The level of change in the wording of the Core Strategy policies was significant enough in nearly all cases to require the policy to be reassessed and the previous version to be treated as an option. The first set of policies was numbered differently. Only the policies themselves were originally appraised – no supporting text has. However, this has been addressed in this final, refined appraisal.

6.4 Significant effects

The aim of this appraisal is to set out the main sustainability implications of each policy and to consider the set of policies as a whole. This enables the need for any possible mitigation actions to be identified.

The policies and their alternatives were assessed against the 23 SA objectives listed in the previous chapter using the impact assessment in Table 6.1. For each SA objective the impact on the indicators associated with them (see Appendix 5) were considered and possible direction of impact recorded.

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Table 6.1 : SA Impact system Symbol Effect ++ Strong positive + Positive 0/+ Weak positive 0 Neutral -/0 Weak negative - Negative -- Strong negative +/- Both positive and negative

Where there were alternatives to be assessed, all of the strategic policy preferred options are considered to be more sustainable than their alternatives. A number of policies were not furnished with alternatives.

Where this comparison was finely balanced there are other policies that counter the negative aspect that has been highlighted. This should be adequate.

Table 6.2 summarises the overall results of the appraisal of all the preferred policies. Blank boxes in the table indicate that a neutral result was recorded in the appraisal. This means the application of the policy should not have a noticeable effect on the SA objective. The table is easier to read if neutral impacts are not marked with zeros. The full results for each policy option can be seen in Appendix 6. Appendix 6 also records any secondary, short, medium or long term effects for each policy and options. Synergistic effects have been noted with the secondary effects. The overview and summary is based on the long term effects.

The 31 core strategy policies appraised produced a total of 190 distinct positive impacts (of which 47 were strong positives), and 93 distinct negative impacts (all of which were weak negatives).

Table 6.2 reveals the strengths and weaknesses of the core strategy policies as a set, hence as a plan. It is expected to see SP1 Sustainability with the most positive results, higher than previous drafts because comments made earlier seeking to strengthen the policy concerning social inclusion, reuse of previously developed land and achieving economic growth have been picked up. In respect of the Spatial Policies four other policies do not contain any negative aspects - SP2 Settlement policy because of its focus on delivering housing in a manner according to the principles of sustainable development; SP12 Other Villages and the Countryside because of its attention to social, economic and environmental aspects of rural areas, SP13 Coastal Zone because of the range of its content, and SP14 Accessibility because of its emphasis on reducing the impact of the private car.

Many Spatial Policies demonstrate highly positive results in respect of social and economic criteria, particular where regeneration is involved or meeting housing needs. However, where housing growth is an aspect of the strategy the appraisal is negative on environmental aspects, basically because new housing will impact upon people and such factors as waste generation and air quality. Mitigation measures are usually available in order to address such issues. No Spatial Policies are generally negative in content without any positive aspects of the appraisal.

Strategic Policies that focused on housing or employment allocations appear negative overall because they do not contain specific reference to possible environmental constraints. Increasing the level of housing or employment anywhere will lead to the

Sustainability Appraisal 23 generation of more traffic that could impact air quality depending on the location, will result in energy being used either in transport or running homes. There are focused Core Strategy environmental policies that will be brought to bear when planning applications are determined hence this is not a concern. In the case of Ipswich only numbers are provided. More detailed appraisal of the sites considered in order to get to the numbers is included elsewhere.

Of particular concern might be the overall impact of the set of core polices on the sustainability objectives. These indicate the strengths and weaknesses of the plan. Table 6.2 shows the most positive results to be on the Social SA objectives (1-8) particularly SA 5 Access to Key Services, SA 6 Opportunity for Employment and SA 7 Housing. This reflects the structure of the Core Strategy, it having several policies focused on these issues. Policies focusing on specific geographic areas also have the need for service provision and other social needs integrated within them.

Economic SA objectives also all rate positively particularly SA 20 seeking to achieve sustainable economic growth throughout the area. There are only four SA objectives under the economic heading (SA20-23) but all have at least one policy that scores ++ suggesting a significant impact. In a set of core strategy policies it sometimes only needs one policy to score high as this indicates that there is a policy devoted to this area and will be applied alongside other policies.

There is a mixed picture for the environmental SA objectives. The set of policies clearly reflect and reiterate a concern for conserving and enhancing the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes. SA 19 on landscape and townscape contains 5 recordings of ++ indicating a positive approach. Significant positive appraisal is also evident in SA 14 Reducing Traffic. SA 10 Improving water quality is not the focus of any particular policy but it is thought that water quality will be a material issue in applying SP26 Biodiversity and geodiversity. This policy seeks to protect the biodiversity associated with rivers, estuaries and coast and as water quality will be a key factor in the survival of some species, water quality will therefore be need to be conserved. Similarly SP28 Climate change considers minimising the risk of pollution and minimising the risk of flooding. These are indirect references to maintaining water quality. Water quality was not raised as a key issue in the baseline for the sustainability appraisal, but possibly because there is not much up to date information available on the quality of estuaries and ground water. Coastal waters are generally quite good with some beaches in the District having Blue flag awards as good bathing beaches. SA11 to conserve soil resources and quality is mainly achieved thought the reuse of land and this is clearly set out as a priority and guiding principle in SP1.

Only one SA objectives relating to the environment is entirely negative, that being SA13 Waste. This is because the development of new housing and employment uses will generate waste – it will be new and additional to existing waste production. However SP28 Climate Change contains a statement that makes it clear that the authority will ensure all development helps to reduce waste. More guidance as to how this might be done is included in a development control policy on sustainable construction where reference is made to biomass technology.

SA15 to reduce emissions of green house gases from energy consumption, although generally negative in its appraisal, like SA13 above is not a problem because it is a specified requirement in SP28 Climate Change. New development will increase energy emissions but the authority will seek to ensure development minimises greenhouse gas emissions. How this can be done is covered in development control policies.

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SA17 To conserve and enhance biodiversity and geodiversity is an issue because so many policies are permissive of growth that biodiversity could be at risk. However, SP26 states that biodiversity and geodiversity will be protected and enhanced on a network of designated sites, wildlife corridors, rivers, estuaries and coast, other identified habitats and protected species. This is a good range of defined and less well defined sites and the policy specifically states that it will consider international, national and sites of local importance and seek the creation of new habitats through the implementation of the Suffolk Biodiversity Plan. Hence no mitigation is necessary.

SA 18 To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological interest is one of the few SA objectives that does not have a Core Strategy policy that champions it, (ie no policy records a strongly positive impact.) Such aspects are covered by references to conserving and enhancing the built environment (SP1) as well as the application of regional and national policies on the subject.

The overall conclusion is that that the Core Strategy policies are likely to have a strong social impact, meeting the housing needs of the area as a whole, assisting access to services and reducing poverty and social exclusion. It will also help to achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and economic growth. It is also very strong on conserving and enhancing the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes, reflecting the need to protect the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the quality of the build environment in the towns.

The only negative secondary effects identified in the appraisal are linked to tourism. There is a danger that increased tourism will encourage second home ownership, reducing housing available to local people. Increased numbers of tourists to some areas where there is high second home ownership may help support key local services but the benefit of this is lost if more second owners are attracted. Possible synergistic effects identified are where the provision of a modest level of new housing in a rural location could meet a threshold that results in the provision of recycling facilities (e.g. plastic recycling is not available throughout the district) or makes a local renewable energy scheme viable.

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Table 6.2: Appraisal results of the 31 Core strategic policies

Strategic Policies -> 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 1. To improve the health of the population + + + + + 0/- overall + ++0/+ 2. To maintain and improve levels of education + + + + + + & skills in the population overall + + 3. To reduce crime and anti-social activity + + + + + + + + ++ ++ 4. To reduce poverty and social exclusion + + ++ + + ++ +

5. To improve access to key services for all + + ++ + ++ ++ ++ + + ++ + ++ sectors of the population + - + + ++ 6. To offer everybody the opportunity for + + + + + + ++ ++ + + rewarding and satisfying employment ++ - ++ + + + + + 7. To meet the housing requirements of the + + ++ ++ + + + 0/- + + + + whole community ++ + + ++ ++ + 8. To improve the quality of where people live + -- + + + + + + and to encourage community participation - - + + + 9. To maintain & where possible improve air ++ - - - - - 0/- +/0 - quality ------0/- + 0/+ - 10. To maintain and where possible improve 0/- water quality ++ + + - + + + + 11. To conserve soil resources & quality - + - +

12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, & re-use & recycle where possible + ------0/- 13. To reduce waste - - - - - 0/- -

14. To reduce the effects of traffic on the + + ++ - -/+ 0/- - - 0/- - - 0/- +/0 - environment - - - + - - - 0/+ - ++ 0/+ - 15. To reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses + - - - - - + - - +/- + - from energy consumption - - - + - - - - - + - + ++ - - + - - ++ 16. To reduce vulnerability to flooding - - -

17. To conserve and enhance biodiversity and + - + 0/- - - +/- - 0/- - + + - geodiversity - - - - - 0/+ 0/+ - ++ 18. To conserve and where appropriate + enhance areas of historical and archaeological - - - - - importance 19. To conserve & enhance the quality & local + + + + + ++ ++ ++ 0/+ + + ++ + distinctiveness of landscapes & townscapes - + + 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity + + + + 0/- + + + + + + + & economic growth throughout the plan area - ++ - ++ ++ ++ + + + + + + + + 21. To revitalise town centres + ++ + +

22. To encourage efficient patterns of + + ++ + + + + + + + movement in support of economic growth - + ++ + + + 23. To encourage and accommodate both + + + + + + + ++ + + indigenous and inward investment ++ + + + + + + +

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6.5 Mitigation

Significant negative aspects of the Core Strategy are:

Water Quality: The core strategy policies contain no direct reference to maintaining or improving water quality. It is thought that the plan will have a marginally positive impact on water quality because it seeks to minimise the risk of pollution and of flooding. This does not give specific protection to the water table and water resources, nor encourages sustainable drainage or use of permeable surfaces to replenish water sources. Although problems may not be in evidence in the short term it would be prudent to take a longer term view. Linked to this is the efficient use of water, including reuse and recycling. SP28 requires use of recycled materials. Specific water conservation measures are included in a development control policy but it would be helpful to back this up. Mitigation could be:

M1: Ensure the application of national policies and/or

M2: Monitor the quality and availability of water resources from water catchment areas in the District and the quality of rivers.

Specific monitoring would enable action to be taken should issues occur in the future as the baseline monitoring does not suggest current problems.

Air Quality

Maintaining and improving air quality is not specifically referred to in the plan policies but it will be achieved to some extent if the overall need for travel is reduced (SP1) and can be interpreted as an aspect of pollution (mentioned in SP28 Climate change). An SPG on Air Quality is currently being prepared jointly by all Suffolk Districts and the County Council with the intention that each authority adopts it as SPG. There are other air quality hot spots in Suffolk Coastal so a general alertness to air quality issues is needed.

M3: The application of SPG on Air Quality and/or

M4: Ensure the application of national policies

Historical and archaeological interest SP1 Sustainable development refers to conserving and enhancing the built environment and maintaining a sense of place. This should be interpreted to protect Listed Buildings and archaeological sites. However there is nothing in any of the core strategy policies that specifically recognises the value of the archaeological assets and seeks to protect and enhance them. This is because of the avoidance of repeating national policies.

M5: Ensure through SP1 and the application of national policies that Suffolk Coastal’s archaeological asset will be protected and enhanced.

Flood risk and coastal erosion Although SP13 Coastal Zone refers to the issue of coastal erosion it only considers the emerging Shoreline Management Plan and encourages investment in safeguarding of property. There is no recognition yet of the need for land use planning decisions in the long term to protect or relocate housing, heritage features (eg Martello Towers or wartime pill boxes), infrastructure (eg A12) or replacement habitats. This will need to be considered in a subsequent review when the Shoreline Management Plan review is complete or through integrated coastal zone management.

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M6: A policy response to assist the achievement of the Shoreline Management Plan when completed, particularly on loss of land, homes, community facilities, infrastructure and heritage assets as a result of coastal erosion. This could include an exceptions policy for replacement facilities.

M7: Apply other policies that emerge in supplementary planning documents or through integrated coastal zone management.

6.6 How problems were considered in developing policies and proposals It is a concern that time has not permitted review of the baseline data and issues for this SA. Those identified in November 2007 have been used.

Many issues raised in the SA of the first draft set of core strategy polices have been considered in the second version appraised here, as summarised in 6.1. Issues raised here need to considered in the light of those arising from the Development Control policies. Issues emerging here can then be considered by Suffolk Coastal District Council following consultation on the Preferred Options and this SA.

6.7 Uncertainties and risks Some impacts have been identified which could be either positive or negative depending on how and where the policies are implemented.

6.8 Other observations The future role of foreign economic migrants is not acknowledged in the plan. Information on the current situation is scant but it may be worth seeking to monitor numbers of National Insurance registrations and the activities of major employees recruiting from particular groups. Such groups may have specific cultural and social needs.

6.9 Implementation and monitoring

Link to other tiers of plans and programmes Sustainability appraisal on Suffolk Coastal’s core strategy policies was started before the RSS has been approved. The RSS has now been published reflecting a revised Appropriate Assessment.

This sustainability appraisal for the Suffolk Coastal Core Strategy and Policies will form a context for other Suffolk Coastal planning documents, particularly the Site Specific Allocations and Policies, Felixstowe Regeneration Area Action Plan and Leiston and Saxmundham Area Action Plan. Suffolk Coastal also intends to prepare Supplementary Planning Guidance on Affordable Housing so the issue of affordable very sheltered housing to meet the needs of the ageing population could be considered there.

Proposals for monitoring Table 6.3 shows the proposed key indicators to assist in monitoring achievement of the SA objectives. Some effects cannot be realistically solved by mitigating actions or are uncertain so there is a need to monitor that particular concern. If the concern is realised then action may need to be devised at a later date. The indicators need to be monitored over the life of the core strategy. Some specific indicators have been suggested that do not currently have a baseline, these being sub sets of data sets. Others are known to exist and likely to be important outcome indicators for the review. Appendix 5 sets out the long list of SA indicators with the full definitions that ideally need to be monitored but Table 6.3 focuses on the key concerns, including those raised in the SA itself.

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Table 6.3: Proposed Indicators No SA Objective Performance Indicator % with access to hospital, doctors or dentist. Death rate plus those for cancer, heart disease, respiratory, self harm, road accidents. To improve the health of the Radionuclides in food near Sizewell. Total 1 population overall radiation dose from all sources. Journeys to work & school by sustainable transport. Obesity levels. Change in play, open & natural green space To maintain and improve levels of A*-C grades at GCSE. A & AS level results. % 2 education and skills in the no qualifications. % NVQ level 4 or higher population overall To reduce crime and anti-social Crime per 1000 population. Violent crime. Fear 3 activity of crime. Noise & odour complaints. To reduce poverty and social % population in 10% most deprived SOAs 4 exclusion Housing benefit recipients To improve access to key % population with access to key local services 5 services for all sectors of the (food shop, PO, school) population To offer everybody the Unemployment rate. 6 opportunity for rewarding and Average earnings. satisfying employment Homelessness. Affordable housing. Special To meet the housing needs housing including very sheltered 7 requirements of the whole accommodation. Number of unfit homes. community Average property price to income ratio. Satisfaction with neighbourhood. Land managed for ecological interest with public access. To improve the quality of where Accessible green space. Electoral turnout. 8 people live and to encourage Parish Plans adopted People involved in community participation volunteer activities. Rate if racist incidents. Visits to museums. To maintain and where possible 9 Air quality. Number of AQMAs. improve air quality To maintain and where possible Radioactivity in local water. Water quality in 10 improve water quality rivers, bathing water and catchment areas. Area of Greenfield land developed. % of new dwellings on Brownfield land. Number and % of To conserve soil resources and housing commitments on Greenfield land. 11 quality Allocations on best and most versatile agricultural land. Area of contaminated land returned to beneficial use. To use water and mineral Recycled aggregate production. Water 12 resources efficiently, and re-use consumption. Water availability for water and recycle where possible dependent habitats. Household (and municipal) waste produced. 13 To reduce waste Tonnage recycled, composted & landfilled Traffic volumes at key locations. % new residential development taking place in major To reduce the effects of traffic on 14 towns, other towns & elsewhere. Distance to the environment key services. Journeys to work & school by sustainable transport

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To reduce emissions of Domestic electricity & gas consumption. Energy 15 greenhouse gasses from energy efficiency of homes. Installed electricity capacity consumption using renewable energy. Planning applications approved against EA flood risk advise. Properties at risk of flooding from 16 To reduce vulnerability to flooding rivers or sea. Incidence of coastal and fluvial flooding (properties affected). Flood warnings issued. Change in number, area and condition of designated ecological sites. Achievement of To conserve and enhance 17 BAP targets. Bird survey results. Change in biodiversity and geodiversity number, area & condition of designated geological SSSIs or RIGS. Change in number of Listed buildings and buildings at risk. Area of historic parks and To conserve and where gardens. Number, area and appraisals appropriate enhance areas of 18 completed of Conservation Areas. Number of historical and archaeological SAMs damaged by development. Planning importance permissions affecting known or potential archaeological sites. Number & % of new dwellings completed on PDL. Number & % housing commitments on To conserve and enhance the PDL. Number of vacant dwellings. Number & % 19 quality and local distinctiveness of second homes. Changes in landscape. of landscapes and townscapes Change in number & area of village greens and commons. Area of designated landscapes (AONB). Light pollution. Take up of employment floorspace. Employment permissions and allocations. % change in VAT To achieve sustainable levels of registered businesses. Number & % of 20 prosperity and economic growth employees by employment division, main throughout the plan area industry type and in key sectors (agriculture, IT etc) 21 To revitalise town centres Vacant units in town centres. Distance to work. Net commuting to district and major towns. Employment permissions in urban To encourage efficient patterns of areas. Number & % working at home. Number 22 movement in support of of developments with travel plan submitted as economic growth condition of development.% port freight carried by rail. Number of farmers markets and farm shops. Number of enquiries to business advise services To encourage and accommodate from within/outside area. Business start ups and 23 both indigenous and inward closures. Employment land availability. investment Employment permissions and allocations.

APPRAISAL OF DEVELOPMENT CONTROL POLICIES

7.1 Statutory purpose In formal terms the Development Control Policies Preferred Options Development Plan Document is intended to fulfil the requirements of the second stage of the five stage Local Development Framework production process ( i.e. the Regulation 26 stage under the Town and Country Planning Act (Local Development ) (England) regulations 2004.

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7.2 Links with national policy & other plans The Development Control DPD had to be prepared in the context of national policy documents, specifically the Planning Policy Guidance Notes (PPGs) and Planning Policy Statements (PPSs), Government White Papers and planning circulars. It is not necessary to repeat national policy in the plan but it often needs to be interpreted in a local context or mentioned in the support text to assist the use of the document by potential developers.

7.3 Development Control policies and options The Development Control policies (preferred options) and the options available to them that have been appraised for their level of sustainability are set out in Appendix 6. This is the second sustainability appraisal they have been subjected to. At the first stage only a list of policies was available with no supporting text. Some policies do not have options as they were considered at the Issues and Options consultation stage.

7.4 Significant effects The aim of this appraisal is to set out the main sustainability implications of each policy and to consider if together with the core strategy policies will ensure sustainable development in Suffolk Coastal District.

The policies and their alternatives were assessed against the 23 SA objectives listed in Section B Table 5.1 using the scoring system in Table 7.1. For each SA objective the impact on the indicators associated with them (see Appendix 5 Sustainability framework) were considered and possible direction of impact recorded.

Again it should be emphasised that the ‘+’ and ‘-‘ should not be added together in order to create a ‘score’ for each policy.

Table 7.1 : SA scoring system

Symbol Effect ++ Strong positive + Positive 0/+ Weak positive 0 Neutral -/0 Weak negative - Negative -- Strong negative +/- Both positive and negative

All of the development control policies are generally more sustainable than the alternatives put forward. Policies where the comparison is finely-balanced are:

DC6 Houses in multiple occupation. The alternative clarifies that it refers to urban areas and will have greater impact on encouraging sustainable transport use by restricting car parking. However, it applies national policy but lacks local distinctiveness. It cannot be assumed that all residents of urban areas have access to public transport that provides a means of travel to a particular destination such as place of employment. Even in market towns a private car is often essential.

DC19 refers to tourism, camping and caravan sites and DC20 to static holiday caravans, chalets and cabins, with alternatives being more limiting in terms of site sizes. It is considered that the alternatives would have a marginally lower impact on environmental aspects, but would result in a loss of tourism revenue if smaller sites were allowed where larger ones could be used. Both policies focus on the visual impact on the landscape and

Sustainability Appraisal 31 will rely on SP27 to ensure environmental impact is considered hence there is no need to amend the policy wording.

DC25 is titled sustainable construction, and covers design and energy efficiency features. The alternative has more positive aspects because the Code for Sustainable homes covers a broad range of sustainability criteria. Some of the aspects covered under the Code for Sustainable homes are picked up under other policies eg Cycle storage is covered by DC24.

Table 7.2 summarises the overall results of the appraisal of all the preferred development control policies. The table is easier to read if neutral impacts are not marked with zeros. This means the application of the policy should not have a noticeable effect on the SA objective. The full results for each policy option can be seen in Appendix 6.

Appendix 6 also records any secondary, short, medium or long term effects for each policy and options. Synergistic effects have been noted with the secondary effects. The overview and summary is based on the long term effects.

The 37 development control policies appraised produced a total of 182 distinct positive impacts (of which 42 were strong positives), over four times as many distinct negative impacts (of which only 3 were strong negative).

Of the 37 policies scoring positively 10 had no negatives. Of these DC23 is a comprehensive policy dealing with the design of development, scoring highly on the environmental criteria, whilst DC33 Telecommunications scores well on environmental criteria and requires the restoration of land to its former condition if use for telecommunications is discontinued. DC24 Design function scores very well on water quality and recycling water because it contains a sentence stating that the Council will strongly encourage water conservation measures such as grey water systems, permeable soakaways and water efficiency devices. This is interesting given the comment on water quality above where it is commented that the core strategy policies do not promote water issues. DC21 Travel Plans is a valuable statement promoting sustainable transport and reducing the use of cars, scoring very strongly on reducing the effects of traffic and air quality.

The most negatives occur with DC 12 Warehousing and storage – mainly because it does not stress the need for such uses to be well related to the road network although this is referred to in the supporting text. If it is small scale then the scale of impact could be minor.

DC 19 Static holiday caravans, cabins and chalets appears marginally negative because of the increase in waste, and possible impact on flood risk and loss of biodiversity and geodiversity. However these are mitigated by SP31 for waste and by core strategy and development control policies for flood risk and loss of biodiversity and geodiversity.

DC23 Airfields has strong negative impacts on the use of soil resources and greenhouse gas emissions. The level of impact will depend on whether a proposal was for a small light aircraft airfield or an airport with tarmac surfaces. Anything that promotes the use of aircraft is going to score badly on greenhouse gas emissions. However, such developments could bring new employment and investment. Suffolk Coastal has a commitment to monitoring this policy carefully and the results of consultation will be examined closely.

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Table 7.2 Results of Development Control sustainability appraisal

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 SA Objectives / POLICIES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1. To improve the health of the population overall + + + + 0/+ + + 0/- + ++ ++ 2. To maintain and improve levels of education and skills in the population + 0/+ overall 3. To reduce crime and anti-social activity + + ++ + + 0/+ + + 4. To reduce poverty and social exclusion + + + + + 0/+ + + 5. To improve access to key services for all sectors of the population + + - + + + + + + + ++

6. To offer everybody the opportunity for + + 0/ + + + + ++ + + rewarding and satisfying employment + + +

7. To meet the housing requirements of the + + + + + + + + + + + 0/+ 0/- whole community + + + +

8. To improve the quality of where people 0/ +/ + 0/ live and to encourage community + + + + 0/- + + - ++ + + + +/- + + ++ ++ + participation + - + - 9. To maintain and where possible improve 0/ 0/ 0/ - 0/ 0/ 0/ 0/ - + - ++ -/0 + + air quality - - - /+ - - - - 10. To maintain and where possible improve 0/ 0/ 0/ + + ++ 0/+ water quality - - - 0/ 0/ 11. To conserve soil resources and quality - - -- + ++ - - 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle ++ where possible 0/ 0/ 13. To reduce waste ------+ - - - 14. To reduce the effects of traffic on the 0/ - + - - - - + - + + - ++ -/0 + + -/0 environment - /+ 15. To reduce emissions of greenhouse 0/ 0/ 0/ 0/ 0/ 0/ 0/ 0/ 0/ - - - 0/- - + -- ++ ++ -- + gasses from energy consumption ------16. To reduce vulnerability to flooding + - - - + ++ /0 17. To conserve and enhance biodiversity 0/ 0/ 0/ 0/ ?/ 0/ + + + + + + - - + - -/0 ++ - ++ - - and geodiversity - + - - - + 18. To conserve and where appropriate + 0/ 0/ + enhance areas of historical and + + + - + ++ 0/+ ++ ++ +/- ++ + + + archaeological importance + - - + 19. To conserve and enhance the quality + + + + and local distinctiveness of + + + + + + - + + + ++ + ++ 0/+ ++ ++ + + ++ + + + landscapes and townscapes + + + + 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and economic growth + + + + + + + + + + + + + 0/+ + throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres + +/0 + + +

22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in support of economic growth + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

23. To encourage and accommodate both indigenous and inward investment + + + + + + + + ++ + + 0/+

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For the SA objectives the range of impact reflects the specialist aspects the policies are covering and the need to apply them in the context of other development control policies and the cores strategy policies. The most positive SA objective was SA 19 To conserve and enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes. Nine policies scored very significantly perhaps reflecting Suffolk Coastal’s response to the comments made in the SA on the draft core strategy policies that the AONB seemed to get little protection. Other significant overall positive impacts related to SA 18 To conserve and enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance and SA 8 To improve the quality of where people live and to encourage community participation. Although these are the areas of significant effects, on balance the policies were stronger in their social impact. None of the social SA objectives scored negatively nor did the economic SA objectives.

Four of the environmental SA objectives appear negative overall. SA13 To reduce waste was the most obvious although all the effects were weakly negative. This highlights that there is not a development control policy that encourages waste minimisation leaving focus on SP28 Climate change which states it will ensure development helps to reduce waste. This potential gap could be revisited following consultation.

SA15 To reduce greenhouse gas emissions reflects the problem of all development using energy and as mentioned already, a strongly negative effect is recorded due to the support given to airfields. DC 30 Lighting is also strongly negative because it does not advocate the use of low energy lighting where ever possible.

SA9 To maintain and where possible improve air quality is marginally negative overall. However, it receives a strong positive for DC 21 Travel plans and this will mitigate the impact for new development with significant transport implications. This is limited to employment development over 10 people and major residential development. The cumulative impact of smaller developments must not be overlooked.

Finally, SA 11 To conserve soil resources and quality is very marginally negative mainly due to the policy concerning airfield discussed above. There is also a concern that DC 17 Large agricultural buildings and structures will take greenfield land but as the uses are intended to be related to the development of agricultural activities, this is unavoidable. Strong control on the possible impact on the landscape and disposal of effluent is included in the policy.

7.5 Mitigation Mitigation is suggested to maximise the sustainable outcome for the following policies discussed above:

M9: Apply DC6 Houses in multiple occupation in association with other policies on sustainability seeking such buildings to be located close to a good range of services so it will have greater impact on encouraging sustainable transport use.

M10: Consider, when assessing specific proposals, the need to design space for the storage of recyclable and non-recyclable waste including composting when applying DC24 Design – Function as this would assist in achieving waste minimisation and recycling and is not picked up elsewhere.

M11: Ensure that all aspects of DC12 Warehousing and storage including local distribution purposes are considered against the supporting text as well as the policy and need to be well related to the primary route network. The application of other policies will address potential omissions such as permeable soakaways being considered to deal with runoff.

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M12: Ensure DC22 Airfields is considered in the context of other policies seeking to protect the environment as this would reduce the risk of this policy having a negative impact on sustainability.

M13: Following consultation consider the need for more policy guidance to be given on waste reduction, minimisation and recycling. SPG could be considered.

M14: Refer to the supporting text when applying DC 30 Lighting in order to encourage the minimum lighting necessary. Apply other policies in order to seek energy efficiency.

7.6 How problems were considered in developing policies and proposals It is a concern that time has not permitted review of the baseline data and issues for this SA. Those identified in November 2007 have been used. The review of the Shoreline Management Plan has not been adopted setting out detailed geographical objectives and no consideration has been given to the planning policy response that could help achieve those objectives.

7.7 Uncertainties and risks Some impacts have been identified which could be either positive or negative depending on how and where the policies are implemented.

7.8 Other observations

DC11 Protection of employment sites gives no encouragement to the consideration of the industrial heritage of sites and seeking to preserve architecturally and historically important aspects but it is noted that this is required in DC23 Design aesthetics.

Looking at the two sets of policies what is striking is their strength in the social SA objectives, supporting housing, particularly targeting affordable housing where is it is needed (thereby addressing social inclusion and deprivation issues), maintaining services and improving the quality of where people live. Economic objectives are well balanced, seeking to provide employment well located to new housing growth but recognising the need for evolution of employment in the rural area. The minimisation of waste and encouraging recycling is a weakness in the environmental objectives as so much depends on one policy (SP28).

7.9 Implementation and monitoring

Link to other tiers of plans and programmes This sustainability appraisal of development control policies has been completed since the RSS has been approved. The published RSS reflects a revised Appropriate Assessment.

This sustainability appraisal for the Suffolk Coastal Core Strategy Policies and development control policies will form a context for other Suffolk Coastal planning documents, particularly the Site Specific Allocations and Policies, Felixstowe Regeneration Area Action Plan and Leiston and Saxmundham Area Action Plan. Suffolk Coastal also intends to prepare Supplementary Planning Guidance on Affordable Housing so the issue of affordable very sheltered housing to meet the needs of the ageing population could be considered here.

Proposals for monitoring Table 7.3 shows the proposed key indicators to assist in monitoring achievement of the SA objectives. Some effects cannot be realistically solved by mitigating actions or are uncertain so there is a need to monitor that particular concern. If the concern is realised then action may need to be devised at a later date. The indicators need to be monitored over the life of the

Sustainability Appraisal 35

core strategy. Some specific indicators have been suggested that do not currently have a baseline, these being sub sets of data sets. Others are known to exist and likely to be important outcome indicators for the review. Appendix 5 sets out the long list of SA indicators with the full definitions that ideally need to be monitored but Table 7.3 focuses on the key concerns, including those raised in the SA itself.

This is the same list as shown in table 6.3 as no new issues have been raised with the development control policies requiring specific additional monitoring.

Table 7.3: Proposed Indicators No SA Objective Performance Indicator % with access to hospital, doctors or dentist. Death rate plus those for cancer, heart disease, respiratory, self harm, road accidents. To improve the health of the 1 Radionuclides in food near Sizewell. Total population overall radiation dose from all sources. Journeys to work & school by sustainable transport. Obesity levels. Change in play, open & natural green space To maintain and improve levels of A*-C grades at GCSE. A & AS level results. % no 2 education and skills in the qualifications. % NVQ level 4 or higher population overall To reduce crime and anti-social Crime per 1000 population. Violent crime. Fear of 3 activity crime. Noise & odour complaints. To reduce poverty and social % population in 10% most deprived SOAs 4 exclusion Housing benefit recipients To improve access to key services % population with access to key local services 5 for all sectors of the population (food shop, PO, school) To offer everybody the opportunity Unemployment rate. 6 for rewarding and satisfying Average earnings. employment Homelessness. Affordable housing. Special needs To meet the housing requirements housing including very sheltered accommodation. 7 of the whole community Number of unfit homes. Average property price to income ratio. Satisfaction with neighbourhood. Land managed for ecological interest with public access. To improve the quality of where Accessible green space. Electoral turnout. Parish 8 people live and to encourage Plans adopted People involved in volunteer community participation activities. Rate if racist incidents. Visits to museums. To maintain and where possible 9 Air quality. Number of AQMAs. improve air quality To maintain and where possible Radioactivity in local water. Water quality in rivers, 10 improve water quality bathing water and catchment areas. Area of Greenfield land developed. % of new dwellings on Brownfield land. Number and % of To conserve soil resources and housing commitments on Greenfield land. 11 quality Allocations on best and most versatile agricultural land. Area of contaminated land returned to beneficial use. To use water and mineral Recycled aggregate production. Water 12 resources efficiently, and re-use consumption. Water availability for water and recycle where possible dependent habitats.

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Household (and municipal) waste produced. 13 To reduce waste Tonnage recycled, composted & landfilled Traffic volumes at key locations. % new residential development taking place in major To reduce the effects of traffic on 14 towns, other towns & elsewhere. Distance to key the environment services. Journeys to work & school by sustainable transport To reduce emissions of Domestic electricity & gas consumption. Energy 15 greenhouse gasses from energy efficiency of homes. Installed electricity capacity consumption using renewable energy. Planning applications approved against EA flood risk advise. Properties at risk of flooding from 16 To reduce vulnerability to flooding rivers or sea. Incidence of coastal and fluvial flooding (properties affected). Flood warnings issued. Change in number, area and condition of designated ecological sites. Achievement of BAP To conserve and enhance 17 targets. Bird survey results. Change in number, biodiversity and geodiversity area & condition of designated geological SSSIs or RIGS. Change in number of Listed buildings and buildings at risk. Area of historic parks and To conserve and where appropriate gardens. Number, area and appraisals completed 18 enhance areas of historical and of Conservation Areas. Number of SAMs archaeological importance damaged by development. Planning permissions affecting known or potential archaeological sites. Number & % of new dwellings completed on PDL. Number & % housing commitments on PDL. To conserve and enhance the Number of vacant dwellings. Number & % of 19 quality and local distinctiveness of second homes. Changes in landscape. Change in landscapes and townscapes number & area of village greens and commons. Area of designated landscapes (AONB). Light pollution. Take up of employment floorspace. Employment To achieve sustainable levels of permissions and allocations. % change in VAT 20 prosperity and economic growth registered businesses. Number & % of employees throughout the plan area by employment division, main industry type and in key sectors (agriculture, IT etc) 21 To revitalise town centres Vacant units in town centres. Distance to work. Net commuting to district and major towns. Employment permissions in urban To encourage efficient patterns of areas. Number & % working at home. Number of 22 movement in support of economic developments with travel plan submitted as growth condition of development.% port freight carried by rail. Number of farmers markets and farm shops. Number of enquiries to business advise services To encourage and accommodate from within/outside area. Business start ups and 23 both indigenous and inward closures. Employment land availability. investment Employment permissions and allocations.

Sustainability Appraisal 37

SUSTAINABILITY APPRAISAL OF STRATEGIC HOUSING LOCATIONS

8.1 Introduction A first appraisal of the options for strategic housing locations was undertaken in June 2008 to assist the selection of areas for large scale housing development in two areas of Suffolk Coastal: in the area to the east of Ipswich and around Felixstowe. This was refined in July 2008 following consideration of more detailed surveys of ecological value, transport and, in respect of Felixstowe, landscape impact.

The criteria developed by Suffolk Coastal District Council for site assessment sustainability appraisal was used. In addition, under heading 12 recreation, consideration has been given to the Haven Gateway infrastructure Strategy (HGGIS) and vision projects. Although these are not existing provision, it has been noted if the proposed sites might impact the location of a ‘vision project’. The ‘vision projects’ have not yet themselves been subject to strategic environmental assessment so are considered to carry little weight.

Plans showing the potential extent of the options were intended to be only generally indicative of areas of interest. Data layers about the following were checked by Suffolk County Council:

• Location of bus stops • Location of train stations • Location of cycle routes, particularly signed national cycle routes • Location of working farms (checked from aerial photographs) • Location within or abutting boundary of AONB, SLA, Heritage Coast • Ancient woodlands • 500m of RAMSAR , SAC, SPA or SSSI • Protected species, BAP habitats and species • Impact on Natura 2000 site • Openspace. Playspace or allotments (checking aerial photographs and Haven Gateway Greenspace Strategy) • Public rights of way • Conservation areas, Listed Buildings • Scheduled Ancient Monuments, Sites and Monuments records • Contaminated land (Environment Agency “What’s in my backyard”)

The basic assumptions are that in East Ipswich land for 970 houses is required and in Felixstowe land for 1620. The assessment looks at the attributes of the options as a whole.

Suffolk Coastal has already received comments about the strategic infrastructure (schools, services etc) from Education and utilities hence this information has not been reviewed. The main area that required attention was Built form and heritage features as comments had not previously been received form the Archaeology Unit at Suffolk County Council. However, supply of maps with possible areas marked, enabled them to review the archaeological records and their comments are now incorporated. It should be noted that none of the areas have been systematically investigated for archaeological value and there is a strong possibility that further archaeological sites of national importance may be found.

Separate biodiversity and transport infrastructure studies of the 11 sites have also been undertaken and the information arising from these incorporated into the assessment summarised below.

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8.2 IPSWICH POLICY AREA – Strategic Sites.

* It should be noted that this sustainability appraisal is at a broad area level only and therefore more intricate site specific issues are not picked up in particular detail. The issues presented are more strategic in their nature.

All areas in their appraisal have been assumed for development in their isolation and not in combination with each other.

Assessments may be likely to change subject to further information coming through from relevant organisations.

Impact Key + + major positive + minor positive 0 no impact/neutral ? uncertain - minor negative - - major negative

Sustainability Appraisal 39

Summary matrix of Ipswich Policy Area options

SA Objective Strategic Housing Growth Option Areas 1 2 3 4 5

1. Area type ------0 - / + 2. Settlement hierarchy + + + + + + + + + + 3. Scale of development 0 0 0 0 0 4. Retain settlement character and identity ------5. Access to key services + + + + + 6. Access and transport + + + + + + + 7. Relationship with local economic activity + + + + + + ++ + + 8. Visual amenity and landscape quality - ? ? - - - 9. Hydrology, flooding and erosion - ? 0 0 - 10. Contaminated land ? ? - - - ? 11.Biodiversity & Geodiversity ------12.Recreation value - - 0 - 0 - - 13. Built form and heritage features - - - - 0 - 14. Agricultural land quality - 0 0 ++ 0 15. Proximity and impact to sources of air pollution 0 - - - 0 - 16. Proximity to sources of noise/light pollution ------17. Topography + + + + + 18. Potential for energy efficiency 0 0 0 0 0 19. Other constraints ? ? ? ? ? 20. Availability of utilities ------21. Possible cumulative impact ------

8.2 FELIXSTOWE PENINSULA AREA – Strategic Sites.

All areas in their appraisal have been assumed for development in their isolation and not in combination with each other.

Assessments may be likely to change subject to further information coming through from relevant organisations.

Impact Key + + major positive + minor positive 0 no impact/neutral ? uncertain - minor negative - - major negative

Sustainability Appraisal 40

Summary matrix of Felixstowe Peninsula options

SA Objective Strategic Housing Growth Option Areas 1 2 3 4 5 6 1. Area type - - - / + ------2. Settlement hierarchy + + + + + + + + + + - 3. Scale of development 0 0 0 0 0 - 4. Retain settlement character and identity ------5. Access to key services - + + + + - 6. Access and transport + + + + + + + + 7. Relationship with local economic activity + + + + + + + + + + 8. Visual amenity and landscape quality - - - - ? ------9. Hydrology, flooding and erosion - 0 0 - - 0 10. Contaminated land ? - 0 ? 0 ? 11. Biodiversity & Geodiversity ------12. Recreation value 0 ------0 13. Built form and heritage features ------14. Agricultural land quality ------15. Proximity and impact to sources of air - / ? - / ? ------/ ? pollution 16. Proximity to sources of noise/light pollution - - - ? 0 - 17. Topography + + + + + + 18. Potential for energy efficiency 0 + + 0 0 0 19. Other constraints ? ? ? ? ? ? 20. Availability of utilities ------21. Possible cumulative impact ------

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GLOSSARY

AA Appropriate Assessment AONB Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty AQMA Air Quality Management Area BAP Biodiversity Action Plan BREEAM Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method CA Conservation Area CCTV Closed-Circuit Television CLG Communities and Local Government dB Decibel DC District Council EU European Union JSA Job Seeker Allowance LDF Local Development Framework mSv millisieverts, a measure of dose ODPM Office of the Deputy Prime Minister OMS Offshore Marine Site PO Post Office PDL Previously Developed Land PPS Planning Policy Statement RSPB Royal Society for the Protection of Birds RSS Regional Spatial Strategy SA Sustainability Appraisal SAC Special Area of Conservation SAM Scheduled Ancient Monument SCC Suffolk County Council SCDC Suffolk Coastal District Council SEA Strategic Environmental Appraisal SOA Super Output Area SPA Special Protection Area SPD Supplementary Planning Document SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest SUDS Sustainable Urban Drainage System

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APPENDICES

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Appendix 1: Quality Assurance Checklist

The checklist below is intended to help test whether the requirements of the SEA Directive are met, and show how effectively the SEA has integrated environmental considerations into the plan-making process. It covers both the technical elements of the SEA and the procedural steps of the SEA process under the Directive.

Quality Assurance checklist Located in Objectives and context • The plan’s or programme’s purpose and objectives are made clear. Table 5.2 Section • Environmental issues and constraints, including international and EC 6.1 & 7.1 environmental protection objectives, are considered in developing Scoping report & objectives and targets. Section 5.2 • SEA objectives, where used, are clearly set out and linked to indicators Section 5.2 and targets where appropriate. Appendix 5 • Links with other related plans, programmes and policies are identified Section,5.1 and explained. Appendix 3 • Conflicts that exist between SEA objectives, between SEA and plan Scoping Report, objectives and between SEA objectives and other plan objectives are Section 5.3 identified and described. Scoping • Consultation Bodies are consulted in appropriate ways and at appropriate Scoping report times on the content and scope of the Environmental Report. • The assessment focuses on significant issues. Updated in Section 4.3 • Technical, procedural and other difficulties encountered are discussed; Section 4.4 assumptions and uncertainties are made explicit. • Reasons are given for eliminating issues from further consideration. Scoping report Alternatives • Realistic alternatives are considered for key issues, and the reasons for Appendices 6 & 8 choosing them are documented. • Alternatives include ‘do minimum’ and/or ‘business as usual’ scenarios Appendices 6 & 8 wherever relevant. • The environmental effects (both adverse and beneficial) of each Appendices 7 & 9 alternative are identified and compared. • Inconsistencies between the alternatives and other relevant plans, Section 6.4 & 7.4 programmes or policies are identified and explained. • Reasons are given for selection or elimination of alternatives. Section 6.4 & 7.4 Baseline information • Relevant aspects of the current state of the environment and their likely Section 4.2 evolution without the plan or programme are described. Section 4.1 • Environmental characteristics of areas likely to be significantly affected are described, including areas wider than the physical boundary of the Section 4.4 plan area where it is likely to be affected by the plan. • Difficulties such as deficiencies in information or methods are explained. Prediction and evaluation of likely significant environmental effects • Effects identified include the types listed in the Directive (biodiversity, Section 6.4 & 7.4, population, human health, fauna, flora, soil, water, air, climate factors, Appendices 7 & 9 material assets, cultural heritage and landscape), as relevant; other likely environmental effects are also covered, as appropriate. • Both positive and negative effects are considered, and the duration of Appendices 7 & 9 effects (short, medium or long-term) is addressed. • Likely secondary, cumulative and synergistic effects are identified where Appendices 7 & 9

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practicable. • Inter-relationships between effects are considered where practicable. Section 6.4 & 7.4 Appendices 7 & 9 • The prediction and evaluation of effects makes use of relevant accepted Section 6.4 & 7.4 standards, regulations, and thresholds. • Methods used to evaluate the effects are described. Section 6.4 & 7.4 Mitigation measures • Measures envisaged to prevent, reduce and offset any significant Section 6.5 & 7.5 adverse effects of implementing the plan or programme are indicated. Section 6.5 & 7.5 • Issues to be taken into account in project consents are identified. The Environmental Report • Is clear and concise in its layout and presentation. Contents page • Uses simple, clear language and avoids or explains technical terms. Throughout • Uses maps and other illustrations where appropriate. Figure 4.1 • Explains the methodology used. Section 3.1 • Explains who was consulted and what methods of consultation were Section 3.3 used. • Identifies sources of information, including expert judgement and matters Section 4.1 of opinion. • Contains a non-technical summary covering the overall approach to the Section 10 SEA, the objectives of the plan, the main options considered, and any changes to the plan resulting from the SEA. Consultation • The SEA is consulted on as an integral part of the plan-making process. To be arranged • Consultation Bodies and the public likely to be affected by, or having an by Suffolk Coastal interest in, the plan or programme are consulted in ways and at times District Council which give them an early and effective opportunity within appropriate time with Preferred frames to express their opinions on the draft plan and Environmental options Report. documents Decision-making and information on the decision • The environmental report and the opinions of those consulted are taken To be undertaken into account in finalising and adopting the plan or programme. by Suffolk Coastal • An explanation is given of how they have been taken into account. District Council • Reasons are given for choosing the plan or programme as adopted, in the light of other reasonable alternatives considered. Monitoring measures • Measures proposed for monitoring are clear, practicable and linked to the Section 6.9 & 7.9 indicators and objectives used in the SEA. • Monitoring is used, where appropriate, during implementation of the plan Section 6.9 &7.9 or programme to make good deficiencies in baseline information in the SEA. • Monitoring enables unforeseen adverse effects to be identified at an early To be undertaken stage. (These effects may include predictions which prove to be by Suffolk Coastal incorrect.) District Council • Proposals are made for action in response to significant adverse effects.

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Appendix 2: February & June 2006 scoping report consultation responses

February 2006 Scoping report consultation responses Consultee Comments Response Countryside - Information on which local PPPs are to be scoped - Agency should be included (paragraph 2.05) - Document scoped - Suffolk Coast & Heaths AONB Management - Do at site specific stage Strategy needs scoping - Not currently available - Lack of data on greenspace or rights of way. Open - Landscape Character access land data available on internet (link provided) maps will be used at site specific stage - Area of AONB is not a suitable indicator as it is unlikely to change. An indicator on quality is more important. May be available from Suffolk Coast & Heaths Partnership. - Want an indicator dealing with landscape character and character change in the wider countryside. CA may be able to offer guidance through Countryside Quality Counts initiative. Maintenance of landscape character in the face of development may be an issue. English - The following indicators should be added: - Added to SEA indicators Heritage - Number of designated sites lost or adversely affected by development (including their settings) - Number of buildings taken of the BAR register annually. English - Delete last sentence of section 2.23 - Sentence deleted Nature - Changes to SEA objective 16: First sub-objective - Changes made should read “Will it maintain and enhance statutory and non-statutory sites designated for their nature conservation interests?” The second one should read Will it help deliver the targets and actions for habitats and species within the Suffolk Biodiversity Action Plan, particularly those protected under national and international law?”, and the third indicator for this sub-objective should read “Development proposals directly or indirectly affecting BAP habitats, BAP species and legally protected species outside protected areas. Environment - Need to scope East Suffolk Catchment Flood - Those available scoped Agency Management Plan, the Suffolk Estuarine Flood Management Strategies, the Alde, Ore and Deben Flood Risk Study, the Thorpeness to Hollesley - No action Strategy Plan and PPS25 - Consider at site specific - Completion of the Strategic Flood Risk Assessment stage for Suffolk Coastal will aid the SA - English Nature’s biodiversity vulnerability analysis - Added to indicators could be used to demonstrate habitat sensitivity - Council may wish to carry out an environmental - No action ¹ The documents weresensitivity not scoped assessment in the revised June 2006 scoping report, but two have been scoped in this sustainability appraisal - Commentary is provided

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Consultee Comments Response - The following indicators should be added: - Quality Assurance - Planning permissions granted that results in the Checklist included in this loss of landscape features being identified as report. being of importance to distinctive character for the area (based on Landscape Character Assessment) - Planning permissions granted for development that would result in the loss of landscape features such as hedges and copses. - Commentary should be provided on testing the LDF objectives against the Sustainability Appraisal objectives in interested of transparency. - Schedule 2 of the SEA Regulations 2004 sets out the information that must be presented in an Environmental Report. Suffolk - Might be worth mentioning section E of the SA - No action County process in paragraph 1.04 - No action Council - Is paragraph 1.12 referring to Suffolk’s Environment - No action Report? If so, needs making clear. - No action - Is the Suffolk Partnership referred to in paragraph - Now updated 1.14 the SSAG group? If so, needs making clear. - Fixed - Stages of Sustainability Appraisal process listed in - Corrected paragraph 1.17 are out of date. New stages listed. - Document scoped - More data is needed in the baseline data section. - Typo in paragraph 2.24. - Environment Report referred to on page 15 should be Sustainability Appraisal Report. - Draft PPS10 is now out in full form (for scoped documents)

June 2006 scoping report consultation responses Consultee Comments Response Countryside Pleased to see some changes have been made in See above Agency response to first consultation. However, where they have not been acted on, original comments still stand. English Need to consider the potential biodiversity and/or - County ecologist aware Nature geological value of brownfield sites. of this issue

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Appendix 3: Scoped documents

International context The Johannesburg Declaration on Sustainable Development – Commitments arising from summit. Sept 2002 (RSS) The UN Millennium Declaration and Millennium Development Goals – Sept 2000 (RSS) Kyoto Protocol and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change – May 1992 (RSS) Bern Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats – 1979 (RSS) Ramsar convention on Wetlands of international importance especially as waterfowl habitat – 1971 (RSS) Bonn Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (1979) (RSS) European Spatial Development Perspective (May 1999) European Directives: Air Quality Air Quality Framework Directive – 96/62/EC (RSS) - The first Daughter Directive – 1999/30/EC (RSS) - The second Daughter Directive – 2000/69/EC (RSS) - The third Daughter Directive relating to Ozone – 2002/69/EC (RSS) Climate Change Directive to promote electricity from renewable energy – 2001/77/EC (RSS) Directive for the encouragement of bio-fuels for transport – 2003/30/EC (RSS) Water Water Framework Directive – 2000/60/EC (RSS) Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive – 91/271/EEC (RSS) Water pollution caused by Nitrates from agricultural sources: Nitrates Directive – 91/676/EEC (RSS) Bathing Water Quality Directive – 76/160/EEC (RSS) Drinking Water Directive – 98/83/EC (RSS) Land Use Nature and Biodiversity Directive 79/409/EEC on the Conservation of Wild Birds (RSS) Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora (RSS) Waste Management Framework Waste directive 75/442/EEC, as amended (RSS) Directive 99/31/EC on the landfill of waste (RSS) Packaging and packaging waste directive – 94/62/EC of 20 Dec 1994 (RSS) A New Partnership for Cohesion – Third Report on Economic and Social Cohesion (Feb 04) and Draft New Regulations for Renewed Structural Funds (July 2004) Aarhus Convention EU Sixth Environmental Action Plan National, Regional and Local Context (Generic) Planning Policy Guidance and Planning Policy Statements PPS1 – Creating Sustainable Communities (Feb 04) PPG2 – Green Belts (Jan 95) PPG3 – Housing (March 2000) (RSS) PPG3 – Housing Update: Planning for Sustainable Communities in Rural Areas (January 2005) PPG3 – Housing Update: Supporting the Delivery of New Housing (January 2005) PPG4 – Industrial and Commercial Development and Small Firms (Nov 92) PPG5 – Simplified Planning Zones (Nov 92) PPS6 – Planning for Town Centres (March 2005) PPS7 – Sustainable Development in Rural Areas (Aug 2004)

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PPG8: Telecommunications (August 2001) PPS9 – Biodiversity and Geological Conservation (Aug 2005) PPG9 – Nature Conservation (Oct 94) PPS10 – Planning for Sustainable Waste Management (July 2005) PPG10 – Planning and Waste Management (Sept 99) PPG11 – Regional Planning (Sept 04) PPS11 – Regional Spatial Strategies (Sept 04) PPS12 – Local Development Frameworks (Aug 04) PPG13 – Transport (March 94) PPG14 - Development on Unstable Land (April 90) PPG15 – Planning and the Historic Environment (Sept 94) PPG16 – Archaeology and Planning (Nov 90) PPG17 – Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation (July 02) (RSS) PPG20 – Coastal Planning (Sept 92) PPS25 – Flood Risk Review of PPS21: Tourism (March 2003) PPG21 – Tourism (Nov 92) PPS22 – Renewable Energy (Aug 04) PPS23 – Planning and Pollution Control (2004) PPG24 – Planning and Noise (Sept 94) PPG25 – Development and Flood Risk (July 01) Draft MPS 1: Planning & Minerals NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND LOCAL CONTEXT – Cross-cutting Topics Regional Spatial Strategy (May 2008) Urban Urban White Paper Towns and Cities Strategy and Action Plan, Urban Renaissance in the East of England (RSS) Rural Government Rural White Paper: Our Countryside – the future – a fair deal for rural England, DETR (2000) (RSS) Rural Strategy (2004) The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 Sustainable Communities A Better Quality of Life: a Strategy for Sustainable Development in the UK (1999), Taking it on: Developing UK Sustainable Development Strategy Together (Consultation: 2004) The UK Government Sustainable Development Strategy - Securing the Future (March 2005) Sustainable Communities Plan: Building for the Future (2003) (RSS) A Sustainable Development Framework for the East of England, October 2001 (RSS) Sustainable Communities in the East of England (2003) Creating Sustainable Communities – In the East of England (Jan 2005) Regional Spatial Strategy RSS14 for the East of England SEA Scoping Report (17 September 2004) Other Regional Strategies An Integrated Regional Strategy for the East of England (Feb 2005) East of England European Strategy 2004-7 (December 2004) Towards Sustainable Construction – A Strategy for the East of England, Draft 2003 (RSS) Transport Aviation White Paper (Dec 2003) The Future of Rail - White Paper (2004) The Future of Transport : a network for 2030 - White Paper (2004) Government/DfT 10 Year Transport Plan 2000 (RSS)

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East of England Regional Transport Strategy (April 2003) (Incorporated as a chapter in RPG14) (RSS) Suffolk County Council, Local Transport Plan 2006-2011 Suffolk Bus Strategy 2006-2011, March 2006 Community Strategies and Community Development Strategies Altogether a better Suffolk – Suffolk’s Community Strategy 2004 Waveney Community Strategy ‘2020 Vision’ Discussion Document (April 2006) Suffolk Structure Plan Suffolk Structure Plan – 2001 Local Authority Plans Babergh Local Plan (May 2003) Forest Heath Local Development Framework Core Strategy and Development Policies Preferred Options (September 2006) Mid Suffolk District Council Preferred Options, Core Strategy (May 2007) St Edmundsbury Borough Local Plan (June 2006) Suffolk Coastal Local Development Framework Core Strategy Issues and Options (February 2007) Waveney Core Strategy – Preferred Options (June 2006) Local Authority Corporate Plans and Strategies Local Area Agreement: Suffolk 2005-2008 Suffolk County Council Corporate Plan 2006-8 Social – National, Regional and Local Context Social Inclusion Regional Social Strategy for the East of England (May 2004 but RSS scoped March 2004 version?) Suffolk County Council Equalities Policy, April 2003 Health Choosing Health: Making healthy choices easier (Nov 2004) Health and Social Inclusion Strategy (EERA Health and Social Inclusion Panel) – can’t find this but Regional Health Strategy Board is overseeing a project plan agreed in June 04 to produce a Regional Health Strategy – reporting to EERA via Health and social Inclusion Panel. Social Care Annual Plan 2003-4 Healthy Futures A Regional Health Strategy for the East of England 2005-2010, May 2006 A Physical Activity Strategy for Waveney Draft, December 2005 Culture A Better Life: The role of culture in the sustainable development of the East of England (EERA, September 2006) A Cultural Strategy for Suffolk, March 2002 Waveney Cultural Strategy Education Suffolk’s Strategy for Learning 2004-9: The Single Plan (March 2004) School Organisation Plan 2006-2011 August 2006 Suffolk Children and Young People’s Plan (2006-9) School Organisation Review (December 2006) Housing The East of England Regional Housing Strategy 2003-2006, Regional Housing Forum (April 04) (RSS) Regional Housing Strategy for the East of England 2005-2010 (July 2005) Affordable Housing Study: The Provision of Affordable Housing in the East of England 1996- 2021, 2003 (RSS) East of England Affordable Housing Study Stage 2: Provision for Key Workers and Unmet Housing Need

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Suffolk Supporting People Five-Year Strategy 2005-2010 (August 2005) ODPM Circular January 2006: Planning for Gypsy and Traveller Caravan Sites Code for Sustainable Homes Community Safety Suffolk Community Safety Strategy, 2001 (Draft) Environmental – National, Regional and Local Context Environmental Strategies Environment, Our future: Regional Environment Strategy for the East of England, East of England Regional Assembly and East of England Environment Forum, July 2003 (RSS) Soil Farming and Food Strategy, Facing the Future, DEFRA, (Dec 2002) The First Soil Action Plan for England: 2004-2006 (2004) - Climate Climate Change: The UK Programme 2006 Living with Climate Change in the East of England – summary Report supported by technical report (2003) (RSS) Nottingham Declaration Building a Greener Future: Towards Zero Carbon Development Air Quality National Air Quality Strategy for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland (Jan 2000) (RSS) Water East Suffolk Catchment Flood Management Plan The Broadland Rivers Catchment Abstraction Management Strategy (March 2006) Blyth Estuary Strategy, Preferred option consultation, September 2005 Water resources for the future: A Strategy for Anglian Region (date ?) (RSS) Biodiversity and Nature Conservation Working with the Grain of Nature: A Biodiversity Strategy for England (2002) RSS Biodiversity – The UK Action Plan (1994) Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981, as amended) (RSS) Regional Biodiversity Action Plans Butterfly Conservation – Regional Action Plan for Anglia (2000) Suffolk Biodiversity Action Plan, Updated December 2004 State of Nature – Lowlands – future landscapes for wildlife (2004) (RSS) Countryside Management Suffolk Rights of Way Improvement Plan (Draft currently in preparation) Woodland Woodland for Life: The Regional Woodland Strategy for the East of England, November 2003 (RSS) Minerals and Waste Suffolk Minerals Local Plan Adopted May 1999 MPS1 – Planning and minerals Regional Waste Management Strategy (2002) (RSS) Suffolk Waste Local Plan (Adopted version), February 2006 Joint Municipal Waste Management Strategy for Suffolk – Oct 2003 Economic – National, Regional and Local Context Economic and Employment strategies A Shared Vision – The Regional Economic Strategy for the East of England (Nov 2004) (RSS) Prioritisation in the East of England, June 2003 (RSS) Regional Emphasis Document SR2004, December 2003 (RSS) Framework for Regional Employment and Skills Action (FRESA) (2003) (RSS) International Business Strategy, Consultation Draft, December 2003 (RSS)

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Expanding Suffolk’s Horizons: 2004-7 – A New Economic Strategy for Suffolk Suffolk Rural Action Plan, March 2006 Tourism Regional Tourism Strategy 2000-2010 Tomorrows Tourism Today (August 04) Sustainable Tourism Strategy for the East of England (March 2004) Good Practice Guide on Planning for Tourism (DCLG May 2005) Suffolk Tourism Partnership (action plan may be useful) The Sunrise Coast, Tourism Strategy 2006 Sports East of England Plan for Sport

Newly scoped documents for this Sustainability Appraisal

Document Key objectives, targets and indicators Implications for Implications for title and relevant to plan and SA plan SA reference points

East Suffolk Catchment Flood Management Plan

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Document Key objectives, targets and indicators Implications for Implications for title and relevant to plan and SA plan SA reference points

Draft - To reduce flood risk to the built, rural Catchment and natural environment. Consider these Take into objectives - To reduce flood related health risks and objectives when account flood improve public awareness of flood assessing new risk when warning and self help methods. development in the assessing - To optimise joint use of the floodplain East Suffolk sustainability. and river corridor for flood risk catchment area. management, nature conservation and recreation functions. - To manage flood risk so that Regional and Local Government development objectives can be achieved. - To reduce flood risk to infrastructure and important services. - To promote and protect land management practices that are beneficial for flood risk management, the rural economy and biodiversity. - To protect/enhance and restore features of nature conservation interest including Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species and habitats (designated and non-designated sites). - To protect, enhance and restore natural features and processes of the water environment for flood risk management, recreation and biodiversity benefit. - To protect and enhance cultural heritage features, landscape character and visual amenity. - To account for and manage the potential impacts of climate change.

Suffolk Estuarine Flood Management Strategies Not available for scoping

Alde, Ore and Deben Flood Risk Study Not available for scoping

Thorpeness to Hollesley Strategy Plan Not available for scoping PPS25 – Flood Risk

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Document Key objectives, targets and indicators Implications for Implications for title and relevant to plan and SA plan SA reference points

Decision- - Para 7: LDDs should set out policies for Flood risk is a making allocating sites and controlling key policy principles development which avoid flood risk to consideration people and property where possible, and SA indicator and manage it elsewhere.

- Where climate change is expected to Climate change increase flood risk, LPAs should should be an SA consider opportunities in LDDs to Consider indicator (PPS1 facilitate relocation of development to appropriateness of Annex has more more sustainable locations SuDS at key detailed sites/locations information) - Para 8: Give priority to the use of Environment Agency SuDS will advise on these issues; SFRA will - Ensure that all new development in help inform flood risk areas is appropriately flood resilient and resistant, including safe access and escape routes

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Appendix 4: Core Strategy consultation responses

Consultee Comments SA Response Highways Objecting to Objective 1 (Sustainable Development and SA supports new Agency Sustainable Communities) development in Encourages the Council to adopt a strategy that seeks to sustainable locate new development in sustainable locations where day to locations day facilities were readily accessible by public transport, walking and cycling.

Suffolk Objecting to Objective 2 (Settlement Policy) County In conjunction with the settlement policy, Suffolk Coastal needs S106 could help Council to consider how they will deal with S106 provision particularly mitigate the with small scale development across the district being likely to negative effects form the vast majority of new development. The cumulative of development. impact of small scale development over time places similar pressure on existing infrastructure but is currently not adequately captured. It is therefore suggested that s106 thresholds could be reduced as low as single dwelling developments. SCC strongly suggests that Suffolk Coastal consider introducing a tariff approach on smaller scale new development to cover a range of services such as affordable housing, open space, education, libraries etc. Suffolk Supporting Objective 2 (Settlement Policy) Agreed. Preservation Subject to the use of the original definition of sustainability Society Mr Edward I wish to comment on your paper "Sustainability Criteria for site These are Greenwell specific Assessments" issues to be The excesive dependance on Designations raises problems. considered when 1. You have to rely on a line on a map which can never respect undertaking SA the subtle variations of landscape/ ecosystem etc that are for the Site actually on the ground. Specific DPD. 2. A second issue is the lack of respect for the hierarchy of designations. e.g. you refer to your intention to consider the impact of proposals with 500 m. of ALL designations. If 500 m is right for a national or international designation, it is excessive for a local one. Local designations are created with relatively little rigour, and often no consultation process. It is important to set up your sustainability criterion for this in a way that respects the designation hierarchy, as is recommended in PPS7. You use a term "core biodiversity area". This is undefined, and does not, as far as I know, relate to any recognised designation. it it far too vague a term to use in such an important context. You intend to look at a 1 Km radius area round any BAP species or habitat. This is an enormous area (314 Ha), around locations that are not uncommon (e.g. crested newts are realatively widespread in Suffolk). I suggest that this needs to be toned down/reduced in area.

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Consultee Comments SA Response Great Objecting to Objective 3 (Countryside) Considered in Glemham As phrased, this objective fails to recognise the predominance SA objective 19 Parish of man-made features (farm-land, fields, hedges, woods, To conserve and Council pastures, ponds, etc.) that need management to maintain and enhance the enhance the landscape character. National government policy quality and is, in fact, in a state of flux and major changes (CAP-driven) natural are anticipated in 2012-3. The strategy should be sufficiently distinctiveness flexible to adapt to future economic impacts on farming and of landscapes rural communities. and townscapes.

Levington & Objecting to Objective 3 (Countryside) SA takes Stratton Hall As mentioned earlier, emphasis must be on the protection of account of the Parish the countryside, not economic prosperity, especially in/or need for Council adjoining designated areas such as AONB. environmental It is extremely disappointing that in this particular section 'The protection and Countryside', rightful emphasis is not placed upon it. economic viability. See SA objectives for the environment plus 20 and 23 in Appendix 2. . Notcutts Supporting Objective 3 (Countryside) Reuse of Limited We support this objective. It is imperative to secure the long buildings is term prosperity for the Rural Areas. To assist this we believe supported in SA. there should be a presumption in favour of the redevelopment of existing vernacular buildings in the Countryside for residential use and existing modern farm buildings for commercial use - in both cases good design and landscaping is essential. Highways Objecting to Objective 4 (New Housing) Reflected in SA Agency Encourages the Council to adopt a strategy that seeks to objectives see locate new development in sustainable locations where day to Appendix 2. day facilities were readily accessible by public transport, walking and cycling.

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Consultee Comments SA Response RSPB Supporting Objective 4 (New Housing) All included in The RSPB recognises the requirements for new housing as SA objectives outlined in the RSS and supports Draft Objective 4 in ensuring see Appendix 2. these new houses proceed in accordance with sustainability principles. We would recommend that the Core Strategy include specific targets for achieving the following (or similar) principles for sustainable design: • A commitment to reducing carbon emissions by ensuring all new developments are expected to incorporate renewable energy technologies. • A commitment to ensuring that all new development must achieve at least BREEAM EcoHomes ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ standard and the equivalent for commercial properties. • A commitment to reducing water consumption and wastage by ensuring all large developments must submit a Water Conservation Strategy, detailing how water will be conserved, and the water environment protected from adverse impacts. • Encouraging all new development to manage excess rainwater via retention in SUDS. The RSPB encourages SUDS to be managed as functioning ecosystems, for example as wetland, ditch and pond features. These can support biodiversity as well as providing water storage and reducing flood risk. • Encouraging the use of sustainable building materials and re-use of materials, such as recycled aggregates and wood, wherever possible. • Encouraging incorporation of vegetation into built structures and provision of high-quality public space, by creating or restoring wildlife habitats, in new developments. The RSPB would like to see a presumption against new housing development on greenfield sites. Suffolk Objecting to Objective 5 (Meeting Housing Demand) County Affordable housing is often the largest S106 demand on new SA considers the Council development. It is therefore suggested that there is a need for housing needs further detailed clarification on this in light of financial impact on of all social new development, which in turn affects viability of other S106 groups but demands. particular note The definition of affordable housing needs to include needs to be Supported Housing, such as Very Sheltered Housing etc, to made of the deal with significant service pressures arising from very need for very challenging demographic changes. sheltered housing given the age profile of the District. . Suffolk Supporting Objective 6 (Economic Development) SA supports Preservation Supports but questions the phrase "and to attract workers to reducing the Society remain in employment in the district" need to travel to employment.

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Consultee Comments SA Response Highways Objecting to Objective 10 (Transport) SA supports Agency Interest in the district relates to the A14 (which incorporates the reducing the A12 west of the Seven Hills interchange). Modelling indicates need to travel for that, with the levels of growth proposed in the RSS, this road any purpose and may experience severe congestion by 2021 unless traffic is provision of managed. sustainable Therefore encourage the promotion of travel behaviour change options for travel initiatives to encourage more sustainable patterns of local that has to be travel. Such measures may include travel plans and reviews of made. The SA local parking and charging regimes. will expect all the Transport cuts across all themes in the document. It should be actions the subject of a chapter in its own right. This should address suggested to be such issues as: included in Core • Including a policy stating the thresholds above which Strategy developments will require a Transport Assessment policies. • The requirements for individual site and area-wide travel plans • An accessibility policy, covering good access and convenient connections to employment, education, retail, leisure, and healthcare. Developers should provide adequate cycle and footway connections into existing networks and plug external gaps • A policy that recognises the PPG13 standard that all new development should be located within 400 metres of a bus stop. • Incentives to increase rail patronage, including freight rail traffic predicted as a result of the Port expansion • Car parking standards to be in accord with PPG13 Save Objecting to Objective 10 (Transport) The SA will be Trimley This section completely ignores the adverse effects on the A14 looking to see if Against that will arise from: policies support Growth a. extra Port throughput and the b. extra private vehicles arising from large scale development encouragement of freight being moved by rail, transport assessment of large scale development and promotion of sustainable modes of transport.

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Consultee Comments SA Response Snape Objecting to Objective 10 (Transport) The SA will be Parish Neither the A12 nor the A14 are adequate for their purposes. looking to see if Council While there are obvious cost issues, expansion of Felixstowe policies support docks is rapidly making the A14 vastly overcrowded, with huge the disruption, and problems with diversions if there is an accident. encouragement The A12 is little better. These issues will not go away, but there of freight being is a head in the sand approach at the moment. moved by rail and promotion of sustainable modes of transport. Suffolk Objecting to Objective 10 (Transport) SA Objective 14 County All new properties, both residential and industrial, should be considers the Council assessed for a contribution to meet the aims of the Local effects of traffic Transport Plan in providing improvements to sustainable travel. on the SCC would also like Suffolk Coastal to continue to require environment travel plans for all major non-residential development. seeking a reduction in the need to travel and use of sustainable modes.

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Consultee Comments SA Response Suffolk Objecting to various parts of Section 2.8 (Environment) Coast & • In Section 2.8 headline facts, It is unclear as to whether the SA will consider Heaths Unit defences refer to artificial/hard defences or include more impact on both. natural features such as shingle banks. • Draft Objective 11 may be read that it is only the distinctive SA objective 17 environments that are going to be conserved and enhanced. and 19 consider It may have more effect if the wording is changed to retain the impact on the quality of the environment and where possible enhance it, non statutory especially improving its local distinctiveness. The use of the sites designated word ‘by’ at the end of the first paragraph in draft objective 11 for conservation is limiting. There is no reference to furthering biodiversity or interest and the restoring landscape character and condition or improving broader awareness and understanding. In a coastal community landscape. should there also be reference to the marine environment. Importance of Even if the current powers do not extend past mean high the marine water mark, the land based activities impinge on the marine environment environment. noted for the SA • Reference is made in the biodiversity section to the issues. Government signing up to the Biodiversity Convention. In November 2006 the UK Government signed up to the European Landscape convention with its concomitant requirement to bring in integrated landscape policy and Other perhaps should be included here. environmental • At para 2.8.18, the paragraphs on biodiversity appear to jump issues are at this point to a whole range of other environmental issues. covered. This both weakens this list as the context is strange, and weakens the reference to biodiversity as the detail is not picked up sufficiently. SA Objective 19 • Alternative wording for the draft objective 13 could be: looks at o To use landscape character assessment and historic landscape landscape characterisation to understand the distinctive impacts and the nature of the district’s landscape and from that base importance of identify opportunities to improve the quality and condition the Suffolk through development opportunities and other strategies. Coasts and Particular attention to be paid to the AONB/ designated Heaths AONB is landscapes to ensure development proposals adequately noted in the SA reflect the special qualities and enhance the condition of issues. the landscape.

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Consultee Comments SA Response Suffolk • In para 2.8.24, Whilst the idea of raising flood and coastal Both are Coast & erosion separately is supported, they are not unique in the considered in SA Heaths Unit impact on human health and safety as pollution and climate objective 16. change can have similar impacts • An alternative wording for draft objective 14 could be: SA objectives 16 o “To develop a strategy to flood risk and coastal erosion for and 19 and 20 in spatial planning that recognises the risk will always be particular cover present and changing due to the nature of climate change. these issues. The principles will be to protect human life and the function of the coast and through a medium to long-term vision retain the special qualities of the Suffolk coast and its The SA seeks to contribution to the community, environment and economy”. evaluate • It will be important to provide some leadership for the future whether the plan direction of the necessary works on the coast. This should be will maximise based on the principles of sustainable development and seek sustainability in to meet the complex needs for those that live, work and visit the District. the coast. The local authority can provide an essential decision process whereby the differing needs are assessed and choices made for the good of the communities they represent in an integrated way. Forestry Objecting to Objective 11 (Protecting and Enhancing the Commission Environment) Most semi- The objective as drafted does not provide sufficient protection natural habitat is to key assets. The Forestry Commission would wish to see a already clear statement that there is a general presumption against the designated as conversion of any semi-natural habitat to another land use. County Wildlife Secondly in relation to woodland, there should be a general sites. presumption against the conversion of any woodland to other The need to land uses, unless that is to restore an important semi-natural avoid the habitat. In such cases it should be ensured that equivalent conversion of areas of new woodland are planted in compensation. woodland will be Specifically in relation to trees and woodland the policy added to the SA background is as follows: because loss of • Government policy, as set out in the 1994 Sustainable woodland Forestry document, is to operate a general presumption including ancient against the conversion of woodland and trees to other use woodland also and to protect or ancient and semi-natural woodlands. relates to climate • This has been reinforced by the recent publishing of the change issues. Government’s Policy for England’s Ancient and Native Most Ancient woodland . woodland has • In 1998, the Government published its England Forestry already been Strategy “A new focus for England’s woodland”. This sets designated as out the strategic priorities and programmes for trees and County Wildlife woodland in England over the next 10 to 20 years. The role sites. of planning and development is specifically highlighted. • The recently published PPS9 contains specific references to ancient woodland: • PPS9 also states that “aged and veteran” trees are important for biodiversity and “their loss should be avoided”.

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Consultee Comments SA Response Suffolk Objecting to Objective 11 (Protecting and Enhancing the County Environment) Considered in Council Conservation of the Historic Landscape should form part of this SA objectives 18 objective. It is a separate issue from specific sites such as and 19. listed buildings and Scheduled Ancient Monuments and is appropriate to the LDF. Included in SA Objective 13. Development that encourages on-site recycling opportunities should be part of the LDF. It is unclear whether provision of recycling facilities is included in the objective. Local Authorities should include a policy in their LDF that require the provision and maintenance of waste storage/recycling facilities and Covered by areas on an individual and community scale to encourage Objectives 9, recycling of household waste and its efficient collection. 10,11 and 17.

Draft objective 12 Suffolk County Council supports this objective. East of England Plan Policy ENV3 requires the strongest level of protection for internationally and nationally designated sites, but also that the wider biodiversity earth heritage and natural resources are protected and enriched. Highways Objecting to Objective 11 (Protecting and Enhancing the SA objective 14 Agency Environment) Expand to refer to the contribution that reducing the need to travel, particularly by car, can have on the environment and the associated reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

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Consultee Comments SA Response Home Objecting to Objective 11 (Protecting and Enhancing the SA objective 15 Builders Environment) simply seeks to Federation The HBF is extremely concerned that regions and local reduce energy authorities are seeking to amend and shorten the agreed zero- use and promote carbon timeframe of zero carbon homes by 2016. use of Fundamentally the Industry has signed up to a deal with the renewable Government to achieve Carbon Neutrality within the next ten energy. years. Local authorities should therefore also sign up to this Information on objective in order for consistency and certainty with regard to the adoption of long-term investment in new technologies and skills that will be BREEAM essential in order to deliver Carbon Neutrality in the 10 year standards is not time-span envisaged. currently Furthermore, Carbon Neutrality is best achieved through available. Building Regulations and not via unsubstantiated planning policies. In this regard the Code for Sustainable Homes will have overtaken many planning policies (especially when its accompanying Technical Manual has been published). The debate over the benefits (and pitfalls) of on site, local, regional or national energy generation is still ongoing, as are the issues surrounding the long-term costs/benefits of individual renewable energy technologies. We believe the key in this field is a national strategic vision of how we can achieve an efficient low carbon energy supply for the country. Local authorities should not seek to second-guess such thinking through adopting prescriptive local policies on energy supply. We also consider that the expert capacity to determine such matters is, in any case, not something that currently exists, especially within LPA planning departments. , Home It is, therefore, considered that planning policy should be Builders concerned solely with removing barriers to the siting or See above Federation development of new innovations such as wind turbines, CHP continued plants and other energy generation development. It should not seek to control the use of power within dwellings (since this would, in any event, be unenforceable) or be concerned with the fabric of the building, which is covered adequately by the Code for Sustainable Homes as discussed above. In such a fast moving field of technological innovation planners and the planning system should be open to discussion about the most appropriate issues and solutions on a site by site basis rendering any blanket proportional target unnecessary and, indeed, potentially restrictive on emerging new solutions.

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Consultee Comments SA Response Natural Objecting to Objective 12 (Biodiversity) England This section contains comprehensive coverage of biodiversity issues and we are pleased to see that non-statutory sites, ecological networks and local BAP habitats and species have been included, all of which are elements recommended by PPS9: Biodiversity and Geological Conservation. However, to SA objective 17 be fully compliant with PPS9 it is essential that this section also has been incorporates geological conservation. In this regard, we offer updated to the following recommendations: include • Change the section title to ‘Biodiversity and Geodiversity’ Geodiversity. • Change Draft Objective 12 to read, ‘To maximise opportunities to enhance biodiversity and geodiversity…’ Added to issues. • Include Regionally Important Geological Sites (RIGS) in SA objective 17 Table 5 has been • Change 2.8.17 to read, ‘The council is duty bound to afford updated to protection to areas designated for their wildlife and include geological interest…’ (With regard to SSSIs, the duty of Geodiversity. section 28G bodies under the Wildlife and Countryside Act applies equally to biological and geological interest features) Suffolk Objective 13 (Landscape) Covered by SA Preservation Supports but recommends the inclusion of the words objective19. Society "sympathetically manage" after "protect" Natural Objecting to Objective 14 (Flood Risk/Coastal Erosion) England Support the separate coverage of flood risk and coastal Both are erosion within the Core Strategy and acknowledge that their considered in SA implications in terms of planning are different to those of other objective 16. environmental issues. Offer the following comments: • Within Draft Objective 14, recommend replacing the word ‘feasible’ with ‘feasible and sustainable’. • The Flood Risk section should make reference to the Shoreline Management Plan (SMP)

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Consultee Comments SA Response Suffolk Objecting to Objective 15 (Physical and Community County Infrastructure) Strategic Council In terms of provision for transport and highways, all sites are, implications of at present, considered individually and it is difficult to allow for the policies on the cumulative effect of several developments in an area. Area transport are guidelines in Local Transport Plan (LTP) and Local Transport considered in SA Action Plan (LTAP) leading to a supplementary planning objective 14 and document will be required to maximise the benefit for transport S106 mitigation and improvements. All development should be agreements assessed for a contribution towards the cost of meeting the would be seen aims and programmes contained in the Local Transport Plan as a way of and Local Transport Action Plan where applicable (this could mitigating local be calculated on an LTAP area or District area). impacts. SCC is concerned that the Core Strategy seems extremely weak on its provision for S106 planning obligations regarding infrastructure needs and contributions associated with new development across the District. It is critical that SCDC fully incorporate s106 planning obligations into the Core Strategy to maximise opportunities to secure external funding of service and infrastructure needs arising from new development. Otherwise the public sector is left with legacy issues in seeking ways to deliver service and/or infrastructure shortfall or under- This would be capacity. consistent with Circular 05/2005: Planning Obligations aims to make the trying to system of planning obligations faster, more transparent and maximise the accountable and to give greater clarity and certainty to all sustainability of concerned. It is therefore strongly suggested that Suffolk new Coastal should produce a Supplementary Planning Document development. (SPD) on planning obligations setting out in detail the approach to s106 planning obligations. In particular developers would have a clear idea of the range of services and quantum of contribution up front before acquiring a development site and could reflect this in the price paid for the site. A SPD would also seek to set out priorities. For the larger development sites across the district (included in the Specific Site Allocations) a more definitive list of s106 planning obligations could be made to introduce more certainty. Monitoring could include statistically information on level of s106 planning obligations negotiated, secured & spent. This is a useful benchmark to compare with other local authorities to help gauge performance in this important area of external funding.

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Consultee Comments SA Response Suffolk Objecting to Objective 17 (Leisure) County Suffolk County Council is disappointed to see no mention of The role of Council the Rights of Way network in the document. The LDF should public rights of be used to: way are • enhance and promote the public rights of way network to recognised in SA encourage healthier and more sustainable lifestyles; objective 1 • make better use of the planning and s.106 processes to concerning improve sustainable access to services including the health. This puts countryside; and a marker down • work with the County Council to achieve the objectives of on the Suffolk’s Rights of Way Improvement Plan 2006. importance or The recommended Rights of Way policies for the Suffolk maintaining Coastal Core Strategy are: public rights of Spatial policy: way as part of • Improvements to the rights of way network will be sought the highway throughout the District in order to help achieve the objectives network within Suffolk’s Rights of Way Improvement Plan and particularly sustainable transport objectives in the Local Transport Plan. related to • Development control policies: encouraging • Development which would adversely affect the character sustainable and/or result in loss or unacceptable disruption of existing or modes of proposed public rights of way will not be permitted unless transport. alternative provision or diversions can be arranged which are equally attractive, safe and convenient for public use. • Improvements to the rights of way network will be sought through development in order to help achieve the objectives within Suffolk’s Rights of Way Improvement Plan and meet sustainable transport objectives.

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Appendix 5: The SEA Framework

SOCIAL OBJECTIVES

Headline SA Question Indicator Objective 1. To improve Will it improve the numbers of Proportion of population with access to hospital the health of health facilities and the or GP or dentist surgery (DfT accessibility the population distance which has to be indicators) overall travelled to these facilities? Will it reduce death rates? Overall death rate by all causes (PCT) Cancer deaths (malignant neoplasms) under 75 per 100,000 population (PCT) Ischaemic Heart Disease deaths under 75 per 100,000 population (PCT) Respiratory disease deaths (all ages) per 100,000 population (PCT) Deaths from self harm and injury undetermined (all ages) per 100,000 population (PCT) Number of people killed and seriously injured in road traffic accidents per 100,000 population (SCC) Life expectancy (SDA) Will it encourage healthy Proportion of journeys to work on foot or by lifestyles? cycle (Census/SSAG) How do children travel to school? (QOL/BVPI) Obesity in the population (PCT) Change in existing provision of outdoor playing space (youth and adult space) (SSAG 5-year review) Change in existing provision of children's play space (SSAG 5-year review) Change in provision of open space (District open space assessments) The % of total length of footpaths and other rights of way which are easy to use by members of the public (BVPI) Change in amount of accessible natural green space (English Nature Standards) 2. To maintain Will it improve qualifications Proportion of Year 11 pupils gaining 5+ A*-C and improve and skills of young people? grades at GCSE (District Wide SDA / BVPI) levels of education and skills in the population overall Average point score per student at A and AS Level (District Wide SDA / BVPI) Will it improve qualifications Proportion of the population with no and skills of adults? qualifications (Census) Proportion of the population with NVQ level 4 or higher (District Wide SDA) 3. To reduce Will it reduce actual levels of Recorded Crime per 1000 population (SSAG)

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Headline SA Question Indicator Objective crime and crime? anti-social activity Burglary Rate per 1000 population (SDA) Violent Crime Rate per 1000 population (SDA) Will it reduce the fear of Fear of Crime (QOL, Suffolk Speaks, British crime? Crime Survey) Will it reduce noise and odour Number of domestic noise complaints concerns? (NEvironmental Health Depts Districts) Number of odour complaints (NEvironmental Health Depts Districts) 4. To reduce Will it reduce poverty and Proportion of the population who live in SOAs poverty and social exclusion in those that rank within the most deprived 10% and 25% social areas most affected? of SOAs in the country (SCC) exclusion Housing benefit recipients (LAs) 5. To improve Will it improve accessibility to Percentage of rural population living in parishes access to key key local services? which have a food shop or general store, post services for all office, pub, primary school and meeting place sectors of the (SSAG) population Proportion of population with access to key local services (eg GP, post office) (DfT accessibility indicators) Will it improve accessibility to New Retail Floor Space in Town Centres (AMR) shopping facilities? Proportion of population with access to a food shop (DfT accessibility indicators) Will it improve access to child Number of child care places per thousand care? children under 5 (Mark Parker) 6. To offer Will it reduce unemployment Unemployment rate (SSAG/AMR) everybody the overall? opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment Will it reduce long-term Long-term unemployment (Nomis) unemployment? Will it provide job Proportion of lone parents and long term-ill who opportunities for those most are economically active (Census) in need of employment? Will it help to improve Average Earnings (Inland revenue/AMR) earnings? 7. To meet Will it reduce homelessness? Homelessness (districts homelessness the housing presentations) requirements of the whole community Will it provide enough Housing Stock (SSAG) housing? Housing Land Availability (SSAG)

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Headline SA Question Indicator Objective Will it increase the range and Affordable Housing (SSAG) affordability of housing for all social groups? Special Needs Housing Housing Types and Sizes (SSAG) Dwellings per hectare of Net Developable Area (SSAG) Average property price to income ratio (SSAG) Will it reduce the number of Number of unfit homes per 1,000 dwellings unfit homes? (BVPI) 8. To improve Will it improve the satisfaction % of residents who are happy with their the quality of of people with their neighbourhood as a place to live (Suffolk where people neighbourhood as a place to Speaks/ODPM QOL surveys) live and to live? encourage community participation Will it increase access to Area of land managed in whole or part for its natural green space? ecological interest and with public access over and above public rights of way (SCC) Areas of deficiency in terms of natural green space (SCC) Change in amount of accessible natural green space (NEglish Nature standards) Will it encourage engagement Electoral turnout in local authority elections in decision making? Number of Parish Plans adopted (Suffolk Acre) Will increase the number of Number of people involved in volunteer activities people involved in volunteer (SCC/CVS) activities? Will it improve ethnic Number / rate of racist incidents (Racial relations? Harassment Initiative) Will it improve access to Number of visits to/uses of Council funded or cultural facilities? part- funded museums per 1,000 population (BVPI 170a) Number of visits to Council funded or part- funded museums that were in person, per 1,000 population (BVPI 170b) The number of pupils visiting museums and galleries in organised school groups (BVPI 170c)

ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVES

Headline Question Indicator Objective 9. To maintain Will it improve the quality of Water quality in rivers (EA) and where inland waters? possible improve water quality

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Headline Question Indicator Objective Groundwater quality (may be available from EA in future - CAMS) Will it improve the quality of Water quality in estuaries (EA) coastal waters? Bathing water quality (EA) 10. To Will it improve air quality? Have annual mean concentrations of any of maintain and three air pollutants been exceeded? where possible improve air quality Number of Air Quality Management Areas and dwellings affected (SSAG) 11. To Will it minimise the loss of Number and percentage of new dwellings conserve soil greenfield land to completed on greenfield land resources and development? quality Number and percentage of existing housing commitments on greenfield land (SSAG) Dwellings per hectare of net developable area (SSAG) Will it minimise loss of the Allocations on best and most versatile best and most versatile agricultural land (grades 1, 2, and 3a) agricultural land to development? Will it maintain and enhance Number and area of potential and declared soil quality? contaminated land returned to beneficial use (Districts / EA) Number / area of organic farms (DEFRA / Soil Association) 12. To use Will it promote sustainable Recycled aggregate production (SSAG) water and use of minerals? mineral resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible Will it promote sustainable Water consumption use of water? Will it maintain water Water availability for water dependant habitats availability for water (NE / Wildlife Trust) dependant habitats? 13. To reduce Will it reduce household Household (and municipal) waste produced waste waste? (SSAG) Will it increase waste Tonnage / proportion of household (and recovery and recycling? municipal) waste recycled, composted and landfilled (SSAG / BVPI / PSA) 14. To reduce Will if effect traffic volumes? Traffic volumes in key locations (SCC) the effects of traffic on the

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Headline Question Indicator Objective environment Will it reduce the need for Percentage of all new residential development local travel? taking place in major towns, other towns, and elsewhere (SSAG) Percentage of rural population living in parishes which have a food shop or general store, post office, pub, primary school and meeting place (SSAG) Distance to key services (new accessibility indicators from DfT) Will it increase the proportion Percentage of journeys to work undertaken by of journeys made using sustainable modes (SSAG) modes other than the private car? Percentage of schoolchildren travelling to school by sustainable modes (BVPI) Car parking standards (SSAG) 15. To reduce Will it reduce emissions of Consumption of electricity - Domestic use per emissions of greenhouse gases from consumer and total commercial /industrial use greenhouse energy consumption? (DTI) gases from energy consumption Consumption of gas - Domestic use per consumer and total commercial /industrial use (DTI) Energy efficiency of homes (BVPI 63 / HECA) Will it increase the proportion Installed electricity generating capacity using of energy needs being met by renewable energy (SSAG) renewable sources? 16. To reduce Will it minimise future risk and Flood risk - planning applications approved vulnerability to reduce existing risk of against Environment Agency advice (SSAG) flooding flooding to people and property from rivers and watercourses? Properties at risk of flooding from rivers or the sea (EA) Incidence of fluvial flooding (properties affected) Will it minimise future risk and Incidence of coastal flooding (properties reduce existing risk of affected) flooding to people and property on the coast? Will it minimise future risk and Developments refused because of risk of reduce existing risk of coastal coastal erosion (SSAG) erosion? Will it minimise future risk and Incidence of flood watches and warnings (EA) reduce existing risk of damage to people and property from storm events? 17. To Will it maintain and enhance Change in number and area of designated conserve and statutory and non-statutory ecological sites (SSAG)

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Headline Question Indicator Objective enhance sites designated for their biodiversity nature conservation interest? and geodiversity Reported condition of ecological SSSIs (NE / Wildlife Trust) Will it help deliver the targets Achievement of Habitat Action Plan targets and actions for habitats and (SBRC/SBP) species within the Suffolk Biodiversity Action Plan, particularly those protected under national and international law? Achievement of Species Action Plan targets (SBRC/SBP) Development proposals affecting BAP habitats, BAP species and legally protected species outside protected areas (SWT) Will it help to reverse the Bird survey results (BTO/RSPB) national decline in farmland birds? Will it protect and enhance Change in number and area of designated sites, features and areas of geological SSSIs and RIGs (NE) geological value in both urban and rural areas? Reported condition of geological SSSIs and RIGs (NE) 18. To Will it protect and enhance Number of listed buildings and buildings at risk conserve and sites, features and areas of (SSAG) where historical and cultural value in appropriate both urban and rural areas? enhance areas of historical and archaeologica l importance Area of historic parks and gardens (SSAG) Number and area of Conservation Areas and Article 4 directions (SSAG) Number of Conservation Area Appraisals completed and enhancement schemes implemented (SSAG) Number of designated sites lost, or adversely affected, by development [including their settings]. Number of buildings taken off the BAR register annually. Will it protect and enhance Number of Scheduled Ancient Monuments sites, features and areas of (SAMs) damaged as a result of development archaeological value in both (SSAG) urban and rural areas?

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Headline Question Indicator Objective Planning permissions affecting known or potential archaeological sites (SSAG) 19. To Will it reduce the amount of Number and percentage of new dwellings conserve and derelict, degraded and completed on previously developed land enhance the underused land? (SSAG) quality and local distinctivenes s of landscapes and townscapes Number and percentage of existing housing commitments on previously developed land (SSAG) Number of vacant dwellings Will it improve the landscape Changes in the landscape (WI landscape and/or townscape? survey) (SSAG) Number / area of town / village greens and commons Area of designated landscapes (AONB) (CA/DEFRA) Number of Countryside Stewardship / Environmental Stewardship schemes (DEFRA) Light pollution (CPRE) Number of planning applications refused for reasons due to poor design

ECONOMIC OBJECTIVES

Headline Question Indicator Objective 20. To Will it improve business Take-up of employment floorspace (SSAG) achieve development and enhance sustainable competitiveness? levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area Employment permissions and allocations (SSAG) Percentage change in the total number of VAT registered businesses in the area (SDA/Suffolk Observatory) Change in number of businesses registered to pay business rates (SDA/Suffolk Observatory) Will it improve the resilience Number and percentage of employees by of business and the employment division (SSAG) economy?

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Headline Question Indicator Objective Number and percentage of businesses by main industry type (AMR) Number an percentage of businesses by size (number of employees) (AMR) Will it promote growth in key Number and percentage of businesses by sectors? industry type in key sectors (local authority to specify key sectors) (SSAG / AMR) Will it improve economic Comparative industrial and office rental costs performance in advantaged within the plan area (ODPM / estate agents) and disadvantaged areas? Will it encourage rural Employment permissions and allocations in rural diversification? areas (SSAG) 21. To Will it increase the range of Proportion of town centre units with A1 uses revitalise town employment opportunities, (SSAG) centres shops and services available in town centres? Will it decrease the number of Vacant units in town centres (SSAG) vacant units in town centres? 22. To Will it reduce commuting? Distances travelled to work for the resident encourage population (Census). efficient patterns of movement in support of economic growth Will it reduce commuting? Import/export of workers to district and/or major towns (Census). Employment permissions and allocations in urban areas (SSAG) Number / percentage of people working from home as main place of work (Census provides a baseline, and planning consents for working from home indicate trends) Percentage of households with broadband internet connection Will it improve accessibility to Number of developments where a travel plan is work by public transport, submitted or is a condition of development walking and cycling? (SSAG) Percentage of journeys to work undertaken by sustainable modes (SSAG) Will it reduce journey times May be relevant for Ipswich but not considered between key employment suitable for Suffolk as a whole. areas and key transport interchanges? Will it increase the proportion Proportion of port freight carried by rail (Port of freight transported by rail Authorities / AMR) or other sustainable modes? Will it increase the Number of farmers markets and farm shops consumption of locally (LAs) produced food and good?

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Headline Question Indicator Objective 23. To Will it encourage indigenous Number of enquiries to business advice services encourage business? from within area (business link, LAs) and accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Business start ups and closures (Suffolk Observatory) Will it encourage inward Number of enquiries to business advice services investment? from outside of area (business link, LAs) Will it make land available for Employment land availability (SSAG) business development? Employment permissions and allocations (SSAG)

Decision- - Para 7: LDDs should set out Flood risk is making policies for allocating sites a key policy principles and controlling consideration development which avoid and SA flood risk to people and indicator property where possible, and manage it elsewhere. Climate - Where climate change is Consider appropriateness of change expected to increase flood SuDS at key sites/locations should be an risk, LPAs should consider Environment Agency will advise SA indicator opportunities in LDDs to on these issues; SFRA will help (PPS1 facilitate relocation of inform Annex has development to more more sustainable locations detailed information) - Para 8: Give priority to the use of SuDS

- Ensure that all new development in flood risk areas is appropriately flood resilient and resistant, including safe access and escape routes

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Appendix 6 Core Strategy Sustainability Appraisal

Key to Impact

Symbol Effect ++ Strong positive + Positive 0/+ Weak positive 0 Neutral -/0 Weak negative - Negative -- Strong negative +/- Both positive and negative SPATIAL PLANNING

Policy: SP1 – Sustainable development (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: To ensure that a local perspective on achieving sustainable development is included in all development across the district. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve + Enhance accessibility to services levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + + Aims to create and promote inclusive communities social exclusion 05. To improve access to key + + Aims to enhance accessibility to services and create services for all sectors of integrated and sustainable transport system the population 06. To offer everybody the + Aims for a healthy economy, balance of employment opportunity for rewarding opportunities and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing + Achieve local balance between housing growth and requirements of the employment opportunities whole community 08. To improve the quality of + Maintain and enhance a sense of place/the built environment; where people live and to promote inclusive communities encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where 0 Aims to reduce need to travel, promote sustainable travel possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil + + Prioritises reuse of previously developed land resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible

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13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of + + Aims to reduce need to travel, promotes sustainable travel, traffic on the integrated transport etc environment 15. To reduce emissions of + Aims to reduce overall need to travel, re-use previously greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to + flooding 17. To conserve and enhance + Aims to conserve and enhance the natural environment biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where + Aims to conserve and enhance the built environment appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance + + Takes advantage of regeneration, provide appropriate the quality and local infrastructure for communities, promote inclusive distinctiveness of communities, conserve and enhance the built environment landscapes and and a sense of place townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + + Aims to enable a healthy economy, relate development to levels of prosperity and employment, enhance accessibility services, re-use of economic growth previously developed land and buildings throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres + Aims to enable a healthy economy, notably in town centres, re-use previously developed areas 22. To encourage efficient + + New housing development to be related to employment, patterns of movement in transport and infrastructure; integrated and sustainable support of economic transport system, reduce overall need to travel growth 23. To encourage and + Aims for improved employment opportunities; regeneration accommodate both opportunities indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary In a world that is increasing conscious of the need to manage its resources very carefully and to address the issue of climate change, spatial planning has a responsibility to ensure that development takes place within a sustainable framework addressing both the threats and opportunities that this brings. The criteria clearly suggest that this is a policy on sustainability that is consistent with national policy PPS1 and regional policy SS1 whilst retaining a local perspective Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals None necessary summary:

Policy: SP1 – Sustainable development (alternative option i)

Policy summary: Not to have a policy but to rely solely on the principles of sustainable development established in policy SS1 of the Regional Spatial Strategy. SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of + Aims to ensure and healthy society the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 Unrelated

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levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- + Aims to create safe communities social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + + Aims to achieve a sustainable, flourishing and diverse social exclusion economy 05. To improve access to key + Aims for communities to be well served services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the + + Aims to achieve a sustainable, flourishing and diverse opportunity for rewarding economy and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 Unrelated requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of + + Aims for a strong society and to increase community where people live and to identity and cohesion encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where + Aims for sustainable travel between homes and possible improve air workplaces quality 10. To maintain and where + + Aims to be environmentally sensitive, live within possible improve water environmental limits and seek net environmental gains quality wherever possible 11. To conserve soil + + Aims to be environmentally sensitive, live within resources and quality environmental limits and seek net environmental gains wherever possible 12. To use water and mineral 0 Unrelated resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 Unrelated 14. To reduce the effects of + Aims for sustainable travel between homes and traffic on the workplaces environment 15. To reduce emissions of + Aims to assist with achievement of carbon emissions greenhouse gasses from obligations energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to + Aims to incorporate measures adapting to unavoidable flooding climate change 17. To conserve and + + Aims to be environmentally sensitive, live within enhance biodiversity and environmental limits and seek net environmental gains geodiversity wherever possible 18. To conserve and where 0 Unrelated appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 Unrelated enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + + Aims to achieve a sustainable, flourishing and diverse levels of prosperity and economy economic growth

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throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 Unrelated 22. To encourage efficient + Aims for sustainable travel between homes and patterns of movement in workplaces support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 Unrelated accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Would also provide a sound framework on the issue of sustainability but would lack local distinctiveness Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals None proposed summary:

Policy: SP2 – Settlement Policy (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: The creation of a settlement hierarchy based on sustainability criteria

SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of + Largely limits development to areas with key services, the population overall allowing more walking/cycling 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and

skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0

social exclusion 05. To improve access to key ++ Limits development in areas without key services and links services for all sectors of to neighbouring settlements with services the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding

and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing + requirements of the Will provide housing where needed whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to

encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where ++ Limiting development in areas without key services will possible improve air reduce trip creation quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0

resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0

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resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of ++ Limiting developing in areas without key services will traffic on the reduce trip creation environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumptio 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0

flooding 17. To conserve and 0 enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and + enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of Development in settlements based on character landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and

economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres + Development to take in Major Centres, Towns and Key Service Centres 22. To encourage efficient ++ patterns of movement in Limiting development in areas without key services will support of economic reduce trip creation growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both

indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Within the Hierarchy, settlements are categorised according to sustainability factors including size, level of facilities, and their role in relation to their locality and neighbouring settlements, as well as their physical form. Accordance or not with the hierarchy is the first issue of principle to which any future site allocation or individual development proposal should accord. The assessment shows a high level of sustainability. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals None required summary:

Policy: SP2 – Settlement Policy (alternative option i)

Policy summary: The creation of a settlement hierarchy based on settlement size

SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation:

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01. To improve the health of - Allowing housing development in areas without key the population overall services will decrease walking/ cycling opportunities 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and

skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0

social exclusion 05. To improve access to key - May allow housing development in settlements with no key services for all sectors of services the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding

and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing + requirements of the Provides housing for all communities whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to

encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where - May create more traffic if housing is located in settlements possible improve air without key services quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0

resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and

re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of - May create more traffic if housing is located in settlements traffic on the without key services environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0

flooding 17. To conserve and 0 enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0

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levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient - patterns of movement in May create more traffic if housing is located in settlements support of economic without key services growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both

indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary The lack of sustainability factors is at variance with the Objectives and overall Strategy Secondary, Cumulative or More journeys by private car synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals None suitable summary:

Policy: SP2 – Settlement Policy (alternative option ii)

Policy summary: The creation of a settlement hierarchy based on sustainability criteria but with fewer levels, for example by combining ‘Other Village’ and ‘Countryside’ SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of + Largely limits development to areas with key services, the population overall allowing more walking/ cycling 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and

skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0

social exclusion 05. To improve access to key + Limits development in areas without key services and links services for all sectors of to neighbouring settlements with services the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding

and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing + requirements of the Will provide housing where needed whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to

encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where 0/- Limiting development in areas without key services will possible improve air reduce trip creation, but may locate more development in quality inaccessible areas 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0

resources and quality

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12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and

re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of 0/- Limiting development in areas without key services will traffic on the reduce trip creation, but may locate more development in environment inaccessible areas 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumptio 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0

flooding 17. To conserve and 0 enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and + enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of Development in villages is based on character landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and

economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0/- Limiting development in areas without key services will patterns of movement in reduce trip creation, but may locate more development in support of economic inaccessible areas growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both

indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Again largely sustainable but by being over-generalised runs the risk of locating development in inaccessible and/or unsustainable locations Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals None relevant summary:

Policy: SP2 – Settlement Policy (alternative option iii)

Policy summary: The creation of a settlement hierarchy based on sustainability criteria but with increased levels by the introduction of a level is between ‘market towns’ and ‘key service centres’ thus picking up settlements not quite market towns such as Wickham Market and settlements within growth areas SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of + Largely limits development to areas with key services, the population overall allowing more walking/ cycling

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02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and

skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0

and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing + requirements of the Will provide housing where needed whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to

encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where ++ As Wickham Market and the Trimleys both have train possible improve air stations trip creation may be reduced by shifting quality development there 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0

resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and

re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of ++ As Wickham Market and the Trimleys both have train traffic on the stations trip creation may be reduced by shifting environment development there 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0

flooding 17. To conserve and 0 enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and - enhance the quality and Extra development in Wickham Market may compromise local distinctiveness of the CA and SLA landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and economic growth

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throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient ++ As Wickham Market and the Trimleys both have train patterns of movement in stations trip creation may be reduced by shifting support of economic development there growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both

indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Largely sustainable in concept but adding potential confusion and misinterpretation through increased levels Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals None proposed summary:

Policy: SP3 – East Of Ipswich (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: A strategy for the settlements, countryside and employment areas east of Ipswich including planned growth SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of + Minimise need for motor vehicles, upgrade foot and cycle the population overall paths for access to employment, schools etc, maximise access to green space etc 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and

skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + Sustainable mix of housing types may include some social exclusion affordable housing 05. To improve access to key + services for all sectors of Upgrade public transport, foot and cycle paths the population 06. To offer everybody the + opportunity for rewarding Link to existing and proposed employment, improve access and satisfying to such areas employment 07. To meet the housing ++ Policy aims for a sustainable new housing of a mix of size, requirements of the type and tenure. whole community 08. To improve the quality of + Provision of planting and landscaping, blend with where people live and to surrounding landscape; social and community provision in encourage community advance of or parallel participation 09. To maintain and where - Significant development likely to have some negative effect possible improve air on air quality quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0

resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0

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resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - Development likely to increase waste 14. To reduce the effects of - traffic on the Development likely to increase traffic environment 15. To reduce emissions of - Increased housing means energy consumption will greenhouse gasses from increase energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to - Increased development, concrete and roads will flooding exacerbate runoff and may increase risk of flooding 17. To conserve and - Development will reduce overall value of the area to enhance biodiversity and biodiversity and geodiversity; retention of Suffolk Sandlings geodiversity respected; improved access to countryside for large numbers of residents may have impacts here too, e.g. River Deben 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and + Aims to create distinctive identity with smaller readily enhance the quality and distinguishable villages, neighbourhoods and communities, local distinctiveness of advanced planting and landscaping to create new landscapes and settlement boundaries etc townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + levels of prosperity and Link to existing and proposed employment, improve access economic growth to such areas throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient + patterns of movement in Public transport, foot and cycle path provision to be made, support of economic minimise need for motor vehicle usage growth 23. To encourage and + Presence of BT plus new residents may encourage accommodate both investment, opportunities for new employment provision to indigenous and inward be maximised investment Assessment Summary Strategies that contain housing or employment growth generally score negatively because they do not contain specific reference to possible environmental constraints. Increasing the level of housing anywhere will lead to the generation of more traffic that could impact air quality depending on the location, and will result in energy being used either in transport or running homes. There are focused core strategy environmental policies elsewhere that will be brought to bear when planning applications are determined hence this is not a concern. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Attention to environmental factors when detailed proposals are summary: drafted and planning proposals considered.

Policy: SP3 criterion (ii) – East Of Ipswich: Direction of Growth (Preferred Option)

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Policy summary: Planned growth east of the A12

SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 1. Area type 0 Primarily a greenfield area. However, mineral extraction has changed its character. 2. Settlement hierarchy + + Identified within a Key Centre for Development and Change. 3. Scale of 0 Proposed scale is consistent with the location adjacent to an development urban area 4. Retain settlement - - Development could be isolated to the east of the urban fringe character and area as well as new residents crossing the significant identity physical barrier of the A12. 5. Access to key + Well related to district centre and other retail.. However, less services related to cross-boundary Ipswich services. Potential service capacity problems - school places, doctors. 6. Access and + Good access into/out of Ipswich and wider A12 and A14 road transport network. Existing bus transport routes. 7. Relationship with ++ Very good access links into major employment area of local economic Martlesham. Significant distance from Ipswich town centre. activity 8. VISUAL AMENITY - - Possible impact upon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty AND LANDSCAPE (AONB) to the east and Special Landscape Area to the QUALITY south. 9. HYDROLOGY, 0 Presence of watercourses indicated. No flood zone influence. FLOODING AND EROSION 10. Contaminated land - Potential contaminated land influences. 11. Biodiversity & - - Strong potential impact upon Ipswich Heaths SSSI. Geodiversity Geological SSSI at Waldringfield Pitt quarry. Limited number of identified protected species in locality. Also impact upon County Wildlife Sites. Potential of Waldringfield Quarry / Heath for UK BAP habitat contribution. 12. Recreation value 0 n/a 13. Built form and 0 Sporadic presence of Scheduled Ancient Monuments. heritage features 14. Agricultural land ++ Grades 3 and 4 poor agricultural land quality. quality 15. Proximity and impact 0 n/a to sources of air pollution 16. Proximity to sources - Noise associated with Foxhall landfill site and A12. of noise/light pollution 17. Topography + Land is flat. 18. Potential for energy 0 Energy efficiency possible with appropriate design and efficiency orientation of houses 19. Other constraints ? Minerals consultation area. 20. Availability of utilities - Surface water run-off, foul drainage and electricity capacity issues to Cliff Quay, Ipswich service point.

21. Possible cumulative - Traffic impact upon radial road system. impact Assessment Summary The area benefits from its strategic location next to a major urban centre, existing transport provision and location within an identified growth area – Ipswich Policy Area. There is also scope for some mineral extraction. However, significant infrastructure works will need to be undertaken to the station at Cliff Quay, Ipswich. In addition, consideration and mitigation will need to be given to impact upon Ipswich Heaths SSSI which is particularly sensitive.

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Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals • High quality landscaping and design standards. summary: • Protection and enhancement of SSSI designation objectives. • Protection of identified water courses. • Preservation / relocation of protected species, open space, green infrastructure provision. • Additional schools / doctors provisions. • Noise attenuation techniques ie. Bund or woodland planting. • Capacity upgrades at infrastructure station Cliff Quay, Ipswich. • Sustainable transport improvements.

Policy: SP3 criterion (ii) – East Of Ipswich Direction of Growth (Alternative Option i)

Policy summary: Planned growth in the area of Westerfield and Rushmere St Andrew

SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 1. Area type - - Greenfield area. 2. Settlement + + Identified within a major urban area. hierarchy 3. Scale of 0 Proposed scale is consistent with the location adjacent to development an urban area 4. Retain settlement - - Potential lost separation of Rushmere Village and character and Westerfield identity 5. Access to key + Very close proximity to cross-boundary Ipswich facilities services and district centres. Potential service capacity problems - school places, doctors 6. Access and + Good access into/out of Ipswich but on B and C class transport roads, train links currently provided at Westerfield. 7. Relationship with + Limited links into major employment area of Ipswich town local economic centre. activity 8. VISUAL AMENITY - No particular immediate high landscape quality. However, AND LANDSCAPE possible impact upon Special Landscape Area to the north- QUALITY east. 9. HYDROLOGY, - No flood zone constraint. However, area is part covered by FLOODING AND Water Course Protection Zone 1. EROSION 10. Contaminated land ? Potential contaminated land influences at Church Lane, Westerfield and New Buildings Cottages, Rushmere St. Andrew 11. Biodiversity & - Limited number of identified protected species in locality. Geodiversity 12. Recreation value - Potential impact upon bridleways and footpaths as well as large (4.3ha) outdoor playspace area. Opportunity for creation of greenspace and access to the countryside 13. Built form and 0 Sporadic presence of Listed Buildings. heritage features 14. Agricultural land - Grades 2 and 3 agricultural land quality. quality 15. Proximity and 0 n/a impact to sources of air pollution 16. Proximity to sources - Possible noise intrusion from railway line.

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of noise/light pollution 17. Topography + Land is flat. 18. Potential for energy 0 Limited potential for energy efficiency efficiency 19. Other constraints ? Part minerals consultation area. 20. Availability of - Surface water run-off, foul drainage and electricity capacity utilities issues to Cliff Quay, Ipswich service point.

21. Possible cumulative - Traffic impact upon radial road system. impact Assessment Summary The area benefits from its strategic location to a major urban centre, and location within an identified growth area – Ipswich Policy Area. However, the area is a potential greenfield allocation and significant infrastructure works will need to be undertaken to the station at Cliff Quay, Ipswich. Connections to employment by travel modes other than the car are limited

Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals • Preservation of open space between settlements. summary: • Preservation / relocation of protected species, footpaths / bridleways, open space, green infrastructure provision. • Protection of identified water courses. • Additional schools / health provisions. • Capacity upgrades at infrastructure substation Cliff Quay, Ipswich. • sustainable transport improvements. • New road opportunities to relieve existing Ipswich northern network

Policy: SP3 criterion (ii) – East Of Ipswich Direction of Growth (Alternative Option ii)

Policy summary: Planned growth north of the A1214

SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 1. Area type - - Greenfield area. 2. Settlement hierarchy + + Identified within a Key Centre for Development and Change. 3. Scale of development 0 Proposed scale is consistent with the location adjacent to an urban area 4. Retain settlement - Character of area north of A1214 would be significantly character and identity changed and potential precedent set for further expansion. 5. Access to key services + Very close proximity to cross-boundary Ipswich facilities and district centres. Potential service capacity problems - school places, doctors 6. Access and transport + Access into/out of Ipswich using bus and cycling routes but dedicated routes not in place for whole journey. 7. Relationship with local + + Good access links to major employment areas of economic activity Martlesham and Ipswich.

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8. VISUAL AMENITY AND + No particular immediate landscape quality. However, LANDSCAPE QUALITY possible impact upon Special Landscape Area to the north. 9. HYDROLOGY, 0 No flood zone influence. FLOODING AND EROSION 10. Contaminated land ? Potential contaminated land influences at New Buildings Cottages, Rushmere St. Andrew and Sinks Pit, Little Bealings. 11. Biodiversity & - - Strong potential impact upon Sinks Pit SSSI – current Geodiversity reported state ‘unfavourable recovering’ (09/06/03). Limited number of identified protected species in locality. 12. Recreation value 0 n/a 13. Built form and heritage 0 Sporadic presence of Scheduled Ancient Monuments. features 14. Agricultural land quality + Grades 3 and 4 poor agricultural land quality. 15. Proximity and impact to 0 n/a sources of air pollution 16. Proximity to sources of - Noise associated with Foxhall Stadium and A1214 traffic. noise/light pollution 17. Topography + Land is flat. 18. Potential for energy 0 Energy efficiency possible with appropriate design and efficiency orientation of houses 19. Other constraints ? Part minerals consultation area. 20. Availability of utilities - Surface water run-off, foul drainage and electricity capacity issues to Cliff Quay, Ipswich service point.

21. Possible cumulative - Traffic impact upon radial road system. impact Assessment Summary The area benefits from its strategic location to a major urban centre, existing transport provision and location within an identified growth area – Ipswich Policy Area. However, the area is a potential greenfield allocation and significant infrastructure works will need to be undertaken to the station at Cliff Quay, Ipswich. In addition, consideration and mitigation will need to be given to impact upon Sinks Valley SSSI. Relationship with Kesgrave obstructed by A1214.

Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals • High quality landscaping and design standards. summary: • Protection and enhancement of Sinks Valley SSSI designation objectives. • Preservation / relocation of protected species, open space, green infrastructure provision. • Additional schools / doctors provisions. • Noise attenuation techniques ie. Bund or woodland planting. • Capacity upgrades at infrastructure station Cliff Quay, Ipswich. • A1214 Bypass / sustainable transport improvements.

Policy: SP3 criterion (ii) – East Of Ipswich Direction of Growth (Alternative Option iii)

Policy summary: Planned growth south of Kesgrave and Martlesham

SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation:

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1. Area type - - Greenfield area. 2. Settlement hierarchy + + Identified within a Key Centre for Development and Change. 3. Scale of development 0 Proposed scale is consistent with the location adjacent to an urban area 4. Retain settlement 0 Change of immediate landscape character but an extension character and identity to existing built up area. 5. Access to key services + Well related to cross-boundary Ipswich, Kesgrave and Martlesham facilities. Potential service capacity problems – eg school places, doctors 6. Access and transport + Good access into/out of Ipswich and wider A12 and A14 road network. Close to public transport routes. 7. Relationship with local + + Good access links into major employment areas of economic activity Martlesham and Ipswich. 8. VISUAL AMENITY AND + No high quality landscape. Possible impact upon Special LANDSCAPE QUALITY Landscape Area to the south. 9. HYDROLOGY, 0 No flood zone influence. FLOODING AND EROSION 10. Contaminated land - - Very close proximity to Foxhall Road Tip (active landfill site). 11. Biodiversity & - - Strong potential impact upon Ipswich Heaths SSSI at Geodiversity eastern end– current reported state ‘unfavourable declining’ (20/04/06). Moderate number of identified protected species in locality, including colony of silver-studded blue butterfly. Also impact upon Martlesham Heath Wood County Wildlife Site. 12. Recreation value 0 n/a 13. Built form and heritage 0 n/a features 14. Agricultural land quality + Grade 4 poor agricultural land quality. 15. Proximity and impact to 0 n/a sources of air pollution 16. Proximity to sources of - - Noise associated with Foxhall Stadium, Foxhall landfill site noise/light pollution and A12 traffic. 17. Topography + Land is flat. 18. Potential for energy 0 Energy efficiency possible with appropriate design and efficiency orientation of houses 19. Other constraints ? Minerals consultation area. 20. Availability of utilities - Surface water run-off, foul drainage and electricity capacity issues to Cliff Quay, Ipswich service point.

21. Possible cumulative - Traffic impact upon radial road system. impact Assessment Summary The area benefits from its strategic location to a major urban centre, existing transport provision and location within an identified growth area – Ipswich Policy Area. However, the area is a potential greenfield allocation and significant infrastructure works will need to be undertaken to the station at Cliff Quay, Ipswich. Local services are also at capacity. In addition, consideration and mitigation will need to be given to impact upon Ipswich Heaths SSSI which is particularly sensitive.

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designation objectives. • Preservation / relocation of protected species, open space, green infrastructure provision. • Additional schools / doctors provisions. • Noise attenuation techniques ie. Bund or woodland planting. • Capacity upgrades at infrastructure station Cliff Quay, Ipswich. • Sustainable transport improvements.

Policy: SP3 criterion (ii) – East Of Ipswich Direction of Growth (Alternative Option iv)

Policy summary: Planned growth north of the A14

SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 1. Area type 0 Primarily a greenfield area. However, pockets of brownfield land. 2. Settlement hierarchy + + Identified within a Key Centre for Development and Change. 3. Scale of development 0 Proposed scale is consistent with the location adjacent to an urban area 4. Retain settlement - Change of immediate landscape character but an extension to character and identity existing built up area. 5. Access to key services + Well related to district centre but less to cross-boundary Ipswich services. Potential service capacity problems - school places, doctors. 6. Access and transport + Access into/out of Ipswich and wider A12 and A14 road network. Existing bus transport routes. 7. Relationship with local + + Very good access links into major employment area of economic activity Ransomes Europark. Access to Martlesham and Ipswich employment centres limited. 8. VISUAL AMENITY AND - - Possible impact upon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty LANDSCAPE QUALITY (AONB) to the south and Special Landscape Area to the north. 9. HYDROLOGY, 0 Presence of agricultural irrigation boreholes indicated. No flood FLOODING AND zone influence. EROSION 10. Contaminated land - Potential contaminated land influences at Shepherd & Dog Piggery, Purdis Farm. 11. Biodiversity & - - Strong potential impact upon Ipswich Heaths SSSI. Limited Geodiversity number of identified protected species in locality. Also impact upon Ransomes Europark Heathland County Wildlife Sites. 12. Recreation value - - Potential loss of regionally important Suffolk Showground Site. 13. Built form and heritage 0 n/a features 14. Agricultural land quality ++ Grade 4 poor agricultural land quality. 15. Proximity and impact to 0 n/a sources of air pollution 16. Proximity to sources of - - Noise associated with Showground, A12 and A14 traffic. noise/light pollution 17. Topography + Land is flat. 18. Potential for energy 0 Energy efficiency possible with appropriate design and efficiency orientation of houses 19. Other constraints ? Minerals consultation area/ 20. Availability of utilities 0 Surface water run-off, foul drainage and electricity capacity issues to Cliff Quay, Ipswich service point.

21. Possible cumulative - Traffic impact upon radial road system.

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impact Assessment Summary The area benefits from its strategic location to a major urban centre, existing transport provision and location within an identified growth area – Ipswich Policy Area. There is also scope for some brownfield development potential. However, significant infrastructure works will need to be undertaken to the station at Cliff Quay, Ipswich. Suitable provision/relocation of the important Suffolk Showground facility may be difficult. In addition, consideration and mitigation will need to be given to impact upon Ipswich Heaths SSSI which is particularly sensitive. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals • High quality landscaping and design standards. summary: • Protection and enhancement of SSSI designation objectives. • Protection of identified water boreholes. • Preservation / relocation of protected species, open space, green infrastructure provision. • Suitable relocation/provision for Suffolk Showground facility. • Additional schools / doctors provisions. • Noise attenuation techniques ie. Bund or woodland planting. • Capacity upgrades at infrastructure station Cliff Quay, Ipswich. • Sustainable transport improvements.

Policy: SP4 – Felixstowe (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: A strategy for Felixstowe, addressing social and economic issues. Planned growth to take place on a mixture of sites avoiding, as far as possible, prime agricultural land for essential food production. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of + Significant improvement, expansion and retention of sport and the population overall leisure facilities; appropriate healthcare facilities provided 02. To maintain and improve + levels of education and Retention and provision of primary and secondary schools skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + Sustainable mix of housing types may include some affordable social exclusion housing 05. To improve access to key ++ Good access from proposed housing sites to Felixstowe town services for all sectors of centre; future duelling of railway track the population 06. To offer everybody the + opportunity for rewarding Expand local employment base and regenerate resort area and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing ++ Provide a scale and range of housing to meet the needs of the requirements of the existing and future populations whole community 08. To improve the quality of -- where people live and to Likely to impact upon existing residents encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where - Significant development likely to have some negative effect on possible improve air air quality

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quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil - Greenfield land in agricultural use but highest quality land resources and quality avoided if possible 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and

re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - Development likely to increase waste 14. To reduce the effects of -/+ traffic on the Development may increase traffic, but mitigation proposed environment 15. To reduce emissions of - greenhouse gasses from Household energy consumption will increase energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to + Flood risk recognised as a constraint flooding 17. To conserve and enhance + biodiversity and Provides allotments etc geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance + the quality and local distinctiveness of Aims to conserve character of neighbourhoods landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + levels of prosperity and Link to existing and proposed employment, improve access to economic growth such areas; regenerate resort throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient + patterns of movement in Improved access to dock from Felixstowe, Walton and Trimley support of economic villages growth 23. To encourage and + accommodate both Regeneration of resort will increase attraction of the area to indigenous and inward investors investment Assessment Summary A largely sustainable option where: • Impact on some local roads could be more diffuse; • Building on a number of sites has the advantage of allowing individual communities to grow at a rate which is more readily absorbed into the existing social fabric • Disperses the potential negative effect of major new build, thus limiting the impact on any one of the communities of Felixstowe, Trimley St Martin, Trimley St Mary or Walton • Incremental development is more likely to retain the setting of the town in the countryside, which is an important element of a regeneration strategy • Loss of prime agricultural land could be managed

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Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals • Adequate structural landscaping of new development given proximity summary: to the AONB • Provision of infrastructure, phased with new development • Associated community facilities

Policy: SP4 – Felixstowe (Alternative Option i)

Policy summary: A strategy for Felixstowe, addressing social and economic issues. Planned growth to take place in a concentration of one or at most two large sites. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of + Significant improvement, expansion and retention of sport and the population overall leisure facilities; appropriate healthcare facilities provided 02. To maintain and improve + levels of education and Retention and provision of primary and secondary schools skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + Sustainable mix of housing types may include some affordable social exclusion housing 05. To improve access to key ++ Good access from proposed housing sites to Felixstowe town services for all sectors of centre; future duelling of railway track the population 06. To offer everybody the + opportunity for rewarding Expand local employment base and regenerate resort area and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing ++ Provide a scale and range of housing to meet the needs of the requirements of the existing and future populations whole community 08. To improve the quality of - where people live and to Likely to impact upon existing residents encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where - Significant development likely to have some negative effect on possible improve air air quality quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil - - Greenfield land in agricultural use but highest quality land resources and quality avoided if possible 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and

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flooding 17. To conserve and enhance + biodiversity and Provides allotments etc geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance + the quality and local distinctiveness of Aims to conserve character of neighbourhoods landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + levels of prosperity and Link to existing and proposed employment, improve access to economic growth such areas; regenerate resort throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient + patterns of movement in Improved access to dock from Felixstowe, Walton and Trimley support of economic villages growth 23. To encourage and + accommodate both Regeneration of resort will increase attraction of the area to indigenous and inward investors investment Assessment Summary A largely sustainable option with a similar outcome to the preferred option and where the provision of infrastructure can be controlled given fewer landowners. However, is likely to result in the loss of more prime agricultural land. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals • Adequate structural landscaping of new development given proximity summary: to the AONB • Provision of infrastructure, phased with new development • Associated community facilities

Policy: SP5 – Aldeburgh (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: A strategy for Aldeburgh that focuses on local issues and local needs.

SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0

the population overall 02. To maintain and improve + levels of education and Sufficient services, education one of the priorities skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0

social exclusion 05. To improve access to key ++ services for all sectors of Aims to retain retail services, particularly health and education the population

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06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding Retain role as a tourist centre, keep jobs in this sector and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing + requirements of the New housing for local people proposed whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to

encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil + Encourages use of previously developed land resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and

re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - New housing will increase waste output 14. To reduce the effects of 0/- Some increase in traffic may occur, although tourism will traffic on the account for a large proportion of traffic and this level is to be environment maintained 15. To reduce emissions of - greenhouse gasses from New housing and traffic increases may increase emissions energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to ++ Flood risk is to be minimised and defences effectively flooding managed; traffic restricted from causing potential damage to defences 17. To conserve and enhance 0/- Sensitive environment to be maintained, but some biodiversity and development may reduce biodiversity value geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance ++ the quality and local Strategy aims to retain and protect historic character without distinctiveness of suffering "town cramming",; retain retail and services; retain landscapes and environment townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0/- Tourism aspect to be maintained; retail and services to be levels of prosperity and retained; sufficient services and facilities may provide some economic growth growth opportunities throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres + Traffic management measures on the High Street and elsewhere providing improved physical environment 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in

support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward

Sustainability Appraisal 97

investment

Assessment Summary A strategy that is sustainable in its content given the emphasis on preserving the distinctiveness of Aldeburgh and focusing on local needs. The few negative scores reflect the likelihood of some development taking place, albeit limited. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals The detailed consideration of proposals can seek to reduce waste summary: and energy consumption through careful design and siting.

Policy: SP5 – Aldeburgh (Alternative i)

Policy summary: A strategy for Aldeburgh that places restraint above local issues and local needs in terms of priority. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0

the population overall 02. To maintain and improve + levels of education and Sufficient services, education one of the priorities skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0

social exclusion 05. To improve access to key ++ Aims to retain retail services, particularly health and services for all sectors of education the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding

and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing - requirements of the Restrictive approach to new housing whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to

re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 Fewer houses means less waste 14. To reduce the effects of 0/- Some increase in traffic may occur, although tourism will traffic on the account for a large proportion of traffic and this level is to environment be maintained

Sustainability Appraisal 98

15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from Fewer emissions from new housing but traffic still an issue energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to ++ Flood risk is to be minimised and defences effectively flooding managed; traffic restricted from causing potential damage to defences 17. To conserve and + enhance biodiversity and Sensitive environment to be retained geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and ++ enhance the quality and Strategy aims to retain and protect historic character local distinctiveness of without suffering "town cramming",; retain retail and landscapes and services; retain environment townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0/- Tourism aspect to be maintained; retail and services to be levels of prosperity and retained; sufficient services and facilities may provide some economic growth growth opportunities throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres + Traffic management measures on the High Street and elsewhere providing improved physical environment 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in

support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both

indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary A strategy that is sustainable in its environmental aspects but less so in its social context given the very restrictive approach to new housing and the needs of the local population. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals None relevant summary:

Policy: SP6 – Framlingham (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: A strategy for Framlingham that maintains its role as a self-sufficient market town and tourist destination. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0

the population overall 02. To maintain and improve + levels of education and Sufficient education services to serve the population profile skills in the population required overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0

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social exclusion 05. To improve access to key ++ Improve acess to town centre facilities through services for all sectors of improvements to car parks, local public transport provision; the population sufficient services and facilities, retail designed to serve needs of local population + hinterland and visitor populations 06. To offer everybody the + opportunity for rewarding Increase scale and range of employment offer and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing + requirements of the Some housing development on brownfield land whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to Maintenance of character a priority encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where - Development likely to have some negative effect on air possible improve air quality quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil + Aims to redevelop brownfield land resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and

re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - Development likely to increase waste 14. To reduce the effects of - traffic on the Development likely to increase traffic environment 15. To reduce emissions of - greenhouse gasses from Household energy consumption will increase energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to - Increased development may increase vulnerability to flooding flooding 17. To conserve and enhance - Development will reduce overall value of the area to biodiversity and biodiversity and geodiversity geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance ++ Maintain historic quality character, avoid “town cramming”, the quality and local recognise sensitive setting and edges of town, ensure retail distinctiveness of provision for tourism is balanced and designed to serve the landscapes and needs of local population townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + Retains role as a tourist centre, accommodation and visitor levels of prosperity and attractions will maintain economic performance in the area; economic growth increased scale and range of employment opportunities throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient + patterns of movement in Linkages with local public transport support of economic growth

Sustainability Appraisal 100

23. To encourage and + accommodate both Tourism may attract investment indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Strategies that contain housing or employment growth generally score negatively because they do not contain specific reference to possible environmental constraints. Increasing the level of housing anywhere will lead to the generation of more traffic that could impact air quality depending on the location, and will result in energy being used either in transport or running homes. There are focused core strategy environmental policies elsewhere that will be brought to bear when planning applications are determined hence this is not a concern. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Attention to environmental factors when detailed proposals are drafted summary: and planning proposals considered.

Policy: SP7 – Leiston (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: A strategy for Leiston that strengthens its economic base and achieves new housing, particularly for local need. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + Affordable housing provision prioritised social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the + opportunity for Anticipated increase in tourism, employment in facilities rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing + requirements of the Modest new housing provision planned whole community 08. To improve the quality of + where people live and to Improved physical environment sought encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where - Development likely to have some negative effect on air possible improve air quality quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0

resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0

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support of economic growth 23. To encourage and + accommodate both Tourism may attract investment indigenous and inward investment

Assessment Summary Strategies that contain housing or employment growth generally score negatively because they do not contain specific reference to possible environmental constraints. Increasing the level of housing anywhere will lead to the generation of more traffic that could impact air quality depending on the location, and will result in energy being used either in transport or running homes. There are focused core strategy environmental policies elsewhere that will be brought to bear when planning applications are determined hence this is not a concern. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Attention to environmental factors when detailed proposals are drafted summary: and planning proposals considered.

Policy: SP8 – Nuclear Energy (Preferred Option)

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Policy summary: A strategy to address the local issues in the event of a 3rd nuclear power station at Sizewell SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0

the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and

skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0

social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the + opportunity for rewarding Third power station may provide job opportunities and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0/- requirements of the Worker housing possibilities respected whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to

encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0

resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and

re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of 0/- Road upgrading may be required in anticipation of heavier traffic traffic on the flows environment 15. To reduce emissions of + greenhouse gasses from Nuclear energy energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to + Coastal erosion/protection issues respected flooding 17. To conserve and enhance +/- Ecological impacts respected, but specifically on nearby biodiversity and designated sites; road upgrading may impact on biodiversity geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance 0/+ Landscape character respected the quality and local

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distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + levels of prosperity and Power station may attract related investment to the area, economic growth Sizewell a nationally renowned facility throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in

support of economic growth 23. To encourage and + accommodate both Power station may attract related investment to the area, indigenous and inward Sizewell a nationally renowned facility investment

Assessment Summary The strategy is very positive in its content given the recognition of the economic benefits of a power station and respect for the ecological implications. It needs to be emphasised that the strategy does not judge the benefits and disbenefits of nuclear power and so the appraisal does not relate to that. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term Long term uses of workers’ housing effects: Mitigation proposals Any road improvements will need to be the subject of an environmental summary: impact assessment.

Policy: SP9 – Saxmundham (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: A strategy for Saxmundham that focuses on its role as a retail and service centre, as well as a transport hub. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + Affordable housing provision prioritised social exclusion 05. To improve access to key + Town to become a transport hub on East Suffolk rail-line, services for all sectors serving the local area of the population 06. To offer everybody the ++ Up-grading of physical environment anticipated to increase opportunity for appeal to tourists, therefore offering opportunities for rewarding and satisfying employment; employment base to be increased to offer job employment prospects within the local area 07. To meet the housing + requirements of the Limited new development planned whole community 08. To improve the quality of + Improved physical environment sought where people live and to

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encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where - Development of employment/residential areas likely to have possible improve air some negative effect on air quality quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0

resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently,

and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - Development likely to increase waste 14. To reduce the effects of - traffic on the Development, particularly tourism, likely to increase traffic environment 15. To reduce emissions of - greenhouse gasses Household and business energy consumption will increase from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to - Increased development may increase vulnerability to flooding flooding, noted as a constraint but not addressed by policy. 17. To conserve and - Development will reduce overall value of the area to enhance biodiversity biodiversity and geodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and + enhance the quality and Up-grading of physical environment, consolidate role of local distinctiveness of market town. landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + Retains role as a tourist centre, accommodation and levels of prosperity and visitor attractions will maintain economic performance in the economic growth area; increased employment base throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in

support of economic growth 23. To encourage and + accommodate both Tourism may attract investment indigenous and inward investment

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planning applications are determined hence this is not a concern. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Attention to environmental factors when detailed proposals are drafted summary: and planning proposals considered.

Policy: SP10 – Woodbridge (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: A strategy for Woodbridge that consolidates its current role and preserves its qualities, whilst achieving modest expansion. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of + Encourage wider use of walking and cycling the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and

skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + Sustainable mix of housing types may include some social exclusion affordable housing 05. To improve access to key + Enhanced links between town centre, Market Hill & services for all sectors of riverside; range of provisions for residents/rural catchment the population and tourists 06. To offer everybody the ++ Employment and tourism uses to be prioritised ahead of opportunity for rewarding residential; enhancement of anchor stores and small and satisfying businesses encouraged employment 07. To meet the housing + Residential uses to be resisted in town centre/riverside; requirements of the limited growth on a range of sites elsewhere across the whole community town could include residential development 08. To improve the quality of + Enhanced quality of town centre, traffic management, where people live and to vibrant riverside environment, high quality historic built encourage community environment to be maintained participation 09. To maintain and where 0/- Tourism/development likely to have some negative effect possible improve air on air quality quality 10. To maintain and where 0/- Aims to retain quality of River Deben, some additional possible improve water pollution possible due to town being adjacent to river quality 11. To conserve soil 0

resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and

re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - Development likely to increase waste 14. To reduce the effects of - traffic on the Development and tourism likely to increase traffic environment 15. To reduce emissions of - greenhouse gasses from Energy consumption will increase energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to - Increased development, concrete and roads will exacerbate

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flooding runoff and may increase risk of flooding in this riverside town, although strategy does acknowledge limitations imposed by the river 17. To conserve and enhance 0/- Aims to retain quality and character of riverside and biodiversity and estuary, but some impact on biodiversity is likely geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance + the quality and local A12 to remain firm edge to town; retain quality and distinctiveness of character of riverside and estuary landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + Encouragement of businesses, vibrant riverside levels of prosperity and environment while retaining quality of the built and natural economic growth environment throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres + Will bring new business to town centre 22. To encourage efficient + patterns of movement in Encourages wider use of walking; links between town support of economic centre, Market Hill and riverside improved growth 23. To encourage and ++ accommodate both Encouraging small scale independent businesses; tourism indigenous and inward and employment uses to take priority in the town investment

Policy: SP11 – Key Service Centres and Local Service Centres (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: A strategy for the sustainable settlements outside of the towns and major centres that includes protecting their role and character but also allowing organic and controlled growth. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0

the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and

skills in the population overall

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03. To reduce crime and anti- 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and ++ Aims to address issue of rural isolation through better social exclusion access provision to key service centres, affordable housing a priority 05. To improve access to key ++ Provision of services in key service centres, linked to rural services for all sectors of communities with improved access provision the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding

and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing + Modest growth to occur in larger more sustainable requirements of the settlements; organic development elsewhere whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to

encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0 - resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and

re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0/- Some thinly spread development may increase waste 14. To reduce the effects of 0/- Developments thinly spread across the rural area so major traffic on the effects unlikely environment 15. To reduce emissions of +/- Developments thinly spread across the rural area so major greenhouse gasses from effects unlikely; better access provision to key areas may energy consumption reduce private car usage 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0

flooding 17. To conserve and - enhance biodiversity and Development in the rural areas will impact on biodiversity geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of Modest growth only in larger more sustainable settlements landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + levels of prosperity and Better access to key service centres may increase economic growth prosperity in rural communities throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient + Improved access provision to key service centres aims to

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patterns of movement in reduce private car usage support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both

indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Scores highly on sustainability criteria because of the recognition of social and economic factors, in particular access to services Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Recognition of biodiversity issues in the detailed appraisal of summary: proposals

Policy: SP11 – Key Service Centres and Local Service Centres (Alternative Option i)

Policy summary: Retain the current policy which does not distinguish between settlements in accordance with their function and does not allow for modest growth except for affordable housing only. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0

the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and

skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0

and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing + requirements of the Provides housing for all communities whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to

encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where + Restrictive policies reduce the possibility of more traffic if possible improve air housing is located in settlements without key services quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0

resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and

re-use and recycle where possible

Sustainability Appraisal 109

13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of + Restrictive policies reduce the possibility of more traffic if traffic on the housing is located in settlements without key services environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0

flooding 17. To conserve and + enhance biodiversity and Less use of greenfield land geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and

economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient - patterns of movement in May create more traffic if housing is located in settlements support of economic without employment growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both

indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Less sustainable than the preferred option because there is always the opportunity for housing development to take place in locations without facilities and services. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals None relevant summary:

Policy: SP12 – Other Villages and Countryside (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: A strategy that protects the countryside for its own sake and restricts development in currently non-sustainable locations, which might include whole settlements. Some flexibility is introduced in the form of infilling within ‘clusters’ in the countryside but in sustainable locations. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of + Recognises important role of countryside in quality of the population overall life/access to green space 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and

skills in the population overall

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03. To reduce crime and anti- + Supports social regeneration social activity 04. To reduce poverty and ++ Social regeneration supported; community facility; social exclusion affordable housing 05. To improve access to key + services for all sectors of Supports local social needs the population 06. To offer everybody the + opportunity for rewarding Supports the rural economy and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing + requirements of the Accepts need for rural housing in set circumstances whole community 08. To improve the quality of + where people live and to Supports social regeneration encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil + Development must meet needs of agriculture, forestry and resources and quality horticulture; re-use existing buildings 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and

re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of 0 traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of + Developments must make provision for generation of greenhouse gasses from renewable energy energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0

flooding 17. To conserve and + Aims to protect the rural environment and restrict enhance biodiversity and development geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and ++ enhance the quality and Aims to restrict development to minimise impact on local local distinctiveness of character, supports regeneration landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + levels of prosperity and Supports the rural economy and rural industries; helps to economic growth support a sustainable rural economy throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres + Re-use of existing buildings acceptable 22. To encourage efficient 0

patterns of movement in

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support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both

indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary A strongly sustainable strategy that recognises the social, economic and environmental dimensions of the countryside and smaller, less sustainable settlements. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term None relevant. effects: Mitigation proposals summary:

Policy: SP12 – Other Villages and Countryside (Alternative Option i)

Policy summary: A strategy that protects the countryside for its own sake and strongly restricts development in currently non-sustainable locations. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of + Recognises important role of countryside in quality of the population overall life/access to green space 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and

skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0

social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the + opportunity for rewarding Supports the rural economy and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing + requirements of the Accepts need for rural housing in set circumstances whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to

encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil + Development must meet needs of agriculture, forestry and resources and quality horticulture; re-use existing buildings 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and

re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0

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14. To reduce the effects of 0 traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0

flooding 17. To conserve and + Aims to protect the rural environment and restrict enhance biodiversity and development geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and ++ enhance the quality and Aims to restrict development to minimise impact on local local distinctiveness of character, supports regeneration landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + levels of prosperity and Supports the rural economy and rural industries; helps to economic growth support a sustainable rural economy throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in

support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both

indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Strongly sustainable but the lack of flexibility has disbenefits for the countryside, particularly in respect of economic regeneration. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals None relevant summary:

Policy: SP13 – The Coastal Zone (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: A positive and sustainable approach to coastal processes and their effects on communities and the environment SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0

the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and

skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0

social exclusion

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05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for

rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of + where people live and to Aims to protect communities and individual property encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil + Aims to prevent erosion resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently,

and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of 0 traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to ++ Aims to protect property from erosion flooding 17. To conserve and + enhance biodiversity Recognises value of shoreline and estuarial management and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and + enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of Recognises value of shoreline and estuarial management landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and

economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in

support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0

accommodate both

Sustainability Appraisal 114

indigenous and inward investment

Assessment Summary The strategy refers to the issue of coastal erosion and encourages investment in safeguarding of property. There is implicit recognition of the need for land use planning decisions in the long term to protect or relocate housing, heritage features (eg Martello Towers or wartime pill boxes), infrastructure (eg A12) or replacement habitats. Impact on the community of lost housing, tourist assets, services and infrastructure also needs to be considered as well as the impact of sea defences themselves. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals None relevant summary:

Policy: SP14 – Accessibility (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: To improve connectivity, centred on key transport links particularly those to essential services SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0

the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and

skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0

social exclusion 05. To improve access to key ++ Bus, rail services and connections between towns and to services for all sectors of key service centres are main components of the policy the population 06. To offer everybody the + Increased services and interchange facilities will provide opportunity for employment; greater range of employment opportunities rewarding and satisfying available to more wider range of residents due to improved employment accessibility 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to

encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where +/0 Net reduction in traffic pollution possible due to improved possible improve air public transport quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0

resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle

Sustainability Appraisal 115

where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of +/0 Net reduction in traffic possible due to improved public traffic on the transport environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0

flooding 17. To conserve and 0 enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and

economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient + patterns of movement in Improved public transport provision should encourage support of economic positive impact, fewer private car users growth 23. To encourage and + accommodate both Improved accessibility will provide scope for further indigenous and inward investment/relocation of businesses to the area investment Assessment Summary Reducing the impact of traffic on the environment and giving the community easy access to essential services are key messages emerging from this strategy. No negative aspects have been recorded. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals None necessary. summary:

Policy: SP15 – A12 and A14 (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: A strategy that recognises the value of the A12 and A14 to the economy of the District and promotes their improvement SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0

the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and

skills in the population overall

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03. To reduce crime and anti- 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0

social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for

rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of + where people live and to Will provide better links to jobs, services and leisure encourage community facilities participation 09. To maintain and where - Additional roads may encourage increased use of private possible improve air cars and subsequently increase pollution quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0

resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently,

and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of - Additional roads may encourage increased use of private traffic on the cars environment 15. To reduce emissions of - Additional roads may encourage increased use of private greenhouse gasses from cars and subsequently increase pollution energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0

flooding 17. To conserve and - enhance biodiversity Additional roads will impact negatively on biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and

economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient + Will provide better access to jobs, services patterns of movement in

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support of economic growth 23. To encourage and + accommodate both Improved road network may attract investment to the area indigenous and inward investment

Assessment Summary Additional roads and/or traffic will inevitably have a negative score on environmental factors. However, the economic benefits of providing better access to areas in need of regeneration are extremely important and in the context of other objectives might be given significant weight. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Ensure the impact of new roads on the environment is recognised. summary:

STRATEGIC POLICIES

Policy: SP16 – New Housing (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: The strategy aims to increase the housing stock in accordance with the principles of sustainable development so as to meet the needs of the existing and future populations. SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + New housing will include affordable housing, policy also social exclusion aims to provide for gypsies and travellers 05. To improve access to key + New housing in settlements will bring people closer to key services for all sectors services of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing + + New housing provided. Aims to promote for younger requirements of the people whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality

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11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - More housing will result in more waste 14. To reduce the effects of + Will follow principles of sustainable development traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of - More housing means more energy consumption greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to - More housing could increase flood risk through increased flooding runoff/shorter lag times 17. To conserve and 0 enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where - Archaeological sites (high density in the Ipswich Policy appropriate enhance Area) may be damaged. areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary The provision of new housing will be expected to produce significant positive outcomes in relation to social objectives, however, there are inevitable conflicts caused between development and environmental protection. Secondary, Cumulative or Retention of young people and their skills in the area may have future synergistic effects: positive impacts. Short/medium/long term Aims to provide for immediate needs and longer-term future needs of effects: population Mitigation proposals Development will need to take account of the need to minimise summary: environmental impacts by limiting waste production, employing sustainable construction techniques, avoiding sensitive flood areas and reduction in surface run off measures. Similarly, proper investigation will need to be had where it is suspected that development may impact upon archaeology assets.

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Policy: SP17 – Housing Numbers (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: The policy will make provision for the required 3,200 dwellings in the Ipswich Policy Area and the remaining district housing requirement will be spread across the rest of the district. SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of + / ? Minimise need for motor vehicles, upgrade foot and cycle the population overall paths for access to employment, schools etc, maximise access to green space etc. Unclear where remaining development may occur. 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + New housing will include local affordable housing boost, social exclusion policy also aims to provide for gypsies and travellers 05. To improve access to key + / ? New housing in settlements will bring people closer to key services for all sectors services. public transport foot and cycle paths may also be of the population improved. Unclear where remaining development may occur. 06. To offer everybody the + / ? Link to existing and proposed employment in IPA, improve opportunity for access to such areas. Unclear where remaining rewarding and satisfying development may occur but potential for linkages to employment strategic employment area of Felixstowe Port. 07. To meet the housing + + New housing provided. Aims to promote for younger requirements of the people. whole community 08. To improve the quality of + + Opportunities to provide facilities and infrastructure that is where people live and to missing / lacking in appropriate areas. encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where - Significant development likely to have some negative effect possible improve air on air quality quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - More housing will result in more waste 14. To reduce the effects of - Development likely to increase traffic traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of - More housing means more energy consumption greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to - More housing could increase flood risk through increased flooding runoff/shorter lag times 17. To conserve and - Development will reduce overall value of the areas for enhance biodiversity growth to biodiversity and geodiversity and geodiversity

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18. To conserve and where - Archaeological sites (high density in the Ipswich Policy appropriate enhance Area) may be damaged. areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + / ? Link to existing and proposed employment in IPA, improve levels of prosperity and access to such areas. Maybe further opportunities for economic growth linkages with another strategic employment site of throughout the plan area Felixstowe Port and wider economic activity hubs in the market towns. 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient + / ? Public transport, foot and cycle path provision to be made patterns of movement in in a sustainable growth location, minimise need for motor support of economic vehicle usage. Unclear where remaining development may growth occur. 23. To encourage and + / ? Growth levels in IPA will increase opportunities for further accommodate both inward investment. Unclear where opportunity benefits for indigenous and inward other areas. investment

Assessment Summary The policy demonstrates a number of social and economic positives resulting from the benefits associated with growth such as access to services and opportunities to develop infrastructure. Similarly the environmental negatives where growth may occur are also highlighted such as the stress on natural resources. It is unclear what effects the remainder of development may have on the district outside of the IPA as the policy make no statement for where this may occur. Secondary, Cumulative or Many unclear impacts may be resolved by locational indications as synergistic effects: set out in combination with policy SP18. Short/medium/long term Housing construction will use short term mineral resources and effects: potential disruption of nearby communities. In the medium/long term however, the opportunities to develop significant infrastructure improvements may have fruition. Mitigation proposals Development should minimise the environmental resources used in summary: construction and seek to use sustainable construction techniques. Where development is to take place away from major areas, the broad locations should be sought sequentially through larger communities so that isolated development does not occur.

Policy: SP17 (alternative option i) – Housing Numbers

Policy summary: Increase the proportion of housing in the Ipswich Policy Area (IPA) above the RSS figure of 3,200 and thus reduce housing number requirements elsewhere in the district. SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health + / - Minimise need for motor vehicles, upgrade foot and cycle of the population paths for access to employment, schools etc, maximise overall access to green space etc. Benefits are more concentrated in one area 02. To maintain and 0 improve levels of education and skills in

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the population overall 03. To reduce crime and 0 anti-social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + New housing will include local affordable housing boost, social exclusion policy also aims to provide for gypsies and travellers 05. To improve access to + / - New housing in settlements will bring people closer to key key services for all services. upgrade public transport foot and cycle paths sectors of the may also be improved. However, main areas outside of population IPA would experience less benefit due to reduced numbers. 06. To offer everybody the + / - Link to existing and proposed employment in IPA, improve opportunity for access to such areas. However, removing opportunities for rewarding and linkages with another strategic employment site of satisfying employment Felixstowe Port. 07. To meet the housing + New housing provided. Aims to promote for younger requirements of the people, however, removes potential for this in the rest of whole community the district outside of the IPA. 08. To improve the quality + / - Opportunities to provide facilities and infrastructure that is of where people live missing / lacking. However, this is limited to IPA due to and to encourage main focus. community participation 09. To maintain and where - Significant development likely to have some negative effect possible improve air on air quality quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and 0 mineral resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - More housing will result in more waste 14. To reduce the effects of - Development likely to increase traffic traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of - More housing means more energy consumption greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability - More housing could increase flood risk through increased to flooding runoff/shorter lag times 17. To conserve and - Development will reduce overall value of the areas for enhance biodiversity growth to biodiversity and geodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where - Archaeological sites (high density in the Ipswich Policy appropriate enhance Area) may be damaged. areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes

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20. To achieve sustainable + / - Link to existing and proposed employment in IPA, improve levels of prosperity access to such areas. However, removing opportunities for and economic growth linkages with another strategic employment site of throughout the plan Felixstowe Port and wider economic activity hubs in the area market towns. 21. To revitalise town 0 centres 22. To encourage efficient + / - Public transport, foot and cycle path provision to be made patterns of movement in a sustainable growth location, minimise need for motor in support of economic vehicle usage. However, these benefits may not be growth repeated in the other significant communities in the district. 23. To encourage and + / - Growth levels in IPA will increase opportunities for further accommodate both inward investment however opportunity benefits would be indigenous and inward limited for other significant communities in the district. investment Assessment Summary The policy demonstrates a number of social and economic positives resulting from the benefits associated with growth such as access to services and opportunities to develop infrastructure. Similarly the environmental negatives where growth may occur are also highlighted such as stress on natural resources, and where away from appropriate locations growth may result in missed improvement opportunities, isolation and increased car movements. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term Housing construction will use short term mineral resources and effects: potential disruption of nearby communities. In the medium/long term however, the opportunities to develop significant infrastructure improvements may have fruition. Mitigation proposals Development should minimise the environmental resources used in summary: construction and seek to use sustainable construction techniques. Where development is to take place away from major areas, the broad locations should be sought sequentially through larger communities so that isolated development does not occur.

Policy: SP17 (alternative option ii) – Housing Numbers

Policy summary: In considering projection figures, allow for an increased expectation from ‘windfall’ developments and therefore not need to provide for as many positive housing allocation sites. SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 Minimise need for motor vehicles, upgrade foot and cycle the population overall paths for access to employment, schools etc, maximise access to green space etc. Benefits fail to take advantage of economies of scale associated with concentrated rather than dispersed development 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0/+ New housing will include local affordable housing boost, social exclusion policy also aims to provide for gypsies and travellers. Not all areas will benefit 05. To improve access to key + / - New housing in settlements will bring people closer to key services for all sectors of services, upgrade public transport foot and cycle paths the population may also be improved. However, relies on unpredictable windfall supply and may result in unsustainable growth patterns and locations.

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06. To offer everybody the + / - May have link to existing and proposed employment and opportunity for rewarding improve access. However, relies on unpredictable windfall and satisfying supply and may result in unsustainable growth patterns employment and locations. 07. To meet the housing + / - New housing provided. Aims to promote for younger requirements of the people, however, suffers from unpredictable nature of whole community windfall supply which may result in unsustainable growth patterns and locations. 08. To improve the quality of + / - Opportunities to provide facilities and infrastructure that is where people live and to missing / lacking. However, suffers from unpredictable encourage community nature of windfall. participation 09. To maintain and where - Significant areas of development likely to have some possible improve air negative effect on air quality quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - More housing will result in more waste 14. To reduce the effects of - Development likely to increase traffic traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of - More housing means more energy consumption greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to - More housing could increase flood risk through increased flooding runoff/shorter lag times 17. To conserve and - Development will reduce overall value of the areas for enhance biodiversity and growth to biodiversity and geodiversity geodiversity 18. To conserve and where - Archaeological sites may be damaged. appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + / - Link to existing and proposed employment in growth areas, levels of prosperity and improve access to such areas. However, removing economic growth opportunities for better pro-active linkages with strategic throughout the plan area employment sites and wider economic activity hubs in the market towns. 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient + / - Public transport, foot and cycle path provision to be made patterns of movement in in growth locations, minimise need for motor vehicle usage. support of economic However, unpredictable windfall development may result in growth housing which occur in inefficient locations. 23. To encourage and + / - Growth levels in major areas will increase opportunities for accommodate both further inward investment however opportunity benefits indigenous and inward would be limited due to unpredictable windfall growth

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investment locations. Assessment Summary Housing provisions will be expected to contribute positively towards achieving social and economic goals but may perform poorly on environmental objectives without mitigation. Also, windfall development is likely to lead to problems due to the unpredictable nature of its location – piecemeal sites coming forward in the wrong places will be expected enhance any existing problems through isolation and reduce opportunities for improvements where development would be considered suitable. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term Housing construction will use short term mineral resources and effects: potential disruption of nearby communities. In the medium/long term however, the opportunities to develop significant infrastructure improvements may have fruition. Mitigation proposals Development should minimise the environmental resources used in summary: construction and seek to use sustainable construction techniques. Where development is to take place away from major areas, the broad locations should be sought sequentially through larger communities so that isolated development does not occur.

Policy: SP18 – Housing Allocations (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: Development is to be concentrated in the major centres of Ipswich Policy Area and Felixstowe Peninsula, with the remaining market towns and larger villages to accommodate modest housing growth as appropriate. SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of + Minimise need for motor vehicles, upgrade foot and cycle the population overall paths for access to employment, schools etc, maximise access to green space etc 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and

skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + Sustainable mix of housing types may include some social exclusion affordable housing 05. To improve access to key + services for all sectors of Upgrade public transport, foot and cycle paths the population 06. To offer everybody the + opportunity for rewarding Link to existing and proposed employment, improve and satisfying access to such areas employment 07. To meet the housing + + New housing provided at suitable size, mix and tenure. requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of ? / - Increased development, concrete and roads will where people live and to exacerbate runoff and may increase risk of flooding encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where - More housing will result in increased traffic and household possible improve air air pollution quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality

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11. To conserve soil - Likely to use Greenfield sites resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - More housing will result in increased waste 14. To reduce the effects of - More housing will result in increased traffic traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of - More housing will increase energy consumption greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and - Biodiversity including designated sites will be negatively enhance biodiversity and affected by housing increases geodiversity 18. To conserve and where - Archaeological sites may be damaged, particularly in the appropriate enhance Ipswich Policy Are, where a large proportion of houses are areas of historical and allocated to be built archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + Link to existing and proposed employment, improve levels of prosperity and access to such areas economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient + + New housing in appropriate settlements to bring people patterns of movement in closer to jobs and services support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary There are many social and economic positives to be had through linkages with existing core frameworks of employment, service and transport areas which are found in the larger settlements. Consideration and mitigation will need to be given towards minimising the possible identified environmental impacts such as waste production, traffic generation, biodiversity losses, natural resource use etc. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term Housing construction will use short term mineral resources and effects: potential disruption of nearby communities. In the medium/long term however, the opportunities to develop significant infrastructure improvements may have fruition. Mitigation proposals Development should minimise the environmental resources used in summary: construction and seek to use sustainable construction techniques. Impacts upon biodiversity or geodiversity should be negated or perhaps suitable alternative provision may be provided.

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Policy: SP18 (alternative option i) – Housing Allocations

Policy summary: Development is to be concentrated in the major centres equally between the Ipswich Policy Area and Felixstowe Peninsula. SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of + / - Minimise need for motor vehicles, upgrade foot and cycle the population overall paths for access to employment, schools etc, maximise access to green space etc. Benefits or opportunities are not shared outside of major urban areas. 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and

skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + / - Sustainable mix of housing types may include some social exclusion affordable housing. Benefits or opportunities are not shared outside of major urban areas. 05. To improve access to key + / - Upgrade public transport, foot and cycle paths. Benefits or services for all sectors of opportunities are not shared outside of major urban areas. the population 06. To offer everybody the + / - Link to existing and proposed employment, improve opportunity for rewarding access to such areas. Benefits or opportunities are not and satisfying shared outside of major urban areas. employment 07. To meet the housing + + New housing provided at suitable size, mix and tenure. requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of ? / - Increased development, concrete and roads will where people live and to exacerbate runoff and may increase risk of flooding encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where - More housing will result in increased traffic and household possible improve air air pollution quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil - Likely to use Greenfield sites resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - More housing will result in increased waste 14. To reduce the effects of - More housing will result in increased traffic traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of - More housing will increase energy consumption greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and - Biodiversity including designated sites will be negatively enhance biodiversity and affected by housing increases geodiversity 18. To conserve and where - Archaeological sites may be damaged, particularly in the

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appropriate enhance Ipswich Policy Are, where a large proportion of houses are areas of historical and allocated to be built archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + / - Link to existing and proposed employment, improve levels of prosperity and access to such areas. Benefits or opportunities are not economic growth shared outside of major urban areas. throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient + / - New housing in appropriate settlements to bring people patterns of movement in closer to jobs and services. Benefits or opportunities are support of economic not shared outside of major urban areas. growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary There are many social and economic positives to be had through linkages with existing core frameworks of employment, service and transport areas which are found in the major areas. Consideration and mitigation will need to be given towards minimising the possible identified environmental impacts such as waste production, traffic generation, biodiversity losses, natural resource use etc. However, this policy approach would fail to bring any sustainable benefits to areas outside of the major urban areas which would experience no growth. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term Housing construction will use short term mineral resources and effects: potential disruption of nearby communities. In the medium/long term however, the opportunities to develop significant infrastructure improvements may have fruition. Mitigation proposals Development should minimise the environmental resources used in summary: construction and seek to use sustainable construction techniques. Impacts upon biodiversity or geodiversity should be negated or perhaps suitable alternative provision may be provided.

Policy: SP19 – Affordable Housing (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: This policy will seek to ensure that 24% of the total new housing stock is provided as affordable housing as identified in the Local Needs Housing Assessment. SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + + Policy aims to provide affordable housing social exclusion

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05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing + + New housing provided requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where - More housing results in increased traffic levels possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - More housing results in increased waste 14. To reduce the effects of - More housing results in increased traffic levels traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of - More housing results in increased energy consumption greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and - Biodiversity likely to be negatively affected by new housing enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where - Archaeological sites may be damaged appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both

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indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary The policy seeks to secure the suitable provision of affordable housing required. There are potential problems with development possibly resulting in the expected loss of environmental quality through increased waste, energy consumption, traffic etc. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term Short term impacts of resource use and disturbance through effects: construction. Medium – long term gains through completion and availability of new affordable housing. Mitigation proposals Development must seek to use sustainable construction techniques summary: and methods to reduce or avoid any adverse environmental impacts.

Policy: SP19 (alternative option i) – Affordable Housing

Policy summary: Affordable housing policy based upon attaining a 33% provision of affordable housing for total new housing stock. SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + + Policy aims to provide affordable housing social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing + New housing provided, however, overprovision of identified requirements of the need. whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where - More housing means more traffic possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil - Likely to use Greenfield sites resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral + Building will be in accordance with principles of sustainable resources efficiently, and development re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - More housing means more waste 14. To reduce the effects of - More housing means more traffic traffic on the

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environment 15. To reduce emissions of - More housing means more energy consumption greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and - Wildlife sites and SSSIs in the IPA may be damaged, enhance biodiversity and though less of an issue in Felixstowe geodiversity 18. To conserve and where - Archaeological sites (high density in the IPA) may be appropriate enhance damaged areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary The policy seeks to secure the provision of affordable housing required. By using this policy, it would be expected that a significant oversupply of affordable housing would occur and would be inefficient. There are also potential problems with development possibly resulting in the expected loss of environmental quality through increased waste, energy consumption, traffic etc. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term Short term impacts of resource use and disturbance through effects: construction. Medium – long term gains through completion and availability of new affordable housing. Mitigation proposals Development must seek to use sustainable construction techniques summary: and methods to reduce or avoid any adverse environmental impacts.

Policy: SP19 (alternative option ii) – Affordable Housing

Policy summary: Affordable housing policy based upon attaining a 66% provision of affordable housing for total new housing stock. SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0

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social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + + Policy aims to provide affordable housing social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing + New housing provided, however, overprovision of identified requirements of the need. whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where - More housing means more traffic possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil - Likely to use Greenfield sites resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral + Building will be in accordance with principles of sustainable resources efficiently, and development re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - More housing means more waste 14. To reduce the effects of - More housing means more traffic traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of - More housing means more energy consumption greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and - Wildlife sites and SSSIs in the IPA may be damaged, enhance biodiversity and though less of an issue in Felixstowe geodiversity 18. To conserve and where - Archaeological sites (high density in the IPA) may be appropriate enhance damaged areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in support of economic

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growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary The policy seeks to secure the provision of affordable housing required. By using this policy, it would be expected that a gross oversupply of affordable housing would occur and would be inefficient. There are also potential problems with development possibly resulting in the expected loss of environmental quality through increased waste, energy consumption, traffic etc. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term Short term impacts of resource use and disturbance through effects: construction. Medium – long term gains through completion and availability of new affordable housing. Mitigation proposals Development must seek to use sustainable construction techniques summary: and methods to reduce or avoid any adverse environmental impacts.

Policy: SP20 – Allocations in Key Service Centres (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: Affordable housing policy whereby the expected requirement will be for 66% provision in edge of large rural villages locations. SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + + Primary aim to enable a high provision of affordable social exclusion housing in high need areas. 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing + New housing provided requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where - More housing means more traffic, but locational policy possible improve air targets areas with sustainable transport quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil - Likely to be Greenfield sites resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral + Building will be in accordance with principles of sustainable

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resources efficiently, and development re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - More housing means more waste 14. To reduce the effects of - More housing means more traffic, but locational policy traffic on the targets areas with sustainable transport environment 15. To reduce emissions of - More housing means more energy consumption greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and - Wildlife sites and SSSIs in the IPA may be damaged, enhance biodiversity and though less of an issue in Felixstowe geodiversity 18. To conserve and where - Archaeological sites (high density in the IPA) may be appropriate enhance damaged areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Policy seeks to provide for social objective of providing more affordable housing in high need areas. This policy is very proactive in approach to providing housing in key service centres where emphasis would be on affordable and not open market housing. Potential negatives would be potential environmental impacts resulting from development. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term Short term impacts of resource use and disturbance through effects: construction. Medium – long term gains through completion and availability of new affordable housing. Mitigation proposals Development must seek to use sustainable construction techniques summary: and methods to reduce or avoid any adverse environmental impacts.

Policy: SP20 (alternative option i) – Allocations in Key Service Centres

Policy summary: Affordable housing policy whereby the expected requirement will be for 33% provision in edge of large rural villages locations. SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0

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the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + Primary aim to enable provision of affordable housing in social exclusion high need areas. 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing + New housing provided requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where - More housing means more traffic, but locational policy possible improve air targets areas with sustainable transport quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil - Likely to be Greenfield sites resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral + Building will be in accordance with principles of sustainable resources efficiently, and development re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - More housing means more waste 14. To reduce the effects of - More housing means more traffic, but locational policy traffic on the targets areas with sustainable transport environment 15. To reduce emissions of - More housing means more energy consumption greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and - Wildlife sites and SSSIs in the IPA may be damaged, enhance biodiversity and though less of an issue in Felixstowe geodiversity 18. To conserve and where - Archaeological sites (high density in the IPA) may be appropriate enhance damaged areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and

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economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Policy seeks to provide for social objective of providing more affordable housing in high need areas. This policy is proactive in approach to providing housing in key service centres where emphasis would be on affordable and not open market housing. Potential negatives would be potential environmental impacts resulting from development. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term Short term impacts of resource use and disturbance through effects: construction. Medium – long term gains through completion and availability of new affordable housing. Mitigation proposals Development must seek to use sustainable construction techniques summary: and methods to reduce or avoid any adverse environmental impacts.

Policy: SP21 – Employment Land (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: To supply the district’s employment requirements and designate Martlesham Heath & Felixstowe Port as Strategic Employment Sites. SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve + Job creation will develop and sustain demand for skills levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + Aims to create 8,000 new jobs. social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the + + Aims to create 8,000 new jobs opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where - New development will increase traffic possible improve air quality

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10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil - Greenfield land may be lost to development resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - New development will increase waste 14. To reduce the effects of - New development will increase traffic traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of - New development will increase energy usage greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and - Biodiversity will inevitably be negatively affected by the enhance biodiversity and new development geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + + Aims to create 8,000 jobs levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient - New development will increase traffic, no suggestions for patterns of movement in sustainable access included support of economic growth 23. To encourage and + + Provides land for employment development accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary The policy is considered to perform very well in meeting economic objectives. Further impacts will be expected to have possible negative issues with environmental protection. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Development must seek to use sustainable construction techniques summary: and methods to reduce or avoid any adverse environmental impacts.

Policy: SP21 (alternative option i) – Employment Land

Policy summary: To supply the district’s employment requirements and include and expand Ransomes Europark as a strategic employment site designation in addition

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to Martlesham Heath & Felixstowe Port.

SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve + Job creation will develop and sustain demand for skills levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + Aims to create 8,000 new jobs. social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the + + Aims to create 8,000 new jobs opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where - New development will increase traffic possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil - Greenfield land may be lost to development resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - New development will increase waste 14. To reduce the effects of - New development will increase traffic traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of - New development will increase energy usage greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and - Biodiversity will inevitably be negatively affected by the enhance biodiversity and new development geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and ? /- Potential adverse impacts of encroachment into the AONB. enhance the quality and

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local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + + Aims to create 8,000 jobs levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient - New development will increase traffic, no suggestions for patterns of movement in sustainable access included support of economic growth 23. To encourage and + + Provides land for employment development accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary The policy is considered to perform very well in meeting economic objectives. However, the bulk of Ransomes Europark is located in a neighbouring authority administrative boundary and consideration will need to be given to this. Further impacts will be expected to have possible negative issues with environmental protection. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Development must seek to use sustainable construction techniques summary: and methods to reduce or avoid any adverse environmental impacts.

Policy: SP22 – Economic Development in the Rural Areas (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: Opportunities to support rural economic development for local jobs will be maximised where no adverse impact upon the built or natural environment can be proven. SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + + Aims to secure employment locally and in rural areas social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the + + Aims to maximise economic potential of rural areas and opportunity for rewarding secure employment locally and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to encourage community participation

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09. To maintain and where - Development may add to air pollution possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - / 0 Development may increase waste 14. To reduce the effects of 0 / + Encouragement for enterprises which are compatible with traffic on the objectives in respect of the environment environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and 0 / + Encouragement for enterprises which are compatible with enhance biodiversity and objectives in respect of the environment geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + + Aims to maximise economic potential of rural areas and levels of prosperity and secure employment locally economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and + Encourages economic development accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Generally sustainable policy although there are risks associated with air pollution and waste. Secondary, Cumulative or People are generally more healthy and crime is generally lower in synergistic effects: economically successful areas Short/medium/long term Retaining existing employment sites saves having to develop new effects: ones, which uses minerals and energy as well as generating traffic in the (short term) construction phase Mitigation proposals Needs to be applied in conjunction with other policies summary:

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Policy: SP22 (alternative option i) – Economic Development in the Rural Areas

Policy summary: A very strict policy of environmental protection presuming against rural economic development. SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and - May prevent development of employment sites in rural social exclusion areas 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the - May prevent development of employment sites in rural opportunity for rewarding areas and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where + Does not allow development in non-sustainable locations possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil + + Does not allow land required for agriculture to be lost resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of + Does not allow development in non-sustainable locations traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and + + Restricting development conserves bio/geodiversity enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where + + Restricting development conserves areas of historical and appropriate enhance archaeological importance areas of historical and archaeological importance

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19. To conserve and + Restricting development conserves landscapes and enhance the quality and townscapes local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable - / 0 May prevent non-agricultural economic growth in rural levels of prosperity and areas economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient + Does not allow development in non-sustainable locations patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary More environmentally protective obviously but fails to fully recognise the value of the countryside as a place where local people work Secondary, Cumulative or Restricting development and not disturbing the synergistic effects: environment/townscape could increase tourism Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Mitigation of negative aspects only possible by being flexible in the summary: application of the policy.

Policy: SP23 – Regeneration (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: Priority for regeneration action shall be concentrated to rural areas, town centres, Leiston and Felixstowe. SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- + Aims to reduce localised social issues social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + Aims to reduce localised social deprivation social exclusion 05. To improve access to key + Aims to reduce localised social deprivation through services for all sectors of regeneration the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of + Aims to reduce localised social deprivation through where people live and to regeneration encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where - Regeneration of areas may cause an increase in traffic

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possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of - Regeneration of areas may cause an increase in traffic traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of - Regeneration of areas may cause an increase in energy greenhouse gasses from consumption energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and 0 enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + + Aims to regenerate failing rural areas and towns and levels of prosperity and kickstart prosperity and economic growth economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres + + Town centres targeted for regeneration, following concerns over impact of out-of-town stores and the growth of the Ipswich retail economy 22. To encourage efficient + Economic improvements in previously declining areas may patterns of movement in provide employment in the local area for those who were support of economic previously forced to travel growth 23. To encourage and + Regeneration of areas may attract investment accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Generally positive results, the only negative aspects relating to traffic generation. Secondary, Cumulative or Social deprivation generally less pronounced in areas of economic synergistic effects: activity Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Traffic to be an important consideration when considering proposals summary:

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Policy: SP24 – Tourism (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: To divide up the district and create a hierarchy of tourism areas linked to the settlement hierarchy. Opportunity for tourism based development will be considered upon the balance between economic advantages and environmental disadvantages. SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + + Aims to secure employment locally and in rural areas social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the + + Aims to maximise economic potential of rural areas and opportunity for rewarding secure employment locally and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where - Development may add to air pollution possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 / - Development may increase waste 14. To reduce the effects of 0 / + Encouragement for enterprises which are compatible with traffic on the objectives in respect of the environment environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and 0 / + Encouragement for enterprises which are compatible with enhance biodiversity and objectives in respect of the environment geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological

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importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + + Aims to maximise economic potential of rural areas and levels of prosperity and secure employment locally economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and + Encourages economic development accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary A very sustainable policy that recognises the capacity of individual areas to absorb development. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Traffic and waste are two negative aspects that will need to be summary: addressed in the consideration of individual proposals

Policy: SP24 (alternative option i) – Tourism

Policy summary: A more rigid strategy whereby proposals are examined on an individual basis and are resisted in identified sensitive areas such as the AONB. SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and - May prevent development of employment sites in rural social exclusion areas 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the - May prevent development of employment sites in rural opportunity for rewarding areas and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where + Does not allow development in non-sustainable locations

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possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil + + Does not allow land required for agriculture to be lost resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of + Does not allow development in non-sustainable locations traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and + + Restricting development conserves bio/geodiversity enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where + + Restricting development conserves areas of historical and appropriate enhance archaeological importance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and + Restricting development conserves landscapes and enhance the quality and townscapes local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable - / 0 May prevent non-agricultural economic growth in rural levels of prosperity and areas economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient + Does not allow development in non-sustainable locations patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary As expected, given the emphasis on environmental protection there are positive results in respect of environmental factors. However, the economic aspects are important particularly given the remainder of the Core Strategy in respect of such issues as rural regeneration. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Flexibility in the application of the policy, having regard to economic summary: regeneration

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Policy: SP25 – Retail Centres (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: No change to the current retail structure – policy will maintain and enhance existing retail centres (town centres, Martlesham Retail Park and district and local centres) SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the + Enhancing retail centres may provide more employment opportunity for rewarding opportunities and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of 0 traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumptio 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and 0 enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance

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19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + Aims to sustain and enhance the vitality and viability of levels of prosperity and retail centres economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres + Aims to sustain and enhance the vitality and viability of retail centres, including those in town centres 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Generally sustainable policy Secondary, Cumulative or Insert other effects synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term New development may generate traffic and waste during the short effects: term construction phase Mitigation proposals None necessary summary:

Policy: SP25 (alternative option i) – Retail Centres

Policy summary: A strategy to expand the retail provisions at Martlesham Business Park

SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of + May encourage development near residential areas the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key - Enlarging out-of-town developments around Ipswich may services for all sectors of reduce the amount of people using local services the population 06. To offer everybody the + May provide local services opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where - May encourage people to drive to out-of-town retail possible improve air developments around Ipswich

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quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of + May encourage development near residential areas traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and 0 enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres - Extra development of large out-of-town stores may damage local town centres 22. To encourage efficient + May encourage development near residential areas patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Scores poorer than the preferred option. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals None necessary summary:

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Policy: SP26 – Biodiversity & Geodiversity (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: A strategy for the protection and enhancement of biodiversity and geodiversity interests. SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the + Creation of habitat and implementation of BAP will opportunity for rewarding increase tourism/offer employment opportunities and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of + Aims to increase public access to biodiversity sites where where people live and to appropriate encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where + + Rivers, estuaries and coasts to be protected and enhanced possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil + Conservation of habitat will benefit soil quality resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of 0 traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and + + Principal aim of the policy enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance

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19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + Biodiversity site protection may increase tourism, provide levels of prosperity and jobs economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Very sustainable policy covering most aspects of the subject Secondary, Cumulative or Long term benefits for tourism synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals None necessary summary:

Policy: SP27 – Landscape & Townscape (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: To adopt an approach to local landscape issues based upon the use of the guidance provided in the Suffolk Landscape Character Assessment and ensure that compatible social or economic objectives may be achieved in these areas. SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the + Protecting and enhancing local landscape and promoting opportunity for rewarding their distinctiveness could increase tourism, whilst also and satisfying offering the possibility for suitable economic development. employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of + Aims to protect and enhance local landscapes where people live and to encourage community

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participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil + May prevent greenfield land being developed resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of 0 traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and + Protecting and enhancing landscapes could have positive enhance biodiversity and benefits for biodiversity geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and + + Aims to protect and enhance local landscapes and enhance the quality and promote their distinctiveness local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + / - Protecting and enhancing local landscapes and promoting levels of prosperity and their distinctiveness could increase tourism, but could economic growth prevent economic development throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Generally sustainable with slight concern in respect of economic impact, although the policy will not be applied in isolation. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Application of policy in conjunction with others, particularly in respect summary: of economic and rural regeneration

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Policy: SP27 (alternative option i) – Landscape & Townscape

Policy summary: To adopt an approach to local landscape issues based upon the current method and where the use of identified Special Landscape Area designations is employed and the Council may chose to reduce or expand these designations. SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 / - Protecting and enhancing local landscape and promoting opportunity for rewarding their distinctiveness could increase tourism, but could and satisfying prevent suitable social and economic opportunities employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of + Aims to protect and enhance local landscapes where people live and to encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil + May prevent greenfield land being developed resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of 0 traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumptionn 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and + Protecting and enhancing landscapes could have positive enhance biodiversity and benefits for biodiversity geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological

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importance 19. To conserve and + + Aims to protect and enhance local landscapes and enhance the quality and promote their distinctiveness local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + / - Protecting and enhancing local landscapes and promoting levels of prosperity and their distinctiveness could increase tourism, but could economic growth prevent economic development throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Potential limit on the opportunities represented through change, whether this be through development or land management ie. lack of options to enhance or diversify where compatible in order to achieve social or economic objectives.

Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term Long term impact on the rural economy effects: Mitigation proposals Application of policy in conjunction with others, particularly in respect summary: of economic and rural regeneration

Policy: SP28 – Climate Change (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: A policy which seeks to limit the environmental impact of development by minimising use of natural resources, utilising renewable energy schemes, minimising flood risk and improving the integration between plans and strategies in coastal areas. SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0

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requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where + + Aims to minimise impacts on air quality possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where + + Aims to minimise impacts on water quality possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil + Aims to minimise impacts on soil quality resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral + + Aims to minimise use of natural resources and utilise resources efficiently, and recycled materials re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste + + Aims to reduce waste 14. To reduce the effects of 0 traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of + + Aims to minimise greenhouse gas emissions greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to + + Aims to minimise the risk of flooding flooding 17. To conserve and + Aims to improve estuary and coastal management, enhance biodiversity and minimise pollution etc geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + Aims to provide a more sustainable base for economic levels of prosperity and growth economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Highly sustainable Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects:

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Mitigation proposals None necessary summary:

Policy: SP29 – Sport & Play (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: The strategy is a general support in principal for new and the protection and enhancement of existing sport provisions. The strategy also seeks for contributions from development to provide new sport and play areas SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of + + Aims to provide sport and play space the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- + Provision of activities could reduce anti-social activities social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of + Aims to provide sport and play space where people live and to encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where + Local facilities will reduce the need to travel possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of + Local facilities will reduce the need to travel traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumptionn 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and 0 enhance biodiversity and geodiversity

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18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient + Local facilities will reduce the need to travel patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Sustainable policy with the emphasis on the health of the population Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals None necessary summary:

Policy: SP30 – Green Space (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: The policy seeks to encourage, protect and enhance the provision of green space as well as seek contributions from development to provide new green space areas. SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of + Aims to provide greater access to green space the population overall 02. To maintain and improve + Access to sites aims to improve understanding of the levels of education and environment skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + Aims to provide access to benefit community cohesion social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community

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08. To improve the quality of + Aims to provide greater access to green space and may where people live and to benefit community cohesion encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of 0 traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumptionn 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and + Aims to protect wildlife enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and + Aims to protect landscape character enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Sustainable policy with the emphasis on the health of the population as well as the environment Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals None necessary

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summary:

Policy: SP31 – Infrastructure (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: The policy seeks to ensure that new development is suitably matched by sufficient and timely infrastructure improvements. SA objective: Impact: Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of + Seeks to meet public infrastructure needs, including health the population overall facilities 02. To maintain and improve + Seeks to meet public infrastructure needs, potentially levels of education and including schools skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- + Seeks to meet public infrastructure needs, including social social activity facilities 04. To reduce poverty and + Seeks to meet public infrastructure needs, including social social exclusion facilities 05. To improve access to key + + Seeks to meet public infrastructure needs services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the + Provision of services will provide a range of jobs; also opportunity for rewarding seeks to meet needs of commercial service provision and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of + Seeks to meet community infrastructure needs where people live and to encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where + Provision of community facilities will reduce the need to possible improve air travel quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of + Provision of community facilities will reduce the need to traffic on the travel environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumptionn 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and 0 enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and

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archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + Could help provide local jobs levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient + Could help provide local jobs patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Important element of the Strategy, particularly if the objectives are to be met, including that relating to sustainability Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals None necessary summary:

DEVELOPMENT CONTROL POLICIES

Policy: DC1 – Affordable Housing on Exception Sites (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: Permitting affordable housing schemes as exceptions to policy, adjacent to market towns, key service centres and local service centres, or within other villages. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 Enhance accessibility to services levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + + Aims to create and promote inclusive communities social exclusion 05. To improve access to key + Aims to enhance accessibility to services and create services for all sectors of integrated and sustainable transport system the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 Aims for a healthy economy, balance of employment opportunity for rewarding opportunities and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing + + Achieve local balance between housing growth and requirements of the employment opportunities whole community

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08. To improve the quality of 0 Maintain and enhance a sense of place/the built where people live and to environment; promote inclusive communities encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where 0 / - Aims to reduce need to travel, promote sustainable travel possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0 / - Prioritises reuse of previously developed land resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 / - 14. To reduce the effects of 0 / - Aims to reduce need to travel, promotes sustainable travel, traffic on the integrated transport etc environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 / - Aims to reduce overall need to travel, re-use previously greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and 0 / - Aims to conserve and enhance the natural environment enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where + Aims to conserve and enhance the built environment appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and + Takes advantage of regeneration, provide appropriate enhance the quality and infrastructure for communities, promote inclusive local distinctiveness of communities, conserve and enhance the built environment landscapes and and a sense of place townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + Aims to enable a healthy economy, relate development to levels of prosperity and employment, enhance accessibility services, re-use of economic growth previously developed land and buildings throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 Aims to enable a healthy economy, notably in town centres, re-use previously developed areas 22. To encourage efficient + New housing development to be related to employment, patterns of movement in transport and infrastructure; integrated and sustainable support of economic transport system, reduce overall need to travel growth 23. To encourage and 0 Aims for improved employment opportunities; regeneration accommodate both opportunities indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Policy does not seek to consider local bio or geodiversity issues or encourage waste minimisation. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects:

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Mitigation proposals The negative issues such as biodiversity and waste by combining the summary: application of this policy with others on those specific subjects when considering proposals.

Policy: DC1 (Alternative option i) – Affordable Housing on Exception Sites

Policy summary: As preferred option but restricting acceptable proposals to a specific size

SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + + Aims to benefit those on low incomes social exclusion 05. To improve access to key + Ensures affordable homes are located near services and services for all sectors of facilities the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing + Less housing provided on exception sites requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where 0 / - Could have negative impact possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0 / - Will take land for housing resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 / - Potentially can generate more waste. 14. To reduce the effects of 0 / - May increase traffic, but not significantly. traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 / - Sustainable building design can mitigate against this SA greenhouse gasses from objective. (DC24) energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and 0 / - Not mentioned in this policy wording. enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where + Scale and character of settlement considered

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appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and + Effect on countryside considered enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + New housing can help support services levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient + Proximity to services will contribute to efficient patterns of patterns of movement in movement. support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Same impacts as preferred option will result but to a lesser extent. Only significantly difference is will provide less housing. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Same mitigation summary:

Policy: DC2 – Affordable Housing on Residential Sites (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: In housing developments above certain sizes requiring one in three of the new units to be affordable ones. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and 0 skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and ++ Aims to benefit those on low incomes social exclusion 05. To improve access to key Ensures affordable homes are located near services and services for all sectors of + facilities the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding 0 and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing requirements of the ++ Provided housing for the whole community. whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to

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encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where Could have some negative effects but no different to open possible improve air 0/- market housing quality 10. To maintain and where possible improve water 0 quality 11. To conserve soil 0/- Will take land resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and 0 re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste Potentially can generate waste but no different to open 0/- market housing. 14. To reduce the effects of Proximity of public transport should reduce the effects of traffic on the + traffic on the environment. environment 15. To reduce emissions of Sustainable building design can mitigate against this SA greenhouse gasses from 0/- objective. (DC24) energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and enhance biodiversity and 0 geodiversity 18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas of historical and 0 archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of 0 landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and Proximity to services will contribute to efficient patterns of + economic growth movement. throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in Proximity to services will contribute to encouragement of + support of economic efficient patterns of movement. growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both 0 indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Slight negatives are unlikely to be any different to open market housing. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals summary:

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Policy: DC2 – Affordable Housing on Residential Sites (Alternative option )

Policy summary: As the preferred option except the proportion is 24% as recommended in the Housing Needs Assessment SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and 0 skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and ++ Aims to benefit those on low incomes social exclusion 05. To improve access to key Ensures affordable homes are located near services and services for all sectors of + facilities the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding 0 and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing requirements of the + Less affordable housing provided whole community 08. To improve the quality of where people live and to 0 encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where Could have some negative effects but no different to open possible improve air 0/- market housing quality 10. To maintain and where possible improve water 0 quality 11. To conserve soil 0/- Will take land resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and 0 re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste Potentially can generate waste but no different to open 0/- market housing. 14. To reduce the effects of Proximity of public transport should reduce the effects of traffic on the + traffic on the environment. environment 15. To reduce emissions of Sustainable building design can mitigate against this SA greenhouse gasses from 0/- objective. (DC24) energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and enhance biodiversity and 0 geodiversity 18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance 0 areas of historical and

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archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of 0 landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and Proximity to services will contribute to efficient patterns of + economic growth movement. throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in Proximity to services will contribute to encouragement of + support of economic efficient patterns of movement. growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both 0 indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Same impacts will result but to a lesser extent. Only significantly difference is will provide less housing. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals summary:

Policy: DC3 – Retention of Small Dwellings (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: Restricting future extensions to new, small dwellings

SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and

skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0

social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding

and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing + requirements of the Ensures a range of housing sizes are retained whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to

encourage community participation

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09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0

resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and

re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of 0 traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0

flooding 17. To conserve and 0 enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and

economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in

support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both

indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary No mitigation required Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals summary:

Policy: DC3 – Retention of Small Dwellings (Alternative Option)

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Policy summary: Restricting future extensions to all small dwellings

SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and

skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0

social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding

and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing Would not allow expansion of older housing for growing requirements of the 0 families whole community 08. To improve the quality of where people live and to Existing residents would be disappointed that could not - encourage community adapt their homes to meet their needs. participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0

resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and

flooding 17. To conserve and 0 enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0

enhance the quality and

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local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and

economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in

support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both

indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Policy would be unfair to people who bought their property with a view to expanding it as their family grew Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals summary:

Policy: DC Policy 4 – Housing in the Countryside (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: New housing not to be permitted in the countryside other than for specified exceptions SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and 0 skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key services for all sectors of 0 the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding + Supports agriculture, forestry and rural based enterprises and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing Allows housing for agricultural, forestry and rural based requirements of the + enterprise workers whole community 08. To improve the quality of where people live and to + Allows residential annexes and replacement dwellings encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where possible improve air 0 quality 10. To maintain and where 0

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possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and 0 re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of traffic on the 0 environment 15. To reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses from 0 energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and Aims to restrict development and protect countryside for its enhance biodiversity and + own sake geodiversity 18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas of historical and 0 archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and Does not allow replacement dwellings that are more local distinctiveness of + visually intrusive landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and 0 economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in + Allows dwellings linked to employment support of economic growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both 0 indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary No mitigation required Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals summary:

Policy: DC5 - Clusters (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: Proposals for new dwellings within clusters of houses in the countryside will be permitted subject to specified criteria SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall

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02. To maintain and improve levels of education and 0 skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key services for all sectors of 0 the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding 0 and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing requirements of the + Allows infilling whole community 08. To improve the quality of where people live and to 0 encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where Development could add to air quality issues. possible improve air 0/- quality 10. To maintain and where Could be slight negative effect – mitigation achieved by possible improve water 0/- using SUDs to maintain water quality. quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and 0 re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - More buildings – more waste generated. 14. To reduce the effects of traffic on the - Potential for more traffic. environment 15. To reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses from 0/- More traffic – more carbon dioxide. Mitigation – monitoring. energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and enhance biodiversity and 0/+ Sensitive locations taken into account geodiversity 18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas of historical and ++ Character and appearance considered archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and Impact on Conservation Areas, AONB & Special Landscape local distinctiveness of ++ Areas considered. landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and 0 economic growth

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throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres + Allows infill in town centres 22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in + Allows infill in settlements that have services and jobs. support of economic growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both 0 indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Possible negative impacts on water quality, air quality and greenhouse emissions. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Application of other policies relating to the negative impacts summary:

Policy: DC5 - Clusters (Alternative Option)

Policy summary: Proposals for new dwellings within clusters of houses in the countryside will be permitted subject to specified criteria and following a sequential approach SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and 0 skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key services for all sectors of 0 the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding 0 and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing requirements of the + Allows infilling whole community 08. To improve the quality of where people live and to 0 encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where Development could add to air quality issues. possible improve air 0/- quality 10. To maintain and where Could be slight negative effect – mitigation achieved by possible improve water 0/- using SUDs to maintain water quality. quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0

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resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - More buildings – more waste generated. 14. To reduce the effects of Potential for less traffic if development locates within traffic on the 0/- settlements. environment 15. To reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses from 0/- More traffic – more carbon dioxide. Mitigation – monitoring. energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and enhance biodiversity and 0/+ Sensitive locations taken into account geodiversity 18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas of historical and ++ Character and appearance considered archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and Impact on Conservation Areas, AONB & Special Landscape local distinctiveness of + Areas considered. However, may lead to ‘town cramming’. landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and 0 economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres + Allows infill in town centres 22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in + Allows infill in settlements that have services and jobs. support of economic growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both 0 indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Little difference to preferred option. However, ‘town cramming’ of concern if caused by the emphasis on sites within settlements. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Possibility of applying further criterion relating to ‘town cramming’ summary:

Policy: DC6 – Houses in Multiple Occupation (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: The criteria against which proposals to convert houses into units of multiple occupation will be considered. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of + Protects against loss of private amenity space the population overall 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and 0 skills in the population

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overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- + Considers problems from structure-borne noise social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key Does not state converted houses need to be in areas with services for all sectors of - access to facilities the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding 0 and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing requirements of the + Contributes to range of housing available whole community 08. To improve the quality of where people live and to

encourage community 0 participation 09. To maintain and where Will increase traffic by providing parking but considers possible improve air -/+ public transport available quality 10. To maintain and where possible improve water 0 quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and 0 re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - Increased occupants will increase waste 14. To reduce the effects of traffic on the -/+ Will increase traffic but encourages use of public transport environment 15. To reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses from - More residents will increase energy use energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and enhance biodiversity and + Resists loss of gardens and amenity space geodiversity 18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas of historical and + Protects external character of building archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of + Protects against impact on area landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and 0 economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient + Proximity of homes and jobs could encourage efficient

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patterns of movement in movements support of economic growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both 0 indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Generally sustainable but needs to make clear conversions need to be in towns or areas with access to services.

Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Combine use of policy with others relating to access to services and summary: sustainability

Policy: DC6 – Houses in Multiple Occupation (Alternative Option)

Policy summary: Same criteria except include a presumption against car parking provision in urban areas SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of + Protects against loss of private amenity space the population overall 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and 0 skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- + Considers problems from structure-borne noise social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key services for all sectors of + Allows more to live in urban area with services the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding 0 and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing requirements of the + Contributes to range of housing available whole community 08. To improve the quality of where people live and to Lower resident satisfaction unable to own cars & not all -- encourage community urban areas have bus services participation 09. To maintain and where possible improve air + Could reduce car movements quality 10. To maintain and where possible improve water 0 quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and 0 re-use and recycle where possible

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13. To reduce waste - Increased occupants will increase waste 14. To reduce the effects of traffic on the ++ Could reduce car ownership in urban areas environment 15. To reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses from - More residents will increase energy use energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and enhance biodiversity and + Resists loss of gardens and amenity space geodiversity 18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas of historical and + Protects external character of building archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of + Protects against impact on area landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and 0 economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres + Reduced residential traffic will benefit business 22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in + Reduced residential traffic will benefit business support of economic growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both 0 indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Scores better than preferred policy because it refers to urban areas and will have greater impact on encouraging sustainable transport use. However, fails to recognise that even within urban areas the presence and level of public transport can vary. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Treat proposals on a case-by-case basis having regard to local summary: circumstances.

Policy: DC7 – Residential Annexes (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: The circumstances in which self-contained annexes to existing dwellings will be permitted, for example for an elderly relative. Such annexes could be in the form of extensions, conversions of out-buildings or new build. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of Benefits elderly or disabled dependants & protects against + the population overall loss of residential amenity 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and 0 skills in the population overall

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03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + Encourages inclusion by keeping families together social exclusion 05. To improve access to key services for all sectors of 0 the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding 0 and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing requirements of the ++ Assist provision of specialist housing whole community 08. To improve the quality of where people live and to Benefits elderly and disabled encourage community + participation 09. To maintain and where possible improve air 0 quality 10. To maintain and where possible improve water 0 quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and 0 re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of traffic on the 0 environment 15. To reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses from 0 energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and enhance biodiversity and 0/- May result in loss of gardens geodiversity 18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas of historical and + No adverse effect on visual amenity allowed archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of ++ No adverse effect on visual amenity or landscape allowed landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and 0 economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in

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support of economic growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both 0 indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary No mitigation required Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals summary:

Policy: DC7 – Residential Annexes (Alternative Option)

Policy summary: The same criteria except annexes can be in the form of extensions only

SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of Benefits elderly or disabled dependants & protects against + the population overall loss of residential amenity 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and 0 skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + Encourages inclusion by keeping families together social exclusion 05. To improve access to key services for all sectors of 0 the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding 0 and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing requirements of the ++ Assist provision of specialist housing whole community 08. To improve the quality of where people live and to Benefits elderly and disabled encourage community + participation 09. To maintain and where possible improve air 0 quality 10. To maintain and where possible improve water 0 quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and 0 re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of 0 traffic on the

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environment 15. To reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses from 0 energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and May result in loss of gardens but potentially less than new enhance biodiversity and 0/- buildings geodiversity 18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas of historical and + No adverse effect on visual amenity allowed archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of ++ No adverse effect on visual amenity or landscape allowed landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and 0 economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in 0 support of economic growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both 0 indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary No different to preferred option. No mitigation required Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals summary:

Policy: DC8 – Infilling and Backland Development (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: The circumstances in which the sub-division of plots, eg by building on the garden of a house, will be permitted. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and 0 skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of

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the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding 0 and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing Additional dwellings will contribute to meeting the housing requirements of the + requirements . whole community 08. To improve the quality of where people live and to 0 encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where Principles of sustainable building design will mitigate any possible improve air 0/- negative effects on air quality. quality 10. To maintain and where Principles of sustainable building design will mitigate any possible improve water 0/- negative effects on water quality. quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and 0 re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - More buildings – more waste. 14. To reduce the effects of traffic on the - Potentially more cars environment 15. To reduce emissions of Could be mitigated by using principles of sustainable greenhouse gasses from 0/- building design. energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and enhance biodiversity and 0/- Loss of gardens geodiversity 18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas of historical and 0 archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of + Protects character of surroundings landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and Seeks efficient use of land that does not prejudice + economic growth development of adjacent land throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in 0 support of economic growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both Seeks efficient use of land that does not prejudice + indigenous and inward development of adjacent land investment

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Assessment Summary Negative effects on waste & traffic require mitigation Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Combined use with other policies on sustainability summary:

Policy: DC10 – Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpersons (Preferred Option) Policy summary: The criteria against which proposals for sites and pitches will be assessed, including personal as well as site criteria SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and + Considers needs of children’s education skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + Encourages sites to be well related to existing urban areas. social exclusion 05. To improve access to key services for all sectors of + Encourages sites to be well related to existing urban areas. the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding 0 and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing requirements of the + Recognises needs of gypsies, travellers and showpeople whole community 08. To improve the quality of where people live and to Positive for gypsies but may be negative for existing +/- encourage community residents participation 09. To maintain and where possible improve air 0/- Slightly negative due to the additional traffic. quality 10. To maintain and where possible improve water + Considers need for mains water and sewage quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and 0 re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - Can generate more waste. 14. To reduce the effects of traffic on the - Generate more traffic. environment 15. To reduce emissions of More traffic & energy use cause more carbon dioxide greenhouse gasses from 0/- emissions. energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to + Sites must not be vulnerable to flooding flooding

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17. To conserve and enhance biodiversity and + Considered within and adjacent to site geodiversity 18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas of historical and 0/- Visual impact considered archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of + Visual impact considered landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and 0 economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in 0 support of economic growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both 0 indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Waste minimisation is not a feature of the policy but can be achieved through education Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals No mitigation proposed summary:

Policy: DC11 – Protection of Employment Sites (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: Presumption in favour of retaining land/buildings in employment use unless it can be clearly demonstrated that there is no demand or there are benefits of alternative use. Mixed uses (but not residential) included. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and 0 skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- + Reuse of redundant sites can reduce vandalism social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key Change to residential use has to be on site within physical services for all sectors of + limits boundary the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding + Seeks to retain employment sites and satisfying employment

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07. To meet the housing requirements of the + Can allow change to residential whole community 08. To improve the quality of where people live and to + Redevelopment can improve quality of place encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where possible improve air 0 quality 10. To maintain and where possible improve water 0 quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and 0 re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of traffic on the 0 environment 15. To reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses from 0 energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and Impact will depend on previous use but not specifically enhance biodiversity and ?/- considered geodiversity 18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas of historical and - Industrial archaeology or historic buildings not considered archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of - Impact not considered landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and + Seeks to retain employment uses economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in + Planning benefit of change considered support of economic growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both + Retention of sites makes land available for business indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Replacement activity on site means likely to be little change to traffic, waste etc Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects:

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Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Negative aspects, eg historic buildings can be reduced by combined summary: use with other policies and objectives

Policy: DC11 – Protection of Employment Sites (Alternative Option)

Policy summary: Same criteria except mixed uses (excluding residential) not included.

SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and 0 skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- + Reuse of redundant sites can reduce vandalism social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key Change to residential use has to be on site within physical services for all sectors of + limits boundary the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding + Seeks to retain employment sites and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing requirements of the + Can allow change to residential whole community 08. To improve the quality of where people live and to + Redevelopment can improve quality of place encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where possible improve air 0 quality 10. To maintain and where possible improve water 0 quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and 0 re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of traffic on the 0 environment 15. To reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses from 0 energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and Impact will depend on previous use but not specifically enhance biodiversity and ?/- considered geodiversity

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18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas of historical and - Industrial archaeology or historic buildings not considered archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of - Impact not considered landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and + Seeks to retain employment uses economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in + Planning benefit of change considered support of economic growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both + Retention of sites makes land available for business indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Same as preferred option but less flexible Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Negative aspects, eg historic buildings can be reduced by combined summary: use with other policies and objectives

Policy: DC12 – Warehousing and Storage (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: Guidance on suitable locations for warehouses, storage compounds, open storage. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and 0 skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key services for all sectors of 0 the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding 0 and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing requirements of the 0 whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0

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where people live and to encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where Increased HGV traffic, pollution possible improve air -

quality 10. To maintain and where possible improve water 0 quality 11. To conserve soil - Greenfield land will be utilised. resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and 0 re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of traffic on the - Increased traffic, including HGVs, to warehouse environment 15. To reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses from - Increased traffic can cause more carbon dioxide. energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to - Increased impermeable surface increases runoff. flooding 17. To conserve and enhance biodiversity and 0 geodiversity 18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas of historical and 0 archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of 0 landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and Encourages economic growth, more employment + economic growth opportunities. throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in More local warehousing may aid efficient distribution of + support of economic goods growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both Encourages economic growth, more employment + indigenous and inward opportunities. investment Assessment Summary Negative impacts are triggered by the increase in HGV traffic associated with warehousing and storage depots. This is counterbalanced by the economic benefits, particularly given the presence of the Port of Felixstowe. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects:

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Mitigation proposals Mitigation would be to ensure that all proposals are well related to the summary: road network (seeking to minimise the length of trips and impact on existing air quality issues). Combination with other policies will address issues such as priority being given to the reuse of brownfield land before greenfield and vulnerability to flooding

Policy: DC13 – Expansion and Intensification of Employment Sites (Preferred Option) Policy summary: Considerations to apply in the case of proposals to expand or intensify existing employment uses. Reference to mitigation measures designed to reduce vehicle movements SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and 0 skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key services for all sectors of + Considers provision of services the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding ++ Potential to create more job opportunities. and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing requirements of the 0 whole community 08. To improve the quality of where people live and to ++ Considers impact on residential amenity & living conditions encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where possible improve air + Considers living conditions quality 10. To maintain and where possible improve water 0/- Usage of SUDs will be a mitigation measure. quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and 0 re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of traffic on the + Considers transport and traffic mitigation measures environment 15. To reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses from 0/- Negative as a result of increased traffic. energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and + Conservation of the environment considered

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enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas of historical and 0/- Not clearly addressed in this policy. archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of + Conservation of the environment considered landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and + Encourages additional employment economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in + Considers traffic impacts support of economic growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both + Employment sites will attract investment. indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary ‘Conservation of the environment’ is a generic term and not clear what it might cover Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Combine the use with other policies and objectives such as summary: conservation of historic interest.

Policy: DC13 – Expansion and Intensification of Employment Sites (Alternative Option) Policy summary: Omit reference to mitigation measures designed to reduce vehicle movements SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and 0 skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key services for all sectors of + Considers provision of services the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding ++ Potential to create more job opportunities. and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the

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whole community 08. To improve the quality of where people live and to ++ Considers impact on residential amenity & living conditions encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where Could be more air quality issues if no mitigation for possible improve air - transport movements quality 10. To maintain and where possible improve water 0/- Usage of SUDs will be a mitigation measure. quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and 0 re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of traffic on the - Not specifically consider mitigation of traffic impacts environment 15. To reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses from - May be increased traffic & hence emissions energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and enhance biodiversity and + Conservation of the environment considered geodiversity 18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas of historical and 0/- Not clearly addressed in this policy. archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of + Conservation of the environment considered landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and + Encourages additional employment economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in + Considers traffic impacts support of economic growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both + Employment sites will attract investment. indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Alternative offers no advantages over preferred policy. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Combine the use with other policies and objectives such as

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summary: conservation of historic interest.

Policy: DC14 – Conversion and Re-use of Redundant Buildings in the Countryside (Preferred Option) Policy summary: The criteria against which re-use and conversions will be considered including to a residential use SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and 0 skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key services for all sectors of + Allows reuse of buildings for local services the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding Buildings turned to employment use, local employees + and satisfying encouraged employment 07. To meet the housing requirements of the ++ Allows conversions to residential use whole community 08. To improve the quality of Policy protects against negative effects of traffic on local where people live and to 0 residents but could be a cumulative effect if several encourage community developments. participation 09. To maintain and where possible improve air 0 As above quality 10. To maintain and where possible improve water 0 quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and 0 re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - Increased development will produce more waste 14. To reduce the effects of traffic on the - Traffic will increase environment 15. To reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses from - Traffic will increase energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to -/0 Could allow reuse of buildings in flood risks zones. flooding 17. To conserve and Survey work required for legally protected species & their enhance biodiversity and + habitats geodiversity 18. To conserve and where Allows reuse of buildings and alterations that respects appropriate enhance ++ traditional design. areas of historical and

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archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and Contribution to/maintenance of character to local area local distinctiveness of + required by policy landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and Some buildings may be converted to employment use in + economic growth the countryside throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in 0 support of economic growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both + Conversion for employment use may attract investment indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Reuse of buildings will result in waste being produced. Waste minimisation and recycling needs to be required. Traffic will increase as a result of reuse of buildings however the policy seeks to ensure that it is at a level that can be accommodated by the road network and it will consider the cumulative effect if further proposals come forward. Ensure that permission is not given to developments in areas at high risk from flooding. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals No mitigation required if use is combined with other policies and summary: objectives.

Policy: DC14 – Conversion and Re-use of Redundant Buildings in the Countryside (Alternative Option) Policy summary: The same criteria except residential conversions not permitted at all

SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and 0 skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key services for all sectors of + Allows reuse of buildings for local services the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding Buildings turned to employment use, local employees + and satisfying encouraged employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the

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whole community 08. To improve the quality of Policy protects against negative effects of traffic on local where people live and to 0 residents but could be a cumulative effect if several encourage community developments. participation 09. To maintain and where possible improve air 0 As above quality 10. To maintain and where possible improve water 0 quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and 0 re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - Increased development will produce more waste 14. To reduce the effects of traffic on the - Traffic will increase environment 15. To reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses from - Traffic will increase energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to -/0 Could allow reuse of buildings in flood risks zones. flooding 17. To conserve and Survey work required for legally protected species & their enhance biodiversity and + habitats geodiversity 18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance Allows reuse of buildings and alterations that respects areas of historical and + traditional design. archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and Contribution to/maintenance of character to local area local distinctiveness of + required by policy landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and Some buildings may be converted to employment use in + economic growth the countryside throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in 0 support of economic growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both + Conversion for employment use may attract investment indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Alternative is less sustainable as buildings of architectural heritage but not listed may not be suitable for employment use and will not be considered for residential. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term

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effects: Mitigation proposals No mitigation required if use is combined with other policies and summary: objectives.

Policy: DC15 – Farm Diversification (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: Criteria against which proposals relating to farm diversification will be assessed SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and 0 skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key services for all sectors of 0 the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding ++ New opportunities for employment. and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing requirements of the 0 whole community 08. To improve the quality of where people live and to 0 encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where Potentially could create more traffic, but addressed in detail possible improve air 0/- in the policy and monitoring should be suggested as quality mitigation measure. 10. To maintain and where possible improve water 0 quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and 0 re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - New activities create waste 14. To reduce the effects of traffic on the + Impact on road network & access to PRN considered environment 15. To reduce emissions of Can have additional lorry movements – increased carbon greenhouse gasses from 0/- dioxide emissions. energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and enhance Could have negative effects. Not clearly reflected in this biodiversity and - policy. Mitigation – Surveys. geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0

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appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of 0 landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and + Creates additional employment. economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in + Impact on road network & access to PRN considered support of economic growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both + Attracts investment. indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Farms could be used as composting facilities and help reduce waste. Biodiversity not considered Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Mitigation against negative impacts is within other policies that also summary: apply to proposals, eg biodiversity

Policy: DC15 – Farm Diversification (Alternative Option)

Policy summary: Apply a strict policy whereby the countryside is protected for its sake and uses and activities alternative to agriculture are not permitted SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and 0 skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key services for all sectors of 0 the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding Restricted to agriculture, forestry and horticulture or + and satisfying otherwise permitted by Local Plan employment 07. To meet the housing requirements of the 0 whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to

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encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where Potentially could create more traffic, but addressed in possible improve air 0/- detail in the policy and monitoring should be suggested as quality mitigation measure. 10. To maintain and where possible improve water 0 quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and 0 re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - New activities create waste 14. To reduce the effects of traffic on the + Impact on road network & access to PRN considered environment 15. To reduce emissions of Can have additional lorry movements – increased carbon greenhouse gasses from 0/- dioxide emissions. energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and Could have negative effects. Not clearly reflected in this enhance biodiversity and - policy. Mitigation – Surveys. geodiversity 18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas of historical and 0 archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of 0 landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and 0 Less employment and reduce range created economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in + Impact on road network & access to PRN considered support of economic growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both 0 Reduced opportunities for investment indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary ALTERNATIVE IS LESS SUSTAINABLE Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals None considered summary:

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Policy: DC16 – Large Agricultural Buildings and Structures (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: Proposals for large agricultural buildings includes structures for livestock and bulk storage will only be permitted where stated criteria are met. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and 0 skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key services for all sectors of 0 the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding 0/+ Potential for employment. and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing requirements of the 0 whole community 08. To improve the quality of where people live and to 0 encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where possible improve air 0/- Can potentially increase traffic. quality 10. To maintain and where possible improve water + Disposal of effluent considered quality 11. To conserve soil - Could take greenfield land resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and 0 re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - Will increase waste 14. To reduce the effects of traffic on the + Considers road network and free flow of traffic environment 15. To reduce emissions of Could have some additional carbon dioxide emissions due greenhouse gasses from 0/- to traffic. energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and enhance biodiversity and - Considers AONB and SLA but not biodiversity. geodiversity 18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas of historical and 0 archaeological importance

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19. To conserve and enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of ++ Considers AONB and SLA landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and + Allows expansion of agricultural activities economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in Considers traffic generation & seeks to maximise location + support of economic in relation to road network growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both + Will attract investment. indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Lack of consideration of biodiversity and geodiversity. Potential use of greenfield land. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Mitigation against negative impacts is within other policies that also summary: apply to proposals, eg biodiversity

Policy: DC16 – Large Agricultural Buildings and Structures (Alternative Option)

Policy summary: As preferred option except a high standard of design is only expected within designated landscape areas SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and 0 skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key services for all sectors of 0 the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding 0/+ Potential for employment. and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing requirements of the 0 whole community 08. To improve the quality of where people live and to Outside designated landscape ares residents have to - encourage community accept lower standard of design and landscaping participation 09. To maintain and where 0/- Can potentially increase traffic. possible improve air

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quality 10. To maintain and where possible improve water + Disposal of effluent considered quality 11. To conserve soil - Could take greenfield land resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and 0 re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - Will increase waste 14. To reduce the effects of traffic on the + Considers road network and free flow of traffic environment 15. To reduce emissions of Could have some additional carbon dioxide emissions due greenhouse gasses from 0/- to traffic. energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and enhance biodiversity and - Considers AONB and SLA but not biodiversity. geodiversity 18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas of historical and 0 archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and Only requires high standards of design & landscape local distinctiveness of + schemes in designated landscape areas. landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and + Allows expansion of agricultural activities economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in Considers traffic generation & seeks to maximise location + support of economic in relation to road network growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both + Will attract investment. indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary ALTERNATIVE IS LESS SUSTAINABLE Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals None considered summary:

Policy: DC17 Farm Shops – (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: Positive policy supporting farm shops subject to certain criteria including origin and range of goods sold SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation:

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01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and 0 skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key Recognises farm shops may provide facility not otherwise services for all sectors of + available to community the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding + Creates employment opportunities. and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing requirements of the 0 whole community 08. To improve the quality of where people live and to + Facilitates purchase of local produce encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where possible improve air 0 Volume of traffic considered quality 10. To maintain and where possible improve water 0 quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and 0 re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - May increase waste 14. To reduce the effects of traffic on the 0 Volume of traffic considered environment 15. To reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses from 0 Volume of traffic considered energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and enhance biodiversity and 0 geodiversity 18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas of historical and + Should retain character of farm buildings converted to shop archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and Impact on surrounding area considered & must avoid open local distinctiveness of + countryside landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + Opportunities for new employment.

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levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in Retail not related to farm will be directed to higher order + support of economic settlement growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both + Likely to attract investment. indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Positive and sustainable policy Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Negative aspect of waste disposal needs to be considered as part of summary: individual proposals

Policy: DC18 – Touring Caravan and Camping Sites (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: Restrictions on where touring caravan and camping sites will not be permitted, particularly in respect of designated areas SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and 0 skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key services for all sectors of 0 the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding 0 and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing requirements of the 0 whole community 08. To improve the quality of where people live and to 0/- Could have some minor negative effects on local residents. encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where possible improve air 0 Free flow of traffic considered quality 10. To maintain and where possible improve water 0 quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0

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resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - Can increase waste. 14. To reduce the effects of New/bigger sites will increase traffic but highway safety & traffic on the 0 free flow considered environment 15. To reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses from 0/- Traffic will cause some additional carbon emissions. energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to - No consideration given flooding 17. To conserve and enhance biodiversity and + Protection of adjacent wildlife sites considered geodiversity 18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas of historical and 0 archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and Not permitted in Heritage Coast, estuaries, exposed AONB local distinctiveness of ++ or anywhere where adverse impact on landscape landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and + Will encourage tourists that will support local businesses economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in 0 support of economic growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both 0 indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Waste disposal issue as well as vulnerability to flooding.

Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Other policies, applied in tandem, address the negative aspects. summary:

Policy: DC18 – Touring Caravan and Camping Sites (Alternative Option)

Policy summary: As preferred option except all sites limited in size irrespective of location

SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and 0 skills in the population overall

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03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key services for all sectors of 0 the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding 0 and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing requirements of the 0 whole community 08. To improve the quality of where people live and to 0 Smaller sites likely to have less impact on local residents encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where possible improve air 0 Free flow of traffic considered quality 10. To maintain and where possible improve water 0 quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and 0 re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - Can increase waste. 14. To reduce the effects of New/bigger sites will increase traffic but highway safety & traffic on the 0 free flow considered environment 15. To reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses from 0 Less impact due to less traffic and energy use energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to - No consideration given flooding 17. To conserve and enhance biodiversity and + Protection of adjacent wildlife sites considered geodiversity 18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas of historical and 0 archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and Not permitted in Heritage Coast, estuaries, exposed AONB local distinctiveness of ++ or anywhere where adverse impact on landscape landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and 0 Fewer tourists economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in

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support of economic growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both 0 indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Marginally lower impact on environmental aspects but would be loss of tourism revenue if small sites allowed where larger ones could be accommodated. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals None considered summary:

Policy: DC19 – Static Holiday Caravans, Cabins and Chalets (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: The locations where such sites will be permitted and the criteria for their assessment SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and 0 skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key services for all sectors of 0 the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding 0 and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing requirements of the 0 whole community 08. To improve the quality of where people live and to 0/- Could have some minor negative effects on local residents. encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where possible improve air 0 Free flow of traffic considered quality 10. To maintain and where possible improve water 0 quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and 0 re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - Can increase waste.

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14. To reduce the effects of New/bigger sites will increase traffic but highway safety & traffic on the 0 free flow considered environment 15. To reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses from 0/- Traffic will cause some additional carbon emissions. energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to - No consideration given flooding 17. To conserve and enhance biodiversity and - No consideration given geodiversity 18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas of historical and 0 archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and Not permitted in Heritage Coast, estuaries, exposed AONB local distinctiveness of ++ or anywhere where adverse impact on landscape landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and + Will encourage tourists that will support local businesses economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in 0 support of economic growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both 0 indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Waste disposal issue as well as vulnerability to flooding.

Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Other policies, applied in tandem, address the negative aspects. summary:

Policy: DC19 – Static Holiday Caravans, Cabins and Chalets (Alternative Option)

Policy summary: As preferred option except all sites limited in size irrespective of location

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05. To improve access to key services for all sectors of 0 the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding 0 and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing requirements of the 0 whole community 08. To improve the quality of where people live and to 0 Smaller sites likely to have less impact on local residents encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where possible improve air 0 Free flow of traffic considered quality 10. To maintain and where possible improve water 0 quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and 0 re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - Can increase waste. 14. To reduce the effects of New/bigger sites will increase traffic but highway safety & traffic on the 0 free flow considered environment 15. To reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses from 0 Less impact due to less traffic and energy use energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to - No consideration given flooding 17. To conserve and enhance biodiversity and - No consideration given geodiversity 18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas of historical and 0 archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and local Not permitted in Heritage Coast, estuaries, exposed AONB distinctiveness of ++ or anywhere where adverse impact on landscape landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and 0 Fewer tourists economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in 0 support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both

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indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Marginally lower impact on environmental aspects but would be loss of tourism revenue if small sites allowed where larger ones could be accommodated. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals None considered summary:

Policy: DC20 – Parking Standards (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: Reference to standards contained within supplementary planning guidance and exceptions such as town centres. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of Encourages investment in cycling and walking measures + the population overall instead of parking. 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and 0 skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key Encourages investment in cycling, walking, public transport services for all sectors of + and public car parking, increasing choice of access. the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding 0 and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing requirements of the 0 whole community 08. To improve the quality of where people live and to Increasing choice of access could improve satisfaction with + encourage community local area participation 09. To maintain and where possible improve air - Parking provision will encourage private car usage quality 10. To maintain and where possible improve water 0 quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and 0 re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of traffic on the - Parking provision will encourage private car usage environment

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15. To reduce emissions of Parking provision will encourage private car usage; and greenhouse gasses from - therefore energy consumption and emissions energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and enhance biodiversity and -/0 Minor impacts from land take geodiversity 18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas of historical and 0 archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of 0 landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and 0 economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres Planned provision of parking and other forms of access will +/0 help bring people into town centres 22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in Planned provision of parking and other forms of access will + support of economic contribute to efficient movement patterns. growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both 0 indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Inevitable negative impacts given that the policy relates to an aspect of vehicular movement Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Negative effects of increased traffic flows will be considered when summary: looking at the suitability of the development for its proposed location.

Policy: DC20 – Parking Standards (Alternative Option)

Policy summary: As preferred option but with no exceptions

SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of Encourages investment in cycling and walking measures + the population overall instead of parking. 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and 0 skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key Encourages investment in cycling, walking, public transport + services for all sectors of and public car parking, increasing choice of access.

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the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding 0 and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing requirements of the 0 whole community 08. To improve the quality of where people live and to Increasing choice of access could improve satisfaction with + encourage community local area participation 09. To maintain and where possible improve air - - Parking provision will encourage private car usage quality 10. To maintain and where possible improve water 0 quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and 0 re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of traffic on the - - Parking provision will encourage private car usage environment 15. To reduce emissions of Parking provision will encourage private car usage; and greenhouse gasses from - - therefore energy consumption and emissions energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and enhance biodiversity and -/0 Minor impacts from land take geodiversity 18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas of historical and 0 archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of 0 landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and 0 economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres Planned provision of parking and other forms of access will +/0 help bring people into town centres 22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in Planned provision of parking and other forms of access will + support of economic contribute to efficient movement patterns. growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both 0 indigenous and inward

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investment Assessment Summary Inevitable negative impacts given that the policy relates to an aspect of vehicular movement. More so with no exceptions in locations with good public transport Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Negative effects of increased traffic flows could be considered when summary: looking at the suitability of the development for its proposed location.

Policy: DC21 – Travel Plans (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: Need for green travel plans as part of proposals with significant traffic generation SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of + Encourages cycling and walking the population overall 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and 0 skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + Improves facilities for cycling and walking social exclusion 05. To improve access to key services for all sectors of + Links to public transport are mentioned in the policy. the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding 0 and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing requirements of the 0 whole community 08. To improve the quality of where people live and to + Encourages investment in sustainable transport encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where possible improve air ++ Seeks to reduce traffic quality 10. To maintain and where possible improve water 0 quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and 0 re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of traffic on the ++ Decrease the amount of traffic. environment 15. To reduce emissions of + Decreased traffic will reduce the carbon release. greenhouse gasses from

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energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and enhance biodiversity and 0 geodiversity 18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas of historical and 0 archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of 0 landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and 0 economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in Encourages range of modes of transport and links between + support of economic them. growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both 0 indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Very sustainable policy Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals None necessary summary:

Policy: DC22 – Airfields (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: Criteria against which proposals for civil aviation will be considered

SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and 0 skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key services for all sectors of 0 the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding ++ Offers employment opportunities. and satisfying

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employment 07. To meet the housing requirements of the 0 whole community 08. To improve the quality of where people live and to This type of development would have a negative impact - encourage community although policy seeks to minimise disturbance participation 09. To maintain and where Aircraft and traffic emissions but depends on scale of possible improve air -/0 operation quality 10. To maintain and where possible improve water 0 quality 11. To conserve soil -- Loss of greenfield land resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral resources efficiently, and 0 re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - New development would produce waste 14. To reduce the effects of Will increase traffic but seeks to minimise trip length by traffic on the -/0 access to primary road network. environment 15. To reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses from -- Increased aircraft & traffic emissions energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and Concern for tranquillity should ensure needs of biodiversity enhance biodiversity and 0 considered. geodiversity 18. To conserve and where appropriate enhance areas of historical and 0 archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance the quality and Policy wording addresses mitigation measures in relation local distinctiveness of + to Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable levels of prosperity and 0 economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient patterns of movement in + Provides choice of access, well related to road network support of economic growth 23. To encourage and accommodate both ++ Investment may be attracted indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Civil aviation can be private or commercial so the policy has been assessed from the worst case scenario of large scale commercial airfield. Negative aspects relate to the environment. Potential positive

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economic gains. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Other policies would seek to minimise waste production. Other summary: negatives would need to be mitigated through monitoring local impacts and designing appropriate mitigation measures as required.

Policy: DC 23– Design – Aesthetics (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: Poor design and layout and proposals which seriously detract from the character of the area will not be permitted. Supports Conservation of energy and has regard to SPDs. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of ++ Encourages good design and fit with surroundings where people live and to encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of 0 traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of ++ Encourages conservation of energy and use of alternative greenhouse gasses from sources of energy energy consumption

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16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and ++ Layouts should protect ecological value and enhance enhance biodiversity and habitat creation geodiversity 18. To conserve and where ++ Alterations and extensions should respect period and appropriate enhance architectural characteristics areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and ++ Layouts should incorporate existing site features of enhance the quality and landscape local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres + Where no varied townscape quality of design should create new point of interest 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and + Good design can encourage investment accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary No mitigation required Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals summary:

Policy: DC23 – Design: Aesthetics (Alternative Option)

Policy summary: Demand higher quality of design to be provided only in specific areas such as Areas of High landscape Value and Conservation Areas. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0

the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and

skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0

social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding and satisfying

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employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of + where people live and to Encourages higher design quality in AONBs but not encourage community elsewhere participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0

resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and

re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of 0 traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of ++ greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0

flooding 17. To conserve and ++ enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where ++ appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and ++ enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and

economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres + Most towns unlikely to trigger need for higher design standards as not in AONB 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in

support of economic growth 23. To encourage and + accommodate both Lower design standards could reduce attractiveness to indigenous and inward investment investment Assessment Summary Preferred policy is more sustainable Secondary, Cumulative or

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synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals summary:

Policy: DC 24 – Design: Function (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: Proposals should make provision for their functional requirements. Support water conservation measures SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0/+ Requires provision of cycling and footways for walking the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- ++ Need for crime prevention, secure design, surveillance, social activity lighting and visibility recognised 04. To reduce poverty and + Requires safe and convenient access for people with social exclusion disabilities 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of + Seeks to ensure good design for access, parking, where people live and to emergency vehicles, waste collection and crime prevention. encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where ++ Strongly encourages permeable soakaways possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral ++ Strongly encourages water conservation measures such as resources efficiently, and grey water and efficiency devices. re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of + Makes provision for public transport, cars, cyclists and traffic on the parking environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to + Encourages permeable soakaways flooding 17. To conserve and 0 enhance biodiversity and

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geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary No mitigation required Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals summary:

Policy: DC25 – Sustainable Construction (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: Large scale developments should provide at least 10% of their energy requirements from on-site renewable energy generation. An energy statement should accompany planning applications. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community

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08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste + Biomass encouraged 14. To reduce the effects of 0 traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of ++ >1000m2 non residential & >10 residential units required to greenhouse gasses from have energy efficient measures energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and 0 enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Design of energy efficient measures eg wind turbines will be controlled by other policies Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term Short term effects will benefit individual buildings. In the longer term effects: as more developments use renewable energy and requirements increase, there will be a more significant impact on energy use.

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Mitigation proposals No mitigation required summary:

Policy: DC25 – Sustainable Construction (Alternative Option)

Policy summary: Set levels of building performance e.g. a minimum star rating under the Code for Sustainable Homes SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of + Considers daylight, sound insulation and private space the population overall 02. To maintain and improve levels of education and

skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti-

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and

social exclusion 05. To improve access to key services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the opportunity for rewarding

and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of where people live and to

encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where + possible improve air Considers NOx emissions quality 10. To maintain and where + possible improve water Considers surface run-off quality 11. To conserve soil

resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral + resources efficiently, and Considers indoor, external water use re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste + Considers storage of non-recyclable and recyclable waste and composting 14. To reduce the effects of + traffic on the Considers cycle storage environment 15. To reduce emissions of ++ Considers dwelling emission, lighting, low or zero carbon greenhouse gasses from technology energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to + Considers flood risk flooding 17. To conserve and ++ Considers ecological value of site, enhancement, enhance biodiversity and protection geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0

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appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and

economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in

support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both

indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Alternative is more sustainable because the Code for Sustainable Homes covers a range of sustainability criteria Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals summary:

Policy: DC26 – Art (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: Encourage the provision of publicly accepted art on large developments

SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0/+ Encourages an outlet for art using local skills levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of + Promotes public involvement in public art to achieve a sense where people live and to of place and identity

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encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of 0 traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and enhance 0 biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0/+ Art can help celebrate and articulate local traditions and appropriate enhance personalities areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance 0/+ Art can help celebrate and articulate local traditions and the quality and local personalities distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals No mitigation required summary:

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Policy: DC26 – Art (Alternative Option)

Policy summary:

SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0

the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0/+ levels of education and

skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- - Poorly designed art work can encourage vandalism social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0

social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding

and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of - where people live and to Poorly planned art with no public support will lower encourage community satisfaction with place. participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0

resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and

flooding 17. To conserve and 0 enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0/+ appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance

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19. To conserve and 0/+ enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and

economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in

support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both

indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Alternative is not as sustainable as policy Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals summary:

Policy: DC 27– Residential Amenity (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: Development that causes an unacceptable loss of residential amenity will be refused. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- + Needs of safety and security considered social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 Allows no loss of amenity (e.g. privacy, daylight) where people live and to encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where + No loss of air quality accepted possible improve air

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quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of 0 traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and 0 enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Does not score highly because ensures no loss of amenity but does not make things better. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals No mitigation needed. summary:

Policy: DC 28 – Shop Fronts (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: Requires high standard of design and that proposals respect character of building and area. Requires retention of window displays.

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SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of 0 traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and 0 enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where ++ Requires high standards of design that relates appropriate enhance architecturally to building and not allowed on Listed areas of historical and Buildings archaeological importance 19. To conserve and ++ Unsympathetic shop fronts not allowed in Conservation enhance the quality and Areas local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes

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20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres + Seeks high standards of design 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals No mitigation needed summary:

Policy: DC 29 – Advertisements (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: Exercise strict control over advertisements

SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of + Promotes safety of drivers, cyclists and pedestrians the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and + Seeks to reduce hazards to those with disabilities social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of + Ensures adverts appropriate to location, use good quality where people live and to materials and will remove unauthorised adverts that impact encourage community environment or public safety participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality

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12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of 0 traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and 0 enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where ++ Controls style of adverts on Listed Buildings appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and ++ Controls style of adverts in Conservation Areas. enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + Adverts controlled but still permitted and hence promote levels of prosperity and business economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres + Appropriate adverts will help business in towns 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals No mitigation required summary:

Policy: DC 30 – Lighting (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: Minimise light pollution

SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of + Ensures no glare or light spillage onto highways which the population overall could dazzle, distract or disorientate road users. 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall

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03. To reduce crime and anti- + Permitted for security reasons social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of +/- Community benefit but may be negative impact on where people live and to individual householders encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of 0 traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of -- Allowing lighting increases energy use. Policy makes no greenhouse gasses from attempt to encourage use of energy efficient lamps. energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and - Lighting could effect some species but policy only enhance biodiversity and concerned with areas of nature conservation importance geodiversity 18. To conserve and where +/- Lighting historic buildings could enhance quality of place on appropriate enhance other buildings could have negative impact areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and + Could enhance quality of place and policy wording ensures enhance the quality and protection of landscape local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in

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support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Add reference to impact on townscape, Listed Buildings and biodiversity, individual species. Secondary, Cumulative or Cumulative impact of developments could result in an area becoming synergistic effects: lit to a significant degree more than what the Council would prefer. Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Need to promote installation of energy efficient lighting. summary:

Policy: DC 31 – Biodiversity and Geodiversity (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: New development considers the impact on biodiversity and geodiversity with regard to designations, enhance corridors and protection of sites and species. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of + Increases land managed for ecological interest and aims to where people live and to increase public access to sites encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0/+ Areas of designated sites allow filtration to watertable possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil + Protection of designated sites conserves soil resources resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0

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14. To reduce the effects of 0 traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and ++ Protects biodiversity and geodiversity and enhances by enhance biodiversity and improved site management geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and + Retention of habitats, corridors and networks will assist enhance the quality and landscape conservation local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0/+ Protecting biodiversity sites may increase tourism levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals No mitigation needed summary:

Policy: DC31 – Biodiversity and geodiversity (Alternative Option)

Policy summary: Depend solely on legislative powers for the protection of habitats and species SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0

the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and

skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0

social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0

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services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding

and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of - where people live and to PPS9 makes no reference to increasing public access encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0/+ possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil +

resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and

flooding 17. To conserve and - Does not include consideration of impact of mitigation enhance biodiversity and measures to minimise/protect sites, habitats and species geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and + enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0/+ levels of prosperity and

economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in

support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward

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investment Assessment Summary Does not offer consideration of impact of mitigation measures or encourage increased management/public access Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals summary:

Policy: DC32 – Flood Risk (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: Development should be directed to areas of low flood risk. Otherwise development should proceed in accordance with government guidance in PPS25. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0/- Could have negative effect on health of the population the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0/+ Allows development in the flood zones if satisfies the requirements of the sequential test whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of 0 traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0

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greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to ++ Restricts development in flood zones unless satisfies flooding sequential test 17. To conserve and enhance 0 biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and enhance 0 the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Other than first sentence and last paragraph, the policy focuses on housing. Secondary, Cumulative or Development within or near to Flood Zones may have a long term and synergistic effects: cumulative impact on the Flood Zone Areas. Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Consider government guidance in PPS25 summary:

Policy: DC 33 – Telecommunications (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: Installations will only be approved where their visual impact is minimised

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opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of + Controls siting of telecommunication equipment where people live and to encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where + Availability of telecommunication equipment can reduce the possible improve air need for travel quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil ++ Seeks restoration of land to former condition if use resources and quality discontinued 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of + Availability of telecommunication equipment can reduce the traffic on the need for travel environment 15. To reduce emissions of + Availability of telecommunication equipment can reduce the greenhouse gasses from need for travel energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and - Could impact habitats and species enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where ++ Not permitted unless meet essential need and no suitable appropriate enhance alternative areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and ++ Not permitted unless meet essential need and no suitable enhance the quality and alternative local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + Could facilitate business growth levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient + Use of telecommunications can reduce need to travel, patterns of movement in commute etc. support of economic growth 23. To encourage and + Availability of telecommunications could encourage accommodate both investment indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary See DC 31 for mitigation to biodiversity

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Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals summary:

Policy: DC33 – Telecommunications (Alternative Option)

Policy summary: Do not include a policy on telecommunications and rely on PPG8 guidance.

SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0

the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and

skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0

social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding

and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of + where people live and to

encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where + possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil ++

resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and

re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of + traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of + greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0

flooding 17. To conserve and -

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enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where + appropriate enhance Less local control as the sensitive locations in Suffolk areas of historical and Coastal will not be highlighted archaeological importance 19. To conserve and + enhance the quality and Less local control as the sensitive locations in Suffolk local distinctiveness of Coastal will not be highlighted landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable + levels of prosperity and

economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient + patterns of movement in

support of economic growth 23. To encourage and + accommodate both

indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Alternative is less sustainable Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals summary:

Policy: DC34 – Key facilities (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: Retain key facilities unless use is not and cannot be financially viable and the local community has not come forward with a realistic proposal for the business. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of + Seeks to protect sports facilities the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key ++ Seeks to retain key facilities services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the

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whole community 08. To improve the quality of ++ Seeks to retain key facilities within community and gives where people live and to community opportunity to run encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of 0 traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and 0 enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where + Seeks to retain facilities in existing locations appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and + Seeks to retain facilities in existing locations enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals No mitigation required

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summary:

Policy: DC34 – Key Facilities (Alternative Option)

Policy summary: Not require the applicant to liaise with the local community to establish if they would be willing to take over the operation of the business SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of +

the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and

skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0

social exclusion 05. To improve access to key + Community not given opportunity to run facility in order to services for all sectors of retain it. the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding

and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of + where people live and to Community not given opportunity to run facility in order to encourage community retain it. participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0

resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and

flooding 17. To conserve and 0 enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where + appropriate enhance areas of historical and

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archaeological importance 19. To conserve and + enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and

economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in

support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both

indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Policy would be sustainable but less so than preferred version Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals summary:

Policy: DC35 – Public buildings (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: Aim to retain public buildings such as schools, churches and halls as community buildings and resist commercial or residential uses. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0 the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0/+ Likely to keep community centres and recreation activity social activity centres providing social activities 04. To reduce poverty and 0/+ Likely to keep community centres and recreation activity social exclusion centres providing local meeting places 05. To improve access to key 0 Likely to keep community centres and recreation activity, services for all sectors of not improve the population 06. To offer everybody the + Retains jobs related to such facilities opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0/- Restricts change to residential requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 Seeks to maintain services where people live and to encourage community participation

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09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of 0 traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and 0 enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where + Seeks to retain existing uses appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and + Seeks to retain existing uses enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals No mitigation required summary:

Policy: DC35– Public Buildings (Alternative Option)

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Policy summary: Not allow the conversion of public buildings to residential use.

SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of 0

the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and

skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0/+

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0/+

social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the + opportunity for rewarding

and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing - requirements of the Not allow change to residential whole community 08. To improve the quality of 0 where people live and to

encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0

resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and

flooding 17. To conserve and 0 enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where - appropriate enhance Not to allow change could result in the deterioration of areas of historical and buildings archaeological importance 19. To conserve and - Not to allow change could result in the deterioration of enhance the quality and buildings, impacting local area

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local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and

economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in

support of economic growth 23. To encourage and - accommodate both Not to allow change could result in the deterioration of indigenous and inward buildings, making areas unattractive to investors investment Assessment Summary Alternative is less sustainable Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals summary:

Policy: DC36 – Sport and Play (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: New sport and play facilities to be considered in relation to the character of location, scale of settlement, impact on landscape, townscape, access, amenity etc. Loss of sports and play facilities considered in context. May require provision elsewhere to meet shortfall. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of ++ Recreation facilities would improve the health of the the population overall population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the + Will provide employment opportunities opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of ++ Facilities may become a valued neighbourhood/community where people live and to possession encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where 0

Sustainability Appraisal 241

possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - Development will produce waste 14. To reduce the effects of - / 0 Traffic could increase locally although access provision is traffic on the considered by the policy environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and - Access provision and playing fields will impact upon enhance biodiversity biodiversity/geodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where + Considers character of location. appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and + Considers impact on townscape and landscape enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 / + May attract investment accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Waste minimisation required under SP33. Reference to impact and management of local biodiversity assets should be added to the policy. This would help ensure that the duty to enhance biodiversity is respected. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals Biodiversity issues covered in DC31 summary: Location and design of new facilities could minimise need to travel by private car.

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Policy: DC36 – Sport and Play (Alternative Option)

Policy summary: Exclude specific guidance and rely on PPG17 and NPFA guidance.

SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of ++

the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and

skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0

social exclusion 05. To improve access to key - PPG17 makes no reference to new residential contributing services for all sectors of to equipment the population 06. To offer everybody the + opportunity for rewarding

and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of - where people live and to PPG17 does not promote consideration of contribution encourage community facility makes to character of area if loss proposed. participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0

resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and

re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste - 14. To reduce the effects of - / 0 traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0

flooding 17. To conserve and + PPG17 promotes biodiversity asset of sport and play enhance biodiversity and spaces geodiversity 18. To conserve and where + appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance

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19. To conserve and + enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and

economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in

support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 / + accommodate both

indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Alternative does not reflect local interests and hence is less sustainable. Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals summary:

Policy: DC37 – Allotments (Preferred Option)

Policy summary: Protection of existing allotments and provision of new sites to meet demand. SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of ++ Provision of allotments provides exercise for owners and the population overall encourages growth of fruit and veg. 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0 social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0 social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of + Allows those with no garden space to grow things. where people live and to encourage community participation

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09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0 resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and re-use and recycle where possible 13. To reduce waste 0 14. To reduce the effects of 0 traffic on the environment 15. To reduce emissions of 0 greenhouse gasses from energy consumption 16. To reduce vulnerability to 0 flooding 17. To conserve and 0/+ Might add to biodiversity enhance biodiversity and geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0 enhance the quality and local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals No mitigation required summary:

Policy: DC37 – Allotments (Alternative Option)

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Policy summary: A policy only to protect existing allotments

SA objective: Impact Comments / Mitigation: 01. To improve the health of + Fewer able to own allotments and get exercise the population overall 02. To maintain and improve 0 levels of education and

skills in the population overall 03. To reduce crime and anti- 0

social activity 04. To reduce poverty and 0

social exclusion 05. To improve access to key 0 services for all sectors of the population 06. To offer everybody the 0 opportunity for rewarding

and satisfying employment 07. To meet the housing 0 requirements of the whole community 08. To improve the quality of - where people live and to Lose opportunity to provide community facility encourage community participation 09. To maintain and where 0 possible improve air quality 10. To maintain and where 0 possible improve water quality 11. To conserve soil 0

resources and quality 12. To use water and mineral 0 resources efficiently, and

flooding 17. To conserve and - enhance biodiversity and No new allotments means no new habitats created geodiversity 18. To conserve and where 0 appropriate enhance areas of historical and archaeological importance 19. To conserve and 0

enhance the quality and

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local distinctiveness of landscapes and townscapes 20. To achieve sustainable 0 levels of prosperity and

economic growth throughout the plan area 21. To revitalise town centres 0 22. To encourage efficient 0 patterns of movement in

support of economic growth 23. To encourage and 0 accommodate both

indigenous and inward investment Assessment Summary Less sustainable than preferred option Secondary, Cumulative or synergistic effects: Short/medium/long term effects: Mitigation proposals summary:

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APPENDIX 7 –

Appropriate Assessment (Screening & Scoping Stage):

Suffolk Coastal LDF Core Strategy & Development Control Policies – Preferred Options

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Appropriate Assessment (Screening & Scoping Stage): Suffolk Coastal LDF Core Strategy & Development Control Policies – Preferred Options; December 2008

The Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994

Regulation 48 Appropriate Assessment

SCREENING AND SCOPING STAGE ______

Re: The Suffolk Coastal Local Development Framework Core Strategy and Development Control Policies Preferred Options.

1. Introduction:

Pursuant to Regulation 48 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994, this is a first stage (Screening & Scoping) Appropriate Assessment of the abovementioned document. Appropriate Assessment (AA) is the assessment of the impacts of a land use proposal against the conservation objectives of a Natura 2000 site. Specifically, it is to ascertain whether or not a proposal (either alone or in combination with other objectives) would adversely affect that site’s integrity.

It is required because in October 2005, the European Court of Justice ruled that the United Kingdom was obliged to carry out an Appropriate Assessment of any land use plan that might impact upon a designated Natura 2000 site. The legal basis for the AA process stems from the EC Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats & of Wild Flora & Fauna) passed in to domestic law by way of the Habitat Regulations (Conservation (Habitats &c) Regulations, 1994). As a consequence, any proposal that is not part of a specific management prescription that might have a significant effect on a Natura 2000 site must be subject to Appropriate Assessment. If significant negative effects are identified, alternative options should be examined to avoid potentially damaging effects.

The Legislation:

The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994

Part IV Adaptation of Planning and Other Controls

Regulation 48; Assessment of implications for European site: (1) A competent authority, before deciding to undertake, or give any consent, permission or other authorisation for, a plan or project which-

249 Appropriate Assessment (Screening & Scoping Stage): Suffolk Coastal LDF Core Strategy & Development Control Policies – Preferred Options; December 2008

(a) is likely to have a significant effect on a European site in Great Britain (either alone or in combination with other plans or projects), and (b) is not directly connected with or necessary to the management of the site, shall make an appropriate assessment of the implications for the site in view of that site's conservation objectives. (2) A person applying for any such consent, permission or other authorisation shall provide such information as the competent authority may reasonably require for the purposes of the assessment. (3) The competent authority shall for the purposes of the assessment consult the appropriate nature conservation body and have regard to any representations made by that body within such reasonable time as the authority may specify. (4) They shall also, if they consider it appropriate, take the opinion of the general public; and if they do so, they shall take such steps for that purpose as they consider appropriate. (5) In the light of the conclusions of the assessment, and subject to regulation 49, the authority shall agree to the plan or project only after having ascertained that it will not adversely affect the integrity of the European site. (6) In considering whether a plan or project will adversely affect the integrity of the site, the authority shall have regard to the manner in which it is proposed to be carried out or to any conditions or restrictions subject to which they propose that the consent, permission or other authorisation should be given. (7) This regulation does not apply in relation to a site which is a European site by reason only of regulation 10(1)(c) (site protected in accordance with Article 5(4)).

Within the Suffolk Coastal District there are a number of Natura 2000 sites, recorded as Special Areas for Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs). The full list of these sites together with the Conservation Objectives for the features of European interest on their component Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) are set out in Table 1: “SACs & SPAs and their Conservation Objectives” below. Included within the list are some Natura 2000 sites that are outside Suffolk Coastal’s immediate area. They are included because it is possible that these sites could suffer from some of the impacts set out below as they are within relatively easy travelling distance from the District.

2. Method:

This Screening and Scoping Appropriate Assessment has followed the following methodological steps:

(a) Identification of European Sites in and around the Suffolk Coastal District Council area.

This information is available to Suffolk County Council from the regularly updated records held in our MapInfo system. This produces accurate information on each site including the name, JNCC code, location and area. We also hold paper records of each designated site and are able to use the publically accessible parts of the JNCC website to confirm information. The MapInfo record is updated by Suffolk Biological Records Centre (SBRC) from time-to-time as appropriate. The list of sites that might receive impacts is shown in Table 1.

(b) Acquisition, examination and understanding of the Conservation Objectives for each European site that could potentially be affected.

The relevant information on the Conservation Objectives for the European interest on each relevant SSSI compartment within the SPA or SAC was obtained from Natural England. The complete list of Conservation Objectives is also shown in Table 1. This information was considered in detail by professional County Council Ecologists.

Apart from the information obtained from Natural England and, JNCC and SBRC, further reference was made to a number of reports and other publications, including “Disturbance to Waterbirds (sic)

250 Appropriate Assessment (Screening & Scoping Stage): Suffolk Coastal LDF Core Strategy & Development Control Policies – Preferred Options; December 2008

wintering in the Stour-Orwell Estuaries SPA” (Ravenscroft, Parker, Vonk and Wright; Suffolk, 2007)” and “Interactions between Tourism, Breeding Birds and Climate Change across a Regional Scale” (Tratalos, Gill, Jones, Showler, Bateman, Watkinson, Sugden, and Sutherland; Tyndall Centre, 2005).

A professional judgement has been made based on an understanding of the effects of different pressures on, for example, breeding birds during the summer, feeding birds over winter and habitat degradation by increased visitor numbers.

Each policy was then considered as to how they may result in possible impacts on the European sites from the following potential disturbance factors:

• Increased pedestrian use by recreational walkers (with or without dogs). • Increased sporting shooting is a possibility with an influx of new residents (though this is likely to take place under the auspices of regulated associations and clubs). • Increased bait digging by anglers is also a possibility with increased numbers of residents. • Increased recreational use of the rivers by power boats, water skiers, jet skis, and similar high disturbance activities. • Increased recreational use of the rivers by yachtsmen, canoeists and similar lower disturbance activities. • Increased recreational use of the district by cyclists. • Increased recreational use of the area by horse riders. • Increased recreational use of the area by off-road motorcyclists and, possibly, all-wheel-drive vehicles. • Increased pollution and harm caused by discarded litter and refuse, possibly including fly-tipping. • Disturbance from construction processes (whether domestic or commercial), that is the physical movements, noise etcetera, together with the visual disturbance and potential interference with the movement of biodiversity caused by the finished structures. • Disturbance from the infrastructure associated with construction processes (whether domestic or commercial), that is the building of new roads, paths and any other highway (either public or private) together with the increased disturbance and pollution from the traffic using them. • Disturbance from new street lighting, house lights, vehicle headlamps and all other artificial illumination. • Increased risk of pollution to streams, dykes and ditches as well as the main water courses themselves from construction processes and industrial, domestic and recreational use of any new development. • Potential damaging effects upon the hydrology including quality and quantity of water flow into the SPAs. This includes increased water use. • Increased air pollution (from construction, use, commuting, recreational and occupation of the district) having a detrimental effect on sensitive species and habitats.

This list of factors was drawn up after the exercise described in (b) above.

(d) Assessment of Implications and consultation pursuant to Regulation 85B of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) (Amendment) Regulations 2007.

251 Appropriate Assessment (Screening & Scoping Stage): Suffolk Coastal LDF Core Strategy & Development Control Policies – Preferred Options; December 2008

Having considered the possible disturbance factors and the Conservation Objectives, a series of conclusions were made. The results are shown in Table 2 “Impacts of the Core Strategy and Policies on European Sites” below. A simple assessment of “Positive”, “Neutral” or “Negative” impacts together with an explanatory note is the result of consideration of the factors and stages set out above.

This series of results becomes the list of key issues upon which consultation with Natural England will take place and will inform the public consultation which is about to commence.

(e) Dealing with negative and potentially negative impacts on the features of European interest.

Once Natural England have had an opportunity to make their representations on this screening and scoping exercise, their advice will be taken – along with relevant comments from the general public - the suite of potential impacts agreed and a clear picture of how to take this to the next stage of site- specific Appropriate Assessment(s) planned and agreed.

(f) The next stage of the Appropriate Assessment.

Once a defined and narrower series of issues have been agreed with Natural England, it will be necessary to undertake a further, detailed and site-specific AA of each affected site with regard to how that policy will impact upon the Conservation Objectives. This will be done to a high scientific standard and may involve disciplines other than Ecology. This part of the exercise may look at how parts of The Document might be amended or aspects enhanced to prevent negative and promote positive impacts. Once this exercise is concluded, and the results have been collated, further consultation will take place with Natural England so that an agreed AA can be recorded and the final version of The Document be adopted.

3. Description of The Document and Plan:

Suffolk Coastal District Council is about to publish the Suffolk Coastal Local Development Framework, Core Strategy and Development Control Policies, Preferred Options Document (“The Document”) in December 2008. The Document is the key part of the framework to replace the Suffolk Coastal Local Plan and is set to be the subject of public consultation and, thereafter, will be submitted to the Planning Inspectorate pursuant to the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) Regulations 2004 (as amended, 2008).

A detailed profile of the Suffolk Coastal District, an explanation of the Vision and Objectives and summaries of the Spatial Strategy, Strategic Policies and Development Control Policies together with an explanation of Implementation and Monitoring are set out in the copy of The Document which accompanies this Appropriate Assessment.

To assist in understanding this Appropriate Assessment, The Document sets out the Council’s Vision for the Suffolk Coastal Area to 2025 in the following terms:

“Overarching Vision of Suffolk Coastal in 2025:

Strategic Policies:

252 Appropriate Assessment (Screening & Scoping Stage): Suffolk Coastal LDF Core Strategy & Development Control Policies – Preferred Options; December 2008

Having built on the best of the past, Suffolk Coastal will be a district where people want to live and to invest, as well as to care for others and the environment.

Climate Change and the Environment:

Suffolk Coastal will be a leading area for best practice and innovative approaches to tackling the causes and effects of climate change. The built environment will be developing to the highest environmental standards, biodiversity and landscapes will be protected and sustainable construction methods common practice. An integrated approach to managing the coastal area will be in place, addressing the impact of climate change and sea level rise on Suffolk’s coastline and supporting strong communities, a resilient economy and a high quality natural environment. The significant potential effects of climate change on agricultural production and knock-on effects on rural communities, many of who are reliant upon a thriving agricultural industry, will be recognised, and managed.

Housing and the Economy:

Growth point status will have brought real benefits to the district by ensuring that the increased jobs and housing have been planned with the required infrastructure whilst maintaining the quality of the local environment. Focus will have been placed on the Ipswich Policy Area and Felixstowe as part of the Haven Gateway, one of the fastest growing sub regions in the Eastern area. Important regeneration initiatives will have been developed for Felixstowe. There will be a strong and diverse economy with a workforce that possesses appropriate skills for local employment, and suitable employment opportunities exist. There will no longer be a disproportionate number of educated young people leaving the district to find work or further education and there will also be adequate provision for young people in the lower skills bracket to find work and develop the right skills and qualifications. Enterprise will be encouraged in rural areas and market towns and more affordable housing will enable the workforce to live and work locally. Business will want to locate to the district and planning policies will support the right environment for strong economic growth. Small and medium sized businesses will be growing and prospering. The transport infrastructure, in particular the rail network and the A12 and A14, will have developed to support business growth.

Community Well-Being:

All the people who live in Suffolk Coastal will have equal access to services and the district will be an area of excellence for rural accessibility. Closer partnership working will be achieving an increase in the use of public and community transport and a reduced need for personal transport, having the additional benefit of contributing towards CO2 reduction. Better access to leisure facilities and the countryside will have the benefit of encouraging a healthier lifestyle, both mental and physical. Communities will be cohesive and inclusive. The incidences of poverty will have reduced in the area and all of the residents will live in a healthy, inclusive community and have the opportunity to live in a decent home.

Site Specific Policies:

Site specific policies will not be introduced until the Pre-Submission consultation stage of the ‘Site Specific Allocations and Site Specific’ document. It is due to go out for consultation mid-2009. The current consultation on the Site Specific Allocations and Policies document is the ‘Issues and Options’ stage.”

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4. Conservation Objectives:

Table 1: SACs & SPAs and their Conservation Objectives: Special Areas of SSSI Conservation Objectives for the European interests on the SSSI Conservation Compartment (SAC)/Special Protection Areas (SPA) Alde, Ore & Alde-Ore Estuary Subject to natural change, to maintain, in favourable condition, the Butley Estuaries SSSI Atlantic salt meadows, estuaries, mudflats and sandflats not covered by SAC the seawater at low tide.

Benacre to Easton Benacre to Subject to natural change, to maintain, in favourable condition, the Bavents Lagoons Easton Bavents saline lagoon feature. SAC SSSI

The Broads SAC Sprat’s Water To maintain, in favourable condition, the: and Marshes, • Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior. Carlton Colville • Calcareous fens with Cladium mariscus and species of the SSSI Carex davallianae. • Alkaline Fens • Natural eutrophic lakes with Magnopotamion or Hydrocharition- type vegetation. • Transition mires and quaking bogs.

To maintain, in favourable condition, the habitats for the population of: • Desmoulin’s Whorl Snail (Vertigo moulinsiana). • Otter (Lutra lutra).

To maintain, in favourable condition, the habitats for the populations of Annex 1 bird species¹ of European importance with particular reference to: • Open water • Reed swamp • Fen • Reedbed • Lowland wet grassland with ditches and water bodies. ¹ Bittern, Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier

To maintain, in favourable condition, the habitats for the populations of migratory bird species² of European importance with particular reference to: • Open water • Reed swamp • Fen • Reedbed • Lowland wet grassland with ditches and water bodies. ² Gadwall and Shoveler

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To maintain, in favourable condition, the habitats of the populations of waterfowl that contribute to the wintering waterfowl assemblages of European importance, with particular reference to: • Open water • Swamp and fen • Lowland wet grassland with ditches and water bodies.

The Broads SAC Barnby Broad To maintain, in favourable condition, the: and Marshes • Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior. • Calcareous fens with Cladium mariscus and species of the Carex davallianae. • Natural eutrophic lakes with Magnopotamion or Hydrocharition- type vegetation. • Hard oligo-mesotrophic waters with benthic vegetation of Chara spp.. • Molinia meadows on calcareous, peaty or clayey-silt-laden soils (Molinion caeruleae).

To maintain, in favourable condition, the habitats for the population of: • Otter (Lutra lutra). • Desmoulin’s Whorl Snail (Vertigo moulinsiana).

To maintain, in favourable condition, the habitats for the populations of Annex 1 bird species¹ of European importance with particular reference to: • Open water • Swamp • Fen • Lowland wet grassland with ditches and water bodies. ¹ Marsh Harrier, Hen Harrier, Whooper Swan and Ruff

To maintain, in favourable condition, the habitats for the populations of migratory bird species² of European importance with particular reference to: • Open water • Reed swamp • Fen • Lowland wet grassland with ditches and water bodies. ² Pink-Footed Goose, Gadwall and Shoveler

To maintain, in favourable condition, the habitats of the populations of waterfowl that contribute to the wintering waterfowl assemblages of the Broadland SPA with particular reference to: • Open water • Swamp and fen and lowland wet grassland with ditches and water bodies.

The Broads SAC Stanley & Alder Subject to natural change, to maintain the following habitats and

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Carrs, Aldeby geological features in favourable condition, with particular reference to SSSI any dependent component special interest features (habitats, vegetation types, species, species assemblages etc.) for which the land is designated (SSSI, SAC, SPA, Ramsar) as listed in the Conservation Objectives Document prepared by Natural England and dated 23rd October 2007.

Habitat types represented (BAP Categories): • Broadleaved, Mixed and Yew Woodland • Fen Marsh and Swamp

Minsmere to Minsmere to Subject to natural change, to maintain, in favourable condition, the: Walberswick Walberswick • Annual vegetation of drift lines Heath and Heath and • Perennial vegetation of stony banks Marshes SAC Marshes SSSI To maintain, to maintain, in favourable condition, the: • European dry heaths

To maintain, in favourable condition, the habitats for the populations of Annex 1 species of European importance¹ with particular reference to: • Shingle • Swamp, marginal and inundation communities • Saltmarsh • Standing water • Grassland • Heathland ¹Avocet, Bittern, Little Tern, Marsh Harrier, Nightjar, Woodlark, Hen Harrier.

To maintain, in favourable condition, the habitats for the populations of migratory bird species of European importance² with particular reference to: • Grassland, marsh and standing water ²Gadwall, Teal, Shoveler, European White-Fronted Goose.

Orfordness to Alde-Ore Estuary Subject to natural change, to maintain, in favourable condition, the Shingle Street SSSI saline lagoons, annual vegetation of drift lines and perennial vegetation SAC of stony banks.

Staverton Park and Staverton Park To maintain, in favourable condition, old acidophilous Oakwoods with The Thicks, and The Thicks, Quercus robur on sandy plains. Wantisden SAC Wantisden SSSI

Dew’s Ponds SAC Dew’s Ponds To maintain, in favourable condition, the habitats for the populations of SSSI Great Crested Newt Triturus cristatus.

Alde-Ore Estuary Alde-Ore Estuary Subject to natural change, to maintain, in favourable condition, the SPA SSSI Atlantic salt meadows, estuaries, mudflats and sandflats not covered by the seawater at low tide.

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Subject to natural change, to maintain, in favourable condition, the habitats for the regularly occurring Annex 1 bird species and migratory bird species¹, of European importance, with particular reference to grazing marsh, saltmarsh, intertidal mudflat and shallow coastal waters. ¹Avocet, Sandwich Tern, Little Tern, Ruff, Redshank, Lesser Black- Backed Gull.

Benacre to Easton Benacre to To maintain, in favourable condition, the habitats for the populations of Bavents SPA Easton Bavents Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) and Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus), SSSI with particular reference to swamp, marginal and inundation and standing water. Subject to natural change, to maintain in favourable condition, the habitats for the populations of Little Tern (Sterna albifrons), with particular reference to shingle and shallow coastal waters.

Broadland SPA Sprat’s Water To maintain, in favourable condition, the: and Marshes, • Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior. Carlton Colville • Calcareous fens with Cladium mariscus and species of the SSSI Carex davallianae. • Alkaline Fens • Natural eutrophic lakes with Magnopotamion or Hydrocharition- type vegetation. • Transition mires and quaking bogs.

To maintain, in favourable condition, the habitats for the population of: • Desmoulin’s Whorl Snail (Vertigo moulinsiana). • Otter (Lutra lutra).

To maintain, in favourable condition, the habitats of the populations of

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waterfowl that contribute to the wintering waterfowl assemblages of European importance, with particular reference to: • Open water • Swamp and fen • Lowland wet grassland with ditches and water bodies.

Broadland SPA Barnby Broad To maintain, in favourable condition, the: and Marshes • Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa and Fraxinus excelsior. SSSI • Calcareous fens with Cladium mariscus and species of the Carex davallianae. • Natural eutrophic lakes with Magnopotamion or Hydrocharition- type vegetation. • Hard oligo-mesotrophic waters with benthic vegetation of Chara spp.. • Molinia meadows on calcareous, peaty or clayey-silt-laden soils (Molinion caeruleae).

To maintain, in favourable condition, the habitats for the population of: • Otter (Lutra lutra). • Desmoulin’s Whorl Snail (Vertigo moulinsiana).

To maintain, in favourable condition, the habitats for the populations of migratory bird species² of European importance with particular reference to: • Open water • Reed swamp • Fen • Lowland wet grassland with ditches and water bodies. ² Pink-Footed Goose, Gadwall and Shoveler

To maintain, in favourable condition, the habitats of the populations of waterfowl that contribute to the wintering waterfowl assemblages of the Broadland SPA with particular reference to: • Open water Swamp and fen and lowland wet grassland with ditches and water bodies.

Broadland SPA Stanley & Alder Subject to natural change, to maintain the following habitats and Carrs, Aldeby geological features in favourable condition, with particular reference to SSSI any dependent component special interest features (habitats, vegetation

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types, species, species assemblages etc.) for which the land is designated (SSSI, SAC, SPA, Ramsar) as listed in the Conservation Objectives Document prepared by Natural England and dated 23rd October 2007.

Habitat types represented (BAP Categories): • Broadleaved, Mixed and Yew Woodland • Fen Marsh and Swamp

Deben Estuary Deben Estuary Subject to natural change, to maintain, in favourable condition, the SPA SSSI habitats for the regularly occurring Annex 1 bird species and the regularly occurring migratory bird species¹, of European importance, with particular reference to intertidal saltmarsh and mudflats. ¹Avocet, Brent Goose.

Hamford Water Hamford Water Subject to natural change, to maintain the following habitats and SPA SSSI geological features in favourable condition, with particular reference to any dependent component special interest features (habitats, vegetation types, species, species assemblages etc.) for which the land is designated (SSSI, SAC, SPA, Ramsar) as listed in the Conservation Objectives Document prepared by Natural England and dated 2nd October 2008.

Habitat types represented (BAP Categories): • Broadleaved, Mixed and Yew Woodland (Lowland) • Arable & Horticulture • Neutral Grassland (Lowland) • Supralittoral Sediment • Littoral Sediment • Coastal Lagoon.

Minsmere – Minsmere to Subject to natural change, to maintain, in favourable condition, the: Walberswick SPA Walberswick • Annual vegetation of drift lines Heath and • Perennial vegetation of stony banks Marshes SSSI To maintain, to maintain, in favourable condition, the: • European dry heaths

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Sandlings SPA Blaxhall Heath To maintain, in favourable condition, the habitats for the populations of SSSI Woodlark (Lullula arborea) and Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus).

Sandlings SPA Leiston – To maintain, in favourable condition, the habitats for the populations of Aldeburgh SSSI Woodlark (Lullula arborea) and Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus).

Sandlings SPA Sandlings Forest To maintain, in favourable condition, the habitats for the populations of SSSI Woodlark (Lullula arborea) and Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus).

Sandlings SPA Sutton and To maintain, in favourable condition, the habitats for the populations of Hollesley Heath Woodlark (Lullula arborea) and Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus). SSSI Sandlings SPA Snape Warren To maintain, in favourable condition, the habitats for the populations of SSSI Woodlark (Lullula arborea) and Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus).

Sandlings SPA Tunstall To maintain, in favourable condition, the habitats for the populations of Common SSSI Woodlark (Lullula arborea) and Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus).

Stour and Orwell Stour Estuary Subject to natural change, to maintain, in favourable condition, the Estuary SPA SSSI habitats for the populations of the regularly occurring migratory bird species¹, of European importance, with particular reference to intertidal mudflats and saltmarsh. ¹Golden Plover, Black-Tailed Godwit, Dark-Bellied Brent Goose, Dunlin, Grey Plover, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Shelduck, Turnstone.

Stour and Orwell Orwell Estuary Subject to natural change, to maintain, in favourable condition, the Estuary SPA SSSI habitats for the populations of the regularly occurring migratory bird species¹, of European importance, with particular reference to intertidal mudflats, saltmarsh and grazing marsh. ¹ Black-Tailed Godwit, Dark-Bellied Brent Goose, Dunlin, Grey Plover, Redshank, Ringed Plover, Shelduck, Turnstone.

5. Effects of The Document on Conservation Objectives:

All of the abovementioned stages have been consolidated into the Table 2 below. Each strategy and policy has been looked at carefully, guidance has been taken from all of the sources described in 2(b) and the range of impacts described in 2(c) applied to the Conservation Objectives listed in Table 1.

This has enabled us to categorise the likely impacts on a simple scale of “Positive”, “Neutral” or “Negative”. These conclusions have been arrived at by using our professional judgement based on the available evidence and our knowledge of the sites (often personal) and the types of habitats and species found there.

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Table 2 “Impacts of the Core Strategy and Policies on European Sites” Policy Preferred Option Impact: Comments: No: Policy: STRATEGIC POLICIES: SPATIAL STRATEGY: SP1 Sustainable Development Positive There is a commitment to “Conserve and enhance the natural and built environment” within this policy which will assist in the mitigation of any new development. SP2 Settlement Policy Neutral It is likely that the strategic growth envisaged by the Regional Spatial Strategy will bring increased pressure upon the European sites. The Policy specifically states that development will be strictly controlled in the countryside and will not be permitted unless it conforms with the strategy for the countryside. Site-specific Appropriate Assessment will reveal any issues. SP3 Area East of Ipswich Negative Any development is likely to bring additional pressure to any of the sites of European interest, however the area near Martlesham identified as a “preferred option” could have particularly negative impacts upon the Deben Estuary SPA/SSSI. Site-specific Appropriate Assessment will reveal any further issues. SP4 Felixstowe Negative Any development is likely to bring additional pressure to any of the sites of European interest, however the areas north of Candlet Road and Felixstowe town could have particularly negative impacts upon the Deben Estuary SPA/SSSI. Site-specific Appropriate Assessment will reveal further any issues. SP5 Aldeburgh Negative Although further strategic housing is not envisaged, improving tourism could lead to increased pressures on the Sandlings SPA and Alde/Ore Estuary SAC. Site- specific Appropriate Assessment will reveal any issues. SP6 Framlingham Neutral If increased tourist numbers result, increased pressure is likely on the nearby designated sites and “Neutral” would become “Negative”. SP7 Leiston Negative Further development in and around Leiston could result in increased pressure upon nearby sites such as the Minsmere-Walberswick SAC and Sandlings SPA. Site- specific Appropriate Assessment will reveal any issues. SP8 Nuclear Energy Negative Construction of a further power station could bring negative impacts to the nearby European sites through, inter alia, coastal protection issues, higher populations and increased construction disturbance. Site-specific Appropriate Assessment will be required. SP9 Saxmundham Negative Increased development is likely to increase pressure on European designated sites. Site-specific Appropriate Assessment will reveal any issues. SP10 Woodbridge Negative Increased tourist activity is likely to result in negative impacts upon nearby European designated sites

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particularly Heaths and Estuaries. Site-specific Appropriate Assessment will reveal any issues. SP11 Key Service Centres & Neutral This policy is aimed at serving the needs of existing Local Service Centres communities rather than large-scale development bringing in an influx of new residents. SP12 The Countryside Positive This policy specifically states that “development must not conflict with the strategy for the protection of the environment”. SP13 The Coastal Zone Positive This policy implicitly recognises the areas of International wildlife importance and is committed to having an integrated approach to management of the coastal area including consultation with Natural England. SP14 Accessibility Neutral Policies that include improving public transport between rural communities and the key service areas are unlikely to result in negative impacts upon European designated sites. SP15 A12 & A14 Neutral Improving the A12 connection between the north and south of the County and improving the capacity of the A14 are unlikely to result in direct impacts though, if work is carried out insensitively to increase off-site port related activity at Felixstowe, this could result in negative impacts. Site-specific Appropriate Assessment will reveal any issues. HOUSING: SP16 Housing Needs Negative Increased housing allocation in the more sensitive parts of the District will result in negative impacts. Site- specific Appropriate Assessment will reveal any issues. SP17 New Housing Negative Increased housing allocation in the more sensitive parts of the District will result in negative impacts. Site- specific Appropriate Assessment will reveal any issues. SP18 Housing Distribution Negative Increased housing allocation in the more sensitive parts of the District will result in negative impacts. Site- specific Appropriate Assessment will reveal any issues. SP19 Affordable Housing Neutral The price or type of house is unlikely to have negative impacts upon European designated sites. SP20 Allocations in the Key Negative This policy does not expressly recognise the importance Service Centres of European designated sites. Site-specific Appropriate Assessment will be required to reveal any issues. THE ECONOMY: SP21 Employment Land Negative The areas identified are Felixstowe Port and Martlesham Heath Business Campus; further development at these sites could result in negative impacts upon the Stour & Orwell Estuaries SPA and Deben Estuary SPA respectively. SP22 Economic Development in Neutral This policy expressly recognises objectives in respect of the Rural Areas the environment. SP23 Regeneration Neutral This policy largely concentrates on urban areas (such as Leiston and Felixstowe) though inappropriate

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development within the rural areas could result in negative impacts. Site-specific Appropriate Assessment will reveal any issues. SP24 Tourism Negative Although this policy does recognise the importance of the AONB designation, no specific mention is made of the suite of European designated sites within the District. Increased tourist pressure within these sites could result in serious negative impacts. SP25 Retail Centres Neutral The emphasis in this policy is on maintenance and enhancement of existing retail centres. It is unlikely that this policy will have any impact upon European designated sites. THE ENVIRONMENT: SP26 Biodiversity and Positive This policy specifically recognises the SPAs and SACs Geodiversity within the District and provides for them to be protected and enhanced. SP27 Landscape and Townscape Positive The commitment within the policy to be guided by the Landscape Character Assessment process is likely to have a positive impact upon the SPAs and SACs within the District. SP28 Climate Change Positive The commitment to improve estuary and coastal management is likely to have a positive impact upon the SPAs and SACs within the District. COMMUNITY WELL- BEING: SP29 Sport and Play Neutral The site-specific Appropriate Assessments will reveal any issues relating to locations and/or activities. SP30 Green Space Negative Increased public access activity is likely to result in negative impacts upon the District’s European designated sites particularly Heaths and Estuaries. Site- specific Appropriate Assessment will be required to reveal further issues. SP31 Infrastructure Neutral Although this policy has been assessed as neutral, inappropriate development could lead to negative impacts upon European designated sites. Site-specific Appropriate Assessment will reveal any issues. DEVELOPMENT CONTROL POLICIES: HOUSING: DC1 Affordable Housing on Neutral It is unlikely that small scale development adjacent to Exception Sites the main towns will result in negative impacts though site-specific Appropriate Assessments may be required. DC2 Affordable Housing on Neutral It is unlikely that apportioning part of a new Residential Sites development to affordable housing will result in negative impacts though site-specific Appropriate Assessments may be required. DC3 Retention of Small Neutral It is unlikely that allowing extensions to small dwellings Dwellings will result in negative impacts though site-specific Appropriate Assessments may be required for the initial

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construction of the same. DC4 Housing in the Countryside Neutral The contemplation of new constructions within or near to SPAs or SACs might result in negative impacts and site-specific Appropriate Assessment may be required. DC5 Clusters Neutral The contemplation of new constructions within or near to SPAs or SACs might result in negative impacts and site-specific Appropriate Assessment may be required. DC6 Houses in Multiple Neutral It is unlikely that this policy which deals with existing Occupation residential areas may have a negative impact but significantly increased numbers of residents could add pressure to European designated sites. DC7 Residential Annexes Neutral It is unlikely that extending existing properties will have negative impacts but there could be seasonal restrictions on certain types of construction activities dependent upon location. Site-specific Appropriate Assessment will reveal any issues. DC8 Infilling and Backland Neutral It is unlikely that in-fill or backland development Development between or adjacent to existing properties will have negative impacts but there could be seasonal restrictions on certain types of construction activities dependent upon location. Site-specific Appropriate Assessment will reveal any issues. DC9 Extensions to Residential Neutral It is unlikely that extending gardens will have a negative Curtilages impact upon SPAs or SACs but, depending upon location, construction of new features such as extensions, swimming pools, greenhouses or sheds could have an impact and a site-specific Appropriate Assessment may be necessary. DC10 Gypsies, Travellers and Neutral As this policy concentrates on providing permanent and Travelling Showpersons temporary sites linked to existing major centres and the primary road network it is unlikely that there will be negative impacts upon SPAs or SACs however, dependent on locations, site-specific Appropriate Assessments may be necessary. THE ECONOMY: DC11 Protection of Employment Neutral It is unlikely that changing or redeveloping sites will Sites result in negative impacts unless they are within or near SPAs or SACS in which case site-specific Appropriate Assessment may require seasonal restrictions on certain types of construction activity. DC12 Warehousing and Storage Neutral It is possible that new construction of facilities within the A14 and A12 corridors could result in negative impacts if they are within or near SPAs or SACS. Site- specific Appropriate Assessment will reveal any issues: dependent upon location this could become negative. DC13 Expansion and Neutral This policy explicitly recognises conservation of the Intensification of environment. Site-specific Appropriate assessment will Employment Sites reveal any issues. DC14 Conversion and Re-use of Neutral It is unlikely that converting buildings will have negative Redundant Buildings in the impacts but there could be seasonal restrictions on

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Countryside certain types of construction activities dependent upon location. Site-specific Appropriate Assessment will reveal any issues. DC15 Farm Diversification Neutral A site-specific Appropriate Assessment may be necessary to determine if the divergent activity (and any construction or other activity associated with it) is likely to have an impact upon European designated sites. DC16 Large Agricultural Neutral It is possible that the construction of large agricultural Buildings and Structures buildings could result in negative impacts if they are within or near SPAs or SACS. Site-specific Appropriate Assessment will reveal any issues: dependent upon location this could become negative. DC17 Farm Shops Neutral It is possible that the construction of new facilities could result in negative impacts if they are within or near SPAs or SACS. Site-specific Appropriate Assessment will reveal any issues: dependent upon location this could become negative. DC18 Touring Caravan and Neutral This policy specifically states that there should be no Camping Sites materially adverse impacts upon landscape or wildlife. Site-specific Appropriate Assessment will reveal any issues. Increased numbers of tourists at certain locations are likely to result in negative impacts upon SPAs and SACs in which case this will become negative. DC19 Static Holiday Caravans, Neutral Although this policy recognises the importance of Cabins and Chalets refusing development within the Heritage Coast area (including estuaries), there are other European designated areas within the District that could suffer negative impacts. Site-specific Appropriate Assessment will reveal any issues. Increased numbers of tourists at certain locations are likely to result in negative impacts upon SPAs and SACs in which case this will become negative. TRANSPORT: DC20 Parking Standards Neutral It is unlikely that this policy will have any impact upon European designated sites. DC21 Travel Plans Neutral It is unlikely that this policy will have any impact upon European designated sites. DC22 Airfields Negative This policy does not expressly recognise the importance of European designated sites or the effect of powered aircraft flights upon the specific features of interest. Site- specific Appropriate Assessment will be required to reveal all issues. THE ENVIRONMENT: DC23 Design: Aesthetics Neutral It is unlikely that this policy will have any impact upon European designated sites. DC24 Design: Function Neutral It is unlikely that this policy will have any impact upon European designated sites. DC25 Sustainable Construction Neutral It is unlikely that this policy will have any impact upon European designated sites.

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DC26 Art Neutral It is unlikely that urban public art will have an impact on European sites however some installations in the countryside may. Site-specific Appropriate Assessment will reveal any issues. DC27 Residential Amenity Neutral It is unlikely that this policy will have any impact upon European designated sites. DC28 Shop Fronts Neutral It is unlikely that this policy will have any impact upon European designated sites. DC29 Advertisements Neutral It is unlikely that this policy will have any impact upon European designated sites. DC30 Lighting Neutral This policy recognises the issue of light intrusion into the countryside. Dependent upon location and scale, a site-specific Appropriate assessment will reveal any specific light pollution issues. DC31 Biodiversity and Positive This policy specifically recognises the status and Geodiversity designations of sites, habitats and species. Site-specific Appropriate Assessment will reveal any issues. DC32 Flood Risk Neutral Dependent upon location, it is unlikely that this policy will have a negative impact upon European sites however, site-specific Appropriate Assessments will reveal any issues. DC33 Telecommunications Neutral This policy specifically recognises sites with “special” designations, site-specific Appropriate Assessment will reveal any issues. COMMUNITY WELL- BEING: DC34 Key Facilities Neutral It is unlikely that redevelopment of existing facilities will have negative impacts but there could be seasonal restrictions on certain types of construction activities dependent upon location. Site-specific Appropriate Assessment will reveal any issues. DC35 Public Buildings Neutral It is unlikely that redevelopment of existing facilities will have negative impacts but there could be seasonal restrictions on certain types of construction activities dependent upon location. Site-specific Appropriate Assessment will reveal any issues. DC36 Sport and Play Neutral Dependent upon location, it is unlikely that this policy will have a negative impact upon European sites however, site-specific Appropriate Assessments will reveal any issues. DC37 Allotments Neutral Dependent upon location, it is unlikely that this policy will have a negative impact upon European sites however, site-specific Appropriate Assessments will reveal any issues.

Summary of Impacts:

Positive Results:

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The very first Spatial Strategy Policy (SP1) sets the tone for The Document. It contains a commitment to conserve and enhance both the natural and built environment. There are also positive commitments not to permit development that will conflict with Suffolk Coastal District Council’s strategy to protect the environment. This area also has its own particular section within the Plan, recognising the importance of the SPAs and SACs within the District and the need for their protection and enhancement. These fundamental principles will guide the other policies within The Document.

Neutral Results:

Most of the Development Control policies are unlikely to have a significant impact either positive or negative upon the features of conservation interest on the European sites.

Negative Results:

Without site specific allocations, some policies have to be regarded as negative but sensitive thought about their impacts could result in neutral or even positive results. The scoring has been given by using a precautionary approach.

In order to fully implement this proposal it will be necessary to carry out a site-specific Appropriate Assessment, covered more fully in the section “Mitigation” below.

6. Mitigation:

As is clear from many of the comments in Table 2, a number of the proposed policies could be problematic in terms of their impacts upon European designated sites. Most of these impacts can be mitigated for or compensated against by carrying out site-specific Appropriate Assessments which will identify, with precision, how the policy or plan either singly or in combination with plans will impact and how any negative impacts can be dealt with.

It is beyond the remit of this scoping and screening AA to work at a site-specific level but recognition – at this early stage - of such problems, will enable problems to be addressed prior to adoption and implementation of the final draft of The Document.

Some examples of how this might be achieved (after consultation and negotiation with Natural England) are set out in Table 3 “Mitigation” below:

Table 3: Mitigation Policy Policy: Suggested Mitigation: No: SP3 Area East of Ipswich There are areas here where unsuitable development and construction activity will be likely to have significant impacts upon the Deben Estuary SPA. In particular the area to the east of Adastral Park will, because of a number of factors, result in negative impacts (refer to 2(c) above for examples). The first step in mitigation will be by carrying out a site-specific AA which will clarify the impacts. The AA ought to include specific mitigation and compensation and will be the basis for consultations with Natural England prior to the adoption of this scheme. SP4 Felixstowe There are areas here where unsuitable development and

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construction activity will be likely to have significant impacts upon the Deben Estuary SPA. In particular the area to the north of the town will, because of a number of factors particularly the topography, result in negative impacts (refer to 2(c) above for examples). The first step in mitigation will be by carrying out a site-specific AA which will clarify the impacts. The AA ought to include specific mitigation and compensation and will be the basis for consultations with Natural England prior to the adoption of a suitable scheme. SP5 Aldeburgh Although construction disturbance is likely to be minimal, increased tourism could have negative impacts. Site specific AA will identify problem areas and enable consultation to take place with Natural England to seek solutions. SP7 Leiston New housing provision here is thought to be modest but increased pressure by larger numbers of local residents (refer to 2(c) above) may result in negative impacts upon the nearby SACs and SPAs. Site specific AA will identify problem areas and enable consultation to take place with Natural England to seek solutions. SP8 Nuclear Energy This major project for the area is likely to cause impacts through construction activity, increased traffic, connection to the local grid and an increased population seeking recreational and other activity. Site specific AA will identify problem areas and enable consultation to take place with Natural England to seek solutions. SP9 Saxmundham New housing provision here could lead to increased pressure by larger numbers of local residents (refer to 2(c) above) and may result in negative impacts upon the nearby SACs and SPAs. Site specific AA will identify problem areas and enable consultation to take place with Natural England to seek solutions. SP10 Woodbridge Although construction disturbance is likely to be minimal, increased tourism could have negative impacts. Site specific AA will identify problem areas and enable consultation to take place with Natural England to seek solutions. SP16 Housing Needs Site specific AA will identify problem areas and enable consultation to take place with Natural England to seek solutions. SP17 New Housing Site specific AA will identify problem areas and enable consultation to take place with Natural England to seek solutions. SP18 Housing Distribution Site specific AA will identify problem areas and enable consultation to take place with Natural England to seek solutions. SP20 Allocations in the Key Site specific AA will identify problem areas and enable Service Centres consultation to take place with Natural England to seek solutions. SP21 Employment Land Site specific AA will identify problem areas and enable consultation to take place with Natural England to seek solutions. SP24 Tourism Tourism is a difficult issue to balance. Justifiably, the District is very proud of the natural assets that make the area so attractive to visitors; however, increased numbers of tourists at those areas are likely to devalue the very features that make them so special. This particular strategy will require detailed analysis by experts in this field in order to discuss with Natural England realistic strategies to cope with such problems in the future. SP30 Green Space Site specific AA will identify problem areas and enable

268 Appropriate Assessment (Screening & Scoping Stage): Suffolk Coastal LDF Core Strategy & Development Control Policies – Preferred Options; December 2008

consultation to take place with Natural England to seek solutions. DC22 Airfields Site specific AA will identify problem areas and enable consultation to take place with Natural England to seek solutions.

We believe that, having considered the policies and having identified a suite of likely issues, that consultation with Natural England and other relevant bodies will result in final decisions that have the best possible results both for the features of Conservation Interest on the European sites and for the people who live in and visit the Suffolk Coastal District.

This mitigation strategy is likely to be successful because of the fundamental commitments within The Document as set out below:

• The protection of Biodiversity. • Support for a high quality natural environment.

We further believe that this screening and scoping Appropriate Assessment and the subsequent negotiations and consultations will inform and guide any future site-specific work.

7. Effect on Integrity of a European Designated Site:

Because of the District’s commitments to Biodiversity, as set out above, and because of the desire to enter into suitable dialogue with the National nature conservation body, any possible negative effects on the integrity of European Sites will be considered, mitigated against and compensated for.

Dated: 5th day of December 2008.

Andrew Murray-Wood MIEEM Ecologist Countryside and Environment Services Suffolk County Council Endeavour House, 8, Russell Road, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 2BX

Tel: 01473 264783 Internal Telephone: 720-4783 Fax: 01473 216889 Mobile: 07834 676876

E-Mail: [email protected]

269 ASTA SU K CO L D OUNCIL FFOL ISTRICT C

Suffolk Coastal ... where quality of life counts

This document is available in large print or can be translated into another language. Contact the Planning & Policy Team on 01394 444761