Appendices a - J
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Doncaster Council wood. Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council Sustainability Appraisal of the Doncaster Local Plan Volume 2: Appendices A - J Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions UK Limited September 2018 A1 © Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions UK Limited Appendix A Consultation Responses on the SA work to Date September 2018 Doc Ref: 38404 A2 © Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions UK Limited Consultation Responses on the 2015 Scoping Report Question / Comments How it has been addressed issue Consultation on the scope of the sustainability appraisal (July –August 2015) Natural England Plans & Natural England welcome the range of international, national and local natural Comment noted programmes environmental directives, plans, strategies and other literature set out in this (appendix 1) section. Biodiversity We welcome the inclusion of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 but Both acts have been added to the (appendix 1) would also welcome reference to both the Natural Environment and Rural list in appendix 1. Communities Act 2006 and Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended). Landscape Natural England note the inclusion of the European Landscape Convention but we Information from the NVA profiles suggest that you also refer to the National Character Area (NCA) profiles in the has been incorporated within the Doncaster area: baseline assessment where relevant. • NCA Profile 39 Humberhead Levels • NCA Profile 38 Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Yorkshire Coalfield The Doncaster Landscape Character • NCA Profile 30 Southern Magnesium Limestone Assessment and Capacity Study is a key piece of evidence and will help inform NCA profiles are guidance documents which can help communities to inform proposals which affect the setting and their decision-making about the places that they live in and care for. The character of the landscape at the urban information they contain will support the planning of conservation initiatives at fringe. For this reason, it has not been a landscape scale, inform the delivery of Nature Improvement Areas and included within the list of relevant plans encourage broader partnership working through Local Nature Partnerships. The and programmes. profiles will also help to inform choices about how land is managed and can change. Evidence base documents can be found from our website at At a local level we suggest that you include the Doncaster Landscape Character www.doncaster.gov.uk/ldf. Assessment and Capacity Study. Access We welcome the reference and commentary on the Doncaster Rights of Way Acknowledged. The Rights of Way Improvement Plan and advise that you also consider the Defra Rights of Way Circular 01/09 has been added to Circular 01/09. appendix 1. Climate The report “Conserving biodiversity in a changing climate: guidance on building The report has been added to the Change capacity to adapt” (Defra, 2008) sets out six key principles to help wildlife and list of relevant plans and habitats adapt to climate change: programmes. 7. Conserve existing biodiversity (including protected areas and other high quality habitats, and the range and ecological variability of habitats and species). 8. Reduce sources of harm not linked to climate. 9. Develop ecologically resilient and varied landscapes (including conservation and enhancement of local variation within sites and habitats and making space for the natural development of rivers and coasts). 10. Establish ecological networks through habitat protection, restoration and creation. 11. Make sound decisions based on analysis (including thorough analysis of the causes of change, and responding to changing conservation priorities. 12. Integrate adaptation and mitigation measures into conservation management, planning and practice. Adaptation proposals should be sustainable, avoiding measures which would either exacerbate climate change (e.g. through producing more GHG) or damage the resilience of the natural environment, reducing its ability to withstand growing climate change pressures (e.g. by increasing water stress, pollution, Water quality Whaebi wtaelt cfomeragm tehneta rteiocongni, lotsison o fo bf itohdiev peorsitetny,t ibaloth for in e ctoelrmsogic oalf dspamaeciegse a fnromd h aobivetar-t Comment noted & quantity atybpsetr).act ion and particularly the link made with climate change and weather fluctuations. However we advise that ecological receptors, such as wetland and riparian habitats, should be considered with regards to water quality and pollution as well. Biodiversity & Natural England welcome the review of biodiversity and geodiversity NIAs are identified in the baseline September 2018 Doc Ref: 38404 A3 © Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions UK Limited geodiversity characteristics, particularly the mapping of nature conservation designations in review and consideration is given to figure 12 and the identification of climate change as a threat to local biodiversity the potential impact of the plan on under key issues, problems and opportunities. With regards to biodiversity and conservation activities in these geodiversity opportunities it might be helpful to the relevant NCA Profiles which areas. The baseline review lists include chapters on opportunities and ecosystem services. We also suggest that some of the key priority species you include further baseline data about priority and protected species which from the Doncaster Biodiversity should include, where relevant, both European and nationally protected species Action Plan. and priority species including NERC 2006 Annex 1 birds and regularly occurring migratory birds as set out in the EC Birds Directive 2009/147. In addition, Natural England has produced standing advice to help understand the impact of particular developments on protected or Biodiversity Action Plan species. While we welcome the identification of international and nationally designated sites within Doncaster we advise that the assessment should also consider the impact of the plan on sites outside the local authority boundary both alone and in combination with neighbouring plans and proposals, including consideration of both the Dearne Valley Green Heart and Humberhead Levels Nature Improvement Areas (NIAs) which both overlap the Doncaster local authority area. Air & noise Natural England advise that you consider ecological receptors of air and noise Commentary on the sensitivity of pollution pollution as well as human receptors. For instance heathland and bog habitats are healthland/bog habitats and sensitive to air pollution from transport and industry while breeding birds can be breeding birds to pollution has sensitive to noise disturbance. been added. We note the identification of shortages of certain types of open space including Open spaces standards will be set greenspace, public parks, nature conservation sites and allotments and advise that according to local needs. These you consider the Accessible Natural Greenspace Standard (ANGSt) which is a are based on the findings of the powerful tool in assessing current levels of accessible natural greenspace, and Doncaster Greenspace Audit. planning for better provision. The Accessible Natural Greenspace Standard has been included as a specific target within the sustainability framework. Green We welcome the identified opportunity under leisure, recreation, open space and Additional information has been infrastructure other community assets to improve links between open spaces and the wider provided in appendix 1 on the wider green infrastructure network and open countryside. However we advise that green infrastructure network, further information on the wider green infrastructure network should be set out in including the hierarchy of green the baseline in order to inform the assessment with regards to impacts on and infrastructure corridors and nature opportunities for the green infrastructure network. conservation sites (see the “Leisure, recreation, open space & other community assets” sub- section). September 2018 Doc Ref: 38404 A4 © Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions UK Limited Sustainability Natural England support the sustainability objectives set out in the report and A new sub-criterion relating to links objectives welcome the table set out in appendix 3 which sets out the sustainability between rural and urban areas has framework in a clear and detailed manner. We welcome the inclusion of criteria for been added under objective 4. assessing how to achieve the objectives and have a number of suggestions for how to improve these to ensure that the assessment takes account of the full range of The framework now includes natural environmental considerations as regard our statutory remit. the “Accessible Natural Greenspace Standard” as a 4 Improve accessibility to place and services, both within and outside of the specific target. borough Objective 13 also includes a sub- We would like to see a criterion regarding providing links between open spaces and criterion concerning the the wider green infrastructure network and open countryside under this objective, protection of protected and as identified in the baseline for this topic. priority species 8. Make places that are safe, attractive, culturally interesting and distinctive to live, New sub-criteria have been work and travel in added under objective 15 concerning the impacts on We suggest you consider including a specific standard for greenspace provision in ecosystems (e.g. wetland and the criteria such as ANGSt as discussed above. riparian habitats)