Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan
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Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT FEBRUARY 2010 SEA ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT – COVER NOTE PART 1 To: [email protected] or SEA Gateway Scottish Executive Area 1 H (Bridge) Victoria Quay Edinburgh EH6 6QQ PART 2 An Environmental Report is attached for [name of PPS]: Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan The Responsible Authority is: Comhairle nan Eilean Siar PART 3 Contact name Diane McPherson Job Title Principal Policy Officer (Planning) Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Contact address Balivanich Isle of Benbecula HS7 5LA Contact tel no 01870 602425 [email protected] Contact email PART 4 Signature (electronic signature is acceptable) Date 25th February 2010 1 CONTENTS Page 1. NON TECHNICAL SUMMARY 4 Introduction and Purpose of Strategic Environmental Assessment 4 How to comment on the Environmental Report 4 Summary of SEA and Local Development Plan Stages 5 SEA Process 6 Likely Evolution of the Environment in the absence of the LDP 6 Summary of the Likely Significant Effects of the LDP 7 2. ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT - INTRODUCTION 8 Purpose of this Environmental Report 8 Local Development Plan Key Facts 9 SEA Activities to Date 10 3. OUTER HEBRIDES LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN AND ITS CONTEXT 11 Outline of the Plan 11 Objectives of the Plan 11 Relationship with other Plans, Programmes and Environmental Objectives 11 Relevant Aspects of Current State of the Environment 12 Environmental Baseline 13 Gaps in Baseline Information 19 Significant Environmental Issues 19 Evolution of the Environment in the absence of the LDP 22 4. ASSESSMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS & PROPOSED MITIGATION 24 SEA Methodology 24 Alternatives Considered 27 Assessment Outcomes 27 Key Findings and Proposed Mitigation Measures 29 Conclusion 31 5. MONITORING 31 6. NEXT STEPS 32 2 Appendices 33 Appendix A Links to other Plans, Programmes & Strategies and environmental objective 33 Appendix B Environmental Description 37 Appendix C SEA Assessment Tables (available separately) List of Diagrams Diagram 1 Map: Outer Hebrides Context Diagram 2 Map: International Environmental Designations Diagram 3 Map: National Environmental Designations Diagram 4 Map: Historic Environment Diagram 5 Map: Landscape Character Assessment Areas Diagram 6 Map: Settlements Diagram 7 Map: Areas at Significant Risk of Flooding List of Tables Table 1 Summary of LDP & SEA Activities Table 2 LDP Key Facts Table 3 Summary of SEA Activities Table 4 Summary of Environmental Baseline Table 5 Significant Environmental Issues relevant to the LDP Table 6 Framework used to assess the Local Development Plan Table 7 Assessment Outcomes 3 1. NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY 1.1 Introduction and Purpose of SEA 1.1.1 This Environmental Report (ER) is part of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan (LDP). This first section is a non-technical summary of the ER which can be read on its own or as part of the full SEA Environmental Report. It explains what SEA is, why it has been done and what effects the absence of the LDP would be likely to have on the environment 1.1.2 Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a requirement of Scottish legislation to implement a European Directive. The European Union SEA Directive 2001/24/EC was transposed into Scots law in 2004 by the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005. The objective of the Directive is: “to provide for a high level of protection of the environment and to contribute to the integration of environmental considerations into the preparation of and adoption of plans and programmes with a view to promoting sustainable development”*1. 1.1.3 The legislation places a responsibility on public agencies to assess the environmental impacts of certain plans and programmes and is a way of ensuring that environmental issues are carefully considered during preparation of a Plan. 1.2 How to comment on the Environmental Report 1.2.1 Comhairle nan Eilean Siar is carrying out SEA of the Outer Hebrides Local Development Plan in accordance with the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005. 1.2.2 The Environmental Report (ER) of the Local Development Plan SEA is available for public comment along with the Main Issues Report (current stage of the LDP) and other associated documents. It can also be accessed on the Comhairle’s web page at: www.cne- siar.gov.uk/planningservice/localdevplan.asp and is available to view in hard copy at deposit locations throughout the islands. 1.2.3 Comments on the Environmental Report should be sent by Friday 23rd April 2010 to: Director of Development Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Council Offices Balivanich Isle of Benbecula HS7 5LA FAO Angusina MacDonald email: [email protected] 1 * Directive 2001/42/EC: Article 1 4 1.3 Summary of SEA & LDP Stages 1.3.1 To be effective, the SEA process has to run in parallel with preparation of the LDP to which it relates. The various stages of the SEA and LDP process are set out below: Table 1 Summary of LDP and SEA Activities (Development Plan Scheme February 2010) Local Development Plan Consultation Environmental Indicative including Assessment Programme # stage if/as required statutory periods Stage 1 Development Plan Scheme & Participation Statement March 2009 Submit to Scottish Ministers. This stage is complete (revise annually) Stage 2 Main Issues Report (MIR) Gather information. Engage key Prepare Scoping Monitoring of Plans/Strategies. agencies/stakeholders Report. Submit to Consultation/workshops. Planning workshops. Gateway/consultation April 2009 – Notify site authorities. Jan 2010 Publish MIR & Monitoring Statement. owners/neighbours Publish Environmental Comhairle approval (Dec 2009). MIR Consultation Report (ER) Submit to Scottish Ministers. (8 weeks) ER consultation Feb – April Public consultation. 2010 Stage 3 Proposed Local Development Plan Engage key April 2010 – Discuss MIR consultation outcomes agencies/stakeholders April 2011 with key agencies/stakeholders. Notify site Revise ER Prepare Proposed Plan & Action owners/neighbours Programme. Members workshops Revised ER Comhairle approval (Dec 2010). Proposed Plan consultation Feb - April Submit to Scottish Ministers. consultation (8 2011 Public consultation. weeks) Stage 4 Modified Plan# Consider representations prepare Contact key agencies, Review ER if Plan April - August Response & Statement of Conformity representations and modifications necessary 2011 with Participation Statement notify site Consider representations & modify owners/neighbours Plan. Comhairle approval (June 2011). Submit to Scottish Ministers. Stage 5 Examination of Plan# (for any unresolved representations) Aug 2011 – Submit Proposed Plan, Statement of March 2012 Conformity, Participation Statement, Publicise, contact key and Representations. agencies, Publicise. representations & site Reporter to refer to ER Scottish Ministers appoint Examiner. owners/neighbours as Examination held and necessary Examination Report produced. Stage 6 – adopt LDP Comhairle approve Plan (June 2012 – Oct 2011 if no examination). March – Aug Publish Proposed Plan (as modified). Publicise. Publish revised ER (& 2012 Advertise intention to adopt. Inform key agencies/ Appropriate Send Plan & Action Programme to representations & site Assessment) if Scottish Ministers. owners/neighbours. necessary* Planning Authority adopts LDP Publish post adoption Aug 2012 (min 4 weeks after submission to SEA statement (Feb 2012 if no Scottish Ministers) examination) Stage 7 Monitor & Review Plan Engage as necessary Ongoing SEA Sept 2012+ monitoring and review ongoing during Plan life 5 1.4 SEA process 1.4.1 The environmental baseline for the Plan area has been established using information already available to the Comhairle along with additional information gathered from a variety of sources including SEPA and SNH. A number of gaps in information have been highlighted and the Comhairle is working with other appropriate agencies to address this. Assessment of the Plan has also been considered within the framework of other relevant international, national and local plans and policies. 1.4.2 The major environmental issues affecting the Plan area were identified in the Scoping Report. These include: • the threat of coastal flooding; • the impact on the environment arising from constrained water and wastewater infrastructure; • the impact of land use activities on the landscape and the natural environment; • the impacts on soils/peat and carbon storage; • the need to accommodate growth in Greater Stornoway; and • declining and ageing population. 1.5 Likely Evolution of the Environment in the absence of the Local Development Plan 1.5.1 The SEA process involves an assessment of the significant environmental effects of implementing the plan and an assessment of the evolution of the environment without the plan. It is not practical to anticipate every environmental change that may occur if the LDP is not implemented. This section identifies those changes that would be the most significant and likely in the event of non-implementation of the LDP and those aspects of the environment that are most likely to be impacted upon by the plan. 1.5.2 The current Development Plan comprises the Structure Plan (approved 2003) and the Local Plan (adopted June 2008) and provides a focused interrelated framework to guide development across the Outer Hebrides. While much of the current Local Plan approach may still be applicable in the future, subject to modification and updating,