Amber Valley Borough Local Plan Sustainability Appraisal Post Consultation Scoping Report
Date: 30th September 2020
Prepared by: ClearLead Consulting Limited The Barn, Cadhay, Ottery St Mary, Devon, EX11 1QT, UK
Quality Management
Issue/revision Issue 1 Revision 1 Revision 2 Revision 3 Report Status DRAFT Consultation Consultation Post Consultation Version for client Version Version approval Date 30/03/20 21/04/2020 28/04/2020 30/09/2020 Prepared by L Dunkerley / I Teague I Teague I Teague L Dunkerley Signature
Checked by J Mitchell V Pearson V Pearson V Pearson Signature
Authorised by J Mitchell J Mitchell J Mitchell J Mitchell Signature
Project number C0231
LIMITATIONS
This report has been prepared by ClearLead Consulting Limited solely for the use of the Client and those parties with whom a warranty agreement has been executed, or with whom an assignment has been agreed. Should any third party wish to use or rely upon the contents of the report, written approval must be sought from ClearLead Consulting Limited; a charge may be levied against such approval. ClearLead Consulting Limited accepts no responsibility or liability for: a) the consequences of this document being used for any purpose or project other than for which it was commissioned, and b) the use of this document by any third party with whom an agreement has not been executed. The work undertaken to provide the basis of this report comprised a study of available documented information from a variety of sources (including the Client) and discussions with relevant authorities and other interested parties. The opinions given in this report have been dictated by the finite data on which they are based and are relevant only to the purpose for which the report was commissioned. The information reviewed should not be considered exhaustive and has been accepted in good faith as providing true and representative data pertaining to site conditions. Should additional information become available which may affect the opinions expressed in this report, ClearLead Consulting Limited reserves the right to review such information and, if warranted, to modify the opinions accordingly. It should be noted that any recommendations identified in this report are based on information provided by the Client and as gathered during the site survey. In some cases access cannot be granted to all areas of the site, in these instances and in the absence of information to the contrary, ClearLead Consulting Limited will use the information provided to complete the report.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction ...... 1 1.1 What is Sustainability? ...... 1 1.2 Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment ...... 2 1.3 Habitats Regulations Assessment ...... 3 1.4 This Document ...... 3 1.5 Consultation ...... 3 1.6 Next Steps ...... 4 2 Approach to the SA ...... 5 2.1 SA Process and Requirements for Scoping ...... 5 2.2 Scoping Methodology ...... 7 2.3 Structure of this Report ...... 9 3 The Scope and Content of the Amber Valley Borough Local Plan ...... 11 3.1 Amber Valley Borough Local Plan ...... 11 3.2 Neighbourhood Plans...... 13 4 Review of Policies, Plans and Programmes...... 15 4.1 Introduction ...... 15 4.2 Summary of Key Messages ...... 15 5 Economy and Employment ...... 23 5.1 Baseline ...... 23 5.2 Sustainability Issues ...... 26 5.3 Likely Evolution without the plan ...... 27 5.4 Data Gaps ...... 27 6 Population and Health ...... 29 6.1 Baseline ...... 29 6.2 Sustainability Issues ...... 36 6.3 Likely Evolution without the Plan ...... 36 6.4 Data Gaps ...... 37 7 Housing ...... 38 7.1 Baseline ...... 38 7.2 Sustainability Issues ...... 39
7.3 Likely Evolution without the Plan ...... 40 7.4 Data Gaps ...... 40 8 Transport and Accessibility ...... 41 8.1 Baseline ...... 41 8.2 Sustainability Issues ...... 43 8.3 Likely Evolution without the Plan ...... 43 8.4 Data Gaps ...... 44 9 Air, Noise and Light ...... 45 9.1 Baseline ...... 45 9.2 Sustainability Issues ...... 46 9.3 Likely Evolution without the Plan ...... 47 9.4 Data Gaps ...... 47 10 Climatic Factors ...... 48 10.1 Baseline ...... 48 10.2 Sustainability Issues ...... 54 10.3 Likely Evolution without the Plan ...... 55 10.4 Data Gaps ...... 56 11 Biodiversity, Geodiversity, Flora and Fauna ...... 57 11.1 Baseline ...... 57 11.2 Sustainability Issues ...... 61 11.3 Likely Evolution Without LP ...... 61 11.4 Data Gaps ...... 61 12 Cultural Heritage ...... 62 12.1 Baseline ...... 62 12.2 Sustainability Issues ...... 68 12.3 Likely Evolution without the Plan ...... 68 12.4 Data Gaps ...... 68 13 Landscape ...... 69 13.1 Baseline ...... 69 13.2 Sustainability Issues ...... 73 13.3 Likely Evolution without the Plan ...... 73 13.4 Data Gaps ...... 73 14 Soils, Water and Minerals ...... 74
14.1 Baseline ...... 74 14.2 Sustainability Issues ...... 77 14.3 Likely Evolution without the Plan ...... 78 14.4 Data Gaps ...... 78 15 Waste ...... 79 15.1 Baseline ...... 79 15.2 Sustainability Issues ...... 80 15.3 Likely Evolution without the Plan ...... 80 15.4 Data Gaps ...... 80 16 Proposed SA Framework ...... 81 17 Next Steps ...... 86
1 Introduction
Amber Valley Borough Council (AVBC) is preparing a new Local Plan following a resolution in May 2019 to withdraw the Submission Local Plan (March 2018) to enable the Spatial Vision, Strategic Objectives and Spatial Strategy Policies to be reviewed. It is anticipated that the new Local Plan will be adopted by 31 March 2023 and will have an end date of at least 2038. The new Local Plan will be subject to Sustainability Appraisal (SA) which will be undertaken by consultants ClearLead Consulting Ltd working closely with the planning policy team. The purpose of this Scoping Report is to seek agreement on the proposed scope of the SA.
1.1 What is Sustainability?
International and national bodies have set out broad principles of sustainable development. Resolution 42/187 of the United Nations General Assembly1 defined sustainable development as 'meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs'. The UK Sustainable Development Strategy Securing the Future2 set out five 'guiding principles' of sustainable development:
• Living within the planet's environmental limits; • Ensuring a strong, healthy and just society; • Achieving a sustainable economy; • Promoting good governance; and • Using sound science responsibly. The National Planning Policy Framework3 (NPPF) sets out the Government's planning policies for England and how these are expected to be applied. The whole of the NPPF constitutes the Government's view of what sustainable development in England means in practice for the planning system. The NPPF states the planning system has three overarching objectives, which are interdependent and need to be pursued in mutually supportive ways (so that opportunities can be taken to secure net gains across the different objectives):
• An Economic Objective - to help build a strong, responsive and competitive economy, by ensuring that sufficient land of the right types is available in the right places and at the
1 United Nations, General Assembly, Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987 2 The UK Government Sustainable Development Strategy, Securing the Future, 2005 3 Department for Communities and Local Government, The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF), 2019
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right time to support growth, innovation and improved productivity; and by identifying and coordinating the provision of infrastructure; • A Social Objective - to support strong, vibrant and healthy communities, by ensuring that a sufficient number and range of homes can be provided to meet the needs of present and future generations; and by fostering a well-designed and safe built environment, with accessible services and open spaces that reflect current and future needs and support communities' health, social and cultural well-being; and • An Environmental Objective - to contribute to protecting and enhancing our natural, built and historic environment; including making effective use of land, helping to improve biodiversity, use natural resources prudently, minimise waste and pollution, and mitigate and adapt to climate change, including moving to a low carbon economy. The NPPF also makes clear (Paragraph 149) that policies in Local Plans should address climate change mitigation and adaptation to ensure the future resilience of communities and infrastructure to climate change impacts.
1.2 Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment
SA of Development Plan Documents (DPDs) is required under Section 19 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. The NPPF (February 2019) also requires SA of DPDs. The SA must incorporate the requirements of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004 (the SEA Regulations). The SEA Regulations transpose the SEA Directive (2001/42/EC) into English law and applies to a range of plans and programmes, including DPDs. The purpose of the SEA Directive is to ensure a high level of environmental protection, and to integrate the consideration of the environment into the preparation and adoption of plans, with a view to promoting sustainable development. Within the context of local planning in England, it is accepted practice to integrate the requirements of SA and SEA into a single assessment process as set out in the Planning Practice Guidance4 (updated 2019). The purpose of SA is to appraise the environmental, social and economic effects of plans and programmes. The SA ‘testing’ of the DPD policies and their reasonable alternatives will help to develop the most sustainable policies and proposals as an integral part of the plan's development.
4 https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/planning-practice-guidance
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1.3 Habitats Regulations Assessment
In the UK, the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) has been transposed into domestic legislation as the Habitats Regulations 2010 which requires an assessment of any plans which are likely to have a significant effect on any protected European sites, i.e. Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Ramsar wetland sites. This is commonly referred to as a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA). This requirement includes strategic plans with an impact on land use. For the Amber Valley Borough Local Plan an HRA screening exercise will be undertaken to determine if the emerging planning policies (either in isolation and/or in combination with other plans or projects) would generate an adverse impact upon the integrity of a European site, in terms of its conservation objectives and qualifying interests. This process will be documented in a Screening Report that will be submitted to Natural England for approval. Any potential effects from the Local Plan on European sites will be included within the SA and reported in the SA Reports.
1.4 This Document
This Scoping Report is the first output of the SA. The purpose of the scoping stage is to set out proposals for conducting the SA, so that the SA tests the sustainability of the Local Plan using up to date information. This Scoping Report provides baseline information on the environmental, social and economic characteristics of the plan area, including the likely evolution of the baseline position which would occur without the plan. The Scoping Report also sets out a methodology and framework for the assessment of the Local Plan and its alternatives at later stages of the Plan preparation process. It also identifies the significant effects that the assessment will need to focus on.
1.5 Consultation
This Scoping Report has been consulted on with the statutory consultees5 and a range of other key stakeholders to confirm that it provides sufficient information to ensure that a robust and legally compliant SA is carried out. The Scoping Report was consulted on for a five week period between Monday 4 May 2020 to Wednesday 10 June 2020. Comments were received from the following consultees including all three statutory consultees and amendments have been made to this report and the SA framework in response. The changes have been relatively minor, with the addition of some key sustainability
5 Natural England, Historic England and the Environment Agency
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issues, the addition or clarification of some baseline data and some minor changes to the sub- objectives in the SA Framework.
• Environment Agency; • Historic England; • Natural England; • Highways England; • The Coal Authority; • Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site; • Ripley Town Council; • Crich Parish Council; • Kirk Langley Parish Council; • Derby City Council; • Derbyshire County Council; and • Severn Trent Water.
1.6 Next Steps
Following review of the comments received during the consultation process on the scoping report. This document now constitutes the amended scoping report and has been published as a post- consultation version on the AVBC website. Section 17 of this document sets out the next stages of the SA process in more detail.
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2 Approach to the SA
2.1 SA Process and Requirements for Scoping
The SA process is shown in Figure 2.1. This Scoping Report is a part of Stage A of the SA process (scoping) and fulfils the requirements to:
• identify environmental, social and economic issues and objectives contained in other strategies, plans and programmes that are relevant to the Local Plan area; • provide baseline information on the environmental, social and economic characteristics of the area; and • outline an appropriate framework for carrying out the SA, including objectives and indicators, against which the effect of the plan options and policies will be appraised, mitigated and monitored.
The requirements of the SEA Regulations with regards to scoping are as follows:
• “when deciding on the scope and level of detail of the information that must be included in the [environmental] report, the responsible authority shall consult the consultation bodies.” (Part 3, Paragraph 5); and • “where a consultation body wishes to respond to a consultation under paragraph (5), it shall do so within the period of 5 weeks beginning with the date on which it receives the responsible authority’s invitation to engage in the consultation.” (Part 3, Paragraph 6) These requirements will be met through the consultation on this report.
It is considered good practice to ensure the following during the scoping stage:
• provide reasons for eliminating issues from further consideration; and • provide a methodology to focus the appraisal on significant issues. These elements of good practice have been addressed through the identification of sustainability issues. The sustainability issues are described at the end of each of the topic Chapters (5 to 15) of this report and are presented in the detailed SA Framework in Appendix B.
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Sustainability Appraisal Process Local Plan Preparation
Stage A: Setting the context and objectives, establishing the baseline Evidence gathering and and deciding on the scope engagement 1. Identify other relevant policies, plans and programmes and sustainability objectives 2. Collect baseline information 3. Identify sustainability issues and problems 4. Develop the sustainability appraisal framework 5. Consult the consultation bodies on the scope of the sustainability appraisal report
Stage B: Developing and refining alternatives and assessing effects Consult on Local Plan in 1. Test the Local Plan objectives against the appraisal framework preparation (Regulation 18 of the 2. Develop the Local Plan options including reasonable alternatives Town and Country Planning 3. Evaluate the likely effects of the Local Plan and alternatives (Local Planning)(England) 4. Consider ways of mitigating adverse effects and maximising beneficial Regulations 2012). Consultation effects may be undertaken more than once 5. Propose measures to monitor the significant effects of implementing if the Local Planning Authority the Local Plan considers necessary.
Stage C: Prepare the Sustainability Appraisal Report Prepare the publication version of the Local Plan
Stage D: Seek representations on the Sustainability Appraisal Report Seek representations on the from consultation bodies and the public publication Local Plan (regulation Assess modifications to plan made as a result of representations 19) from consultation bodies and the public
Submit draft Local Plan and supporting documents for independent examination
Outcome of examination Consider implication for SA/SEA compliance
Local Plan Adopted
Stage E: Post adoption reporting and monitoring Monitoring 1. Prepare and public post-adoption statement Monitor and report on the 2. Monitor signficant effects of implementing the Local Plan implementation of the Local Plan 3. Respond to adverse effects
(Source: Adapted from Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (2019) Planning Practice Guidance)
Figure 2.1: The SA process
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2.2 Scoping Methodology
The following text sets out the approach taken to complete the Stage A tasks outlined in Figure 2.1.
Task A1: Identifying other relevant policies, plans and programmes, and sustainability objectives The legislative context in which the Local Plan is being prepared can best be understood through a review of related policies, plans, and programmes (PPP). The SEA Regulations require information on:
“an outline of the contents and main objectives of the plan or programme, and of its relationship with other relevant plans and programmes” (Schedule 2, Paragraph 1); and “the environmental protection objectives, 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” (Schedule 2, Paragraph 5). The review process ensures that the new Local Plan complies with existing PPP at international, national and regional levels of governance and also reinforces and supports local plans and strategies. The process entails identifying and reviewing those PPP and environmental protection objectives that are directly relevant to both the Local Plan and the SA. Carrying out this review at an early stage of plan development allows for any inconsistencies or constraints within the new Local Plan to be addressed. It also provides the context for the SA and informs the development of the SA framework (See Chapter 16).
For practical reasons, the scoping task of identifying related plans and programmes cannot yield an exhaustive or definitive list of legislative/non-legislative documents. The review has been focused to ensure that only policies that are current and have direct relevance to the Local Plan are reviewed. An outline of the policy documents and their objectives are provided in Appendix A and a summary of the key messages / objectives is provided in Table 4.1 in Chapter 4 of this report.
In some cases, where lower level plans include the objectives set out at a national or international level, then the national and international plans have not been included.
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Task A2: Collecting baseline information The SEA Regulations require6 a description of the following to be presented:
“the relevant aspects of the current state of the environment and the likely evolution thereof without implementation of the plan or programme” (Schedule 2, Paragraph 2);
“the environmental characteristics of areas likely to be significantly affected” (Schedule 2, Paragraph 3);” and
“the likely significant effects on the environment… on issues such as (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, including architectural and archaeological heritage; (l) landscape (Schedule 2, Paragraph 6).”
Baseline data enables a characterisation of the plan area to be developed, including the sensitivity of the environment. Gaining an understanding of this information allows the impacts of the plan to be assessed and its performance to be monitored after adoption. Baseline information can put the plan area into context in relation to a national or regional situation or in relation to adjacent areas.
It is, therefore, necessary to collect sufficient information about the current baseline state of Amber Valley Borough and to predict the future environmental and socio-economic trends to allow effects to be adequately predicted and monitored. The detailed baseline information has been compiled in a series of topics in line with published guidance7 to include comparators, targets, trends and indicators. The most recent SA Report was prepared for the previous emerging Amber Valley Borough Local Plan and was published alongside the Local Plan when it was submitted for examination in 20188. This document has been reviewed in the preparation of this SA Scoping Report and any relevant data transferred into this Scoping Report.
Each baseline topic chapter presents baseline data, the evolution of the baseline without the plan, key sustainability issues and data gaps. Data gaps identifies data which is missing, limited or, for example, studies which are due to be updated or published in the future.
Data has been collated from published sources available at the time of writing this scoping report. The Covid-19 pandemic could affect some aspects of the baseline, particularly economic and social topics so there may be a need to review the baseline for these topics, but this will only be evident when data sources are next published.
6 Schedule 2 of the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive 2004 7 A practical guide to the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive 2005 ODPM ISBN 1851127887 8 Sustainability Appraisal, Amber Valley Borough Council, 2018
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Task A3: Identifying sustainability issues and problems Through consideration of the baseline data and the evolution of the baseline without the plan, a set of key sustainability issues have been identified at the end of each of the topic chapters.
Task A4: Developing the SA assessment framework The preparation of this Scoping Report has culminated in the presentation of a framework of SA Objectives in Chapter 16 of this report; against which the Local Plan and its reasonable alternatives will be tested. For consistency purposes the SA Framework proposed to test the Amber Valley Borough Local Plan is based on the SA framework established to assess the previous emerging Amber Valley Borough Local Plan (2018), which was subsequently withdrawn in 2019. However, it has been updated and amended to reflect up to date sustainability issues identified in this Scoping Report.
In updating the SA framework, this scoping exercise has reviewed the previous SA Objectives with relation to:
• Their relevance to the scope and objectives of the Local Plan; • The practicalities of assessing against these objectives; • Any additional sustainability objectives which should be potentially included or scoped out identified through the review and update of the plans, policies, and programmes; and • Any additional sustainability objectives which should be potentially included or scoped out identified through the key sustainability issues and problems identified in the baseline review and update.
A5: Consulting on the scope of the SA
This Scoping Report for the new Amber Valley Borough Local Plan was consulted on with the statutory consultees and other stakeholders for a period of 5 weeks between 4 May 2020 and 10 June 2020.
Comments reviewed on the Scoping Report were recorded in a ‘recommendations tracker’ and used to update this post-consultation report and inform the next stages of the SA.
2.3 Structure of this Report
The remainder of this report Chapters 5 to 15 is organised into 11 topic chapters with sub- headings which cover baseline data, sustainability issues, likely evolution without the plan and data gaps. Chapter 4 provides a summary of the review of other relevant plans, policies and programmes. Chapter 16 sets out the proposed SA framework and Chapter 17 provides a summary of the next steps in the SA process.
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The topics set out within the SEA Regulations have been expanded into a number of sustainability topics as presented within Table 2.2 to include socio-economic topics as well as environmental.
Table 2.2: Amber Valley Borough new Local Plan SA topics compared with SEA Topics
SA Topics adopted for this SEA Regulations topics required to be considered assessment
Economy & Employment Not required by SEA regulations
Population & Health Population
Human Health
Housing Material Assets
Transport & Accessibility Material Assets
Air, Noise & Light Air
Climatic Factors Climatic Factors
Biodiversity, Geodiversity, Biodiversity, flora and fauna Flora & Fauna
Cultural Heritage Cultural heritage, including architectural and archaeological
heritage
Material assets
Landscape Landscape
Soils
Soils, Water & Minerals Water
Waste Not required by SEA regulations
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3 The Scope and Content of the Amber Valley Borough Local Plan
3.1 Amber Valley Borough Local Plan
Amber Valley is a borough in Derbyshire made up of the four market towns of Alfreton, Belper, Heanor and Ripley as well as a number of villages and other smaller settlements. See Figure 3.1 below for a borough context. The Local Development Scheme for Amber Valley applies to the whole of the borough and has been revised following the withdrawal of the previous Submission Local Plan in May 2019 and the borough’s subsequent decision in September 2019, following the consideration of options for the preparation of a new plan (or plans) to prepare a new Borough-wide Local Plan. The new Local Plan will replace the current Local Plan which was adopted in April 2006. The new Local Plan will cover the period up to at least 2038. It will set out an overall vision, key objectives and a spatial strategy for the borough and will include a range of policies and proposals to support the vision, objectives and strategy. In particular, the Local Plan will make provision for future housing and employment growth. One of the key requirements for producing a new Local Plan will be to identify sufficient land for housing and economic development to meet the identified needs of the borough, whilst at the same time ensuring that such land can be readily brought forward for development, including to enable AVBC to demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable housing sites.
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Figure 3.1: Local Borough Context
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3.2 Neighbourhood Plans
Within the borough of Amber Valley there are currently a number of proposals to prepare Neighbourhood Plans for specific areas in Amber Valley Borough which are at various stages of preparation some of which have been formally ‘made’, as follows9:
• Belper; • Crich (made); • Dethick Lea & Holloway; • Hazelwood (made); • Holbrook; • Idridgehay & Alton and Ashleyhay (made); • Kirk Langley; • Quarndon (made); • Ripley (made); and • South Wingfield. Belper Belper Town Council submitted a Neighbourhood Plan for examination in March 2020. It is anticipated that a subsequent referendum will also be held in 2020, subject to the outcome of the Examination and any modifications. Crich The Crich Parish Neighbourhood Plan prepared by the Crich Parish Council Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group was formally ‘made’ in September 2018 and covers the period 2017-2031. Dethick Lea & Holloway Dethick Lea & Holloway Parish Council submitted a Neighbourhood Plan for examination in September 2019. The Examination was completed in February 2020. The Borough Council has confirmed that the Neighbourhood Plan meets the basic conditions, subject to the Examiner’s recommendations and has approved arrangements to hold a referendum in June 2020, or as otherwise advised by the Government. Hazelwood The Hazelwood Parish Neighbourhood Plan prepared by Hazelwood Parish Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group was formally ‘made’ in November 2016 and covers the period 2016-2031.
9 Local Development Scheme for Amber Valley 12 February – 31 March 2023
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Holbrook The Parish of Holbrook was designated as a Neighbourhood Area in November 2016. However, no timescale has yet been identified by Holbrook Parish Council to prepare a Neighbourhood Plan. Idridgeway & Alton and Ashleyhay Idridgehay & Alton and Ashleyhay Neighbourhood Plan was formally ‘made’ by AVBC in November 2015. It covers the period from 2014-2028. Kirk Langley Kirk Langley Parish Council submitted a Neighbourhood Plan for examination in November 2019. Following the independent examination in 2020 and AVBC’s Executive Decision to confirm that on the basis of the Neighbourhood Plan meeting the ‘basic conditions’, subject to the Examiner’s recommended modifications, it will proceed to a Referendum on the 6th May 2021. Quarndon Quarndon Parish Neighbourhood Plan was formally ‘made’ by AVBC in August 2019. It covers the period 2018-2033. Ripley Ripley Town Council has resolved to modify the Ripley Neighbourhood Plan, which was ‘made’ in 2015 and are in the process of preparing draft modifications to the Neighbourhood Plan. South Wingfield The designation of the parish of South Wingfield as a Neighbourhood Area was agreed by the Borough Council in July 2015. South Wingfield Parish Council have published a draft Plan for public consultation in 2020.
These neighbourhood plans will support the delivery of strategic policies set out in the Amber Valley Borough Local Plan.
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4 Review of Policies, Plans and Programmes
4.1 Introduction
This chapter discusses the policy context in which the Amber Valley Borough Local Plan is being prepared. A detailed outline of the policy documents, the objectives and the targets reviewed is set out in Appendix A. Table 4.1 below outlines the key messages of the PPP. The key messages provide a summary of the PPP review and have been used to inform an SA Framework of objectives and sub-objectives which will guide the subsequent appraisal process (see Chapter 16).
4.2 Summary of Key Messages
Table 4.1 sets out the key messages drawn from the review of PPP. In Appendix A, some topics have been combined because the PPP related to them overlap or are very similar and therefore the SA Topics listed in Table 4.1 are not entirely the same as those in the topic chapters 5 to 15 of this document. The messages presented in Table 4.1 are reflected within the detailed proposed SA Framework which can be found in Appendix B. A simplified version of the proposed SA Framework can be found in Chapter 16 of this document.
Table 4.1: Key Messages from the PPP review
SA Topic Key Messages from Review
Economy & • Drive productivity and growth in the borough’s priority areas. Employment • Support the sustainable clean growth and expansion of all types of business in rural areas, both through conversion of existing buildings and well-designed new buildings.
• Create jobs and prosperity.
• Support economic growth and productivity, having regard to local industrial strategies and other local policies for economic development and regeneration.
• Encourage long term investment in economic capital, including infrastructure, skills and knowledge.
• Promote a dynamic economy that encourages innovation.
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Table 4.1: Key Messages from the PPP review
SA Topic Key Messages from Review
• Planning policies should set criteria or identify strategic sites for local and inward investment and seek to address potential barriers to investment.
• Planning policies should be flexible enough to accommodate needs not anticipated in the plan, allow for new and flexible working practices such as live-work accommodation.
• The use of previously developed land and sites that are physically well-related to existing settlements should be encouraged.
• Securing investment to deliver world class infrastructure and connectivity.
Housing • Meet future housing need. The NPPF requires local authorities to use their evidence base to ensure that their Local Plan meets the full, objectively assessed needs for market and affordable housing in the housing market area, and is informed by agreements with other authorities, so that unmet need from neighbouring areas is accommodated where it is practical to do so and is consistent with achieving sustainable development, as far as is consistent with the policies set out in the NPPF, including identifying key sites which are critical to the delivery of the housing strategy over the plan period.
• Ensure that housing growth requirements are accommodated in the most sustainable way.
• Enable housing growth and deliver a mix of high quality housing of varying size and tenure in order to meet local needs.
• There is a need for a mix of housing that will be attractive to older people, including new mixed tenure ‘care ready’ age designated housing.
• Ensure an adequate supply of affordable housing.
Population & • To ensure fair and equal access to services and support irrespective of race, Health religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership or pregnancy/maternity.
• Planning policies should aim to achieve healthy, inclusive and safe places.
• There is a need to plan for the housing needs of the older population as well as younger people.
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Table 4.1: Key Messages from the PPP review
SA Topic Key Messages from Review
• Improve public health and well being by strengthening local public health activities which connect people with nature.
• Provide opportunities for members of the community to mix and meet.
• Ensure integrated approach to housing and community facilities and services.
• Increase the proportion of people regularly playing sport.
• Improve social mobility.
• Promote healthier lifestyles.
• Tackle poverty and inequality.
• Raise the standard, quality and experience of play opportunities across Amber Valley Borough.
• Deliver high quality open spaces that meet the needs of local residents and are accessible to all.
Transport & • Contribute to tackling climate change by developing and promoting low carbon Accessibility travel choices.
• Support the move to low emission vehicles.
• Encourage sustainable transport and reduce the need to travel.
• Make the fullest possible use of public transport, walking and cycling; make cycling and walking a natural choice for shorter journeys.
• Create places that are safe, secure and attractive which minimise the scope for conflicts between pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles.
• Have an integrated, well managed and inclusive rights of way and access network.
• Develop a network of multi-user traffic free Greenways across Amber Valley Borough to promote accessibility and reduce community isolation.
• Local planning authorities should support the expansion of electronic communications networks.
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Table 4.1: Key Messages from the PPP review
SA Topic Key Messages from Review
Air, Noise & • Ensure that air quality is maintained or enhanced and that emissions of air Light pollutants are kept to a minimum and meet agreed air quality targets and objectives.
• Contribute to climate change by developing and promoting low-carbon travel choices.
• Promotion of walking and cycling as healthy and more preferable options to car for local journeys.
• Minimise pollution and other adverse effects on the local and natural environment.
• Planning policies should limit the impact of light pollution from artificial light on local amenity and nature conservation.
Climatic • Increase resilience to climate change impact through the location, mix and Factors design of development.
• Adapt to climate change e.g. considering future climate change risks when allocating development sites.
• Manage flood risks in an appropriate way taking account of the needs of the communities and the environment.
• Reduce the level of flood risk to the residents of Amber Valley and include natural flood management where possible which would provide additional benefits to residents in Amber Valley compared to traditional hard engineered flood solutions.
• Avoid development in areas of flood risk.
• Improve flood awareness and emergency planning.
• Reducing the need to travel and providing sustainable transport to help mitigate climate change by reducing emissions.
• Promote low carbon economies and adopt proactive strategies to mitigate carbon emissions in line with the Climate Change Act, a 100% reduction by 2050
• Minimise the effects of climate change and
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Table 4.1: Key Messages from the PPP review
SA Topic Key Messages from Review
• Increase the resilience of homes and buildings. (see alternative wording above – first bullet point)
• Ensure infrastructure is located, planned, designed and maintained to be resilient to climate change.
• Support energy efficiency and other sustainability improvements to existing buildings.
• Continue to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
• Maximise the potential of Green Infrastructure.
• Encourage the provision of renewable energy. Change to ‘provide opportunities for renewable and low carbon energy technologies’.
• Increase energy efficiency and move towards a low carbon economy.
Biodiversity, • Protect and enhance biodiversity, including designated sites, priority species, Geodiversity, habitats and ecological networks. Flora & • Provide accessible natural greenspace Fauna • Minimise impacts on biodiversity and provide net gains in biodiversity in line with NPPF and the emerging Environment Bill..
• Need to recognise the wider benefits of ecosystem services.
• Biodiversity enhancement in and around development should be led by a local understanding of ecological networks.
• Create buffer zones around high quality habitats.
• Conserve and enhance Lowland Derbyshire’s existing wildlife.
• Plant and manage trees, forests and woodlands so that they are fit for the future.
• Support development design and restoration that incorporates and enhances our geodiversity.
• To maintain and enhance our geodiversity through the management of sites, areas and wider landscapes.
• Maximise the potential of Green Infrastructure and develop it for healthy communities and ecosystems.
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Table 4.1: Key Messages from the PPP review
SA Topic Key Messages from Review
• Aim to prevent harm to geological conservation interests.
• To maintain and enhance geodiversity through the management of sites, areas and wider landscapes.
• To increase recognition of our geodiversity in international, national, regional and local environmental and planning development policies and legislation.
• Support the aims of the Biodiversity Actions Plans for Derbyshire enriching biodiversity.
Cultural • Conserve and enhance, international, national and local designated heritage Heritage assets including locally significant historic buildings and heritage assets .
• Protect and conserve the historic environment, heritage assets and their settings.
• Improve the condition of heritage ‘at risk’ in the borough.
• Maintain and enhance access to cultural heritage assets.
• Preserve and enhance Conservation Areas in Amber Valley Borough.
• Ensure development in or adjacent to Conservation Areas or Listed buildings (and their settings) respects their character and context and enhances the quality of the built environment.
• Ensure that any alterations or repairs to traditional buildings preserve and where possible, improve the character and appearance of the building.
• Promote the use of sustainable materials.
• Protect the historic environment for the benefit of our own and future generations.
• Maximise the economic and social impact of heritage and to ensure that everyone can enjoy and benefit from it.
• To support the development of the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site (DVMWHS) as a world class visitor attraction.
• To protect, conserve and enhance the outstanding universal value of the DVMWHS.
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Table 4.1: Key Messages from the PPP review
SA Topic Key Messages from Review
• To enhance the economic health and well being of the DVMWHS and its communities.
Landscape • Protect and enhance valued landscapes, biological and geological conservation interests and soils.
• Recognise the wider benefits from natural capital and ecosystem services.
• Seek to promote or reinforce local distinctiveness.
• Recover nature and enhance the beauty of landscapes.
• Maintain and enhance the overall quality and diversity of landscape character across the borough.
• Maximise the potential of Green Infrastructure.
• There are major economic benefits to be gained from natural capital and their value should be considered and incorporated into decision-making in relation to land use.
Soils, Water • Promote sustainable use of water as a natural resource. & Minerals • Improve water efficiency.
• Promote sustainable and water efficient development.
• Ensure that water quality is improved or maintained where possible.
• Prevent pollution of groundwater.
• Reduce the damaging abstraction of water from rivers and groundwater.
• Minimise the amount of water lost through leakage each year.
• Planning can ensure water quality and the delivery of adequate water and wastewater infrastructure.
• Derbyshire waterways and their corridors will create and nurture high value wildlife habitats and contribute to minimising the impact of climate change.
• Remediate land contamination.
• Protect soil quality and avoid soil pollution.
• Encourage the use of previously developed (brownfield) land.
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Table 4.1: Key Messages from the PPP review
SA Topic Key Messages from Review
• Effective soil protection during construction.
• Sustainable management of soils. To promote the efficient supply and use of minerals.
Waste • Ensure the design and layout of new development supports sustainable waste management.
• Waste should be managed in line with the waste hierarchy:
− Prevent or reduce waste;
− Reuse;
− Recycle;
− Other recovery methods; and
− Dispose.
• Meet waste targets including those on landfill, reuse and recycling.
• To provide protection to the local environment and residents, whilst ensuring a steady supply of minerals and the provision of waste management facilities in accordance with Government policy and society’s needs.
The following chapters set out the current baseline situation for each topic which was also reviewed for the PPP summary. For each chapter, all collated baseline data of relevance to the SA of the Local Plan is presented. It is worth noting that whilst every effort has been made to collate all data of relevance, the data presented is not exhaustive due to time constraints. As part of the baseline review key sustainability issues are identified and described. Similarly, data gaps and the potential evolution within the Local Plan area without any further action has been detailed for each topic.
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5 Economy and Employment
5.1 Baseline
Within the borough 86.6% of the working age population (16-64 years) were economically active between October 2018 and September 2019. This is higher than the East Midlands and national averages of 79.4% and 78.9% respectively10. Census data for 2011 (there is no more recent data) indicates that of the Amber Valley residents that commute to work out of the borough, 32% commute into Derby City, 29.7% travel to other Derbyshire Districts, whilst 24.3% travel to Nottingham or other Nottinghamshire Districts. In respect of commuting inflows, 16.9% come from Derby City, 41.4% come from other Derbyshire Districts, whilst 30.8% come from the Nottinghamshire Districts11. Overall, the borough is a net exporter of labour with 4,319 more workers commuting out of the area to work elsewhere than commute into the borough to work. However, this is a relatively modest difference with far greater levels of workers being exported in Erewash, High Peak and North East Derbyshire. The proportion of residents travelling 20km or more to work is relatively low (10.8%) and is significantly lower than the County and East Midlands averages (13.5 and 15.1 respectively) and this will partially reflect the relatively high level of people living and working in the borough12. Within Derbyshire 67.5% of people travel to work by private car13. The borough has a relatively low level of recorded homeworking in the 2011 Census. This was recorded as 9.6% in the 2011 Census, up only slightly from 8.7% in the 2001 Census. This is the fourth lowest level in the County with lower levels recorded only in Chesterfield, Bolsover and Erewash. The average proportion of resident’s homeworking across the County is 10.4%. As seen in Table 5.1, average weekly earnings in 2019 for people who work full time in Amber Valley are higher than most in the East Midlands, but lower than the average for Great Britain. Unemployment rates within the borough stood at 3.0% in September 2019. Unemployment rates in Amber Valley are lower than that of both the East Midlands (4.2%) and Great Britain (3.9%)14.
10 Nomis Labour Market Profiles: Amber Valley. https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/1946157133/report.aspx?town=amber%20valley#tabempunemp Accessed 04/03/2020 11 Census, 2011. Table QS702EW: Distance Travelled to Work. ONS. 12 Census, 2011. Table QS702EW: Distance Travelled to Work. ONS. 13 Census, 2011. Table QS702EW: Distance Travelled to Work. ONS. 14 Nomis Labour Market Profiles: Amber Valley. https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/1946157133/report.aspx#tabearn Accessed 04/03/2020.
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Table 5.1: Average Weekly Earnings (£), 201915
Amber Valley (£) East Midlands (£) Great Britain (£)
Full time 579.6 547.4 587.0
Male full time 590.3 590.3 632.0
Female full time 541.9 476.1 528.9
25
20
15
10
5 Percentage
0
Amber Valley East Midalnds
Occupation Great britain
Figure 5.1: Employment by Occupation, October 2018-September 201916*
*Please note: Sample size too small for reliable estimate of Amber Valley residents in caring, leisure, sales and customer service occupations
15 Nomis Labour Market Profiles: Amber Valley. https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/1946157133/report.aspx#tabearn Accessed 04/03/2020. 16 Nomis Labour Market Profiles: Amber Valley. https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/1946157133/report.aspx#tabearn Accessed 04/03/2020.
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Figure 5.1 depicts that a lower proportion of workers in Amber Valley (8.3%) have senior official and director positions than those in the East Midlands (10.9%) and the national (11.1%) average. Nonetheless, the highest proportion of workers in the borough are employed in professional occupations, which includes health and engineering professionals, as well as teaching and education professionals. A greater proportion of those in Amber Valley employed in the categories of associate professional, administrative, skilled trades, process plant operatives and elementary occupations (14.5%) than in the East Midlands (13.1%), although this is comparable with the national average (14.8%). In 2019, there were 4,485 businesses located within the borough of which around 87.5% employ nine people or less. The annual number of business births decreased in 2018 to 470, from 510 in 201417. 87.9% of all businesses started in Amber Valley in 2017 survived to 2018. This is slightly lower than the England average of 89.1% and the Derbyshire County rate of 90.7%. However, the 4-year survival rate for new businesses is 42.5% for England and 44.8% Derbyshire, compared with 48.1% in Amber Valley, suggesting that once a business is established, it survives for longer than in other neighbouring areas of the county and country18. Business vacancy rates did not show a clear trend between 2013 and 2018 for either Amber Valley or Derbyshire. In 2019, a vacancy rate of 12.7% was recorded, falling to 10.8% in the first quarter of 202019. However, it is expected that this could alter from March 2020 onwards, due to the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Business rateable value can be used as a measure of relative economic growth in a given area. For Amber Valley, business rateable values remained stagnant between 2014 and 2017, before increasing between 2017 and 2019, as depicted in Table 5.2. However, this was below that of the average rateable value for English Authorities and the difference between Amber Valley and the wider Derbyshire region has increased since 201720.
17 ONS: Business demography, UK, 2019. https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/activitysizeandlocation/datasets/businessdemographyrefe rencetable Accessed 04/03/2020 18 ONS: Business demography, UK, 2019. https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/activitysizeandlocation/datasets/businessdemographyrefe rencetable Accessed 04/03/2020 19 Amber Valley Borough Council, 2020 20 https://lginform.local.gov.uk/reports/lgastandard?mod-metric=4144&mod-period=5&mod-area=E07000032&mod- group=E10000007&mod-type=area Accessed 04/03/2020
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Table 5.2: Business Rateable Values 2014-201921
Period Amber Valley Derbyshire Average England Average
2014/15 125.81 136.69 143.18
2015/16 125.81 138.10 144.15
2016/17 125.81 139.22 144.61
2017/18 133.87 152.94 158.88
2018/19 135.48 155.46 159.64
The role of agriculture in the economy has remained fairly stable within Amber Valley since 2013. The number of people employed by farming has increased by 1% between 2013 and 2016, similar to that for England, where the number of people employed by agricultural labour increased by 2%22. Broadband coverage is currently being rolled out across Derbyshire, including to extend into those areas within Amber Valley which currently have limited or no coverage.
5.2 Sustainability Issues
The following sustainability issues have been identified: • As identified in the 2016 Amber Valley Employment Land Study there are some employment sites which are of poor quality given their poor environments, location and proximity to services and therefore not viable to modern growing businesses and there is a need to improve the supply of more sustainable employment land that is better related to key access routes; • Around 9 out of 10 businesses in the borough employ less than 10 staff, however businesses in the borough tend to have higher survival rates than those located in surrounding areas; • Public transport provision across the borough is variable but tends to be better around the borough’s main towns;
21 https://lginform.local.gov.uk/reports/lgastandard?mod-metric=4144&mod-period=5&mod-area=E07000032&mod- group=E10000007&mod-type=area Accessed 04/03/2020 22 DEFRA: Local Authority breakdown for the agricultural labour force on commercial holdings, 2013-2016 survey results.
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• The comparative performance of the borough’s retail centres (compared to other centres nationally) has declined in recent years, although vacancy rates are lower in most of the borough’s main shopping centres; • Amber Valley has a contained labour market with around 55% of working age population living and working in the borough. Of those working elsewhere, 60% commute to Derby City or another Derbyshire district/borough; • Unemployment rates are on average low but are notably higher in the eastern part of the borough; and • The proportion of jobs such as manager, directors and those in professional occupations is relatively low in Amber Valley when compared to the regional and national average. An unusually high number of jobs are in elementary, machine and administrative sectors.
5.3 Likely Evolution without the plan
It is unclear what has driven the tendency for the borough to have large numbers of small businesses employing less than 10 people or why the proportion of these surviving for ten years is greater than the national average. Although there is potential for increases in the farmed area within the borough in line with historic trends there is also potential for continuing pressure for the development of large-scale agribusinesses and farm and rural diversification within the borough which could affect local character. Notable reduction in service provision is likely in rural areas. Public transport services will continue to be focused in locations where the demand is greatest, and services provided by the market are likely to remain similar to at present. However, 22% of services across Derbyshire are local Authority supported and these typically serve rural locations. Nationally, in the year ending 2019, bus service mileage decreased by 1.1% and the number of bus passenger journeys decreased by 0.1%, in England outside London23. Increasing use of online channels to buy goods and services could continue to erode the number of visits to many of the borough’s town centres. However, a number of centres continue to have a high level of environmental quality and vacancy rates remain low.
5.4 Data Gaps
Due to a small sample size, some of the data obtained from Nomis was too small to provide a reliable estimate. Some of the data such as economic data is updated regularly so the baseline
23 National Statistics – Annual bus statistics: year ending, March 2019
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data provided in this report is based on a snapshot of available data at the time of writing the report. A Local Industrial Strategy for the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) for Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire is due to be published in 2020 but the timetable for publication is not known at the time of writing this Scoping Report.
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6 Population and Health
6.1 Baseline
Demographics In 2018, the estimated population of the borough was 126,678, with an estimated population density of 477 people per sq. km24. This follows a year on year increase seen between 2010 and 2018, as seen in Figure 6.1.
Population estimates 2010-2018 127,000
126,000
125,000
124,000
123,000
122,000
121,000 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Figure 6.1: Population estimates for Amber Valley25
24 ONS: Mid-2018 Estimates of the population for the UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland – LA boundaries. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/popula tionestimatesforukenglandandwalesscotlandandnorthernireland. Accessed 03/03/2020. 25 ONS: Mid-2018 Estimates of the population for the UK, England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland – LA boundaries. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/datasets/popula tionestimatesforukenglandandwalesscotlandandnorthernireland. Accessed 03/03/2020.
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Gender By 2030, it is predicted that 27% of Amber Valley’s residents will be aged 65 or older, whilst 14.8% will be 14 or younger, meaning a large proportion of the population are likely to be non-working dependants26 (see Figure 6.2). A relatively even split of men and women is predicted to be maintained, with 48% of residents predicted to be male, and 52% female.
Predicted Population demographics 2030
90+ 85-89 80-84 75-79 70-74 65-69 60-64 55-59 50-54 45-49 40-44 35-39 30-34 25-29 20-24 15-19 10-14 5-9 0-4 -6000 -4000 -2000 0 2000 4000 6000
Females Males
Figure 6.2: Population demographics for Amber Valley, 203027
26 ONS: Population projections for local authorities. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationprojections/datasets/local authoritiesinenglandtable2 Accessed 03/03/2020 27 ONS: Population projections for local authorities. https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationprojections/datasets/local authoritiesinenglandtable2 Accessed 03/03/2020
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Deprivation The English Indices of Deprivation 2019 attempts to measure a broad concept of measures of multiple deprivation at the small area level. The Indices provide a set of relative measures of deprivation for small areas (LSOAs (Lower Super Output Areas)) across England, based on seven different domains of deprivation:
• Income Deprivation; • Employment Deprivation; • Education, Skills and Training Deprivation; • Health Deprivation and Disability; • Crime; and • Barriers to Housing and Services. According to the Indices, Amber Valley is ranked 167th most deprived local authority in England, out of 326 English local authorities nationally (where 1 is the most deprived and 326th is the least deprived). This has gone down from the previous ranking of 162nd in 201528. Table 6.1 below shows the average rank of each of the seven domains in Derbyshire; bold indicates the most deprived local authority and underlined indicates the least.
Table 6.1 IMD Rankings Per Domain29
Local Overall Rank Income Employment Education Health Crime Housing Environment Authority
Amber 167 160 133 108 112 277 250 196 Valley
Bolsover 58 57 28 11 35 243 279 218
Chesterfield 86 64 40 106 13 257 276 301
Derby 90 75 78 69 60 144 175 131
Derbyshire 265 271 251 257 237 312 154 95 Dales
Erewash 168 139 120 87 131 216 315 132
High Peak 202 195 158 210 129 273 267 144
28 Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (2019) English Indices of Deprivation, File 10: Local Authority District Summaries 29 Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (2019) English Indices of Deprivation File 10: Local Authority District Summaries
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North East 177 157 103 128 111 297 290 259 Derbyshire
South 218 230 221 146 167 267 182 154 Derbyshire
Overall, Amber Valley is the fourth most deprived local authority in Derbyshire. However, in each of the seven domains, Amber Valley does not appear as one of either the least deprived or most deprived local authorities. There are 78 LSOAs in Amber Valley and only three are identified as having poor access to services30. There is also a ‘hidden’ element of deprivation which exists in the western parishes amongst the farming community31. Health Life expectancy rose between 2006/8 and 2016/18 for both Amber Valley and England as a whole, as shown in Table 6.2 below. In general, life expectancy within Amber Valley has remained higher than that of the average for Derbyshire for men, although women born in Amber Valley tend to have a lower life expectancy than both the Derbyshire and the national average32.
Table 6.1: Predicted life expectancies33
Amber Valley Derbyshire England
Males (2006-08) 77.9 76.8 77.8
Females (2006-08) 81.8 81.6 81.9
Males (2016-18) 80.0 79.5 77.9
Females (2016-18) 82.9 83.0 83.2
30 Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (2019) English Indices of Deprivation, File 10: Local Authority District Summaries 31 Amber Valley Health Partnership: Towards a Healthy Amber Valley Locality Public Health Plan 2017-2018 32 ONS: Life expectancy at both and at age 65 years by local areas, UK https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandlifeexpectancies/datasets/lifee xpectancyatbirthandatage65bylocalareasuk Accessed 03/03/2020 33 ONS: Life expectancy at both and at age 65 years by local areas, UK https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandlifeexpectancies/datasets/lifee xpectancyatbirthandatage65bylocalareasuk Accessed 03/03/2020
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In terms of health inequalities within the borough, life expectancy is 9.5 years lower for men and 9.7 years lower for women in the most deprived areas of Amber Valley than in the least deprived areas34. The health and wellbeing of children in Amber Valley is generally better than the England average. However, about 15.1% of children are living in poverty35. The Active People Survey (APS) 2019 indicated that the participation level in moderate activity sports for at least 30 minutes, once a week in Amber Valley, has fluctuated since data was first collected in 200636. Overall, activity levels within the borough were 4% higher in 2019 than in 2006 as can be seen in Table 6.3 below. The percentage of those participating in more than 150 minutes of activity per week was higher within Amber Valley (64.3%) than both regionally (62.9%) and nationally (63.2%)37.
Table 6.2: Active Lives Survey results
Amber % Change from Derbyshire England Activity level Valley (%) 2006 baseline 2019 2019
Inactive (<30mins 24.4 -4.0 25.2 24.8 a week)
Fairly Active (30- 11.6 1.4 11.9 12.0 149 mins a week)
Active (150+ mins 64.3 2.6 62.9 63.2 a week)
34 Public Health England (2020) Local Authority Health Profile: Amber Valley 35 Public Health England (2020) Local Authority Health Profile: Amber Valley 36 Sport England: Active Lives data tables, 2019. https://www.sportengland.org/know-your-audience/data/active- lives/active-lives-data-tables Accessed 03/03/2020 37 Sport England: Active Lives data tables, 2019. https://www.sportengland.org/know-your-audience/data/active- lives/active-lives-data-tables Accessed 03/03/2020
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Amber Valley borough contains a number of parks, gardens and nature reserves which are managed by the Borough Council, including eight Green Flag award winning parks. The parks, gardens and nature reserves include38:
• Crossley Park (Ripley); • Heanor Memorial Park; • Belper River Gardens; • Belper Parks Local Nature Reserve; • Cray’s Hill Queen Elizabeth Park (Swanwick); • Somercotes Park; • Alfreton Welfare; • Riddings Park; • Pennytown Ponds Local Nature Reserve (Somercotes); and • Belper Cemetery.
The Council mapped the location and extent of its open spaces in its Parks & Open Spaces Strategy 2013-2018. In total, there were 546.98 ha of publicly accessible open space identified. However, this is not evenly distributed, and some areas were identified as having insufficient provision39. The Council’s strategy sets out standards for both the quality and quantity of open space provision across the borough and maps the location of different types of open space. It is recognised that access to sports and recreational facilities, proximity to and use of green space all contribute to the positive mental wellbeing of people living and working in the borough. In addition, the Borough Council has also prepared a Play Strategy40 which seeks to provide local play spaces and facilities within a catchment area of 600 metres (although this is not possible in some rural areas) and neighbourhood spaces and facilities within a catchment area of 1200 metres (to include a mixture of facilities which may include junior bike or skate and skateboard facilities, kick-about areas or multi user games areas). This strategy also sets out a target for naturalised open space which is proposed to be within 1200m from all residents. It is proposed to review the 2013-2018 Strategy during 2020, but the detailed timescale for this has not yet been confirmed.
38 Amber Valley Borough Council Website: Parks and Gardens. https://www.ambervalley.gov.uk/environment/parks- and-gardens/ Accessed 03/03/2020 39 Amber Valley Borough Council: Parks and Open Spaces Strategy, 2013-2018. 40 Amber Valley Borough Council: Play Strategy, 2016-2021.
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Education With regard to educational attainment, 23.2% of residents aged 16-74 have higher-level qualifications (degree, HNC, HND or equivalent). 5.9% of the borough’s residents between the ages of 16 and 64 have no qualification, which is just higher than the average for Derbyshire of 5.6%41. In respect of key stage 4 results, 45.8% of all pupils achieved average 8 attainment score in 2017. This is slightly higher than the County average (45.6%) and similar to that of the best performing authority areas of Derbyshire Dales (49.6%) and High Peak (46.5%). Crime Victim based crime rates within the borough were slightly higher than the County average at 52.21 crimes per 1000 population compared to 49.59 crimes per 1000 in the 112 months preceding September 201942. However, crime rates are higher than recorded rates in North East Derbyshire (38.82 reported crimes per 1000 people), Derbyshire Dales (33.72 crimes per 1000 people), South Derbyshire (41.55 crimes per 1000 people) and High Peak (45.84 crimes per 1000 people). In contrast crime rates are notably higher in Bolsover (55.84 crimes per 1000 people), Erewash (57.11 crimes per 1000 people) and Chesterfield (66.04 reported crimes per 1000 people)43. Overall, crime within the borough is clustered to the east, where the borough is more heavily urbanised and populated. In 2018, Langley Mill & Aldercar ward experienced the highest crime rate of 100.9 crimes per 1,000 population, followed closely by Ripley (92.3) and Alfreton (86.1)44. Crich, Belper East and Belper North wards have the lowest levels of total crime, at 17.6, 18.7 and 19.5 crimes per 1,000 respectively45. In March 2020, Operation Relentless was lunched by the Derbyshire Constabulary. This campaign has been created due to a recent rise in burglaries, vehicle crime and robberies, leading to increased fear of acquisition crime amongst communities. The campaign has involved publicity to residents of how to remain safe as well as engagement events with local officers. Operation Relentless is expected to continue into 202146.
41 https://lginform.local.gov.uk/reports/lgastandard?mod-metric=3812&mod-period=10&mod-area=E07000032&mod- group=E10000007&mod-type=area Accessed 03/09/2020
42 https://lginform.local.gov.uk/reports/lgastandard?mod-metric=3812&mod-period=10&mod-area=E07000032&mod- group=E10000007&mod-type=area Accessed 03/03/2020 43 https://lginform.local.gov.uk/reports/lgastandard?mod-metric=3812&mod-period=10&mod-area=E07000032&mod- group=E10000007&mod-type=area Accessed 03/03/2020 44 Derbyshire Observatory – Crime. https://observatory.derbyshire.gov.uk/asb/ Accessed 18/03/2020 45 Derbyshire Observatory – Crime. https://observatory.derbyshire.gov.uk/asb/ Accessed 18/03/2020 46 Derbyshire Police https://www.derbyshire.police.uk/news/derbyshire/news/safer-neighbourhood- news/south/2020/march/crime-prevention-advice-and-chance-to-chat-to-officers-on-offer-during-relentless-crime- operation/ Accessed 18/03/2020
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6.2 Sustainability Issues
The following sustainability issues have been identified:
• The population of the borough will continue to increase significantly;
• The borough has an ageing population, with 27% of the borough’s residents to live past 65 by 2030. This is likely to lead to a higher number of residents living with increased care needs; • Levels of deprivation vary throughout the borough with particular pockets of deprivation around the towns of Heanor, Ripley and Alfreton and life expectancy is 9.7 years lower for men and 6.5 years lower for women in the most deprived areas of Amber Valley than in the least deprived areas; • 24% of the borough’s residents participate in less than 30 minutes of exercise each week47; and • Crime rates within Amber Valley are in line with those elsewhere in Derbyshire, but fear of crime and acquisition crime remain issues locally.
6.3 Likely Evolution without the Plan
The population of the borough will continue to increase significantly and the average age of the population will continue to get older. The proportion of residents aged 65 and over will continue to increase, as residents live longer, and birth rates fall. This increase could lead to changes to the types of accommodation required, and how healthcare and leisure facilities are used within the borough. Specific numbers and details of the types of accommodation required is detailed in Derbyshire Older People’s Housing, Accommodation and Support Strategy 2019-203548. This Strategy reinforces the need for different types of housing and accommodation to help people stay independent in their own home, housing with care as well as nursing and residential care. General improvement in deprivation levels could be possible which would be consistent with recent trends, but large variations between different parts of the borough are likely to persist. IMD is derived from seven topic areas including income; employment; health and disability; education, skills and training; barriers to housing services; crime; and living environment deprivation. Multiple agencies are responsible for tackling different forms of deprivation, including healthy lifestyles. This makes prediction difficult. It is likely that the number of adults taking part in sport and other physical activity will continue to improve in the short to medium term (a number of local strategies include objectives and targets
47 Sport England: Active Lives data tables, 2019. https://www.sportengland.org/know-your-audience/data/active- lives/active-lives-data-tables Accessed 03/03/2020
48 Derbyshire County Council (2019) Older People’s Housing, Accommodation and Support 2019-2035
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to increase participation in sport). It is expected that these strategies will help improve participation in sport locally. Continued improvement in education is likely. A range of organisations are responsible for delivering education and training provision. The census for 2011 indicates that skills levels throughout the population are improving at the borough level with results being significantly improved compared to results included in the 2001 Census. Crime rate trends are uncertain. There have been some reductions in crime levels over the past decade as evidenced by the official crime survey, and minor reductions could continue in the short term, consistent with national trends. However, fear of crime remains a significant issue within the local community and acquisition crime is still prevalent. In the absence of a Local Plan it is likely that employment land delivery will remain at the low levels consistent with past delivery rates. This could reduce containment locally and could lead to increased levels of out commuting as residents access jobs in neighbouring areas. In the long term, unemployment rates are likely to slightly improve. It is likely over the medium to long-term that the average unemployment rate will continue to fall across the borough in line with recent trends. However, unemployment rates within some parts of the borough remain consistently higher than the borough average, pointing to underlying issues which may need addressing at the local level. More immediately, the UK economy and associated employment rates are expected to decrease due to the impacts of Brexit and the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic. This is likely to increase unemployment rates across the borough due to the universal uncertainty. The full economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic may not be fully realised for some time and are difficult to determine at the time of writing this report. Consequently there may be a need to review the baseline at a later date.
6.4 Data Gaps
No data for individual crime types was available. Moreover, trends in different types of crime was not found. It is unknown when this data gap could be filled.
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7 Housing
7.1 Baseline
In order to meet the minimum local housing need for Amber Valley as at 1 April 2020, using the standard method in national planning guidance, the Borough Council will need to deliver 339 additional dwellings per annum. In addition, the Borough Council will need to apply an additional cap, which is 40% above the average annual household growth figure projected for 2019-29. This gives an average annual household requirement of 475 dwellings per annum. A cap needs to be applied as the relevant strategic planning policies for housing for Amber Valley were adopted over 5 years ago. Furthermore, the Borough Council has a ‘Duty To Cooperate’ with neighbouring authorities to consider whether it can meet any unmet housing need, where requested to do so. This will be accommodated where it is practical to do so and where it is consistent with achieving sustainable development as well as policies set out in the NPPF. In 2011, there were 54,993 homes, of which 19,669 (35.8%) were detached residences, 20,035 (36.4%) were semi-detached, 11,489 (20.9%) were terraced properties and 2,632 (4.8%) were flats49. The remaining 2% of homes comprise of caravans, residences in shared building or in commercial buildings. Housing affordability has become a more significant concern since 2013, based on the ratio of median house price to median gross annual workplace-based earnings, which stood at 5.95 in 2019, an increase from a ratio of 5.20 in 2013, meaning that residents would have to pay around 6 times their salary to buy a home in the borough. This is significantly higher than Derby City (4.22 times earnings) but lower than South Derbyshire (7.18 times earnings). However housing affordability across the whole HMA is better than the England average of 7.8350. In 2018/19, 594 homes were recorded as being completed within the borough. Figure 7.1 shows the number of net additional completions in each of the last 8 years (2011-2019), whilst the 2018- 19 figure dropped slightly compared to the previous year (2017-18) it is still above the average annual household requirement figure of 486 per annum as at 1 April 2019.
49 Census, 2011. Nomis Tables: Accommodation Type- Households. (Table QS402EW). 50 Amber Valley Borough Council, 2020 ONS Median Workplace Based Affordability Based Ratios – 2019 data
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700 Net Housing Completions 2011-19
600
500
400
300
200
100
0 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 2018-19 Net Completions
Figure 7.1 Net Housing Completions 2011-1951
13% of those completed homes in 2018-19 were classed as affordable52. These are mainly located in Belper, Ripley and Alfreton. There are 1850 people on the housing waiting list for affordable housing in 2020. Of these approximately 954 require a 1 bed property, whilst 521 require a two bed property. The waiting list for 3 and more than 3 bed properties stands at 36253. There were no pitches located in Amber Valley for gypsies or travellers in 2014. The Derbyshire and East Staffordshire Gypsy and Travellers Accommodation Assessment indicates that over the 20 years to 2034, 10 pitches will need to be provided in the borough to meet local needs54.An update on current provision was not available at the time of writing this report, however, an update will soon be emerging. The borough also has an ageing population, with 22% (27,000) of the borough’s total population (124,800) being people aged 65 and over. This is expected to increase by 49.9% (13,470) by 2041 which identifies the need for specialist housing.55
7.2 Sustainability Issues
The following sustainability issues have been identified:
51 Amber Valley Borough Council: Authority Monitoring Report, 2018/19
52 Amber Valley Borough Council: Authority Monitoring Report, 2018/19 53 Amber Valley Borough Council, 2020 54 Derby, Derbyshire, Peak District National Park Authority and East Staffordshire Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment, 2014
55 Derbyshire County Council (2019) Older People’s Housing, Accommodation and Support 2019-2035
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• The population of the borough will continue to increase significantly; • The ageing population in the borough is likely to lead to a higher number of residents living with increase care needs; • Insufficient homes have been delivered in recent years to meet local need and viability issues in some parts of the borough could continue to hinder housing delivery; • A typical house costs more than 5½ times a typical salary making housing unaffordable for many and there is a significant need for additional market and affordable housing provision in the borough; • There is a need for a mix of housing types, sizes and tenures to meet the requirements of all areas of the community; • Housing for older people and an aging population must take into account their needs, including building to lifetime home standards and increased provision of retirement homes and assisted living accommodation; and • An aging population requires smaller homes as these are more likely to be characterised as single person households, as well as maintaining a stock of family homes.
7.3 Likely Evolution without the Plan
Housing delivery could be constrained in the short term, although in the longer term requirements in the NPPF to have a five year supply of housing sites would enable the further delivery of housing sites to meet need, through the planning application process. However, this would be on an ad-hoc basis and may not be located in the most sustainable locations. Housing affordability is largely determined by house prices (themselves largely based on economic cycles and housing supply), and the ability of households to buy property (household income, availability of credit). Given the difficulty in forecasting economic trends and recent uncertainty surrounding Brexit, it is difficult to predict whether housing affordability will change in the near term and which direction such change could take. Increased housing provision in the long-term could address the persistent under delivery of homes which supports higher house prices and could therefore help improve the affordability of housing.
7.4 Data Gaps
The outcomes of the housing needs assessment are yet to be confirmed, as is the level of affordability of housing in 2020 and the delivery of affordable homes completed in 2019. Current provision and need for Gypsy and Traveller accommodation is due to be updated and an up to date assessment is due to be undertaken but is not available at the time of writing this report. It is anticipated that this assessment will be published later in 2020 due to the ongoing impact of the current Covid-19 pandemic.
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8 Transport and Accessibility
8.1 Baseline
The A38 in Amber Valley comprises part of the Strategic Road Network and is managed by Highways England (see Figure 3.1). Both the M1 (lying just outside the borough) and the A52(T), which crosses through the borough are also accessible locally. Other locally important routes include the A6, A608, A609, A610 and B6179. There are in excess of 2,500 roads in the borough stretching in excess of 435 km. Transport Assessments undertaken by the Derby HMA Authorities in 2011 indicated that should growth planned at that time come forward with no mitigation, congestion in Amber Valley as a result of the planned development was forecast to increase 134% in the AM peak and 113% in the PM peak. In order to reduce the effects of growth a range of mitigation measures were proposed. These Transports Assessments are now out of date, however, it is very likely that mitigation will be required to deliver the growth that will be planned in the new Amber Valley Local Plan. Required mitigation measures could take the form of improvements to existing roads and improvements to non-highways infrastructure such as public transport provision as well as further mitigation through the planning application process as development sites come forward for consideration. Traffic Counts undertaken on key local roads throughout Derbyshire by the Department of Transport show that there was a small increase in the number of vehicles on the road between 2016 and 201856. Public transport provision within the borough is focused around the main towns of Heanor, Belper, Ripley and Alfreton. Service provision in many locations could be reduced in the short term due to proposals to reduce public subsidies proposed by Derbyshire County Council. Further information on services in Amber Valley that could be affected can be found on the Derbyshire County Council website. https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/ There are six train stations within the borough: Duffield, Belper, Ambergate and Whatstandwell on the Derwent Valley Line and Langley Mill (Heanor) and Alfreton which are both located on the Erewash Valley Line. Passenger growth for all stations on the Derwent Valley line saw an increase between 2007 and 2016, as detailed in Table 8.1.
56 Department for Transport: Road traffic statistics. https://roadtraffic.dft.gov.uk/local-authorities/61 Accessed 04/03/2020.
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Table 8.1: Growth in annual rail journeys by station57
Station 2007/8 2015/16 Growth (%)
Ambergate 19,809 41,308 110
Belper 79,207 225,662 185
Cromford 17,405 42,803 146
Duffield 21,857 61,644 182
Matlock 92,942 214,790 131
Whatstandwell 14,547 24,137 66
There are proposals for new, improved bus services from Amber Valley to the HS2 East Midlands Hub Station at Toton located outside of the borough58 as well as potential improvements to rail access on the Maid Marian line to the new HS2 Hub Station. If these potential rail improvements are implemented then this would allow residents in Amber Valley to have increased access to the new HS2 services and to potential new jobs. In 2011, 5% of residents stated that they work predominantly at or from home. Of those who travelled to work, 75% drove a car or van, with a further 6% being driven to their place of work. 5.6 % of workers used trains, buses, or light rail, whilst a further 1.4% cycled to work. 10% of residents in Amber Valley also walked to work59. In 2011, 19.2% of households had no access to a car, whilst 42.2% and 38.6% respectively had access to either one car, or two or more cars60. As such, car ownership was slightly higher within the borough than at the County average, no doubt reflecting the partially rural nature of the borough. Cycle networks are being developed in and around Amber Valley, through Derbyshire County Council’s Greenways scheme, which aims to link communities to the countryside. Currently, the Ripley Greenway provides bicycle access through Ripley on designated cycle paths. The
57 Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site: Annual Report 2015-2016.
58 Midlands Connect (2020) Access to Toton, the HS2 East Midlands Hub
59 Census, 2011 – Method of Travel to work (Table QS701EW). 60 Census 2011: KS404EW Car or Van Availability.
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outskirts of Heanor and Shipley are also linked to the Nutbrook trails, which stretches from Heanor down to Long Eaton as park of the National Cycle Network61.
8.2 Sustainability Issues
The following sustainability issues have been identified:
• Public transport provision across the borough is variable and is more accessible around the borough’s main towns in the east of the borough; • A low proportion of workers use sustainable transport methods to get to work; • Local bus services have been recently reduced, which may restrict some local residents wishing to use public transport; • Growth in private car ownership could contribute to further air pollution, and associated impacts on climate, human health and biodiversity; • There is a need to provide more sustainable transport modes, including public transport capacity and safeguard land for transport; • The need to travel can also be reduced by providing reliable digital infrastructure; • There is a need to encourage more walking and cycling, including making improvements to safe and direct cycling routes across the borough, taking into account the high levels of existing traffic; • Due to the rural character of the borough new developments would need to be located where it would help reduce car use and where people are not disadvantaged by not having access to private transport; • Some villages have a limited number of services, so there is a need to improve public transport links between the main towns and villages, especially during evenings and weekends; and • The potential impact on the borough during the construction and operational stages from HS2.
8.3 Likely Evolution without the Plan
• Sustainable transport options could remain limited: Due to the rural nature of the borough, sustainable transport infrastructure may not be implemented where it is needed, meaning residents and workers are unable to travel by train, bus or cycle in and around Amber Valley; • The west of Amber Valley could become isolated from the rest of the borough due to a lack of transport infrastructure;
61 Amber Valley Borough Council, Cycling in the Amber Valley http://www.visitambervalley.com/get-active/cycling-in- the-amber-valley.aspx Accessed 20/03/2020.
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• Poor cycle networks could restrict the expansion of people using cycling as a means to travel. Most of the cycle networks are currently focused on recreational use rather than for those who need to use them to gain access to work or local amenities; • Workers may continue to use predominately private cars to travel to work, which will have impacts on the local environment (including air quality), and could exacerbate congestion within the borough; • Current public and sustainable transport options may not meet the needs of the future population in the long term, which is expected to increase; and • Current investment in digital infrastructure in the borough may not meet the increasing demand as business activities and more people working from home become more dependent on faster broadband.
8.4 Data Gaps
Data detailing the methods residents use in 2020 to travel to work was not available. Census data from 2011 was used in this baseline, however this is now almost a decade old. Further data is expected to be published after the 2021 census.
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9 Air, Noise and Light
9.1 Baseline
Air Air quality in Amber Valley is relatively good and the borough does not contain any areas exceeding the Air Quality Objectives. The Borough Council discontinued monitoring air quality in the borough in 2014 given the low likelihood that national air quality objectives would be breached, and there are no specific air quality management plan goals to be achieved in 2020. Nonetheless the Borough Council has committed to continuing engagement with the public on matters to improve air quality, and prevent a decline in this indicator, such as the promotion of dry wood and smokeless fuel62. Although there are no air quality management areas (AQMAs) in Amber Valley itself there are AQMAs bordering the southern and eastern edges of the borough. on the inner and outer ring road within Derby City which borders the borough. This is declared due to exceedance of nitrogen dioxide. This is located around 3km from the boundary of Amber Valley. Development within Amber Valley borough on the edge of Derby could affect air quality within the City. There are no identified AQMAs in Broxtowe, Chesterfield, Derbyshire Dales or Erewash which would be affected by growth in Amber Valley. Noise Generally, higher levels of noise pollution are experienced in the east of the borough, where there is greater urbanisation and key links to the M1. Significant noise pollution (average noise levels over 70.0 dB) is currently an issue surrounding key roads within Amber Valley. The highest noise pollution is found along the A38, which goes from Alfreton down to Derby, through the centre of the borough. Average noise experienced along this road exceeds 75.0dB. Other roads experiencing 70.0+ dB noise on average include:
• A52 – which travels through Kirk Langley (75+dB); • A6 – which lies through the Derwent Valley. (75+ dB up to Duffield, decreasing to 70- 74.9dB at Belper; and • A608 – which links Morley, Heanor and Langley Mill (70-75+ dB)63.
62 Amber Valley Borough Council: 2018 Air Quality Annual Status Report (ASR), 2018 63 http://extrium.co.uk/noiseviewer.html Accessed 19/03/2020
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Light Similarly, light pollution is focused towards the east of the borough. Light pollution is caused by excessive or intrusive artificial light arising from poor or insensitive design. Light pollution can have a detrimental effect on the character and amenity of an area after dark. Derbyshire is ranked the 27th darkest county out of 48 counties in England64 in terms of brightness. Most of Amber Valley experiences 2nW or lower of light pollution, however, some of the larger towns and villages to the east experience greater levels of pollution. These include:
• Langley Mill (over 32 nanoWatts/cm2/sr); • Heanor (16-32 nanoWatts/cm2/sr); • Belper (16-32 nanoWatts/cm2/sr); • Alfreton (over 32 nanoWatts/cm2/sr); and • Ripley (16-32 nanoWatts/cm2/sr)65. It should also be noted that Derby, lying to the south of Amber Valley borough, could emit some light pollution in the borough, with light visible from viewpoints in the south.
9.2 Sustainability Issues
The following sustainability issues have been identified:
• New development is unlikely to significantly affect air quality in Amber Valley, although growth in some locations could negatively affect air quality management areas within neighbouring Derby City; • There is significant reliance on the petrol or diesel-fuelled private car as the main mode of transport within the borough; • There is the potential for adverse impacts on wellbeing if inappropriate new development is located near a major source of noise, including any existing or new major roads; • There is a need to reduce light pollution and restrict further intensification of light pollution from new developments; and • Noise, air and light pollution could be generated through construction works in the borough, resulting from growth proposed in the Local Plan. This pollution will need to be minimised and controlled through Local Plan policies.
64 CPRE (2016) England’s Light Pollution and Dark Skies 65 https://www.nightblight.cpre.org.uk/ Accessed 19/03/2020
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9.3 Likely Evolution without the Plan
Uncontrolled development could lead to development in areas which currently experience low levels of air, noise and light pollution. This could create pollution issues in currently rural areas of the borough. Development in the south of the borough could impact the AQMA located on the Derby ring road. This could exacerbate current air pollution by increasing the number of people travelling by road around the area.
9.4 Data Gaps
No data gaps have been identified.
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10 Climatic Factors
10.1 Baseline
Flooding The 2016 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment for Amber Valley provides a summary of flood risk to the four main urban areas in the borough as a whole as follows66:
• Alfreton: The majority of Alfreton is elevated above the Alfreton Brook and Oakerthorpe Brook floodplains. Whilst there are a few unnamed watercourses, given the towns topographical location it is unlikely to flood from predominantly fluvial sources. The majority of Alfreton is not within surface water extents. However, there are notable exceptions including commercial and industrial estates such as Cotes Park and the estate to the east of the train station, which are shown to have overland flow routes around units. A number of roads are also at risk including the A61, A38, B6019 and B6179. • Belper: Belper has been affected by numerous fluvial and surface water flood events. The River Derwent Flood Zones 2 and 3 are wide at Belper; a number of properties predominantly west of the A6 are within the Flood Zones 2 and 3. Notably, Babington Hospital, the railway line and the A6 / A517 around Scotches, are within the Flood Zones. The Coppice Brook Flood Zones are narrow and the majority of properties in Belper are outside the extents. The majority of properties within Belper and Mount Pleasant are not within surface water extents. However, a significant number of overland flow routes, via local roads and dry valleys, present a risk to properties. Parts of Belper are within the >=50% <75% Areas Susceptible to Groundwater Flooding classification. Belper is located within the inundation extents of five reservoirs. • Heanor: The vast majority of properties in Heanor are located outside the Flood Zones 2 and 3 of the Bailey Brook and River Erewash. The Flood Zones of the Bailey Brook are narrow past Loscoe but in Heanor, the floodplain is comparatively wider and the community has been affected by historical fluvial flood events. The surface water flood risk is prominently confined to roads and in the majority of cases overland flow routes flow un-named small drains. Parts of Heanor are within the >=25% <50% Areas Susceptible to Groundwater Flooding classification. Heanor is located within the inundation extents of three reservoirs. • Ripley: Ripley is located on elevated ground; consequently, the vast majority of properties in Ripley are located in Flood Zone 1. Although the majority of properties in Ripley are not within surface water extents, there are a number of overland flow routes and isolated areas of surface water ponding which affect local roads and properties. Parts of Ripley are
66 Amber Valley Borough Council: Level 1 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment, 2016
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within the <25% Areas Susceptible to Groundwater Flooding classification. Ripley is located within the inundation extents of one reservoir. In addition to the four main urban areas, there are also issues in Duffield which has been affected by a number of fluvial flood events. Duffield is set at a lower elevation than surrounding land and the River Ecclesbourne floodplain here is wide. Large parts of Duffield are located within Flood Zones 2 and 3. Large parts of Duffield are also located within the surface water extents. In the majority of cases, the risk is via run-off from surrounding hills and following the courses of the un- named smaller drains and watercourses. Parts of Duffield are within the >75% Areas Susceptible to Groundwater Flooding classification. Duffield is located within the inundation extents of three reservoirs. The placement of flood Zones 2 and 3 is shown across the borough in Figure 10.1 below.
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Figure 10.1: Flood Zones 2 and 3 in Amber Valley.
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A review of existing flood defences is included in the SFRA and found that the majority of the borough does not rely on formal flood defences. Formal flood defences are located in Ironville, Belper, Langley Mill, Denby and Duffield; these comprise flood walls and embankments. The Lead Local Flood Authority (Derbyshire County Council) is currently promoting two flood alleviation schemes for the Lower Hartshay and Derwent Grove communities. A further flood defence scheme is being investigated in Langley Mill, which is situated adjacent to part of the River Erewash. Detailed mapping produced as part of the 2016 SFRA indicate that flood risk is likely to increase as a result of climate change. Areas that could be most significantly affected include land close to the settlements of Milford, Duffield, and Langley Mill. Potential climate change impacts within Amber Valley were identified in the SFRA and include:
• Milder, wetter winters; • Hotter, drier summers; • Increased rainfall intensity in summer months • Flashier catchment /site responses and surcharging of piped systems • Flooding as a result of poor capacity of structures is expected to increase • Pressure on existing sewer systems effectively reducing their design standard, leading to more frequent flooding • The prospect of droughts may increase. Emissions
Per capita CO2 emissions within Amber Valley were estimated to be 5.3tCO2 in 2017. Table 10.1 shows that this was similar to that of England, which was 5.1 tCO2 and much lower than the per 67 capita emissions estimated for Derbyshire as a whole, which was 9.3 tCO2 . Sources of emissions in Amber Valley are estimated to be fairly equally distributed between industry, domestic and transport, whereas the sources of CO2 emissions in Derbyshire in 2017 were estimated to be predominantly from industry and in England a greater proportion of CO2 emissions were estimated to be attributed to industry and transport and lower proportion from domestic sources.
Within Amber Valley, there has been a general downward trend since 2005, with CO2 emissions falling from 8.4 tonnes per person (see Figure 10.2)68. Falls are most likely to be related to improved energy efficiency of homes, businesses and transport and decarbonisation of energy (electricity) generation.
67 UK local authority and regional carbon dioxide emissions national statistics: 2005-2017 68 UK local authority and regional carbon dioxide emissions national statistics: 2005-2017
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Table 10.1: Carbon Dioxide Emissions Estimates, 201869
Emissions Amber Derbyshire United Kingdom category Valley
Industry (kt CO2) 227.5 4,140.7 133,293.3
Domestic (kt 215.8 1,360.1 96,429.8
CO2)
Transport (kt 226.3 1,900.0 126,801.1
CO2)
Total (kt CO2) 659.0 7,288.3 344,824.3
Per Capita 5.2 9.2 5.2 Emissions (t)
1,200.0
1,000.0
800.0
600.0
400.0 CO2 CO2 Emissions estimates (ktCO2) 200.0
- 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Year Industry Domestic Transport Total
Figure 10.2: 2017 CO2 Emissions Estimates for Amber Valley70
69 UK local authority and regional carbon dioxide emissions national statistics: 2005-2018 70 UK local authority and regional carbon dioxide emissions national statistics: 2005-2017
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There were 1,828 out of 54,461 homes recorded with solar photovoltaics installed across Amber Valley at the end of 201871. In addition there were 11 wind turbine installations and four hydroelectric installations. This gave a combined capacity of 13.3MW of energy through renewable energy generation across the borough72. In respect of potential capacity for low carbon energy generation, the Derby Housing Market Area- Wide Cleaner Greener Energy Study ( 2010) indicated that Amber Valley has the technical potential to deliver 220MW of electricity capacity and 254MW of heat capacity73. However, since the publication of this strategy and the East Midlands Low Carbon Energy Opportunities Report in 2011 (which corroborates these findings), the policy and economic support for onshore wind and solar PV (the two largest contributors in respect of potential energy generation in the borough) has changed markedly and it is unlikely that deployment of these types of renewable energy generation will take place in the near term. However, there continues to be opportunities to support micro and small scale energy generation with the Cleaner Greener Energy study indicating that limited capacity (heat and electricity) exists for generation from managed woodland residues, energy crops, waste wood, wet organic waste and municipal solid waste. There has been a significant increase in plug-in vehicles (both cars and light goods) nationally, regionally and within Amber Valley between 2016 and 2019. Figure 10.3 shows that by September 2019, there were 821 plug-in vehicles registered in Amber Valley74. This is significantly higher than in 2016, when 351 plug-in vehicles were registered in the borough, and follows the national trend.
71 BEIS: Renewable electricity by local authority, 2019. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/regional-renewable- statistics Accessed 05/03/2020. 72 BEIS: Renewable electricity by local authority, 2019. https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/regional-renewable- statistics Accessed 05/03/2020. 73 Cleaner Greener Energy Study: Report 2 – preparing for NI186 & Options for Local Authority Power generation, 2010 74 Department for Transport: Plug-in cars and light goods vehicles licensed (Table VEH0131), 2019
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Number of registered plug in vehicles
589,000 570,490 412,586 269,706
34,420 34,057 23,643 15,322
6,410 6,662 4,005 3,744 3,536 2,546 2,324 1,357 826 821
Number of vechiles registered registered vechiles of Number 517 351
2016 2017 2018 2019 Amber Valley Derby Derbyshire East midlands England
Figure 10.3: Number of registered vehicles 2016-2019 New development planned over the Local Plan period, should provide opportunities to manage the effects of climate change, through ensuring that flood risk is managed effectively (for example through the provision of sustainable drainage systems, reconnecting rivers to the floodplains and improved land management), by helping to offset carbon emissions (tree planting in new development or within large scale green infrastructure projects) and through the provision of green spaces to influence local (micro) climates (urban cooling). New development would also be likely to improve the overall energy efficiency of the borough’s housing stock with 95% of new homes constructed in 2015 (total 454) having an EPC rating of B (333 homes) or C (100 homes). However, the Local Plan will not be able to deliver energy efficiency improvements beyond those set out in Part L of the Building regulations. Climate change could also lead to changes in the natural environment, for example either directly due to changing climate such as warmer, drier weather affecting the distribution of local species, or indirectly through changes to land management and local habitats.
10.2 Sustainability Issues
The following sustainability issues have been identified:
• New development will generate the need for additional water supply but existing supplies in Severn Trent’s Strategic Resource Zone are fully committed and could be put under greater pressure due to growth and climate change;
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• Parts of Amber Valley are at significant flood risk and this could be exacerbated by climate change or future development; • There is no significant renewable energy capacity in the borough and the number of electric vehicles registered in the borough remains low but is increasing; • The infrastructure is currently not widely available to facilitate the use of low emission vehicles in the borough which would make a major contribution to improving local air quality and to reducing greenhouse gas emissions; • Per capita carbon emissions far exceed both the national and regional averages; • There is reliance on the petrol or diesel-fuelled private car as the main mode of transport; • Industry and transport are the largest contributors to carbon emissions and levels far exceed the regional and national averages; • Need to plan for and implement/facilitate climate change adaptation, in respect of rising temperatures, water scarcity and extreme weather events, particularly heavy rainfall/flooding; • It is important to become more resilient to the wider effects of climate change through adaptation measures. Green Infrastructure presents opportunities to address multiple issues through multifunctional spaces; • New development will need to incorporate sustainable drainage systems to sustainably reduce flood risk; • New developments need to minimise vulnerability and provide resilience to climate change; and • Need to work with communities to help tackle climate change.
10.3 Likely Evolution without the Plan
Continual growth in the borough both from development and population growth may increase the effects of climate change. There is likely to be continued and increasing pressure on water resources. Water resources will be squeezed in the short to long term as a result of increased development, coupled with climate change impacts, and reductions in water resources available (to protect environmentally sensitive areas). The current Water Resource Management Plan indicates that resources will be placed under greater pressure in the future, and demand management will be important to reduce demand and ensure sufficient water supplies can be made available towards the end, and after the close of the Plan period. Climate change could increase the number of properties at flood risk as more extreme rainfall events take place. National Policy is likely to restrict significant large scale growth from coming forward in areas subject to flood risk even in the absence of a Local Plan, unless developers can demonstrate that no areas at lower risk are available to meet development needs and schemes can be made safe in the event of flooding.
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Amber Valley Borough Council committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030 on 24th July, 202075. A Climate Change Working Group has subsequently been established in order to identify the current contribution of the borough to greenhouse gas emissions, as well as to develop strategies to tackle reducing this contribution. In addition, Derbyshire County Council have set out clear targets for a reduction in carbon emissions from Amber Valley borough, with a halving of emissions from energy expected between 2018 and 202776. Government policy changes preventing some renewable energy projects (particularly onshore wind) and changes to the subsidies supporting the roll out of new renewable energy infrastructure have previously undermined the delivery of new renewable energy capacity. However, in the future, it is possible that the prevalence of such projects could increase. In particular, onshore wind projects will soon be able to apply for subsides from the government, and further changes to policy to support the delivery of statutory renewable energy targets or technologies could lead to renewable generation becoming cheaper to deploy. Given the reliance on the private car as the main mode of transport within the borough, ongoing increases in vehicle ownership, and the requirement for additional residential development, it could be considered likely that greenhouse gas emissions will rise in the future. The increasing use of electric vehicles could counteract this, however, local policy will be needed to reduce car– based development and encourage modal shift. Moreover, infrastructure to support electric vehicle use will need to be implemented, such as public charging points. The current estimates for temperature increases and changes to rainfall patterns are unlikely to alter significantly in the near future, given the timescales associated with climate change. This being the case, there will be an increasing need to implement climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in light of changing environmental conditions.
10.4 Data Gaps
No data gaps have been identified.
75 https://www.ambervalley.gov.uk/council/news/2019-news-releases/council-s-commitment-to-become-carbon- neutral/ Accessed 20/04/2020 76 Derbyshire Environment and Climate Change Framework, 2019.
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11 Biodiversity, Geodiversity, Flora and Fauna
11.1 Baseline
The term biodiversity refers to both the species richness and genetic diversity of flora and fauna present within a given area. Amber Valley borough contains locally and nationally designated wildlife sites, which can be seen in Figure 11.1. No sites of European designation, such as Special Protection Area (SPAs) or Special Area of Conservation (SACs) are present within the borough. Locally designated sites within Amber Valley include: • 174 local wildlife sites which cover 3.6% of the total land area of the borough; • A further 129 potential local wildlife sites are also present; • Eight Local Nature Reserves (LNRs) in the borough, which together extend to around 50.5ha; • One LNR located immediately adjacent to the borough at Allestree Park (Derby City) which extends around 88ha, and others in close proximity to the boundary of both authorities including Darley and Nutwood LNR and Mickleover Meadows LNR; and • 18 regionally important geological sites (combined area 50.4ha).
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Figure 11.1: Biodiversity sites within Amber Valley
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There are seven areas designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) located within Amber Valley, which have a combined area of 359.5 ha. The current condition of these is detailed within 11.3 below.
Table 11.3: Amber Valley SSSIs Condition77
SSSI Classification of Condition Issues habitat(s)
Kedleston Park 93.50 ha of Broadleaved, • 3 units unfavourable but No specific issues identified. mixed and Yew Woodland recovering. • 3 units in favourable condition.
Mount Pleasant 2.97 ha of grassland • 3 units in favourable No issues identified. condition.
Cromford Canal 10.17ha of Standing open • 3 units in an No specific issues identified. water and canals. This unfavourable but site is also designated as recovering condition. a Local Nature Reserve.
• Several units have been Mercaston 14.31 ha of lowland bog • 1 unit in favourable identified as under grazed Marsh and habitat condition. by livestock, with few seen Mugginton • 4 units unfavourable but at the time of site Bottoms recovering. surveying. Cattle grazing is • 1 unit unfavourable and required. declining condition. • Scrub removal of small and immature hawthorn, alder and gorse would help to improve condition of the site.
• Areas of Himalayan Shining Cliff 119.34 ha of broadleaved, • 3 units in favourable balsam which require Woods mixed and yew woodland condition. treatment. • 2 units unfavourable • High levels of holly in the condition, but in understorey. recovery.
77 Natural England Designated Sites View. https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteDetail.aspx?SiteCode=S1005567&SiteName=mercaston%20marsh &countyCode=&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea= Accessed 03/03/2020
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Table 11.3: Amber Valley SSSIs Condition77
SSSI Classification of Condition Issues habitat(s)
• 1 unit unfavourable and • Non-native species require declining condition. removal. • Inappropriate weed control and a lack of corrective works.
• Low frequency of positive Crich Chase 118.19 ha of mixed • 14 units in favourable indicators. broadleaved and condition. • Low grass: herb ratio. grassland habitat • 2 units unfavourable but • Rabbit grazing of recovering. grassland. • 2 units unfavourable with no change. • 1 unit unfavourable and declining. • Destruction of habitat. Ambergate and 0.4 ha of earth heritage • 1 unit in favourable Ridgeway condition. Quarries • 1 unit destroyed in 2013.
The Crich Neighbourhood Plan78 acknowledges the presence of the Argent Sable Moth within Crich Chase as a significant Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species and one that is nationally scarce.
Three action areas were identified in the Lowland Derbyshire Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP)79: • Erewash Valley Action Area - located to the east of the borough. This area includes the main towns of Heanor, Alfreton, and Ripley. Habitats here include reedbeds fen and marshes • Peak Fringe Action Area - this includes the main town of Belper. Habitats found within this action area are varied and include woodland, moorland, grassland and wetlands. • Claylands Action Area – this area is largely rural, but includes Kedleston Hall. Habitats found here include hedgerows, rush pasture, mire and fen.
78 Crich Neighbourhood Plan 2017-2031, Neighbourhood Planning Steering Group
79 Lowland Derbyshire Biodiversity Partnership. Lowland Derbyshire Biodiversity Action Plan, 2011-2020. https://www.derbyshire.gov.uk/site-elements/documents/pdf/environment/conservation/ecology/lowland-derbyshire- biodiversity-action-plan/lowland-derbyshire-biodiversity-action-plan-lbap-2011-2020.pdf
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Priority habitats are better represented in the Peak Fringe and Claylands Action Areas, compared to the more urbanised east of the borough.
11.2 Sustainability Issues
The following sustainability issues have been identified:
• A relatively small area of the borough is designated for ecology and geodiversity value and there are significant areas of the borough where BAP habitats and Species are poorly represented; • Poor condition of some existing sites is likely to continue, and in some cases, further decline; and • There is only 0.4ha of local nature reserves per 1000 people and there is a need to improve access to nature given the lack of existing opportunities and further population growth could increase pressure on existing areas.
11.3 Likely Evolution Without LP
Without the Local Plan setting out a positive strategy for growth to meet future housing and commercial development needs, the location and scale of new development will be controlled through the development management process rather than through development being targeted to locations with greater environmental capacity. This could lead to the continued degradation and possible loss of nature conservation sites and species. The Local Plan could help safeguard existing sites of value, protect notable and protected species, and improve the management of locally important wildlife sites where these are integrated into development. The Local Plan could control loss of wildlife sites through the inclusion of appropriate site protection policies in the Plan.
In the absence of the Local Plan it is likely that the number or extent of LNRs in the borough will remain similar to current provision, although ad-hoc opportunities may arise to increase overall provision.
11.4 Data Gaps
A biodiversity audit and habitat mapping exercise has not been carried out for the borough. There is therefore no comprehensive set of biodiversity and habitat baseline data covering the entire plan area.
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12 Cultural Heritage
12.1 Baseline
There are 779 listed buildings or structures within Amber Valley, of which 16 are grade I listed, 49 are grade II* and 714 are grade II80. There are a number of Heritage at Risk entries in the borough, as detailed in Table 12.1. In total there are 18 Scheduled Ancient Monuments, three registered parks and gardens and 29 Conservation Areas. The Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage site (DVMWHS) is also partly located within the borough, the extent of which can be seen in Figure 12.1. This site was designated in 2001 and contains a series of 18th- and 19th- century cotton mills and an industrial landscape of high historical and technological interest. This represents a significant local tourism and leisure destination. The DVMWHS covers part of the Derwent Valley from Matlock Bath in the north to Derby city centre in the south and extends 1,228.7ha, although a further buffer zone is designated which itself extends to 4,362.7ha. Key settlements located within the World Heritage Site include Ambergate, Belper, Milford and Duffield.,. The most recent review of the condition of the WHS concludes that the outstanding universal value of the site has been maintained. The DVMWHS Management Plan (2020-2025) prepared by the DVMWHS Partnership of which AVBC is a partner, supersedes all previous versions and details seven key aims81:
• Protect and conserve the Outstanding Universal Value of the DVMWHS to ensure its transmission to future generations; • Promote public awareness and engagement with the DVMWHS by presenting its Outstanding Universal Value through formal/informal learning, volunteering, events, interpretation and encouraging research; • Promote the sustainable development (Environmental, Economic and Social) of the DVMWHS to provide a world-class destination where people are proud to live, work, visit and invest; • Enhance the social wellbeing of DVMWHS communities and maximise the benefits of the site’s cultural value at a local, regional, national and international level; • Develop an integrated and sustainable approach to meeting and promoting the transportation and accessibility needs of the DVMWHS and its users; • Promote a cohesive and coherent understanding of the DVMWHS by identifying its differing spatial needs and priorities; and • Monitor the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site to the standard required by UNESCO, and encourage appropriate site-wide data gathering to support the delivery of the above aims.
80 Historic England, 2019. https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/ Accessed 05/03/2020 81Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site: Annual Report, 2015-2016
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However, the management plan indicates that the distinctive form of the overall industrial landscape is vulnerable in some parts to threats from large-scale development that would impact adversely on the scale of the settlements.
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Figure 12.1: Derwent Valley World Heritage Site and Buffer Zone
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Table 12.1: Heritage at Risk Entries for Amber Valley82
Site Name Designation(s) Description of Condition Specific Issues identified site
Codnor Castle Scheduled Castle ruins and Fair- under repair The Lower Court east wall is in danger of collapse, but remains, Monument; Listed earthworks dating to but no obvious the Castle Heritage Trust is carrying out maintenance Aldercar and Building Grade II; early C13. user/new user work. Langley Mill Conservation Area identified
Horseshoe Weir Listed Building Gritstone weirs and Fair- slow decay, Self-seeded woody growth is displacing masonry in and Rock Weir, Grade II*; slices from 1796-7 no solution agreed Horseshoe Weir, and masonry has been lost from Rock Belper Conservation area; Weir. A condition survey has also been carried out for World Heritage Site Rock Weir, which has identified a need for repair and maintenance works.
North Mill, Listed Building Example of an early Poor - slow decay, AVBC and Historic England are concerned about the Belper Grade I; ‘fireproof’ mill, 1803- no solution agreed condition of the roof and occasional flooding of the Conservation Area; 4. basement. Some repairs have been undertaken, but World Heritage Site these are now failing.
Road archway Listed Building Footbridge linking Fair - slow decay, Roof coverings are in poor condition and renewal is and footbridge, Grade II*; former mills. Late no solution agreed required. The building remains unoccupied, although Belper Conservation Area C18-early C19. proposals have been submitted for residential and mixed use development.
Remains of Scheduled Military royal castle Poor - slow decay, Remains are in woodland under heavy scrub/ivy cover. Horsley Castle, Monument; from C12-C14, no solution agreed Some loss of stonework to the base of the keep, and Horsley Conservation Area overlooking Derwent vegetation is extensive and intrusive. Valley
82 Historic England: Heritage at Risk – Midlands Register, 2019.
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Table 12.1: Heritage at Risk Entries for Amber Valley82
Site Name Designation(s) Description of Condition Specific Issues identified site
South Wingfield Listed Building One of the earliest Very Bad – The building is under private ownership and in very poor Station, South Grade II*; stations in England, immediate risk of condition. Wingfield Conservation Area constructed to the further design of Francis deterioration. Thompson in 1839- Solution agreed but 1840 yet to be implemented
South Wingfield Listed Building Farmhouse east of Poor - slow decay, Some slipped stone slates, causing holes in the roof Manor Grade II*; South Wingfield no solution agreed which could be leading to water ingress. Vegetation Farmhouse, Scheduled Manor. Mid-C18. growth also present on parts of the property. South Wingfield Monument; Conservation Area
Church of the Listed Place of Church built to the Poor - slow decay, A number of defects at joints of downpipes, with Holy Trinity, Worship; design of H Moffatt in no solution agreed inadequate removal of water at ground level. Numerous Derby Road, 1848. Church room slipped slates on the north aisle roof, with evidence of Grade II; Milford and vestry added heritage crime present at this Church. Conservation Area; 1910. World Heritage Site
Butterley Works Scheduled Blast furnaces, canal Generally Deteriorating site, in declining condition and in need of blast furnaces, Monument tunnel and unsatisfactory with management. canal tunnel and underground wharf major localized underground problems; slow wharf, Ripley decay, no solution agreed
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The Tourism Strategy published by the DVMWHS highlights a number of key tourism and leisure destinations along the length of the World Heritage Site within the borough83. Belper is located largely within the DVMWHS and buffer zone. It is a key tourism and leisure destination in Amber Valley with three significant visitor attractions located in the town:
• Strutts North Mill (completed 1804); • Belper River Gardens, located adjacent to the North Mill; and • the town of Belper itself (winner of the Great British High Street of 2014 and Best in England 2019). Belper experienced significant growth in the late 18th century associated with the expansion of industrial activities, which transformed it from a small village to the second largest settlement in the county for a time in the early 19th century. The town retains much of its historic character which has been directly influenced by the development of cotton mills and associated housing to support local workers. A Conservation Area covers much of the western part of the town and Belper remains a focus for improving local tourism and leisure offer. Other key destinations located within the World Heritage Site include Milford, Leawood Pumphouse and John Smedley’s Mill. These destinations complement those located to the north and south of the borough located in Derbyshire Dales and Derby City respectively. Away from the World Heritage Site, many of the borough’s towns and villages retain their historic character and where appropriate, Conservation Areas have been designated by the Council to protect the character of many settlements and restrict inappropriate development. These villages often provide locally significant leisure and recreation locations and can play a key role in defining the character and identity of the borough. A recent publication by Historic England identifies that:
• 87% of adults want to find new uses for historic buildings, as opposed to demolishing such sites; and • 94% of people surveyed also stated it was important to preserve and protect heritage assets84. However, a number of Conservation Area character statements highlight that pressure for new development has historically had a negative impact on some of the borough’s archaeological or cultural heritage. In particular, it is noted that some modern and suburban homes and economic development built close to traditional properties has affected local character. The protection of the borough’s cultural heritage remains a significant issue for many local residents, businesses and community groups.
83 Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site: Tourism Strategy, 2011-2016 84 Historic England: Heritage and Society. Heritage Counts, 2019. https://historicengland.org.uk/content/heritage- counts/pub/2019/heritage-and-society-2019/ Accessed 05/03/2020
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12.2 Sustainability Issues
The following sustainability issues have been identified:
• The townscape archaeological or cultural heritage of the borough (including the setting of heritage assets) could be negatively affected by new development which can erode the quality of the built environment and heritage features or sterilise or lead to the loss of existing heritage assets. • New development within the DVMWHS and associated buffer zone will need to be carefully controlled to ensure the outstanding universal value of the site is not undermined by new built development or other land use changes.
12.3 Likely Evolution without the Plan
Continual growth in the borough and the increasing demand for housing, may well mean development could encroach on the World Heritage Site buffer zone and Conservation Areas and could negatively affect heritage assets. Inappropriate development in the WHS buffer zone, or within the wider setting of the DVMWHS, could put the Derwent Valley Mills’ UNESCO designation at risk, and if sufficiently harmful, lead to removal from the World Heritage Site List altogether.
12.4 Data Gaps
No data gaps have been identified.
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13 Landscape
13.1 Baseline
A local Landscape Sensitivity Study85 of the borough was commissioned by the Borough Council in 2016 to assess the sensitivity to development of the landscape surrounding the borough’s urban areas and other main settlements. This identified areas of low medium and high sensitivity and how for example the presence of a World Heritage Site and its buffer makes the majority of the landscape in this part of the borough of high sensitivity, primarily affecting the settlements of Ambergate, Belper, Milford and Duffield. The sensitivity of the landscape surrounding settlements was based on factors such as land use, the nature of the adjacent settlement edge, designated land and important features relating to landscape, heritage, ecology and hydrology. Similarly, Derbyshire County Council has, as part of its landscape characterisation work for Derbyshire as published in The Landscape Character of Derbyshire (2014)86, identified Areas of Multiple Environmental Sensitivity (AMES) in Amber Valley (see Figure 13.1). This work combines historic, ecological and visual aspects to identify areas of sensitivity at a landscape scale and also included a Tranquillity Mapping Study. The areas identified in the AMES study as having the greatest value are concentrated around Mackworth in the south west of the borough and the Derwent Valley to the north and west of Belper. This assessment indicates that areas to the east of the borough are generally less sensitive, although areas of secondary sensitivity are located around Shipley and Codnor Castle.
85 Amber Valley Borough Council, Landscape Sensitivity Study 2016, Wardell Armstrong
86 Derbyshire County Council (2014) The Landscape Character of Derbyshire
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Figure 13.1: Areas of Multiple Environmental Sensitivity within the Borough
The Derbyshire Landscape Character Assessment falls within the wider National Character Areas (NCAs) as defined by Natural England. There are 3 NCAswhich fall within Amber Valley as follows:
• Derbyshire Peak Fringe and Lower Derwent; • the Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands; and • Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Yorkshire Coalfield. These NCAs were updated and republished by Natural England in 2014 (see Table 13.1). The last assessment of these NCAs was undertaken in 2003, but whilst dated, this information is referenced in recent National Character Area reports and provides some context regarding the quality of landscapes within the borough. On a more local level, under local planning policy parts of the borough are designated as ‘Special Landscape Areas’ (SLA). A decision as to whether or not to maintain the current SLA designation for parts of the borough in the new Local Plan has not yet been taken.
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Table 13.1: National Character Areas present in Amber Valley87 88
National Character Condition Landscape Description of Area Area Character types present Nottinghamshire, Neglected • Coalfield Village This NCA landscape has undergone much change over the last few centuries, with Derbyshire and Farmlands industrialisation and development clear across the area. The area had high levels of coal and Yorkshire Coalfield • Coalfield iron, as well as a strong water supply, hence the strong levels of industrialisation. This has Estatelands altered the ecological and visual aspects of the landscape. Over 64% of the NCA is • Riverside Meadows designated as greenbelt land, which helps to maintain some separation between settlements. However, there is subsequently high development pressure on such sites. Few sites of geology or nature conservation are present, but the landscape is littered with patches which have been abandoned and recolonised since the end of heavy industrial activity.
Derbyshire Peak Fringe Diverging This NCA is located across the centre of the borough, spanning from the northern to and Lower Derwent • Enclosed southern border. The area is a mix of Peak District National Park to the west, and more Moors and urban setting to the east, where the Derbyshire Coal Measure are found. Rivers flowing Heaths throughout the NCA aid in draining water from the Peak district, and the River Derwent in • Gritstone particular contributed to the areas economic and industrial importance during the Industrial Heaths and Revolution. This area was not included in the National Park, but was seriously considered, Commons • Wooded Slopes hence this remains an important landscape. and Valleys • Wooded Farmlands
Needwood and South Maintained • Riverside Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands NCA is divided by the wide floodplain of the Derbyshire Claylands Meadows River Dove. Away from this, the area is predominantly a rolling plateau, with several • Estate plantations and ancient woodlands in the south (the former Forest of Needwood). There are Farmlands many areas of farming and associated hedgerows across the landscape, contributing to the • Settled wooded character of this NCA. Chartley Moss and Pasturefields Saltmash nature reserves are located in the west, and are internationally important wetland habitats. Part of the Farmlands Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site and The National Forest are situated on the eastern • Riverside side of the NCA. To the north and west respectively are found small parts of the Peak District Farmlands
87 Natural England: National Character Area Profiles, 2014 88 Derbyshire County Council: The Landscape Character of Derbyshire (4th edition), March 2014
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• Sandstone National Park and Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. slopes and Heaths
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13.2 Sustainability Issues
The following sustainability issues have been identified:
• National Character Areas in the borough are at risk of degradation from the pressures of new development. Planning policy needs to guide development to ensure it is contextually responsive and reinforces local character; • The borough has areas of multiple environmental sensitivity and development should respect its landscape setting and make a positive contribution to the relationship of rural and urban areas; and • 33% of the borough is protected by the Green Belt. A Green Belt Review of the borough was undertaken in 2018 in order to inform the process of identifying and proposing additional housing sites for allocation in the previous emerging Local Plan. The review remains relevant to inform any policies and proposals in respect of the Green Belt in the new Local Plan.
13.3 Likely Evolution without the Plan
The risk of landscape character degradation in parts of the borough will continue without planning intervention to guide development to address identified issues and reinforce local character.
13.4 Data Gaps
None identified.
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14 Soils, Water and Minerals
14.1 Baseline
Soils Soil quality varies across the borough. There is no grade 1 agricultural land in Amber Valley and only limited pockets of Grade 2 land located around Mackworth and Duffield. Soil quality overlying the Coal measures tends to be relatively poor quality (Grade 4). Agricultural land quality tends to be better to the west of the borough and there are pockets of Grade 3 land around Blackbrook, Shottle, and Ambergate and running north out of Derby City to Belper. Of the 594 (net) additional completed dwellings within the borough during 2018-2019, 185 were on previously developed land which is less than the previous year 2017-2018 which was 29689. For 2018-2019 and since 2015 the number of dwellings on greenfield land has increased and is greater than the amount developed on previously developed land90. This suggests that there is a potential lack of previously developed land available for redevelopment within the borough possibly due to constraints and viability issues which is why greenfield sites may be identified for development in order to accommodate the levels of growth required through the Plan. This could result in losses of high quality soils on greenfield land through development.
Water Water usage in Amber Valley is provided by Severn Trent Water. The Severn Trent water resource area saw an increase in water use per capita per day between 2013 and 2018 (Table 14.1). However, water consumption in this resource area was still notably lower than the England average, being 133 litres per person per day compared to the England average of 141 litres per person per day91.
Table 14.1: Water Consumption per Capita92 (Litres per person per day)
Water 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16 2016-17 2017-18 Company
89 Amber Valley Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report, 2018/19
90 Amber Valley Borough Council Annual Monitoring Report, 2018/19
91 DEFRA: Water Conservation Report – Action taken and planned by government to encourage the conservation of water, 2018. 92 DEFRA: Water Conservation Report – Action taken and planned by government to encourage the conservation of water, 2018.
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Table 14.1: Water Consumption per Capita92 (Litres per person per day)
Severn Trent 129 126 130 131 133 Water
England 141 139 139 140 141 Average
However, Severn Trent’s most recent Water Resource Management Plan (WRMP) indicates that there is a potential for demand to exceed supply for water unless management changes are made. These changes will fall into two categories: demand management measures and sustainable sourcing of water. Measures identified include93:
• continuing to reduce leakage; • helping customers reduce demand for water; • continuing with household metering; • reducing abstractions in locations where this causes environmental damage; • providing new and alternative sources of water supply in some locations; and • making new strategic links with other water companies to improve supply resilience. Amber Valley lies within Severn Trent Water’s Strategic Grid Water Resource Zone. Due to the need to reduce abstractions from unsustainable sources and the potential effects of climate change, there could be insufficient water resources to meet demand by 2040. In order to bring supply into balance, specific actions proposed for this water resource zone are to increase the focus on reducing leakage and reducing demand for water, while providing an increase in sustainable deployable output and a more flexible supply system94.
Table 14.2: Water Quality in Watercourses
Name Overall Ecological Chemical Objective
Derwent Middle – Derbyshire
2009 2015 2009 2015 2009 2015 Overall water body
Amber from Alfreton Moderate by Brook to Derwent Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Good Good 2015
93 Severn Trent: Water Resources Management Plan, 2019 94 Severn Trent: Water Resources Management Plan, 2019
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Table 14.2: Water Quality in Watercourses
Name Overall Ecological Chemical Objective
Blackbrook Catchment Not Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Good Good by 2027 (trib of Derwent) Assessed Bottle Brook Not Moderate by Catchment Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Assessed Good 2015 Derwent from Amber to Not Moderate by 2015 Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Fail Bottle Brook Assessed Ecclesborne Not Catchment Poor Moderate Poor Moderate assessed Good Good by 2027 Westwood Brook form Moderate by 2015 Westwood Brook to Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Good Good Amber
Derwent Lower- Derbyshire Kedleston Hall Lower Not Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Good Good by 2027 Lake Assessed Mackworth Brook (trib Not of Markeaton Brook) Poor Poor Poor Poor Assessed Good Good By 2027 Markeaton Brook (from Not Source to Good Moderate Good Moderate Good Good By 2027 Mackworth Brook Assessed Lower Trent and Erewash Bailey Brook (trib of Not Erewash) Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Assessed Good Good by 2027 Erewash from Moderate By 2015 Nethergreen Brook to Moderate Moderate Moderate Moderate Good Good Gilt Brook Nut Brook Catchment Good Moderate Good Moderate Good Good Good by 2027 (trib of Erewash)
Water quality within the borough’s main rivers is generally classified as being of moderate quality in respect of ecological quality and good quality in respect of chemical quality. Notably, however, the Derwent from Amber to Bottle Brook is in poor condition. Similarly, Mackworth Brook is recorded as being in poor condition when assessed in 2009 and 2015. Actions to reduce diffuse pollution (mainly associated with agriculture) are being undertaken to address the water quality within the Markeaton and Mackworth Brooks. The Ecclesbourne catchment was identified as being ecologically poor when assessed in 2009, although measures to improve the condition of the catchment (see Ecclesborne Restoration Partnership Improvement Plan) delivered by a number of Authorities and agencies working in partnership appear to have improved the ecological condition of the catchment when assessed in 2015. Flood risk is addressed in Section 10 of this report under the Climate SA topic.
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Minerals In terms of quantity, the most significant mineral extracted in Derbyshire is limestone, accounting for over 80% of all minerals produced (by weight) in the county95. The next most significant mineral produced is sand and gravel (about 9%). Minerals extracted in smaller amounts include coal (about 5%), vein minerals (mainly fluorspar & barytes), gas, sandstone, silica sand & clay and shale (unknown quantities), but likely to each be less than 1% of the total county production by weight)96. Although the tonnage of these minerals extracted is low compared to that of limestone and sand and gravel, their higher value per tonne often makes them very significant in economic terms. They are used by several nationally important industries, such as brick making, electricity generation and steel making. Existing active minerals sites are located in Crich (Hard rock), Whatstandwell (Hard Rock), Smalley (Coal), Mercaston (Sand and Gravel), Smalley (Coal) and Waingroves (Quarry Clay). In addition, there are dormant sites at Mugginton (Sand and Gravel) and Crich Cliff (Hard Rock). Additional minerals and waste capacity is likely to be needed within the plan period. This is likely to lead to further greenfield land losses to accommodate these facilities, some of which may be in locations which have not historically seen such developments. Derbyshire’s production of limestone is highly significant in national terms, providing about 20% of England’s overall production.97
14.2 Sustainability Issues
The following sustainability issues have been identified:
• Water quality across much of the borough is failing to meet Water Framework Directive targets and could be affected by inappropriate growth; • There is a need to consider the effect of development on groundwater supplies both now and in the future; • New development should incorporate measures to ensure that water is used efficiently, to help reduce the water demand of the borough; • SUDs can promote infiltration of surface water into the ground and recharge aquifers, and can therefore play a long term role in safeguarding and sustaining water resources; • Increasing population will put additional strain on already stressed water resources; • There is a lack of previously developed land available for development within the borough;
95 Derbyshire and Derby Local Minerals Plan (2017) 96 Derbyshire and Derby Local Minerals Plan (2017) 97 Derbyshire and Derby Local Minerals Plan (2017)
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• Plan development that recognises the need for the safeguarding mineral resources.
14.3 Likely Evolution without the Plan
The increases in population will drive further water demand in the borough will place increasing strain on water resources. Population growth is likely to put more pressure on waste water treatment. The availability of brownfield land for redevelopment is likely to continue to be scarce. Greenfield land may need to be developed in order to meet demand for new housing. There is potential for conflicts between new developments and current mineral extraction sites, and a need to safeguard rare deposits.
14.4 Data Gaps
Details of available development sites within the borough are not available at the time of writing this scoping report. This will include whether there are sites on previously developed land available. At the time of writing a ‘call for sites’ exercise is ongoing. Once the findings of this exercise are available this data gap can be filled.
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15 Waste
15.1 Baseline
Waste In respect of recycling performance, the percentage of household waste sent for reuse, recycling or composting (2018-2019) stood at 32.9% as shown in Table 15.1 below. This ranks the borough at 283 out 326 English Authorities and indicates that there has been a slight decline in the recycling rate since 2013/14 of 0.2%. Recycling rates in the borough are similar to those in Derby City, although much lower than those of nearby Derbyshire Dales and Staffordshire Moorlands District Councils98
Table 15.1: Recycling rates for Local Authorities between April 2018 and March 2019
Amber Derbyshire Staffordshire Derby City Erewash Valley Dales Moorlands Council Borough Borough District District Council Council Council Council
% of household 32.9 59.6 56 38.8 41.9 waste recycled or reused or composted
Collected waste 361.8 377.7 396.0 405.8 382.6 per person (kg)
Position in local 283 9 35 228 189 authority national tables
98 https://www.letsrecycle.com/councils/league-tables/2018-19-overall-performance/ Accessed 04/03/2020
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15.2 Sustainability Issues
The following sustainability issues have been identified:
• Less than a third of waste is recycled, reused or composted and the Borough falls within the lowest quartile for recycling in England.
15.3 Likely Evolution without the Plan
With an increasing population within the borough it is likely that the amount of waste produced will continue to rise. Offering more versatility with recycling, such as the introduction of food waste bins, could help to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
15.4 Data Gaps
No data gaps have been identified.
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16 SA Framework
This chapter presents the SA Framework of objectives (in bold text) with which the sustainability of the Amber Valley Local Plan will be tested. Appendix B presents the detailed version of the proposed framework which demonstrates how the sustainability issues identified in the baseline topic chapters and the key messages from the PPP review are reflected in the SA objectives. The SA objectives are based on those developed previously for the SA of the withdrawn Amber Valley Local Plan (2018). Each SA objective is supported by a series of sub-objectives to help guide the assessment of options and policies. Table 16.1 presents the proposed SA framework of objectives and sub-objectives. Changes following consultation are shown in strikethrough and underlined text.
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Table 16.1: Summary – Proposed Framework
SA Topic Objectives Sub-objectives
• Support the creation of new businesses by providing suitable S01 Economy incubation facilities for business start ups such as shared offices or To deliver economic growth and support the creation of new and small industrial units. • Encourage existing businesses to grow. retention of existing businesses in urban and rural areas. • Support diversification of the economy by providing employment space for emerging industries e.g. digital technology in accordance with the Economic Delivery Plan. • Support and encourage the clean growth of the local economy including in rural areas. • Support the enhancement of the borough’s tourism and cultural Economy & offer. Employment • Reduce unemployment rates and reduce existing disparities S02 Employment across the borough. To create greater employment opportunities and higher value jobs across the whole borough
• Improve existing shopping facilities within town and village centres. S03 Town and Village Centres • Safeguard existing town and village centres. To ensure that town and village centres are vibrant and viable.
• Ensure all residents have equitable access to health services, SO4 Accessibility taking into account the needs of an aging population. To improve local accessibility to healthcare, education, • Ensure all residents have equitable access to education, employment, community services and facilities. employment, retail facilities and recreational resources (including • Help ensure all children have access to a local school within open spaces and sports facilities) and enhance wellbeing and reasonable walking distance. promote healthy and sustainable lifestyles. • Improve opportunities for active travel including walking and Population & cycling. Health • Ensure everyone has access to open space and recreation facilities to help promote healthy lifestyles.
• Ensure an integrated approach to delivery of housing and S05 Quality of Life community facilities. To create safe and attractive places which contribute towards • Help design out crime from new development.
quality of life and community cohesion.
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Table 16.1: Summary – Proposed Framework
SA Topic Objectives Sub-objectives
• Provide opportunities for residents to mix and meet. S06 Inequalities • Support reduction in the inequality gap between the richest and the To reduce inequalities associated with deprivation across the poorest in the borough.
borough.
• Increase the numbers and mix of housing. SO7 Housing • Improve the suitability of new homes for elderly or disabled people. To ensure everyone has access to sustainable housing, which is • Reduce the numbers of households waiting for accommodation or accepted as homeless. Housing affordable, and meets the needs of all residents including the • Provide affordable homes of the tenure and size to meet the needs elderly and other vulnerable groups. of each part of the borough. • Meet the needs of the travelling community and show people.
• Provide opportunities to access key services including employment SO8 Sustainable Travel and town and village centres, education facilities and doctor’s To reduce the need to travel and promote sustainable travel surgeries by means other than the car. • Maximise opportunities for walking and cycling. habits including walking, cycling and public transport (bus and • Increase and improve opportunities to access public transport. rail) usage. Transport & • Reduce congestion on the strategic and local road network though the delivery of new or enhanced transport infrastructure. Accessibility • Ensure new development has sustainable transport access to facilities, services and jobs. • Encourage the development of a network of multi-user traffic free Greenways across Amber Valley. • Encourage the expansion of electronic communications networks.
• Ensure new and existing communities are not adversely affected SO9 Air, Light and Noise Pollution by poor quality air and noise pollution, either through their location To minimise air, light and noise pollution and ensure that future or through causing a further deterioration as a result of new development. growth does not lead to the further deterioration of environmental Air, Noise & Light • Avoid exacerbating light pollution by keeping external lighting to conditions. the minimum required for safety and security. • Encourage the development of electric vehicle charging points across the borough.
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Table 16.1: Summary – Proposed Framework
SA Topic Objectives Sub-objectives
• Support the delivery of renewable energy capacity (including small SO10 Contributions to Climate Change scale or community energy projects). To reduce the borough’s contribution towards the emission of • Support the shift towards usage of electric and ultralow emissions vehicles. Provide opportunities to access local services and climate change gases facilities by public transport, walking or cycling. • Promote a low carbon local economy. • Ensure new developments are energy efficient. Climatic Factors • Minimise flood risk and ensure new development contributes to the SO11 Adaptation to Climate Change provision of sustainable urban drainage and reduces fluvial flood Adapt to the effects of climate change including flood risk and risk on the site and elsewhere. • Ensure new development is designed to withstand future climate reduced water availability. change e.g. overheating and increased storm severity, reduction in resource use. • Protect water quality in watercourses and groundwater. • Conserve and enhance natural semi natural habitats including SO12 Biodiversity internationally, nationally and locally designated wildlife sites. To safeguard and enhance biodiversity (including BAP Habitats • Contribute to creating a network of new wildlife habitats. Biodiversity, • Contribute to the delivery of new or safeguard existing BAP priority and Species) and geodiversity and improve connectivity between, Geodiversity, species and habitats. Flora & Fauna and access to, green spaces and functional habitats. • Provide new or improved access to greenspaces. • Protect sites of geological importance. • Protect existing woodland.
• Protect and enhance the setting of historic, cultural, architectural SO13 Townscape and Historic Environment. and archaeological features in Amber Valley. To conserve and enhance the townscape, historic environment, • Respect and Protect existing landscape character. • Improve access to and understanding of the borough’s historic and heritage assets (including known and unknown archaeological cultural assets. Cultural Heritage sites) and their settings and where appropriate improve the • Improve the condition of heritage ‘at risk’ in the borough. quality of the built environment and maintain and enhance access to the cultural heritage of the borough for enjoyment and educational purposes.
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Table 16.1: Summary – Proposed Framework
SA Topic Objectives Sub-objectives
• Respect and Protect existing landscape character. SO14 Landscape • Protect sensitive landscapes including those within the World Landscape To conserve and enhance the borough’s landscape character. Heritage Site or its buffer or Special Landscape Areas. • Safeguard landscape features such as hedgerows.
• Seek to improve or remediate contaminated land or reuse SO15 Soils and Water previously developed land which has not been restored. To minimise water and soil pollution and ensure protection of • Protect Best and Most Versatile (BMV) Agricultural Land. • To promote the efficient supply and use of minerals. Soils & Water natural resources including greenfield land, soil and minerals • Protect soil quality and avoid soil pollution. resources. • Ensure surface and groundwater water resources are protected from pollution.
• Enhance opportunities for increased levels of recycling in the SO16 Waste & Minerals borough. Waste To minimise waste.
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17 Next Steps
This document now constitutes the amended scoping report and has been published as a post- consultation version on the AVBC website. The next step in the SA which follows Stage A is the assessment stage (Stage B) during which emerging options will be assessed. The agreed SA framework set out in this document will be used to assess the Local Plan as it is developed, namely:
• Assessing spatial strategy options; • Assessing site and policy options and identifying mitigation measures to offset potential negative and uncertain effects; and • Establishing a monitoring framework. Following assessment of the draft Local Plan, the draft SA Report will record the sustainability of the draft plan and various options considered and record the decisions made by the Council in choosing its preferred options. The draft report will be consulted on alongside the draft Local Plan which is proposed to take place in April 2021. The timetable for preparing the new Local Plan is set out in Table 17.1. SA reports will be available for consultation alongside the draft Local Plan as it is prepared.
Table 17.1: Local Plan Timetable
Activity Timescale
Consultation and Engagement by October 2020
Consultation on Draft Local Plan (Regulation 18) March- April 2021
Approval of a Pre-Submission Local Plan November 2021
Publication of the Pre-Submission Local Plan January-February 2022
Submission of the Local Plan to Secretary of State April 2022
Examination of the submitted Local Plan July 2022
Inspector’s Report October 2022
Main Modifications December 2022
Adoption March 2023.
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