Watford Borough Council Core Strategy Development Plan Document
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Watford Borough Council Core Strategy Development Plan Document Sustainability Appraisal Report Pre-submission (Publication) stage Sustainability Appraisal – Baseline Appendix Volume B Contents 1. Air Quality 1 1.1. Relationship with other Plans and Programmes 1 1.2. Baseline Information 1 1.3. Trends 4 1.4. Data Gaps/Limitations 4 2. Biodiversity 5 2.1. Relationship with other Plans and Programmes 5 2.2. Baseline Information 5 Natural Areas 5 Designated Areas 7 Woodland Cover 9 2.3. Trends 9 2.4. Data Gaps/Limitations 9 3. Climatic Factors 11 3.1. Relationship with other Plans and Programmes 11 3.2. Baseline Information 11 3.3. Trends 12 3.4. Data Gaps/Uncertainties 12 4. Cultural Heritage 13 4.1. Relationship with other Plans and Programmes 13 4.2. Baseline Information 13 4.3. Trends 15 4.4. Data Gaps/Limitations 15 5. 5 Human Health - Public Health 16 5.1. Relationship with other Plans and Programmes 16 5.2. Baseline Information 16 5.3. Trends 17 6. Human Health - Noise 18 6.1. Relationship with other Plans and Programmes 18 6.2. Baseline Information 18 6.3. Trends 18 7. Landscape 19 7.1. Relationship with other Plans and Programmes 19 7.2. Baseline Information 19 7.3. Trends 22 7.4. Data Gaps/Limitations 22 8. Material Assets 23 8.1. Relationship with other Plans and Programmes 23 8.2. Baseline Information 23 8.3. Trends 24 8.4. Gaps/Limitations 24 8.5. Trends 25 8.6. Data Gaps/Limitations 25 9. Population 26 9.1. Relationship with other Plans and Programmes 26 i 9.2. Baseline Information 26 9.3. Trends 27 10. Soil 28 10.1. Relationship with other Plans and Programmes 28 10.2. Baseline Information 28 10.3. Trends 29 10.4. Data Gaps/Uncertainties 29 11. Water 30 11.1. Relationship with other Plans and Programmes 30 11.2. Baseline Information 30 11.3. Trends 32 11.4. Data Gaps/Uncertainties 32 12. Social Factors - Housing 33 12.1. Relationship with other Plans and Programmes 33 12.2. Baseline Information 33 12.3. Trends 34 13. Social Factors - Crime 35 13.1. Relationship with other Plans and Programmes 35 13.2. Baseline Information 35 13.3. Trends 35 14. Social factors - Accessibility 35 14.1. Relationship with other Plans and Programmes 35 14.2. Baseline Information 36 14.3. Trends 36 15. Social Factors - Social Deprivation 36 15.1. Relationship with other Plans and Programmes 36 15.2. Baseline Information 36 15.3. Trends 37 16. Social Factors - Recreation, Sport and Leisure 37 16.1. Relationship with other Plans and Programmes 37 16.2. Baseline Information 37 16.3. Trends 37 17. Social Factors - Disability Allowance 38 17.1. Relationship with other Plans and Programmes 38 17.2. Baseline Information 38 17.3. Trends 38 18. Social Factors - Healthcare 38 18.1. Relationship with other Plans and Programmes 38 18.2. Baseline Information 38 18.3. Trends 39 19. Social Factors - Education 39 19.1. Relationship with other Plans and Programmes 39 19.2. Baseline Information 39 19.3. Trends 40 20. Economic Factors - Economic Activity 41 ii 20.1. Relationship with other Plans and Programmes 41 20.2. Baseline Information 41 21. Economic Factors - Employment 43 21.1. Relationship with other Plans and Programmes 43 21.2. Baseline Information 43 21.3. Trends 44 22. Economic Factors - Economic Footprint 44 22.1. Relationship with other Plans and Programmes 44 22.2. Baseline Information 44 22.3. Trends 45 23. Economic Factors - Enterprise and Innovation 45 23.1. Relationship with other Plans and Programmes 45 23.2. Baseline Information 45 23.3. Trends 46 iii 1. Air Quality 1.1. Relationship with other Plans and Programmes European level EU Directive 1996/62/EC on Ambient Air Quality sets the framework for dealing with local air pollution by introducing new air quality standards for previously unregulated pollutants. In addition, the 6th EU Environment Action Programme highlights strategic priorities of the Commission’s environmental policy, amongst others human health - an issue closed related to air pollution. At a national level, the UK Air Quality Strategy defines a number of air quality objectives for several pollutants, whilst PPS 23 ‘Planning and Pollution Control’ stresses the importance of the proximity principle in siting new developments and thereby separating incompatible land uses. 1.2. Baseline Information The monitoring of air quality is important in ensuring that levels of identified pollutants remain below national standards and targets. Local authorities are required to review and assess the concentrations of seven pollutants for national health-based objectives. These are: Carbon monoxide (CO); Nitrogen oxides (NO X); Benzene; 1,3-butadiene Lead; Particulate matter (PM 10 ); and Sulphur dioxide (SO 2). These pollutants are monitored because they can damage human health and the environment. For the purpose of this report, data on pollutant levels, and the number of days where air pollution was considered as moderate or high has been collected. This data has been compared to regional data and national targets. Table 1 shows relevant UK air quality standards and objectives 1, derived from the 2007 UK Air Quality Strategy. These also include limit values set out by EU Daughter Directives on Air Quality. Table 1 - Selected AQ standards and objectives UK Air Quality Objectives for protection of human health, July 2007 Pollutant Air Quality Objective To be achieved by Concentration Measured as Benzene All authorities 16.25 µg m-3 Running annual mean 31 December 2003 England and Wales Only 5.00 µg m-3 Annual mean 31 December 2010 1,3-Butadiene 2.25 µg m-3 Running annual mean 31 December 2003 Carbon Monoxide England, Wales and N. 10.0 mg m -3 Maximum daily running 8- 31 December Ireland hour mean 2003 Lead 0.5 mg m -3 Annual mean 31 December 2004 0.25 mg m -3 Annual mean 31 December 2008 Nitrogen Dioxide 200 µg m-3 not to be 1-hour mean 31 December exceeded more than 18 2005 times a year 40 µg m-3 Annual mean 31 December 2005 1 http://www.airquality.co.uk/archive/standards.php#std 1 UK Air Quality Objectives for protection of human health, July 2007 Pollutant Air Quality Objective To be achieved by Concentration Measured as Particles (PM10) (gravimetric) All authorities 50 µg m-3, not to be 24-hour mean 31 December exceeded more than 35 2004 times a year 40 µg m-3 Annual mean 31 December 2004 Sulphur dioxide 350 µg m-3, not to be 1-hour mean 31 December exceeded more than 24 2004 times a year 125 µg m-3, not to be 24-hour mean 31 December exceeded more than 3 2004 times a year 266 µg m-3, not to be 15-minute mean 31 December exceeded more than 35 2005 times a year Ozone 100 µg m-3 not to be 8-hour mean 31 December exceeded more than 10 2005 times a year Table 2 shows estimated and predicted pollutant levels 2 in Watford Borough Council, St Albans City Council, Dacorum Borough Council, and Three Rivers District Council. The data was derived by calculating the average of the predictions for all sites in the Local Authority area. Data was not available for SO 2 and CO levels in 2005 and 2010, and 1, 3-butadeine in 2010. The data below displays a general trend of decreasing pollutant levels between 2001 and 2010. Table 2 – Air Pollutant levels Pollutant Watford Borough Council St Albans City Council Dacorum Borough Three Rivers District Council Council 2001 2005 2010 2001 2005 2010 2001 2005 2010 2001 2005 2010 NO X 65.04 53.51 40.97 63.77 52.52 40.07 43.87 39.59 28.85 60.00 49.33 38.08 NO 2 34.20 29.90 24.89 33.67 29.36 24.47 25.92 22.89 19.44 32.33 28.25 23.64 PM 10 21.74 20.92 19.01 21.46 20.61 18.74 20.30 19.53 17.97 21.31 20.49 18.69 SO 2 3.6 - - 3.76 - - 3.42 - - 3.6 - - Benzene 0.72 0.63 0.47 0.60 0.52 0.40 0.46 0.41 0.32 0.59 0.52 0.39 CO 0.42 - - 0.38 - - 0.32 - - 0.37 - - 1, 3- 0.31 0.25 - 0.27 0.21 - 0.19 0.17 - 0.27 0.21 - butadeine Units: NO X (ugm-3 as NO 2 annual mean); NO 2 (ugm-3 annual mean); PM 10 (ugm-3 grav. annual mean); SO 2 (ugm-3 annual mean); Benzene (ugm-3 annual mean); CO (mgm-3 annual mean); 1, 3- butadeine (1, 3-butadiene 2001 ugm-3 annual mean) For comparison, Table 3 displays estimated pollutant level data for the East of England3. The data was derived by calculating the average of the predictions for all sites in the East of England. No data was available for benzene or 1, 3-butadeine. It can be seen that, for NOx in particular, Watford has below-average air quality for the region although the trend is equally towards improvement. Table 3 - East of England region estimated air pollution East of England air pollution Pollutant 2001 2005 NO X 60.87 40.58 NO 2 28.93 23.95 PM 10 21.33 21 2 Air Quality Archive: http://www.airquality.co.uk/archive/laqm/laqm.php 3 Air Quality Archive: http://www.airquality.co.uk/archive/data_and_statistics.php?action=exceedence_pre_step&go=Go 2 SO2 8.1 6.48 Benzene - - CO 0.4 0.24 1, 3-butadeine - - (Units as for table above) .A common presentation of air quality trends looks at the number of days in a year that a particular AQ standard or objective was exceeded.