Sustainability Appraisal of the Site Specific Proposals Local Development Document Scoping Report March 2009 ii Contents Page No 1. Introduction 1 2. Context within the Core Spatial Strategy 3 3. Baseline Information - Introduction 8 - The Borough in Context 10 - Housing 12 - Gypsy and Travellers 14 - Employment 14 - Retail 18 - Leisure and Tourism 19 - Community Facilities 19 - Education 20 - Transportation 21 - Waste 23 - Settlement Pattern 24 - Land & Soil 25 - Landscape 26 - Cultural Heritage 27 - Conservation 27 - Archaeology 28 - Open Space 28 - Biodiversity 29 - Water 32 - Air & Climate 33 - Social Deprivation 34 - Crime 34 - Health 36 4. The Sustainability Report 37 Appendix 1. Appraisal Questions 38 Appendix 2. Biodiversity data 43 i 1. Introduction Purpose of the Scoping Report 1.1 Under the Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 a Sustainability Appraisal is mandatory for Development Plan Documents, including Supplementary Planning Documents. Planning Authorities must also undertake an Environmental Assessment in accordance with European Directive 2001/42/EC. Sustainability Appraisals are intended to help Local Planning Authorities to achieve ‘sustainable development’ in its widest context and are undertaken as part of a systematic process during the formulation of Development Plan Documents. The requirements of the European Directive are incorporated into the Sustainability Appraisal. 1.2 This Scoping Report is the first stage of the Sustainability Appraisal process with regard to the Site Specific Proposals Local Development Document (LDD). The purpose of the Scoping Report is to set out the social, environmental and economic issues identified in so far as to: - Develop and agree an appraisal methodology and programme - Ensure stakeholder involvement in the appraisal process - Identify and review relevant policies, plans, and programmes and sustainable development objectives that will affect or influence the plan - Present a characterisation of the plan area based upon the relevant social, environmental and economic baseline information - Provide an environmental report to cover the requirements of the SEA directive - Identify key sustainability issues for the Sustainability Appraisal to address - Agree a Sustainability Appraisal Framework, consisting of the sustainability objectives and indicators - Test the plan objectives against the Sustainability Appraisal Framework - And to set out the broad options which are considered in more detail in developing the LDD. 1.3 As the requirements of the Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environmental Assessment incorporate similar processes with the Sustainability Appraisal focusing on environmental, social and economic matters, the scoping report along with the subsequent sustainability reports address the requirements of both together. 1.4 This report is divided into four sections: - 1. The introduction – explaining the purpose of the report in relation to the plan process and pre commencement background work. 2. Context within the Core Spatial Strategy – including the outline of Sustainability Objectives, Sustainability Framework and Plan objectives 3. The identification of baseline information – which also informs the identification of key sustainability issues. 4. Structure of Final Sustainability Appraisal Report – identifying the level of detail considered appropriate to the further stages. 2 2. Context within Core Spatial Strategy 2.1 The North Northamptonshire Joint Planning Unit has been set up to provide a strategic planning context for the administrative areas of East Northamptonshire, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough with the production of the Core Spatial Strategy for North Northamptonshire. The Sustainability Appraisal Scoping Report for the Core Spatial Strategy for North Northamptonshire was published in April 2005 and also covers the districts of East Northamptonshire, Corby, Kettering and Wellingborough. It provides the context for the Sustainability Appraisal of the Local Development Documents within the area. 2.2 Government advice provides for local authorities to prepare a single scoping report and in this instance it is considered that in assisting with the provision of context for sustainable development, the scoping report of the Core Spatial Strategy is acceptable for use for the Site Specific Proposals LDD. However it is considered that it would be beneficial if the scoping report were supplemented to address specific local baseline information and issues in the locality as this would better inform the sustainability process. 2.3 In this respect the Scoping report to the Core Spatial Strategy should be read in conjunction with this report. The Scoping report to the Core Spatial Strategy is available on the Joint Planning Unit web site www.nnjpu.org.uk or from the Joint Planning Unit on 01536 274974. The Sustainability Framework to the Core Spatial Strategy for North Northamptonshire was formulated following extensive stakeholder consultation. The sustainability objectives remain the same for the Site Specific Proposals LDD. It is considered that this process meets the requirements of the Sustainability Guidance and SEA Directive. 2.4 The Sustainability Framework is essential to the process and is proposed to be used for appraising the Plan. The Framework consists of objectives measurable by indicators, which will help assess the overall sustainability of the plan policies and allow recommendations and mitigation measures to be proposed as well as provide a basis for future monitoring and appraisal of the plan. 2.5 The Core Spatial Strategy for North Northamptonshire identified a limited number of sustainability objectives to ensure a manageable level for the assessment stage and the Sustainability Appraisal continued with this approach. These objectives are considered to be relevant to the plan and will form the basis for the Site Specific Proposals LDD. For clarity they are indicated in Table 1. 3 Table 1: Sustainability Objectives SA TOPIC SA OBJECTIVE Social progress which recognises the needs of everyone Accessibility Enable people all to have similar and sufficient levels of access to services, facilities and opportunities Housing Provide the opportunity for people to meet their housing needs Health Improve overall levels of physical, mental health and social well being and reduce disparities between different groups and different areas Crime Reduce the incidences of crime and the fear of crime Community Value and nurture a sense of belonging in a cohesive community whilst respecting diversity Skills Assist people in gaining the skills to fulfil their potential and increase their contribution to society and the economy Liveability To create healthy, clean and pleasant environments for people to enjoy living, working and for recreation and to protect and enhance residential amenity Effective protection of the environment Biodiversity To protect, maintain and enhance the diversity and abundance of species and their habitats, to implement a net gain and to avoid habitat fragmentation Landscape Maintain and enhance the quality, character and local distinctiveness of the landscape, including its contribution to the setting and character of settlements Cultural Heritage Protect and enhance sites, features and areas of historical, archaeological, geological and cultural value and their settings Built Environment Maintain and enhance the quality and distinctiveness of the built environment Climate Change Reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases and protect people from the effects of climate change Prudent Use of natural resources Air Reduce all forms of air pollution in the interests of local air quality and the integrity of the atmosphere Water Quality Maintain and improve the quality of ground and river waters Water Conservation Ensure adequate water supply, maximise water and Management efficiency and reduce the risk of flooding Soil and Land Ensure the efficient use of land and maintain the resource of productive soil Minerals Ensure the efficient use of minerals and primary resources 4 Energy Use Minimise energy consumption, increase energy efficiency and maintain the stock of non renewable energy sources Renewable Energy Increase the opportunities for energy generation from renewable energy sources Waste Reduce the consumption of finite materials and increase reuse and recycling Maintenance of high and stable levels of economic growth and employment Employment Maintain and enhance employment opportunities and to reduce the disparities arising from unequal access to jobs Wealth Creation Retain and enhance the factors which are conducive to wealth creation, including personal creativity, infrastructure and the local strengths and qualities that are attractive to visitors and investors Town Centres Protect and enhance the vitality and viability of town centres and market towns 2.6 In order to understand the relationship between the plan objectives and the sustainability objectives, they need to be compared. The plan objectives for the Site Specific Proposals LDD are provided in Table 2 and the comparison matrix in Table 3 below. Table 2: Site Specific Proposals LDD Objectives The objectives for the Site Specific Proposals LDD are to: 1 Provide appropriate housing to meet the needs of all sections of the community 2 Enhance the economy of the Borough ensuring residents have access to a wide range of employment opportunities and life long learning 3 Increase accessibility to community, leisure and retail facilities for all members