Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report (PDF 2.1MB)
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Contents Section 1 Introduction 1.1 Requirement for SA and SEA 4 1.2 City Plan Part 2 6 1.3 Purpose of the SA Scoping Report 6 1.4 SEA Regulations Requirements 7 1.4 Layout of the Scoping Report 8 Section 2 Consultation 2.1 Introduction 10 2.2 Consultation Questions 10 2.3 How to Comment 11 Section 3 Topic Chapters 3.0 Introduction 12 3.1 Biodiversity & Geodiversity 13 3.2 Water Quality and Resources 25 3.3 Soil, Waste and Land Resources 33 3.4 Air Quality and Transportation 41 3.5 Climate Change and Flooding 59 3.6 Cultural Heritage, Landscape and Open Space 71 3.7 Population, Human Health & Inequalities 87 3.8 Housing & Community 106 3.9 Local Economy, Employment, Skills and Education 120 Section 4 SA Framework & Methodology 4.1 Introduction 140 4.2 SA Framework – Policies 140 4.3 Methodology 144 4.4 SA Framework - Sites 145 Section 5 Next Steps 5.1 Consultation period 153 Appendices A – Plans, Policies and Guidance 154 B – Baseline Information and Indicators 193 C – Copy of Consultation Response Form 204 D - Maps 208 2 List of Maps 1. Special Area of Conservation 2. Sites of Special Scientific Interest 3. Local Nature Reserves (declared) 4. Local Nature Reserves (proposed) 5. Sites of Nature Conservation Importance 6. Groundwater Source Protection Zones 7. Road Noise Mapping – daytime 8. Tidal flood risk 9. Surface Water Flood Risk 1 in 30 year event 10. Surface Water Food Risk 1 in 200 year event 11. Conservation Areas 12. South Downs National Park List of Figures 1. Stages of SA/SEA and plan-making 2. Map of Biosphere Region 3. Groundwater Levels at Ladies Mile 2014-2016 4. Brighton, Hove and Portslade AQMA 2013 5. Rottingdean AMQA 2013 6. Nitrogen Dioxide levels 1997-2013 7. Groundwater Levels at Ladies Mile Jan to April 2014 8. Surface Water Flood Risk Hotspots 9. Population by 5 year age bands (Census 2011) 10. Index for Multiple Deprivation 2015 – all domains 11. Net housing completions 2010-2015 12. Affordable housing completions 2010-2015 13. Gains and losses in employment floorspace 2014/2015 3 Section 1 Introduction 1.1 Requirement for Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment 1.11 The Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 requires that a Sustainability Appraisal (SA) is carried out for all Development Plan Documents (DPD). As the City Plan Part 2 sets a framework for development consent of projects that are likely to have significant environmental effects, a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), as required by European Directive EC/2001/42 and the relevant Regulations 1 is also necessary. The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) also states that an SA, incorporating the requirements of the SEA Directive, is integral to the plan making process2. 1.12 SA is a systematic and iterative process that attempts to predict and assess the economic, environmental and social effects that may arise from a plan, with a view to avoiding and mitigating adverse impacts and maximising positive impacts where appropriate. It plays an important role in demonstrating that a DPD is contributing towards sustainable development through the integration of environmental, social and economic considerations into the DPD. 1.13 SEA introduces a systematic assessment of the environmental effects of plans or programmes, including land use plans. Its objective is “to provide a high level of protection of the environment and to contribute to the integration of environmental considerations into the preparation and adoption of plans and programmes, with a view to promoting sustainable development, by ensuring that, in accordance with the Directive, and environmental assessment is carried out on certain plans which are likely to have significant effects of the environment.” It also requires the consideration of reasonable alternatives, to help demonstrate that the final plan is the most sustainable approach. 1.14 Although the requirements of SA and SEA are distinct, a single joint appraisal incorporating SA and SEA requirements can be carried out, in accordance with National Planning Practice Guidance 3, ensuring that all issues are considered. The stages of SA/SEA and relevant stages of plan-making are illustrated in Figure 1. 1 The Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004 2 NPPF paragraph 165 3 NPPG 4 Figure 1 Stages of SA/SEA and plan-making (Taken from NPPG paragraph 013) 5 1.2 City Plan Part Two 1.21 Brighton & Hove City Council is the local planning authority responsible for preparing the development plan for the city. The development plan currently consists of the City Plan Part One (adopted March 2016) and saved policies from the Local Plan (2005). The City Plan Part One sets the overall strategy for the development and growth of Brighton & Hove up to 2030, identifies broad locations for development and allocates strategic sites. The City Plan Part One also sets some policies that guide decisions on planning applications. 1.22 The City Plan Part Two will allocate non-strategic sites for various uses, such as housing, employment and community uses and will also include more detailed policies that will be used for the determination of planning applications. Once adopted, the City Plan Part Two will replace the saved policies from the Local Plan 2005, and together with the City Plan Part One, will form the Development Plan for the city. 1.3 Purpose of the Scoping Report 1.31 A Scoping Report was originally produced in 2005 for the emerging Core Strategy, which was then replaced by the City Plan. This Scoping Report has been updated so that the baseline information, evidence and analysis are considered to be as up to date as possible in order to inform the plan production process of the City Plan Part Two. 1.32 Scoping is the process of deciding the scope and level of detail of an SA, including the relevant background and issues, the assessment methods to be used and the structure and contents of the SA Report. Documenting this process, the Scoping Report sets out the scope of, and methodology for the SA and summarises the tasks and outcomes of the first stage of the SA process. 1.33 The Scoping Report is considered as Stage A in the SA process as shown in Figure 1. It involves the development of the SA objectives which form a framework for undertaking the appraisals, as well as setting out an informed evidence base, sustainability context and identification of sustainability issues. The Scoping Report is then made available for consultation with stakeholders. 1.34 Stage A can be broken down into the following 5 key tasks: • A1 – Context: Identifying other relevant policies, plans and programmes and sustainability objectives to document how the plan is affected by outside measures. • A2 – Baseline Information: Collecting data and baseline information to provide an evidence base for sustainability issues, effects, prediction and monitoring. • A3 – Sustainability Problems: Identifying sustainability issues and problems from the context and baseline review to help focus the Sustainability Appraisal 6 • A4 – SA Framework: Developing the SA Framework consisting of objectives based on the issues identified during the context and baseline review to provide a means by which the sustainability of the plan can be appraised. • A5 - Consultation: Consulting on the scope of the SA to ensure the appraisal covers the key sustainability issues. 1.4 Strategic Environmental Assessment Regulations Requirements The Scoping Report must also meet the requirements of Regulation 12 (5) and Schedule 2 of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004 (SEA Regulations). The following table shows the links between the Stages 1- 5 of SA and Requirements 1-5 of Schedule 2 of the SEA Regulations where relevant. Table 1: Link between SA and SEA Requirements Regulation SEA Requirements Stage of SA / SA Requirement Schedule 2 An outline of the contents, main A1 – Context Review (1) objectives of the plan or programme and its relationship with other relevant plans of programmes Schedule 2 The relevant aspects of the current state A2 – Baseline Information (2) of the environment and the likely evolution thereof without implementation of the plan or programme Schedule 2 The environmental characteristics of A2 – Baseline Information (3) areas likely to be significantly affected Schedule 2 Any existing environmental problems A3 – Sustainability (4) which are relevant to the plan or Problems programme including in particular those relating to any areas of environmental importance, such as those designated under Directives 79/409/EEC (wild birds) and 92/43/EEC (habitats Schedule 2 The environmental protection objectives, A1 – Context Review (5) established at international, community or Member State level, which are relevant to the plan or programme and the way those objectives and any environmental considerations have been taken into account during its preparation 12 (5) When deciding on the scope and level of A5 - Consultation detail of the information that must be included in the report, the responsible body must consult the consultation bodies. 7 1.42 Schedule 2 of the Regulations also sets out the following issues that need to be considered: a) Biodiversity b) Population c) Human Health d) Fauna e) Flora f) Soil g) Water h) Air i) Climatic Factors j) Material Assets k) Cultural Heritage l) Landscape 1.5 Layout of the Scoping Report 1.51 This Scoping Report has been broken up into themed topic chapters covering various issues. The topic chapters incorporate the issues listed in (a) to (l) above as required by Schedule 2 of the SEA Regulations, as well as any other relevant socio or economic sustainability topics as required by the SA process. The topic chapters and relevant SEA issues are shown in the following table.