Isla Hoffmann-Heap Report Habitats Regulations Assessment for The
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Habitats Regulations Assessment for the London Borough of Bromley's Proposed Submission Draft Local Plan London Borough of Bromley Project Number: 60474250 November 14 2016 Habitats Regulations Assessment for the London Borough of Bromley's Proposed Submission Draft Local Plan Quality information Prepared by Checked by Approved by Isla Hoffmann-Heap Dr James Riley Max Wade Consultant Ecologist Associate Director Technical Director Revision History Revision Revision date Details Authorized Name Position 0 15/11/16 Draft JR James Riley Associate Prepared for: London Borough of Bromley AECOM Habitats Regulations Assessment for the London Borough of Bromley's Proposed Submission Draft Local Plan Prepared for: London Borough of Bromley Prepared by: Isla Hoffmann-Heap Consultant Ecologist T: 01256 310 486 M: 07920 789 719 E: [email protected] AECOM Limited Midpoint Alencon Link Basingstoke Hampshire RG21 7PP UK T: +44(0)1256 310200 aecom.com © 2016 AECOM Limited. All Rights Reserved. This document has been prepared by AECOM Limited (“AECOM”) for sole use of our client (the “Client”) in accordance with generally accepted consultancy principles, the budget for fees and the terms of reference agreed between AECOM and the Client. Any information provided by third parties and referred to herein has not been checked or verified by AECOM, unless otherwise expressly stated in the document. No third party may rely upon this document without the prior and express written agreement of AECOM. Prepared for: London Borough of Bromley AECOM Habitats Regulations Assessment for the London Borough of Bromley's Proposed Submission Draft Local Plan Table of Contents 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 6 1.1 Background to the project ................................................................................................... 6 1.2 Current Legislation ............................................................................................................. 6 1.3 Scope of the Project ........................................................................................................... 7 1.4 This Report ......................................................................................................................... 8 2. Methodology ................................................................................................................................. 9 2.1 HRA Task 1 - Likely Significant Effects (LSE) ..................................................................... 9 2.2 Principal Other Plans and Projects That May Act ‘In Combination’ .................................. 10 3. The Plan ...................................................................................................................................... 11 3.1 Chapter 2: Living in Bromley ............................................................................................ 11 3.2 Chapter 3: Supporting Communities ................................................................................ 13 3.3 Chapter 5: Valued Environments ...................................................................................... 15 3.4 Chapter 6: Working in Bromley ......................................................................................... 19 3.5 Chapter 7: Environmental Challenges .............................................................................. 22 3.6 Chapter 8: Delivery and Implementation .......................................................................... 24 4. Potential Impact Pathways ......................................................................................................... 25 4.1 Recreational Pressure ...................................................................................................... 25 4.2 Atmospheric Pollution ....................................................................................................... 28 4.3 Water Quantity .................................................................................................................. 29 4.4 Water Quality .................................................................................................................... 29 5. European Designated Sites Screening ....................................................................................... 30 5.1 Wimbledon Common SAC ................................................................................................ 30 5.2 Richmond Park SAC ......................................................................................................... 33 5.3 Epping Forest SAC ........................................................................................................... 33 5.4 Lee Valley SPA and Ramsar ............................................................................................. 35 5.5 Mole Gap to Reigate Escarpment SAC ............................................................................ 36 5.6 North Downs Woodlands SAC ......................................................................................... 38 5.7 Thames Estuary and Marshes SPA and Ramsar ............................................................. 39 6. Screening Conclusions ............................................................................................................... 41 Appendix A : Figure A1: Location of European Designated Sites in Relation to the London Borough of Bromley. ................................................................................................................... 42 Figures Figure 1: Four Stage Approach to Habitats Regulations Assessment. Source CLG, 2006. ................... 9 Figure 2: Traffic Contribution to Concentrations of Pollutants at Different Distances from a Road (Source: DfT) ......................................................................................................................................... 28 Tables Table 1: European designated sites with the potential sphere of influence of the London Borough of Bromley. .................................................................................................................................................. 8 Table 2: Broad summaries of policies within Chapter 2 (Living in Bromley) of the Draft Local Plan. ... 11 Table 3: Broad summaries of policies within Chapter 3 (Supporting Communities) of the Draft Local Plan ....................................................................................................................................................... 14 Table 4: Broad summaries of policies within Chapter 4 (Getting Around: Transport and Accessibility) of the Draft Local Plan ............................................................................................................................... 15 Table 5: Broad summaries of policies within Chapter 5 (Valued Environments) of the Draft Local Plan16 Table 6: Broad summaries of policies within Chapter 6 (Working in Bromley) of the Draft Local Plan 20 Table 7: Broad summaries of policies within Chapter 7 (Environmental Challenges) of the Draft Local Plan ....................................................................................................................................................... 23 Prepared for: London Borough of Bromley AECOM Habitats Regulations Assessment for the London Borough of Bromley's Proposed Submission Draft Local Plan Table 8: Broad summaries of policies within Chapter 8 (Delivery and Implementation) of the Draft Local Plan.............................................................................................................................................. 24 Table 9: Critical Loads of Wimbledon Common SAC and existing Nitrogen deposition rates upon SAC features ................................................................................................................................................. 32 Prepared for: London Borough of Bromley AECOM Habitats Regulations Assessment for the London Borough of Bromley's Proposed Submission Draft Local Plan 1. Introduction 1.1 Background to the project AECOM has been appointed by The London Borough of Bromley (referred to as “the Council” and “the Authority”) to assist in undertaking a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) of the potential effects of Council’s Proposed Submission Draft Local Plan (known henceforth as the ‘Draft Local Plan’ or the ‘Plan’). The London Borough of Bromley (Bromley Council) is currently preparing a new Local Plan to replace the Unitary Development Plan (July 2006) which currently forms part of the borough’s Development Plan. Bromley Council is in the process of preparing their updated Local Plan. The Plan will set out the vision and objectives for the borough to the 2030s, strategic and more detailed policies used in determining local planning applications, and strategic site allocations. The objective of this assessment is to: • identify any aspects of the Draft Local Plan that would cause an adverse effect on the integrity of Natura 2000 sites, otherwise known as European sites (Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and, as a matter of Government policy, Ramsar sites1), either in isolation or in combination with other plans and projects; and • to advise on appropriate policy mechanisms for delivering mitigation where such effects are identified. 1.2 Current Legislation The need for Appropriate Assessment is